My Shot (Royal)

[Deleted]

Hello Lynx!

I hope you're well - I'm sure you're quite busy since Victoire is still on a manhunt for finding who is responsible for the Platform 9 3/4 attack earlier on in the summer, but I just wanted to drop you an owl and let you know I haven't forgotten your offer for advice.  So, I'm heading back for seventh year just a few days from now.  Any advice?  Ha ha, I will have additional duties as a Prefect this year, so hopefully that will look good when I apply for the Ministry!  What path do you think I should look at as a first step?


Thanks in advance!
-Susan Windsor

[Deleted]

dear susan,

I was quite pleased to receive your letter - if I'm being honest, I wasn't sure whether or not you'd actually gather up enough courage to write me. I am quite intimidating, you know. As for advice about seventh year, try not to worry too much. Studying is all well and good, but if you're not taking care of yourself, everything becomes much harder than it needs to be. Sleep when you need to, eat when you need to, and in general, just take care of yourself. I'm sure you'll do wonderfully.

Currently the Minister's Office is horribly understaffed due to the rumor that it's cursed, so while I hesitate to say it'll be easy to get a job on Victoire's staff directly, I'm sure that if you perform well on your N.E.W.T.s there will be some strings I can pull to help get you a position rather high up in the rankings. The Minister has a Junior Assistant, the position I currently occupy, in case you've forgotten. I'm hoping to vacate that position in favor of the Senior Undersecretary, so perhaps you could take my spot, if you think that'd be something that interests you? I hope your return to school is wonderful, and hope to hear from you soon!

fondly yours,
lynx

@susanvictoria

[Deleted]

Lynx,

You don't scare me! (Much...just joking!) I will try not to worry too much - I've been hearing rumors that something big is happening at Hogwarts this year.  A GOOD big, not a bad big - although with everything that happened last year I'd assume most people would think it'd be something bad.  You can't shed any light on that can you? (Don't worry, I will get if you're sworn to secrecy, but figured I'd ask!)

That's actually the career path I was hoping to follow!  I think you'd be a smashing choice for Senior Undersecretary, especially with Victoire as Minister.  I'm not sure how feasible it would be for me to jump directly into a position like that - wouldn't they want someone with more experience?  But then again, if you say it's cursed, perhaps they'd overlook and be willing to train me.  If that doesn't work though, I was thinking International Magical Cooperation would be a nice place to start a Ministry career.  Do you know anyone over there?  What do you think?

Hope you're doing well,
Susan

[Deleted]

dear susan,

I’m glad to hear I’m only slightly scary. I’m not sure whether or not you saw my scars (courtesy of the King’s Cross explosion) or my tattoo, but I’m pretty sure I could be intimidating, maybe, if I wasn’t so nice. Ha! You’re correct about something big happening at Hogwarts, and you’d also be correct in saying that it’s a good big, and not a bad one. I wish that I could tell you more, but it wouldn’t be fair if you got to know before everyone else. Just know that you will be pleased – I think it will be perfect for someone like you.

Thank you for your endorsement for my position of Senior Undersecretary – I’ll be sure to share it with Victoire. I’ll be a shoo-in for the job! As for you becoming the Junior Assistant immediately, normally it would be less than feasible. However, due to the current political climate (tense, obviously) Victoire is always looking for more trustworthy and hardworking people to occupy higher up positions. You have to understand the precedent has been increasingly ignored due to the events of the past year; why else would we have a Minister who is still in her twenties. As for International Magical Cooperation, the head and I are in good standing with one another; like most other Ministry officials, she was a frequent visitor at my dinner table when I was younger. It would be a good place to start if the position in the Minister’s office fell through, for sure. I hope you’re doing well, too!

yours,
lynx

@susanvictoria

[Deleted]

Dear Lynx,

The rumor mill is churning in abundance here at the Leaky Cauldron! No change of a hint of what's happening is there? I know our lists include dress robes, which I've already purchased, so perhaps some sort of dancing competition? There's a Muggle programme on the television called Strictly Come Dancing, where famous Muggles compete with professional dancers to win a trophy. I don't really know why Hogwarts would have a dance competition though; Headmaster Longbottom would certainly know, however I've only seen him maybe three or four times since I started working here, and always for the briefest of moments. I doubt he'd say anything to me anyway; his son might know, Phil, but he's heading off to Castelbruxo for a semester abroad to study Herbology further. It might not be my best subject, but I do admit it sounds terribly exciting at the idea of spending a semester at another school, even if I'm not familiar with the language. My mother would probably have a heart attack if I even dared to ask her!

