A few teensy reminders

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Dear children -

I know you are all apparently quite excited to depart on your little holidays, but there are a few teensy considerations before you go.

You are, of course, expected to behave at home with the same sense of discipline, self-control, and maturity that I expect of you here at school. Don't think I won't learn of it should you misbehave or fail your obligations as proper young witches and wizards in our larger community.

Hogwarts Junior Council members, please pick up your membership and service badges so you may proudly wear them at home and tell your parents about how you are helping make your dear school the very best and most perfected it can possibly be. And of course, I'm sure you'll alert me should there be any little things that come up while you're gone, that I should be aware of. You are models for your classmates.

Mr Fred and George Weasley: kindly report to my office at 7:30 tomorrow morning: I have a little request of you while you are home over the holidays. I need to know why you persist in sharing a journal.

Miss Hydra Lestrange, kindly report to my office at your convenience before you return home for the holidays. You are not in any trouble at all, dear, but I have a few teensy things I'd like to learn more about.

Mr Neville Longbottom, I remain displeased with the delay in the full planting of the Memorial Garden. I am certain that you can find some way to plant fall plants in April if you only apply yourself the teensiest bit. Honestly. I expect a revised Memorial Garden schedule upon your return from hols, for dedication this school year.

Miss Megan Jones, my dear, I do hope everything is in order. Do let me know if I need to assist with any additional little arrangements.

Finally, parents, should you wish some ideas and plans to keep your children focused, disciplined, and aligned with the larger goals of the school and our glorious Protectorate, materials are available from the Education office on request. (They have graciously agreed to handle the matter, since I will be back and forth at various appointments through the next two weeks.)

Comments

Private message to Septima Vector and Horace Slughorn

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Septima, Horace, my dears -

I just wanted to alert you to a teensy little thing. This afternoon, I discovered that Miss Perks was supplying Mr Capper with - well, she referred to it as a potion.

Regrettably - as it might have resolve quite a few other difficulties - it is not (really, Horace, can you not teach them to be more precise? Or keep Miss Perks under better control and more aware of her proper place?) It was a silly little blend of completely ordinary herbs, I did the analysis myself.

At any rate, I'm sure you'll be glad to know about the punishments. Septima, dear, I've cast one of those little revision charms on Stephen. Nothing too damaging, just to remind him of the potential consequences of failure. Not that he needs further incentive, I'm sure.

Horace, I expect and require that you will prohibit Miss Perks from brewing any potions in either your class or your supervised sessions from now until at least the end of her OWL exams. She will just have to manage, and learn from her little tendency to attempt to be of more help than she is suited to.

Re: Private message to Septima Vector and Horace Slughorn

[alt_horace]

Dolores, thank you, of course, for your diligence in pursuing any hint of rule-breaking within our walls.

I have, as a matter of fact, discussed the day's events fully with Miss Perks and there seems to have been a misunderstanding. She did not supply Capper with a potion at all, but a tisane, which she informed him was a potion to calm him. Really, after what happened to his brother it's entirely understandable that he has been overwrought in preparation for his examinations.

Speaking of which.... Dolores, am I to understand that you informed Capper that his brother died in the camps? My dear, far be it from me to tell you how to address delicate matters like that but, are you sure that was quite the right approach? I hardly think he needed something to unsettle him further.

But back to the issue of Miss Perks: As I say, she had no potion in her possession, never brewed anything out of order, and was only indulging in a little well-intentioned subterfuge to assist a classmate. And I've every reason to believe she might have succeeded, had things gone differently.

Surely, banning her from brewing potions under my supervision is unnecessary? I'd consider it a personal favour if you would reconsider and allow her to recommence in-class and supervised brewing once we return from Easter holidays.

Your admiring colleague,

HEF Slughorn
Master Potioneer

Re: Private message to Septima Vector and Horace Slughorn

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Horace,

Really, are you suggesting that I don't know how best to motivate and encourage the students? Better to be brisk and forthright about the consequences of less than the very best work, I think. Clearly.

I'm equally surprised you're questioning my punishment, but since you request it, I will consider whether something else might be even more appropriate. Perhaps it's as well that we've a little time before implementing whatever it is I choose.

Re: Private message to Septima Vector and Horace Slughorn

[alt_horace]

Not at all, Dolores, not at all. I was merely not aware that you had all the facts at your disposal. Children do have a way of confusing the issues at hand, as I'm sure you've encountered. And of course, it's important to remember that they are not adults, fully capable of comprehending both the nature of their transgressions and the implications of their actions.

