( Rita )

I am fully convinced that Hans Baldung Grien was a wizard, or at least had some contact with the magical world. I'm tempted to research this and write a paper, but I have some misgivings. Mainly thoughts that the art world will want to bash my head in, and I would rather not have that happen. Messing with Albrecht Dürer is sacrilegious, messing with his most talented apprentice would be just as bad. Oh, but I think this man knew something!

Hieronymus Bosch too. Have you ever seen the Temptation of St Anthony? The Garden of Earthly Delights?
( Look at Hell )

I swear, I'm not bored though. You should see little Abby! The girl has found her legs! She kicks and kicks and kicks. I think she'll be a swimmer.

( Private )

( Bellatrix )

It's been a long time since I've been on the scrolls. Little monkey child to take care of and whatnot. She's good, I thank you all for mentally asking. She drools and kicks now...not that she didn't drool before, but the kicking is new. She's found her feet, everyone! And she's got the biggest blue eyes I've ever seen. She is quite stunning, I'm sure you'd all agree if you came to visit.

For the record, that cathedral-thingie I'm working on is still standing. Hasn't fallen over yet...which is basically my job in a nutshell. Try to keep the building from falling over. There was a bit of an accident the other day though. I was up on the scaffolding near the clerestory windows, examining the tracery work (like you do), when one of the workers turned around too fast and knocked me off my balance. I wobbled a bit by the edge of the platform, then fell.

So you can imagine that I didn't fancy dying, and...well, a bit of magic was called for to keep my head from cracking on the floor below. I managed to cast a levitation charm which saved my sorry arse. The only problem? Visitors saw me.

Don't worry though, I managed to cover up the situation nicely. If you see me in the papers under the headline "Miracle at Gloucester Cathedral! Man Floats to Safety!" know it wasn't an Act of God, it was just me not wanting to die.

I keep getting letters from people wanting me to touch their liver spots and achy feet. ...dammit.

I was in the middle of writing a proposal when I heard a bit of a scuffle outside my office.

Rita, your father came to visit. Visit me at work, that is, because he knew you'd be home and not here you see.

He has some sort of shiny metal thing in his hand. Brandishing it actually, rather than just holding.



Anyway, I'm writing this barricaded in my office. If anyone needs me, I'll be trying to sneak out the bloody window while Klaus .... dances or some other distracting thing.

p.s. anyone got any tissues? seemed to have left my wand at home.

( Private )

I was thinking about sending out a generic letter to check up on all of you, since my contact with the outside world has been limited these past few weeks. Something like:
Are you okay/mentally stable as of late? [circle]
Y
N
Do you require a visit with Nick?
Y
N
Please state reason if above answer is yes:
_____________________
_____________________
Please list possible dates for visit:
_____________________
_____________________
List happy news to share:
_____________________
_____________________
List grievances, worries, etc
_____________________
_____________________
Thank you for filling out this survey. Nick appreciates and values your continued friendship. Have a lovely day.

( Private )

( Rita )


( Liza )

( Abime )



That is me. See my wee little office? And the beard because I keep forgetting to shave? And they don't let me go home so I wear some ecclesiastical robes because it's cold in the chapter house....

My hair is a bit curlier. It's not really an accurate rendition of me.

I have a question. I've taken the day off of work because I've seem to come down with a magical cold. Unlike a regular cold where one would just sneeze and cough and be all-around miserable, every time I sneeze now I...um...

Well, there are nasty side affects. So I've locked myself in my room until the cold goes away.

Anyway, back to the question. Anyone have any home remedies? Chicken-and-eye-of-newt soup or something? Much appreciated for any help in advance, as this is a really serious problem and I've had to lock myself in the guestroom. help.

This transitional period was a little rocky, so I do apologise that you're all getting your Christmas (Holiday) gifts a bit belatedly.

( List of Gifts sent out )

Ladies and Gentlemen, students, staff, ghosts and portraits, I have a rather important announcement I've been meaning to make for a week now. You see, I've been putting it off. Not for reasons of procrastination, though I am a notorious procrastinator, but because it's both wonderful and depressing news at the same time.

