RABASTAN LESTRANGE: 17 December, 1978
Dear Lily
Sorry this letter is so short notice, and so soon after my last one. You’re probably wondering what I can have to say to you on the last day of term that can’t wait until I get home and experience the joy of sneaking letters past Bellatrix. And that would be the point of this letter because I’m not going home this year.
I don’t think I can face Christmas with the family. Not Uncle. Not with Rodolphus and me fighting like this.
You said I could come and stay with you, and I’ve decided to take you up on the offer. I’m going to run away for Christmas.
I haven’t told anybody else about this. Not even Regulus. I don’t want them coming and finding me and I don’t want you in any trouble because of this. I’ll simply disappear into London for a week or so and then return bright and unhurried to catch the Hogwarts Express when term starts again.
Pick me up from the station!
I’ve packed light so we won’t have to lug anything heavy with us, but we’ll have to avoid Bellatrix or Rodolphus if they turn up. But they’ll probably just send a House Elf again; I don’t expect this year will be any different from the last few. We won’t have to worry about Uncle. He won’t be coming.
Again, Lily, I’m so sorry this is utterly short notice but I’ve been trying to convince myself all week. I know it’s not desirable to have me turn up on your doorstep just before Christmas and I know it’s your first year away from your parents and you probably don’t want to be faced with the reasonability of looking after me, but I promise I’ll be really good. I’ll help you shop for Christmas presents (I have yours already, I brought it last week - I really think you’re going to like it) and carry all your bags, and I’ll help clean and cook (but I don’t think I’ll be very good doing things the Muggle way, I can’t even make toast when I’m using spells and it’s not really work fit for a Lestrange but I will try) and I won’t get under your feet if you have your friends and family round, and I won’t pick fights with James.
I’ll be as quite as a House Elf- you won’t know I’m there.
Well, me and Botein, actually. I can’t leave him at school without me but he’s very quite and he hardly ever catches mice anymore.
Please, Lily. You really are my only hope. Otherwise I’ll have to spend Christmas on my own in London. Just me and Botein. All alone. There’s no telling what might happen to us. I’ve heard stories.
I’ll be waiting on the platform for you, although if Bellatrix and Rodolphus are there then I’ll meet you in Quality Quidditch Supplies!
Yours in need and escape
Sorry this letter is so short notice, and so soon after my last one. You’re probably wondering what I can have to say to you on the last day of term that can’t wait until I get home and experience the joy of sneaking letters past Bellatrix. And that would be the point of this letter because I’m not going home this year.
I don’t think I can face Christmas with the family. Not Uncle. Not with Rodolphus and me fighting like this.
You said I could come and stay with you, and I’ve decided to take you up on the offer. I’m going to run away for Christmas.
I haven’t told anybody else about this. Not even Regulus. I don’t want them coming and finding me and I don’t want you in any trouble because of this. I’ll simply disappear into London for a week or so and then return bright and unhurried to catch the Hogwarts Express when term starts again.
Pick me up from the station!
I’ve packed light so we won’t have to lug anything heavy with us, but we’ll have to avoid Bellatrix or Rodolphus if they turn up. But they’ll probably just send a House Elf again; I don’t expect this year will be any different from the last few. We won’t have to worry about Uncle. He won’t be coming.
Again, Lily, I’m so sorry this is utterly short notice but I’ve been trying to convince myself all week. I know it’s not desirable to have me turn up on your doorstep just before Christmas and I know it’s your first year away from your parents and you probably don’t want to be faced with the reasonability of looking after me, but I promise I’ll be really good. I’ll help you shop for Christmas presents (I have yours already, I brought it last week - I really think you’re going to like it) and carry all your bags, and I’ll help clean and cook (but I don’t think I’ll be very good doing things the Muggle way, I can’t even make toast when I’m using spells and it’s not really work fit for a Lestrange but I will try) and I won’t get under your feet if you have your friends and family round, and I won’t pick fights with James.
I’ll be as quite as a House Elf- you won’t know I’m there.
Well, me and Botein, actually. I can’t leave him at school without me but he’s very quite and he hardly ever catches mice anymore.
Please, Lily. You really are my only hope. Otherwise I’ll have to spend Christmas on my own in London. Just me and Botein. All alone. There’s no telling what might happen to us. I’ve heard stories.
I’ll be waiting on the platform for you, although if Bellatrix and Rodolphus are there then I’ll meet you in Quality Quidditch Supplies!
Yours in need and escape