26th March
Dear Padfoot,
Please come and visit soon! James is climbing the walls – he can't stand being forced to stay in one place for long. He's fixed everything that needed fixing and has now started 'experimenting'! So far he has turned the coffee table into a tree frog (he said that that wasn't quite the outcome he had in mind – he wanted to try and make it look more presentable) and has come up with a spell that causes the lights to flash on and of every half an hour which so far we haven't found a way of stopping it. Help! I think he's worried about Remus as well. I know that he said that he might not write for a month or two but that was at the beginning of December and it is almost April! Has anybody heard from him at all?
Poor Bathilda has had a cold for the last few days. She caught it just after her sister went home so we haven't seen her for a while. She said that she didn't want to risk Harry or James and I catching it. We sent over some Pepperup Potion but I don't think that it has worked quite as well as it should have.
Thank you for asking Molly and Andromeda for their advice about Harry's teething. I would never have thought of using Mutlap essence but it worked wonders and Harry seems to be in much less pain. Would you pass on my thanks for me? Would you also say thank you for the tip about the Invigoration Draught – I don't feel nearly as tired as I did before.
Bathilda told me that Dorcas Meadows was found dead and that it is believed that You-Know-Who killed her himself. I can't believe that she's gone. Bathilda also said that Benjy Fenwick has disappeared and that everyone thinks that he's dead. Would you send our regards to his sister? James went very quiet when he heard; I know that he wishes that he could be of more help, we both do. Still, at least this way we know that Harry is safe.
We haven't really done much this month. I've started to have a go at the garden. It's surprising the difference having a space of your own makes. Herbology was never my favourite subject but now I can't wait to get started properly! So far I've removed the Fanged Geraniums that bit Harry and the daffodils have come up –nice ones, not honking ones. I also found a wisteria that tried to strangle anyone who came near at the bottom of the garden which I removed straight away. Thank goodness Harry didn't find it first! I can't work out who would have planted some of the things that I have found here. There are some lovely things like Flutterby Bushes and then Fanged Geraniums and a Strangling Wisteria!
Thank you for agreeing to pass on all of our messages to everybody else in the order – I hope that it isn't too much trouble. Still, I suppose that the Fidelius Charm wouldn't be much use if everybody in the order knew where we were!
Do come and visit soon – I know that James would love to see you (as would Harry and I).
Lots of love,
Lily
OoOoO
"Harry?" The door was slightly open and Ginny was there, looking at him. "Are you all right?"
"I'm okay," he said, sitting up.
"Kreacher sent me up to tell you that dinner is nearly ready." She half smiled. "He is so different from what he was like when the Order first moved in here." She saw the pieces of parchment in his hands. "What are you doing?" Harry handed her the letters that he had already read and she came and sat down next to him.
"You can read them if you like." He told her, so she did. Harry sat and waited for her to finish, then they started to read the next letter together.