(no subject)

[alt_antonin]

Students: I am pleased to announce that Our Lord has chosen to honour me with the role of Headmaster of Hogwarts.

As I hope you have all come to believe in the past two years we have been working together, education is a cause that is near and dear to my heart. I am very pleased to be afforded an opportunity to expand my focus from educating students in the Noble Arts to overseeing student education in all the rich and storied traditions of wizarding skill, history, and culture. I am eagerly anticipating the prospect of spending the next few years returning Hogwarts to its glory as a haven for research, scholarship, and wizarding might.

Those of you taking your NEWTs in Noble Arts: I have reserved the prerogative of teaching the NEWT-level classes to myself; I would not wish to give that up. There will, of course, be other staff changes announced over the summer. I look forward to September, and to serving you all and, of course, Our Lord and His vision for the Protectorate's growth.

Comments

Private message to Justin Finch-Fletchley

[alt_antonin]

Today was most enjoyable; I hope you found it so as well.

If you are amenable, I will arrange with Pontner to steal you for one morning a week. Shall we say Thursdays? Mornings on the course, then dinner and a chance to discuss the outcome before you return to your tedium? I may need to cancel occasionally, of course, but I believe I can make enough of a commitment.

Re: Private message to Justin Finch-Fletchley

[alt_justin]

Sir,

By all means, yes. I say, it was even more exhilarating than I'd imagined. Thursdays ought to do jolly well. I've been quite obliged to you for all the additional tuition you've seen fit to provide, Professor, and quite keen for it to continue.

Congratulations, again, on your promotion. I daresay it will be a welcome thing for one as attentive as yourself to oversee the school and restore it to the glories which some of us have only heard by report. Hogwarts is without equal, no doubt, but it will be a fresh challenge to meet the ways in which you will raise the bar even higher.

-Finch-Fletchley

Re: Private message to Justin Finch-Fletchley

[alt_antonin]

I am most pleased you enjoyed yourself. You ought be proud; you held your own admirably, more so than even some of the regulars. You have quite the natural talent, and unlike many to whom such skills come easily, you are equally willing to spend the time and effort necesary to hone it. Teaching you is no trouble at all -- indeed, I find it immensely rewarding.

And thank you. It is true that Hogwarts is without peer, but also true that we ought all seek to constantly better ourselves. I hope to do what I can to elevate my dear alma mater closer to her original status as the utmost name in wizarding education, turning out witches and wizards who are well-rounded, well-educated, and ready to step seamlessly into their future as the Protectorate's sinews. Certainly it will not be an immediate change, but I am looking forward to the challenge; it will be quite the adventure.

Private message to Harry Marvolo

[alt_antonin]

May I call upon you tomorrow? Now that the announcement has been made, and given that the school will undoubtedly be awash in Council politics next year, it would be only logical for us to discuss matters ahead of time.

Re: Private message to Harry Marvolo

[alt_harry]

Of course.

I'm very much looking forward to working with you this upcoming term, sir.

Re: Private message to Harry Marvolo

[alt_antonin]

Harry, how many times must I tell you that when we are not in a school situation, you ought not call me 'sir'? If anything, my vows to your Father and things He has made clear about how He views your role, means that I ought be calling you that!

I am confident enough of your respect for me; you ought not weaken your position by demonstrating it to others in a fashion that others might mistake. Call me Antonin. Your Father has made it quite clear you are His heir, and as such He is the only person in this world to whom you owe such deference.

I shall call upon you tomorrow -- say, after tea? -- to share my plans. I am certain you will have many wise suggestions to offer.

Re: Private message to Harry Marvolo

[alt_harry]

Your council is, as always, much appreciated.

I am wise enough to know my limitations. I will work to overcome them.

I believe we have many of the same goals in mind for this upcoming term, and may of the same concerns as well. You of all people know how much I care about the wellbeing and education of the students at Hogwarts.

You are an asset to this school, Antonin.

Re: Private message to Harry Marvolo

[alt_antonin]

Thank you, my dear boy; I do try my hardest. Well, you've seen how passionate I am about education, and I can think of fewer things more critical to your Father's vision for the Protectorate as exemplar to the world than a well-educated populace, all of whom have been given every opportunity to develop their gifts to greatest measure.

I have indeed seen much evidence of your shepherding of Hogwarts itself, and of the students who make up her greatest asset, and it is one of the reasons I am approaching you in particular as I build my plans; I can think of few other people who care about Hogwarts as passionately as you do. I am hoping to arrive at a mutually-agreeable plan for (at very least) the year to come, and to persuade you both to utilise your role in service to the school and to lend that passion to the task of picking holes in my plans!

