Attention Students

[alt_poppy]

Today the Office of Underage Wizard Protection provided me with a series of informational pamphlets on a number of topics that might be of interest or use to some of you.

These materials have been sorted into the following ten categories:

Safety Awareness
School Safety
Physical Safety
Abuse Avoidance
Getting Help
Personal Hygiene
Good Behaviour
Conflict Resolution
Growing Up
Peace of Mind

If any of these subjects seems especially relevant to you, please do not hesitate to visit me.

Finally, I'm asked to tell you the following: 'the Ministry accord your safety and health the highest priority and have delegated to the Office of Underage Wizard Protection this mission of greatest seriousness, pitch and moment. UWP are working tirelessly to make Our Lord's realm a safe and wholesome place for you as you mature into the successful young witches and wizards you are meant to become'.

Comments

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[alt_poppy]

You'd think that an office calling itself Underage Wizard Protection would not break the quarantine on this school to deliver an enormous parcel of possibly contaminated pamphlets on such topics as tooth cleaning, body odour, and 'How Far Is Too Far? (Places No Tongue Should Go)'.

On top of which, they had the audacity to insist that I include their ridiculous mission statement verbatim at the conclusion of my remarks.

I've spent all evening scourgifying these documents, sorting them, and finding room in my cupboards to store them so they can grow dusty with age as they sit there unrequested.

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[alt_sirius]

Places no tongue should go? Merlin, James would've requested that pamphlet just for the suggestion value!

Poppy, I wanted to let you know that the ginger and hawthorn stuff worked wonders. I tested it this evening and Apparated southwest, aiming near the Pyrenees. I made it all the way to Carcassonne and actually had an appetite! Which is quite lucky, as there's a shop there that sells one of the best burgers in the country.

I'm heading into the mountains before dawn, but I can't believe it. I don't think I've ever felt so ... normal after Apparating before!

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[alt_poppy]

Oh!

I'm so relieved to hear it, Sirius. To hear from you.

Well. Right. Glad to hear my diagnosis was correct and the remedy worked as reported. That's a great good thing for today!

I hope you enjoyed every bite of that supper.

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[alt_sirius]

Well, I'm doing as well as can be, I suppose. Considering Reg's predicament.

And of course, the tea only works if I've time to prepare for it - but I reckon I can chew a little ginger if I need something in a hurry. Astonishing how so simple a solution evaded me for so long.

Listen, you had young Miss Parkinson in recently, right? You don't think Allie's right and she's, I dunno, mooning over Regulus? Nursing a crush, as it were?

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[alt_poppy]

Sirius, the girl is in my care. I can't divulge anything she would wish to keep private. I do think it's clear from what she's written publicly in the journals that she cares a great deal for your brother. Whether that rises to the level of a crush or is the sort of feeling one might hold for a special uncle, I really couldn't say.

I saw what Alice suggested to you, and since you've asked me, I will add that Miss Parkinson does not need any encouragement to find you heroic and fascinating when you are in such precarious circumstances. She does not need the distraction and sorrow of worrying over you. (Leave that to Alice and me; we're quite competent in that area.)

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[alt_sirius]

But by that logic, she does find me a hero? I'll grant you she didn't seem to believe Malfoy potion, cauldron and flame, but I've not been able to tell whether she's changed her tune, or if she's merely playing the obedient girl for fear of being sent back to my mother.

I guess what I'm struggling with here is whether it's just the outlaw mystique that appeals to certain young people of Hogwarts, or whether they really do have the sense to know the Protectorate is a load of bollocks.

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[alt_poppy]

Sirius Black.

There are quite enough of us who know you to be a hero: you don't need to collect a complete set of under-fourteens.

The truth of the matter is that Miss Parkinson, like many of the children her age, are experimenting with different ideas of what's right, wrong, healthful, exciting, admirable, shameful, persuasive, ridiculous. I'd say that she's still questioning, and--I'm going to regret saying this--I admit that having some admiration for you seems likely to encourage her in questioning Malfoy's assertions.

Oh, for goodness sake. Carry on, but don't you dare lead her on and then die on us. Do you hear me, Sirius?

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[alt_sirius]

Right. No dying.

I'm not asking for my ego, you understand. But because getting a better idea where I stand helps to know what I ought to expect.

Parkinson's mate, Perks, for example. There's a witch who knows how to butter her bread on both sides. I'm sure she's too clever by half. But Parkinson mystifies me.

I suppose I shall never properly understand witches.

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[alt_poppy]

It was late when your message appeared, and I had rounds to make. I've been puzzling over your meaning, though. What you 'ought to expect'? What are you asking, Sirius?

I really can't add anything to your knowledge of Miss Perks's character; she has passed my threshold very rarely. I do agree that what I've seen of her in the journals suggests that she understands the precariousness of her position as a halfblood child in Slytherin House. She appears to be very careful in her interactions with her schoolmates.

I would suggest to you, however, that both of those young ladies have taken a very surprising decision to sustain a friendship with the youngest Weasley boy. They persist in that despite considerable pressure from the school's social leaders to drop him.

[alt_sinistra]

I got a rather energetic owl message from the same office, asking me to do my best to encourage students to read them as part of the announcements during the upcoming YPL meeting.

Are you free for tea any time in the next few days? I suppose I should look through them and see what might be particularly applicable. I'd also like your advice on a few matters: the return of owl post naturally means that we're now looking again at plans for the summer.

[alt_poppy]

I've just had a follow up message from UWP which was so energetic it missed being a Howler merely by the fact it was not written on red parchment. Apparently my invitation to the students to avail themselves of this information fell short of what they had in mind.

And, oh my dear, yes! I should very much like to have tea. Any day would suit, providing, as always, no one suffers an emergency during that time. How about tomorrow afternoon? You'll be most welcome to thumb through the pamphlets and decide which if any of them might be incorporated into your plans for the YPL.

[alt_sinistra]

Tomorrow would be lovely. I believe I even have a pot of jam or something from my mother from earlier this fall left somewhere in my office to share.