You know me to be a woman who knows the meaning of duty. I have ever fulfilled the obligations I have to my family. I know also that you have never understood why I feel this sense of duty, and that is why I do not expect you to understand why I must do this.

Her mother. A conniving snake if Ophelia had ever met one, and yet… she still ached for her mother’s approval.

“It looks like you’re furnishing medicine for an army,” Ophelia said.

Madam Pomfrey looked at her sardonically. “I see he doesn’t tell you what happens on nights like these.”

In fact, Mother, he is a better man in many ways than previous engagements you have thrown at me. Whatever his faults, did you not teach me that it is a wife’s duty to be patient and understanding? What you ask me to do falls under neither of these categories.

To Prof. and Mrs. Snape,

We are delighted to hear you will be joining us for our little Christmas party.

“Have you forgotten you’re married to me?”

“I know there is nothing in the world that excuses what your father did to you.”

“You were with me. That should be enough for her.”

I suppose I have no right to call you by your first name, but it feels incredibly awkward attaching a ‘missus’ to that name.