Dear Henry,
Marcus Flint has proposed to our daughter. Put a short note by her bedside, and then announced it when I came in this morning, warning us if we tried to tamper with it he'd write another one. Also informed us, and I quote, "I'm dealing with enough shit from my own family over this; don't think you can do anything to stop me."
Something obviously must be done. I suppose the best course of action at this point is to try to figure out some way to persuade Katie to refuse when she wakes up. We may have to meet in person to discuss this, unless you have any immediate ideas.
Your desperate sister,
Kathy
December 2, 1996
Dear Kathy,
Well, for immediate ideas, if his family disapproves, maybe it would be worth it to talk to them about it? I have no idea why they would disapprove, mind you. I would worry they were involved with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, or disapproved of our parentage, except that I am fairly certain they have far more unsavoury blood in their heritage than the mere Muggles in ours. But whatever their reasons, desperate times call for desperate measures, and we must now use them to our advantage.
Your equally desperate brother,
Henry
December 3, 1996
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Flint,
Hello, my name is Katherine Bell, although you may call me Kathy, and I am writing on behalf of both myself and my husband Albert. If you do not already know, your son Marcus has just issued a proposal of marriage to our daughter Katie. She is currently in St. Mungo's, catatonic following unintended contact with a cursed necklace, and the Healers expect her to recover, though perhaps not to awake for some time, and he has left the proposal note by her bedside, for her to read and presumably respond to when she wakes up. He has also informed us that you disapprove of this.
Rest assured, you are not the only ones who would pause at the idea of two people at only the ages of seventeen and twenty-one entering into something so serious as marriage when they have been spurred on to do it by such an incident happening as the one that has befallen our daughter, and also likely by the dangerous circumstances in which all of us wizards now live in. We fear for the consequences of such a reckless act for both of them, the pain it would cause them both if either of them came to regret it once your son's current emotions have passed.
Therefore, we are determined that we either somehow convince your son to take his proposal back before our daughter wakes up, or that when she does we convince her to refuse. Since this seems to be something you want to come about as well, I would suggest we meet and discuss the matter, as if we pool our resources and our knowledge about our children together, we must have a much higher chance of success. Feel free to respond to us at your convenience.
Sincerely,
Katherine Bell
December 4, 1996
My dear sister,
The situation with Marcus is now dire. I assume you've heard of his proposal by now. At least her parents, as I suppose was to be expected, object. But I'm afraid they've made things worse by writing us the letter I've enclosed, though I was lucky I managed to get it away from Cassandra before she destroyed it. As you will no doubt realize, they were less than honest in their reasons for not wanting their daughter to marry our son, and she is extremely insulted that they would be so. Though tell the truth, I wonder if she would've been any less insulted had they expressed what I have no doubt their true feelings about him are. She wants nothing to do with them now. The way she's been talking since about how Katie Bell would be lucky to have a husband as strong and as loyal as Marcus makes me worry she may even go the other way on this matter if we don't do something right now.
Fear not my mind will change, though. On the contrary, seeing what is either great foolishness or great contempt for us from Mrs. Bell, if she really believed we would be taken in by her words, leaves me with just another reason to think this marriage is a truly terrible idea. I'm not sure whether showing her letter to Marcus would help, though. Not if he no doubt has already put up with hostility from them. Do you have any other ideas?
Your Brother Gauis
December 5, 1996
Dear Leanne,
Hi, remember us, Katie's two fellow Chasers? If you don't know already, she's gotten a proposal from Marcus. It's sitting by her bed in St. Mungo’s, waiting for her to wake up to read it. We found out about it yesterday, and we were wondering, was this to be expected? Did she ever mention the possibility of marriage to you or anything? We still don't know, you see, where their relationship was at when she got attacked, because Marcus still isn't really talking to us much.
Thanks,
Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinnett
December 6, 1996
Dear Angelina & Alicia,
Marcus has proposed to Katie? Really? I didn't expect that at all! At least not from the way Katie talked about her future plans, and about how she would "probably" move in with Marcus, "especially if" she made the Falcons. Though then again, I don't think they talked much about the future in that way, at least before they had too. She told me once that right before they had sex for the first time, she asked Marcus if he would stay in contact after leaving school, and he sounded surprised that she thought he wouldn't, but they'd simply never talked about it before. He might have been thinking about marrying her the same way. I'm not sure we can know.
I wouldn't think his marrying her would be all bad, though. They were mostly serious about being with each other after we finished school anyway, and it certainly won't alter their plans any more than they're already going to have to deal with if she takes a long time to recover. And if he stands by her for all that length of time, that's got to count for something, right? I know you two have good reason not to like him, but I think you could get used to him, I really could.
Sincerely,
Leanne Matthews
December 7, 1996
Dear Henry,
I visited Katie today, and though she's no different, I did make an interesting acquaintance. Well, not exactly a new acquaintance, because I'd met them before, but I hadn't really talked to them before.
It was when Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinnett, who as you know were Katie's two fellow Chasers on the school Quidditch team before they finished school last year. For obvious reasons they aren't too happy to hear about her relationship with Marcus either, which they say she didn't tell them about. Personally, if there were people I know she was close friends with that she didn't tell, I hope it's a sign that maybe she hasn't been as serious about this relationship as we previously feared. Perhaps she might even refuse his proposal on her own accord, if she's not ready for that, and that might even put an end to the relationship.
The three of us spent about half an hour together into the hospital, after which Alicia, who lives a short bus ride from the hospital, invited both of us to have tea with her. So I got the chance to talk with them about Katie at length. They especially wanted to know what we knew about her relationship with Marcus, so I told them about finding out at the World Cup, and the disgraceful way they both spoke to us in the heat of the moment, which he still hasn't apologized for, of course, and about him continually dropping by her window and flying off with her whenever she's at home, and how we don't even know what they've been doing when she's been at school.
