Owls to Alan Grant and Ellie Sattler

[ian-ma1co1m.livejournal.com]

Grant,

I saw this on my last jaunt to London and thought of you. Would that they all came equipped with an off switch. The other item I found in Flourish & Blott's, hope you don't already have it.

Happy Hanukkah Season's greetings,
Malcolm
The package contains a remote-controlled dinosaur
and a nonfiction book on dragons through Wizarding history.



Dear Ellie,

Merry Christmas, my dear, and I look forward to seeing you back at school. May you and your family find the New Year a blessed one.

Yours,
Ian
The package contains a book of Scottish poetry
and a gift certificate to Flourish & Blott's.

Comments

[dinosaurman.livejournal.com]

Malcolm,

You might not find it as useful as you'd like, though. It's rather short on quantitative data.

Before jumping to the obvious conclusion, let's explore a few other possibilities. It's possible that this man is completely insane, and only thinks that he's the antichrist. It's not like we have a shortage of mentally unstable people with superhuman powers.

I know that I'm grasping for straws here. It has to be better than the alternative.

Grant

[ian-ma1co1m.livejournal.com]

Grant,

I didn't expect quantitative data; I know quite well that historically persecuted groups tend to be wary of questioning. (European Jews of my grandparents' generation come immediately to mind.) If anything you've probably gained more access than the "experts," being a member of said group yourself - however little that access may be.

Either way, instability + superpowers = extremely dangerous. Also not to be discounted is his pride; I know you needle me for having a healthy ego, but I believe Thorn is well past me into egomania. Learning he is not a unique and special snowflake may trigger violence. You discovered his resemblance to you by accident; I recommend taking pains to prevent his discovering your resemblance to him.

Malcolm

[dinosaurman.livejournal.com]

Malcolm,

Or it could be that it's hard to get a good measurement single-handedly (or no-handedly, as the case may be) but if that theory works for you, then go for it.

Again, do I have to remind you that I'm not planning on running up to him and asking for the time of day? Plus, he's not the only one who is would be disturbed at finding out that he is not a unique and special snowflake.

Grant

[ian-ma1co1m.livejournal.com]

Grant,

I would be quite happy to dismiss the whole Antichrist thing as a folie a deux between Thorn's egomania and the young lady's religious mania, were it not for the fact that we manifestly have a Christ here at the school. Were you at Josh's Sorting? He may be able to shed some light on the concept of the Antichrist that would prove useful whether Thorn's status as such is real or delusional.

If you're uncomfortable tackling the matter yourself for whatever reason, I'd be glad to do the legwork. But I do think you'd get more out of Josh if you spoke to him yourself. Your call.

Malcolm

[dinosaurman.livejournal.com]

Malcolm,

I met this Josh kid. I found that his answers to my questions were just happy cliches about love and faith in God. I'm not sure if I'd get anything more from him than a meaningless platitude and a pat on the back.

Grant

[ian-ma1co1m.livejournal.com]

Grant,

I thought that might be the case. I disagree, which is why I'm willing to have this conversation with him in your stead, but your mileage may vary. Hearing about what happened if Josh offered those meaningless platitudes to Thorn might well be instructive, don't you think?

Malcolm

[dinosaurman.livejournal.com]

Malcolm,

I'm not sure if he'd even understand that I was talking about a possible antichrist. And honestly, the meaningless platitudes he gave me at his Sorting just made me want to punch him, so this whole thing could end poorly either way.

Grant

[ian-ma1co1m.livejournal.com]

Grant,

Leaving aside for the moment the inference that anything provoking such a strong reaction must have some kind of meaning to you - why don't I have that talk with Josh, then?

Malcolm

[dinosaurman.livejournal.com]

Malcolm,

Yeah, why don't you.

Grant