Letter:Severus and Lily
From UnknowableWiki
Users involved: Eos (Lily) and ChristyCorr (Severus)
Contents |
First letter
Lily,
So? You didn't give any details in your note! How did it feel to get your first Ministry warning? What did you do anyway?
Severus
Second letter
Severus,
Sorry I was so brief in my last letter; Mum and Dad weren't too thrilled with me. I managed to convince them that no, I won't be expelled, and yes, I'll be more careful in the future, and yes, I'll stop baiting Petunia (fat chance; I won't stop until she stops treating me like the dirt on her shoe), and so everything is once again fairly peaceful in the Evans household. Petunia still screams every time an owl flies into the house, watches the fireplace warily (I told her about Floo—and conveniently didn't mention that we can't be on the Floo network because we're a Muggle household), and in general is more skittish than the mice we Transfigure in McGonagall's class. I know I probably shouldn't enjoy this as much as I do, but it's so much fun!
As for getting my first warning...well, I can't say that I liked receiving it, but it wasn't as bad as it could have been. True, Mum and Dad were pretty mad at me, and have confiscated my wand for the next week, but I was kind of expecting that. (And really, they can't stay mad at me for long; I'll probably have my wand back within the next two or three days.) I suppose I have to be a bit more careful, but...to be honest, it was worth it.
Here's what happened:
Petunia, as usual, has been treating me as if I had set off Black and Potter's entire stock of Dungbombs beneath her nose, and doesn't interact with me unless Mum or Dad (or both) forces her to do so. Then, the other day, for reasons I can't fathom, she decided to rummage through my things—I think she's trying to convince our parents that I'm making everything up and that I'm really a freak—and ended up spilling a bottle of ink all over the essay I'd written for History of Magic. The bloody thing took me a whole week to write, and suddenly, it was gone. I tried retrieving it, but it was useless; the ink had soaked through the parchment by the time I found it—and it had also very nearly damaged several of my books and robes, though thank Merlin the bottle had run out of ink by then.
I of course wanted revenge. I went to Petunia's room and Transfigured her China tea set—a gift from Grandmother—into rats, which she hates, and put them in her bed (while also enchanting the bed so they wouldn't go more than two feet away from it). I then took some frog spawn and put it in her underwear drawer—and finally, I enchanted her mirror to show her as a man. The effects, of course, were immediate and wonderful. She screamed, ran through the house, tried to shave the mustache the mirror showed her with...and then, by the time she returned to her room, I'd fixed everything, so she thought she was going mad.
Mum and Dad were not pleased; the lecture I received that night was worthy of Professor McGonagall. And, of course, the Ministry warning was the cherry on top of the icing. When my parents read that, I thought they'd lock me in my room for the rest of the summer. They didn't, thank Merlin, but I think they were close to it. I told them my side of the story, and they relaxed a little, but they felt that my retaliation had been juvenile and uncalled for. In retrospect, I suppose I agree, but she's been getting on my nerves for the past several years, and I felt it was time I got some of my own back. Besides, it felt good to see her so completely undone.
And don't you dare say I'm a Slytherin for what I did. I may have been bit malicious in my revenge, but I'll never be as bad as some of your friends, nor will I be as bad as Potter and Black.
I've spent this whole letter talking about myself; how are you? How are your parents, how's your homework going? What have you been up to? I miss you, and hope everything's all right on your end.
Lily
P.S. Once my parents let me out of the house (which should be within the week), we should meet. The thicket, Friday, around 2?
Third letter
Lily,
Petunia definitely had it coming. That must have been hilarious! And it was Slytherin of you—but okay, if you prefer it for me not to say anything... You have no business comparing yourself to bat droppings like Black and Potter, though.
As for my parents, well, same as always. Mum has a couple of friends in the Ministry, though; if you want, I can try to get your house connected to the Floo Network one of these days! I bet Petunia will love it.
