20 April, 1943

Dearest Albus,

You're right, I have earned the right to a little bit of fun. Garrick continues to be kind and polite even though I have allowed things to progress. It is nice to be able to enjoy a man's company again, and to have the desire to do so again. We are careful to be very discreet, though, since people around here have such prudish ideas about sex. Particularly when the involved parties are unmarried. The Wizarding world seems to be about a century behind the Muggle world on such subjects, and the Muggles are prudish enough as it is!

Garrick visits my room most nights before returning to his tent to sleep. One night, though, I forgot to lock my door, and one of the children walked in on us. It was little Minna Kresch, she's seven and very precocious. I sent her back to her room, but the next day any time I tried to speak to her, all she'd do was giggle. I finally gave up, and assumed the laughing meant she wasn't traumatized. The day after that, all the girls were giggling at me, so I guess the story got out…Miss Bagshot actually congratulated me a few days after, saying she'd have gone after him herself if she'd been younger. I suppose there really are no secrets around here.

It's been so long since I had a lover, Albus. Really, I think I've never had one. I mean, I had a husband, but he died before I could grow to love him, and I've been with plenty of men over the years, but never out of love. Always out of business, and really, I hope you don't mind me saying, that includes you. Don't get me wrong, I loved you madly, you're the only man I've ever loved, but that ended up being a bit one-sided, didn't it? I've never had a real relationship before, based on mutual love and respect. I don't know if that is what Garrick and I have, or will have, but I intend to enjoy it for as long as it lasts.

-Adriana

PS. Garrick has been helping me plant the garden this year, so we should have a very good crop to feed the children and all the guests.

30 April, 1943

Adriana,

I am glad that you've found somebody to "enjoy your time" with. However, as the children from school will be arriving in just a few weeks' time, I feel I must remind you about proper decorum. It wouldn't do to have one of the Hogwarts students walk in on you…

I hope you and Garrick will be very happy together. For however long it lasts. It will be good for you to have a relationship based on love. What we had was…complicated to say the very least. I did love you, I hope you know that. I loved you as much as I could. You deserve somebody who will love you more than life itself. You have my blessing, and I look forward to meeting the lucky man soon!

Love Always,

Albus