My room was exceedingly warm when I returned. I removed my vest, cravat,
and shirt and splashed myself with the water remaining in the washbowl.
Sitting down at my desk, I began a letter to Sirius.
Dear Sirius,
I pray this letter finds thee well. I have arrived safely at Malfoy Manor, although the condition of my pupil has come as a small shock: I was under the impression that Draco was a small boy, but upon my arrival, I discovered that he is truly around my own age. Furthermore, he and his parents have alluded to eccentricities on his part, the like of which I have yet to see. Let us hope that Draco's habits are innocuous and do not involve any harm befalling his tutor! Sirius, I know thou laughest at my paranoia.
Otherwise, it is extremely warm here, and the meals are repulsive, yet the Malfoys are a cold and genteel family, quite in contrast with their environment. Despite my suspicions and worries, I feel I shall benefit from my employment here.
I have written too much of myself. How is New Surrey? And, more importantly, how art thou? I recall thy telling me that a Doctor Lupin would be visiting thee shortly, but I know little of his person. I would be delighted to hear more of him.
I know thou art nervous about the upcoming trial date, but I am confident that Mister Pettigrew will be convicted for his heinous crimes, and the tarnish from thy name will be removed.
I will be attending the coming-out ball of a Miss Pansy Parkinson, for whom Draco is intended, this Saturday. Draco says that Miss Parkinson is empty- headed and coy. His parents say that she is lovely and charming. I know not whom to believe, but to meet the high society of Durmstrang shall be an experience indeed. I fear I haven't any other news, so you will have to relate to me some from home, dear Godfather. I hope to remain,
Thine sincerely,
Harry Potter
I sealed the letter with my personal seal, addressed it, and instructed the house slave, who was dusting in the hallway, to put it with the rest of the day's outgoing mail. The slave told me that because of Durmstrang's excellent postal service, my letter would arrive in Delaware in only a few days. As I walked back into my room, my tiredness from the heat overcame me, and I fell upon my bed and took a nap.
When I awoke, my mind felt clear. As I put back on my shirt, vest, and cravat, the bell rang for dinner. I walked down the stairs and entered the dining room. Lucius rose.
"How good of you to join us, Mister Potter. You will see that we have company. Mister Potter, meet Congressman Voldemort. Congressman, this is Draco's new tutor," Lucius said.
I looked at Congressman Voldemort. He seemed dead in a way, with grayish skin and red eyes like those of a snake. Our eyes met, and I felt a great discomfort rush through my body, from my feet to my jagged scar.
"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Congressman. The Malfoy family is truly blessed to have such an esteemed politician as yourself as company," I said, shaking his hand.
We sat down to an elaborate dinner. I stared at a mess of breaded veal as Lucius and Voldemort made conversation.
"So what is the news in the capital, Congressman?" Lucius asked.
"Ah, the place is quickly being infested with abolitionists. They wish to mutilate our way of life, and I won't stand for it," Voldemort replied, his voice lowering dangerously. "Where are you from, Mister Potter?"
"New Surrey, in Delaware, Congressman," I replied.
"And is the place crawling with abolitionists?" he asked, disgusted at the thought.
"Oh, yes," I replied. "Abolitionism is quite popular there. But the home I was raised in was entirely ambivalent on the matter."
"As they should be. It is not the business of the North to dictate the affairs of the South," Lucius commented.
"It is essential to our republic that each man have sovereignty over his own affairs. We are a free nation, after all," I responded, as though in agreement.
"Except for the nigger slaves, of course! They and the mongrels descended from them might as well have mud within their veins rather than blood, they are so subhuman!" Voldemort exclaimed, laughing. I managed a smile.
"When Draco turns eighteen, I intend to take him to Durmstrang to buy him a nigger of his own," Lucius said.
"That is a fine idea, Lucius. When a boy becomes a man, he's got to learn responsibility!" Voldemort said, clapping Draco on the back. Draco smiled proudly.
"We hope that it will be a good wedding present as well," Lucius said. Draco's smile faded.
"Ah yes, Miss Parkinson. How delightful a marriage of pure blood is!" Voldemort responded.
Draco frowned. Lucius and Voldemort continued talking of matters towards which I was uninterested. Draco made eye contact with me, and I stared directly back into their grayness, unflinching. The house slave appeared in order to clear the table, and his eyes shifted from Draco to myself with suspicion.
After dinner ended, I joined Lucius and Voldemort for a pipe in the parlor. Draco moved to join us, but Lucius just clapped him on the back and said,
"Wait until you're a man, my son,"
Draco grumbled and walked into another room. I followed Lucius and Voldemort into the parlor, where we sat in horsehair chairs and smoked Lucius's best tobacco until it was time for bed.
