Private message to Miss Perks

[alt_antonin]

I had intended to write this PM earlier; I apologise for having been distracted with this weekend's upset. I likewise apologise for the length of time it has taken me to finish arranging this. You have been most patient, when I know you are undoubtedly beginning to get nervous.

If you are amenable, over the Easter holidays I would like to invite you to my home for tea and a chance to make you known to Healer Ekaterina Petrovna Korotkova, with the agreement that (should you suit) she will take you on for a summer internship. Ekaterina Petrovna was a friend of my mother's, instrumental in helping to welcome my mother and brother when they first arrived in this country fifty years ago. Her speciality is ophthalmancy, both the treatment of eye disorders and the manufacture of eyeglasses and prostheses. While this is not an area I have heard you express much interest in, and you may be doubting my wisdom in seeking her out for an internship for you, I do believe she is the best choice.

Ekaterina Petrovna is an exacting, stern woman, and the word used to describe her most often -- by her friends; her enemies have far stronger epithets -- is "persnickety". She is also a highly experienced Healer, with eighty years of experience in providing patient care; she has forgot more about the profession of healing than most other Healers ever knew. She forms her opinions of people based more upon deeds, and less upon background; I believe she will look favourably upon both your diligence and your knack for crafting things (that being a large part of her practise), and she is willing to trust my assessment of your worth and your work ethic enough to at least consent to a meeting. (The delay in arranging it has been based largely in the length of time it has taken me to convince her it is worth her time to take in someone at all, not due at all to any characteristic of yours: it has easily been thirty years since she has agreed to accept an intern or apprentice. I am certain she will hold forth on the reasons why during our tea-time. At great length.)

The other reason I believe she would suit for your summer placement: Ekaterina Petrovna is a woman with considerable influence at St Mungo's. She is one of three Healers in the Protectorate who practise her speciality, and easily the best; she is also a close personal friend of several of the administrators, including the woman who makes the principal decisions about acceptances to the apprenticeship programme. If you are able to favourably impress her, she has the power to open a great many doors for you as you arrange your professional future.

Should this suit, she has indicated she is available on the afternoon of the 21st for tea and introductions. If you are unavailable then, let me know and I will see if it can be rescheduled; if you are available, let me know and I will send both you and her a formal invitation to tea. (A courtesy upon which she holds steadfast.)

Comments

[alt_sally_anne]

Oh, thank you very much, sir. Yes, I can come on the 21st -- here? or to your house in New London? -- and I'm grateful for the introduction.

I'd not thought about opthalmancy but it sounds like it would include both healing, and making things. I did some reading last year about magical eyes, actually, the kind people use when they've lost their natural one -- how they're made. (It's magic more advanced than I have the skill for right now. Or the facilities. I mean, to make one that would actually see, and not just look convincingly like an eye.) Are there any books you can lend me to read in advance of this meeting that would let me sound suitably knowledgeable on key subjects?

[alt_antonin]

My townhome, Cottesmore, in New London -- Ekaterina Petrovna would turn up her nose at me if I were to host us anywhere else. I can assure you she is more than adequate chaperone to protect your reputation; no one would dare insinuate she was involved in anything untoward.

The invitation will include date, time, and pertinent details. You needn't dress in anything but your Hogwarts robes. She is, I'm afraid, rather a stickler for the customs of the old country when it comes to tea, but she will not expect you to know them; however, should you wish a primer beforehand, I am happy to deliver it. (If I can remember the customs myself; it has been a good thirty years since the last time I put on the show.)

I've had a quick glance around my office library and cannot lay my hands on a reference immediately, but I am certain I own something suitable. Let me look further. A caution, however; Ekaterina Petrovna is not impressed by those who pretend more in-depth knowledge than they have. It is better to admit to her your ignorance than attempt to convince her you are more experienced than you are.

[alt_sally_anne]

I will definitely bear that in mind! Not that I routinely pretend to knowledge I don't have, but I have definitely on occasion let people peacefully continue in their assumption that I know something they think I ought to know. (Never in YOUR class, though, because I don't want to miss out on interesting information.)

I would welcome a primer on Russian tea customs.

Also -- I was wondering if you could give me a little advice regarding something of a personal nature.

[alt_sally_anne]

Nothing scandalous, I mean, it doesn't have anything to do with Justin and Hy recent events.

It's related to the challenge, though, and something Ron's sponsor said.

[alt_antonin]

It is best to leave the fine Slytherin custom of allowing your conversational partner to assume facts not in evidence at the door as much as possible. Ekaterina Petrovna did not attend Hogwarts, but you may think of her as a Ravenclaw crossed with a Gryffindor; she has the Ravenclaw intellect and the Gryffindor intolerance of fools and willingness to say so outright.

And of course you may ask.

I can't recall -- which one sponsored Mr Weasley? Avery? Montague?

[alt_sally_anne]

She actually sounds like a fascinating and appealing person. I'll try very hard not to give her any reason to think me a fool.

Ron was sponsored by Julius Avery. (Avery also sponsored Vincent Crabbe and Zach Smith.)

So back in February in Hogsmeade, Avery told Ron he ought to drop me, because being romantically involved with a half-blood was holding him back. Since Ron didn't take his advice, Avery found me in Hogsmeade this most recent time, and told me that I ought to break things off. And, to try to persuade me, he said that everyone knows Mr Malfoy is out of favour with Our Lord, and if the time should come when He wants to punish Mr Malfoy for something, Avery said he could see to it that Pansy was the one who got hurt. And it would be my fault, for not doing as Avery said.

So.

