Private Message for Toshenka

[alt_crouch_jr]

Your first full day. Were they bright and shining or agonisingly dull?

Regret that you're stuffed away in that pile of Scottish rubble. Razzer, as well. May have to fabricate excuses to visit. If you'd plant seditious letters in the staff room, or leave anonymous threats against Madam Umbridge's person--either would do.

Seriously, though. Haven't said how glad I was for the afternoon with you before you left.

I was. Very.

When you're next in town--surely the Healers will insist?--we'll go to that Russian tearoom I told you about. Katyenka. Excellent for long afternoons of talk.

In the meantime, don't let them drain your reserves.


Envying the little bastards,
B

Comments

[alt_antonin]

Dear friend, it is exceedingly good to hear from you. Was just pondering writing to several of our little family to assure them I'd survived the first day of class, in fact, but the prospect of taking up quill seemed insurmountable. For you, though -- always.

And indeed, survived I have; this week shall be the philosophical questions you and yours were always so patient in indulging, so nothing too taxing. I planted my arse on the desk (earning some raised eyebrows, quickly concealed lest I turn into darling departed Alecto and curse them senseless on the spot) and asked the age-old question: what are the Dark Arts? The seventh-years' answers were textbook, the fifth-years completely at a loss, but after a quarter-hour or so of establishing trust that I did not care for the correctness of the answer so much as the ability to defend it and that my classroom is a place to challenge assumptions and unpick preconceptions, we were able to achieve a satisfying debate. Am hoping news will spread among some of the little darlings that I'm entirely more reasonable than they might fear -- this will go ever so much better if I'm not working against old frights at every turn, after all.

You know that you are welcome at any point, excuse to arrive on investigation or no, and I'm certain I speak for the Razzer as well. (Although do not tempt me against darling Dolores any further than her own actions already have. We had a perfectly ghastly appointment today in which she attempted to enlist my slavish devotion to her agenda for the year. I offered what little I thought necessary to avoid earning her enmity -- I have no desire to be watching my back all year and suspect even my sterling reputation would not suffice to avoid irritating repercussions should I finally snap and leave her staked out in the Forest for bait -- and put her off the rest with endless pleas of overwork and infirmity. I hardly need you inciting me to misbehaviour, my little sunshine; Narcissa is a bad enough influence to begin.)

Still -- I beg of you -- do not wait for an excuse. I know you too well, мой дорогой: if left to your own ways you will wait eternally for some right moment and let too many almost-moments pass you by. Out of all my flock you have ever been the most self-possessed; do not let yourself forget you've a door always open to you, wherever I might find myself resting my head.

(Ever mindful of your discomfort with such lines of conversation face to face, I have not yet said, but -- my dear heart, I am so very proud of the man you have made yourself. I will never regret the years of service I have laid at Our Lord's feet, but know it is only that, and no lesser cause, that could have kept me away from the family of my heart for so long.)

The Healers wish to see me again in several weeks, and I shall reserve as much time for you as you've desire to put up with me for. You'll not get rid of me that easily. Though I reserve the right to be catty about any place calling itself Russian should the cattiness be warranted.

Eternally and affectionately yours, in service and in exhaustion (and slightly dreading the unformed thirds tomorrow; how do they make them so young?) --
Т