Private Message to Headmaster Dolohov
Dec. 26th, 2014 11:00 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alt_justinAntonin,
Your gift did indeed find its way to me at Ron's. Thank you very much; I'm sure they'll be jolly well useful. I shall have to research how to reset them after use, what. I do hope my little item gave you a laugh.
I say, it does seem we're in sore need of some laughs this holiday. The news of the Longbottom siblings' disappearance is well troubling. Our mates have been quite baffled by it all, what, trying to piece together what might have happened.
On a related note...I hope we shall have time to continue our sessions over the holidays. I'm back at the Ministry days, but Mr Pontner was most gracious about letting me take time to go with Ron to spar at MLE's facilities and he made it clear that any other such excursions related to my training with you would have no negative impact on my internship with IMR. As it seems we are beset with rot from within, as it were, I believe it imperative to prepare for any possibility.
Likewise, I've been thinking about the assistance I hope I provided this last week. No doubt you shall have need of a qualified clerk as soon as the new half term begins--and, if one may be so bold as to say it, I imagine you might be highly concerned about such an appointment. Were I part of a treasonous organisation, what, I should not lose the opportunity to put forward a candidate to assist you who is, in secret, working against the Protectorate. Put simply, you need someone you can trust, sir. Someone you already know is committed to this country and its future. I pray you to consider what service I might provide in that capacity.
Please do not think my forwardness derives from a desire for that payment which you generously offered last week. You're quite right that I must think of making my own way but that is the least of my concerns at present. I'm also aware, of course, that many matters crossing your desk pertain to my own classmates, and indeed, my own work--I can only say that you may rely on my discretion, of course, and I would naturally recuse myself from anything that I ought not to see ahead of others in my lessons. I should be much easier knowing that you are avoiding any opportunity for another traitor to insinuate him- or herself into your sanctum.
If you've already someone in mind, what, then naturally, I shall continue as we have done with the greatest pleasure. Only I do hope you will not hesitate to call on me whenever you have need.
Meanwhile, I hope you and Auror Crouch have managed to make the holiday as merry as can be expected under the circumstances. Thank you again for thinking of me--and for the rings. They're smashing.
Happy Christmas,
-Finch-Fletchley
Your gift did indeed find its way to me at Ron's. Thank you very much; I'm sure they'll be jolly well useful. I shall have to research how to reset them after use, what. I do hope my little item gave you a laugh.
I say, it does seem we're in sore need of some laughs this holiday. The news of the Longbottom siblings' disappearance is well troubling. Our mates have been quite baffled by it all, what, trying to piece together what might have happened.
On a related note...I hope we shall have time to continue our sessions over the holidays. I'm back at the Ministry days, but Mr Pontner was most gracious about letting me take time to go with Ron to spar at MLE's facilities and he made it clear that any other such excursions related to my training with you would have no negative impact on my internship with IMR. As it seems we are beset with rot from within, as it were, I believe it imperative to prepare for any possibility.
Likewise, I've been thinking about the assistance I hope I provided this last week. No doubt you shall have need of a qualified clerk as soon as the new half term begins--and, if one may be so bold as to say it, I imagine you might be highly concerned about such an appointment. Were I part of a treasonous organisation, what, I should not lose the opportunity to put forward a candidate to assist you who is, in secret, working against the Protectorate. Put simply, you need someone you can trust, sir. Someone you already know is committed to this country and its future. I pray you to consider what service I might provide in that capacity.
Please do not think my forwardness derives from a desire for that payment which you generously offered last week. You're quite right that I must think of making my own way but that is the least of my concerns at present. I'm also aware, of course, that many matters crossing your desk pertain to my own classmates, and indeed, my own work--I can only say that you may rely on my discretion, of course, and I would naturally recuse myself from anything that I ought not to see ahead of others in my lessons. I should be much easier knowing that you are avoiding any opportunity for another traitor to insinuate him- or herself into your sanctum.
If you've already someone in mind, what, then naturally, I shall continue as we have done with the greatest pleasure. Only I do hope you will not hesitate to call on me whenever you have need.
Meanwhile, I hope you and Auror Crouch have managed to make the holiday as merry as can be expected under the circumstances. Thank you again for thinking of me--and for the rings. They're smashing.
Happy Christmas,
-Finch-Fletchley
no subject
Date: 2014-12-27 05:16 pm (UTC)That particular style of duellist's rings are quite easy to reset, once one has been shown the knack, though there are a few caveats -- most notably, that the spells one can trigger from the rings must be cast at the time of charging them, and are discharged with the strength one casts them to 'store' them in the ring. In essence, they are single-use items to pay the effort required to cast the spell in advance of a duel, rather than in the midst of one. They also take a negligible but noticeable effort to trigger -- so they cannot be set off accidentally, of course. As with all things, it is a tradeoff; I never bothered to adapt my fighting style to their use, but you are young enough that you may still be able to make the shift without disrupting your somatic memory. May you wear them in health and use them in service.
Convention has it, by the way, that the rings containing healing spells be worn on the thumbs, to distinguish them from the offensive spells. I would also recommend consistency in which spells you load into them, and which fingers they are worn upon.
Your gift, meanwhile, was much appreciated -- thank you. I did indeed laugh, but the uniform is very fine, and beautifully made. Perhaps I will arrange a supper at Hogwarts for everyone to wear the clothing of their heritage, to give me an excuse to wear it.
As for your offer -- yes, you're correct that I'm very concerned about the events that have taken place at Hogwarts recently, and about making certain any clerk I hire will be sufficiently loyal not to add to the chaos. (I am also reluctant to engage a permanent replacement; I still have not lost hope that Mr Diggory is alive and well and will be able to return to us, though the length of time since his abduction and the lack of any demands from his kidnappers have been steadily eating away at that most fervent wish.)
Your first priority must be your NEWTs, and I hesitate to involve you further for that very reason; I felt incredibly guilty, last week, distracting you from your exams. If you feel you can handle it, however, I would be most grateful for even a few hours a week. (And of course, if the burden should be too much for you at any point, you have only to say the word.) I am certainly also willing to make allowances for you in class, as well; I am more than aware that half of the assignments I give are little more than busy-work for you.
As for sparring -- if Mr Pontner is willing to let you free, a standing appointment next week for the afternoons would certainly be welcome. Around four each day? (Barring frost, fire, and flood, of course.) Bring Weasley along if you'd like, and if he's free. I promise that I will mind where I am and who I am fighting better than I did last week. (For which I must apologise again -- although your ability to hold your own is something of which you ought be extremely proud.)