I won their sympathy, but I'm not sure how active they're willing to be as allies to our cause at stopping any potential engagement. Angelina especially seemed uncomfortable with the idea of "conspiring against her like that," as she called it. But I suppose we can still hope they'll change their minds once the reality of this sinks in.
Although there's another thing that worries me about Angelina too. I had heard already from Katie that since 1995 she's had an on and off relationship with Fred Weasley, whose younger brother, Ron Weasley, is apparently best friends with Harry Potter, and he and their sister may have accompanied Potter when he crashed the Ministry last spring, at least if that story's actually true. Not that I would ever blame a girl for such a relationship, of course, but she also dropped a hint at one point that she herself might try to find out the exactly nature of the Weasley family's relationship with Dumbledore and what they're doing for him, and how she might help. She also says that should be the duty of any witch or wizard who can fight against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
I suppose Katie might get involved in all that business with or without Angelina Johnson. She was involved in that whole Dumbledore's Army business, after all, where she's still been very vague to us about exactly what that was, saying only it wasn't what the Ministry said it was. She might even be further involved already; we still don't really know why she was attacked. But after this incident alone, I, for one, would rather she not be. It's more dangerous for us anyway, for obvious reasons. And I doubt that if she spends too much time around these two friends of hers, she won't be pulled in. I suppose there's a chance Marcus might keep her out, as he definitely doesn't care much for Potter and his ilk, but then again, I don't think he can actually stop her.
I even talked this over with Albert when I got home, but you know how he can get sometimes. He says that if Katie can do something so foolish as to date and possibly marry Marcus Flint, she can certainly do something foolishly noble too, and he'd even be proud of her. And I'm not saying I wouldn't be, honestly, I'm truly not. But she still remains only seventeen, she's already suffered a magical assault, and after all we've been through, I don't want to lose her. I hope you will understand, and not judge me for that, Henry.
Your truly loving sister,
Kathy Bell
December 8, 1996
Dear Kathy,
Having read your letter over twice, I must say, while I do understand where you're coming from, I'm with your husband on this one. We always knew Katie was a very brave girl, and while perhaps we've wished she was less bold, she is what she is. If she does indeed get involved in the fight against You-Know-Who, I would be terrified for her, yes, but I would be also be prouder of her than I've ever been of anything in my life. It would be a better fate for her, I think, then if she just became the wife of Marcus Flint. If she makes that choice, I will support her, so if you don't want her to have that, I'm afraid you'll have quite a time keeping her away from me!
Perhaps, however, we can encourage her to do things in moderation. Especially if she's involved already, and this attack happened because of that. At least make sure she doesn't do anything more until she's fully recovered.
As for her two friends, don't push them too much. If indeed they really do not want Katie to marry this man, they'll at least try to talk to her on their own. You could try to encourage them to do that. Of course I won't object if they try to recruit Katie anyway. And the way I've heard her talk about Angelina, at least, makes her sound like just the kind of witch I'd want my daughter to be friends with.
Have you managed to make any contact with his parents? I hope if you did so you avoided insulting him in front of them, of course. Although then again, even going to see or write to somebody is not the safest or easiest thing these days, is it? Especially not for Muggle-borns like us. Since they are not, I suggest that once initial contact is made, you encourage them to meet with us in neutral spaces near our homes, as the safest option. Do be careful when you go out these days, Kathy. It is bad enough seeing what's happened to my niece. I don't think I could take it if anything happened to you too.
Your loving and anxious brother,
Henry
December 9, 1996
Dear Mum and Dad,
Well, I'm going back to Hogwarts; I’ll be going to see my old house play Ravenclaw on Saturday. Strange time to go back for the first time, and I've even been hearing people tell me I shouldn't, that it's too dangerous. Even though everyone also says back when the Dark Lord was attacking the wizarding world for the first time, Hogwarts was a place he never dared attack, that Professor Dumbledore was the only person he was ever afraid of. Even the poor girl who got attacked a couple of months back was in Hogsmeade at the time.
Still, coming to the village this morning, there was no denying things have been jittery here ever since. When I got to the Three Broomsticks, I was pleased to see old Rebecca Boodle, Rebecca Rosmerta as she is now (I think her husband died young), was doing a wonderful job with the place, even had it about as set up for holiday cheer as it could be under the circumstances, beautifully decorated and everything. But it's kind of strange, because she seemed to be the most rattled person I've met so far. You'd think running the busiest place in Hogsmeade would leave her the least. But she almost didn't seem all there when she gave me my room keys, and when I tried to catch up a little, she gave short answers and was bordering on rude. I know the girl had might have had contact with the necklace in her pub, but I'm not even sure if that's true, and even if it is, I don’t think anyone could really blame her. It's impossible for anyone to keep an eye on everything that goes on in this place.
I admit, I've spent much more time up in my room than I usually would here in Hogsmeade. I did have lunch with Theodora, of course; it would've taken a lot more than a vague menace of Death Eaters to keep me from seeing her. But we had it at her house, instead of going out. She told me during it that she and Roland are even talking of possibly postponing their wedding! She's not sure it would be safe to have all the guests they want gathered in Hogsmeade. He's worried about his mother living long enough to see it, though, so I think ultimately they'll stick to the current date. She walked with me back to the Three Broomsticks afterwards, but we walked fast, and I think she nearly ran home.
