Lily.

You look a little bored, darling.

*a door closes just a little too loudly*

You do realise the date, don't you?</a>

Dear Mister Abelard

I am extremely disappointed to have to send this note complaining yet again about the swan boats I hired for my daughter's party tomorrow. I am quite sanguine at this point about their being paddle boats requiring physical exertion of some kind to operate, chiefly because my daughter seems especially delighted with that and because I am assured stable automation charms will not be difficult. But can I ask what possesses any company, even one quite falsely purporting to be a goblin-run company, surely because some practicality will be expected of them, to make watercraft expressly for children with out stabilising charms of any kind? I am simply too busy to locate and apply and test such charms and I must insist someone from your company present themselves at the service entrance to Lake Cottage tonight in order to rectify the problem.

On a happier note the bronze is quite charming in the sunlight and so I am quite willing not to seek recompense of any kind as long as this problem is fixed tonight. Lighting the dock will not be a problem.

Sincerely,
Draco Lucius Malfoy

Mr Ponsonby. No, do come in. Scorpius has just gone upstairs, but I'm sure he won't be long.

*a knock at the door*

Yes?

Please... Albus, do come in.

This is certainly the nicest room at this time of year and this time of day. Can I get you anything? You've had lunch, I hope.

And, you see, Fawkes and Vega seem perfectly happy now as well.

Dear Albus (forgive me if that's inappropriate but I hardly feel able to call you Headmaster just now - I am sure I will recollect myself very soon),

I would have replied more quickly but I was waiting for Vega to return. I think she is the best to entrust with this and she will stay with you until we can speak directly or until you send her back with a message to us. You are more than welcome to come to Lake Cottage at any time. Severus, Harry and I have discussed your situation and coming here or going to The Burrow appear to be the best options at present. The wizarding world is what it is and, however enlightened it is in many respects, I wouldn't want to be a minor in it again any time soon.

I do see that you are having difficulties travelling. The easiest option may be Side-Along Apparition, which requires that one of us come to you. Assuming that you know where you are, as you haven't exactly said. I could locate you, I'm sure, but it seems, incongruously, a little impolite. Either someone comes to you and we Apparate, or you make your way to the nearest safe place to Floo - and in all honesty I have no idea about restrictions on Floo travel for listed persons and perhaps you don't either. You say you can get to Diagon Alley, although perhaps not at present without difficulty, but I assume this means you are close to London. There is the Weasley's shop on Diagon Alley although I am not sure I would go there in a state of need or, as perhaps it is more conducive to an incognito appearance, London Wizarding Security on Knockturn Alley, the proprietors of which are Marcellus Dolohov and Ronald Weasley. I'm afraid I suspect their hours of business may not be entirely regular. Everything would be easier if I had a port-key to hand, and I have asked Harry to arrange one tomorrow that would direct you to our rosegarden.

Vega is clearly willing to help you, so please do ask her to do whatever would assist you most quickly. She seems quite anxious to do so. And it has occured to me that perhaps you also cannot send Fawkes, which might account for some of her concern.

On a related subject, do you need any assistance with flying? I am just now arranging some flying lessons for our children and the three other children now affected by this malady - Marcellus and Nymphadora's twins and Pansy Parkinson's daughter. It occurs to me that it may be some time since you flew with precisely the body you have now. And of course there are many ways in which I know you can help my own children to make the rather dreadful adjustments they will need to make in the next week. I am sure you will want to help them as much as I want to help you.

It also occurs to me that you may be having more banal difficulties, conjuring being what it is for you right now and, if Scorpius is any guide, assuming what your appetite and other basic needs must be. If The Burrow is more to your taste, of course, I will not be offended. But you are more than welcome here and obviously many of your pressing concerns are already our pressing concerns.

Sincerely,
Draco Lucius Malfoy

Dear Mr Krum,

After all these years I am sure we should be on first name terms and yet I'm never quite sure that we are. I know you're aware of our unusual situation at home and also that the children have been called to attend school next week. There are many things, of course, that they are not as au fait with as many of their new peers. I am hoping that flying is one of these things that we can well remedy, and I hoped you might help.

We are perfectly happy to readjust our schedules to suit yours any day (or two) this week when it might suit you to come and help the children to a better familiarity with your art. If it is possible for Harry to be there as well, at least some of the time, or for us to provide other able fliers to assist you, perhaps Marcellus or Nymphadora, then you might even assist the other affected children - especially as Ivan is your godson as well as mine. There is now even a sixth victim, Miss Pansy Parkinson's daughter Carolina. Of course there is also Albus Dumbledore, but as far as I am aware he doesn't need a flying instructor. I will, however, be sure to ask him.

Ronald is also welcome to come to Lake Cottage whenever you are planning to come, assuming that you will be planning to come. Of course. At any time. Under the circumstances.

Sincerely,
Draco

The whole thing is just trying a little too hard. That's all I mean.

I mean, really, "meat fruit"? It's just tasteless, no matter what it tastes like.

Pansy!

I'm so pleased to see you. What a dreadful week.

How are you? Were you accosted coming in? Scorpius is in a foul mood, as usual.

Lily. Please don't be absurd.

Where would you have ever worn such a thing?

Within a week we hope everything will be back to normal and by the time you're old enough for that sort of thing - at about thirty-five - then it would have hardly been in style in any case.

I just need a minute, Harry. Just one minute when I'm not thinking about it. Or can think about it. Either way I need a minute.

More tea, Headmaster?

Scorpius, no, stay in your chair until Papa arrives and you can have another cake. Lily, get Scorpius another book to look at.

Severus won't be much longer, I'm sure.

No, Scorpius. Sit down. If you make Imogen cry again you will be exceptionally sorry.

Now. I do not think it is beyond all expectation that we should manage to have one course with everyone sitting at the table as if they were civilised wizards.

Harry... You may serve.

Thank you, Emeritus Headmaster Dumbledore.

I never expected to make any kind of speech, not even an announcement, in the Great Hall at Hogwarts, and I'm sure none of you expected it either!

But I am sincerely pleased to find myself doing so today. And there is nothing that I would rather say than that the staff and the students of Hogwarts, and the ex-staff and the ex-students, if not the very castle itself, are united today in welcoming back to Hogwarts its rightful and much esteemed Headmaster, Severus Snape.

So I ask you to charge your glasses, ladies and gentleman, and join me in a toast.

To Severus Snape!

Justin. Good afternoon.

I presume he's in.

Stop standing there in the shadows wondering whether you should say anything or not. Your uncertainty is every bit as frustrating as anything you could possible say. And in any case I'm not actually furious with you this time.

When the summer comes you should take the children out on the boat. The chaos will be very entertaining from the shore.

I suppose a dome covering the entire pool that had the same effect as sunglasses would rather defeat the purpose. But the glare is such a trial every time I'm suppose to look at something Lily's doing.