A/N: Written for the Becoming the Tamer King Challenge, Harry Potter Style continuing the Meeting Azulongmon 1 task, for the If You Dare Challenge, #955 – the girl with no name, and for the Writing Scripts Boot Camp, #038 - deep.
Heartstrings that Stay Black
4 – Her Second Reply
Dear Stranger,
Forgive my delayed reply. I had quite some reading to do, as you can understand.
Since you did not grant me the courtesy of a signature in your last reply, I shall continue to call you stranger until told otherwise. Although I now have a few more clues within which to discern your identity, so perhaps I should call you Professor instead. Indeed, there is only one professor I can think of that fits into the profile I've generated of you, but since you seem so determined to not be named, I shall forego it.
The books might have been difficult to find in Britain, but not so overseas. I have a contact in Egypt who was able to point me in the direction of someone quite knowledgeable about such dark rites. It took a little wheedling (moreso from Luna as her way of persuading people is unprecedented) but we managed to track down some useful information. Luna is still in Egypt, finding out more.
The full details will have to be disclosed to you in a more secure manner; I cannot risk this information falling into the wrong hands, as you well understand. I will tell you know though that your assumption is both correct and incorrect. Remorse and regret are impossible to fully forego, but it is remorse and regret for one's deeds that is the key, not the outcome. And that is where he and you differ: you regret what you did, not just what it led to. Your heart will heal.
And the ritual itself is surprisingly uncomplicated, after a fashion. There is no failsafe. Anyone can do it, entirely by accident. I am sure there are a great many other people who have done so, like you. Your problem is something else.
Hermione