Private Message to Aurora

[alt_pomona]

Auri, dear,

Please enjoy your time outside the castle and don't feel guilty about it in the slightest.

You need it and I'll wager your lad does too.

It will be good to have you back for the ceremony on Sunday, I must admit.

Mina will be there as well, but I'll be grateful for all the support I can muster.

And she wasn't he

Comments

[alt_sinistra]

Oh, thank you, Pomona. That eases, I admit.

(We do need it, and I do hope it'll help. I've certainly done every bit of planning to try and ensure that. And there's the bit of me that can't forget that as bad as the 27th was last year, it could have been even worse.)

On a more pleasant note. Mum's come through splendidly, both for the two of us Saturday, and with biscuits and a few other things for the gathering Sunday. I'll bring those down before supper on the day. She says it was a pleasure, and she and Temp had a lovely time in the kitchen the last two nights, and both send their love and compassion.

Also a bottle for .. well, after we send the students away. For you and me and Mina.

[alt_pomona]

They didn't have to do that, truly.

But I'm thankful for their kindness.

[alt_sinistra]

Mum said it was the least she could do - she felt so helpless last year.

(That was after I got the lecture about how allowing people to help is a gift and a kindness to them, so would I please stop trying to do everything myself and let them be of use. Of course.)

She, well. I hadn't realised till we were talking about it on Tuesday how much the journals change some things. Mum said everyone - well, housemates, hers and everyone else in the family's - knew about, well, events, at the time. But also, that they wanted to know everyone else was doing as well as they could be, after. They weren't asking you, or me, because, well. But they kept each other informed about any sign of hope.

I'm sort of glad she didn't tell me until now, really.

[alt_pomona]

Well, as far as letting people be of use is concerned, you should always listen to your mother.

S'true, though, about the journals. It's part of why I resisted them for so long, for all they're damned convenient at times.

Everything's so bloody public.

[alt_sinistra]

I'd tell her you said so, but I'd never hear the end of it.

Truth, though, on the public. And people do make much of who you're sending private messages to. (Don't I know that one: one of the gossip rags charts that kind of thing and predicts how relationships must be going based on it. Mine included, not that she's remotely accurate.)

On the other hand. Convenient. And sometimes nice to be able to go back and read.

[alt_pomona]

I'm sure you wouldn't--I do remember your mother.

You're a better woman than I, when it comes to the press. I'm pretty sure I'd have owled someone a Venomous Tentacula by now.

The journals make everything so...connected. I sometimes wish Hogwarts still seemed its own place, a bit separated from the pressures of the rest of the world.

[alt_sinistra]

Quite. Once Mum gets her teeth into something. (Not that that's not handy, sometimes.)

As to the press, I agree with Raz's argument that paying it much attention just makes it worse. Reading the most absurd bits aloud in the bath does wonders, though.

I do agree on connected. I remember even when I started, everything was so close and isolated - people didn't even go to Hogsmeade much, never mind New London. I enjoy going in myself (as much as it's also necessity these days), but I can't help but remember when people couldn't poke their noses into every detail, and even the wireless was more restricted, so it was the Prophet and a few other papers, and that was it.

And yet, if I don't keep up with the journals and the papers, I'll put my foot in my mouth over something or other, and that's worse.

Glad I didn't have classes today, actually (both my Friday lectures are the 5th years, so obviously not meeting this week.) Though I've had a steady trail of people with other questions to make up for it.

[alt_pomona]

And I supposed it's worth remembering that Hogwarts was far from perfect before the journals, although I still wish that our young people could conduct their fumblings and missteps in a less exposed forum...one can impress upon them the need for discretion of course, but there are limits.

[alt_sinistra]

There are days when one can only hope the rest of the world has a very short memory, yes.

Speaking off - good grief, did you see Capper's rant? At least his siblings tried to talk him down in the comments, though I think they've rather given up now too.

I know I tried my best, and he refused to pay any attention, but I admit I'm not looking forward to seeing Horace at supper tonight.

[alt_pomona]

I'd have some strong words with the boy if he were in my House, to be sure!

I wish I could disagree, but I'm afraid Horace is likely to be rather smug.

[alt_sinistra]

Septima's just been up, and she has had words with him, though what good it will do. (She also promises a note to forward to the YPL oversight board if they ask questions, confirming I'd made myself quite available if one considered the week to have more days than Tuesday afternoons and Saturdays. Which is something.)

On Horace, quite. And in all fairness, he does have some cause. I did rather dig in on Capper's behalf beyond good sense.

Ah, well. I will distract myself with thoughts of more pleasant tomorrows, see if Raz can't find some way to keep Horace occupied in conversation, and if I can't find some conversational topic he'd rather not interrupt with you or Bathsheba or Septima.

Smug looks are one thing, but smug conversation would be worse.

[alt_pomona]

Well, that wasn't so very bad, was it?

It seems the news about Dogstar quite vanquished every other topic of conversation.

And my point about our students and the public nature of their comments seems decidedly more, well, pointed.

I find Miss Patil challenging at times, but she did not deserve such a bruising set-down.

But enough talk of such things! Take your mind off to more pleasant matters, my dear.

[alt_sinistra]

Quite right what a distracting topic does to the staff table. (And by the time I'm back for a meal at supper on Sunday, Horace will likely have forgotten.)

And you have more than a hint of prescience. Miss Patil indeed. I am quite with you on both points. It does make me think we might need to have a word about the concepts of tact and thinking before journal-writing sometime soon.

As to pleasant matters - I should probably work more on my marking, but really, I'm going to pack for tomorrow, and then curl up with some material I'm reviewing. (I agreed to do a review of some research in exchange for where we'll be tomorrow night. Worth every minute, but I want to read through my locational arithmancy notes before I tackle it.)

On the other hand, I think that sort of thing's quite enjoyable, so.

But of course, keeping an eye on the journals in case something comes up I do need to pay attention to.