Order Only ATTN Pomona, Albus, Severus

[alt_poppy]

I've only a moment.

It's done. Sacked. Am packing up my personals.

Was ready, of course, for the worst, but-

Pomona. When you get to your rooms, would you see if Tilda's near her Floo? If she has room, I'll go there.

Comments

[alt_poppy]

Thank you, Severus.

I suppose I must be grateful that she was so precipitous in ordering the elves to clear my belongings. I've realised belatedly that in my concern that no sensitive items be left lying about, I hadn't time to recollect all the items of a more sentimental nature I will wish I'd saved. I shall have to depend on the elves' having taken more care of those possessions than I did.

For the rest of you, yes, I suppose I'd seen this coming for some time. Well back into last year, in fact, I'd begun keeping everything sensitive in a single, well-concealed and easily-collected place.

The truth, however, is that I've been taken by surprise today. I really believed... well, I suppose I believed that Madam Umbridge and I had settled in for a long battle of the wills. I regret that I was mistaken.

In any case, I think you know--but if you don't I can reassure you--that I have been very careful with my accounting and record-keeping. I've had to be for years, but over the past two, I've had to be particularly cunning about what I log and what I keep aside for extraordinary needs--and, of course, there have always been items I've masked in my inventory in order to set them aside for the Order.

In retrospect it seems especially fortunate that I recently bent a number of firm principles and deputised my student, Miss Perks, to perform the duties of a trainee Healer in cases where students were forbidden or afraid to come to me. This is not a sign that I've been in any way prescient, mind you: I was merely responding to necessity as Madam Umbridge has used ever more damaging physical punishments whilst also forbidding her victims to seek treatment.

On that impetus, I gave over all of my set-aside stores to Miss Perks this week. All save those items too ticklish for any but a fully trained Healer to administer. And those medicinals not officially licensed for use. Those items I brought away with me.


I'm so very sorry, Alice, to have failed in my duties to our young people.

[alt_severus]

While I am well acquainted with the accusations one's own conscience hurls against one in the aftermath of any particular confrontation, no rational actor would take the position that you have failed in the least.

To set your mind at ease regarding at least one item, Miss Perks has been to see me for reassurance that the children are not in any appreciably greater danger today than they were yesterday — which I have provided to the extent I am able — and to discuss revised plans for how they might safeguard themselves in the event of disaster if the infirmary is no longer to be considered the first port of call. I have provided her with several suggestions to pass on to the remainder of her company.

As to the matter of your personal items, I will do what I may.

[alt_terry]

Oh, Madam Pomfrey, I'm so sorry.

But don't don't think you've failed the students. They know how lucky they've been to have you, and you were ever so clever to give the potions to Sally-Anne Perks.

She's taking the responsibility utterly seriously, I assure you.

[alt_poppy]

Thank you, Mr Boot.

I appreciate your sayings so. And your reassurance about Miss Perks. I have every confidence in her instincts and abilities.