alt_antonin | End of Term

To celebrate exams being over (and the successful completion of my first term at Hogwarts), I will be holding an informal get-together in my classroom, tomorrow (Friday) after the final exam slot of the day and until it is time for supper. I will provide light refreshments.

As all exams will have been given by that point, you will likely be able to persuade me into discussing the questions, and the answers I was looking for, should the uncertainty be such that it would spoil your holiday. Priority will be given to the questions of those who bring suitable bribes of chocolates or sweets. (Lest anyone take me seriously and cry foul: yes, that is a joke.)

Though it certainly has been an eventful term, I must say it has also been, on the whole, an enjoyable one. Merry Christmas and happy New Year to all of you, and I shall look forward to returning, refreshed and ready to tackle a new term, in January.

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From:

alt_antonin

My dearest,

Well, exams are nearly over, and I have survived. (Let us hope I have not now jinxed us.) Your advice on formulating my exams for easy marking has once again proven invaluable: I have for the most part managed to mark as I go no matter how gruelling the students themselves found the questions. (If we've a moment free before end of term, remind me to show you the collection I am keeping of some of the more ... creative ... answers; many of them do not require familiarity with the subject to spot the hilarity.)

Regarding gifts, meanwhile: the bulk of your present is rather unwieldy. I would rather not haul it along with us to the get-together on Wednesday next (and you would likely rather not have to haul it home afterward) -- if you are amenable to an early exchange, I will ask the house-elves to bring it up to your tower Friday evening in anticipation of the midwinter vigil. (For which, yes, I am still interested in joining you, if my invitation still stands.)

Since we have not had a chance to compare our holiday schedules: are you and Raz attending the Coopers' soirée on the 27th? I will assume you'll be at the St M's gala on the 29th, and of course New Years' Eve at Buckingham. (As for me, I am simply looking forward to the chance to sleep in for two weeks -- should my blasted circadian rhythm do me the kindness of refraining from waking me before sunrise again.)

Yours,
T

From:

alt_sinistra

Tosha -

I am delighted, as usual, to have been helpful - and yes, swapping creative answers is one of the pleasures of marking, so please share.

Unwieldy presents, really? (Raz has managed to massively simplify things for me with the early part of his gift, but it's meaning rearranging my packing plans, which is what's occupying me this morning.) At any rate, part of my present to you is probably better done in private, rather than on Boxing Day, so I'll bring it all up tomorrow as well.

And yes, of course, tomorrow night. Do come up whenever you like - I'll be up there from after supper. I have the 3rd year exam at nine (but you may have the comfy chair and whatever reading material you like in my office), and then I have the newts from ten to half-eleven or so in the office. You are most welcome for that part: it is largely an exercise in "how to discuss one's research", and it might be of interest even if some of the topics are unfamiliar.

But before and after that, my attention is entirely yours, and I think the weather might clear nicely. I will have to mark the 3rds at some point, but their exam is straightforward, and I can keep chatting throughout.

As to holiday schedules: yes to both of the above (though with the Coopers, I'm trying to figure out what on earth to wear.) And at least the ball for the Twelfth Night weekend, as inconvenient as the timing is with coming back to school. (And of course, the Malfoys, Boxing Day, and a handful of smaller gatherings, though I am making my excuses for our extended family Christmas eve, given the rest of the calendar.)

If you and I can find a free afternoon, I would love to take you up on your offer of introduction to yet more bookstores, and I am mindful that I promised you an introduction to the Archetype. I suspect Raz will be out with Harry at least a few of the days in there, and perhaps we can use one of those?

Right. Back to my packing. If I am not down at lunch, it is because I am buried in robes. And shoes.
-A.

From:

alt_antonin

Miss Perks,

I will bend my dignity and confess to you that I have been entranced with your gift since receiving it on Monday -- every time I think I have discovered the extent of its diabolical subtleties, I uncover another layer. I am particularly impressed by the work you did to ensure that whenever the bearer compares the time on the watch to another timepiece, the time is correct -- the randomness regarding whether the watch runs early or late is intensely amusing in and of itself, but the comparison clause and the way it keys into the bearer's anxiety about timeliness elevates it from amusing curiosity to delightful evil genius.

Thank you again for the gift; I will certainly put it to suitable purpose at some point in the future. And thank you again as well for your diligence on behalf of my holiday greetings -- I have heard compliments from several people about the loveliness of the cards.

If you've a few moments to stop in before the end of term, I have a small token for you -- if you don't have the chance, I will make sure it is delivered by house-elf before you depart. I hope that your holiday is pleasant and relaxing, and look forward to the pleasure of your intellectual company in the coming year; the desk in my office you have been using is yours for the asking next term as well, should you be in need of a quiet place to work.

Best wishes for the season,
Professor Dolohov

From:

alt_antonin

Mr Malfoy,

It occurs to me that I will be leaving from Hogwarts directly to Malfoy Manor on Saturday in anticipation of your gathering. I certainly do recall the ride home for the holidays on the Hogwarts Express being a social event as much as transportion, but if you would care to forego it for any reason, do let me know -- I would be happy to side-along you and save you the trouble.

I do look forward to the chance to socialise with you outside the school environment, and to continue our past discussions regarding opportunities to serve Our Lord in the wider world.

Regards,
Professor Dolohov

From:

alt_draco

Thank you for the offer, sir, but I do think I ought to take the train along with the other prefects.

The elves at home know to have all of my dress robes and other accouterments out and ready for me as soon as I get back to the Manor.

I look forward to socialising with you, as well. I'd particularly like to know a bit more about how the Noble Arts are seen abroad. I'd been led to believe that some countries take a rather more conservative view of them than we do, but then Finch-Fletchley seems quite adept at the Arts, having come to us from Beauxbatons. Several of those I befriended from Durmstrang indicated that they embraced them, as well. Still, it was clear that their usual curriculum different from ours, if only in subtle ways.

From:

alt_antonin

No, that does make perfect sense, and speaks well to your sense of duty -- still, I thought I would make the offer.

And yes, you're quite correct -- attitudes on the Arts are many and varied. (And of course individuals inside a culture vary considerably as well, such as how many of the prominent families of the Protectorate passed information and performed study privately, before Our Lord came to power and while societal attitudes were more restrictive.) Eastern and northern Europe, in general, have historically been more permissive -- Durmstrang has been teaching the Arts for generations -- while western Europe, pre-Protectorate Britain included, has been more restrictive. Following on from my class lectures about the social construct of groupings of magic, there are also many cultures who don't divide the categories of magics the way we do -- in my mother's culture, which is still strongly influenced by the worldview of ancient Egyptian wizardry, most forms of Divination are considered "Dark Arts" unless practised under very exacting conditions.

But I get ahead of myself! (As you may tell, I find the topic utterly fascinating, and will happily converse upon it for hours. The trick is to aim me in the direction you find most interesting.)

If we do not have time to have that conversation due to your hosting obligations -- I would be happy to host you, and perhaps Miss Parkinson and Mr Marvolo as well (as I believe you're all good friends), for tea and conversation at any point over the next two weeks. You've only to let me know when it would suit.

Regards,
Professor Dolohov

From:

alt_antonin

Mr Moon,

I must thank you again for the mug -- the charm work is very clever, and I have amused myself by trying to spot all the languages I speak among the display and guess at those I do not know. (It does help that 'coffee' is a fairly recognisable term, one supposes!)

As I mentioned last week, you may consider yourself off the hook for your detention tomorrow, and we will resume in the new year -- however, if you would be so good as to stop by my office right before lunch anyway, I have a small token for you that you may find educational.

Best wishes for the season,
Professor Dolohov