I would've liked to have gotten another chance to talk to Rebecca when I supped downstairs, but she was too busy. So now I am safely in for the night. Unless somebody attacks the pub, of course, but we are likely vulnerable to attack at any crowded place we go to. At least tomorrow I'll be at Hogwarts for most of the day. I'll tell you all about the game when I come to see you in a couple of weeks, and yes, if I get the chance I'll meet with Professor Flitwick. Give my love to grandpapa.
Love,
Anne
December 10, 1996
Dear Felicity,
Thank you for your letter. I see you've heard the big news about Marcus already through the family grapevine, although I am starting to wish Gaius had never written to Hera about it. In truth, though I do still think this marriage is a bad idea, I'm starting to fear trying to stop it in the ways they think of would be an even worse one. You know what I have always thought about the idea of parents choosing their children's spouses for them, and while this is not quite that, it is still trying to determine their children's lives for them. I went to see Cassandra a few days ago and I listened to her disparage this girl's family, ironically for trying to break off the engagement themselves, because they don't like their daughter's choice either. She was talking about how none of them should be anywhere near her son. But when asked if she would outright forbid him to see them, she balked.
But enough about our crazier cousins. I am glad to hear your children are now all home. I will tell you, now that the first danger of it seems passed, that I had fears your son would do something truly stupid. You've written to me how he is, how he once got in serious trouble at Hogwarts for dueling a Slytherin who had insulted a Muggle-born friend, and how you even feared you might need to keep him away from the Flints, even though they would have particular reason for not believing in the purity of blood. With him being so young and idealistic, I had nightmares about him getting the notion in his head to run off and fight Death Eaters, and you would realize how that would've ended. But hopefully seeing what happened to this girlfriend of Marcus' will make him aware of what the consequences would be, since she was associated with Harry Potter.
Give Catrina my love, and tell her I'll get her that necklace I promised her as soon as I can; I might even have it in time for Christmas. I’ll try to make it over for at least an afternoon before the year ends; I can't wait to see all of you. Although I would like it if they didn't ask me what I was doing. I know you might not be able to stop Edgar, but do tell the others that.
Sincerely,
Alexandra
December 11, 1996
Dear Pheadra,
Thank you so much for the gift box. I loved Spark of Passion so much; I think Scarlett Rosier is the best writer ever. I just wish Katie had been here to read it when I was done with it. I think she'd love it too. I hope she'll come back here soon so she can. I was happy about the hair mix-potion too, though it didn't really make me feel quite as refreshed as the label said it would. But I think that's just because things have been so hard the past half a year. Anyone here would need more than a potion to feel better.
In three days time it'll have been two months. It feels like both an eternity and no time at all. I suppose that doesn't really make sense, but...
My marks are mostly all right. Lately they seem to be the only thing that are. I'm even getting good ones from Snape now, which I'm sure must infuriate him. I still wish he'd kept to teaching Potions, though. I always was better at that...mum wrote to me last week, told me I should focus on Defense Against the Dark Arts, but I think I've gotten too dependent on Katie's help.
At least we do engage in some spellcasting again. Throwing jinxes and counter-jinxes does make me feel better sometimes. Charms class helps too, but it's just not the same.
Sorry for my handwriting. I'm feeling tired all the time now. I'm not even sure why, because I'm pretty much sleeping normally again. Any ideas?
Yours Truly,
Leanne
December 12, 1996
Marcus,
While you're in St. Mungo’s next, could you do me a favor? My Aunt's currently in there with a nasty case of the knarls. Could you deliver her this box? It's okay, there's nothing dangerous in it.
Roland
December 13, 1996
Dearest Nephew,
Thank you so much for the ribbons. Your friend Marcus Flint got them to me this morning. I'm sure young Nawra will be pleased to hear she did them exactly right.
I still think you should move her to Beauxbatons, though. I've heard they’re taking a significant number of British students now, and you know with her being the daughter of an alumnus you wouldn't have to worry about her being rejected. You don't even have to let her go live with her mother during the holidays if you truly don't want to, although she would of course be still safer that way. Besides, even if nothing can truly compare to Hogwarts, Beauxbatons is a fine school which will provide her with a fine education, especially since she already knows the basics, and they do have more electives.
Meanwhile, who knows when the next student will be attacked? Even if Nawra isn't going to leave the school grounds, I don't think that leaves her completely safe. True, Professor Dumbledore is back there again, but what if the Ministry once again starts causing trouble for him? I know the new Minister, and I tell you, Roland, I don't trust him at all. He's a paranoid bastard who sees everyone as either with him or against him, and I don't see an old, experienced wizard like Dumbledore as always being willing to submit to his will.
I am sorry your team is insisting on keeping you here, truly. I would like it much more if we could all travel to Spain to wait this business out. Truly, I would like to see the country again too. I think of other places much, cooped up here in St. Mungo's. Perhaps I will go traveling by myself when I get out. Or during the summer, and you and Nawra could come with me, then. Do consider it?
Sincerely,
Sarah Mayers
December 14, 1996
Dear Alicia,
I managed to drop in on Katie today. Marcus Flint was there, but he was asleep, and I managed to avoid waking him up. No change. One of the nurses insisted to me she was actually getting better, but she refused to say how, so I don't believe it, sadly. I'm started to wonder how this is going to affect her health even if they manage to cure her completely. I remember back in fourth year how the students who had been Petrified showed the effects of it afterwards, especially poor young Creevey. And when given how long this is taking, by the time she wakes up, it'll be that time when she'll need to be at her best to attract the interest of professional teams. She might be dependent on Flint to get her a shot with the Falcons, and she shouldn't need his help!
