alt_antonin | (no subject)

Those for whom the information is useful -- as mentioned in the Prophet, I have returned to Our Lord's Protectorate in hopes I may be of service.

Those for whom the information is enticing -- I have finished unpacking and shall be holding informal salons over the next few days for those who are so inclined to come relieve me of the excess books that appear to have bred in my trunk while I wasn't looking. Inquire at the usual address.

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From:

alt_antonin

Old friend,

Should you happen to take note of my message to your clerk, rest assured, I am not trying to interfere -- we had a very pleasant and wholly insightful chat on Thursday about the prior state of the Hogwarts curriculum that influenced my syllabus considerably. In appreciation for his assistance (whether he knew he was giving it or not) I've sent him a stack of many of the texts he mentioned being unfamiliar with, including my translation of the Korovin should he care to follow its exercises. (If he begins to manifest the traditional side effects 'round about the second sequence, and they become too unpleasant to cope with, send him to me; I'll straighten him out.)

Your little note regarding his uncles slipped out of the manuscript while he was handing it over, by the by. Keeping a straight face was only possible due to years of long practice. I take it his presence as your clerk indicates the traditional familial sympathies are not shared in the progeny? Or are you simply indulging yourself?

Oh, and regarding that manuscript -- trite and shallow for the audience it's written for, but possibly containing merit as a schoolboy's introduction with a bit of revision. Would be happy to edit if you feel it warranted, though it will have to wait until the new year at the least.

Yours in that pleasant little stroll down memory lane,
T

From:

alt_lucius

T,

If I object to anything it is the way in which your re-entry to our circle has affected my wife, not my clerk! (Rest assured, I know better than to worry on that score. Besides, she is currently more perturbed by the seeming impossibility of taking a holiday that is not plagued by calamity. You can be sure, Toshenka, that if she ever begins to consider seriously that the life of an itinerant scholar's wife might be preferrable, I shall quash the impulse easily enough by revealing certain of your own foibles.)

Nonetheless I should have known you could not resist the opportunity to encourage any and all flies which have the fortune to land in the proximity of your web. Confess I merely thought you might be diverted by his visit; delighted that he proved useful in more than one way. (Hope you did not keep him over-long, however: You are correct that even though I am on holiday, he has more than enough chores to occupy his time!)

But I would caution you not to trouble yourself over-much with his education: He has proved acceptable, perhaps one might even go so far as to say, promising, but he does grate on polite company, so feel no compunction at all regarding ejecting him should he grow too insufferable. As for the family ... well. 'Common' rather encapsulates the whole household.

Arthur Weasley is undoubtedly a soft, sentimental blood-traitor of the worst kind but he manages to keep his nose infuriatingly clean. In what one can only guess is an attempt to single-handedly replace her brothers and more besides, Molly Prewett Weasley birthed a passel of boys and one girl, most of whom you shall soon see in your classrooms. Besides my clerk, there are two older brothers as well; one is stationed at the dragon preserve at Stornoway and the eldest has assumed the duties of secretary to our mutual friend Stephen. Thus far he seems to be the gem of the family but with tempering, 'Tertius,' as Minerva calls him, may yet lead us to the true nature of the rest.

Whether he does or no, believe you may already see the effect of good influence on his character. Have no illusions that he can truly rise above his poor breeding but the knowledge that his ideals are properly aligning (as is his ease with spells which, am sure, turn Arthur Weasley's stomach), was in itself of enough amusement value to have obtained his services.

His own merit as a clerk has - thus far - provided enough value to retain those services. (Much to my relief, I might add: Really, it is an exceptional effort to break in new ones when time and accuracy are of the essence.)

As to Charles' project, was more than happy to dispense with the volume altogether. Obscurus has no interest in publishing drivel. Feel free only to tell Charles that it is only good for pulp and he may reject it out of hand.

Now, it seems my presence is once again required by MLE.

Yours in anticipation of proper reunion, bratishka,

-L

From:

alt_antonin

Your little flower indeed has more sense than that -- and you know me too well entirely, old friend.

Your Weasley, meanwhile, has less sense than he ought; what are they teaching in schools these days, when one so blatantly of the house of Lion doesn't think twice at an unfettered offer from the house of Snake? His return missive was charmingly artless (in all senses) and adorably sincere -- apparently I'm certain to be a favorite of the little darlings in this forthcoming year. Well, I suppose it doesn't need a Seer's powers to predict I'll be more of a favorite than darling doomed Alecto, at least. Wonder how many of the chicks will flinch instinctively when I walk in the room?

