Dear Tonks,
Greetings from home! I hope all is well with you and Remus, and with the Simpsons, of course. Let Hermione and Jonah know we can't wait to see them and the kids for Christmas. Matt seems to be enjoying his first year and making friends, so things appear to be getting back to normal—though with a definite improvement in Slytherin temperaments, I hear.
Well, I suspect you know I have a reason for writing, as I usually let Ginny send along the news. I'll get to the point. We've got problems over here, and I want your input. So many Aurors died in the war, and the new recruits just don't seem to understand Dark matters like you do—it's like a game to them; they never had to deal with Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Let me fill you in on what's happened: a mystery murder popped up, and Shacklebolt had Dan Waverly and I investigate. The victim was a Dark wizard by the name of Rodney Tyrell, one who stayed under the radar and never joined Voldemort. The culprit is his son, a 19-year-old boy by the name of Thomas Tyrell who apparently overheard some things about Voldemort as a child that I'd rather he never found out. He's gone missing, but we searched his bedroom and he was educated thoroughly in Dark Arts and we found his journal, in which he admits to killing his father. He states that this murder is practice; he seems to think he can become like Voldemort through ritual killing.
We haven't found him, and another murder victim turned up yesterday. It looks to be another ritual killing by Tyrell, since it was a childhood enemy of his (the heir of a rival Dark family) and it was definitely done with the Avada Kedavra, our old friend. I'm getting concerned. This boy is intelligent and keeping a very low profile. We haven't been able to turn up any information, not even through our less-than-savory contacts. Based on his journal, he's seeking information, and my most overwhelming concern is that he's going to turn up at Hogwarts looking for it. I could easily imagine him hurting students to force the professors into giving him information or access to the library. I've alerted McGonagall. She tells me not to worry. I'm concerned that many of the professors are getting on in years, and I want her to allow Auror patrols, but she thinks it's unnecessary at this point. She says her four Heads of Houses are all quite young and fit, and Smith and Stevens have both seen combat. I have to trust Zacharias, I fought alongside him a few years ago, and Stevens was involved in the first stage of the werewolf problem you're dealing with over there. I simply don't think it's enough. I just don't know how many Aurors we can really spare—it's still a fairly undesirable position, given the death rate ten years ago, so we're going to be shorthanded if I send them to Hogwarts and put everyone else into tracking Tyrell down. Not that it's my decision. Kingsley is willing to accept McGonagall's judgement for now.
You may have guessed what I want by now, so I'll be clear. I want you. You and Remus, back in Britain, protecting Hogwarts. It's not just that my son is there, it's all those kids. They're still trying to rebuild the school, which holds such a large place in my heart, and they can't afford anything to go wrong now. And none of us want to see children in danger again. Based on the news I've been reading, things have settled down in Canada for the most part. Remus may still be a valuable diplomat, but they don't need fighters like you, and they could live without him. I think a lot of us would rest easier knowing there were people as trusted as you two keeping Hogwarts safe. I don't think even McGonagall would object to having you there. I won't say anything more about it, I promise, if you'll promise to think about it and talk to Remus about it.
While you're there, though . . . Smith has made me uneasy about Stevens, the new American professor who's become Matt's Head of House. His background wasn't adding up, and when confronted about it, he said that he's been using a false identity provided by the American wizarding government the last few years, and gave them a true identity that does check out. Smith thinks it's too rational an explanation. Stevens was supposedly working for the government as one of several teams sent up to Canada to simply exterminate the more vicious and inhuman werewolf packs that were purposefully going after people when transformed. They were supposed to be off the record, and therefore unverifiable. From all I've heard, Stevens is doing a wonderful job at the school, but this does put me on my guard. Have you heard about these operations? Did teams like Stevens' actually work up there? Has this been going on since you've been there? Is there any way you can think of to get hold of Stevens' military record?
Listen, Tonks, I know I'm asking a lot of you, and I'm sorry. This entire investigation on Thomas Tyrell has been my responsibility, and my worry about Hogwarts and the students has been keeping me up at night (and therefore Ginny, who is extremely grumpy when she doesn't get enough sleep). I shouldn't lay all of this on you when you've got work to do already, but I don't know who else to go to. When did my world change so much, and how did I miss it happening? That makes me sound like an old man, I guess, but I've started to feel like one. Well, talk to Remus and get back to me when you can. Feel free to firecall me if you want to talk, I'll likely be at the office. If nothing else, we'll see you at Christmas.
Love from the family,
Harry