OWLS: inquiries -- Bill, Hermione, McGonagall

[shh_cedric]

Date: November 28, 2004
Character(s): Cedric, Bill, Hermione, McGonagall
Location: his tent
Status: Private
Summary: Cedric writes a series of letters to people about his museum project.
Completion: Incomplete

Comments

[shh_minerva]

Dear Cedric,

It is lovely to hear from you again.

Indeed, this project sounds like it's built on a solid grounding. No doubt you've put a lot of effort into the planning already. I can certainly see the merit in such a museum coming to fruition. Our society lost so much in the past seven years, and now is the time to salvage what we can - whilst those of us who can remember are able to explain things away. I don't think that I could stress the importance of such a gallery at this point in time.

We must look to our future, but we need reminders of what we once were, lest we forget.

You are certainly on the right track seeking out the help of Mr Weasley, Mr Lupin and Miss Granger. I would offer my own Transfiguration skills, if they were required, however I think you are certainly capable of working on any of those skills yourself.

I do believe that young Mr Blaise Zabini resides in town. He has an avid interest in history, to the point of sending me a rather terse letter. Apparently it is highly remiss that History of Magic is currently not in the school's limited core curriculum. I have no doubt that you will find some measure of assistance if you speak to Mr Zabini. He may be of assistance in the reclamation of any artefacts.

I am highly interested in any notes you may have from your Transfiguration studies. It is always refreshing to read new research that likes to postulate new theories for extremely old and primitive magic.

Besides, you've piqued this old cat's curiosity. I wonder what the author would think if I told her that my sense of smell has heightened and increased ever since my first transformation, and it continues to be much stronger, I suspect, than many who are not animagi.

Good luck and do let me know if Mr Zabini has been of assistance.

Regards,
Minerva McGonagall.

[shh_cedric]

Dear Professor McGonagall,

Thank you for your speedy reply. I will be certain to contact Mr. Zabini. Do you perchance have his address (if he wrote to you about courses offered in the school)?

And yes, I have noticed certain changes to my own human senses in response to my transformations, which is one of the reasons I question the article. While the author was very precise in her research and measurements for Animagi, both in natural and animal form, versus a set of control animals of the same species, nonetheless, she didn't include a set of control wizards. Yet I think her research opens up an entirely new area of inquiry that we have heretofore been unable to pursue (or haven't thought to). The young woman in question is a Muggle-born whose parents are scientists, so she's made an attempt to unite Muggle and Wizarding research methodology -- which I salute.

I'm still not sure I agree with her conclusions. But we can discuss it. It's probably the most interesting (and controversial) topic in Transfigurations in North America at present, and I expect the ripples will be making their way across the Atlantic soon (if they haven't already; I've been too busy here to keep up).

Fondly,
Cedric

Cedric folded the letter and attached it to Pallas' leg. He'd carefully said nothing about Zabini's argument in favor of History of Magic, largely because he agreed, as a social scientist. Yet he didn't want to issue a critique of McGonagall's choices in school curricula or of the continuation of Binns as a professor -- at least not by letter. Such things were, he thought, far better to broach in person, where he could gauge her reaction and choose his words carefully. But with the rebuilding of the school in a different place, perhaps there was some hope of finally "retiring" the old ghost as a professor.