I will say that I am, how shall we put it, quite cognisant of some of the worst examples that have been visited upon the school in recent history, and determined to avoid the same approach. If you mind me, and I believe you do.

Re: Private message to Harry Marvolo

[alt_harry]

That's the point, isn't it? That all students be given that opportunity in the first place. Really and truly.

I'll see you tomorrow.

Re: Private message to Harry Marvolo

[alt_antonin]

Just so. It is incumbent upon us to provide the opportunity; those who do not avail themselves of that opportunity thus have only themselves to blame.

I shall look forward to our discussion.

Private message to Auri

[alt_antonin]

There, that's done and dusted, and I can begin making plans a bit more publicly -- or at least begin firing the first salvos in what will undoubtedly be a number of epic battles with the Governors.

If you've had a chance to start on those lists of potential lecturers, do forward them on; I will begin the persuasion. (If you haven't, of course, do not fret about it in the least; I've plenty of prospects to begin wooing on my own.)

I shall avoid asking you the usual tedious questions of how you are doing, but once again, if there is anything I can do -- even if it is just providing company -- say the word.

Re: Private message to Auri

[alt_sinistra]

If there is anyone capable of winning such epic battles, I'm quite sure it's you, Toshenka.

The list - come by Wednesday, maybe Thursday? The names are one thing, but I keep wanting to add notes, and then I look at them and I'm quite sure they make no sense outside my head. If you're here and I'm telling you, it'd be easier. If you've the time, mind.

Poppy assures me there is steady improvement. She remains amused at my treating this as an unavoidable research project, I think, but it does mean I can look at my notes and see that there's more walking and more reading, and less being utterly useless on the couch. (Storm brought me a daybed, yesterday. So also less couch in general. He - ah, well, that takes explaining too.)

And I think I might be up to trying a broom again. Maybe. Harry and Cedric said they'd come later this week and spot me. It'd give me more scope for walking if I could, which would be a useful sort of change.

Re: Private message to Auri

[alt_antonin]

Wednesday should be fine. Would you like me to bring supper? In the cuisine of my mother's people, meals are often composed of a wide variety of dishes and one is expected to graze widely and eat small amounts of many things; would that novelty suit, or would you prefer more familiar flavours? (Berry will be overjoyed to feed us, either way.)

I am certain Poppy is amused but not surprised. I am so very pleased that you are making such steady improvement, though. And a return to flying seems like just the thing. (For you, mind you, not for me. But Messrs Marvolo and Diggory are a good choice in supervision.)

I have encouraged Miss Perks to contact you, meanwhile, if she has time between her internship -- the excuse will be that Healer Korotkova has set her to reading German and the translation spells are as bad as translation spells usually are, but in truth it's because I thought you might want to see her. If you can think of any other of the children who would raise your spirits, let me know; I will work out some way to maneuver them your way.

Re: Private message to Auri

[alt_sinistra]

The theory on food at the moment is that anything that might get me to eat more is worth trying. (Thinking about food is very hard. Still. I hate that.) Please do bring what you'd like, and if that does not work, there will be other kinds here anyway.

I am very good at being diligent, Tosha, really. And I have Cedric's recovery, and yours, and Raz's, to remind me why diligence is in my best interest. I take my potion, and I listen to the required music, and I am doing better at walking further, and reading more, and there is improvement. It is just very uneven sometimes, and I am still so very fuzzy-headed and slow.

And the flying, well. At least it gives me slightly more scope. (I really do hate not being able to go anywhere properly, as beautiful as it is here.)

As to Miss Perks, I - last week, I'd have said no. This week, the prospect seems a little appealing. And the excuse pleasant enough, too. Of the others, mmm. Miss Parkinson, though I suspect she's busy with business pursuits. Our Mr Moon is working out here between other projects, and when I am ready for his particular sort of Ravenclawishness, I know where to find him. I think beyond that you might need to suggest people to me, as the orbits in my life are still very narrow, really.

Re: Private message to Auri

[alt_antonin]

Oh, darling. Recovery is miserable, particularly when you hit the point where you are feeling better enough that all you want to do is return to your normal routine and be done with all this convalescence business. I have faith you will handle it far better than I ever have.

And if it is any consolation, you at the stage of "fuzzy-headed and slow" can still reason circles around three-quarters of the Protectorate.

