So, theoretically... {Abe}

[Silas Rosier]

[atrb=width,450,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=cellpadding,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=background,http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/1300666/Characters/Silas/Scripts/sigpostscript_bg.png,true][atrb=valign,top]	[rs=2][bg=ffffff][atrb=background,http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/1300666/Characters/Silas/Scripts/sigpostscript_mainbg.png][atrb=style,background-position:top;background-repeat:no-repeat;]     Hey Abe, quick thought:   We've had a few issues with security lately – mostly people being in areas they shouldn't be – and I was wondering if you knew any useful enchantments.  I took a look already but everything seems to be based around keeping everyone out of places rather than only certain people. Obviously, I can't get buzzed every time a staff member steps anywhere and I'd be hard pressed for a reason to start casting Caterwauling Charms. Let me know if anything comes to mind.	[atrb=valign,top]
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[Abraham Grey]

Silas,

Oh, so you're talking to me now? I was beginning to think you'd never forgive me for the whole office thing.

I guess helping out is the least I can do, all things considered. I was looking for an interesting side-project anyway, preparing the students for their exams can get so tedious, I swear some of them haven't learnt anything. Some Ravenclaw third year asked me if I was ever going to teach a lesson on the applications of Arithmancy in Divination, I told her if she wanted to know her future she should read the horoscopes in Witch Weekly.

Anyway, isn't is the bouncers' job to prevent the patrons from wandering into areas that they shouldn't? You just can't trust the help these days. I can see how caterwauling charms might be considered a little... indiscreet. Didn't you mention something about having a wand-based security system put in place? Perhaps you could have that extended so people literally can't enter the staff area unless they have a wand that's on the list. Although I know how irritating security systems like that can be when you want to bring visitors into the mix. The stepped up security at Hogwarts has been a nightmare since, well... I'm sure you read about it in the papers.

I read a couple of interesting articles on magical maps and the magic used to create them not long ago, which could be a viable surveillance alternative. My grandmother had one made for her Herbology garden because she was convinced the neighbours were trying to steal her Venomous Tentacular and it was quite accurate at both identifying an intruder and revealing their exact location. I'm fairly sure it would work even if the intruder was using a bedazzling hex, polyuice potion or a disillusionment charm. If it turns out to be a viable option I'll need complete blueprints of Scores and information on the security systems you already have in place.

Also please feed your owl before sending her my way again. She tried to eat Pickle.

[Silas Rosier]

. . . .And the other times I spoke to you didn’t count? What can I say: you’re hard to stay mad at. Besides, it’s not like you did it deliberately.

. . . .Speaking of horoscopes, I found this in the Prophet. It was lying open on the coffee table when your letter got here. Thought I might include it for the sake of a cheap laugh.

. . . .The ‘recent events’ at Hogwarts are partially also why I mailed. How’re you coping? I should be over to say Hi in the next few days when I can actually get time away from work. Don’t even think about arguing.

. . . .How do these maps work exactly? I know I got the blueprints around here somewhere, but I think I might have left them in the office. I’ll forward you a copy as soon as I can find them.

. . . .Also, tell Pickle it’s his fault for looking so delicious.

||OoC|| No, seriously, that’s today’s actual horoscope. And I’m tentatively setting this thread 2-3 days after Blackout. ||

[Abraham Grey]

Of course I didn't do it deliberately, I'm not some perverted peeping tom! I didn't count the other occasions that we've spoken because I spent most of the time apologising, which you can hardly call a conversation. It would be too optimistic to hope that Jacaranda has forgiven me too, but has she at least stopped breaking things and looking murderous whenever my name is mentioned yet? I'm hoping to send her gift to apologise, but I don't really want it sent back as a smouldering pile of ash with a howler.