I'm certain that you are more than capable of devising retribution that shall never lose its impact, my dear. In fact, I'm sure that the lessons you are teaching this year rival the most indelible of impressions our current students have ever known. I merely would have thought you would praise Miss Perks' ingenuity in devising a solution for her classmate that broke none of the school's rules and eased the way for both him and our diligent Prefects. And the Junior Councillors, of course.

Nor do I think Septima would disagree that Mr Capper has every reason to worry, but no reason to fear, if you see the difference, and she, I am sure, would appreciate a more gentle demeanour toward one of her charges who must perforce remind her unpleasantly of his brother, too abruptly taken from this world.

Our job is to teach, not to terrorise. Professors of the past have lost sight of that fact, to their detriment. I value your presence too much, Dolores, to say nothing when it seems you might be allowing your natural desire for order overrule your sensible acceptance of the fact that perfection is unattainable. Miss Perks is not a model student but she is clever and does a good job. Mr Capper is doing his best to overcome his nerves and remember that he does have a head on his shoulders. Neither of them pose a threat to the school, to their classmates, or even to our glorious Protectorate.

My advice--and my dear, it is only advice, culled from six decades of experience--is that you waste no further time worrying about them, or many of the other minor offenders who need only a polite reminder to behave and gladly reform themselves. You have far more important things to do. Leave the usual maintenance of order to Septima, myself, Antosha and the others. Focus on those tasks which absolutely require your personal attention.

-Horace

Re: Private message to Septima Vector and Horace Slughorn

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Honestly, Horace, did you think I would not manage to ascertain the details before making a decision?

Now, to take your points in order, of course they are not adults. But they must be prepared - fully and realistically prepared - to be of service in the world as soon as they leave school. This school has been lax in far too many ways for far too long. Oh, I suppose Minerva (at least at the beginning) was a far better choice than that horrible Dumbledore. But her lack of self-control and discipline has tainted the students and on the staff over the years.

You know as well as I do that the school has fallen behind what it could be under more capable hands - hands I am glad to provide, no matter the amount of effort or toil required. It is not about me of course, but about what I can make of the school. Far too much requires my personal attention, because far too many of the staff here have made it clear that their values are not truly aligned in the best interests of the school.

You suggest that I leave matters of discipline to you and to Septima? Truly, Horace, I am surprised at you! And Antonin - goodness. He's been here less than a year, how can he possibly have the faintest idea of what's best for the school? It's not as if his previous work has given him much of an idea of how to be a real guide to more than his favoured few.

On that note, I find your advocacy for Miss Perks entirely unfathomable. I must know why it is you are so persistent in her service! After all, she's a halfblood. Even were she to do brilliantly on her OWLs or even her NEWTs, you know as well as I that there are almost no positions that would hire her that would require those skills. I cannot imagine why you - or a number of others - think it is remotely appropriate to encourage the poor dear things to expectations beyond their station. Bad blood will tell, you know. The more compassionate out there may not blame the things for their parentage, but they won't make space for them, either, when there are so many deserving others of better breeding and proven magical potential and stability.

Now, I am glad we have the holidays to gather ourselves for the last portion of the term. I'm sure that when we return, it will be much simpler to achieve our mutual goals. And of course, I am thinking most seriously about what changes in staffing I wish to propose to the Board once we reach the summer. I may have been persuaded to avoid other mid-year shifts unless they become entirely unnecessary, but I can only see before me the great work of shaping this castle into what it should be.

Re: Private message to Septima Vector and Horace Slughorn

[alt_horace]

And I am equally surprised at you, Dolores. Heightening the standards of discipline is all very well but what you are suggesting is actively stacking the odds against certain students merely because you believe they will amount to nothing in their lives. That is well outside the scope of our charge, as you ought to know from your years of liaison with the Education office. Miss Perks may have few prospects but there is no reason to ensure her failure--particularly when the consequences to her or any other halfblood are so grievous.

As for your 'staffing changes.' Let us presume you are not attempting to threaten me. While it would pain me to leave the students in the lurch, particularly when it seems evident that they need more assistance than ever, I assure you, it would pass after a few weeks' relaxation and the monthly pension awaiting me after sixty years of investment. I'm sure Our Lord would not begrudge His old teacher and Head of House a quiet seaside retirement, no matter what power you think you may have to arrange it otherwise.

It is not your right to choose who succeeds and who fails, Dolores. Not so long as the students make the effort in good faith to learn their lessons.

Are you sure the strain of the tasks you have set is not too much? Perhaps it is you who need a rest even more than the pupils.