(no subject)

[alt_antonin]

Our Lord's decision to turn His eye more closely to the halls of Hogwarts has been most exciting thus far. As many of you know, I served Our Lord before His liberation of the Ministry in the capacity of tutor and mentor to many. I count those memories among my most cherished; the work I was able to do during those years, and the work of my colleague and friend Auror Savitha Desai, helped many young adults to realise their full potential and enabled them to fight for what they believed.

Those young adults helped establish the Protectorate, helped remake the wizarding world in accordance with Our Lord's vision, and have become some of our leading lights in the years since. The passion, strength, and clarity brought to an undertaking by a young adult often shames those of us who are older and slower; some things call for youth and vigour. I look forward to seeing what that youth and vigour can bring today.

Since returning to Hogwarts I have been privileged to work with most of our new postulants, and I am confident that each and every one of you will, over the coming weeks and months, showcase the virtues most valued in His council: strength, decisiveness, intelligence, cunning, loyalty, dedication, and brotherhood. (The teacher in me must offer: my door is always open to those who wish to further their knowledge, though I will not interfere with the tasks you have been and will be set. Still, though the deeds you perform during this contest must be your own, most of the Council can think of several instances where our plans were all the better for having had someone to listen to us explain them in advance to help us refine the details, and for that service I am always available.)

I urge each and every one of you reading this, Hogwarts student or no, to continue to do your utmost to serve the Protectorate and Our Lord's glorious vision, whether in this competition to earn His highest honour, should you have been fortunate enough to have been chosen, or in your day-to-day work to further His vision of a strong, powerful, united wizarding nation. I am exceptionally proud of all my students, and I look forward to the day when more of you are called to join us as part of His brotherhood.

Comments

Private message to Raz and Auri

[alt_antonin]

There; that ought get the message across to all but the dullest (or the most ambitious) of the little darlings that running their plans by a cooler head, once the competition heats up a bit, would not go amiss.

Razzer, if you want to echo the offer, either here or in your own journal, some of them might be more comfortable going to you.

Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_sally_anne]

Do you think either of you should talk to him? More for the show of things than because you'd actually want his best advice.

Pansy, I kind of wonder what he'd say to you -- I mean, on one hand, he has been teaching you for long enough to know that you're really not cut out for Council membership. On the other hand, he's a close ally of Mr Malfoy's and he would naturally assume you'd gravitate toward his faction, right? So he might WANT you on.

Although after Dark Arts today he might think you just needed that little boost in your confidence to MAKE you Council material. You were clearly having a good day for spellwork.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_pansy]

It was rather fun today, wasn't it?

It's like Potions can be. Sometimes things just line up in a row and I can see how it all works, and it's just easy.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_ron]

Yeah. You were sort of fizzing and popping today in DA. Like everything was coming together.

I had a hard time concentrating. Thinking about other things, really, so not my best day in there. And I don't think I'll be going in to talk to him. Not yet, anywiz.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_sally_anne]

How did things go with Dumbledore?

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_ron]

Absolutely excellently well! It was dead brilliant tonight!

We were doing hexes that turn bits of you into different shapes or textures or sizes. The fin-finger jinx and the leg-locker and the hirsute hex. Oh, and Pans, I asked if we should try that Junior Auror blue spell, but he thought not. I reckon even Professor Dumbledore thinks that's one to avoid.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_sally_anne]

Well if you want one of us to cast the Leg-Locker curse on you sometime you've only to ask!

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_ron]

Yeah. I was in it for a while tonight, and it's just dead interesting to test all the ways your body's different when it's put together in a new way.

But I think that one would be more useful if I thought I'd turn out to be a Merman or, y'know, a fish. Since it can't be a magical creature, anywiz. Shame about that.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_pansy]

Oooh.

What if my calling you a fish-face all these years turns out to be prophetic?

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_ron]

Let's hope that's not true. Being an animagus fish would be... inconvenient. And not exactly the most useful thing ever.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_sally_anne]

You'll still be able to block out a legilimens.