Very funny Rosier, even though the Prophet claims to be charmed so that the horoscope perfectly fits the person intended I still think astrology is a laughable area of magic. I'll never understand why some Arithmancers insist on restricting their study to predicting the future and reading people. It's all hippy, earth-mother magic if you ask me. And don't even get me started on divination. I keep pushing to have Arithmancy branch out into other applications for numbers in magic, but you know what wizards are like, very stuck in their ways.

The Hufflepuffs are taking it pretty hard, I don't think a day has gone by since it happened that I haven't had one of them knocking on my door in tears. August was a good kid, he definitely didn't deserve what happened to him. And Miss Mackenzie is traumatised, to witness two of her closest friends dying and then go through what she did at the hospital... Well it's a travesty. It would probably help if it felt like the ministry were on top of everything, but, as usual, they're useless. They've been bandying about the theory that it was a vampire attack for days with absolutely no proof. I'm just trying to keep busy at the moment and when that fails expensive whiskey has never let me down.

As far as I can tell the map would track and display the location of anybody within a certain area. I'm sure with a few simple modifications it could be charmed to flag up any suspicious behaviour, particularly if it was linked with the security system you already have in place.

Pickle has gone quite pink with glee. Only you could charm a guinea pig by letter, particularly after setting a really rather vicious owl on him.

[Silas Rosier]

    On Jac:
  Ash and a howler is the last thing you need to be worried about: try curses that threaten the structural integrity of your nether regions. If there’s one thing women know, it’s grudges.

    On Arithmancy:
  That’s why old traditionalists shouldn’t be in charge of anything. I found your theory of ascending numerological progression of related spell groups in regards to the Lebesgue Integral instrumental in the design of some of Scores’ custom security work. So you can tell Mr. Barclay of the B.S.P.M.T exactly where he can shove it.

    On recent events:
  There was a survivor? I hadn’t heard anything reported in the Prophet, but to be fair I stopped reading because I thought their coverage was in poor taste. You also dodged my question. Don’t worry, I won’t talk about it too much if you’d rather not. Should be able to make it on Saturday night.
  I’m inclined to agree with your students though: I’d put money on vampires being involved somehow, just watch. Remember the affair with the Gryffindor girl? And ever noticed how things only went to shit around Hogwarts and Hogsmeade when Dacian showed up?

    Maps:
  A set of three owls should be following along behind this one. Enclosed are blueprint copies. Thanks for the help.

[Abraham Grey]

Jacaranda always was particularly inventive with her curses, I've seen first-hand the damage she can do and I'm considering investing in some spell-proof underwear. The safety of my nether regions would be ensured, but don't you find that magic infused clothing chafes more?

You've read my work? I always thought that it was confined to the very back of magical archives that only the hardiest of Arithmancy researchers dared to tread. It is gratifying to know my theory has been put to good use; maybe now I’ll be able to get it on the curriculum at Hogwarts. It’s doubtful, but a guy can dream, right? And I’ll definitely be directing that pompous twit (or Barclay if we’re going for formality) in the direction of whichever clever wizard came up with that spell work.

I’m sure I’ve mentioned Miss Mackenzie before, most likely in the capacity of handing out detention. She’s one of my Hufflepuffs and she was quite troubled before, I dread to think what this ordeal will do to her. The ministry and the papers are convinced she witnessed something, but Finlay insists she only saw August dead and Scotty dying, not the perpetrator. I think the ministry have been putting pressure on the Prophet to keep information about their key witness quiet just in case the attacker wants to tie up any loose ends. One of their reporters flooed me yesterday, though, asking for a quote for the double page spread they’re planning to print soon. Of course I told them if they had any respect for the dead and mourning they’d leave well enough alone.

I’m not so sure about the vampire angle. Why would they take one body and leave the other behind to turn? Also Dacian was cleared of all blame in the Vivian Nazarova attack. He might be an entirely unpleasant individual, but I don’t believe he’s a killer. I’m coping I think, it’s hard to tell because there’s been so much to deal with. August Jensen was one of the nicest lads I’ve ever taught, I can’t think of anybody who deserved what happened to him less, but anyway we can talk about it on Saturday if you really think we need a heart to heart about it.