Oh, so you will have to redo that giant wars essay? I can lend you my notes, if you'd like; there are a couple of excellent books here on the subject.
The Lethifolds assignment is rubbish. I do wish Kettleburn would give us proper classes, honestly; how can he expect us to write so little? I hardly mentioned Patronuses—but then again, I've given you my opinions on the subject; I think they're worthless, for the most part. How many wizards would even have time to conjure one when attacked by a Lethifold? But I digress. I've been experimenting with Confusing Concoctions... I've found that adding Jobberknoll feathers to it makes the drinker far more obedient, with the added bonus of allowing significant memory modifications! I tested it on Father yesterday, and it worked wonders.
Sure, we can meet on Friday. I'm low on shrivelfig, though, and Mum's potion ingredient stock is laughable—maybe you can convince your parents to take us to Diagon Alley?
Severus
Fourth Letter
Severus,
Of course she had it coming. She's had it coming ever since she decided to start calling me (and you, and every other witch and wizard on the planet) a freak. I still find it hard to believe that she actually tried to attend Hogwarts—but then again, maybe she's so bitter because she couldn't go there with us. I would have taken pictures, but someone managed to crush my camera on the last day of school, and so I am sadly photograph-less. I know you would have loved to see it.
And Black and Potter may be bat droppings, but at least they aren't like Avery and Mulciber. I still don't know why you hang around them...but let's not rehash that right now.
I do wish your parents wouldn't fight so much...though Severus, you really shouldn't test your experiments on your father, regardless of how awful he is to you and your mother. I know you know what you're doing with potions, but still. It's very dangerous, and you never know what could happen. You wouldn't want to be responsible for poisoning your father, would you? I know you probably won't want to stop, though you should consider it; just...promise me you'll be very careful, all right? If not for your sake, then for mine, because I'd feel positively awful if you were responsible for the death of a human being, and I know you would, too.
Thank you for your offer to connect us to the Floo network, but I think I'm on thin enough ice with Mum and Dad as it is; if wizards started popping in and out of our house at unpredictable times, they might never forgive me. Additionally, I think I'd feel safer if my house weren't connected; these are dangerous times, especially for Muggles and Muggleborns, and I'd feel more secure about my parents if I knew there wouldn't be a risk of a wizard suddenly coming over through Floo and attacking them. So...thank you, but no.
I will accept your notes and books on the giant wars, though; that essay was a beast the first time around, and I know I'll be even less willing to do it the second time around, which will make it that much harder. So yes, I'd love to borrow those. The Lethifold essay...yes, it is a bit of a joke, but I did some outside reading, and therefore managed to go a bit more in depth than I think Kettleburn wanted, but it's better to know as much about creatures like those as is possible. I also think Kettleburn was probably angling for quite a bit about Patronuses. You do have to admit that, hard as they are to produce, once a witch or wizard can produce them, they're much more useful against Lethifolds than any other method of self-defense. Don't write them off just because not everyone can create them.
Despite your experimentation on your father, your use of Jobberknoll feathers in the Confusing Concoctions sounds quite brilliant. I think I'll wait for my parents' anger over the Petunia incident to fade, and then I might be able to persuade them to let me experiment with my own potions. Or maybe you and I can work on them together; that would be fun, wouldn't it?
I'll try to ask them about Diagon Alley, but I can't promise anything. Maybe they'll concede once our school letters have come, but they are still not all that pleased with the idea of my leaving the house. (Petunia's enjoying my confinement, evil as she is.)
Hope to see you soon!
Lily
Fifth letter
Lily,
Petunia would have no place whatsoever at Hogwarts, of course; I still think it was absurdly stupid of her to even try. Her utter lack of magic is written all over her face. Dumbledore refused it far too nicely, I think; but then again, he is known for his leniency and insane tolerance of idiotic behaviour.
Potter broke your camera, right? Typical. Avery and Mulciber are really quite all right once you get to know them. But they're not really the type of wizard you'd befriend, so I understand your dislike.
