To: Linus Hollingbury
York

Dear Father,

It's been a fair long age since I wrote to you, let alone speak to you. We would have gone up to see you during Christmas, but more than half the family was busy.

How have you been? My family and I are doing well down south. I hope the cold has not been getting to your bones of late. If you still have problems perhaps you should visit St Mungo's. I know they will be more than willing to help you sort out your arthritis - unless you want to go to a Muggle hospital, in which case I'm not stopping you, but I doubt you would.

If you would like any of us to drop by, feel free to send an owl along. In fact, I've not heard from you for a while. Is everything all right over there? You were tending to your garden the last time we went to visit you; Lydia has some new plants that she has been growing. You're welcome to come down to London and take a look.

I've been doing well in work myself. It's a quiet place to be in the Improper Use of Magic Office, but compared to the days long past I prefer it that way. Arcturus is also having his fair share of work insofar as I can tell - he doesn't talk much about work since Lydia banned him from mentioning even the words 'St Mungo's' at the dinner table.

But enough about us, you probably want to talk about what you've been going through in York. I will be awaiting your reply, and I hope at least you're well enough to write back.

Much love from your son,
Mord.

To: Mordecai Hollingbury
25 Stuart Road, Acton, London

Mord,

Long time indeed! I was beginning to think you'd forgotten I'm still alive! Finally, my son writes to me after Zeus knows how many months, I would praise the gods if I believed in them.

Of course I'm well enough to write back, I may be old but I'm not senile or disabled. Things would have to come to a pass if I cannot hold my quill and write a coherent, legible word. My arthritis is only in my legs, not my hands, dear boy - one day you'll know how it feels like, I'm sure.

Your suggestion of going to a Muggle hospital is outrageous. I wouldn't trust those Muggle quacks with cutting butter, what makes you think I would go over there and ask them to look at my bones? They'll probably sign me up for an amputation. I have no reason to visit St Mungo's, they have far more patients over there that they specialse in. I don't see any bone-dealing healers over there, unless my grandson knows how to oil my joins without cutting them open first.

I still think your living in London is a bad idea. The place is deplorable in the least, I am surprised my grandson turned out decent for all his years of living there. Speaking of him, I'm sure I would also ban him from talking about his work at the dinner table. It would be the last thing I could ever take if he spoke of the intimate workings of a destroyed liver while I'm eating my favourite liver and onions.

Is Lydia still tending to the vegetation? Bless her soul. But I thought you told me she was returning to the Ministry to work. Surely herbology wouldn't get her far if she doesn't have any specialisation in mind. Or skill, come to think of it. Your mother was so skilled in discovering properties of plants, she should take up your mother's mantle and go into the same field.

I saw your name in the Prophet last year, the...Halloween Muggle-baiting, wasn't it?  Well, at least you're doing a fine job upholding the country's honour after the war. Though those Muggles must be fools for falling for such things, I am glad that you stand up for the voiceless.

But surely if you write to me, there must be something on your mind, yes? Out with it, Mord - remember what I told you before you left the house. Stick to it.

Linus.

To: Linus Hollingbury
York

Dear Father,

I am fairly sure that the Magical Bugs and Diseases floor might help you ease the pain in your joints. I'm not sure, though, I'll ask Arcturus and get back to you.

Things have changed in London since you visited here. Everything is much better, even if there is the occasional heckler or drunkard. We don't get bothered in our neighbourhood - the Muggles keep to their business and we keep to ours. I don't even think they see anything more than just a Muggle house.

Lydia changed her mind about returning to the Ministry after the war, remember? I told you that, I'm sure. She's specialising in crossbreeding plants to compound their uses into one, especially foreign and mundane plants. But she's an amateur, father, so she's not going to achieve big things on first try. That's quoted from her, not me.

Well, aren't you as astute as ever, father. The only reason why I didn't say so in the first letter was because I wasn't sure if you were going to be pleased with what I have to ask. It gives me a reason to write to you, it is not the reason why I write to you.

And yes, I remember. Never keep anything from you. I just want to know if you really want to trouble yourself with a question you may not like.

I'll hold it back for now, and wait for your reply.

Mord.

To: Mordecai Hollingbury
25 Stuart Road, Acton, London

Mord,

I do not want you to hold back anything from me, whether the ground has caved in London under your house or you are on the verge of losing your job. Out with it.

Linus.

To: Linus Hollingbury
York

Dear Father,

The reason why is because it has something to do with Morgana.

I'll leave it at that for you to decide if you want me to continue or not.

Mord.

To: Mordecai Hollingbury
25 Stuart Road, Acton, London

Mord,

As much as you begin your letter with "Dear Father", there is nothing endearing or son-like about your reluctance to share something with me.

