Twenty-First Series of Notes: Nov 94 – Jan 95
Monday, November 23rd, 1994
Mandragora Pomona Sprout,
I thank you very much indeed for clearing up this highly embarrassing matter. I was wondering whether my senses were deceiving me. Please rest assured that this effort of yours did not prove anything I or Severus did not know already. I am well aware what I would like and also what I would not be prepared to give up for a future with him. Among these things is certainly my position as Dumbledore's adviser and, please do not forget, as Hogwarts' deputy headmistress.
As for your suggestion of Severus stepping aside, I shall treat this as one of your tasteless jokes. You cannot seriously suggest such a ridiculous thing. My mother would go berserk if my husband (should there ever be another) required me to work and pay for our living. You know as well as I do that this is not an option within the more traditional pureblood families.
To be honest, Mandy, I do not have the time, nor do I feel like discussing these things at the moment. The first task of the Triwizard Tournament will be tomorrow and I still have not found a way of letting Cedric Diggory know exactly what it contains. I am sure he will be fine under any circumstances, given his most recent overall marks, but it does not seem fair that he should be the only one not to know about the dragons in advance.
Sincerely,
Minerva.
OOO
Monday, November 23rd, 1994
Dear Minerva,
I apologise for owling you at this time of the night, but I thought you should be informed that Mr. Diggory has now full knowledge of the task ahead and will go to battle entirely prepared. Rest assured that I was being more than subtle. It is the Hufflepuff way, of course.
Love,
Mandy.
OOO
Monday, November 23rd, 1994
Two words: kilt incident.
Saturday, November 28th, 1994
Dear Severus,
In the hope that you are well enough to receive messages, I would like to tell you that several matters of importance have been decided on during our most recent staff meeting. I am very sorry you missed it. We had a highly entertaining discussion concerning the nature of recent journalism.
You will be happy to know that your request of permission for practical antidote testing in class has been granted by the governors. Congratulations. It seems you have gained the trust of more than fifty percent of their members now, which is an incredible achievement considering your… former occupation. One word of caution, however. If you so much as think of poisoning Potter, blaming the after-effects on his badly devised antidote, and thereby knocking him out for the second task, I shall personally put your head in a cauldron full of acid. I had an O in my Potions NEWTs, I will have you know.
Furthermore, I need to tell you that there will be a traditional Yule Ball on December 25th. Formal wear and active participation by all members of staff required. I shall be looking forward to seeing you in your dress robes again, dearest.
Love,
Minerva.
OOO
Saturday, November 28th, 1994
Dear Mandy,
I would like to apologise for my inappropriate behaviour during the staff meeting today. The situation at home is incredibly tense and the worse it gets, the more I feel inclined to take it out on my colleagues. This is entirely unprofessional, of course. I was wrong with nearly everything I said and I can assure you that I would not normally have reacted to your unsuitable remark so very rudely.
Please rest assured that I still consider you my friend and that I appreciate your concern. I stand by what I said about the decision resting with me, but of course I want you to have a part in these things, as best friends ought to have. Let me briefly tell you exactly what is behind all this so that you can appreciate why I am so torn.
The Unbreakable Vow my parents agreed to prior to Topaz's and my wedding, which I mentioned to you before, had the exact wording: "We promise to assure financial as well as emotional married safety for the rest of our children's days, particularly at old age" – which is seventy-five, of course. It seems that if Topaz's and my divorce could have been interpreted as a breaking of this vow, all four of them would be dead already. But my main worry concerns the last part saying, 'particularly at old age'. This specifies an exact date and will certainly initiate a reaction of some sort, if I know anything about Unbreakable Vows.
Severus knows hardly anything about the matter, of course. I did tell him some things, but also made it very clear that this is my problem, not his. I do not with to pull him into something that is entirely my parents' responsibility, Mandy. I wish to see him safe. The reason why I cannot allow this relationship to happen is entirely obvious. Albus needs as many supporters at Hogwarts as possible at the moment. The Ministry is toying with the thought of applying Educational Degrees and using some basic power they still have over the school to get him under their control again. If this comes to pass – if the Ministry of Magic actually sees fit to send one of their members to Hogwarts for observational purposes, we shall have to stick together tightly to push through some of our less conventional ideas. Let us hope this never comes to pass.
I need hardly mention that there is also an additional reason for keeping Severus at Hogwarts. It is his job, in a double sense, to interact with Albus. If he is right assuming that You-Know-Who is gaining strength at the moment (for whatever reason) it will be vital that he remains in a position where he is indispensable to the other side. Otherwise, I fear, I would be widowed quicker than I can say 'wedding ring'.
