BLAISE ZABINI: 2I November, 1996
Dear Mr. Wonderwhym,
Thank you for your letter of November 13th. I am happy to meet with you at the office of my solicitor Mr. Delage and sign the contract. However, there are a few things we should discuss first. The title you suggested, "Aristocratic and Incestuous in Hogwarts," while meritorious in many ways, is not perhaps best suited for my novel. Although the story contains many characters who can be described with both of those terms, I feel it would be better to give the novel a less scandalous name. It would not do to risk libel, Mr. Wonderwhym, and I am not convinced many booksellers would wish to include such a title in their stock. Far be it from be to tell you your business, but perhaps "Encounters in the Dark" would manage to convey a variety of suggestive associations without being overtly salacious?
I would also like to point out that publishing a novel by "A Student of Hogwart" about a magical boarding school in Scotland is perhaps not that prudent. I trust that you are able to produce rumours to that effect without the necessity of printing it out, and thus allow me to use the pseudonym I mentioned in my last letter.
If we can come to an agreement on both these points, I can arrange to meet with you at the time you suggested. However, if you feel my terms to be unreasonable, I am happy to seek publication elsewhere and impose on you no further.
Yours sincerely,
Blaise Zabini
Thank you for your letter of November 13th. I am happy to meet with you at the office of my solicitor Mr. Delage and sign the contract. However, there are a few things we should discuss first. The title you suggested, "Aristocratic and Incestuous in Hogwarts," while meritorious in many ways, is not perhaps best suited for my novel. Although the story contains many characters who can be described with both of those terms, I feel it would be better to give the novel a less scandalous name. It would not do to risk libel, Mr. Wonderwhym, and I am not convinced many booksellers would wish to include such a title in their stock. Far be it from be to tell you your business, but perhaps "Encounters in the Dark" would manage to convey a variety of suggestive associations without being overtly salacious?
I would also like to point out that publishing a novel by "A Student of Hogwart" about a magical boarding school in Scotland is perhaps not that prudent. I trust that you are able to produce rumours to that effect without the necessity of printing it out, and thus allow me to use the pseudonym I mentioned in my last letter.
If we can come to an agreement on both these points, I can arrange to meet with you at the time you suggested. However, if you feel my terms to be unreasonable, I am happy to seek publication elsewhere and impose on you no further.
Yours sincerely,
Blaise Zabini