Friday 27 September, early. Andromeda sends an owl to Horace Slughorn.
Andromeda comes downstairs yawning, the morning still the pearl grey of dawn. Another night of disturbed sleep, rehearsing in her head all the letters that she'd tried to write the previous evening and had found impossible to word. As she enters the lounge, she eyes the overflowing wastebasket with its balls of crumpled parchment ruefully.
Two slices of toast and a cup of coffee later, and she sits herself down at the dining table to renew her efforts in that direction. She owes it to Sirius, and to Narcissa, after all.
Dear Professor Slughorn,
Apologies for not having been in touch for a while. I'm sure that you must appreciate how busy I can be at times, with my painting, and alas I have not had an exhibition to invite you to for quite some time. However, I thought you might be interested to know that I am currently working on a different set of pictures - not portraits this time, but depictions of magical animals - and I have hopes of having enough material together to be able to mount an exhbition towards the end of this year. When I do, you will of course get an invitation to the opening as always.
On this occasion however I wanted to consult you not for your connections in the art world, but for your potions expertise. I have a friend who most unfortunately suffers from an affliction which requires the monthly application of the wolfsbane potion. I understand this potion to be a comparatively new invention - certainly I don't remember it from Advanced Potion-Making and I read that book from cover to cover when I was studying for my NEWTs - and he tells me that there are very few people who are capable of making it. Unfortunately, the person who was making it for him has had to go away
- which describes Snape's departure to place himself at Voldemort's side about as politely as is possible -
and he now finds himself at a loss to find another experienced and proficient Potions maker. And as you are probably the best Potions maker I know, I thought of you.
It's true, so far as it goes. She never did know Snape all that well, and she has only hearsay to gauge his proficiency by.
Of course, I realise that you are a very busy man and might not have time to make such a potion every month. If so, then I would be grateful if you could point me in the direction of another of your contacts who might have the time. Or failing that, if you think me a good enough potion maker, perhaps you would be willing to instruct me in the making of the potion?
I look forward to hearing from you, as always.
Sincerely,
Andromeda Tonks
P.S. I'm sure that the materials for the potion are not inexpensive, but I am told that the money situation is adequately covered.
She hopes that Horace can come up with a reliable and regular source of the potion, and that there'll be no need to let him know of Sirius's involvement. Horace can't help but namedrop, and while he might promise faithfully to keep the secrets of a former member of his Slug Club, sooner or later the temptation to drop a hint that he knows something of the whereabouts of the notorious Sirius Black would be too great. So if they can avoid it, he must never know.
The letter she sends to the Ministry on Narcissa's behalf is brief and formal. It's all she dare send before she's had a chance to talk with her daughter again and find out more about Ministry practice in such situations.
For the attention of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement
She thinks it best to address the department rather than the post, seeing that no announcement has yet been made about a replacement for Madam Bones as Head.
Dear Sirs,
I am the sister of Bellatrix Lestrange, née Black, and am writing to you on behalf of my sister Narcissa Malfoy, whom I believe you are acquainted with.
We in no way condone our late sister's actions or political affiliations. However, she was family and we would like if possible to bury her in a family plot if that is possible.
If you could let me know what the normal procedure is in such circumstances, I would be most grateful.
Yours faithfully,
Andromeda Black-Tonks
Well, it's not great, but it will have to do.
She gives the Ministry letter to Ted's owl and the Slughorn one to her own Scaramouche, and sends them both off for delivery.
Two slices of toast and a cup of coffee later, and she sits herself down at the dining table to renew her efforts in that direction. She owes it to Sirius, and to Narcissa, after all.
Dear Professor Slughorn,
Apologies for not having been in touch for a while. I'm sure that you must appreciate how busy I can be at times, with my painting, and alas I have not had an exhibition to invite you to for quite some time. However, I thought you might be interested to know that I am currently working on a different set of pictures - not portraits this time, but depictions of magical animals - and I have hopes of having enough material together to be able to mount an exhbition towards the end of this year. When I do, you will of course get an invitation to the opening as always.
On this occasion however I wanted to consult you not for your connections in the art world, but for your potions expertise. I have a friend who most unfortunately suffers from an affliction which requires the monthly application of the wolfsbane potion. I understand this potion to be a comparatively new invention - certainly I don't remember it from Advanced Potion-Making and I read that book from cover to cover when I was studying for my NEWTs - and he tells me that there are very few people who are capable of making it. Unfortunately, the person who was making it for him has had to go away
- which describes Snape's departure to place himself at Voldemort's side about as politely as is possible -
and he now finds himself at a loss to find another experienced and proficient Potions maker. And as you are probably the best Potions maker I know, I thought of you.
It's true, so far as it goes. She never did know Snape all that well, and she has only hearsay to gauge his proficiency by.
Of course, I realise that you are a very busy man and might not have time to make such a potion every month. If so, then I would be grateful if you could point me in the direction of another of your contacts who might have the time. Or failing that, if you think me a good enough potion maker, perhaps you would be willing to instruct me in the making of the potion?
I look forward to hearing from you, as always.
Sincerely,
Andromeda Tonks
P.S. I'm sure that the materials for the potion are not inexpensive, but I am told that the money situation is adequately covered.
She hopes that Horace can come up with a reliable and regular source of the potion, and that there'll be no need to let him know of Sirius's involvement. Horace can't help but namedrop, and while he might promise faithfully to keep the secrets of a former member of his Slug Club, sooner or later the temptation to drop a hint that he knows something of the whereabouts of the notorious Sirius Black would be too great. So if they can avoid it, he must never know.
The letter she sends to the Ministry on Narcissa's behalf is brief and formal. It's all she dare send before she's had a chance to talk with her daughter again and find out more about Ministry practice in such situations.
For the attention of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement
She thinks it best to address the department rather than the post, seeing that no announcement has yet been made about a replacement for Madam Bones as Head.
Dear Sirs,
I am the sister of Bellatrix Lestrange, née Black, and am writing to you on behalf of my sister Narcissa Malfoy, whom I believe you are acquainted with.
We in no way condone our late sister's actions or political affiliations. However, she was family and we would like if possible to bury her in a family plot if that is possible.
If you could let me know what the normal procedure is in such circumstances, I would be most grateful.
Yours faithfully,
Andromeda Black-Tonks
Well, it's not great, but it will have to do.
She gives the Ministry letter to Ted's owl and the Slughorn one to her own Scaramouche, and sends them both off for delivery.