I talked this over with both Ron and Pansy, of course. Pansy says she can take care of herself and that I shouldn't worry. (Her sponsor is Ned Pennifold, if you're wondering.) Ron, meanwhile, is concerned that if he does drop me, it might protect Pansy but it would put me at risk -- I already got targeted by that idiot Dean Thomas for the 'shameful secrets' challenge.

Anyway -- do you think Avery ACTUALLY has the power to put Pansy in harm's way? And is Mr Malfoy likely to get in that sort of serious trouble? There's a big difference between merely 'out of favour' and the situation Avery is talking about.

Frankly, my assessment is that even if Avery is correct that RIGHT NOW he has that sort of influence, things on the Council shift so quickly that by the time such a threat would actually come into play, he wouldn't anymore. And that maybe he doesn't realise that because he was only Marked last summer.

(As far as what he's said about my lack of blood purity holding Ron back -- well, there are two half-bloods in the challenge, first of all. But also, it's ridiculous to act as though we are engaged. And should Ron be honoured with Our Lord's Mark, he would need to seek Our Lord's permission before marrying anyone at all.)

[alt_sally_anne]

Oh and I suppose I should say,

I did notice that you and Mr Malfoy quarreled, and I've heard from others that you had a serious falling out.

So, I would expect that you are in a good position to give me an accurate assessment of his situation, unencumbered by personal fondness.

[alt_sally_anne]

Oh and we did talk about pretending to break up but still seeing each other on the sly. But, you know? That's awfully risky in its own way. Having that sort of secret is like having a handle that people can grab onto, to hurt you or control you. And it is very difficult to keep secrets inside Hogwarts. (I'm thinking of Justin and Hydra, of course.)

[alt_antonin]

I see.

Bearing in mind that no one can predict Council politics with absolute certainty, and that there are of course additional considerations that cannot be calculated accurately nor discussed with those who do not have cause to know, I would not spend one additional minute of your time fretting about Miss Parkinson's safety; Avery does not have the sort of influence necessary with Our Lord to make good on such a threat.

That he should feel secure enough to make it to you, however, is interesting information. This is the sort of thing I would encourage you all to bring to me immediately when it happens. Not only does it allow me to take steps to protect you all -- and to every extent that is possible, I will always take steps to protect you; you are my students, and while I am neither omniscient nor all-powerful and cannot promise success in every conceivable situation, I will always do everything that is within my power to protect you for as long as possible -- but it is another piece of a puzzle I am fitting together. Thank you, Miss Perks; you have been most helpful.

I likewise would not worry about Malfoy, should you care about his prospects. Like a cat, he usually manages to land on his feet, however little he might deserve it in any particular situation.

My advice to you would be to choose none of the above options: rather than breaking off your relationship (and thus signaling that you both can be intimidated into acting contrary to your wishes), flaunting Avery's attempted domineering (and thus angering him and risking his retaliation), or carrying on your relationship in secret (inevitably opening yourselves up to the sort of scene that transpired this weekend) -- instead, simply make less of an issue of your togetherness, behaving towards each other as though you were nothing more than good friends. Do not attempt to convince anyone, whether in the competition or not, that you have broken up, but likewise do not carry on as though you are dating, if you understand the distinction.

Employing discretion in such matters is by way of making a counter-proposal; if Avery should continue to attempt to intimidate you, you can reassure him with a clear conscience that while you will not sacrifice your relationship, you likewise do not wish to reflect poorly upon him, and therefore have chosen to behave with utmost discretion, in consideration for his reputation as Mr Weasley's sponsor.

The trick, one supposes, will be getting Mr Weasley to understand the meaning of the word 'discretion' -- but I have faith in your powers of persuasion.

[alt_sally_anne]

Thank you, sir. That's very reasonable advice, and I am reassured by your thoughts on Pansy's safety.

We were considering a counter-proposal to Avery, offering to try to improve Crabbe's prospects a bit. (Zach Smith is a lost cause.) Since presumably it is in the sponsor's interests to have several candidates perform well.

[alt_antonin]

An interesting thought. I suppose whether it is possible to elevate Mr Crabbe's chances depends on what the remaining challenges turn out to be. (I do not know them, nor do I know whether they have all been agreed upon ahead of time or are being put together as we go.) You may be more successful in offering to attempt to interfere with the candidates of someone Avery wishes to show up; I suspect he is beginning to realise he only has a single candidate truly in the running, and does not wish to look foolish, so is pinning his hopes on Mr Weasley's success.

A not unreasonable choice, I might add; do let Mr Weasley know that I have full faith in his ability to succeed in this contest, and that if he does not, it will be only because of the presence of so many other talented candidates.

Still. You are all very young, to be thrown into this level of politicking without a safety net. I would be the last in the world to argue that you are too young to serve, as I do strive not to be a hypocrite, but at least when Savitha and I were training soldiers in Our Lord's army and Councilwizards to be His hands, we were doing so in such a way as to raise them up for Our Lord's benefit and the benefit of wizardingkind, not tear them down for our own advancement and petty power games.

Please do discreetly let your peers know that if they are feeling cast adrift in this competition, I cannot interfere directly in matters without repercussions, but I can, at least, serve as sounding-board.

[alt_sally_anne]

I think things were different then. You and Auror Desai were fighting a war; the younger Councilwizards were proving themselves against the likes of Mad-Eye Moody. They truly had the opportunity to prove themselves worthy.

The candidates at Hogwarts grew up in the Protectorate in peacetime. It's just not the same. Of course, everyone is doing their best to rise to the honour and prove themselves worthy, but -- well.

I'll let my peers know, sir. Thank you for the offer.

[alt_antonin]

There is that, yes -- but the last thing you want at this time of night is to listen to an old man reminiscing about ancient history. (Save that for attempting to get me off-topic in lecture tomorrow morning.)

Do get some sleep, Miss Perks. I will see you in class tomorrow.