Admittedly there are more useful things one could transform into.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_pansy]

You'd better keep a glass of water around when you start trying, though, just in case.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_ron]

There you go, assuming I'll be a minnow. What if I'm actually a TUNA?

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_pansy]

Oh, I'd certainly be happy to!

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_ron]

Yeah.

You really are feeling it today, aren't you? Too bad we didn't have duelling club tonight. I bet you'd have cleaned the mats with everyone there.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_pansy]

True!

I hope we get to brush up on our skills over Easter hols, like we did last term. After all, if Finnegan is a challenge, what chance are we going to have against Aurors and the Council?

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_ron]

Eh, Finnicky. Was ever so smug after that duel, but he's been quiet since I got all of them Saturday morning. Expect he didn't like being at the bottom of the rubbish heap on a muddy pitch.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_pansy]

And yes, I'll go talk to him. It's rather obvious he wants us all to, and it would look odd if I didn't.

It'd be worth it to see what he had to say anyways, and it probably wouldn't be too hard to sort out what he thinks about it.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_sally_anne]

Was that an owl from Ned Pennifold this morning?

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_pansy]

He said the rankings were one thing, but that I shouldn't be worried, because they take all sorts of other things into consideration, and that my instincts were good.

I think he was rather pleased.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_sally_anne]

It's weird how competitive I feel about it on your behalf even though I don't want you to finish in the top seven.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_pansy]

It's a bit galling to have to try to lose to Smith and Moon.

And Draco wants Vaisey and Stevens and Montgomery to get in. We'll have to bring them along kicking and screaming at the rate they're dragging their feet.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_sally_anne]

Frankly I think Vaisey, Stevens and Montgomery are even more enthusiastic about coming in near the bottom than you and Katie.

It's going to be a very weird contest.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_pansy]

And of course Patil is lording it over everyone, and I have to stand by and take it. Because it's best for the Order for people to think I'm incompetent, I guess.

Ugh. What a bitch.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_ron]

Yes, but it takes more skill to fake losing than to win.

Or something like that.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_pansy]

I suppose I'll have to comfort myself in being secretly superiour.

And I'll just have to ensure that eventually, they'll come to regret their underestimation of me.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_ron]

They will do.

Re: Order Only: Private message to Ron and Pansy

[alt_pansy]

Ugh.

I'm knackered.

Sleep well, tuna lips.

You too, Sally-Anne.

Don't stay up too late writing filthy things to each other.

[alt_percy]

That is excellent advice, and I certainly hope all of the candidates are wise enough to heed it.

Private message to Antonin Nikolaevich

[alt_percy]

I have been reading with great interest the reports which have been forwarded to me as of this date from Hogwarts. It certainly sounds as though the staff has had an enlivening time of it so far (which I am aware is not always a good thing). Some of the results have been unexpected, perhaps, but it is early days yet.

I shall be conveying the first précis to Our Lord quite soon--I merely am awaiting the confirmation of the appointment time from Mr Broome. I hope you will not consider me guilty of pusillanimity if I confess to having a touch of nerves? I do so wish to make a good impression.

Naturally, the appointment time will be rather short, considering the press of the Protectorate's business. Still, if there is any advice you might offer someone being ushered into His Presence for personal interaction for the first time, I would be grateful to receive it.

Re: Private message to Antonin Nikolaevich

[alt_antonin]

His regard can be disconcerting for those unaccustomed to the directness of His greatness. Do not worry about making a good impression -- that will cause you to try too hard, and He does not want lackeys or lickspittles -- but rather, spend your time preparing yourself for any question He might ask; He values competence and decisiveness (and is often annoyed by flattery and toadying) and what He wants from a report is the most important information presented first.

Be calm, be concise, answer any questions He might have honestly and without pretence or artifice -- or self-aggrandisement -- and let your work speak for itself. I am certain you will do fine, my dear boy.

Meanwhile -- I would consider it a favour if you would take a look in the protective cabinet in Lucius Mr Malfoy's office for the copy of Paracelsus' Crucibles he borrowed from me last year and has not yet seen fit to return. (It has my crest in the bookplate, lest you fear I am robbing him!)

In service,
Antonin