Private Message to Auror Desai and Auror Trainee Sandoval-Pennifold

[alt_antonin]

Nisha --

I understand you are Trainee Sandoval-Pennifold's supervisor, and thus the individual to whom I should direct my praise. (I am copying Trainee Sandoval-Pennifold for her own records and will follow up with a more formal letter of commendation once we are all out of this blasted country, but wished to write this before I forgot.)

I have worked with several of the department's ducklings during this operation and of them, found Sandoval-Pennifold most helpful; I have found very few people who are able to keep up with me and she did a more adequate job than most. I must also salute her ability to think on her feet and to follow my cues, including those so subtle that I had not expected her to pick up on them.

She has a definite flair for interrogation, and her support proved invaluable in discovering the plot to sabotage the IMA's surrender; though she did not have access to the background information that allowed me to piece together the inconsistencies, she was still able both to follow my lead in the interrogation in which those inconsistencies came to light, and to usefully occupy the prisoners while I researched further. Her assistance almost certainly allowed us to discover the treachery more quickly than I might have done alone.

Please accept my commendation for her efforts; her skill does credit to you, to her former mentors, and to the department as a whole.

In service to Our Lord's ideals,
Antonin Nikolaevich

Comments

Private Message to Auror Trainee Sandoval-Pennifold

[alt_antonin]

My dear girl,

In addition to the above, allow me to also offer a word or two of more personal praise. I am more than aware I am not an easy person to keep up with during a crisis, and have driven more than one neophyte to explosions of frustration throughout the years. Your poise and composure through the worst of the tension is to your utmost credit. (Honestly, reviewing my memories of the most fraught moments of the past week, it may be a wonder no one chucked me into the Liffey to cool down a bit.)

If I may be so bold -- at several moments during our mutual endeavours, you made a remark or two indicating that you have found yourself at a disadvantage regarding your education in the Arts since leaving Hogwarts. Should you be interested, once I return to my library, I might send you several volumes that should prove useful in rectifying those gaps, in further commendation of your aid.

Regardless, your work this week -- at least, that I have been able to observe, and I am certain in other areas as well -- has been eminently satisfactory, and I hope you are able to take pride in what you have helped to accomplish.

In service,
Antonin Nikolaevich

Re: Private Message to Auror Trainee Sandoval-Pennifold

[alt_lana]

Thank you for your generous evaluation, Antonin Nikolaevich.

I'm glad to have earned your good opinion, and I'd very much like to read anything you could share with me.

You're right about my education in the Arts. Even at school, we left whole areas unexplored. And, of course, my training since has been more practically focused in the sense of instilling protocols, honing skills, and cultivating instinct and improvisation. We've been taught specific spells and methods that belong to the Arts, but not their underpinnings nor the connections amongst them.

I did, though, spend two sessions studying dark artefacts with Rodolphus Lestrange, and I learned more in those months than in all my years at school. He's another awfully good teacher. Like you.

Of course, I'm glad to see our work in Ireland end; only, I was sorry there wasn't more time I could spend learning from you. I do think the students at Hogwarts are awfully lucky to have you there.

Earnestly,
Lana Sandoval-Pennifold

Re: Private Message to Auror Trainee Sandoval-Pennifold

[alt_antonin]

My dear girl,

Thank you for your compliments -- and yes, Rod is an excellent teacher, and I am not in the least bit surprised you learned a great deal from him.

Once I have settled myself back within range of the bulk of my library, I will send along those books -- given how quickly you learned the small pieces I had time to teach you I doubt you will find them unduly challenging, but if you find yourself at a loss with any of them, you may feel free to write me and I will do my best. You are not the only individual of your generation whom I have heard express the lack of certain theoretical underpinnings regarding their education in the Noble Arts; I am considering writing a textbook or delivering a series of lectures to fill in those shortcomings for those who wish, but in the meantime, I am happy to devote what small time I have spare to rectifying that lack on an individual basis for those such as yourself who are in a position to use that information. I only wish I could do more.

I wish you luck in your future endeavours, and hope that you are able to take some rest before plunging back into your daily tasks!

In service,
Antonin Nikolaevich