TED TONKS: 16 May 1970

[orlanstamos]

Dear Julie,

Glad to hear school is going well. I knew you'd get to liking it eventually. Mum said you and the Bennet twins are practically inseparable. They're the two with the pigtails, yes? What are their names- Elizabeth and Olivia? Something like that.

School here is busy. I have O.W.L.s in a few weeks so I've been studying like mad

Comments

[lefthandstars]

I loved arithmancy by the time I got to fourth year. First and second year arithmancy were hell, though.
Personally, I do think you should be worrying more about your upcoming Astronomy essay than the uses of Rose Quartz, Mr Tonks, because actually using it for most of those requires a more in depth knowledge of potions making anyway.

Also, CDs? aren't going to be invented for another 15 years.

[orlanstamos]

Arithmancy and I aren't friends, professor. I'd just rather have words than numbers.

*laughs* But I actually like Astronomy class, so I don't have to worry about the essay. Is it sad that I actually look forward to working on it, because the subject's so interesting?

*facepalm* I completely, utterly fail at life. It meant to say records, I swear.

[lefthandstars]

*raises eyebrow*
It is a little sad, Mr Tonks. *smiles* But I'll let it pass just this once. I do look forward to reading your essay. Which planet will you be writing on?

[orlanstamos]

*head tilts to the side as he talks, considering*

Well, I've a couple options. I'm leaning towards Uranus and how Muggles found Neptune based on inconsistencies with Uranus measurements. And contrast that with Wizard's first encounters with Uranus and Neptune, emphasizing the differences in astronomy between wizards and Muggles. Be pretty neat, especially considering that astronomy is, arguably, the discipline that has most in common with Muggle science.

But then the 'Is Pluto a Planet?' debate also holds appeal. So, not sure yet.

[lefthandstars]

I've never formally studied Muggle science, but I agree that it would be an interesting comparrison. The Muggle mythology, too, the God of the sky and the God of the sea, makes an interesting element in comparing the planets themselves.

The "Is Pluto a Planet" question is there because it's been there since 1930. I almost failed the essay I wrote on it.

[orlanstamos]

*grins* Did you see the moon walk over the summer, Professor? We watched it at my uncle's house, and it was pretty much the most amazing thing ever.

I thought it had more to do with its size and its placement in the solar system. Something like it being the biggest asteroid in an asteroid belt. *shakes his head* Or maybe I'm just speaking nonsense.

[lefthandstars]

I'm playing an Astronomy teacher and I forgot about the moon walk! Well, at least I remembered to google knew about Pluto.

An old friend of mine has a television set, and she made me watch it with her. I have to say I was as interested in the Muggle technology as the moonlanding itself. Maybe it's the wizarding superstition, but it still makes me uncomfortable to think about people walking around up there.

I like to see what strange theories people bring into the debate about Pluto. I tried arguing that it had to be a planet because, despite its size, orbit and lack of moons, it was named for a Roman god.

[orlanstamos]

*grinning with excitement* But wasn't it neat? They were on the moon. People have actually walked on the moon! The power of science, eh?

What do you think would happen to a werewolf if it was in space? I mean, the moon is always full in space? Would it be permanently transformed?

*thoughtful* I always wanted to be the person that got to pick the names for planets. Like, if they discovered a new planet or another moon, they would come to Ted Tonks and he would determine the perfect name for it.

[lefthandstars]

Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should. I'm the scientific knowledge available as a result of having gone to the moon is important, but walking around up there is just rude.

*shivers at the mention of werewolves*
I don't know much about werewolves, but the moon's not always full - it's partial fullness in the shadow of the earth. So either it depends on the werewolf's point of view as regards the moon, or it's a metaphoric relationship made real, as is a lot of magic, in which case it would make no difference.

Someone's daughter suggested Pluto. Someone else suggested Minerva.