A long-distance post office owl arrives, quite tired. It obediently allows the recipient to relieve it of its parcels before taking a long nap

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E Mordent
Diagon Alley
London
UK

Arcturus Hollingbury
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29th September 2010

Arcturus,

I'm sorry it's been a while since I last wrote. Things have been so very busy, and with you half way round the globe I guess I didn't want to ruin the sunshine and glorious research you must be enjoying that keeps you there. Unless it's a woman. (Or a man, or a beast, you know I wouldn't judge.)

It'll be five months since you went away come October. Miss you lots, however much you protest that your presence in the flat wasn't anything to write about. Come back and visit, at least at Christmas? I'm sure your parents miss you.

Things here have been … trying … since I last wrote. In my last you remember I wrote in August that there'd been some sort of incident at July full moon? Well, since then it's all unravelled. Joh's father is a werewolf, Hannah Bombay, one of our colleagues bit him in the incident. This has put everyone a bit on edge, because healers aren't meant to be werewolves and bite people, if you read the papers. I can't stomach what some people say about those afflicted. It makes me so angry. I wish I had your poker face.

Everything's gone before the wizengamot the past couple of weeks. I saw your father, they've literally called them all to sit. They accuse Joh's dad of organising for muggles to fight a werewolf, and that Bombay willingly volunteered to be there. I can't imagine she would. Joh's always said the two of them hate each other.

Worse still, (and I apologise for writing to you with this, but I need to tell someone who isn't here, and away from it all to try and see reason), but Monday past, when he was meant to give evidence, Wolfgang Storm died right before us in the courtroom. He didn't even get to speak. Looked like a curse or a potion or something related to his stomach by the way it happened. It was over quickly, but still awful. Elliot confirmed it on the spot.

It's a real mess, Arc. I realise this isn't going to make you want to come home. Please keep enjoying the sunshine and send me another postcard for my collection. Write me about good times, about your research and what you've found.

I've enclosed some of those treats Rustle likes. Give him a pet from me. Perhaps let me know if I can come visit. Could do with getting away for a while, and would love to see you.

Love,

Elixa      x x