Chapter Two – Winter

Aggiacciato tremar trà nevi algenti
Al Severo Spirar d' orrido Vento,
Correr battendo i piedi ogni momento;
E pel Soverchio gel batter i denti;

Passar al foco i di quieti e contenti
Mentre la pioggia fuor bagna ben cento

Caminar Sopra il giaccio, e à passo lento
Per timor di cader gersene intenti;
Gir forte Sdruzziolar, cader à terra
Di nuove ir Sopra 'l giaccio e correr forte
Sin ch' il giaccio si rompe, e si disserra;
Sentir uscir dalle ferrate porte
Sirocco Borea, e tutti i Venti in guerra
Quest' é 'l verno, mà tal, che gioia apporte.

L'Inverno, Le Quattro Stagioni, di Antonio Vivaldi

Shivering, frozen mid the frosty snow in biting,
stinging winds;
running to and fro to stamp one's icy feet,
teeth chattering in the bitter chill.

To rest contentedly beside the hearth,
while those outside are drenched by pouring rain.

We tread the icy path slowly and cautiously,
for fear of tripping and falling.
Then turn abruptly, slip, crash on the ground and,
rising, hasten on across the ice lest it cracks up.
We feel the chill north winds course through the home
despite the locked and bolted doors
this is winter, which nonetheless brings its own delights.

Winter, The Four Seasons, by Antonio Vivaldi

Severus Snape to Minerva McGonagall
3 December 1997

Dear Minerva,

My apologies – your story about seeing the locket on display in Diagon Alley seemed too unlikely, but I have gone there and agree with you now. You were right, it most certainly is the silver locket of Salazar Slytherin.

Borgin has tried to sell Narcissa Malfoy several silver items bearing her family crest, as well as some jewellery he claims to have received from the same source. My guess is Mundungus Fletcher. I know it is far-fetched, but did the Potter boy not say that the original Horcrux was stolen by a certain R.A.B. – Regulus Black, per chance? Possibly the Horcrux was in the Black House all along, and Fletcher stole it during an Order meeting.

I did not dare to ask Borgin about the locket as not to draw any attention to it. We will have to steal it from his shop rather than buy it. Would Sunday night be convenient for you?

Severus

Minerva McGonagall to Severus Snape
4 December 1997

Severus,

How charming; a night-time date in Diagon Alley to commit a burglary together.

Sunday night is most certainly convenient to me. A grey cat will be waiting for you behind the Leaky Cauldron, say around eleven o'clock?

Minerva

Severus Snape anonymously to Harry Potter
10 December 1997

Mr Potter,

This letter is to inform you that one of the objects you search for has been found and left for you to collect.

Its magical components have already been destroyed by a wizard who called himself R.A.B., and it was apparently later stolen from his house. The thief, himself unaware of the significance of the object, has lately sold it to Borgin and Burkes Antique Store in Diagon Alley, where one of your supporters noticed it in the window display. From there, your supporters retrieved the item and sent it to a place only you can enter.

Should you wish to view the object, you will find it in a plain package that was delivered anonymously to your Gringotts vault today.

Do not attempt to find out who helped you.

Hermione Granger to Remus Lupin
17 December 1997

Dear Professor Lupin,

Good news. We found the second item. The strangest thing is that it was sent to Harry anonymously, and that it was already destroyed.

I am beginning to think the mysterious R.A.B. might still be alive and helping us. Do you think that possible?

There is another favour I would like to ask you. All we are doing right now is just preparations for what Harry will have to do in the end. Although I hate to agree with something Snape said, he was right about Harry being not ready for a duel with You-Know-Who. Harry needs additional training, and so do Ron and I.

I think it might be a good idea if some of the members of the Order of the Phoenix taught us lessons whenever possible. I am thinking of you, of course, Tonks, Mr Shacklebolt and Bill Weasley – in short, those who have dealt with serious Dark Magic. It is too bad that Professor McGonagall seems in no condition to teach us; at least I do not think we should rely on her.

What do you think, could you give us some lessons? – I have not yet told Ron and Harry about this idea. They are all for searching you-know-what first, but I think we need to think ahead and prepare some more.

Sincerely yours,
Hermione Granger

Molly and Arthur Weasley to all members of the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Minerva McGonagall
20 December 1997

Dear Friends,

We would like to invite you to spend Christmas Day with us at The Burrow.