Dear Sirius,
I pray this letter finds thee well. I have arrived safely at Malfoy Manor, although the condition of my pupil has come as a small shock: I was under the impression that Draco was a small boy, but upon my arrival, I discovered that he is truly around my own age. Furthermore, he and his parents have alluded to eccentricities on his part, the like of which I have yet to see. Let us hope that Draco's habits are innocuous and do not involve any harm befalling his tutor! Sirius, I know thou laughest at my paranoia.
Otherwise, it is extremely warm here, and the meals are repulsive, yet the Malfoys are a cold and genteel family, quite in contrast with their environment. Despite my suspicions and worries, I feel I shall benefit from my employment here.
I have written too much of myself. How is New Surrey? And, more importantly, how art thou? I recall thy telling me that a Doctor Lupin would be visiting thee shortly, but I know little of his person. I would be delighted to hear more of him.
I know thou art nervous about the upcoming trial date, but I am confident that Mister Pettigrew will be convicted for his heinous crimes, and the tarnish from thy name will be removed.
I will be attending the coming-out ball of a Miss Pansy Parkinson, for whom Draco is intended, this Saturday. Draco says that Miss Parkinson is empty- headed and coy. His parents say that she is lovely and charming. I know not whom to believe, but to meet the high society of Durmstrang shall be an experience indeed. I fear I haven't any other news, so you will have to relate to me some from home, dear Godfather. I hope to remain,
Thine sincerely,
Harry Potter
I sealed the letter with my personal seal, addressed it, and instructed the house slave, who was dusting in the hallway, to put it with the rest of the day's outgoing mail. The slave told me that because of Durmstrang's excellent postal service, my letter would arrive in Delaware in only a few days. As I walked back into my room, my tiredness from the heat overcame me, and I fell upon my bed and took a nap.
When I awoke, my mind felt clear. As I put back on my shirt, vest, and cravat, the bell rang for dinner. I walked down the stairs and entered the dining room. Lucius rose.
"How good of you to join us, Mister Potter. You will see that we have company. Mister Potter, meet Congressman Voldemort. Congressman, this is Draco's new tutor," Lucius said.
I looked at Congressman Voldemort. He seemed dead in a way, with grayish skin and red eyes like those of a snake. Our eyes met, and I felt a great discomfort rush through my body, from my feet to my jagged scar.
"It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Congressman. The Malfoy family is truly blessed to have such an esteemed politician as yourself as company," I said, shaking his hand.
We sat down to an elaborate dinner. I stared at a mess of breaded veal as Lucius and Voldemort made conversation.
"So what is the news in the capital, Congressman?" Lucius asked.
"Ah, the place is quickly being infested with abolitionists. They wish to mutilate our way of life, and I won't stand for it," Voldemort replied, his voice lowering dangerously. "Where are you from, Mister Potter?"
"New Surrey, in Delaware, Congressman," I replied.
"And is the place crawling with abolitionists?" he asked, disgusted at the thought.
"Oh, yes," I replied. "Abolitionism is quite popular there. But the home I was raised in was entirely ambivalent on the matter."
"As they should be. It is not the business of the North to dictate the affairs of the South," Lucius commented.
"It is essential to our republic that each man have sovereignty over his own affairs. We are a free nation, after all," I responded, as though in agreement.
"Except for the nigger slaves, of course! They and the mongrels descended from them might as well have mud within their veins rather than blood, they are so subhuman!" Voldemort exclaimed, laughing. I managed a smile.
"When Draco turns eighteen, I intend to take him to Durmstrang to buy him a nigger of his own," Lucius said.
"That is a fine idea, Lucius. When a boy becomes a man, he's got to learn responsibility!" Voldemort said, clapping Draco on the back. Draco smiled proudly.
"We hope that it will be a good wedding present as well," Lucius said. Draco's smile faded.
"Ah yes, Miss Parkinson. How delightful a marriage of pure blood is!" Voldemort responded.
Draco frowned. Lucius and Voldemort continued talking of matters towards which I was uninterested. Draco made eye contact with me, and I stared directly back into their grayness, unflinching. The house slave appeared in order to clear the table, and his eyes shifted from Draco to myself with suspicion.
After dinner ended, I joined Lucius and Voldemort for a pipe in the parlor. Draco moved to join us, but Lucius just clapped him on the back and said,
"Wait until you're a man, my son,"
Draco grumbled and walked into another room. I followed Lucius and Voldemort into the parlor, where we sat in horsehair chairs and smoked Lucius's best tobacco until it was time for bed.