Private message to Poppy

[alt_antonin]

I stopped back in my office tonight when I returned to the castle and saw that my wards had registered your visit -- did you need me for something? I am sorry I was not there; I took Auri into New London tonight for dinner and the opera, for her birthday.

Comments

[alt_poppy]

Ah, Antosha. I did stop up in hopes of catching you. I've two items of concern that I wanted to discuss, and it's never been my practice to expect the Head of School to come at my summons (short of a true emergency of some sort). I suppose it's too late to come up now. Perhaps you'd have a convenient hour at some point over the weekend?

I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be mysterious. The first is simply to alert you to the fact I'm still seeing cases of Pustule Pox; every Autumn it arrives along with one or two of the children, but the outbreaks are usually easily contained, and I rarely see a new case after the second week. I've alerted Heads of House and the Prefects that I've admitted four fresh cases in the past two days and have another suspect here, waiting to see if her fever will be followed by the usual rashes and blisters. It's nothing deadly, though the rare case goes to meningitis, and that can be serious. I tell you only so you'll know, should a parent contact you or should it otherwise become a matter of greater concern.

The second issue is a bit more delicate, and involves a new member of staff, so I'd hoped to speak rather than write about it, if you see. I've cared for several students this week unable to sleep because of anxiety about one course in particular, so again, it seems best if you are aware of the matter, whether there's need of intervention on your part or not.

Let me know if I might catch you this weekend. And please don't concern yourself for my having failed in my first attempt. I was pleased to have the opportunity to catch up with Mr Diggory and to satisfy my curiosity about his health and career prospects.

[alt_antonin]

I will be on Our Lord's business much of the weekend, but unless things go poorly I will be back by Sunday evening's supper. Perhaps after?

I don't recall the incubation period for Pustule Pox, but with four fresh cases in two days, this far into term, it is likely there is a carrier who has not yet been identified, yes? If you prefer to implement school-wide screening I will back you. Better to do it sooner than later.

[alt_poppy]

For better and worse PP incubates quickly. That's why it's generally possible to snuff it out in short order. That and the fact that if they've been exposed before they shouldn't get it again... though stranger things have happened, and ailments do sometimes switch their patterns without warning.

Let me see this through the weekend before we screen them all. Best to avoid all the worry that inevitably follows such a full-on effort. (Mind you, last time that was needed, we were having a dragon pox scare, but I'll tell you, it was not a happy afternoon when Rita Skeeter marched onto my ward, dicta-quill in hand and photographer in tow.)

[alt_antonin]

Miss Skeeter and her employers have been made aware that she is no longer welcome on Hogwarts grounds, but I take your meaning. Still, keep me posted: I would rather the fuss than the risk of a wider outbreak. And we can always invent some other reason for your examining the whole school.

[alt_poppy]

You're quite right, of course: if it comes to it, we'll do everything necessary to protect the health of our students. I do have hope that we will escape without that being necessary.

[alt_antonin]

From your quill to the ears of the gods!

Oh -- while I am thinking of it, as I know it will slip my mind otherwise -- I am having a genteel but spirited debate about the budget, and am preparing my best arguments. Some reinforcement would not go amiss. When you've a chance, can you duplicate your books for me and send them along to Mr Diggory? Let us say, oh, the last five years' worth; that will give an adequate picture of the ebb and flow. The records I have from Minerva have the sums, but not the details, and I'm certain your records are much more detailed. A brief tallying-up of the list of supplies or ingredients you would purchase if you had room in your budget, along with an estimate as to what they would cost -- I will not hold you to that estimate; to the nearest hundred Galleons will suffice -- would also help provide some ammunition.

This is not urgent -- I will not need it for this month's Governors meeting -- and at our next staff meeting I will be asking everyone to do the same, but since I was thinking of it this morning I thought I ought mention it now.