You see, things are not always as easy as you suggested today. You are twisting reality if you claim love is all a couple needs for a happy future. Please maintain a clear perception, as I shall not be able to do all future thinking by myself.
Love,
Minerva.
OOO
Monday, November 30th, 1994
Dear Minerva,
I understand what you are saying. The whole situation was not at all as clear to me as it is now and I apologise for acting in what must have appeared a rather adolescent manner to you. Here is a proposition, though: when YKW is defeated we will meet with the headmaster, discuss this superfluous rule that forbids inter-staff relations, and get him to be Severus's best man for the wedding. How about it?
Mandy.
OOO
Monday, November 30th, 1994
Dear Mandy,
I appreciate your optimism, I really do. But this is thinking too far ahead. We shall discuss this further when the situation has changed for the better.
Love,
Minerva.
Friday, December 18th, 1994
Dear Minerva,
Is it in your power to prevent that matters concerning the tournament be kept from interfering with the students' work? Half my students are unable to concentrate on anything but the upcoming Yule Ball and Rita Skeeter is becoming an unbearable nuisance. Not that I read her articles. But I will not allow Potter to miss half his lessons for having his picture taken. There is simply no necessity for that.
Regards,
Severus.
OOO
Friday, December 18th, 1994
Dear Severus,
Stop being so gruff. I apologise that we were unable to find a time where all four champions were available, but Potter has far less free periods than his three older fellow students. We had to compromise.
I see you later, hopefully.
Love,
Minerva.
OOO
Friday, December 18th, 1994
As usual, there is nothing I can say to contradict. I do not like it, however.
Yes, see you soon.
Severus.
Wednesday, December 23rd, 1994
Dear Severus,
I have been thinking long and very hard about this but I shall have to ask you a very serious question: would you like to accompany me to the Yule Ball? Officially, I mean. There is no reason why this should not be possible. People will expect me to grant the headmaster one of the many dances due to my and his position, but other than that I should very much love to spend the evening with you. It is, of course, an opportunity for all of us to let our hair down. And while I am aware that your vigilance never ceases, I should like to see you relaxing a little and having one or the other drink with me. Barring the interference of Mandragora Sprout, of course, who I think is going to be happy enough joining Albus for his remaining dances.
What do you say?
Minerva.
OOO
Wednesday, December 24th, 1994
Dear Minerva,
I thank you very much for the invitation. I have been considering till now what exactly I would like to do and have come to the conclusion, I am afraid, that it will be impossible for me to join you for the Yule Ball. At all. The headmaster wants active watching of the school grounds for students who might take the notion of 'letting one's hair down' as a semi legal chance of taking liberty with certain school rules. Argus and I agreed that he alone is not going to be up for this task. He has agreed to patrol most of the larger classrooms, we will position watchers in and around the corridor that leads to the Room of Requirements, and the grounds, particularly the rose gardens, I am afraid, will need constant watching. Since the headmaster saw fit to grant Hagrid his wish of letting him off duty for the night, it is clear that I cannot deny him the favour of doing Hagrid's job. Therefore, I shall not be able to attend the dance.
I am very sorry about this. I would have liked to do you the favour, not least because spending any evening with you is always giving me great pleasure. There might be another opportunity soon, of course. We could celebrate my birthday somewhere far away for a change, for instance. I should very much like to not have to stand another of Mandragora's speeches and embarrassing presents.
See you in a bit.
Severus.
OOO
Wednesday, December 24th, 1994
Dear Severus,
I am sorry to hear that you will be on duty tomorrow night. Do not worry, I understand Albus's concern. And yours, of course. Did I understand Albus correctly that you have received a sign of actual activity for the first time this year?
Minerva.
OOO
Wednesday, December 24th, 1994
Dear Minerva,
I have indeed. You know, of course, that the Mark has become stronger all year. It is in the nature of the Dark Mark to function as a means of communication between the Death Eaters and their leader. When the Dark Lord was defeated, however, the Mark's physical attributes (a constant tingling as a reminder of his presence, as well as reactions to his current mood in form of burning or tickling) died down. I have not perceived a single reaction from the Dark Mark until earlier this year. The end of May, I believe it was.
Severus.
OOO
Wednesday, December 24th, 1994
The end of WHAT? It has been SEVEN months? WHY was I not informed of this?
OOO
Wednesday, December 24th, 1994
I did not see a reason to worry you. It might have been a temporary occurrence, after all.
OOO
Wednesday, December 24th, 1994
Severus, you NEED to tell me these things! Otherwise I cannot know what is going on in your mind. Was this during the time when you were toying with the idea of visiting your father?
OOO
Wednesday, December 24th, 1994
Precisely.
OOO
Wednesday, December 24th, 1994
I am SO sorry, Severus. You should have told me. There would have been something I could have done, I am sure of it. Did you not feel you needed to talk?
