Private message to Antosha

[alt_savitha]

I don't expect you'll object, but I told Miss Patil that come Hogsmeade weekend, I would take her around to the Elysian and the Ouroboros and save you the trouble. I was thinking I'd take her to Morgaine's, as well -- it can be nice to have a retreat that is Witches-only.

As you're the Headmaster, though, it occurred to me I should probably ensure you're not going to make me stay home to play mother hen to the chicks. Between the truly new hires there ought to be enough, yes?

Comments

[alt_antonin]

But of course you have seniority over the new arrivals, even if your service to the school was interrupted. And if you hadn't been teaching back then, we would have thought of some other excuse to exempt you -- no, my dear, schedule yourself with impunity.

I had thought to bring Miss Patil around myself, but another witch might be more suited. She is in need of a mentor, quite sincerely so. Shall I take it you are interested in serving as such?

[alt_savitha]

Yes. She seems oddly neglected. Lana Sandoval sponsored her, and has the greatest right (and responsibility) to stand as her mentor, but appears to have forgotten she exists -- she's rather more focused on Hydra, ignoring the fact that Hydra is really no longer her protégé.

[alt_antonin]

I have noticed that, yes. I suspect Lana is uncertain about her own place in Our Lord's service -- she, too, was elevated without anyone in particular standing for her -- and is uncertain about what she ought to provide for her own protégé. (And I would not be surprirsed if there were not a touch of worry that her own position might be affected by a poor showing from one with whom she was closely associated -- that would, at least, explain her interest in Hydra, who (as fitting Bella's daughter) is destined to be one of the greats of her generation.)

I am hopeful that with a Mastery under her belt -- and with closer connections with those of us in residence -- Lana will start to feel more secure in her position and thus more willing to reach out, but in the meantime, it would be good of you to lend Padma a helping hand. We've all seen what happens to those who lack strong mentorship; it is never pretty. And Padma does have a great deal of potential, when she decides to use it. (As to that: if you are able to gently persuade her that life in Our Lord's service is not a class for which she will receive marks but rather a series of pass/fail tests, where failure carries unpleasant consequences, you will be doing her a great favour. I have tried, but I believe she believes me to be needlessly alarmist.)

But yes, take her around. I had intended to use the afternoon to reach out to her more, but I can come up with some other pretext. And she's likely to find you more sympathetic, anyway; you've a great deal you can teach her about being a witch in Our Lord's service.

Oh -- while I am thinking of it -- there was an incident last night with Clarriker and Preece abusing the course in the salle. (Camping upon one of the blind turns and throwing hexes haphazardly around with no thought for who might be coming up behind them; Weasley and Finch-Fletchley nearly ran into them.) I've given them both detention through the Hogsmeade visit and revoked both their access to the salle for two months, past which they will need to petition me for re-entry, and let them know that any future incidents will result in their losing privileges for the remainder of their time at Hogwarts. They seemed chastened, but keep an eye out for them both.