Private message to Lana Sandoval-Pennifold

[alt_rachel]

I am SO glad you invited me to fill in for Desai. That was a thoroughly entertaining afternoon. 'Oh, Miss Auror Ma'am, can you please tell me which subjects I can stop revising for if I want to be an Auror just like you?' My goodness.

I suppose you'd already met both the two potential candidates for the December internship (it's December, right?) When you were in school. I caught a glimpse of them at CCF this past summer but mostly they all blurred into a mass of dirty, under-slept, jumpy teenagers. They seemed a little less jumpy this time. What did you think?

(And thank you again for inviting me to fill in. I also had tea with Professor Vector; it's been far too long since I've had an excuse to chat with her.)

Comments

[alt_lana]

Glad you enjoyed it. Sorry I had to run back to New London. I only caught a few minutes with Professor Vector when I arrived. She looks good, don't you think? I'm always afraid one of them will look suddenly older when I come back.

And it was hilarious, wasn't it? Some of the questions! 'How do you get to specialise in Interrogation?' I loved your answer, by the way! And most dangerous thing we've ever had to do. Suppose they were hoping for stories about Ireland or DogStar, not my story about nearly being squashed by a landslide when we took the wards down at that mine in Cumbria. Oh, and Moon: 'What are some of the ways Arithmancy is useful to you?' He's sweet, but so young! And he's one of those clever kids who just has no idea...

[alt_rachel]

Professor Vector looks nearly exactly as I remember, yes.

I think my favourite question was the one from that boy who looked about eight (he was at LEAST eleven, but they all look so young to me) who wants to be an Enforcer when he grows up. How do they sustain that level of energy and enthusiasm without killing all their teachers?

[alt_lana]

You should ask the teachers! (I think they'd all say they are dying the death of a thousand cuts, one or two per day.)

Oh. There was the question about our sparring ranks! Are you really middle of the pack in your cohort?

[alt_rachel]

I am above the midpoint but not by a great deal. Most weeks I'm in the top third. The best I've ever done, I was in the top quarter.

Worst, I dipped into the bottom half but that couldn't stand. (Also, I'd been ill. So I had an excuse, of sorts, but still.)

You're at the top, yes? Though Montague's done his best to displace you.

[alt_lana]

Montague. Seriously. And Evan. But last I looked I was back on top.

I just don't want to have to tell Auror Lestrange I've dropped. She sponsored my for the programme, you know. And she doesn't sponsor any but the best. She told me that back during my first year in training. No pressure, there!

[alt_rachel]

Well, you certainly don't want to be a disappointment, but surely she'll understand that once you're sparring with more experienced Aurors than the other trainees, you won't be the best overnight? It'll take time to work your way back to the top.

[alt_lana]

Do you really believe that about her?

We'll see, I expect. Because you're right, of course, I won't simply top the rankings once I've got the promotion. But I'd best be working my wand to a stump, trying to climb the standings.

[alt_rachel]

And TOO RIGHT about the landslide.

So. How worried are you really about Ron Weasley's marks? Justin Finch-Fletchley's marks are a good deal better but I'm not sure how interested he seemed, honestly.

[alt_lana]

I'm not. But. You'd think he could at least have looked embarrassed about lounging about in the middle of the standings. Seriously. And then he tells us he's competitive?!

Finch-Fletchley, though. Telling us how ill-suited he'd be for the job? And going on about how he thinks it's important to avoid violence as much as possible. Obviously, he's not interested. And I'm not one to ignore it when someone waves a red flag in my face. (Or a white one, as the case may be.)

[alt_rachel]

I don't know that it's occurred to him that one CAN be competitive about marks. You and I are both Ravenclaws, so OF COURSE we were competitive about marks! I think Gryffindors tend to assume that competition means Quidditch.

Finch-Fletchley, well, yes. Though that's part of why it's so hard to get good people in MEU -- when every Auror recruited wants action and fieldwork, it's hard for them not to see an assignment in MEU as a failure instead of an opportunity. (But. That said. I may spend many weeks cross-checking numbers, but I'd better be ready to use my wand when it's called for.)

[alt_lana]

Gryffindors. Honestly.

Hm. I suppose MEU is a bit of an anomaly as far as who's best suited to the work, but really, I think he may be too much of a Hufflepuff and not enough Ravenclaw for that combination. Mind you, his answer about House attributes was about the best one could give for the badgers. I mean, of course he claimed he'd be resistant to corruption and loyal to the protectorate, but I haven't heard anyone talk about their natural strengths - valuing hard work, dedication, commitment to the side - paying off in terms of physical endurance training and follow-through in the field. It makes sense. And it's pretty much exactly what Dolohov had to say about him.

Of course, Dolohov's promising he's got all the potential in the world for Noble Arts, while Finch-Fletchley's telling us he's got less inclination than anyone ever for the defensive and offensive business that's our staple.

I say if that's how he looks at it, fine. If he doesn't have the inclination, we're not going to make an Auror of him.

I suppose I should ask Antonin Nikolaevich, though. Since he was so vigorous in support.

[alt_rachel]

Well -- I'm not trying to talk you into recommending Finch-Fletchley, honestly, because my gut feeling was that he would do poorly in the department simply because he doesn't want it badly enough. But. I will say that a very bright Hufflepuff, or a very determined Ravenclaw, is what you want for MEU. Because so much of it is reading numbers until you're cross-eyed, looking for the bit that doesn't match up.

And his marks show he's clever -- cleverer than many of the Ravenclaws. Which might be part of what Professor Dolohov sees in him. You have to admit, every year there are Ravenclaws who are so bright they don't have to work, so they don't.

Anyway. If you do ask, let me know what you hear. I'm curious.