Private message to Padma Patil and Ron Weasley

[alt_antonin]

I will assume today's show in class was part of Our Lord's challenge. I do not know for certain which of you was the challenged and which was the challenger, but in future, will whomever decided to use today's battle practice as pretext kindly remember that this challenge does not exempt you from school rules and will undoubtedly go better for you if you keep your professors apprised of when you plan to use their classes as part of your tasks. Particularly when, had I been aware of your plans, I would have been able to both better ensure the safety of your classmates (and avoid disruption of the lesson) and provide you the necessary support.

I will allow the matter to pass without further remark, but should either of you need to use my class as part of your task in the future, I will expect to be informed ahead of time. Failure to do so will have consequences commensurate to the class disruption involved.

That having been said: Miss Patil, five points to Ravenclaw for your showing against so many opponents. Once you have been released from Madam Pomfrey's care, see me this afternoon or after class tomorrow and I will teach you how to recognise when you are affected by, and dispel the effects of, the Target-Attractant Hex.

Mr Weasley, five points to Gryffindor for your discovery and employment of the Target-Attractant Hex. Once you have been released from Madam Pomfrey's care, see me this afternoon or after class tomorrow; I am most curious about where you learned it. If you are interested in similar obscure hexes that can affect the course of battle I have some resources I can lend you.

Comments

[alt_ron]

Thank you, sir.

[alt_antonin]

You are welcome, Mr Weasley. Good luck in your future tasks, and I hope you will consider me a resource.

In service,
A.

[alt_padma]

Thank you, Professor. I, for my part, meant no disruption. I certainly wouldn't have asked for that Hex, sir! But I'm glad I was able to push through its effects. I would be very interested in learning how to counteract it, if I should ever need to do again.

[alt_antonin]

You did very well. The first time one finds oneself fighting underneath a Target-Attractant Hex -- which is, I must admit, a terrible word for it, but it is a near translation from the German, and the hex is rarely used enough that no one has ever bothered giving it a less awful name -- can be exceptionally confusing. That you were able to make such a good showing is to your utmost credit.

Every now and then the hex does become fashionable again for some time, particularly when others see it cast or witness a battle in which one combatant is operating under it, despite its finicky nature and long casting-time; it is possible you will find yourself fighting under its effect again in the future. Fortunately, the counter-hex is simple enough to be performed in the midst of the fighting, if you are cognizant enough to realise that is why your luck has turned. I have no doubt you will be able to learn it quickly.

As I said to Mr Weasely: good luck in your future tasks, and I hope you will consider me a resource.

In service,
A.