OOO
Wednesday, December 24th, 1994
When have I ever given you the impression that I feel the need to talk? Apologies, but I shall head upstairs in a few moments, preparing a few spells for tomorrow night. Speak to you at dinner.
Severus.
January 4th, 1995
Dear Severus,
The term's first day is not entirely over and I have already received two complaints from students of my own house stating that you took fifty points off one of the boys for mere laughing. Would you care to elaborate?
Minerva.
OOO
January 5th, 1995
Dear Minerva,
My apologies for not replying sooner. I was down at Hagrid's to see what he thought about the most recent Prophet article. I must say, we both agreed that it was rather ill-advised and I heartily supported his decision to remain away for a few days until the commotion due to his now revealed identity has ebbed away again. Personally, of course, I find it hard to believe that there are people who have not realised before this that there is giant blood in him. After all, it is not exercise that has turned him into what he is.
Regarding the fifty points, the matter is related. You know I will not have chatting in my class. And you know I will not allow people to occupy themselves with extracurricular activities, such as newspaper reading. What, for me, warranted fifty points and a detention, however, was the fact that Mr Jordan seemed to find the idea that someone could be part giant so funny that his subsequent behaviour disturbed the lesson to an annoying extent. Teenager or not, I will not have that kind of behaviour in my class. It is specist, adolescent, and ridiculous.
Greetings,
Severus.
OOO
January 5th, 1995
Explanation accepted. A similar thing happened with my Hufflepuffs yesterday. I must say I am not amused at all. Ah well. Another five-foot essay on wizarding law concerning giants to correct. It is not as though we did not have enough to do as it is.
Severus, why did you encourage Hagrid hiding away from us? He has not attended a single meal since the article came out and I am starting to get slightly worried that he will never come out again. Just because, quite naturally, lessons need to continue, I have now been obliged to find a substitute teacher until Hagrid is prepared to break his isolation again. Goodness, I think I am rather stressed out today, Severus. Please no more owls. I shall speak to you in the morning.
Love,
Minerva.
Tuesday, January 12th, 1995
Giant squid removed from Hogwarts lake and relocated to a suitable replacement loch in preparation for the second task. Anything else you wish me to oversee, deputy headmistress?
OOO
Tuesday, January 12th, 1995
Yes, indeed. Professor Moody has requested two Grindylows and a Jobberknoll the other day and someone needs to re-release them. Particularly as there are few Grindylows in the lake at the moment and they are vital to the second task. Would you do me the favour?
Love,
Minerva.
OOO
Tuesday, January 12th, 1995
Not a chance. You know I am not talking to that man.
OOO
Tuesday, January 12th, 1995
Severus, is there a particular reason why you have such great problems adjusting with the presence of Alastor Moody at Hogwarts? None of the other Aurors seems to provide as great a problem for you as he does.
Minerva.
OOO
Tuesday, January 12th, 1995
Well, none of the others is whispering stories into my ear during breakfast concerning your shared past. Little secrets and the like. It is really not very tasteful. Particularly after I told him we had absolutely no interest at all in coming together again.
Severus.
OOO
Tuesday, January 12th, 1995
I am happy to inform you that there is no 'past' or anything else I share or wish to share with Alastor Moody.
Sincerely,
Minerva (Deputy Headmistress)
OOO
Tuesday, January 12th, 1995
I am happy to inform you that it is astounding how much a random fellow student could have known about certain details then. 'Oh, Alastor. Touch my tartan bra…' Please.
Severus (Ex-Death Eater, Spy, Legilimens, and most well-informed wizard at the castle, except perhaps for the headmaster, who is a genius)
OOO
Friday, January 15th, 1995
Seriously, Severus. First, the bra matter was probably a wild guess on his side. I have or had no interest whatsoever in Mad-Eye Moody, the person who thinks that drinking in class will solve his didactic problems for him. Second, don't write things like that on a note. Transfigured or not, I do not wish a particularly capable student to decipher your spell by pure accident. One unfortunate event like that would blow your identity, as you are well aware.
Greetings,
Minerva.
OOO
Friday, January 15th, 1995
Strange to hear that you have so little faith in my transfiguration capabilities.
OOO
Friday, January 15th, 1995
Let's just say I know what I am talking about, seeing as I was forced to teach you for seven years.
OOO
Friday, January 15th, 1995
Hey! I was not always the complete failure you mark me out to be!
OOO
Friday, January 15th, 1995
One question, purely out of interest – if you were, say, to transfigure a horse into a cow… how many stomachs would you give it?
Best wishes,
Minerva.
OOO
Friday, January 15th, 1995
I would give it a tartan bra, just to spite you.