Love,

The days I must spend away from you are coming to an end. Soon the Dark Lord will allow me to go home. And though I am happy to leave this place, I must admit that it feels strange too. After having spent almost a year here, it has become so familiar to me. I can hardly call it homely, but it is a part of me now, after all the things I did and after all the days endured here. The thought that I should stay did occur to me.

If I prove my eagerness, I will be able to rise in our ranks, giving you a more stable postition too. Think of all the credit we would earn with the Dark Lord. And the power that comes with that credit can perhaps even be enough to ensure our safety all the way through to the end, without us having to worry about when the war is over, one way or another.

Because I do realise that, however horrible my father was as a parent, he did ensure that my mother and I lacked nothing in my youthful years, not even his presence. He ensured us a happy future too. That, I am thankful for.

Of course, this doesn't mean that I will accept him back into my life, nor will I strive to follow his example. But this mission did make me see why he did what he did all those years ago. In any case, to avoid his meddling in our future life, we will need to find a place to live he can't reach easily. There's no need for him to know more than he needs to.

My mother did find out about us, though I don't know how. But she has approved of us and is willing to even lend us a helping hand when we need one. And we can rest assured that she won't tell my father or anyone else unless we give permission, we can trust her in that.

Besides, now that she does know and approves, you shouldn't feel hesitant in asking her advice. I would be quite happy if you'd let her help you arrange our wedding. I know that she would be thrilled. And apart from that, I believe the wedding is all that you should keep yourself occupied with at the moment.

That way, everything will be ready when I return home. I trust you completely in organising everything, after all, weddings are more the area of expertise of women. Men would only get in the way and we know and accept that you women are better at it anyway.

And this gives you the opportunity to arrange everything according to your taste, though I must ask you not to forget my mother's advice in this. She must have been planning a day like this ever since I was born. And it would probably be wise to keep it small too, we don't want to attract unnecessary attention to us. If all goes well, we'll be able to keep it a secret from the public that you are my wife. All this is, of course, because I am concerned about your safety. I wouldn't be able to bear it if anything happens to you. You are, after all, the only one I can imagine having at my side.

So start organising our union to your heart's content so that we can be married the instant I return. I know that the day you become my wife will be our most important memory for the rest of our lives. Just wait a little longer for me while I conclude my business here. I'll come home as soon as I know I can. Like I said, I'll stay behind a day or two to put in a little extra effort for our future's sake. But what's a day compared to the year we have spent apart.

Yearning for your embrace, I remain yours,

forever,

Draco.