I will see you on Wednesday, then, with supper at hand and a list of the possible lecturers I've started Mr Diggory in wooing. (Including several of the people you'd mentioned, such as the Weasley who works with dragons and that author who wrote that excellent book on the Merovingians whose name escapes me at the moment.) And you know if you've a wish to go further afield, you've but to say the word; I will happily escort you wherever you'd like to go, and ensure you will not be bothered.

Private message to Headmaster Dolohov

[alt_sally_anne]

Official congratulations, sir!

Re: Private message to Headmaster Dolohov

[alt_antonin]

Thank you, my dear. I am exceptionally honoured by Our Lord's trust in me, and both incredibly excited and a bit apprehensive about the enormity of the task before me.

Your internship continues well, I trust?

Re: Private message to Headmaster Dolohov

[alt_sally_anne]

Yes, sir. Extremely well, I think.

Re: Private message to Headmaster Dolohov

[alt_antonin]

I am very pleased to hear it! I cannot think of many situations you could not handle, but should one of them arise -- or should you simply wish to complain when Ekaterina Petrovna is being more exacting than usual -- do let me know.

I will not disrupt your learning for the selfish pleasure of your company, but if you've an afternoon free at any point, and wish to spend it in a way other than relaxing in the presence of your friends, I would be pleased to have you over for tea and a chance to browse the library; you were most successful at hiding your avarice over Easter hols, but I am well-practised at spotting someone who wants nothing more than to lose herself in the stacks and not resurface for several days.

Re: Private message to Headmaster Dolohov

[alt_sally_anne]

I would very much appreciate a chance at a closer look at your library, sir! Healer Korotkova has an excellent but very specialised sort of library, as you can probably imagine. (She has some very unusual items, like her collection of foreign research journals -- the ones from America, Canada, and Australia are in English. There was one that was all in German she had me trying to read with the aid of a translation spell, but I couldn't make any sense out of it.)

Anyway the opportunity to borrow some books that aren't about eye diseases would be welcome.

She lets me have my weekends off plus one afternoon a week she has me set aside for 'self-education' -- mostly she means reading but I think she'd let me go for tea with you.

Re: Private message to Headmaster Dolohov

[alt_antonin]

If she has dedicated your time to self-education, I cannot imagine she would object to your spending time in the library. Do let me know when your next free afternoon comes around, and I will invite you both to tea; she and I can amuse ourselves, while you explore.

I can think of several people who speak, or read, at least a bit of German, if you would prefer some assistance from a person rather than a translation spell. Professor Sinistra is the one who leaps most quickly to mind; I cannot speak for her, of course, but I do not think she would find a visit from you unwelcome.

Re: Private message to Headmaster Dolohov

[alt_sally_anne]

Oh, that's good to know. I didn't know Professor Sinistra knew German.

How is she doing? I don't want to be a bother.

Re: Private message to Headmaster Dolohov

[alt_antonin]

She would likely be adrift at the more specialised vocabulary, but her Guild-Master is German, and she has picked up quite a bit. Her mentor insisted, I believe. (And rightly so; that you lot have not been exposed to additional languages in your schooling by this point places you at quite the disadvantage. Your NEWT year is a poor time to start the study, but if I am at all successful in finding an instructor, I will be adding optional tutelage in Latin and Greek at minimum to the curriculum; without wishing to overburden you, and recognising you are the best judge of your own capacity, if you can see any way to join in for at least one of the two sets of lessons I strongly recommend it.)

She is -- well, it is day-by-day, and of course some days are better than others. But she is enduring. I know how much she cares for her students, however, and I believe a visit from some of you would lift her spirits somewhat.

[alt_pansy]

That's wonderful news, Antonin Nikolaevich. I'm so pleased to hear that you'll still be supervising us in NEWTs.

[alt_antonin]

I am selfish, Miss Parkinson; I have enjoyed watching you all grow and mature, both in your magic and in your larger selves, to be entirely willing to give that up completely!

And thank you for your kind words. I hope to be worthy of Our Lord's confidence in me.

[alt_percy]

Congratulations, Antonin. The students at Hogwarts are incredibly fortunate that Our Lord has vouchsafed such an opportunity to them to thrive under your leadership.

[alt_antonin]

Thank you, Percy. I shall be putting together lectures and other continuing-education programmes for those who have left Hogwarts' hallowed halls, should they wish to take them up, as well; I hope you will take advantage of them when I do. I deeply regret not having had the chance to teach you.