Saturday 30th June 1973
Dear Remus,
I’ve only been back at my parents’ house for half an hour and I’ve been told I’m bringing shame to my family five times. Five. Three of those times weren’t even from living people – the portraits of our ancestors have decided to have a go.
Going to start putting up my Gryffindor stuff now, I think.
Hope you got home ok.
Sirius O. Black
* * *
Dear Sirius,
Your owl arrived before I even got back – we had to get two tubes and a bus, it took ages.
Sorry about the family stuff. Be careful. Wish we were all back at school.
Remus.
* * *
Friday 13th July 1973
Dear Moony,
Come and visit soon, me and Peter will die of boredom!
Don’t send Sirius any owls – his mother intercepted mine and returned them all with curses attached! Luckily dad spotted it before we had any trouble, but bloody hell! I might try contacting his cousin Andromeda to see how she gets post through. I think it’s the muggle way, but Godrick knows how we’re supposed to understand that – I haven’t even opened my muggle studies books yet.
Let me know if you can come and visit. Remember mum said any time. We can talk to your Matron, and Madam Pomfrey – the Minister for Magic, if we have to!
James.
* * *
Dear James,
I know how the post works, but I’d have to nick some stamps. And I don’t what Sirius’s address is.
I asked Pomfrey after the last moon – she said no. She said the wizarding world is too dangerous for me. I don’t know if she means I’m the one that’s dangerous.
Sorry mate.
Moony.
* * *
Sunday 5th August 1973
Dear Moony,
So. You will not believe what happened. Seriously. The ceremony was all ready to go – I was in my hideous green dress robes (with black lace cuffs – LACE, Moony. Just wrap your mind around that. You would have thought I looked a right prat.) Regulus was there, my mother, father, half the family.
Then in comes Narcissa, wearing something that looked like it belonged to my grandmother. And she doesn’t look happy, so I thought – well, fair enough, I’m not exactly thrilled. But then she stands up, in front of everyone and says “We have to stop at once.”
So, everyone stops, and my mother looks like she’s about to start spitting curses, and my uncle is asking Narcissa “what do you think you’re playing at” and Regulus is grinning at me and Bellatrix is grinning too, only she looks a bit more mental than Reg. Then Narcissa whispers something to her parents and my aunt LITERALLY FAINTED. I shit you not. And everyone’s muttering and whispering, and mother can’t take it anymore and demands to know what’s going on, so Narcissa stands up, and LOOKS MY MOTHER IN THE EYE and tells her.
She made an unbreakable vow to marry Lucius Malfoy as soon as she finishes her NEWTs.
I can’t remember if I told you what an unbreakable vow is, but basically she can’t not marry Malfoy now – or else they both drop dead. I don’t know if I should be a bit offended on that point, to be honest. I mean what does it say about you when a girl would rather die than marry you, even if she is your cousin?