We haven't really talked about that meeting with her mother. Honestly, I still don't know what to think. She wants what's best for her daughter, obviously, and I suppose if either of us got engaged to Marcus Flint, our parents might be a little desperate to prevent that wedding, too. But I know if I want to marry someone and my mother was running around like crazy trying to prevent it when I was incapacitated in a hospital bed for who knows how long, I would be very angry.
I think St. Mungo's was definitely a more crowded than usual. We can't know why everyone is in there, of course, and I think there are always at least a few more cases of illnesses in the winter. But reading my grandmother's latest letter, well, I don't think it's just that at all.
Take care, Alicia. I'll be glad to hear from you as soon as you can write.
Till the snow lulls us to sleep,
Angelina
December 15, 1996
Dear Yu-Rim,
Hello, I don't know if you remember me. I'm Albert Bell, and we and two others shared an apartment in London when we were all nineteen. I know you must think it odd that I'm writing to you now, when it's been twenty years since we last were in contact. But I think it possible that I, my Kathy, whom I did marry, and our daughter Katie could be dead within days, and I feel the need to write to someone, and I don't dare write to anyone within the country. Even as it is, I'm worried about someone getting their hands on this letter before the owl makes it to the sea. You don't even have to read the rest of this letter if you don't want to. But I'd be glad if you kept it. Maybe someday, if He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is defeated, you can find some surviving relation of mine, or one of the muggle Kings, and then you can send it to them, so they can know what happened to us.
Two things have happened to our family now, one two months ago, the other only yesterday. I don't even know if they're connected, or if it was just bad luck.
Back in November Katie, who was in the middle of her final year at Hogwarts, during a weekend trip to Hogsmeade was exposed to a cursed opal necklace. It nearly killed her, and left her in a horrific state, constantly kicking and screaming. Now she's in a coma. She's been in St. Mungo's. As of four hours ago the second thing that's happened hadn't done anything to her. But I don't know how much longer that's going to be true.
Kathy is currently working in a shop on Diagon Alley. As she was walking there this morning, a little man, heavily bundled up, came up to her and told her to be careful leaving the shop that night. You know enough about the situation here, I hope, to realize that when that combined to what had recently happened to our daughter, she took the warning very seriously. She flooed me as soon as she got there, and asked me if I could make it there to walk home with her. Thankfully my own boss has been very kind to me ever since Katie was attacked, and I had no trouble getting permission to leave early.
But in the end, the trouble didn't even wait that long to start. About an hour before she was to go home, a man in a dark cloak entered the shop. He went to the owner, a certain Antoninus Abrazar, and asked to talk to him in the back. With the current state of things in Britain, Mr. Abrazar of course was reluctant to be alone with him. He also didn't want to leave the front of the shop empty, and at that time of the day he and Kathy were the only ones there. He suggested that the two of them could go to the far corner, and talk softly enough that Kathy wouldn't be able to hear them.
The man loudly yelled in response that he would think Mr. Abrazar would trust him, given how long they'd known each other. We don't know how long that was; he didn't say. But it couldn't have been long enough that he next words didn’t say all either he or Kathy needed to know about what kind of person he currently is: "You would have our private conversation overheard by a Mudblood?"
I don't know if you even remember how offensive it is to call a Muggle-born a Mudblood. Suffice to say Mr. Abrazar, being a decent sort, ordered the man out of his store. The man went, but not before he turned to my Kathy and said to her, "I know where your daughter is."
Mr. Abrazar offered to let her go early, but she was too frightened, so they waited until I arrived. When I did, he made us a half-hearted offer of help, but none of us could think of a way he could give it. He's an old man, without much money, or anything else besides his store. We left him there, and I just hope nothing happens to him.
Naturally the first place we went was the hospital. Katie was undisturbed, and according to the nurse nobody had come to see her since the previous night, when her boyfriend had been there for ten minutes. (He's another headache, but that's another story.) We'd come to know and trust her, so we told her everything, and she promised to make the hospital security aware.
We considered staying in the hospital overnight ourselves, and I now wish we had. But when we discussed it in front of the nurse, she suddenly started talking about how she didn't think they could accommodate us overnight, how we might need a Healer to examine us to make sure we're not infected with anything that would endanger the patients, and all sorts of things that made clear we wouldn't be welcome. She was probably afraid our being in the hospital would get it attacked, of course. And so we gave in.
We decided to spend the night at a Muggle hotel in a solidly Muggle section of London. We went to the southeast borough of Bromley, found a place we had enough Muggle money for, and checked in. Once in our tiny room, it was late enough we got into bed and tried to sleep, but I don't think either of us succeeded in getting much.
So now we are sitting in a less than clean hotel room-we didn't even notice last night how much dirt and dust there is, trying to decide what to do next. Neither of us have eaten since early yesterday afternoon, so we must leave this place to get breakfast. After that I will try to brave Diagon Alley long enough to rent a long-distance owl to send this to you.
If you have actually read through all of this, thank you for that as well. It gives me comfort to think that someone has already read my words. As my father-in-law would say, God bless and keep you, Yu-Rim.
Very Sincerely,
Albert
December 16, 1996
My dearest sister,
Finally, I have a little bit of time in which to write to you, and after one of my most terrifying nights yet. I want to tell you the whole thing, just to write it down somewhere, though I suspect I may have to come back to continue writing this letter throughout today.
Two nights ago, Katie's parents came in to the news that a man had threatened their daughter. Of course the hospital is extremely well-guarded now, and we've housed patients here who have been far more likely to have Death Eaters after them, and that noone's made even an attempt on them probably means they don't have the guts to try to break in. Even so, I ended up talking them out of staying here overnight. It was a little heartless of me, perhaps, but I had the safety of everyone else in the hospital to consider. And in these dangerous times, if we start allowing people to stay overnight when they aren't injured, we'll soon get so crowded we won't be able to operate properly.
