Order Only: Babies

[alt_mcgonagall]

While attending to the Sorting—among other things—I checked the Hogwarts book, as per usual. Five names: Neal Smullen of Oxfordshire, Tabitha Dixon of East Sussex, Bronwyn Griffiths of Cardiff, Agam Singh Japra of Coventry, and Jennifer Brown of the Orkney Islands.

As for things at Hogwarts: it seems quite odd to say that I am grateful that such a man as Dolohov has been assigned to teach our children, but at least he does not set my teeth on edge the way that Umbridge woman does. (You see, she has progressed to 'that Umbridge woman' in the space of so little time. Imagine what I shall be calling her by the end of term.)

Comments

[alt_poppy]

Well, I suppose even if we'd known before term started, I couldn't have been any use in retrieving them.

As for Dolohov, anyone would appear charming if measured against Dolores Umbridge. I rather think it wiser to consider him in his own right.

[alt_sirius]

Couldn't agree more about Dolohov, Poppy. A charming cobra is nonetheless a cobra.

As for the sprogs, Dora and I are keen to go whenever Arthur can arrange the entry parchments. But we also think it's time to go pay another call on little Puneet's parents, since they persisted even in the face of Alice's most persuasive arguments. After last time, we figured we'd keep checking back every few weeks. Once his magic manifests, that's when (we hope) they'll change their tune.

[alt_sirius]

(Besides, Dora's becoming quite fond of their take-away.)

[alt_nymphadora]

(Oh, and you don't like it a bit, I suppose.)

[alt_sirius]

True, but I like everything, me.

But truth is, we all like it, Ellie included. And it saves her thinking she should cook for us on a Sunday.

[alt_alice]

Please do keep an eye on them, love.

[alt_nymphadora]

I'm ready to help whenever Arthur can point us to the specific locations for these babies.

I overheard a funny conversation Friday morning down in our storage room at the Ministry: two of the chaps who repair things and restore charms when they go wonky were talking about Madam Umbridge. One of them had a story about being in a lift with her when it conked out. Said he's been working ever since on an idea for a trapdoor that would let you drop someone annoying out the bottom of the car. Both of them were well pleased she's gone off up to Hogwarts.

[alt_alice]

Good to know, Tonks.

We'll be able to help out with one or two, but with the work we're having to do at Moddey, and the need to be a bit careful about polyjuice until our fluxweed supply is back up and running, we could really use your help.

[alt_pomona]

Her speech last night, as if her programme were the only thing of consequence in the school. (And the looks on the faces of the children, as they realised there was to be yet one more expansion on their schedules?)

I had quite the chat with young mister Diggory this morning about that - of course, as a YPL counsellor as well as Head Boy, he's expected to put on the best face. He gave me a few more tales of her interference this summer than Aurora has so far, too. Not so much what she's doing, but rather how she does it.

And yet, a number of the CCF instructors were clearly very much of a mind with her. Not just going along because they could see the power shifting, from the bits I gathered, but honestly seeking her out an enjoying her company. (Minerva, did you see her talking to Cordelia over breakfast? Quite the same effect, I thought.)

As to Dolohov, well. I will take charming over the chance of being hexed for no reason in staff meetings, or far worse. I suppose. I had not quite realised what a pall the Carrows cast until coming back and realising we'd not have either of them ever again.

[alt_poppy]

I wonder if there are flies to be caught with honey, and whether I could bear attempting that with Umbridge. Perhaps I ought to make a pre-emptive address to her and see where that takes me, but it's tempting to allow her to continue ignoring me.

With Dolohov I believe there's a more pressing reason to make nice: Aurora seems quite taken with him, and I do not intend for some upstart Death Eater to worm his way in and divide her from her better angels. I know she may be a lost cause in the end, but if it would be a sorry shame: she's got a good heart and plenty of solid, good sense.

[alt_pomona]

On Dolohov, quite. I did get the conversation around to that, easily enough. At least enough to see some of what we might face.

First, all the connections Dolohov has to her Raz and his relations and circle. I couldn’t begin to argue with her reasoning that his good will can make things greatly easier for her there, nor that she’s found herself more than a little adrift. (For all I gather she’s moved to first names with most of them over the summer, she’s still quite tentative.)

Also, in that too-pragmatic way she has (the YPL work did change her, rather) that if we’re going to have a new faculty member, and especially teaching Dark Arts, she would far rather have them be in the best possible mood, and with more than one source of assistance, than have them cranky and difficult with students (or worse). And that if there is a frustration, perhaps she can head it off before it’s a problem to his classes. I do hate when she’s right about that kind of thing. I never spot it myself, and feel horribly stupid once she points it out.

But most, I think, I forget - because she’s so good at making one do so - that she really is a researcher at heart, even more than she is a teacher. And as she pointed out, rather acerbically, it’s not as if she’s ever gotten much interesting conversation in that line here. Gwendolyn’s hopeless on deeper Charms theory even if it weren’t for Rabastan’s missteps, Septima and Bathsheba are well enough, but only interested in their own fields. And I know that you and I, Poppy, are friends, but not research colleagues, in her eyes. Not that she doesn’t also desperately need friends, mind.

Alas, though, for all her good logic - and it is - I do think we need to worry, Poppy. She is rather taken with him, and it may be very easy for him (easier than her Raz, perhaps), to incline her in directions from which there may be no retreat.

As to the rest of our conversation, well. She did ask who young Ellie was. Among other things. (Many of which I'm thinking over.)

[alt_arthur]

I will get going on the parchmentwork, Minerva, and I'll let you all know when Bill and I have the documentation ready, and we can start divvying up the trips to fetch them.