alt_horace | Recent Entries

Poppy, I think you had better come and join us in Rabastan's office. Minerva, you as well, if you can. Urgently.

We've been having a long discussion with Miss Greengrass and Mr Zabini.

Poppy, I'm sorry to interrupt your non-celebratory evening but you'll agree, I'm sure, that it's quite necessary.

My dear Miss Clearwater: You'll be happy to know that you were not alone in your reservations concerning Miss Greengrass. The matter has been discussed and resolved to, I hope, all our satisfaction, except perhaps Mr Bole's.

Julius: Keep an eye on him for me, will you? I've a suspicion he may do himself no good over the weekend.

And both of you shall, I trust, keep the rumours to an absolute minimum. The last thing this situation needs is for some ill-timed remark to send Bole into a fit of pique. I'm sure you both agree.

I've also informed Madam Pomfrey and the Headmistress after my chat with them last night.

Gentlemen,

Having given the matter you proposed much consideration, I am prepared to extend to you a chance to win placement in my 7th-year Potions classroom.

This is only the opportunity to qualify, not a guarantee that I shall find your performance acceptable after your O.W.L.s and a year with no lessons.

As we discussed, here follows a list of ten (10) potions a rising-7th-year potioneer ought to be able to brew. When you return from the summer holidays, I shall ask each of you to prepare one (1) of the potions, chosen at random from the list I now provide. Each of you will be assigned a different potion. You shall each work independently and without instruction, under the supervision of a proctor, though you may of course use the approved text (e.g., Advanced Potion-Making, Borage) and I shall allow you each one 12-inch length of standard parchment on which to bring in any notes you may find helpful. These are not to be shared, though of course you may bring in duplicate copies of the same notes if you so desire. All the usual restrictions and expectations of Hogwarts' testing policies shall apply, naturally (c.f., enchanted quills, consumption of luck- or intelligence-altering substances, &c.).

In addition, I should like you to both sit the 6th-years' term-end written exam this June (N.B., aforementioned expectations on exam-taking). You shall of course receive no official mark for your performance on the examination but your answers will be of assistance to determine where your strengths and weaknesses lie viz. the theories and standard practices of Potioneering. Your ability to retain these concepts and to demonstrate them without the benefit of references will, of course, be a factor in my final decision but more importantly it ought to give you both a clearer sense of where you need to concentrate during your summer holiday, if you expect to correctly prepare the potions that here now I present:

Amortentia

Bethelda's Babbling Beverage

Draught of Peace

Elixir of Euphoria

Felix Felicis

Hiccupping Solution

Libatium Acrimonia

Mandrake Draught

Potion of Strength

Titubation Tonic

Should you have any questions on these, the terms of this offer or on any of the specifics of your study of Potions, I am of course at your disposal via the usual methods.

Wishing you both success in your venture, I am,

H.E.F. Slughorn
Potions Master

Well, that could have been worse, eh?

Aurora, I must say, I'm surprised you took up on Mr Capper's behalf. Not that I would ever expect you to give up on any student, far from it, but I fear Septima has convinced you to back a losing Abraxan.

I would certainly think you have enough other projects to be going on with without adding this level of intervention for a student who ought to be able to save himself.

Pomona, she's your junior; see if you can talk some sense into her. It's not that Capper's unintelligent. He simply refuses to acknowledge any subjects but those that touch his particular focus.

Mr Marvolo, if you could come to see me in my classroom at your earliest convenience, my boy, I believe I have something that may assist you.

Or you could send your girl along, if you prefer.

Bless me, I've just been reviewing the journals and saw there was a commotion last night. Involving Mr Jugson and Miss Lestrange?

Razzer, am I correct in deducing that you've got your niece's side of the story already? If you'd be so good as to let me know what you've learned?

I've been speaking with Mr Jugson. It seems two of the young men from Beauxbatons led him to believe that Miss Lestrange would be in some spot of trouble if he did not follow their instructions. They used him to lure Mr Finch-Fletchley from the safety of the Beauxbatons quarters and ambushed him there.

At this point, I believe, Mr Jugson was told his services were no longer required and he escaped. However, I do not think he had any idea that the other two would cast a spell of such severity.

