Class on Tuesdays and Thursdays
Sep. 5th, 2012 06:03 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alt_antoninAs there was some confusion with the third-year classes yesterday, please allow me to clarify: the timetables you have been issued are not in error. Due to the difficulty involved in integrating the changes to the curriculum, we have indeed been forced to schedule several classes through the lunch hour. In addition to yesterday's third-year students, this also affects the fifth-year Gryffindor class on Thursdays.
As I'm aware that in many cases, your schedule does not permit you to eat earlier or later, you may arrange with the elves for lunch to be delivered to the classroom, and eat quietly and unobtrusively through our discussion. (I will likely be doing the same.) I know this is less than optimal; I apologise profusely for the inconvenience and will do my utmost to keep the situation from becoming too untenable.
As always, if you have any concerns, please stop in my office during my scheduled open hours, arrange with me privately for evening or weekend hours, or contact me via private message. I remember from my own school days how reluctant we always were to disturb our professors, but you will not be a disturbance to me in the least: I would far rather clarify the issue early when whatever problem can still be easily solved.
As I'm aware that in many cases, your schedule does not permit you to eat earlier or later, you may arrange with the elves for lunch to be delivered to the classroom, and eat quietly and unobtrusively through our discussion. (I will likely be doing the same.) I know this is less than optimal; I apologise profusely for the inconvenience and will do my utmost to keep the situation from becoming too untenable.
As always, if you have any concerns, please stop in my office during my scheduled open hours, arrange with me privately for evening or weekend hours, or contact me via private message. I remember from my own school days how reluctant we always were to disturb our professors, but you will not be a disturbance to me in the least: I would far rather clarify the issue early when whatever problem can still be easily solved.
Private Message to Rabastan Lestrange
Date: 2012-09-05 10:18 am (UTC)Shall try to catch you at supper tonight. (Am skipping breakfast and lunch -- hauling arse down to the Great Hall on Monday did me in more than I'd expected and that was without a class immediately after; eating upstairs yesterday after class was far less exhausting, and I grow weary of the little darlings staring at the way I walk when they think I'm not looking.) In case I miss you, however: I find myself in need of an eye-catching demonstration for next week and was thinking of using Balliol's Blood-Lock. I've had a turn around the classroom, but have yet to unearth any boxes of suitable construction to use as the container; the only ones I've been able to find all have metal hinges rather than wood.
Could use one of my own, of course, but they've all been mine so long I suspect they wouldn't take well to unlocking for the demonstration! Do you have anything on hand that might suit? If you don't get a moment to check, I'll send one of the elves out to New London this weekend to pick up half a dozen, or switch to a different demonstration, but it occurred to me you might have something in your storage.
(Am most looking forward to the start-of-term pressures easing off us both so we might mount an expedition into the Closet of Dire Leftovers. It will be just like the old days. Though I suspect we've both gotten better at ducking, and at least this time nobody will be actively trying to kill us. One hopes. ...I most likely shouldn't say that, should I?)
Eternally yours, and hoping I've not just jinxed us all,
T
Re: Private Message to Rabastan Lestrange
Date: 2012-09-05 03:27 pm (UTC)If you don't need it until next week I ought to have plenty of time to look. Any particular size?
I always assume that there's someone, somewhere, who wants me dead. My hope is that this year they won't be living in the same castle. Any case, we ought to let Rod know when we dive in- he loves dire leftovers, the more dire the better.
Any impression of our student body yet, or is it still early days?
Re: Private Message to Rabastan Lestrange
Date: 2012-09-05 05:59 pm (UTC)From what I've gathered of the last few years, a year where none of the people who are trying to kill you are sharing bed and board would be a novel change, yes. As disasters seem to beset the castle regularly of late, let us all hope that whatever enemy is no doubt plotting to arise should at least have the good manners to give us ample warning.
Have been favorably impressed thus far, actually -- I'd braced myself to have to start at barest beginnings, but there's more than a few of them thus far having demonstrated at least a hint of intellectual curiosity. (We've been covering the basics -- what are the Arts -- and after the shock of me disagreeing with their textbook definitions wears off, several classes thus far have rallied with suggestions I suspect them to have learned from you, actually.) I have high hopes. Now if only I can get them to stop flinching whenever I show my wand...
Would be quite grateful for the loan. As to size, "something that can be passed around" is my only thought -- was contemplating offering a substantial sum of House points for anyone who can get the box open once I've locked it to my hand, then sitting back and watching the inventive little darlings work. (Must confess, that exercise has always been one of my favorites for that very reason: watching the methods tried is often as telling as any manner of deeper analyses.)
And yes, do invite Rod along if you'd like -- once we've cleared the Direst of Closets, there's her former quarters as well, the less said about which the better. (There is a reason I am rooming elsewhere.)
Ah, and another group of young minds to pry open settles down and looks eager (and apprehensive). Time for me to pretend I know what I'm talking about.
Eternally yours,
T