Private Message to Professor Aurora Sinistra

[alt_narcissa]

Professor,

You've no doubt heard from Madam Millingham-Kennilworthy and of course Director Hopkirk regarding the programme they wish to institute to complement the Young Protectors' League. I understand that Master Glaucus Gibbon has agreed to lead up the counterpart on behalf of the Brothers of Purity and I am certain he will have similar questions if perhaps a clearer plan in mind than I have at present.

I write, therefore, to consult your opinion on how best to implement the expectations of the Daughters of the Protectorate while in no way proposing activities that would conflict with planned YPL events. For example, I should think Madam Catchlove would be pleased to provide a tutorial on household charms if her seminar may be arranged on a day when the girls are not otherwise occupied.

But more importantly, I rely on your suggestions for candidates. You have the opportunity to observe the young ladies not only in their lessons but through the various excursions and programmes you have led over the last two years. I met with Eudora earlier this week and we agree that perhaps four to six girls in their third year and anywhere from two to four girls in their second year would be more than enough to begin a pilot programme. Of course, it goes without saying that your recommendations should be of girls who, while half-blooded, show great promise and potential to thrive not only within this programme, but as they are evaluated by the Department of Purity Control to enter into society on their own as full citizens of the Protectorate.

I look forward to working with you over the coming months.

Yours most sincerely,

Narcissa Black Malfoy

Comments

[alt_sinistra]

Mrs Malfoy -

I am delighted to help you - and this project - any way I can. I have indeed heard some of the plans from Madam Millingham-Kennilworthy and Director Hopkirk.

I do suspect Madam Catchlove would be glad to offer something of the kind (she and I were at Hogwarts at the same time, so if you'd prefer a personal letter of request, I'd be glad to send a note to her as well.)

I've just finished confirming plans for the YPL events for this year: there are no schedule changes from the tentative dates listed on the calendar distributed to the Board over the summer. If you'd like an additional copy, I'd be glad to send one along. In general, Saturdays seem to be preferable, and any date which does not include a YPL meeting or Hogsmeade weekend should avoid significant conflicts.

In terms of suggestions, let me think on that for a day or so. I'd like to review my own notes, and also in a few cases to have a word with their head of house or another teacher to confirm my own observations.

As far as other planning: if it would be helpful to you to meet, I'd be glad to do so. Generally, the best time for me is either on a weekend without other Hogwarts commitments, or between about four in the afternoon and eight or nine in the evening during the week (as, of course, I teach those evenings.)

I do look forward to working with you, and I'm very glad that you're willing to lend your presence and effort to supporting promising half-bloods.

A. Sinistra

[alt_sinistra]

Mrs Malfoy -

I've had the chance to look through my notes and have those conversations.

Of the third year girls, I'd recommend the following:

- Sally-Anne Perks (Slytherin)
- Katrina Bundy (Gryffindor)
- Megan Jones (Hufflepuff)
- Su Li (Ravenclaw)

Sally-Anne is reliably in the top few of her class, in almost all subjects, and she has been persistently helpful and agreeable in YPL settings. I think she could particularly benefit from this program, especially in terms of making the best social connections. The other three girls suffer by comparison as far as academic work, but are all prime candidates and able to benefit a great deal from such a program.

Other possibilities include Mandy Brocklehurst (Ravenclaw), Hannah Abbott (Hufflepuff), Sarah Fawcett (Ravenclaw), and Eloise Midgen (Hufflepuff). All are good girls, but they seem a little less likely to benefit from the opportunity than the four above: I have less of a sense that they would take the opportunity and flourish.

If I had to pick two, I would probably suggest Hannah Abbott and Eloise Midgen, as the other two are (as you might expect) extremely diligent about their schoolwork, and often spend much of their weekend reviewing material.

Given the Hufflepuff sense of loyalty and community (my own house, so I know it well), it might also be particularly hard for one of them to be left out of the activity while the other half-blood girls in the house participate. Likewise, that loyalty and commitment might be particularly useful if harnessed properly.

Of the second year girls, Isolde Inglebee, in Hufflepuff, is beginning to particularly show promising signs of leadership and influence in her house. Juliana Bradley (Griffindor), Portia Rubens (Ravenclaw), and Adelheid Zimmerman (Hufflepuff) are all possible candidates, as well, though they stand out less in class and YPL meetings.

