Disclaimer to JK Rowling
Interlude I
Severus,
What do you mean Draco's arm is still injured? I did not make you the guardian of my children so that they would continue to suffer months after the initial accident! I thought you were doing everything to ensure the speedy recovery of my son! If he so much experiences the loss of a single grade as a result of your ineptitude, I will personally write for your dismissal. I do not care that I do not have as many Ministry contacts as Lucius does, but I will do it. I still carry an iota of influence in the Board of Governors.
I also hope that you have taught him how to conjure words upon parchment so he can do his homework. I do not have to remind you that Draco has injured his writing hand, and I do not wish to send you further Howlers regarding his inability to write. Again, I will directly see to your dismissal if I find that you are being a bumbling idiot. I will not tolerate mediocrity from a person like you, Severus.
Narcissa.
x-x-x-x-x
Dear Narcissa,
These daily Howlers are getting ridiculous, why must you scream and yell when writing is perfectly sufficient? I am a Professor, and a Head of House to boot, and because of you there are rumours spreading that I have a secret scorned lover. Are you so bored in your estrangement that you have to resort to these measures? Do you think I spend my days enjoying watching your son suffer? Of course, I taught him the handwriting charm, and he should readily use it more often as for once I can read his homework.
Do not even contemplate writing me a Howler for criticising your son's handwriting; I will have your owl banned from Hogwarts grounds if you try.
That being said, how are you coping without Lucius? He wrote to me after the attack detailing in red ink about my ineptitude as a godfather and Professor and were he still on the Board of Governors, I would be dismissed alongside Professor Hagrid. He also mentioned that he was personally spearheading the campaign for the execution of the animal in question and would like my co-operation. I have no doubt this is for your benefit.
I wish I could write that I look forward to future correspondence, but seeing as you have been screaming at me for the past week and a half, I would appreciate the peace and quiet.
Severus.
x-x-x-x-x
Severus,
I relent. The Howlers take a lot of effort. Do you know how much one must scream and how long I must compose a scream-worthy rant to make it suitable for sending? Do not take Howler-sending lightly.
I know that Lucius is planning something greater than merely winning a Wizengamot case. He always has been a strategist and he knows that if he does not do something to cement his standing in the Wizarding community, the Malfoy name will mean nothing this time next year. I can almost anticipate his next steps. Before you help him, I would read between the lines before doing so.
If any more accidents occur to any of my children, Hermione included, you will write to Dumbledore resigning from your post.
Narcissa.
PS. My son's handwriting is perfect. If you ever dare mock it again, it will be the last thing you do.
x-x-x-x-x
So, I suppose that you and your family buy into that Sacred Twenty-Eight nonsense β HG.
Yes. β DM.
But not all people 'act properly' as you say. The Weasleys are on this list but they don't talk to people with an upturned lip and spout pureblood ideology.
The Weasleys are crudely known as 'blood traitors', and do not share the same beliefs as my family do.
Of course, how could I not know that there were ranks within the last twenty-eight pureblood families of Wizarding Britain and Ireland? I suppose it does go with the territory.
The figure is most likely twenty or so, the last Wizarding War either ended bloodlines or imprisoned them.
If pureblood families are in decline, surely remaining pureblood families cannot expect to continue marrying each other? Surely you would run out or marry cousins, and the latter isn't the best option. You said so over the summer, selective partnerships drove the Black family insane.
Before you criticise my family for selective partnerships, you should research the Weasleys. They may be blood traitors but they are not saints. Before Mrs Weasley was a Weasley she was a Prewett. The Weasleys have links to the Black and Yaxley families, do you notice something familiar about those names?
...They're all Sacred Twenty-Eight families. I get your point, Draco. You're saying that wizards want to only marry proper wizards.
Not overtly, but the principle underlies their declarations of tolerance. The question, Granger, is what do you find worse: ignorance or hypocrisy?
The Weasleys are anything but hypocritical. Maybe they just fell in love, regardless of blood status. Do you really believe that you will never marry for love?
Enough about me. What about you?
Me? I'm fine.
No, as in what are the marriage customs in the Muggle world?
I'll try and not take that as an insult. I suppose arranged marriages do exist still in the Muggle world, but it's rare. I think its normal to marry for love, Wizarding or Muggle.
People can learn to love status and stature.
You're so cynical, but I suppose that is what makes us Muggles so deplorable. So what happens if your father wins the trial, and the status of the Malfoy name is magically restored?
Well, I would have to act in the appropriate manner expected of the Heir of a family of my stature.
Would you be happy with that?
I would not have a choice.