The blueprints should do nicely; I’ll keep you apprised of any developments and get to work as soon as I’ve finished making the seventh year’s exam papers. I never realised Scores had quite such an extensive stock of drinks, you lucky bastard, Rosier.

[Silas Rosier]

  I’m risking Jac’s wrath and the structural integrity of my nether regions just by writing to you. If you want some good spell-proofs, you need to look somewhere a little more expensive than the crap they sell at Diagon Alley. There are some things you can’t put a price on.

  Of course I read your work, especially when you’re nice enough to ensure I have signed advance copies conveniently at arm’s reach. I always thought arithmancy’s applications in magical science was a neglected field of study and I’m glad someones looking into it rather than hashing over the same fortune-telling shtick. I could have sworn I said this to you before.

  I guess the Ministry has a point in trying to keep things quiet. You can’t be too careful, especially considering the murders happened right in Hogsmeade. I don’t think anyone thought it was possible for something like that to happen so close to the school. ... Or at least, not a second time anyway.

  As for Dacian, remember when I asked you to look up his history and we found evidence he was contract-killing? Food for thought. I caught him attacking a poor girl in Hogsmeade last Saturday and had to fend the bastard off. Who knows what would have happened if I hadn’t got there. Don’t think that helped his grudge against me either. So, no, I absolutely wouldn’t put anything past him.

  On the drink stocks, I could have sworn you were very well acquainted. All the more reason to drop over eventually and have a personal look, hmm?

[Abraham Grey]

I know, I know the integrity of one’s nether regions is priceless, but you must remember how much I hate shopping for clothes. It’s much easier just to go to Madam Malkin’s and buy a pack of spell-proofs than risk Twilfit’s rather too intimate version of measuring people up in a fitting.

It was no trouble sending you the signed copies; I like to keep my friends apprised of my achievements. I didn’t expect you to actually take an interest, I sent them to the Hogwarts staff too and I’m pretty sure Vinnie lost his in a bet. And I tested to see whether Adrian had read my book by asking him if he liked the bit about the pink elephants (a subject you’ll know didn’t make the final cut of the manuscript) and he said it was his favourite part. Gryffindor bastard, he probably can’t even read, Potter will let any idiot work for the Aurors these days.

Trying to keep the details of the attack out of the press is something I agree with the ministry on. If everybody knows every detail of the case then how will we know the difference between the actual killer and some loon who bought the paper and decided to confess to a crime they didn’t commit? Not to mention publishing details about Miss Mackenzie only puts her at risk of the attacker coming back to try and tie up any loose ends. We can discuss details of the case, including Dacian’s possible involvement, when you visit. I’ll show you the preliminary report that the ministry sent to Minerva.

Let me know when Jacaranda isn’t around and I might just drop by for a little tipple. I’ve generally been more concerned with trying to single-handedly deplete your reserves, but now I know just how extensive they are I’ll just have to try harder.

[Silas Rosier]

[atrb=width,450,true][atrb=cellspacing,0,true][atrb=cellpadding,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=background,http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/1300666/Characters/Silas/Scripts/sigpostscript_bg.png,true][atrb=valign,top]	[rs=2][bg=ffffff][atrb=background,http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/1300666/Characters/Silas/Scripts/sigpostscript_mainbg.png][atrb=style,background-position:top;background-repeat:no-repeat;]   I never said anything about tailored underwear. Although something tells me you wouldn’t mind if the assistant doing the measuring was hot.   How does Ridgeback Highland Park Single Malt for this Sat. as a peace offering sound?	[atrb=valign,top]
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[Abraham Grey]

Everybody knows spell-proofs are better if they're tailored specifically to the person they're supposed to protect. Last time I checked all the assistants at Twilfit's were middle-aged men and women, so unfortunately that will have to remain a fantasy.

I think it sounds like I should try to get you to make peace offerings more often.

See you on Saturday.