witch hat

[mswoods]

Well, the jig is up. If her House mates had any doubts about Sadde, they're gone.

...kinda. She's still young enough and androgynous enough that most of them think it's just a matter of changing her hair a bit and maybe some makeup and differently cut robes. It's not a belief that stands a whole lot of scrutiny, but given that most Slytherins give her a fairly wide berth, there's not actually been a whole lot of scrutiny.

She did find the Hufflepuff boy she spooked and tell him about it and offer to help him with his Potions homework. He was quite bewildered and suspicious because Slytherin so he didn't accept her help, but she told him to watch who she hangs out with so that he'd see she's Not Like Other Slytherins, and eventually he agreed, unable to see any way this could be a cunning plot. Which just goes to show that some people really couldn't be Slytherins.

Presently, it's Sunday, and Sadde would really like to talk to a certain Hat, which means she needs to talk to a certain Headmistress, and she suspects the most likely place she'll find her is the Head Table, at one of the meals. Breakfast is the first of those! Is McGonagall there?

Comments

[mswoods]

"Wouldn't it be funny if this was enough to make them get in line?" she giggles. "Anyway, can I talk to the hat? Or did the underwear thing cross some line?"

[chanuphis]

"You may still talk to the hat. Have a seat, Miss Woods."

And then she is hatted.

[mswoods]

And then she is hatted!

"Hello?" she tries.

[alicornucopia]

Hello again. It's not often I speak to the same student twice.

[mswoods]

She smiles.

I bet. So, I dunno how much you know about what goes on in the world outside, in fact I'd love to ask you all sorts of questions about you later, but now mostly I wanted to see if you could think of ways to help me help Slytherin.

[alicornucopia]

Your own successes will lend it greatness, the hat says. And its greatness, such as it has, will encourage more children to consider it, which will give me more flexibility to fill it with the best suited instead of the least unwilling.

[mswoods]

Well, yeah, sure, I imagined something like that would happen already, but surely there's some way to help now? I expect you can't tell me personal stuff about the students, and I wouldn't really want to know them anyway, but maybe you could give me some tips? I was thinking about uniting the first years and having us become an actually positive influence there, sort of a reverse peer pressure to the older years, and also to the younger years. Professor McGonagall said that better policing was also going to happen.

[alicornucopia]

Slytherins do not take so well to being policed. You're too liquid and determined. Directing their efforts toward things other than infighting will work better than trying to disincentivize infighting. First years will have difficulty commanding respect; you will find this obstacle shrinks over time, and faster the more accomplishments you have to your collective names.

[mswoods]

Hmmm, do you think Professor McGonagall would go for that? The no-policing thing? I like the idea of directing efforts, though, that feels nicer. Do you think I have any chance of getting the older students to change, too?

[alicornucopia]

I don't mean to say that policing ought to be eschewed entirely. Only that it will not curb misbehavior altogether, in any quantity. Your odds are poor but not negligible. But first you must impress them. Or trick them, if you can.

[mswoods]

She grins. Oooh, those sound like good ideas! I bet I can impress them quickly. I'm pretty impressive, she sends, a tad smug.

[alicornucopia]

This attitude will serve you well, says the hat.

[mswoods]

She giggles. I know. Any other tips? Also can I status report in the future? And if McGonagall really likes me, would you mind too much if I came back just to ask you lots of questions?

[alicornucopia]

I usually have little else to do, says the hat. Cultivate social capital in any quantity you can and spend it down as needed; it does no good hoarded and is your most valuable currency.

[mswoods]

Wow, who'd have thought an ancient magical artifact would have so much wisdom! She's clearly jesting. Anyway, thanks for the advice. Hopefully I'll manage to get you some better candidates for Slytherin in the future!

[alicornucopia]

Best of luck.

[mswoods]

Thanks!

She unhats, and focuses on the other two witches.

"So, it said that I had to get really awesome so people would look up to me, and also that Slytherins and policing don't mix too well and trying to channel their efforts into productive stuff will work better than punishing unproductive stuff, but the punishment thing might also help some, there. Kinda carrots-and-sticks thing? Yeah. Also that I should try to cultivate social capital and spend it a lot, so lots of politicking, I guess. And I'm gonna unite all Slytherin firsties and be Queen Firstie!"

[alicornucopia]

"I see," says McGonagall, who may be trying not to laugh.

[mswoods]

"So, do you think there's any way you could help with that, Professor?" she asks innocently.

[chanuphis]

"If you formalize your proposed role I can transfigure you a crown," McGonagall says dryly. "If you require any assistance in becoming more impressive, especially academically, I'm sure any professor will assist; your social life, apart from misconduct requiring disciplinary action, is your own business."

"About the channeling energy productively thing, maybe you could start some kind of club," Miranda says to Sadde.

"About which the standard guidelines and requirements for faculty supervision will apply," says McGonagall.

[mswoods]

"I was mostly joking about the Queen Firstie thing, but yes I definitely will become impressive academically. I've got Potions and Transfiguration in mind so far, if I have lots of free time I might add Charms - definitely not Herbology. And a club... what kinda club would Slytherins want to actually join? Other than 'We hate muggles' club, that one didn't end well..."

[chanuphis]

"You could find out what clubs they're already in and see if any of them wish there were any other kinds," Miranda suggests.

[mswoods]

"Good idea!" she says brightly. "I would actually be surprised if they were in many, what with the whole 'everyone other than themselves hates them,' but I guess it's worth looking into it. Hmm, I might actually have to be friendly to a lot of people who think I'm only marginally less contemptible than dirt they scrapped off their boots..."

[chanuphis]

"Or get Jacob to ask," says Miranda.

"Slytherins are not, so far as I know, systematically hedged out of membership in ordinary clubs such as Charms or Gobstones," says McGonagall, "provided, as with any other entrant, they are interested in the subject and not disruptive."

[mswoods]

She shrugs. "It's the 'not disruptive' part that I'm doubtful of," she says. "I think Jacob might actually be too terrified of the older years to ask, but sure, I'll see if he can do it. And if he won't, well, maybe I could befriend the other firsty snakes and see if they could do it. Ooooor I could actually be friendly to the older years, without being doormatty, that actually sounds like fun, too."