Still -- there is ever joy to be found in a challenge, and he wears the hunger more plainly than the dirt clinging to the hem of his family's robes. And not the hunger for a more elevated station to which you refer (though yes, someone does need to culture him -- much as one might an oyster -- before he's presentable in polite company). If I could be bothered, I'd stake the pride of my library against the best of your cellar I could temper him to steel, actually, if never precisely to greatness; as is, well, you know how helpless I am in the face of a sincere desire to immerse oneself in the lore. No matter what the poor boy's done or not done, he hardly deserves Alecto to have been his only tutor. We shall see how matters develop and whether (and how quickly) I grow bored; for now at least, I find the artlessness endearing.

(Rest assured I shan't encourage dereliction -- in fact, sent the books by way of elf, ordered to provide whatever services the household requested for an afternoon. Curious to see what it'll observe while there.)

My love to Narcissa, and if you haven't already told Draco of the news for fear of it spreading, you've twelve hours or so to beat the Hogwarts owls. Stephen stopped by earlier to avail himself of the fruits of my travels (I did cull those titles I thought you'd be most interested in beforehand, though the thestralskin-bound Cruor Invictus with the 15th c handwritten marginalia was my apology gift to Barty for missing so many birthdays) and offered his usual astute observations on how to head off a Howler or two at my sill tomorrow evening. Should prove entertaining, if nothing more.

I find myself oddly anticipatory of the adventure that awaits, actually. Our Lord's kindness in allowing me this task defangs much of the manticore's sting in knowing I've still a long road to recovery ahead of me.

(Oh, and -- MLE? Shall send the elf out for a copy of the Prophet when it returns, to see what I've missed. I trust you know that if you've need of me, you only need call, Lyoushka, though as always I can hardly imagine anything that might be.)

Yours faithfully, and surprised to discover how much I'd missed that mode of address,
T

From:

alt_lucius

You have been gone too long without enough exposure to the changes Our gracious Lord has wrought, Toshenka: Our esteemed House has gained its rightful place as the pinnacle of proving grounds. And you are more than correct in your assessment: My guess is that if you are not careful, you shall have a supplicant in Weasley to rival that unfortunate Rothschild chap. The one who made the mistake of taking 'boot-licking' literally in his zeal to join Our Lord.

However, you needn't concern yourself that Alecto was and remains his only tutor, старик. I flatter myself that I have at least managed to impart the rudiments amongst the more immediate lessons of Ministerial politics and gate-keeping. But you are right, as usual, that there is something about the lad that tips him more toward 'intriguing' than 'altogether unacceptable.' There is much to be said for youth and enthusiasm, no?

Shall certainly reap the benefits of your voracious buying habits at the earliest opportunity! Not to worry about Draco, however - he knows and is pleased that his professor shall be another somewhat familiar face (though not, alas, as avuncular as we might have wished. We all serve as best we may). But we have had more pressing concerns than his books, if that can be believed. Still, presume you mean to use Brandt? Calidus? He has read the introductory chapters of Wierus but no further as yet. (And of course, he read the Khātūn edition Father gave to me, years ago.)

Confess, you do know how to wound me, bratishka, in selecting that volume for Barty and tempting me with its existence, but shall not begrudge him his own special token of your affection. (Narcissa, incidentally, has been merciless toward his delight at your proximity. You know how she can tease. But it is only because he seems quite transformed - to the good, of course. You'll be aware of his altered circumstances in the last six months and if not, suggest you let him admit to you the details.)

Besides, there is always the challenge of finding a means to win it from him.

Regarding MLE - nothing to worry you and it requires too long an explanation. There was a matter of a death a short Apparating distance from our holiday cottage. As it happens, the victim was also a party of interest in an ongoing investigation Barty has been conducting on my behalf, concerning Draco. The worst part is that we were hoping to follow him to a larger conspiracy, which his death somewhat disrupts, but per Barty's this afternoon, we may yet bear fruit from higher up in the branches of his political tree.

All I require from you, my dear Toshenka, is that you regain your full strength and vigour. With that, shall leave you to your rest.

Expect me to-morrow after noon.