These days, we only ever meet to discuss serious and sad issues – let Christmas be a joyous occasion that we celebrate together.

We are looking forward to welcoming you in our house.

Molly and Arthur Weasley,
With Bill, Fleur, Charlie, Fred, George, Ron, and Ginevra

Minerva McGonagall to Molly and Arthur Weasley
21 December 1997

Dear Molly and Arthur,

Thank you very much for your kind invitation. I should have loved to spend Christmas with you, but unfortunately I have already accepted another invitation.

Hagrid has decided to go and see his half-brother for Christmas and has asked me to come along. No doubt this will be a very unusual Christmas Day, but I have agreed and do not want to let Hagrid down.

Wishing you all Happy Christmas –
Minerva

Rubeus Hagrid to Molly and Arthur Weasley
31 December 1997

Dear Molly and Arthur,

I want to wish you and your family a Happy New Year.

Hope you had good Christmas days. How is Charlie doing? I saw that he has written a piece about the Chinese Fireball in 'Dragon Spotting' and I think it was very good.

Just wanted to say thank you again for that nice invitation. I was sorry I could not make it but I had promised Grawp to show him what Christmas was like in England and we had a very good day.

Headmistress McGonagall even came with me to the mountain cave and she decorated a tree there like she and Professor Flitwick have always done in Hogwarts, it was very sparkly with the magic icicles. Grawpy was very impressed.

Lots of snow here in Hogwarts. How is it in Ottery St Catchpole? Hope you and the family are well.

Yours truly,
Hagrid

Nymphadora Tonks to Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger
2 January 1998

Wotcher, all three of you!

Just wanted to get back to you about Hermione's idea about Remus and us others teaching the three of you. I think it's excellent. Sorry it has taken me that long to reply, we've been discussing this idea over and over again during the holidays.

What you are doing right now is very important, but it also is important that you think ahead and prepare yourselves, Hermione was right there. I am thinking of non-verbal spell training – Remus would be perfect for that – and Kingsley and I could do some duelling training with you or something like that. Three years of Auror training can't have been for nothing, eh?

And you might want to get some more into potions. Don't think you will need that much in a battle with You-Know-Who, but it might be useful on the way there. Actually, Ron, your mother is very good at brewing potions, did you know that? You three might want to ask her for lessons, but be careful she does not start fussing about you too much.

Maybe we could use our old hiding and meeting place for lessons – you know which one I mean, I don't want to write the name down. It's not entirely safe any more, but I don't reckon Snape would expect us to go there, so why would he ever come back to the place?

Basically we are ready when you are. Just drop us a note when we can meet, and lessons can begin. Merlin, that I would ever become a teacher!

Take care –
Tonks

PS: Guess what! It will be Nymphadora Lupin soon! But I still want you to call me Tonks, it will be sort of a nickname then.

Severus Snape to Minerva McGonagall
4 January 1998

Minerva,

The Dark Lord has developed a plan to dispose of the Minister for Magic. By now 'we' have fairly successfully infiltrated the Ministry. Macnair has imperiused a number of Ministry workers, unfortunately I do not know exactly who they are. But I think they must be employees in minor positions, such as cleaning and maintenance personnel.

From what I know, the plan is to place Scrimgeour himself under the Imperius Curse. Scrimgeour is not to be under-estimated, thus the Dark Lord will send a group of four Death Eaters who will wait for him in the vicinity of his office.

I think it unsafe to send a warning to Scrimgeour. The Dark Lord has hinted that he will order me to do a special service for him during the attack. I fear that if we warn the Minister, the Dark Lord will suspect that someone from his Inner Circle sells information to the Order of the Phoenix.

Severus

PS: I know the phrase is just an absurd tradition under these circumstances but – have a Happy New Year.

Minerva McGonagall to Severus Snape
6 January 1998

Dear Severus,

Those are bad news indeed, but I think I might have an idea.

You said that you will most likely be involved in the attack one way or the other; that of course means that you cannot afford the attack itself to become a failure. But maybe you could get me into the Ministry somehow? I could hide under your Invisibility Cloak (by the way, I never knew you had one – I have been wanting to ask you about this for a while), and then aid the Minister immediately after the attack.

