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[alt_poppy]

I've spent a delightful weekend in New London with Nymphadora, Remus, and Albia.

Remus, I will send my observation notes directly to Severus. I can certainly attest that there's a marked improvement in the immediate aftermath of the transformation over the times I examined you at Hogwarts. My observations during the transformation will have to stand on their own, of course, as I never had occasion to observe you during the moon when you were with us at the school. I wish we'd thought to do that, but hindsight is worth exactly nothing. In any case, I was pleasantly surprised by what I witnessed: the wolfsbane is more effective than I imagined. I was glad to see your colour back this morning. Suspect you may already be in bed tonight. I apologise for not getting this written earlier.

Dora, I haven't played Snap in years! What fun to knock the rust off a bit! As for other things, I feel quite confident that your instincts are perfectly good. And just a reminder about the Rest Easy: start with a single drop in your cup of chamomile before bed. Even if you were to increase that to three drops, it oughtn't affect your ability to respond to Bea in the night, and it will increase the amount of rest you take in the hours she allows you between feedings.

And now for the news the rest of you wish to hear: Bea is doing beautifully--she made a very good showing on the developmental inventory for someone ten weeks old. Of course, she's been seen at St Mungo's for each of the normal infancy visits, so she didn't require anything from me beyond a bit of shameless spoiling.

Alice, I do still hope to make a quick visit to you if we could tuck it betwixt and between my remaining obligations. I think I could make it there after supper on Friday this week, though I will have to play the arrival time by ear as I've a supper meeting and I'd have to leave quite early on Sunday. I'm sorry to have to rush things so.


I hope the rest of you are safe and sound tonight. Be well.

Comments

[alt_nymphadora]

Thanks, Madam P. I know Remus appreciated your coming--and Bea and I enjoyed our time with you. I had no idea you were such a card sharp, though!

I'm sorry you weren't able to properly enjoy the beer garden, but, of course, you were right that it would have wasted the polyjuice to use it that way. Only I was sorry we had to keep you out of sight on such a nice, sunny weekend.

I've done some further thinking on the things we discussed. Thanks for your ear on that, as well.

[alt_poppy]

Card playing involves a skill that's rather like riding a broom, I suppose: the basics stay with you, and then you've either the instincts to make you good at the thing or you don't. My mother was quite ruthless at cards. Not at all kind to those she played against. And she'd sooner hex you than continue partnering you if you made a mistake in counting. That, for her, was the unforgivable sin.

I was impressed by the crowd you attract of an evening. And, of course, I would happily have taken the polyjuice if you'd had a return visit from your mystery chap. It was thoughtful of him to stay away on a weekend when you had other pressing concerns.

As for the last item, I know you will make a sound decision, whatever it may be.

[alt_sirius]

Hindsight or not, Poppy, you couldn't have observed Moony before. That's the whole point of the Wolfsbane.

Glad to hear things went well, or as well as could be expected. I've still a few things to finish up north but I hope to be back in London by the wane.

[alt_poppy]

I could have done, just the same as I did this time: the other side of a very secure door, courtesy of a uni-directional transparency spell. We decided he might find it unsettling if he could see me sitting there watching him, and we didn't want to skew his behaviour by adding that sort of provocation.

But it's not something that ever occurred to us while Remus was on staff at the school--and, of course, you're right, I had nothing at all like wolfsbane to offer him then. The best I could do was ease his recovery a bit each month.

You're well, I trust?

[alt_sirius]

Quite well, thanks. I've been hatching up a little project with Macnair to put some kneazles among the canaries down at Buckingham.

[alt_poppy]

I wish you every success with that project!

Order Only Private Message to Sirius Black

[alt_poppy]

How are you finding Macnair?

Re: Order Only Private Message to Sirius Black

[alt_sirius]

Oddly, well enough, so long as we stick to our mutual topic of cornering Death Eaters by their own corruption. Or inventing some where it may or may not exist.

Can't well talk to him about much else. And he's not a wizard of many words, at any rate. He's seen several of the Sherwood folk come and go, including Paul and other muggleborns, but he still doesn't talk to them, rather actively avoids them, in point of fact. I can't tell whether he's just uncomfortable around muggleborns or if he really still thinks they're second-class citizens. He doesn't say anything outright, of course. But he gets markedly more tense whenever the muggleborns are nearby. Course, that could be any number of things.

Still. Have to admit he's got reasonable ideas about knocking the Death Eaters down a peg, particularly Ari Baddock and Lucius Malfoy. And that we can definitely use to our advantage.