Recent and upcoming plans

[alt_umbridge]

I want to thank all the boys and girls who helped out so willingly on Sunday. Our first and second years put in a great deal of work sprucing up Hogwarts itself, and our older YPL students offered their wands in service of ten different village schools.

You will be glad, most of you, that I have heard back sufficiently complimentary things, though of course I have a few teensy additions to the comments made on Sunday for a few of you. Let us ever strive for improvement, children.

Parents, our little newsletters home will be resuming next week, and I think you will be so very excited about the questions and conversation starters we’re providing this issue. I also draw your attention to the short articles on our upcoming class topics, and on a forthcoming survey on the skills, topics, and values you wish to see our programme focus on.

Finally, would the following students please come to the civics classroom (two doors down from my office) at 7pm on Thursday.

Aurelia Archer, Jane Bradley, Vince Crabbe, Loki Dames, Cedric Diggory, Geoff Hooper, Tyche Jenkins, Lee Jordan, Melinda Pennifold, and Nadine Rohani.

Ogden Begy, Katie Bell, Hephestus Bobolis, Cassandra Calderwood, Cho Chang, Marietta Edgcomb, Niobe Jones, Samantha Montgomery, Demelza Robins and Elizabeth Stevens.

Susan Bones, Lavender Brown, Gregory Goyle, Daphne Greengrass, Megan Jones, Ernie MacMillan, Morag McDougal, Eloise Midgen, Linus Moon, Teddy Nott Jr., Padma Patil, Parvati Patil, Zachary Smith, Dean Thomas, and Blaise Zabini.

Comments

Private message to Rabastan Lestrange and Aurora Sinistra

[alt_umbridge]

I’d hoped to catch you in person, but I’ve not managed in the past several days, so I do hope you don’t mind the less personal approach. I do think that what I’m about to say is another example of how we should all strive to be aware of how our actions affect others.

Rabastan, Aurora, I know that your wedding day is rapidly approaching, and that you are eager to start a family full of darling little cherubs and raise them in the best service of the Protectorate. But I have noticed, my dears, that you currently spend regular time together in private. Overnight, in fact. And where I have noticed, I am certain our dear students are also more than aware.

Likewise, I know that Aurora, you were staying at Spencer House itself over the holidays. (And now I think back on it, over the summer, as well.) My dear, did you not think at all about what that might suggest to younger and more impressionable minds?

Now, I am certain you wish to avoid any problems (with me or with others), so I am asking you once, as adults, to put off any further improper behaviour. Your wedding is so very soon, and I am sure you can both muster the necessary self-control somehow, for just a very few weeks.

I am certain that you can reassure me that your behaviour from this point on will be both wiser and more appropriate, can't you? Because I am so very concerned for the both of you, and of course for the impressionable children whom the Lord Protector has entrusted to our joint care.

Rabastan, I am looking forward to my opportunity to observe your classes on Wednesday. I’d like to talk further after the last class, about some of my observations and a few other matters, as well.

Re: Private message to Rabastan Lestrange and Aurora Sinistra

[alt_rabastan]

Hullo Dolores,

The headmistress hasn't made me aware that that's a problem with anything I or my fiancée do in the castle during the hours that we're not teaching. Is that a report that she's assigned to you, specifically?

Re: Private message to Rabastan Lestrange and Aurora Sinistra

[alt_umbridge]

Rabastan -

Dear Minerva has so very much she's trying to manage that of course I'm glad to lend a hand wherever it might be needed. After all, my remit here is in part to look at the entire scope of how we educate and encourage the Protectorate's young people to be their best and brightest selves. Of course they look up to you and to Aurora as models.

Now, I do hope you will give the matter serious consideration, and I'm sure you'll come to the right decisions going forward.

Re: Private message to Rabastan Lestrange and Aurora Sinistra

[alt_rabastan]

I take my position as model to the students quite seriously, which is why I'm pleased that I can present myself to them as a reformed rake who is soon to be a happily married man. Now, if the children have seen anything improper pass between myself and Rory in the past, then I don't think they'll be fooled by a sudden correction in the next few weeks, eh? The topic of discretion is worth taking to heart, however, and I"ll see to it that no student witnesses any improper behaviour between now and our vows.

