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Jun. 18th, 2012 08:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alt_aliceMolly, your boys are such a helpmeet. Thank you for letting them come here so quickly. They’ve spent all day with Terry, and I can’t imagine how hard this would have been for him without their help. He spent a good two hours as a dog when they first were here, just ran right over and changed almost right away, and they roughhoused and he got a rather thorough petting. He shies away from touch when he's a boy, but soaks it up thoroughly as a dog. I hope the one will help the other. I was a bit concerned that the transfiguration would be difficult for him, but he’s been back and forth from boy to dog a few times since he’s been here, and it seems to come easy enough.
We’ve had a look at both of them, and Stephen McGivern ran some tests – Terry insisted he be taught how to draw his own blood, which we took to be a good sign. The tests were difficult for him – if the twins hadn’t been there right next to him, I’m not sure he would’ve managed as well as he did. Other than a few lice, which were easily taken care of, and malnutrition, they’re both in fair health. Dudley’s teeth need looking after, and Terry’s had a few bad breaks that weren’t properly set. Poppy, when you come by this summer, you’ll be able to do more than our limited capabilities, but Frank’s taken care of all the lingering bone splinters he could find. Terry showed Frank a medical book he’d been using, and it was one of the Auror books Frank had passed along to Neville. We’re so glad it landed in the hands of someone who needed it, although it makes my heart hurt that it was used so often.
They’ve also been to the baths, which were much-needed, and caused a great deal of splashing about, which I’m sure was equally necessary.
I’ve made an effort to keep from overwhelming Terry with the hustle and bustle of the place – Dudley seems a bit more apt to run off and explore on his own, and has already made a few additional friends without prompting, but I can see how Terry would find a crowd of boisterous children to be intimidating, so I’ve introduced him to some of our more level headed and quiet people. He's met Victor, Dan, Richard, and Tricia for starters – just for brief introductions, but I’m sure they’ll be good people to give him his space and a quiet conversation. And Colin showed the twins, Dudley, and Terry the memorial garden – he’s so proud of all the work he’s put into it, and especially wanted to show Terry Dennis's tree. They’ve also all spent some time on the beach and playing in the water. And Terry's also had a chance to visit Mellisandra, who very much appreciated seeing him again, and got a bit weepy when he walked in her workroom.
I’ve told both Dudley and Terry that the only orders they’ll ever receive here will be for reasons of safety, and that although the work we do keeps this place running, they will never be told to do work or be punished for neglecting chores. We have to walk a fine line with some of our young people who have grown up in service – sometimes, they want to please so badly that the only way they know to do it is through work. It’s a hard thing to turn that off, so I’ll be keeping an eye on both of them to make sure they don’t take on too much. I’d rather they didn’t lift a finger, honestly, I would.
Terry’s very quiet, and when Frank and I sat him down to talk to him, it was difficult for him to look at us straight on. He is unfailingly polite, even with all he’s been through. Dudley is bolder, and full of energy and questions. Dudley ate quite a lot at lunch, and Terry not enough. I’ll see if he’s up for a nutritional tonic tonight before bed. Both are far too thin, and are still quite nervous around wands. But they’re here now, and safe, and thank Merlin for that.
We’ve had a look at both of them, and Stephen McGivern ran some tests – Terry insisted he be taught how to draw his own blood, which we took to be a good sign. The tests were difficult for him – if the twins hadn’t been there right next to him, I’m not sure he would’ve managed as well as he did. Other than a few lice, which were easily taken care of, and malnutrition, they’re both in fair health. Dudley’s teeth need looking after, and Terry’s had a few bad breaks that weren’t properly set. Poppy, when you come by this summer, you’ll be able to do more than our limited capabilities, but Frank’s taken care of all the lingering bone splinters he could find. Terry showed Frank a medical book he’d been using, and it was one of the Auror books Frank had passed along to Neville. We’re so glad it landed in the hands of someone who needed it, although it makes my heart hurt that it was used so often.
They’ve also been to the baths, which were much-needed, and caused a great deal of splashing about, which I’m sure was equally necessary.
I’ve made an effort to keep from overwhelming Terry with the hustle and bustle of the place – Dudley seems a bit more apt to run off and explore on his own, and has already made a few additional friends without prompting, but I can see how Terry would find a crowd of boisterous children to be intimidating, so I’ve introduced him to some of our more level headed and quiet people. He's met Victor, Dan, Richard, and Tricia for starters – just for brief introductions, but I’m sure they’ll be good people to give him his space and a quiet conversation. And Colin showed the twins, Dudley, and Terry the memorial garden – he’s so proud of all the work he’s put into it, and especially wanted to show Terry Dennis's tree. They’ve also all spent some time on the beach and playing in the water. And Terry's also had a chance to visit Mellisandra, who very much appreciated seeing him again, and got a bit weepy when he walked in her workroom.
