Discipline

[alt_mcgonagall]

 Miss Parkinson has been disciplined for her infractions, not so much against Hogwarts' rules, but against pure good taste.

I realise that she has been raised in a haphazard fashion, and I am very grateful to Lucius for stepping in. She requires a strong guiding hand, and I fear that with an entire school to oversee (not to mention a birthday feast to plan) I am not the person who can provide it for her.

Nevertheless, she has been given an assignment that will hopefully help her mend her ways. She ought very well to know that the proper recourse for having one's questions answered is research and thereby understanding the great work that one's forbears have done. Even at the age of eleven! If she had addressed her queries to an encyclopaedia, or even to the Daily Prophet, they would have been answered immediately.

In future, I imagine that she will avoid all such public doubting and inciting of negative energies and pursue any questions she may have in a more constructive manner. If she does not, of course, as she grows older, she will suffer much greater consequences than merely penning a few lines.

Lucius, I do believe you have your work cut out for you; she seemed almost sullen in my office, not as if she had fully understood the lesson I was attempting to teach. Nevertheless, I have hope that the essay she is writing will do some small amount to mend the situation. A sharp young girl like Miss Parkinson must have her inquiring mind honed and pointed towards the right influences; my punishment for her is, naturally, intended to do so without crudely preventing all inquiry.

Comments

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[alt_molly]

She seemed to cause quite a commotion! I'm astonished that she stood up for herself for so long without folding, despite pressure from you, Lucius and Bellatrix.

There's some hope there, if her guardians don't knock it out of her entirely, if only you can maneuver her into continuing to think for herself. And without blurting out awkward and unwelcome questions for the wrong people to hear. I know it is a difficult line for you to balance.

How are your nerves holding up for Friday? I'm sure this didn't help.

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[alt_mcgonagall]

I hope so too. I just - I can't do too much, Molly. It makes me frightened on so many levels.

My nerves are as they always are. Better after nine PM.

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[alt_molly]

I see that Ron is starting to strike up a bit of a friendship with her. I'm torn. He might be a good influence on her, I hope. On the other hand, I don't want him caught in the back wash if she keeps drawing unwelcome attention to herself.

Friday will go well, don't worry. Only take care not to dip too deeply into your usual comfort, especially Thursday night. You know you'll need all your wits about you to face the monsters you'll be entertaining the next day.

Fortunately, you have plenty of wit to spare.

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[alt_molly]

Another thought: if your visitors make you too nervous, you can always extend the press time. Even tell the reporters they'll be granted some exclusive interviews. Once Rita Skeeter really gets her hooks into her prey, it will probably be quite a long time before they'll be able to extricate themselves again.

Not to mention it would be a jolly lovely revenge on Malfoy for what he did to Xeno.

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[alt_mcgonagall]

An excellent thought - and best of all, I imagine that our dearest Lord Protector would think of it as quite the loyal, supportive thing to do -!

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[alt_mcgonagall]

I imagine that he'll be fine, Molly, Ron's a sensible boy.

I shall do my best. If nothing else, the fear of him will keep me from the bottle that night, you know. I really cannot be impaired for Friday, it's true.

[alt_lucius]

Narcissa and I only ever intended to raise one child together. We have always been most honoured to be entrusted with the young Marvolo - one could ask for no finer foster-son - but I confess I have found it difficult at times to divide my attention among three charges, all the same age, yet as different in personality and disposition as one could find.

Pansy, of course, is extremely clever and I have - perhaps wrongly - allowed her to pursue her scholastic inclinations without seeing much need for supervision. She has always been a self-sufficient child. I cannot imagine whence this streak of stubborn insolence has suddenly sprung. And there's the matter of her mother. Tragic, that she has never been able to fully recover from losing Anthony. Though in many ways the experience made Pansy more mature than others her age, it has also left her more troubled than I should like to see. Still, I had thought Rosalind put more emphasis on Pansy's education with regard to the Lord Protector's beneficence. I have made sure she is also aware of Pansy's indiscretion and poor judgement.

Minerva, I shall of course wish to speak to the girl on Friday to reinforce the lessons you have brought to bear upon her to-day. I appreciate that you have no wish to quash her inquisitive spirit completely; nor do I. But she must learn that there is a proper time, place, and method to seeking answers. It is most unfortunate that her first foray was conducted in so public a manner.

Perhaps the treatment she is now receiving will help to provide her with some measure of understanding that other teaching has managed to miss.

[alt_mcgonagall]

I hope so.