You are right that it will do no good to warn the Minister in advance. The risk is too high, and he would not believe in a warning from me anyway. An anonymous letter appears even less believable – Scrimgeour would most likely not even see it, his secretary will sort suchlike letters out before presenting him his correspondence.

Tell me immediately if you find out anything else.

Minerva

PS: You are not the only one who might uphold absurd traditions. Have a Happy New Year yourself.

Severus Snape to Minerva McGonagall
6 January 1998

Dear Minerva,

The attack will take place on the 15th, immediately after Scrimgeour's regular Thursday meeting with the Unspeakables. After these meetings, the Minister usually goes back to his office before he returns home.

Four of 'us' will be waiting for the Minister outside his office. It will be late in the night, and inside the Ministry Scrimgeour usually is not accompanied by guards. My duty is to spy on the other four. The Dark Lord wants me to report if they carry his orders out faithfully. This means that I will be close, but cannot openly defend Scrimgeour – unless I would then kill the other four, which I am somewhat reluctant to do.

There is a fair chance that Percy Weasley will accompany the Minister. The plan is to take him captive, but if that proves inconvenient, to kill him. We will have to find a way to separate him from the Minister.

I am certain that I will be able to take you with me into the Ministry building. Will come to see you tomorrow so we can discuss the details.

Sincerely,
Severus

PS: The cloak is the one that used to belong to Moody and was lost when Sturgis Podmore was arrested. Malfoy retrieved it from the Ministry last year for 'our' use.

Percy Weasley to Molly and Arthur Weasley
16 January 1998

Dear Mother and Father,

I should like to come and see you as soon as possible, but feel that I ought to announce my visit first. With spontaneous visits, too many bad things have happened in the past.

Yesterday something very peculiar happened in the Ministry. No doubt Father will have heard rumours about it at work, but I would like to tell you my own version of events.

I am certain you are aware that I still am Junior Assistant to the Minister – Minister Scrimgeour was kind enough to keep me in this position after Cornelius Fudge resigned. Yesterday evening – around ten o'clock, to be precise – I accompanied the Minister to his office after a top-secret meeting with several members of the Unspeakables.

As it was to be expected at that time of the day, the corridors were almost deserted. We met only one witch on our way to the main office, but there we encountered a group of four black-clad persons. They had their faces hidden under their hoods, just like the Death Eaters we saw at the Quidditch World Cup.

It was very strange. I did not immediately recognise the Death Eaters for what they were because the moment we had seen that there were people standing in the corridor, something caught my leg. I tripped and fell, and then there was a sharp pain at my left ankle. The wound is still there, it looks like a bite mark from a small animal like a big rat or a cat. The pain distracted me for a moment from what was going on. What made the scene so bizarre was that I saw no thing or beast that could have caused me to trip and fall.

Minister Scrimgeour had walked on. The group of Death Eaters advanced on him and attacked him – I think they only left me alone at first because I had fallen back. The Minister fought bravely, he duelled two of them at the same time. I drew my wand and wanted to help him, but something held my arm.

Someone hissed, "No, Weasley, run and alert the security guards," and pushed me back. It was only then that I realised there was someone hidden under an Invisibility Cloak. Next, that person attacked the Death Eaters. He was very skilful, all his spells were done non-verbally and the Death Eaters did, I think, not even understand that there was a second person behind them now.

I saw one of the Death Eaters being disarmed, and another one fell down. Then I ran to alert security. The guards and I arrived back at the scene only four minutes later.

Minister Scrimgeour was unconscious on the ground, and two of the Death Eaters as well. The other two must have escaped, we did not find a trace of them. The Death Eaters were bound with conjured ropes and their wands were missing.

Thankfully the Minister soon woke up. He said that the group had not wanted to kill him, but had instead several times tried to put him under the Imperius Curse. I did not mention the stranger helping us, and then found out that the Minister had not noticed the fifth person in the hallway with us. He thinks that I stunned and disarmed the first two Death Eaters before I ran for help.

Mother, Father, this whole situation has confirmed something that I have been pondering about for a while. It is now obvious that the Ministry is unable to deal with You-Know-Who and his followers. Just to think, Death Eaters in the Ministry building, trying to imperius the Minister himself! I would not have thought it possible.

I know you will say that I should have known this all along. You kept telling me, but I did not want to believe it.