There is also the question of Luna Lovegood. She obviously had a very difficult year last year, and she is having some difficulty fitting in with her foster family. (She does not complain overmuch, but I've overhead some comments that make it clear.)

While I am not sure she is a good fit for this program, I wonder if, in your conversations with others, you might keep an ear open for someone who could mentor her individually. She is quite brilliant, and able to make intuitive leaps when she focuses on a task, but suffers both from distraction and from a very irregular upbringing. I would very much like to direct that attention in ways that serve our realm, rather than waste the very real potential.

[alt_narcissa]

Thank you so much for your assistance and direction. This list will do nicely.

I shall send owls to the girls' guardians confirming their selection for the programme and requesting permission to enroll them. Upon receipt of their acceptance on the girls' behalf, we may inform them of the opportunity that awaits.

I've compared my calendar with my husband's copy from his Board materials and also consulted with Master Gibbon. We agree that it would be best, whenever possible, to schedule activities for our groups on the same day, so as to keep them running in parallel. That will likely change moving forward, of course, but we have scheduled the first meetings on the 16th of October. This ought to give us more than enough time to confirm their enrollment.

Madam Catchlove will be able to begin her lessons after the Christmas holidays. If I am to appear in person, I am afraid I shall not have another opportunity to visit with the girls before the holidays myself (our calendar really is very full this season), unless we decide to include an evening or possibly a Sunday afternoon. I thought perhaps as a treat, if they do particularly well during the year, a supervised trip to Sorçère in Hogsmeade might be arranged between the end of exams and their return home, though I know that's ages away. But Madame Puddifoot's is another option for lessons in proper etiquette at tea and so on, and that might be arranged in conjuction with a Hogsmeade day. I understand that the second-year girls would require an escort and permission from their guardians - though I cannot foresee that as a problem.

Regarding Miss Lovegood, I am glad you mention her with such clear perception of her potential as well as her peculiarity. I agree that Miss Lovegood would likely be made to feel more uncomfortable as a participant in the pilot programme. However, you need not fear for her foster-mother's ability to provide mentorship. Mrs Brown is an acquaintance of mine; we have served together on numerous committees in the Witches' Institute, the Daughters of the Protectorate and the St Mungo's Auxiliary for many years. I know she has made every effort to provide for her new charge with diligence and sensitivity. If Miss Lovegood believes herself abused in her situation, I can assure you it could not be further from the truth. I believe her years with her 'irregular' upbringing, as you call it, have damaged her to the point where she may simply refuse to accept the advice and guidance of a witch who surely has only her best interest at heart.

[alt_sinistra]

All of those plans seem quite reasonable. As you say, the second year students would require permission and escort, and the Headmistress's permission, but the last should be simple, given your involvement. (If it were during term time, it might be a little more challenging: it is so difficult for children that age when one of their number gets a treat that others don't, especially when the children are half bloods, and their pureblood friends do not have the same opportunity.)

Sunday afternoon sessions would, perhaps, be easier to arrange than a weeknight evening if you are looking for additional dates: our most diligent students (as these girls all are) do not care for disruption of their study plans, especially if a professor may assign a larger than expected assignment, as sometimes happens. The weekend is a much easier time for them to work around, especially with the advance notice you'd provide.

On the matter of Miss Lovegood - I hasten to add that she has not complained, and she has been quite clear that Mrs Brown has made her welcome. The problem is more a matter of inclination: Lavender Brown, while growing into a lovely young lady who I am sure will follow her mother into excellent committee work, does not have Luna's more curious bent. I do not think the two would have picked each other to spend time with, were it not for the circumstances, and that, of course, takes some getting used to. (And I suspect moreso for someone who had been an only child.)

I admit some sympathy for Luna. I was much my mother's despair for a few years, as I had my nose always in a book (or my eye at a telescope). I was fortunate that several friends of the family took an interest, and helped me learn both the necessary social graces and follow my interests, but there were several quite awkward years in there. While I'm sure Mrs Brown will be most attentive to her needs, I simply wonder if additional mentoring - somehow - might also be of benefit.

That said, you have been most gracious with your time and energy, so that is certainly not your worry. I look forward to working with you through this year as well, and do let me know at any time if I can be of any additional help.