Nothing happened that night, nor during the following day. By the end of it, while I certainly would've rested more easily had I heard from the Bells, I assumed that there would not be any real danger to their daughter, so long as she remained in the hospital.
Perhaps by then, it should have occurred to me that, at the very least, perhaps before sending them on their way, we should have asked them for a physical description of he who might now be after Katie. They did say they didn't know his name, though, so identifying him wouldn't have been the easier thing to do even then.
It turned out to be a man who probably came straight to the hospital after delivering his threat to the Bells at Mrs. Bell's place of work in Diagon Alley, and went undetected by us for an entire day, which is almost scarier than anything else about this whole matter. Especially because it wasn't even us who identified him in time. You remember that Katie also has the kind of boyfriend you don't want your daughter getting involved with, who now wants to marry her. Well, sometimes help comes from less likely sources, although it says something that Marcus recognized the man and realized he might be after Katie.
He went to the hospital staff about it. I'm afraid the first Healer he talked to didn't take him seriously, and well, the scene he caused then wasn't too pretty. That at least attracted the attention of enough people that someone found a mostly-healed warlock willing to go stand guard over her. He was a bit bombastic, but I heard enough to be confident he could protect her.
Of course the ruckus alerted this arsehole to the fact that he'd been discovered, which led him to take action immediately. I suppose he figured he was too far away from her ward to get to her before her guard did. Instead he went into another ward, body-bound the nurse working in it, and by the time the warding charms had registered it as hostile magic and sounded the alarm, he'd gotten her into the back stairwell, and even charmed the stairs so they'd go where he wanted. He tried to distract the warlock by conjuring the sound of someone shrieking just outside. He almost succeeded; by his own admission, he initially ran to help. But then, he said, he realized he ought to have at least heard footsteps outside first, and that it was probably a trick, and ran back, and got between the man and Katie. I don't even know what exactly happened next, but it ended with that scoundrel retreating back the way he'd come. We foolishly thought the security wizards could handle it from there.
His first attempt to attack me was about an hour later. I was in the storeroom getting towels when he burst straight through the wall and tried to pin me to the floor. I was very lucky he bungled the spell, and I was able to hit him with a jinx, though too weak a one. After that I made sure not to be alone, but he tried three more times anyway, before Clara, who was with me the third time, finally managed to put a Body-Bind on him. We tried to get an Auror in, of course, but they were so stretched that night they couldn't send anyone. So we put him in a spare room and locked him in.
The scariest thing now is, he claimed someone set him loose, and we have no idea who could've done it. I was nearly done with my shift when he attacked me again on the stairwell. This time he put a Body-Bind on me, and who knows what he would've done to me next if one of the Healers hadn't heard the thud, come running, and managed to Stun him.
I headed straight home after that, and I don't know whether or not I'll even go in today; I was scheduled for a shift tonight, but they told me could take the day off if I needed to. But before this, I always felt safer in the hospital than I did at home, and now I don’t feel safe anywhere.
Indeed, I may even come to see you soon, since now leaving London doesn’t feel all that more dangerous than staying in it. But until then, I hope you and your husband and son are well, and I give you all love from,
Your most distressed sister,
Evelyn Schultz
December 17, 1996
Dear Yu-Rim,
Well, after sending you that letter, I suppose I had better now send you one telling you the crisis has past. And in truth, I need to write a few things down just to get them straight in my head. I'm afraid this letter might come out a little strange. You don't even have to finish reading it if it stops making sense.
The man's name turned out to be Varus Yaxley. He showed up at the hospital and went after Katie. Her terrible choice of a boyfriend Marcus recognized him, which makes me think he might have even gone after her because of the relationship, yet another reasons she shouldn't be with this no-good rough kid who failed his N.E.W.T.s and disrespects all his elders and might have a spot on the Falmouth Falcons but will probably get himself thrown out of the league sooner or later. Although he did at least tell the nurses, but I wonder how long he took. They managed to keep her from being hurt, and the Aurors have now taken him into custody, though I heard one nurse complain that they had to hold him so long he briefly broke out.
It was a long day before we found any of that out, I'm afraid. We spent it wandering all around Muggle London. It's strange in Muggle London. Not even because of the lack of magic, really, but because they have no idea that there's a war going on right now. When you walk into one of their shops, noone glances at you twice. You go to a place like one of the parks, and everyone there seems at their ease. Parents don't keep their older children close to them when they’re outside with them. Kathy and I started counting the number of times we overheard someone laughing, and we lost count. You don't really know how lonely that can make a pair of people feel.
Finally we went back to St. Mungo's and learned about Yaxley. So now our ordeal is supposed to be over. But I don't feel any better, and I don't think Kathy does either. It's hard to explain, but it's as if since that man came to that shop, we can't stop thinking about the fact that not only was Katie nearly killed, which has been hard enough to deal with, but any of the three of us could potentially be attacked again at any time, and no place is truly safe. There hasn't been an hour since when I haven't found myself afraid to turn around a corner or open a door, because of who might be behind them.
If this goes on for too long, is there even any likelihood that all three of us can survive it? The real carnage hasn't started yet, and already we've been hit. But then again, how much bad luck can we expect to have? We might have only been targeted because Katie's vulnerable right now, so that doesn't count, I think.
Katie looks so young in that hospital bed. When I saw her again last night, for a moment I thought she was only ten years old. Then again, if she was, Kathy and I would still be keeping her safe at home and whoever attacked her wouldn't even know she existed, probably. Nor would Marcus Flint, but that's another story.