Poppy, how is the lad? I'll have a word with Froissart once he's back. He was spending Christmas with the Malfoys, I thought, but if it's grave as all that we can summon him to return to deal with his students. At any rate I think Minerva would find that preferable to embroiling us in an international incident. So far, the only involvement of Hogwarts' students I can discern is in the other boys' use of Mr Jugson as their bait.

Raz, is that the story you've had from Miss Lestrange as well? I understand that Miss Perks and Miss Parkinson accompanied her to the Hospital Wing last night. Let me know if you think any of them require additional reassurances.

Emotions are high at this difficult time, I realise, but walking out of your potions exam is exceptionally unwise. And disrupting the other students is simply unacceptable.

I shall expect to see you in my office this afternoon for a full explanation. It had better be a good one.

While it's quite natural to seek answers in the wake of a tragic incident such as that we have just endured, please direct your questions to your professors or prefects.

Miss Lestrange is not to be badgered nor bothered by anyone. If I hear of any such pestering, I shall be speaking to those responsible in the strongest possible terms.

Bella, Rodolphus

You may have heard by now, there's been an incident. I'm afraid your daughter has been injured, although not seriously. Nonetheless, you may wish to attend the school post-haste. I am with Hydra in the hospital wing at present.

Rabastan has also been injured. He took a curse intended for Hydra, as I understand it.

I shall expect you presently.

Yours etc.

HEF

Well well, I must add my congratulations to all those involved in yesterday's charming play. You all did splendidly, especially in dealing so ably with the unexpected challenges that are bound to affect one in the course of a live theatre performance!

It was a shame, of course, that Miss Derwent's passions got the better of her on the night, which is something I shall be discussing with her further today. But it did allow us to enjoy Miss Perks' turn as Professor Carrow, which was a treat I'm sure you'll agree, especially from one thrust unto the breach with so little time to prepare.

Miss Perks, if you'd be so kind to pop by my office at some point today?

Minerva

Just to let you know, I have replied to Miss Weasley in the usual way regarding this Sorting business. I hope that will be an end to it, but I fear we may yet hear more from the girl as she seemed quite determined to take action against this perceived injustice. Typical Gryffindor.

A copy of my response is winging its way to you by Owl, and another has been placed in Miss Weasley's school record.

I hope your break has been a relaxing one, and look forward to seeing you shortly for the start of term.

With all best wishes

Horace

I must say, I'm very disappointed. I would have thought the occurrences of the past few weeks would have served as example enough that when your teachers provide instruction, you would be well advised to follow it. Guidance on appropriate behaviour towards Miss Granger could not have been clearer, and yet certain students still feel themselves above the rules.

Well, I hope last night's unfortunate incident will at least serve as a suitable illustration of why we do not interfere with other people's property.

Such actions can have severe consequences, as your fellow student is now discovering.

I hope the rest of you will exercise better judgement in future.

Current Mood: irate

Recent events have inspired me to take a slow amble down memory lane to revisit my own days as a student here at Hogwarts. It seems so long ago now, I suppose because it was! But oh yes, we partook of our fair share of riotous living back in the day. Every new generation of students here at Hogwarts carries itself as if it were the first - the first to discover Honeydukes, the first to find that passageway behind that statue (you all know the one, I'm sure). The first to struggle with homework, fall out with old chums, discover the delights of new chums, run in the snow on the Quidditch pitch the day before a big match. It's all happened before, and I'm sure it will all happen again and again, long after this old body has given out.

They arrive so wide-eyed and full of potential, and they leave so bright and full of hope. It's really quite a marvellous place to spend one's life.

That's not to say there aren't less pleasant tasks that one must fulfil as a teacher, and especially a Head of House. I must confess, I've never much enjoyed the disciplining aspects, even those that are pre-emptive. I much prefer to let the children learn from their mistakes as they go, guiding them where necessary, and sanctioning them only where unavoidable. But then, this is quite a serious matter - and if it takes a few strong and carefully placed words to prevent any inappropriate or unwise actions against another student's property, well, I suppose it's best to step in and act now.

I must simply hope that they all heed my words of guidance on this matter, understand the very grave consequences of disregarding the warning they've had, and leave well enough alone.

Current Mood: anxious
Current Location: My office