But on that note - Morgana? Really? I thought I made it clear to you that I never want you to speak of her name again? I should have added that writing also counts, but at least I have the grace to admit that I forgot.

You have your chance. Spell it out, word for word, do not hold any of it back.

Linus.

To: Linus Hollingbury
York

Dear Father,

I am well aware that she isn't part of our family according to you, but I think in this case I would want to plead for her case.

She is currently working as a shopkeeper in Diagon Alley. Her merchandise is of Muggle objects, novelties and artefacts. When I spoke to her, she mentioned that she had long since halted her criminal activities and has now decided to spend the rest of her time in England selling wares to average wizards and witches.

I see no evidence of her wanting to return to the path that took her away from us. She said she would have asked you to consider your decision about disowning her, but she wasn't allowed to step over our threshold and she wanted to respect that.

Would it be possible, father, to give her a second chance? Yes, she has gotten involved in many activities that you frown upon, but she has been apparently employed by various Ministries abroad to use her skills for good. I only have her word, but she is firm on it and I can see that she is telling the truth.

Mord.

To: Mordecai Hollingbury
25 Stuart Road, Acton, London

Mord,

You actually met her? I clearly recall telling you to not contact her.

In any case, why would I trust her word alone? I see nothing of the Ministry saying that she is a trustworthy person. And as much as you say nothing about your opinions, I sense that you have your doubts even through your writing. And what do you think of her words?

"She isn't part of our family according to you" - according to me? Then what is she to you?

Linus.

To: Linus Hollingbury
York

Dear Father,

I didn't contact her willingly. In fact, I met her in her shop.

I don't know. I have only her word to trust as well. But she wants to come home, and I think she deserves it, after all these years. She is different now - she holds herself differently, she even has an air about her that I would not associate with the common criminal. She is not what she used to be.

What is she to me? She's my sister, father. I know words have their significance in our family, but you cannot deny the truth that Hollingbury blood still runs in her veins. Granted that it is not particularly pure or special in any way, but since when has that ever bothered us? We have our pride in our blood, and by disowning her you took away that pride. What has she to be proud of after that?

I implore you to consider restoring her connection to the family. Or, in the least, give her a chance.

Mord.

To: Mordecai Hollingbury
25 Stuart Road, Acton, London

Mord,

Regardless of what she does now, she still has the knowledge of the Dark Arts to her disposal, and the connections to the criminal world. I will not have that under my roof or in the family blood. We do not want scoundrels or criminals to soil the Hollingbury name.

You are to consider her nothing less than an outsider. I don't care for what you feel, but if she only has her word to give and nothing more, what gives me reason to trust her? Especially one who practises the Dark Arts? She has no place in our family. She is dangerous, and should be treated as such.

To: Linus Hollingbury
York

Dear Father,

You are treating her no better than the wizards and witches who made Muggleborns the outcasts during the Second War.

She never practised the Dark Arts under our house. You have always encouraged us to learn whatever we can as long as we never use it for bad intentions. I don't think she has ever done it out of pleasure of seeing others suffer. She has suffered herself, and I can see it in her eyes.

Give Morgana a chance. That's all I ask.

Mord.

To: Mordecai Hollingbury
25 Stuart Road, Acton, London

Mord,

Do not even write her name in these letters. I don't want to see it.

If I gave her a chance, where do you think it will go? If she happens to be continuing her crimes - and even you're not sure if she hasn't - then we would have our name sullied forever. I would rather protect our family from the likes of her than let her do that.

What will make you let her go? She is not part of our family, and if I say so my word is law. At least she knows it, but what of you? What's with your adamance? What have you two spoken about that is making you so reluctant to accept the bare truth? What evil has she infected you with?

Step away from her. There is nothing you will gain from retaining a relationship with her.

To: Linus Hollingbury
York

Dear Father,

Is our family name all you care about? You are proud that I speak for the voiceless, but it's not just the voiceless that I stand up for - it's also the people who have a voice but are not heard. You are not hearing her, which means I have to speak for her because it's the only way you will listen.

She has not infected me with evil. I have my own opinions, and you are simply enforcing them. She turned to crime because you gave her no options and no second chances, and especially after she returned from the Death Eaters? Have a care.

I don't know what you will say, but I still consider her my sister through all these years. You told me to take care of her, and I'll keep that promise I made.

Mord.

To: Mordecai Hollingbury
25 Stuart Road, Acton, London

Mord,

I would consider giving her a second chance if she is truly no longer involved in whatever activities she did before. Since you cannot give me any evidence, I cannot take your word for it.

If you're still willing to go against my word, then you can keep your opinions to yourself. Your voice has been heard, and that is my decision. And it's final. She's in your hands now, not mine. Come back when you've found out if she's become a better person or not.