I could go on until this letter was a full scroll long. If you're still reading right now, Yu-Rim, I suppose I should be grateful, that someone cares enough to do so. Feel free to write me back and write whatever you want. I will read every word. I'd like to know how your life has gone. I've written so much and haven't asked about it, so I wouldn't blame you if you didn't believe those words, but they are true. I heard about your marriage, but does he make you happy? Did you succeed in getting your parents to listen to you about the dragonette figurines and how the younger generation view them? Have you finished that painting you let sit for a year?
And that's probably the best way to end this letter, so I'll wrap it up. Well, except to say one more thing. I don't know if you even remember this anymore, but I am very, very sorry about ruining your cauldron.
Very Sincerely,
Albert
December 18, 1996
Dear Hera,
This is all getting worse. It's not enough for Marcus' girlfriend to be running around and incurring the wrath of all of Albus Dumbledore's enemies. Now her parents have started pissing off touchier wizards as well. Apparently yet another one came after her this week after her mother said something to offend him. Or something like that. Marcus wasn't quite sure what had happened, because even though he actually was the one who figured out what was going on and possibly saved their daughter, her parents still are treating him disgracefully. It was to the point that despite what you and Gaius said to me, I really had to try to tell him these aren't the in-laws he wants. He just said he didn't care, the way he's said that to us since he was thirteen. And the girl herself is so young, and so idealistic by the sound of it, she's probably just ignoring the problem.
Since I don't think we're going to find out what happened unless you do one of your investigations I don't suppose we can do much, though. I'm afraid I'm not even sure Marcus will behave himself if you come over on the 23rd and he's here, although he's hinted to us he won't be anyway. So if we're still worthy of your valuable company, by all means.
Yours Sincerely,
Cassandra Flint
December 19, 1996
Dear Angelina,
Dropped by the hospital again today, and I was there for nearly an hour before the nurse thought to mention to me that another person had gone after Katie here in the hospital. He's in custody now, and the way they're going these days he'll probably be thrown into Azkaban for at least a while, hopefully longer than it'll take for her to wake up and get out of here, although we still really don't know how long that's going to be. I wanted to talk to her parents about it, but they'd come and gone already and weren't expected back.
But now I have to wonder if he was the only secret she was keeping from us. It was one thing when she was attacked once in Hogsmeade. Place like that, it could've even been a random attack. But a second time, by someone who took the trouble to break into St. Mungo's, and she was definitely their specific target? I want to know why. I could ask her parents, I suppose, but I'm pretty sure they wouldn't know either. Even though we all could help her, if we only knew how.
Marcus wasn't there, which part of me is glad for, but also, I'm wondering it this is something he knew about. If it might even be something he got her involved in, and then pressured her to keep silent about it. He could be getting her into serious trouble. I don't know if it would be any use to ask him about it, though. I'll never trust him anyway.
I don't want to wait until some time in the future when she's going to wake up to that stupid proposal note, and could get engaged before we even have a chance to see her. We need to start asking around. Maybe start with Leanne, and get from her who else she's been spending time with. We can write to her together.
If you agree with me, write me back a time we can get together to write it. Until then,
Till our friends stop driving us crazy like this,
Alicia
December 20, 1996
Dear Alicia,
I agree with you completely. Even more so, the more I dwell on it. In fact, the next time either of us sees Marcus, we should perform a partial body-bind and make him answer questions. I'm serious about that. Well, unless the wrong people are present to get away with that, I suppose. Though I bet if we did it at the hospital, at least some of the nurses would understand.
I'm afraid it may be a couple of weeks before I can meet up with you, though. This week's definitely out. My family's trying to get together sometime between now and the New Year, I still have gifts to buy, my mum's insisting we finally take the time out for her to teach me how to make that fudge we've all loved so much, and I've still got too many professional commitments. You would've thought more of those would've been cancelled, but no. But hey, when we do meet, I'll make the fudge for both of us?
Meanwhile, we could try to work on a letter to Leanne long distance. Or I could just write to her by myself. I think she was a little bit in awe of me at one point. I could get that out before Christmas, if you don't want to wait too long, though from what the nurses are willing to tell me, it's unlikely Katie will wake up for a few more weeks at the very least.
Till the world stops spinning far too fast for everyone's sanity,
Angelina
December 21, 1996
Dear Angelina,
I really should have thought about it being the holidays, shouldn't I have? But honestly, reading your letter this morning was the first time I did. It's probably because I'm going to be spending it away from my family. My mother and both my aunts are convinced it's too dangerous for anyone to travel. Never mind that like you, I still have to do a little bit of it for work anyway.
So I'm really looking forward to seeing you, as well as enjoying that fudge. But maybe it would be a better idea for you to write to Leanne alone. Even if time isn't necessarily of the essence, I don't feel comfortable with us sending out drafts back and forth where anyone could grab them and read them.
Happy Christmas from my tiny flat. Or as happy as we can have, things being the way they are right now.
Till the snow drifts to the sea,
Alicia
December 22, 1996
Dear Leanne,
Hello, this is Angelina, and I'm writing on behalf of both Alicia and myself. I know it's the holidays, so you don't have to respond to this immediately if you don't want to. But when you next have some time, we'd like it if you could think back on Katie and how she was and what she was doing in the weeks and months before she was attacked. I'm afraid someone came after her in the hospital, too. They didn't hurt her, but we want to know why someone went to that kind of trouble. Anything you can tell us, anything unusual, even if didn't seem like much, might help. And if you know anything at all about Marcus Flint besides that he's a git who plays Quidditch, that would probably help, too.
