Private message to Madame Pomfrey

[alt_rodolphus]

As you know, I was in the castle this to afternoon check in on my brother and take a meal with my daughter, and to verify whether or not she is moving on at reasonable pace from the ordeal she suffered last week.

Time constraints prevented me from addressing the matter with you in person, for I could not stay at Hogwarts for long, so I use this journal to ask you this: do your cavity treatment programs typically involve such measures?

Comments

[alt_poppy]

What aspect of your daughter's treatment has raised your concerns?

[alt_rodolphus]

The use of the Imperius curse to compel her away from anything sweet. I would imagine that the parents would be consulted before such a measure. Am I wrong?

[alt_poppy]

Oh! Goodness, no. Rest assured I have not used Imperius on your child or any other.

To be frank with you, Mr Lestrange, I am quite vehemently opposed to the use of Imperius for Healing applications, though I am well aware that they are currently in vogue.

Perhaps I should elaborate. I do understand why some have looked to this method in treating extreme cases of self-starvation. I cannot, however, see that it has any valid use as a tool for restricting diet, and while I realise that one might leave adults to do with themselves what they wish, I find it shocking that anyone would consider using Imperius on a child for the purpose you propose.

But surely you have a reason for enquiring. Is your daughter in need of my assistance?

[alt_rodolphus]

But she has been put under Imperius. I did note that she was not taking the chocolate that was offered to her this weekend last, but I assumed that was due to stress and trauma. Yet when I paid her a visit today I brought a hamper of all her favourites. the egg and cress sandwich she ate readily, as if she was very hungry, but she turned down both the tart and cake I offered her after. When I prompted her to hold the tart in her hand and bring it to her mouth, she became distressed and said "I can't."

I was unable to cajole her into saying more on the matter, but I'm familiar enough with Imperius to know when I am seeing someone under its influence.

But if this wasn't some aspect of her cavity treatment, then that leaves...one or two other explanations. One, in particular.

[alt_poppy]

It is true that Miss Lestrange lost weight between the visit during which I treated her oral deficiencies and her most recent visit, and it is also true that one of her Housemates spoke privately with me out of concern that your daughter was not looking well and might not have been eating properly.

I regret to say that in the wake of Professor Carrow's violence and your daughter's injury, I may have attributed too much to the effects of shock, thereby missing signs of malnourishment. She is small for her age and has always been reserved in my presence--never boisterous or bubbly--but then, few children are exuberant in my presence and I saw nothing out of the ordinary in her quietness when she was here.

As well, the curse-induced behaviours you describe seem designed to ensure that Miss Lestrange would act to obscure the fact that she had been under the control of an Imperius. I admire your method for testing her responses, and I confess myself chastened to have misread her condition when I had her here under my care so recently. I am very sorry for that.

How would you have me proceed? I'm unaware of a method for removing an Imperius compulsion, but St Mungo's have specialists who stand ready to consult on such matters.

[alt_rodolphus]

I see.

I do not personally fault you for your oversight. I think the events of last year illustrate that my daughter is remarkably good at hiding that which troubles her. Also, refraining from sweets alone should not have resulted in such a substantial weight loss. The curse was likely an attempt to strong-arm her into making better choices at meals - something which she apparently refused to do, quite successfully.

I could re-cast Imperius to null the current one, but that could well lead to unforeseen complications. This afternoon I did spend some time coaching her on how to fight the compulsion - something she has had practice at before, but never for when related to food.

It's always been a bit of a complication with Hydra, you see. She is a very picky eater, who has always tried to avoid meat, who requires that temperature and texture be just so, who abhors spices and adornments of almost any kind. Sweets are the only thing she eats freely and with predictable enthusiasm.

I admit that it was sometimes easier to give her sweets, just out of concern that she eat something at all. The house elves here have also perfected recipes to tempt her palate into eating more balanced meals, but naturally the Hogwarts elves are feeding so many that they can't make such special exceptions.

At the moment I'm unsure of how to proceed. Were my brother alert, I'd have him continue to work with her on resisting the compulsion. As it is I cannot come to the school and attend to her daily.

[alt_poppy]

As you say, it is a puzzle what to do. I see two courses that might be of use: the first would be to appeal to the person who applied the curse, supposing you know who that was; the second would be to send the child to St Mungo's for intervention.

We are very near the end of term, as you know, and I feel certain that under the circumstances, you might ask Professor Slughorn to seek the Headmistress's consent for your daughter's early dismissal; I would be happy to make the necessary arrangements with St Mungo's.

[alt_rodolphus]

St Mungo's...no, I'm afraid that won't do. I would rather not have other parties knowing of this matter. I'm sure you understand.

However, if I can bring her home then she will have access to food she is used to, and I should be able to continue to coach her on resisting the curse. Naturally, it would be best that she finish her exams, first.

In the meantime, I'll arrange to have a small hamper of food sent to her daily, so that she doesn't further weaken herself.

[alt_poppy]

I appreciate your desire for privacy. Do you wish to avoid St Mungo's involvement altogether, even to consult on her care, or is it rather that you wish to avoid your daughter's being admitted there?

If you wish, I could ask Professor Slughorn to send Miss Lestrange to me and keep her here when she is not sitting exams. That way she could remain in school until the usual end of term and avoid calling the attention to her circumstances an early departure would surely attract. Keeping her here would allow me to oversee her meals, if not treat the source of her condition.

[alt_rodolphus]

Oh, I plan to consult with them. It's admission, along with an involved description of the related circumstances, that I wish to avoid.

You seem to have your plate full as is - are you sure this is something you have the time and means to address?

Along with that, it doesn't seem a particularly cheery or diverting place to keep a child.

[alt_poppy]

That is your call, of course.

I could certainly care for your daughter, though I cannot dispute that this ward is not a cheery place to spend days on end. And it may be that Professor Slughorn could arrange for a Prefect to pay the necessary attention to Miss Lestrange's meals that would allow her to remain in her own House throughout.

Unless you wish to avoid involving him?

[alt_rodolphus]

Oh, I plan to see if Horace is available for firechat first thing come morn. Perhaps he'll have a suggestion that suits.

Meanwhile, I shall arrange for a food hamper at breakfast.

Thank you for your time, Matron.