Perhaps that's where my interest in the International Magical Cooperation comes from; I got to travel around Great Britain and some of the old territories of the crown such as India and Australia, but I'd love to travel around the world one day. I'm guessing that department members there get to see so much of the world you wouldn't even know you wanted to visit until you're there! Do you get to do any traveling with the Minister ever?

I'm heading back to Hogwarts tomorrow, but my owl will know where to find me!

Respectfully Yours,
Susan

[Deleted]

dear susan,

I expect by now you’ll know that the Triwizard Tournament is the event that everyone’s been talking about, so I won’t comment on the dance competition – though I do think that would be an interesting twist, as well. As for the Triwizard Tournament, though, if my previous letter (in all its vagueness) was not clear enough, I was heavily implying that you should try to enter. I think the Goblet has a good chance of picking someone like you, though I’m not supposed to show favoritism. As for your friend Phil, it sounds like he’s going to have an amazing experience abroad, though it is a bit of a shame that he’s going to miss the better part of the tournament to do so. The things we do for what we love, though, right? I’m sorry that your mother wouldn’t let you study abroad – it really is such a valuable experience, though I’ve never been able to do it myself. There was always too much risk of someone trying to hurt me in order to manipulate Britain’s magical political system, though I expect you know some of the feeling.

Most of the travelling I do with Victoire is recreational, sadly. Our country is in such a precarious position that it’s unwise for us to be gone for political matters for any extended period of time. Generally, Victoire only travels for leisure or if the Head of International Magical Cooperation specifically requests her involvement in some case. You’d be correct in saying that International Magical Cooperation folks do get to travel to all the exotic locales, though – anyplace that has a Wizarding government, whether official or no, is subject to a meeting with our department to insure they’re won’t be any nasty surprises.

I hope the beginning of the school year is fun and safe for you, Susan, and I do hope that if you need any help with homework, you consider me a resource for your disposal – I have a penchant for Defense Against the Dark Arts, though I was no shab at Alchemy, either. Hope to hear from you soon! (I apologize for the length of this letter; my thoughts got away from me and I have proved myself capable of writing a novel, so...)

sincerely,
lynx

@susanvictoria

[Deleted]

Hi Lynx,

I do know about the Triwizard Tournament; Headmaster Longbottom announced it yesterday evening in the Great Hall, and the delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang have arrived. To be quite honest, I am on the fence about entering; my mother would kill me for one, and there are so many other students from all three schools who seem more...worthy I suppose, for the job. There are quite a few Beauxbatons students that seem terrifying; I wonder if they would resort to cheating if they become champion. There are some Durmstrangs who I’m a bit wary of as well, but more so the Beauxbatons. I have a little bit of time before the Goblet closes, so I will promise to at least think about entering for you!

I don’t mind the long letters; they are a lovely read for my free time! Free time which is slowly diminishing; I have Prefect duty, NEWT level courses, among other things. I have not actually had a Defense Against the Dark Arts class yet; but that’s perfect that it was your best subject as I feel I am rather weak at it! You wouldn’t happen to be good at Potions as well as Alchemy, would you? That’s always been my worst subject; I melted several cauldrons in my time here!

Hope everything is going well for you - I heard that there is a new Senior Undersecretary, I’m sorry you weren’t able to move up, but hopefully he fits with your group!

Best Wishes,
Susan

[Deleted]

dear susan,

If you're on the fence about entering, please don't do anything on my behalf - I wouldn't want to be the reason you get in trouble with your mother. As for the terrifying Beauxbatons students, don't worry. If they do anything illegal, they can still be prosecuted by our Ministry, or by the French Ministry. I'm sure that they're not a danger to your safety, since their headmaster personally selected all of them. I don't think that they'd consider cheating. In fact, I don't think anyone will cheat. Everyone wants to do their school proud, and if they win by cheating, then they're not inspiring pride at all - just disappointment. Think about it, but in the end, you know you better than I know you. Stay safe.

I'm glad that you're enjoying my longer letters, especially since this one is shaping up the same way. I'm sorry that I'm monopolizing your free time, though. I'm sure there are other people who would love a few minutes of it. I'm afraid I'm not much good at Potions, but as soon as you have your first Defense class, please tell me! I could talk about Defense Against the Dark Arts for days! The hard part is getting someone who will listen.

Things are going alright - we had a meeting to figure out our game plan for the year. I'll admit that I'm a little upset that someone's taken the Senior Undersecretary slot. I haven't spent much time with the guy, but I don't know. I have to put on a good face for Victoire, though. She has enough on her plate without her best friend whining about his job prospects. Hope things are continuing to go well for you.

yours,
lynx

@susanvictoria