The Golden Neep IC

I've run across another curse effect on me. Not a terrible one but one that I didn't think about at all. And kind of embarrassing.

I'd like to ask you a personal question that's embarrassing enough that I may need to ask it in person. Or you may not want to answer in writing, anyroad. And I wouldn't be asking casually. Anyroad if you tell me none of my business I don't mind, just saying that I think the curse may be running deeper on me than I thought and I wonder if you've seen the symptoms.

Apparently I'm still cursed from the biting book. Not terribly but we're looking into it and talking to the cursebreaker.

Fraser and I are talking about what to do next; he's trying to arrange for us to get some help from Minerva McGonagall at Hogwarts. We've got some memories from the book that bit me and that should help us.

Before anybody panics the curse is just linking me to Ainsley and vice versa. I'm not going to die or anything ridiculous. It's just [...] trying to draw us together and it's awkward and creepy. But it's not like the Blacks cursed me or anything.

I just wanted to thank you all for your kind support in the last couple of weeks after the untoward incident with the howler. Even those of you who didn't say a word, please know your silence was much appreciated. I haven't known what to say but I did want to say something. So thanks again.

Just checking in to see whether you two have had any more run-ins with owls from Aunt Iphigenia. I've strengthened my wards at the house. Lufu has been making all my favourites and I wish it was making me feel better.

Hullo again. I don't know if Ainsley talked to you or not but I know she was having some more trouble at the Montrose-Wigtown match. I meant to get hold of you myself after that but there were some unfortunate things happening that interfered with me doing so. In any case I need to talk to you about possible further work to do with the curse because there's some connection there that isn't over. When can I arrange to see you on this matter?

I just realised that in all this buggering to-do about Aunt Iphigenia that I've let the curse problem drop. I'm contacting Weasley again and we'll see where we go from here.

I had a talk with Jason King earlier this week about the Montrose Uplift business. I reckon that's got to be hard for you no matter how you personally feel about it. How are you holding up?

My family has expressed interest in coming out to the Wigtown match on Sunday. I believe some of you may have met them at the Solstice Sprint. They have a limited working knowledge of the sport, but want to come see me play to support me. Especially as they are not able to join me in Sweden.

My father is an engineer and will bore anyone and everyone with maths and physics questions about quidditch. It also my niece’s first birthday. She is adorable and may steal your birthday thunder, Florrie. I am sorry.

[Macmillan Clan]

I've been speaking to Jason King about Uplift and I'm putting together a proposal for the Macmillan Foundation to fund a Mental Health Practice at the Montrose Free Clinic. The idea is that it provides services to war trauma sufferers, and ideally be open to whatever that may mean, but with the goal of helping people who are hurting in ways we can't see.

Uplift would stay involved, advising on muggle and muggleborn health issues. Jason is looking for a recommendation to the foundation for a director.

This is directly in line with long-stated Macmillan Foundation goals and is complementary to the Montrose Free Clinic.

As such, we've invited the board of Uplift to attend the Wigtown match with us in the box, and that this may include their friend Monte Cameron, formerly of Falmouth.

At some point, perhaps when we have a director, we'll host a charity reception to kick things off. That will probably be post-finals, but some organizating will have to happen sooner.

[Ana Abercrombie]

Hey Ana,

How are you feeling about charity organizing these days?


[Montrose Management]

In a show of unity with our players and friends, Montrose is inviting the board of Uplift to attend the Wigtown match as guests of the Macmillans. We are honoring their mission and are planning how we can work together on areas of mutual interest. Monte Cameron and Justin Finch-Fletchley should be invited as well, but we don't want them to be uncomfortable, so no publicizing that. We'll just let other people see who we do and don't consider our friends.

Alex, I know you can put something together based on that. The Uplift board is Nobby Leach, Hermione Granger, Mary Cattermole, Jeremy Goodwin, and also Emerson Harper and Caroline Knightly. Pink Red Carpet treatment, please. The invites should come from Una, Bertie, and Charlie. Yes, they are aware of it. :)

For longer term use, the current working cooperative plan is to expand on the Montrose Free Clinic by adding a Mental Health practice that specializes in war trauma, because it's both clearly in line with Macmillan Foundation goals and it's also sadly needed. There are lots of people who came back from the war, but brought part of the war with them in their heads, and if we can get them help, we'll be doing some real good.

Anyone who needs to know what the extent and limit of wardrobe creativity allowed by BIQL and DOMGAS rules should ask here. I happen to know. And for anyone who wants to know, alterations may not 1) use other team's colors in an attempt to fool the opposing team. 2) cover or obscure the player's team colors on more than 50% of the uniform. 3) be made without prior approval of the team's manager. So, unless you fly out in a Harpies robe, and it's at least half black and white, nobody can get fashed.

[Monte Cameron]
On behalf of the Macmillan family and the Montrose Magpies, you are invited to be our special guest in the Montrose Box for Sunday's match against Wigtown. I know you're in great demand these days, so I wanted to give you a heads up before the owl arrives. Jason King will likely talk to you about it, but we had to go ahead with the invite because of the time.

[Ainsley]
I think I need some pink clothes.

[Hamish MacFarlan, Saxon Lethbridge]
We absolutely must come out against bullying before the end of the block. If you don't want a continuing pink revolution, we have to come out as even handed. I've got players coming to me complaining about 'hostile work environment' and 'harrasing behavior within other teams'.

Even if we do nothing, we have to disapprove of the term 'mudblood' about one of our players. If something was done to that idiot Flint, say so publicly.

I imagine we'll be seeing more than a few changes happening in the coming weeks and months here at DOMGAS. [...] I don't suppose you've heard anything at all about how

It's not as if it's a bad thing if they did take over management of Lamb and Rannoch but... I've worked hard keeping them up to standard and all, and... ugh, I know it's all new and there's no telling what'll happen but I hate the not knowing.

Just have to hope this doesn't all turn into some big complicated mess.

So how's my favourite older brother doing?

In celebration of the rebuilding of Macmillan Priory and the eighth anniversary of my natal day, I am hosting an open house at Macmillan Priory. The roof is on, the floors are solid, the furniture is borrowed and, for the first time since the fire, the Priory is habitable.

Restoring it is the best thing I've ever done, and it's not done, but it's reached a milestone.

Please join me February 29th in enjoying the first gathering at the Priory in sixty years. There will be food, drink, snow, good company, music, dancing, and nearby highland cattle breathtaking Meadhan Lodainn views.

Yours,
Ross Fraser Macmillan

The Muggle Repelling Spells mean it still looks like this to non-wizards: