Private message to Aurora Sinistra

[alt_rabastan]

Madam, I am a cad.

Is that too dramatic of an opening? So it is. Only I've just now noticed that I utterly failed to note the invitation to Hogsmeade that you extended to me a few days ago. I'm not usually caught unawares, but I will admit that being around so many children has taken some getting used to. That is, in some ways I am accustomed to the company of children, it's just that they're usually closer to my own age. I do believe I owe you an apology for my oversight and wish to express that it was just that: an oversight, and not a slight.

Truthfully, I wouldn't have been able to make it that night. I was meeting with the wranglers to discuss security and the Dementors, and then I had a lesson plan to make. I was lucky I was able to bolt down a spot of roast chicken in the Great Hall between the two tasks. If you would care to meet in the village another time, however, I'd be most amenable. I admit I sometimes feel at a loss when it comes to dealing with some of the rivalries and animosity that have erupted in my classroom, especially surrounding the Boggart lessons. Perhaps I look at the past through rosy-tinted goggles, but I can't help but think things were a bit easier when I was that age. Anger was solved quickly, with a quick hex or punch in the nose, and then all was forgotten. Eh, probably it just feels that way now, looking back on it. Any road up, you seem to have a hidden touch with the kids that I could learn a thing or two from. Your advice to Miss Patil about asking after private messages, for example, that was dead impressive. I think you could teach me a thing or three about being a good professor, Professor.

Plus, I could jolly well do with a pint. Let me know if you fancy one in the near future.

-Raz

Comments

[alt_sinistra]

Please, don't worry about it! (Though I must say, that's a rather impressive apology.) When you didn't respond on the question, I rather thought you must have something better to occupy your time, as people so often do. (And as you did! Lesson plans are important, but security and the handling of Dementors even more so.)

I would love to have your company in the village whenever is mutually convenient. Weekends do tend to be easiest for me - the weeknight observing schedule does complicate things otherwise. I often go down around four or five in the afternoon on a Saturday when there are no other plans, do a little shopping for trivial things, and then have a long lesiurely meal, and a pint or three. If it wouldn't be presumptuous, I'd be happy to stop by your rooms on my way out, if that would be easy for you.

And I'm sometimes free in the late afternoon for a few hours - so if you do get truly desperate, do feel free to trudge up the stairs and see: if I can get free, I'd be glad to keep you company. Now the YPL plans are set, my time's a little more flexible other than the ongoing piles of parchments to grade.

On our darling students - they do have their ways, don't they? I think it's also different for boys in this age than girls: I do remember my brothers being much more direct, as you describe. I think, sometimes, this journal project has evened the score a bit: the boys now seem as likely to plot and plan as the girls were in my day (and the girls seem to have gotten a little more active at times as well...)

Whatever I can share, I'm glad to - really, it's nothing much more than having done it for long enough to have seen the patterns, and to not take one of them speaking up too personally. I learned a lot by listening to more experienced teachers in my time, too.

Oh - and one question: what do you like to have people call you? I hate to presume.

At any rate, I look forward to our drink, whenever we manage to get together.

S.

[alt_rabastan]

If my apology was impressive then I must've gone too far, yet again. Better that than not far enough.

Don't worry about being too presumptuous with me. I am notoriously difficult to offend. Call me Raz, I'm used to it. I confess "The Razzer" makes me feel somehow more bestial than human, but I can't seem to shake it and wouldn't think to try at this point. And how shall I address you, Madam?

As for plotting and planning (on the students' ends, not ours), the journals may yet contribute, but I do wonder if the emergence of the Slytherin house has something to do with it. We were of quite low standing in my day, and a friendly Slytherin was too be looked upon as a coiled snake you'd not want to trod upon. Was quite a challenge for a bloke such as myself.

I seem to be free at...rather random times. I like to be about when Harry has quidditch practise, and late at night, too, of course. But even our Lord knows that I can't be at attention at all hours of the day, and so I have a deal with Mr Dawlish to stand in for me when I am absent. I know that sister Bella thinks him useless, but he does have the necessary training, and he's really quite eager to prove himself. But considering all other possible obligations, a Saturday might be best. Sounds like it's best for you, too.

Would this Saturday do?

[alt_sinistra]

Raz it is, then. As for me - most people call me Sinistra, even Pomona and Poppy, who I've been closest to here the last few years. My parents and siblings call me Auri. I've never much cared for Aurora, and it's a hard name to shorten other ways.

In terms of apologies, you must remember, I don't get the widest range to compare them to. Comes of being largely wedded to one's work with teenagers who have rudimentary manners and who apologise for rather silly things. "I'm sorry for not doing my work." "My classmate's pet ate my homework." "I tried to do my homework, but the squid soaked my parchment." and so on.

On the journals and the houses - I think you have something there. That's one excellent change, I suppose: I really do think that while the houses have much to offer, they were never meant to be quite as adversarial as they have sometimes become. Nor quite such a straight-jacket. I do think the YPL might eventually help with that, by encouraging more cross-house interactions in a variety of ways, but there are times I rather despair of it working out that well.

As to a drink: Saturday would be lovely, and I will look forward to it. Shall we meet in the front hall, or somewhere else?

-S.

[alt_rabastan]

Seeing as I'm neither your parent or sibling, I'll call you Sinistra, then.

Rory would be a good diminutive of Aurora. Though, ah, my family is partial to the Rs.

You'll have to tell me more about your work with the YPL. And also what I ought to prepare for come October. Bloody Erebus, that's coming up soon, isn't it?

(I've been trying to supplant "bloody hell" with "bloody erebus" and "bloody tartarus," for the sake of the young ones, you know)

Brill, I've got Saturday in my books, then. And the front hall should do just fine. See you!

-Raz

[alt_sinistra]

Sinistra's fine. I seem to remember someone tried Rory during my school days, and it faded out fast, but if you'd like to give it another try, I'm game.

And yes, your chat is coming up - though really, an hour or so of talking will do nicely. I'm sure they'll ask questions, so the real trick is keeping them on the subject you want to talk about, not the ones *they* want you to talk about, and you've already got experience in that. (And I'll help, of course.)

The YPL - well, I've got some stories that should amuse you from the camping trips, at least. The rest of it often alternates between a certain amount of chaos, and moments of "What on earth did I get myself into?", even with the best of planning.

I'll look forward to Saturday. At the moment, trying to drag my brain out of sleep for today's classes.

S.