Thank you for helping us. It could make a lot of difference for us. There's a good chance either we or her parents could even use this information to keep Katie safe-we'll tell her parents anything we think they should know.
Sincerely thanks,
Angelina Johnson
December 23, 1996
Dear Henry,
Happy Christmas! I am happy to assure you Albert and I are now doing about as well as we can be. Mr. Abrazar gave me off until the New Year; holiday shopping mostly happened early this year anyway. Albert too is off until the 28th. We now leave the house only to Apparate to the hospital and back, and we have some strong wards set up. There have been no more attempted intrusions against either Katie or us, and we haven't received any more threats.
There's not much cheer this year, though. We can remind ourselves all we like of how much worse it all could've been, that we're both alive and well and Katie is still expected to recover fully. But I don't think I'll ever feel safe in my life again, now, not even if this nightmare ever ends. Albert and I try to keep from raising our voices, because we startle each other when we do. Last night I had the most awful dream. I don't want to talk about it. Days right now feel like things to be endured, nights even worse. We must hope we don't feel that way forever. I know Albert fears we will.
We did buy you a small present, which should arrive on the 25th, although it might take until the 26th or even longer if we're unlucky. I know it will be difficult, choosing to spent this time of year apart, but remember why we agreed to it while standing over Katie's hospital bed, and that was even before this latest trouble. You will be much on my mind on Christmas Day.
Your Loving Sister,
Kathy Bell
December 24, 1996
Dear Freddie,
Thank you very kindly for your concerned letter. It arrived as a most welcomed time. I need at least one member to my family to not be angry with me.
I've had time to think about it, and that's been the worst part of this whole mess. They may not admit it to me, but I know everyone's blaming me for Marcus' whole involvement with Katie. I know you've heard Hera say, even back when he was only five years old and was first showing he'd inherited a bit of that Troll ancestry-from his father, but they never cared about that part-that it should be my job to keep his behavior under control, and I honestly don't think she views it any differently even now, a decade and a half later. Except that now that he's a marriageable age, as her and Gauis' mother would say, I think they actually expect me to interview and evaluate and approve, if not outright choose, any girl he associates with, the way it was fashionable to a century and a half ago!
Never mind that Marcus was simply never going to tolerate that. In fact, if he hadn't known his father wanted us to exercise that kind of control, maybe he would've been more open about his relationship with Katie in the first place. But if I tried to say that to them, they'd probably see that as another thing to blame me for.
We at least are getting him to visit us tonight and stay through the 26th. He might even be nice to us the entire time, though I have already decide that if he starts going off on either Gauis or Hera they'll get no help from me, but I will flee and leave them to their fate. I suppose I truly am angry with them.
All my love,
Cassandra
December 25, 1996
Dear mum,
Happy Christmas from London! My apologies that it took me so long to write you, but I'm afraid it's getting worse at the hospital. Most of the patients aren't like the one who made the Prophet and is still catatonic two months later, but the number has slowly started to increase, and now it seems every other night we're full to capacity, with even a handful of times in the past couple of weeks we've had to put patients out in the lobby. Up until this morning I feared I might not even get this day off; so often have I found myself at the hospital when it wasn't my shift.
Also, we got a real scare about a week ago. I don't even know everything that happened, because I only arrived for my shift when it was just about over, but this nasty bloke who was probably a Death Eater got in, possibly tried to attack a patient, and definitely attacked one of the nurses. Officially we weren't told the names of either patient or nurse, and while I have heard them both through the gossip chain, I think it's better if I don't write them down here. Everyone's still jumpy about it.
I do my best not to take it out on the patients, but I fear not all my fellow nurses are as scrupulous. And I know not all the Healers are. I ended up having to take care of no less than six patients who were given less than adequate treatment from Healers who accused them of making things up or insisted on standing by an obvious misdiagnosis, and then there is only so much I can do for them. Truly, mummy, that was the most painful part of today.
I did at least get a surprise gift out of it. Daya, the head nurse for our floor, gave all of us who were stuck working today a free set of paper towels and pair of socks. I didn't ask any questions. I'm wearing the socks right now, and they're quite warm and comfortable.
Give all my love to grandad, mummy, and to Aunt Elsine, if you do manage to see her on New Year's Day. I will be thinking about all three of you, and poor Mildred as well, all during the holidays.
Love,
Vivianne
December 26, 1996
Beckert,
I am writing this from beside my niece's hospital bed. Since the incident a couple of weeks ago, I've been here more than her parents. I might even ask her boyfriend to help keep a lookout, because I believe he actually would help, though I don't know how I'd explain that to my sister. That sums up the holidays for me this year.
I will be back in the office on the 2nd, but I'm afraid my schedule's going to remain uncertain at least a while longer, especially since the Healers are saying Katie might awake as early as late January, though February or March is more likely. I trust you can keep the in box under control on days when I'm out; we're not likely to get very many more owls anyway for the next week or so.
All the best for the New Year.
Bell
December 27, 1996
Dear Freddie,
And finally this evening I am able to sit down and write to you again. Maybe I should've done so when the festivities were still going on, and there were about two hours when Gaius and Hera were just sitting around singing old songs from their childhood and Marcus was asleep that I might have, but I suppose everything before them must have drained me, because it just felt like so much effort to do anything at all besides sit there and do nothing. I've been feeling like that a lot of the time lately. I'm not even sure why. It's not just because of the whole thing with Marcus' girlfriend, because it was happening even before she was attacked. Were we different people I would think it the effects of living in fear, but until we learned the full truth about him and Katie and who she was, Gaius and all his relatives seemed so convinced You-Know-Who and his supporters didn't care about us, at least not yet.
