A Fine Day for Quidditch

[alt_linus]

It is a splendid thing indeed, a spring afternoon of Quidditch here at dear old Hogwarts. So many remarkable students have played or watched, over the centuries, and then grown into remarkable witches and wizards, and it quite gives one an appreciation of history to think on the many celebrated names who have been where we are now. It gives us a great deal to aspire to. At the same time, it is sobering to measure ourselves by those who have gone before.

Personally, it calls one to mindfulness that one has not always been at one's best, and that when it comes to excelling for the glory of the Protectorate, one has sadly fallen short of the mark. One can but admit one's shortcomings and pick oneself up -- not unlike a certain player who had a bit of a broom-slip early on today -- and rejoin the fray, anxious to attempt to make up for one's insufficiencies. For truly, even we who are obviously not cut out for the highest levels of excellence in competition may still serve the Protectorate and Our Lord with our talents, even beset as we are by numerous personal flaws and faults.

I, for one, pledge to try.

Comments

Private Message to Professor Sinistra

[alt_linus]

Professor Sinistra,

Please allow me to express again my sincere repentance for the disturbance at your party. It has recently been borne in upon me that, far from being the model of excellence and accomplishment that you and Professor Dolohov have so generously exerted yourselves to mould me into, I have fallen short in so many ways. You have no doubt heard that I am no longer involved in the Challenges ongoing; I have been dropped, and rightly so. For indeed, how could Our Lord be expected to look with favour upon a bumbling idiot who disrupts the harmonious and convivial efforts of their benefactor with half-cocked schemes and ill-considered plans gone awry?

I am so ashamed, and the more so that I thought my attempts so clever when they were nearer the merest flailings and graspings after a biscuit by a puling infant.

Please accept my deepest apologies.

Re: Private Message to Professor Sinistra

[alt_sinistra]

Linus,

Please do not bother yourself any further about the matter at the party: I considered it entirely resolved when Raz said he had spoken to you about it. Neither of us is upset with you at all.

As to the challenges, as a very wise man has told me (Professor Dolohov, indeed), there are many ways to serve Our Lord, and the Council is but one of them. I would trust to his advice about how best to develop your skills for future service, just as I've gone to him (and to my husband, of course), for advice about how to best use my own skills.

Tomorrow afternoon I'll be working with those who want some final preparation for the NEWT exam, but do feel free to stop by my office if I can be of any help. I admit you do not sound quite like yourself.

Re: Private Message to Professor Sinistra

[alt_linus]

Oh, but I couldn't bother Professor Dolohov for more advice -- certainly not now, after I have so poorly repaid his kind dispensal of same! For did he not warn me to behave more seriously?

The light-minded and frivolous will always come to grief. I knew it, and here it is proved again. I am a disgrace to my House.

I must study harder.

Truly it is as Byron said, that we too often fall prey to
"that wish -- which ages have not yet subdued
in man -- to have no master save his mood"!
But I must subdue it! Or all will be lost!

Oh, Merlin. I am pathetic.

Private Message to my sweetest Lavender from her most unworthy knight

[alt_linus]

Fair Lady! Though indeed I have no right to address thee as such, nor even to address thee at all!

I'm so sorry about what happened today at Quidditch. I should have realised earlier that I was unworthy to sit next to you, and made other arrangements.

I dare not even ask you to forgive me.

Re: Private Message to my sweetest Lavender from her most unworthy knight

[alt_lavender]

Don't be ridiculous! I'd far rather sit with you than Drumgoole. He's the worst sort of Quidditch bore--and definitely not who I'd want to snuggle with!

Re: Private Message to my sweetest Lavender from her most unworthy knight

[alt_linus]

Your grace and charity know no bounds, but if there is ridicule to be had, I deserve every bit of it. Indeed, there may not be enough ridicule within the Protectorate to supply all that is needed.

And yet, it took so long for me to see it. Even when I thought I knew my flaws, I was too, too self-satisfied!

"For alas, on my isle I have built
a very handsome house from out my guilt
and there I lived exceedingly at ease!"

I thought that mere knowledge of my flaws would suffice to cancel them out! But it will not do, Lav. It will not do. I must expiate them, lest they grow more monstrous yet. Your kindness should not be burdened with with this repentant wretch. No, I must set you free of any mistaken and ill-considered loyalties.

You told me once, long ago, that Padma had implied to you that we were not suited, you and I. She was generous enough to suggest the same to me, and I, in my pride o'erweening, dismissed her acute assessment and sailed onward as if my shabby dinghy were a ship of the line!

My boat is scuttled. My wreck is manifest for all to see. Alas! I must live out my days in full knowledge of what an insufficient fool I am, and and huddle in the torn rags of my pomposity and grandiosity, cast away on the shore of bitter, bitter self-knowledge. It is no wonder they expelled me from the challenge. The only wonder is that they ever took me in the first place.

Oh, Merlin.

Re: Private Message to my sweetest Lavender from her most unworthy knight

[alt_lavender]

If you're trying to break it off with me, I...I refuse! I don't believe you really want to, you've simply worked yourself into a frenzy.

Padma said WHAT

Re: Private Message to my sweetest Lavender from her most unworthy knight

[alt_linus]

And I apologise for Drumgoole. I should have chosen better! Oh, too hasty! Driven as I was by the knowledge that anyone would better suit, I cast my net and brought you the first fair fish I could find.

Private Message to Padma

[alt_linus]

Esteemed Ravenclaw colleague, though who knows for how long, given my complete unsuitability to be part of this august House

There is something I must say, and it is this:

You were right.

I speak, of course, of your pronouncement quite some time ago that Miss Brown and I were unsuited to one another. Padma! Why could I not see it then? I should have listened to your wisdom, as indeed Professor Dolohov suggested to me lo these ages past, which is another of the many ways in which I have failed him.

Padma, I am not worthy of her. I am a blight and a canker and my mind has lost its force, my blood its fire. To deserve her I would need to raise higher my promethean spark! The lightning of my being has not been bright, pervading and far-darting! I am a sad old fellow, a dull boy, cumbered with books that he only half-understands. It is only a matter of time before she -- and indeed everyone -- sees what you so perceptively stated, and bids me adieu. The least I can do, in deference to what she should have and to how different to me such a paragon would be, is to withdraw with apologies from her presence and take care never to besmirch the edge of her shadow with my unworthy presence.

Please, by the friendship you once granted to this vile caitiff, could you explain to her? I dare not even speak to her.

My lance is unlifted! My trumpet unblown!

Re: Private Message to Padma

[alt_linus]

And now I have gone and apologised to her, and made a complete hash of it.

Dare I ask you to apologise for my apology?

No, that way madness lies....

[alt_linus]

ALL IS DUNGBOMBS AND ASHES.

[alt_millicent]

stop moaning or someone will clobber you. And it might be me.

[alt_sally_anne]

I really hope you're feeling better now. If not, go see Madam Pomfrey immediately. And for the love of Morgana STOP APOLOGISING.