Mum doesn't mind it when I experiments with Father. She's afraid he'll find out, of course, but I cover my tracks well enough, and he's an incredibly daft and incompetent Muggle anyway. I am careful, Lily; you know me.
I'm sending those notes and books along with this letter.
I simply think that the concept of a Patronus is far too feeble. Against Lethifolds, okay, but against Dementors? How utterly unreliable is it to trust a happy memory to be available when facing hundreds of Dementors?
You can come over to brew a potion or two (or simply if you miss doing magic in general) any time you like. I just need to make sure that Father won't be home first.
Let me know about Diagon Alley. If not—tomorrow, 2 PM.
Severus
Sixth Letter
Severus,
Well, of course Petunia wouldn't really fit in at Hogwarts, but I still think it's sweet that she tried to follow me there (and it's a little flattering; she's the older one, so typically, I'm supposed to follow her). And Dumbledore was very kind to even reply to her; I'd hope his letter made her feel better about her "rejection," but I can't be sure, as that's when she started calling us "freaks." Severus, all things said and done, she's my sister, and I can't help caring for her and feeling a bit sorry for her. And besides, had Dumbledore been rude, or had he not replied at all, I'm sure she would have hated me even more. In that case, I might be having to deal with complete and utter destruction of my property, not just rummaging and the loss of a single essay.
Yes, Potter broke my camera. Honestly, could the boy be any more of an idiot when around me? I'm positive he saves his stupid moments for when I'm around—or maybe he's just perpetually an idiot, though, admittedly, his marks seem to suggest otherwise.
I don't think my views are the problem; I think I'm not the kind of witch Avery and Mulciber would befriend. Please, Severus, haven't you heard them interact with me? They hate me, and everyone like me, and are so fixated on this concept of blood, and blood purity, that it's ridiculous to even try to communicate with them, or to understand them. I don't know how you tolerate them, honestly. You're not like them, you know it, and you're really too good for them.
I know your mother probably wouldn't mind when you experiment on your father, but I still think it's a little...vindictive. I know he's not the nicest person, and you've told me how he treats the two of you, but really, it's a bit risky. You never know when something might go wrong...and remember, you're experimenting, so the outcomes of your experiments are not all guaranteed. Yes, you have excellent intuition when it comes to Potions, but just...well. I'd ask you to stop experimenting on your father, but I know you won't. And I know you'll be careful; just promise me you'll be extra careful, all right? I really don't want anything to happen that you'll regret later.
Thanks for the books and notes; they were a real time- (and life-) saver. I finished the essay in half the time, and it was more thorough than the one I'd written earlier.
Well, a Patronus is the only thing that's proved to work against Dementors. Do you have any other suggestions? And maybe it's a kind of natural selection: if you can summon a happy memory while beset by your worst, you're among those most fit to live. That kind of thing. But it'll take some time before we can produce a Patronus—though I'm sorely tempted to try learning now, especially with things as they are. Maybe I'll check out some books on the theory and start studying that.
Oh, thank you; I'd like that. I do miss Hogwarts quite a bit. Being home, and spending time with my parents, is quite nice, but it doesn't quite compare to being able to do magic whenever I want. My room's become an utter mess lately, and I hate the fact that I have to clean it by hand instead of just waving my wand and letting everything put itself away. Magic just makes life so much easier, though I suppose I shouldn't get too used to letting it do everything for me, as it's good to know how to do things the Muggle way. Just let me know when a good time would be.
Mum and Dad don't seem too keen on the idea of Diagon Alley. I floated it by them last night at dinner, and they said they'd have to "think about it"—which, in my parents' language, means no. So...I'm sorry, but not tomorrow. Maybe in a week or so, once we've received our letters...I'm really excited to know who's become prefect. Do you have any idea of who'll be your House prefects?
See you tomorrow at 2!
Lily
