alt_mcgonagall

New Year's Resolution: to cease the ceaseless inebriation. As a result—I am feeling quite ill.

When I return to the castle, I will not need more of your assistance than before. Perhaps a different kind of your assistance.

The Umbridge woman must not hear of this, you realise. That is my primary concern.

you all have not been holding your tongues about me

mr Boot I very much appreciated your note

I suppose we all are aware of what my new year s resolution must be.



the world ended and i am still here, it is a relief to say

 Merry Christmas to all of us remaining

Poor Arthur I keep thinking of the Weasley sweaters. And of all the children, my God, on this morning of all mornings, and the fairy lights end the puddings flaming like valkyrie funerals or some such thing.

And the camps also and the cold christmases there.

And what people will say about heroes.

Merry merry wassail and all those things.

I am supposed to be grateful to our lord for this manor but it is very empty and I would rather a stable.

In case you may have thought to come check on me this morning, I would like to inform you that I am perfectly well and in no need of your ministrations.

As well as I can be with the recent behaviour of the general Hogwarts student populace, in any case. I imagine that I shall be summoned to explain the situation soon. What joy that shall portend! At least Mr Marvolo had the sense not to become embroiled, as far as we have discovered.

Tosha has asked me to "tea and strategy."

To reproduce his message in part:


Do you believe he means what he says? He has been reliable, that is true: but I do not know whether there is some hidden dagger here.

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.)

Do not come to the castle tonight.

I shall deal with Alecto Carrow in the morning.

I do not have the mental energy to deal with your sudden appearance on my school's grounds, and I wish to have the pleasure of dealing with her myself.

As you requested, I have spent some time thinking about—and observing—Rabastan Lestrange and Aurora Sinistra.

Professor Sinistra is almost obsessively meticulous about her teaching; she does not allow their relationship to edge into her professional behavior whatsoever, and indeed Rabastan's teaching seems to have improved through association with her. He seems to have benefited her as well: she has been more open and connected to her students, more willing to engage with them on emotional level, since their relationship began.

Indeed, Professor Sinistra seems to have blossomed under Rabastan's influence. She speaks out more in staff meetings and seems less anxious about doing so.

All in all—I must say that I am grateful, not sorry, that these particular of my professors have begun a relationship that might elsewhere be considered unprofessional. It has seemed to have quite the positive effect.

Meanwhile, your son continues well.

Arthur, Molly, I hope I have not done wrong. Several teachers suggested to me this week that your daughter Ginevra might benefit from being mentioned to the Lord Protector, along with other students who are not from traditionally well-thought-of families.

I nodded, smiled—and refrained from mentioning her name, though I did others'.

I suppose that if it is discovered by the well-meaning professors in question, I shall have to say that I had some doubts about Ginevra. I hope that you shall understand, and that I have done right by you and your child.

This week has been largely uneventful.

Your son continues well. He appears to have recovered from last week's shock.

The Young Protectors' League has settled on the Founding of Hogwarts for the mural they shall be painting. Other suggested topics were Merlin's Court, Your investiture, and the Fall of the Ministry, but there was some thought that the third topic has been sufficiently covered, the second too contemporary, and the first was too allegorical. As I understand it, they are drafting sketches for perusal and approval now. Professor Sinistra is bearing up well under pressure.

Mr Capper, Mr Sloper, and Ms Grey have all agreed to redouble their focuses on their studies. Whether this shall bear fruit remains to be seen. Mr Fleet has also been counseled on the expectations for his NEWTs. I would normally never trouble you with individual students' academic matters, but it seems an appropriate topic for this report.

The castle is generally ready for spring, I believe. The students are anxious and cabin-feverish. I hope for an abatement in the weather soon, and thus more regular outings to expend their energy.