As of the end of the winter term, the last week of December to be precise, I will no longer be the History of Magic Professor here at Hogwarts. I shall be starting a job at the Gloucester Cathedral, overseeing preservation and restoration and acting as a co-consultant and Medieval Historian with another scholar. Until then I shall continue to lecture and prepare students for their OWLs and NEWTs, and then will be replaced during the second half of the year at the start of January. I do not know who will be my replacement at the present time, but have been assured that I will have a say in who is hired to take over.

I cannot fully express how much my time spent here has meant to me, nor how much I have enjoyed getting to know you all. I believe that every moment spent in this castle has improved me for the better, and I know that as much as I have taught you, I've learned that much more from each and every one of you. Despite how sudden this departure might seem, I am saddened to leave and will miss the castle and everyone I crossed paths with in it.



One more announcement, shorter than the one before, and one that may make sense in context with the last. As you might have heard, late December I am to be married. You're all invited if you wish to go to the ceremony and reception, teachers and students alike. There are some restrictions as my parents are Muggle and the rest of my family as well, therefore the wedding will be one without magic and in a Muggle church. If you'd like to attend please let me know and I will provide you with a location and date, once I can be sure that wands will be put away for that day, of course.

My office hours remain the same as they've always been, should anyone wish to speak to me in person.

( Private )

( Rita )

Not much to say today. I'm sure you've all heard the news by now, which I'm not about to deny. It's all true. I do wear jumpers my mother knitted for me in her circle of equally-gifted ladies.

So. On that note.

Kids, don't do drugs. Stay in school. Be nice to your Mum.

That about covers it.

( BIG IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO LIZA )


( Abime! )


( Rita )


( Acacia Leoni )


Students! I've lost my red-inked quill! If anyone's seen it, please tell me. I'm missing it rather desperately. I cannot seem to...it's in my other hand.

Nevermind then.

( scraps of paper found in Nick's fireplace )

( Private )

( Letter sent to Rita at her school )


( A note to Abime, left on his desk tucked into a textbook )

Somebody took the last of my chalk. I'm in no mood to play games today - somebody give me back my chalk or I'll dictate notes for the rest of the week.

( Private )



( Rita )


Isn't it nice to be back into the swing of things? It's still the summer outside those castle walls! I'm tempted to drag a blackboard by the lake and have my lectures out there. It's a shame the last time I went out to take the air, as it were, I ended up looking like a lobster.

( letter to mother (private) )

How many days until term starts? I think I'll take a mini-holiday!

Chair, towel, glass of lemonade, book...to the shore of the black lake I go.

( Private )


( Rita )


( Abime )



August. Means that summer is almost on its way out, doesn't it? It also means that I've returned to the castle early to start work on the year's syllabus. Trust me, the reading is entertaining enough. This castle is like a furnace though. I forget just how hot it can be here when in the winter I'm compromising with myself in the morning to get out of bed and not go to class in my pajamas.

And in case you were wondering, the compromise is almost always breakfast. Speaking of which, Prof. Valentina, would you care for a cup of coffee?

( Private thoughts, not for your eyes )

If you need to get in touch with me I'll be in Egypt for the next couple of days. I should be returning back to the United Kingdom in a week or so, or at least that's the plan anyway. Sometimes things don't work out as planned though.

( To Liza )

( To the Delames )


( Rita )

I don't recommend planning a trip through the Yucatan Peninsula in the summer. It's hot, the mosquitoes are the size of small dogs, and no matter what you do or what preventative measures you take you'll still end up burned to a crisp and sweaty.

Though I do recommend a trip to Palenque. Lord Pakal's tomb is certainly worth the bug bites and lobster-red skin, even if you have to sneak by tourists by day and people with guns by night.

( A Scroll Conversation )

( Private )


History of Magic. Exams. A few days. Are we ready, students?