RITA SKEETER: 28 January, 1964
Dearest Francesca,
Mr. Lounds wrote me his last letter. He will not refund your money for the Quick-Quotes Quill. He said that me talking to the Daily Prophet might hurt his business, and that it was a stupid thing to do. He also said that someday I'd grow up and I wouldn't be a "silly-headded idealist" anymore. That I'd learn all about what it meant to be a "real journalist" and then I'd thank him for the Quill. He's a bastard. I'm so sorry I couldn't get your money back! I tried, I really did.
Since there's nothing to be done, I'm going to try taking the Quill apart and cleaning it. Maybe it will work better when it's had a good wash. Or if not, maybe I can figure out how to modify it so it will write down what people say. My friend Bozo Capulet says he'll look at it too. Hufflepuffs are really good with things like that, he says.
I'm also asking Bozo to pick up something for you when he goes to Hogsmeade in February. I'm just a second year so I can't go yet, but he's a third year so he can. The gift is going to be absolutely brilliant and it will help you with finals this term! You see, I've just learned how to transfigure sugar quills into pens, so you can suck on them in class and your professors won't notice! Isn't that brilliant?!
Love you so so much, Frannie.
Your
Mr. Lounds wrote me his last letter. He will not refund your money for the Quick-Quotes Quill. He said that me talking to the Daily Prophet might hurt his business, and that it was a stupid thing to do. He also said that someday I'd grow up and I wouldn't be a "silly-headded idealist" anymore. That I'd learn all about what it meant to be a "real journalist" and then I'd thank him for the Quill. He's a bastard. I'm so sorry I couldn't get your money back! I tried, I really did.
Since there's nothing to be done, I'm going to try taking the Quill apart and cleaning it. Maybe it will work better when it's had a good wash. Or if not, maybe I can figure out how to modify it so it will write down what people say. My friend Bozo Capulet says he'll look at it too. Hufflepuffs are really good with things like that, he says.
I'm also asking Bozo to pick up something for you when he goes to Hogsmeade in February. I'm just a second year so I can't go yet, but he's a third year so he can. The gift is going to be absolutely brilliant and it will help you with finals this term! You see, I've just learned how to transfigure sugar quills into pens, so you can suck on them in class and your professors won't notice! Isn't that brilliant?!
Love you so so much, Frannie.
Your