If it is convenient to you, I should like to visit you tomorrow afternoon and beg for your forgiveness.

Ruefully yours,
Percy

PS: There will be no news coverage of the incident. Can you believe it? Death Eaters in the Ministry, and they refuse to admit it.

PPS: I keep wondering who that helpful stranger could have been. I did not recognise the voice because he was barely whispering, but I think it might have been Pettigrew? Harry Potter said once that Pettigrew was not entirely a Death Eater, at least not any more. And those small wounds on my ankle could be rat bites. Would Pettigrew have saved a Weasley, because he lived with us all those years?

The Quibbler
30 January 1998

Cry Wolf!
By Libella Clark, exclusively reporting from Hogsmeade

For several years, the wizarding community has been lead to believe that the Ministry for Magic is fully capable of controlling the so-called 'werewolf situation' in Britain. Whereas attacks have always happened, these were usually considered the work of single werewolves; desperate creatures who are unable to control their desires.

BUT ARE THEY?

New evidence suggests that several actual communities of werewolves have been founded. These new 'packs' are believed to be in league with He Who Must Not Be Named, thereby considerably increasing the danger threatening to come from this dark wizard.

Irma Pince, Hogwarts librarian and a frequent visitor of the village of Hogsmeade, reports that she saw several werewolves on her way back home to the Hogwarts castle on Monday night.

'I recognised them easily enough,' she explained, 'because I am used to the company of friendly werewolves such as Professor R.J. Lupin who taught at Hogwarts four years ago. Also there are of course several books on the werewolf topic in my library. These creatures I saw had all the distinctive markings, from the pointed snout to the silvery-grey tail. I am positive that they were a pack of werewolves, and I am certain that they would have attacked me if I had not apparated to the Hogwarts gates immediately and then sought refuge in the safe grounds.'

Although only few werewolves possess the ability to transform into wolf shape at will, this shocking new evidence from a reliable witness forces us to advice the inhabitants of Hogsmeade to exhibit extreme caution even if it is not a full-moon night.

Witches and wizards of Hogsmeade, beware! The Ministry still refuses to acknowledge that the 'werewolf situation' has changed dramatically, but the Quibbler will always speak out openly.

Argus Filch to Barnabus Cuffe, Chief Editor of the 'Daily Prophet'
7 February 1998

Dear Mr Cuffe,

I have been a faithful reader of the 'Daily Prophet' ever since my friend, the Hogwarts librarian Irma Pince, first gave me a copy of your paper in 1998. However I am now concerned that the quality of your paper seems to diminish a bit. May I make a suggestion for an important article?

As of last week, Madam Pince saw a couple of werewolves just outside Hogwarts castle here. I am sure you know that the situation in Hogwarts is a bit peculiar. Irma Madam Pince is the only fully qualified and trained witch here in the castle that we can rely on.

Else, there is only the gamekeeper, Rubeus Hagrid, who is not fully trained, and the Headmistress Madam McGonagall – since your paper has reported about her condition I am sure I need not explain to you why we don't feel quite safe with her around. If we tell her about the werewolves she might just laugh and say they're harmless cubs. Myself, I am a squib and cannot help at all.

I feel that Madam Pince alone can not entirely make sure no one will attack us when we need to go to Hogsmeade for some shopping or else. She's a librarian, after all, not an Auror.

There was a piece in the 'Quibbler' last week about the werewolves, but everyone knows the 'Quibbler' is all twaddle and no one will take that seriously. We tried to talk to the 'Prophet' reporter in Hogsmeade, Mr Dibbler, but he just laughed at us and said we was imagining things.

Could you please run an article about the werewolf threat around Hogsmeade and Hogwarts? I am sure that nice Ms Skeeter would like to return to Hogwarts and interview us. If the 'Prophet' tells about that danger, the Ministry cannot ignore it any more and will have to send us some additional protection.

Yours sincerely,
Argus Filch
Caretaker of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Note on the door of 'The Three Broomsticks', Hogsmeade
18 February 1998

Dear Customers,

This pub will be closed until further notice. Our beloved landlady, Madam Rosmerta, has been reported missing on 15 February.

Should anyone know about her whereabouts, please contact us immediately.

Sue and Dick
('Three Broomsticks' bartenders)
c/o Aberforth Dumbledore/ The Hog's Head, Hogsmeade