I’ve told both Dudley and Terry that the only orders they’ll ever receive here will be for reasons of safety, and that although the work we do keeps this place running, they will never be told to do work or be punished for neglecting chores. We have to walk a fine line with some of our young people who have grown up in service – sometimes, they want to please so badly that the only way they know to do it is through work. It’s a hard thing to turn that off, so I’ll be keeping an eye on both of them to make sure they don’t take on too much. I’d rather they didn’t lift a finger, honestly, I would.
Terry’s very quiet, and when Frank and I sat him down to talk to him, it was difficult for him to look at us straight on. He is unfailingly polite, even with all he’s been through. Dudley is bolder, and full of energy and questions. Dudley ate quite a lot at lunch, and Terry not enough. I’ll see if he’s up for a nutritional tonic tonight before bed. Both are far too thin, and are still quite nervous around wands. But they’re here now, and safe, and thank Merlin for that.
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Date: 2012-06-19 04:01 pm (UTC)Dudley slept like a rock last night. Snored even. Terry was clearly drooping in the early evening, but he stalled at going to bed. Dunno but that he was afraid we'd be gone or something if he closed his eyes to go to sleep. He refused the potion at first. But he woke up with a nightmare a little before midnight, shaking like anything.
So we coaxed him into taking the dreamless sleep potion, pulled our mattresses off the cotframes onto the floor, and just sort of made a pile of them. He transformed back into a dog then and slept through the night that way with us on either side of him. He'd stir a little and nose his muzzle under one of our arms to make sure we kept them over him, but otherwise he stayed calm.
Sirius, what do you think? It won't hurt him to sleep as a dog, if it's more restful for him that way, will it? It might be easier for him because Carrow never saw him that way. We don't want him to avoid the world, though. We're coaxing him to transfer back several times a day, especially when he eats, so he can talk to people at mealtimes. He's so used to doing everything alone. Well, except for when he had that monster hovering over him. He needs to get used to people again.
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Date: 2012-06-19 08:47 pm (UTC)Terry most likely wouldn't mind accompanying you when you work with Mellisandra -- after all, he already knows her, and may enjoy learning a thing or two himself (as long as you all are very careful with the wand materials!). However, I can't imagine he'd particularly like explosions or weaponry terribly much. Perhaps you could meet with Lee while Terry is working with Laura McGivern to assess his academic abilities and spell mastery? We're trying to sort out what he does and doesn't know, and that should occupy him for several hours tomorrow and the day after (with breaks for lunch and relaxation, naturally).
Thank you for the good work you've been doing so far, and I do hope you're enjoying yourselves.
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Date: 2012-06-19 08:57 pm (UTC)We'll plan to stop in with him to Mellisandra's workshop tomorrow morning after breakfast, and maybe he can meet with Laura tomorrow afternoon while we're meeting with Fu. Don't think he's good for anything much more today. We sort of wore him out teaching him how to swim. But he had fun. Dudley's a bit better at it, but he has more meat on his bones, which makes it easier for him to float, we bet.
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Date: 2012-06-19 09:15 pm (UTC)Also, after dinner, the adults at Moddey typically have a meeting to discuss items of business. It can get a bit boring from time to time, but if you're interested in sitting in, you'd be more than welcome. We try to encourage our young people who are of age to sit in on the meetings whenever they can, so they can contribute and learn about how things are run, and several of them regularly take us up on it, so you won't be the only ones in the room.
Speaking of which, I'd like you to be sure and speak with Tim Clark. He's got a good head on his shoulders, and is looking to join up with Sherwood once he's done training here -- I think he'd be someone worth your getting to know.
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Date: 2012-06-19 10:03 pm (UTC)Sure, introduce us to him, will you? We'd like to hear more about Sherwood.
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Date: 2012-06-20 12:20 pm (UTC)I spend a lot of time as a dog at home just now. Makes for poor journal-reading.
Once he's got the transformation, he can do anything a dog would do and it won't hurt him. You're right not to let him stay that way for long. Besides your good reason, he needs to practise switching back and forth occasionally or he might get stuck again.
But in fact, I've found over the years that some things are easier to think through as a dog than as a man. It's not that one can't see all the shades to an issue or feel all the nuances of an experience but somehow one's more detatched from it in animal form. It's ... the situation can be more at arm's length, I suppose. I dunno. It's hard to explain.
Let him do what feels right to him, but keep on coaxing him to spend time with you as himself, too. He'll be all right in the end. He's a tough one.
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Date: 2012-06-20 12:52 pm (UTC)Do tell.
Sorry, you. Couldn't resist.
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Date: 2012-06-20 01:57 pm (UTC)