Always nice of you to think of us, Dolores.

Private message to Aurora Sinistra

[alt_umbridge]

Aurora, dear,

I must also raise a delicate matter, and I do hope you’ll be entirely truthful and honest with me, as I want only the best for you.

A wizard’s public face and his private face can be so very different. I know you’ve not the greatest experience out in the world. If by any chance he is pressuring you into the slightest thing you do not wish to do, I am sure you know I would be glad to help any way I can.

It is such a regrettable reality that all our magic has not yet found a way to have the joys of family and children without the necessary physical acts. Now, I know that you’ve heard more than a bit from the Wizarding Repopulation Office, and of course you’ve your own mother and sisters and aunts. But if you’d like introductions to older and wiser witches who have managed their wizards and their needs deftly, I would be glad to oblige.

I would so hate for you to come to any distress over the necessary commitments and obligations of your upcoming marriage. And of course, I must encourage you, in the strongest possible terms, to have an eye to your own reputation, as I've already noted today.

My door is always open to you, my dear. At any time of the day or night.

Re: Private message to Aurora Sinistra

[alt_sinistra]

Dolores -

I am so very fortunate in the number of people - yourself included - who’ve been so giving with their time and advice. I do give your comments the attention they should have, and of course Raz and I will discuss it.

I’m afraid I’ve got another commitment momentarily, but I wanted to let you know I’ll be making time for a more complete response to your concerns once I’m back from New London later this evening.

Re: Private message to Aurora Sinistra

[alt_sinistra]

Dolores -

I admit, I am struggling with how to answer this. Let me begin with the simple part. I am extremely happy with Raz and with his behaviour to me, both in public and in private. He has always had every possible care for me, and I have no concerns at all on that front.

The reality is that we live in a complex environment. We continue to review our behaviour in public, and especially where students might see, but we equally know that we need space and time on our own to build a strong relationship for the future.

Hogwarts affords us very little privacy and many interruptions in public spaces. And yet, we need to mark assignments (more enjoyable with company), discuss details of the wedding (tedious to most others), and assist each other with various professional tasks where a second wand or a sounding board is helpful.

Simply put, we do not always wish students or even colleagues to overhear every detail of these conversations. And between his schedule and mine - and especially his commitments to Mr Marvolo’s security - the time we do have is often quite limited, so we cannot simply walk to Hogsmeade or apparate to some other location. Thus, if we wish a private conversation, our best choice is naturally our own rooms. Likewise, we make both use of our own rooms for similar conversations with colleagues from time to time.

I also wonder - well, as you have said yourself, the Wizarding Repopulation Office fervently wishes as many as possible to form families, bear and raise children, that the Protectorate might thrive and grow. In a few years, our current students will be encouraged to do just that. Surely, giving them at least one model for how mature adults conduct themselves cannot but be a positive thing?

In short, I will discuss further with him, but I hope that he and I, between us, have addressed your concerns for the moment. And of course, this is, as he says, a very short-term consideration, soon to pass after we marry.

I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_sally_anne]

What'd you do to hack her off, Susan? Did you get a pin for it?

Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good

[alt_susan]

Honestly, I haven't got the foggiest.

Maybe Miss Dixton said something to her about me, because I turned down the tea and biscuits on Sunday--that's all I can think of.

[alt_padma]

Madam Umbridge,

Of course we're all happy to come but will you need us a long time? Only because there's a rehearsal at the same time, so if we're not going to be able to get there we should tell Mr Krumgold.

[alt_umbridge]

Miss Patil -

I had thought the Revue rehearsals were on Wednesday, not Thursday. At any rate, I do not expect it to be a long meeting, perhaps half an hour.

I do expect the attendance of those I've named, but I anticipate that Professor Carpenter and Mr Krumgold would be able to make use of those not involved in the available time.

[alt_padma]

Oh! You're right. I'm sorry, I was looking at the wrong date in my planner.

Well, that's all right then.