Most likely I am teaching the cock to crow at the morning, but thought you should be aware: I am in receipt of a rather sugar-coated missive from your successor, intimating (in dulcet tones) your general unsuitability for anything save being penned up in your tower, and advising me to avoid overburdening your poor pretty head. Nothing truly overt enough to have earned an outright rebuke (though I must confess, as she had already set my teeth on edge with her first paragraph and prodded them along to grinding by her third, I was perhaps less diplomatic than I ought). Was taking tea with Narcissa when Umbridge's message arrived; made reference to the sheltering wings of N's tutelage in my reply to aver my conviction you were a better shepherd of your boundaries than charming Dolores would be.
Though we've not yet met in person, your kindness to me (unlike that of some others) lacks the wand secreted up the sleeve of the outstretched hand: that alone would prompt me to your defence even were you not an intimate of my nearest and dearest. I would be extremely naïve to believe you were not already aware of her animosity for you, but likewise remiss should I not pass along the warning. I will trust you have the situation well in hand, but do let me know of any assistance I might render.
(Inquired of N (long since a partner in catty remarks when in no danger of being overheard), am passing along in hopes it will amuse: why has no one ignited that woman's knickers in a tragic accident as yet?)
To happier matters: what languages are you in need of? I am fluent enough for translation in half a dozen, capable of teasing out meaning if not nuance in perhaps a dozen more. I would be happy to place those skills at your disposal.
Re: Private message to Antonin Dolohov
Most likely I am teaching the cock to crow at the morning, but thought you should be aware: I am in receipt of a rather sugar-coated missive from your successor, intimating (in dulcet tones) your general unsuitability for anything save being penned up in your tower, and advising me to avoid overburdening your poor pretty head. Nothing truly overt enough to have earned an outright rebuke (though I must confess, as she had already set my teeth on edge with her first paragraph and prodded them along to grinding by her third, I was perhaps less diplomatic than I ought). Was taking tea with Narcissa when Umbridge's message arrived; made reference to the sheltering wings of N's tutelage in my reply to aver my conviction you were a better shepherd of your boundaries than charming Dolores would be.
Though we've not yet met in person, your kindness to me (unlike that of some others) lacks the wand secreted up the sleeve of the outstretched hand: that alone would prompt me to your defence even were you not an intimate of my nearest and dearest. I would be extremely naïve to believe you were not already aware of her animosity for you, but likewise remiss should I not pass along the warning. I will trust you have the situation well in hand, but do let me know of any assistance I might render.
(Inquired of N (long since a partner in catty remarks when in no danger of being overheard), am passing along in hopes it will amuse: why has no one ignited that woman's knickers in a tragic accident as yet?)
To happier matters: what languages are you in need of? I am fluent enough for translation in half a dozen, capable of teasing out meaning if not nuance in perhaps a dozen more. I would be happy to place those skills at your disposal.
In regard,
A