The Dog and the Duckling//Blackinnon

Fall Term 1980

To my favorite duckling,

Life is terribly boring since you left. Now I don't know what to do with myself. Not that I really knew what to do with myself when you were here, but the same is still true.

James should be returning to The Order in another few weeks. Which is probably a huge relief to whatever poor soul has to read the notes I've kept on the files they have me going through.

Did you know that we have files on pretty much everyone? Some people are just not interesting enough to fill up a file. I keep waiting to come upon someone with a really interesting criminal record or rumors of consorting with harpies or something. But it's rarely anything good.

Here's my best find from this week. Brought to you by the file we have on one Rabastan Lestrange. Mr. Lestrange was placed under arrest in the summer of 1978 for impersonating a non-corporeal entity. Apparently the sod got it in his head that it would be a great use of a Thursday evening to powder himself down and go "ooooooo" at a churchyard. His fun, alas, was cut short when the ministry was contacted. This is sort that gets chosen as The Dark Lord's creme de la creme.

I hope you're having more fun than I am this past week. I miss you terribly. It's deeply upsetting that I've become the sort of wanker who writes letters that say 'I miss you terribly'. I do hope that the sudden penchant for sentimentality will abate when you're home.

-Sirius

Dearest Sirius,

I heartily enjoyed your last letter. I broke out into laughter when I read your account of Mr. Lestrange's arrest for impersonating a ghost. It did not escape notice from girls in my dorm. They have no room to judge me. Most of them are thoroughly ridiculous. I'll bore you with the particulars because I have little else to do this evening.

Mary rolls her eyes at me every time I mention you. I think she's jealous that no one writes her hilarious letters. She's actually rumored to be seeing one Reginald Cattermole, who has the distinction of being the boy I dated for a whole year, in attempts to prove a point to my elder siblings. Perhaps I should have more sympathy for poor Mary. The sour look on her face might just be because she remembered they have a date coming up or something.

My friend Carolyn, another occupant of the 7th year Hufflepuff girls dormitory, decided over the summer that she's the future Mrs. Fabian Prewett. This is all well and good excepting that Fabian Prewett has no idea that she exists. That seems to be a requirement for dear Carolyn. She has many admirers in our year, but she is not the least bit interested. Much to the sorrow and woe of one Barty Crouch Jr. of Slytherin, who pursues her relentlessly. I wonder if she'd lose interest in Mr. Prewett if he were to become aware of her. Do you know him? Perhaps you can introduce the two so she can move on to the next far-fetched love of her life.

I have a Hogsmeade visit coming up weekend after next. I mention this not because I want you to accost Carolyn with the presence of Fabian Prewett, but because I'd like to see you. I have a task I'd like your help with, but I think it would be better to discuss it in person. And since you miss me terribly and all, it shouldn't be too painful for you to come meet me in town. Let me know if you'll be able.

I miss you terribly too, but I'm sure you already knew that. But I'll put it in ink to appease your newfound sappiness. I'm quite fond of this quality in you, truth be told.

-Your Duckling, Marlene

Dearest Duckling,

Of course I'll meet you in Hogsmeade! I'll be so unbearably happy to see you that I won't even be bothered if I happen upon Argus Filch out on the town. You should take this as the highest form of flattery because Filch and I have a long and detailed history. none of it involved one iota of my wanting to run into him anywhere. He's really the most inconvenient person that there is. His whole job while I was in school was comprised of thwarting my efforts in having a good time. Do you ever find yourself thwarted? What is the Hufflepuff version of a good time? I'Ll bet it involves the kitchens.