Well, I think we should help Hagrid in some way, but I think there will be so much to read up onβ¦
Is the bookworm really asking me for reading help? I thought reading assignments were not part of the deal, Granger. Also, the notion that I would consider helping you is so very Gryffindor.
Well, think about it. The more we have, the better chance that Hagrid will win the trial. Helping me in private for your personal gain which results in your father losing the trial and your so-very-important family name to not be restored is quite Slytherin, Malfoy.
If you were not so Muggleborn, I might just make a Slytherin of you yet.
PS. It is Lord Malfoy, Granger.
So, you'll help me to research cases so Hagrid doesn't get sacked?
No. Dumbledore will probably be fighting tooth and nail for his half-wit Professor, and what will most likely happen is that an argument will be made that it was an accident that comes with the job. After that, my father will go for the animal and the more research we can get now that will help save the Hippogriff, the more chance we will win.
Hagrid is not a half-wit! You provoked the Hippogriff, so I would say you were the half-wit here!
Semantics, Granger.
x-x-x-x-x
Dear Lacie,
How are you settling at Hogwarts? I had a concerning letter about your experiences with Dementors and a Boggart, and was wondering how you are faring? I know we had you Boggart trained when you were young, so when Professor McGonagall wrote to me, I was surprised. Is there something the matter? You know you can write me about anything, I hate to be so far away and unable to do a thing for you.
I hear that Harry Potter is helping you out. Now, I do not mean to sound prudent but I would keep contact with Mr Potter at a minimum. I understand that he is a close friend, but with what happened last year, I do not want you in any more trouble. In fact, I wholeheartedly suggest that you eschew Mr Potter's company in Hogsmeade. Just trust me, he is not a boy that you want to be near if you want to remain safe.
On another note, how are your piano lessons with Cedric going? I hear on the Hogwarts grapevine that he is rather handsome. Is he? I have never met him, personally. I also hear that the first Hogsmeade weekend is coming up, perhaps you could ask Cedric for the morning off and he could show you around the village? I remember the first time that I went to Hogsmeade, and it makes all the difference to have someone who knows the village to show you around rather than stumbling around everywhere and get lost. In fact, Cedric would be the perfect person to show you around the village, seeing as he is older and more experienced.
All my love,
Mother.
x-x-x-x-x
Sirius Black Sighted!
Notorious serial killer and fervent follower of You-Know-Who has been sighted in Northern Scotland for the second time. Since his elaborate escape from Dufftown, a small parish, the Ministry have been redoubling efforts to track Black down. An elderly man called the Crime Watchers Hotline, but again, as Ministry officials arrived, the killer was nowhere to be seen. It is unclear what Black's intentions are, but as he moves closer to Hogsmeade, civilians are urged not to confront him. If you see Black, please do not hesitate to contact the Auror office. Again, the public are reminded that Black is an extremely dangerous individual who must not be confronted.
x-x-x-x-x
Z,
Is it true? Is Black headed towards the castle to seek revenge for what happened all of those years ago?
N.
x-x-x-x-x
N,
I do not know Sirius' intentions, but it would seem so. The children, so long as they remain respectful of the Dementors and do not leave Hogwarts Grounds without a Professor, shall be safe.
Z.
x-x-x-x-x
I do not understand it. Can you explain it to me again? β DM.
It's not that hard. Muggles use electricity as a form of energy to power up many things. Think of it like how we use magic to animate things. - HG
But why do they need it?
Without it, Muggles would not be able to power lights, or appliances like washing machines, toasters or computers. They use it for almost everything.
Toasters?
Muggle invention, it is used to toast bread. There was one in the kitchen in the villa, didn't you ever use it?
No, Sandrine always prepared the food. I see, so Muggles have developed a world outside of using magic, because they are unable to utilise it. Electricity is essentially magic that Muggles make?
You could say that, although we have to have power stations to generate the electricity and then we have to distribute it to towns and cities so it is available for everyone.
This is hurting my head. Between Shakespeare recitals and Muggle inventions, I feel like Professor Burbage is going to kill me.
She is going to kill you because you think you're too good for the class. Every time she calls on you for a question you answer that you 'do not care' or some other flippant comment.
But I do not care for the class. 'Mister Malfoy, do you think it significant that Iago slips between speaking prose and poetry depending on who he is speaking to?' Probably, Professor Burbage, but I do not care why he does it.
Yes, you made it very clear to Professor Burbage during the last Muggle Studies class that you had no interest in medieval tragedies, whether or not they are part of the curriculum. I suppose that's why she set us the extensive essay on 'Class division in Othello' to be completed by January. Oh, when she made you read aloud in class, I thought Lacie would split her sides.
Yes, I remember. I am eagerly counting down the days where I can drop the subject.
Oh, shush. You love it really.