Things with Marcus maybe went as well as I expected, to be honest. We didn't make any real attempts to talk him out of marrying Katie, although Hera made That Face every time he mentioned her. And he didn't behave badly, not truly. He seemed a little distant at times, though. Maybe distracted. I suppose we can't blame him for that one.
We received your gifts, and Gaius especially appreciated his new gloves, especially once he discovered the enchantment on them. Thank you so much for the combs, and I can assure you their coordination with each other is almost perfect.
I do wish I we could've seen you during the holidays, of course, but I continue to be glad that your life has kept you away from Britain right now. Keep yourself safe over in Canada, my dear, dear brother, until the day we can be together again.
All my love,
Cassandra
December 28, 1996
Dear Katie,
Happy Christmas! It's kind of weird, I suppose, to be wishing you that when you're still not awake, but I'm writing to you anyway, so there we go. The holidays have felt weird in general this year. When I got home, mum said to me that we would have to find our cheer within ourselves, regardless of what might be raging on outside our door. I heard her say it to dad at least twice, too. I didn't hear her say those words to Elm or Gertrude exactly, but all though Christmas Day, she was reminding little Gertrude to smile, and of course she and Elm had the usual Boxing Day fight about who got to take the first bite of the stew, but this time mum cut them off early and told them to be glad they were safe at home with their entire family and getting to eat delicious food and to stop arguing about something so silly.
And we are all safe at home, and Christmas dinner, and Boxing Day stew, were delicious. I spent maybe about two hours worth of Christmas Eve convinced that the shadows outside the windows were Death Eaters hiding just outside the house, ready to attack us. But they never were. And in all of the last three days, there were even times where I just forgot about everything, the way I haven't since the day I saw you nearly die in front of me.
Is that a horrible thing to write to you? Well, you're not awake to read it right now anyway, so...
I've also got a letter from your friend Angelina, who probably wants too much information about you. I don't know how to answer it. Maybe I just won't.
I suppose you could still wake up and save me worrying about it. I've only been told you're probably going to wake up at some point in time. Not when. I've been daydreaming I'll come back to school and you'll just walk in, having finished recovering during the holidays. Though maybe you'd respond to this letter if you were awake in time for that. And now I think I have to finish this letter, because I'm feeling like I want to cry. I'm so sorry, Katie.
Your friend,
Leanne
December 29, 1996
Dear Henry,
I haven't truly had the opportunity to thank you as much as you've earned this past year. I'm not sure it's even possible to. I hope the wine accompanying this letter, as well as the present I sent you earlier, goes a little way towards expressing how grateful I truly am to have you as my brother.
How did we get this wine, you ask? It was actually a gift from Evelyn. I admit, I was worried about if she would hold what happened to her against us. But on the contrary, she was all about how we were in this together now. She even said that had circumstances been different, she would've invited us to a holiday party. Of course she understood why we might not want to go to such a thing right now, so instead she gave us three bottles of wine. Apparently her sister and brother-in-law have a bit of a collection, and they sent her ten bottles as an apology for not trying to see her this year.
Albert and I cracked open one of them last night, and we can assure you it's good wine. Even if we can't be together when we drink it, we can think of each other when we do. And now I'm sure you're sighing at your overly emotional sister, but that's all right, I forgive you for that.
I'm still hoping it'll get a little safer to meet as we please, and not just occasionally in the hospital. Maybe if nothing more happens before Katie finally wakes up and gets out of the we can do so. I suppose we will all want to have a word with her about her would-be fiancee, although that would probably be at the hospital anyway. Until such time as we do, my dear, dear brother,
Your always loving sister,
Kathy
Seo-Young,
This is probably a stupid question to ask you, but have you been to Britain recently? I recently got a very strange pair of letters from one of my old roommates there. I'm not sure I should even go into details, because he might want me to, or he might very much not want me to now. Basically he got caught up in the horrible things that are going on there. When he finished his second letter, he told me I could write him back, and perhaps I will. But I'll feel less disturbed about the whole affair, I think, if you can talk to me about it. You've always been able to sum these things up and present them in a way that makes them comprehensible, and sometimes doesn't even leave your listeners feeling helpless when they probably should.
All the best,
Yu-Rim
1996, December 30
Yu-Rim,
I am sorry to hear of your old friend's troubles, but no, I haven't been to Britain in nearly two years. I was planning to go next summer, after my niece finished school, though already Yon has advised me it might be too dangerous. I only have what she's told me, and she last wrote to me a couple of months ago. She's heard stories of continual attacks on people whose ancestors were non-magical, but it may not even be only them who are being targeted. There's evidence of these Death Eaters also being active in continental Europe and North America, but nothing about them spread further than that, as far as I know. Yon and her husband must be considering even leaving the country, at least once Cho has finished her schooling, or perhaps even before then. I am prepared to help them come back here, though of course they may move to China instead.
Next time Yon writes me, I can pass on to you any news I get. You're not even the first person to ask me for it. I've recently gotten a magical family of neighbors, one Kim Ye-Hwan and his wife and two daughters, and when the older daughter got out of him that I had a sister in Britain, she and her mother both started asking questions. I have a feeling you won't be the last, either.
It might be a good idea to write to your old friend. I won't ask for details if you think you shouldn't give them, but it sounds like he's having a very difficult and possibly terrifying time. Getting a letter from a another friend, someone who still cares about him enough to take the trouble, might make him feel a lot better. And if he gives you any general news, feel free to pass it on to me. There'll probably be more people for me to tell it to.
Wishing all the best for you and your family in what's a trying time for us all, even here.
Take care,
Seo-Young
1996, December 31