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]

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.