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May. 13th, 2009 05:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alt_poppyWell, the mice have caught themselves in my trap at last. I'd hoped that they would have left well enough alone, but in the last several weeks I've had several suspicious loiterers and it seemed clear that something was afoot.
I thought, for instance, that I had surprised my thieves when I returned from our Victory Day supper to find several sixth-year pupils in the ward, two of them rather closer to the cupboards than seemed likely--but when I arrived, they all complained of stomach ache, and that was that. Nothing had been taken.
And then, this weekend while I was treating so many youngsters with forgetfulness injuries, one of them told me he'd seen some suspicious characters open one of the cupboards at the back of the ward--but he couldn't be taken at his word, poor lad, as it was precisely names and faces he was apt to forget. And, again, nothing had been disturbed in the stores, so there was nought to do but bide my time.
The wait ended this morning when I returned inside from gazing at the heavens out on my little balcony perch to find that my cupboards had been broken into and a number of dried ingredients and not a few vials of various essences had gone missing.
The culprits will find it difficult to hide themselves: each container in the cupboards carries a hex that must be removed before opening (which, let me tell you, has been a nuisance to work around all this time). And carrying the things out of the hospital wing will have set that hex to work at once. By morning, anyone who carried or touched the stuff should have found themselves in unmistakable possession of a pair of vividly red hands--and seeing that they made it to lunchtime without having turned themselves in so the hex could be neutralised, they should suddenly have been blazoned with a scarlet T on their faces.
I gather that my hexes have worked, as it were, like a charm. I expect that I will be summoned sooner rather than later to discuss the matter with the Headmistress and our young ne'er-do-wells.
I thought, for instance, that I had surprised my thieves when I returned from our Victory Day supper to find several sixth-year pupils in the ward, two of them rather closer to the cupboards than seemed likely--but when I arrived, they all complained of stomach ache, and that was that. Nothing had been taken.
And then, this weekend while I was treating so many youngsters with forgetfulness injuries, one of them told me he'd seen some suspicious characters open one of the cupboards at the back of the ward--but he couldn't be taken at his word, poor lad, as it was precisely names and faces he was apt to forget. And, again, nothing had been disturbed in the stores, so there was nought to do but bide my time.
The wait ended this morning when I returned inside from gazing at the heavens out on my little balcony perch to find that my cupboards had been broken into and a number of dried ingredients and not a few vials of various essences had gone missing.
The culprits will find it difficult to hide themselves: each container in the cupboards carries a hex that must be removed before opening (which, let me tell you, has been a nuisance to work around all this time). And carrying the things out of the hospital wing will have set that hex to work at once. By morning, anyone who carried or touched the stuff should have found themselves in unmistakable possession of a pair of vividly red hands--and seeing that they made it to lunchtime without having turned themselves in so the hex could be neutralised, they should suddenly have been blazoned with a scarlet T on their faces.
I gather that my hexes have worked, as it were, like a charm. I expect that I will be summoned sooner rather than later to discuss the matter with the Headmistress and our young ne'er-do-wells.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-13 11:08 pm (UTC)On another note, thank you for helping out our Neville this past week or two. Naturally, I'd love to march up to Hogwarts and throttle whoever has decided it would be fun to target him, but I can't fight his battles for him. I hope it will all sort out, and whoever is doing this will get bored or be caught.
But thank you for patching him up so well. I can't be there to pick him up and dust him off, but I'm glad you're a friendly face he can go to in my stead.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-13 11:17 pm (UTC)As for my thieves. Judging by what's been taken, earlier in the year and again just now, Minerva and I expect that they are brewing potions aimed at enhancing pupils' abilities on their examinations. Of course, such things can be risky, so I'm hopeful we have closed the trap before they do any harm.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-14 12:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-14 03:01 am (UTC)I rather think they should be made to pay the value of all that they've pilfered.
I saw from a comment of Percy's that one of them is a Prefect? That's quite shocking, I must admit.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-14 02:26 pm (UTC)But then, why should I think that this Prefect will uphold his office any more honourably than our Ministers uphold theirs? Corruption is the flavour of the day, is it not?
no subject
Date: 2009-05-14 12:21 pm (UTC)In any case, if you would, Poppy, please come and meet with me after breakfast tomorrow? I still have not devised my punishment for the miscreants - I am tempted to expel them, but before I can decide I must look into their families and see if any could cause me trouble. In any case, after breakfast I shall know, and if there are detentions to serve I imagine that they shall serve them under you, Poppy.