Private message to Lana

[alt_antonin]

Don't let me forget: I have something for you. I felt the need for some simple, uncomplicated puttering tonight, and unpacked some of the bottom layers of the book-trunk that I haven't been at for quite some time; down among the detritus I found several things copied from the Conclave's library that I'd forgot I had. I don't remember the contents well enough to say if any of them will be useful for you -- I think at least one of them might be, though I may be mistaken -- but you may enjoy going through them even if they aren't. You'll have to hand-copy anything you find relevant, since they're all powerful enough to resist duplication, but I don't mind lending them to you long enough for you to do so; they have lived in my trunk for thirty years or so without being disturbed, after all.

(I would simply send them by elf, but they are lineage-bound; I will need to introduce you to them.)

Comments

[alt_lana]

Oh! Thank you. That would be wonderful.

I've done riding herd on the Gryffindors for now, though I plan to make spot checks on them as the evening progresses. Honestly, they are such a disappointment academically. And it's ridiculous because most of them have potential if they would simply apply themselves. Even some of the halfbloods could perform if only they'd the inclination.

I plan to be in my workshop until half-seven, and then after making the rounds of Gryffindor and the library, I believe I'll retire to my rooms, but I could come by for these wonderful books whenever it's convenient.

I wouldn't mind running my latest hypothesis by you, anyway. I think it's ready for that.

And I've got something else I've wanted to share, as well, though that can wait if you've got other commitments tonight.

[alt_antonin]

Ah, well, if you figure out the knack of getting teenagers (who are not Ravenclaws) to apply themselves to their studies, you'll be ahead of most of us. Rest assured I am not holding teenage recalcitrance against you; you've been doing a fine job with them. Their studies have been so disrupted this year that I'm not at all surprised some of them are struggling. Have any of the other teachers said anything to you about particular poor performers? We can set up some remedial lessons if necessary.

I'm still up, and free of other obligations, if you want to stop by in a bit. I have some baked goods to share in addition to the reading material.

[alt_lana]

I'll be there after I pay another visit to the Tower.

I'm of half a mind to confiscate their journals in the evenings so they aren't so distracted by them. Chattering with their mates across the castle. Keeping up with their favourite bands. Reading ridiculous advice columns and inane comedians' blather. I found a firstie looking at lewd pictures. Honestly.

Baked goods, you say?

I'm certain that's excellent food for analytical thinking.

[alt_antonin]

One must allow a certain leeway for children to be children, my dear. The ones who are worth the effort put into them will realise soon enough when it's time to put the distractions away; the others will at least have a few years of carefree enjoyment before the world imposes its harsh lessons upon them. Leave them enough rope to hang themselves, has always been my way of thinking. (And thus you see Ravenclaw and Slytherin, perfectly embodied.)

As for the baked goods: lace cookies and marzipan from the New London café Auri introduced me to of which I am inordinately fond, and as Mardi Gras season is upon us, I've sweet-talked the elves into frying up a batch of beignets. (If you have never had them, they are quite the treat, no matter that they make me nostalgic for New Orleans. I am negotiating for a king cake, if I can turn up the recipe; that was part of the reason for trunk-diving this weekend.) I have the remainder of the beignets under a warming charm so you can experience them as they are meant to be eaten: fresh out of the fryer.

You've no need for enhancements to your analytical thinking ability, but they will certainly make the atmosphere more convivial.

[alt_lana]

Perhaps you're right about giving them rope enough. I'm not entirely ready to allow them all to go hang. It's simply embarrassing to have the House in one's charge show so poorly. I believe I'll give it a fair trial what chivvying and chastising can do.

You'll have to tell me stories of New Orleans. Papa was there on business long ago--there and other places in the Americas--before Abueloberto asked him to come here and head the family interests in the Protectorate (actually, it was before the war).

Papa has such interesting stories of his travels, though he tells them less now that we're grown, so I've no idea, really, whether they were strictly true or simply tales to amuse children. He told us of parades and wild festivities in New Orleans. And he told us there were many kinds of magic in that city, and many odd practitioners of exotic craft. Is that true?