Colin Downer
Number 15, Westboune Park Road
Uxbridge
UB10 0DX
United Kingdom

Landis Morgan
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Librarian's Office
Scotland

April the 16th. The letter is written on simple notepaper, Colin's handwriting neat and matter of fact.

Mr. Morgan,

Have not written for some time, and I owe you an apology for that. As the Daily Prophet can tell you, I was otherwise occupied being chained up in this crazy asshole's house and living only on beer kidnapped by a crazy werewolf. The werewolf thing is twice - thrice - as bad now, but you don't write to hear me gripe, and vice versa. However, if you're interested in testing Wolfsbane mixtures, I'd be interested in being the giunea pig provided they're not deadly. I've heard the new Potions mistress is gifted, so maybe you can rope her in. I'm sure you'd be able to you had mad game with the bit

That said, your latest request will be difficult to fill, and also late (probably). I've been given a few weeks off to 'recover' from my ordeal, and while I'm greatful to be out of the Auror's cells it means I can't return to work for awhile. I'd be grateful if you held off on your reply shipment until I'm allowed back in. Always easier to hide this stuff when it can  be tucked into the Azkaban deliveries, and all. They don't seem to believe I'm fine after that kidnapping, but think I'll be able to get better in the same house I got taken from. That's the Ministry for you. I can't complain; if they were more savvy none of the DoM would get their jobs done.

Also, if one of the Hogwarts elves kicks it, let me know. They're hard to get in here. The last one I got had been kicked onto an ornamental sword display and wasn't in great shape.

The rest is written in a hurried hand, clearly added after the letter had been folded and addressed.
Dog chewed up your previous letter after MacDuff broke in - it's mostly unreadable. I'll need a new description so I don't send you the wrong thing.

Landis Morgan
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Librarian's Office
Scotland

Colin Downer
Number 15, Westboune Park Road
Uxbridge
UB10 0DX
United Kingdom

April the 19th. The reply letter is written on parchment, with a spidery look to the letters borne of someone writing with a very scratchy quill. The letter is sealed and stamped with a small, simplified version of the Morgan family crest.

Yes, I heard about the kidnapping. Knockturn was in a bit of a roar over that. I can only assume your change with McDuff was even less comfortable than usual - and they haven't caught him yet, have they?

No need to test experimental wolfsbane - I reduced the rate of absorption to a less volatile level. That incident with the fur loss shouldn't happen again. Nothing to be done about the taste, though. I could have a fresh batch to you within the fortnight if you wish. Is your post at home being watched?

Juliette Vaillancourt and I are not on the best of terms. I doubt she'd leap at the offer.

Enclosed is a list of the ingredients I'd like. I expect proper labeling, particularly of the hair samples - you know the drill, but there are descriptions to replace the ones in my last letter should you need them. There is no hurry; place the order as you can. I wouldn't wish to get you into trouble at work. Let me know how that project of yours is coming, too.

I will keep an eye on the house elves. Be prepared to wait.

Colin Downer
Number 15, Westboune Park Road
Uxbridge
UB10 0DX
United Kingdom

Landis Morgan
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Librarian's Office
Scotland

April 19th

Yes, it was (and is) worse to transform - bastard bit me. Though I'm finding it has...advantages. I'm actually in control, now. Still in a blind rage, of course, but...in control, more or less. I was able to hide until it wore off, even with people around. But no, they haven't caught him. You'd think a guy like him would be easier to find - seems a bit of a show off. Not the subtle sort, if you know what I mean.

He seemed to want to get me to kill people, thought I'd enjoy it. I tried to explain that half-eaten corpses aren't the best for study, but that seemed to just confuse him. He did give me some interesting information about werewolf wounds, however, so in an odd way I find myself grateful to him. He also turns out out have good taste in beer. Oh, well. Life.

Glad to hear you've fixed that issue. I lost a good full beard to that hair loss flaw. Thankfully the hair on my head was mostly intact...

I return to work tomorrow. I'll make sure your things are in order by the end of next week, and will let you know if I can't.

And no worries with the elf. I've gotten used to chasing hearses (as it were). But if one does die, get it to me as soon as you can. They seem to decay differently than humans. If you have to embalm it, that'll do.

Landis Morgan
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Librarian's Office
Scotland

Colin Downer
Number 15, Westboune Park Road
Uxbridge
UB10 0DX
United Kingdom

April the 20th.

I've seen the wanted posters. He looks quite a brute. But if his bite gave you more control, surely even he has his uses. It's so unusual, though - I've never heard that being bitten twice would do such a thing. It seems to imply that his breed of disease is different than yours, more powerful ... or more contagious? I assume you've already dissected this thoroughly.

I'd be interested to hear what he told you about the bites. Did he know the effect his would have on you?

I'm really very sorry about that.

Excellent. Remember the hair labels! They're very important. And if harvested from criminals preferably stick to those who were in Azkaban too long for the Ministry to care or their friends to remember; last time I was under polyjuice with one of your samples I was cornered on the street by someone's irate wife. Small crimes too, if you can - the murderers taste nasty.

I will. Again, though, it will be a while. Hogwart elves have their own protection and who knows how long it will be before one of them dies. The oldest one is apparently named Grimby, but he's 216 years old and still showed up to take my laundry when I called. When questioned he told me his usual job is shining the hallway knights' armor, which has to the least dangerous job in the castle unless one of them accidentally drops its ax. So.

Colin Downer
Number 15, Westboune Park Road
Uxbridge
UB10 0DX
United Kingdom

Landis Morgan
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Librarian's Office
Scotland

April 21st

(Unusually, Colin's writing is somewhat wild, scratchy - inebriation taking its toll)
I've come to the conclusion my mail isn't being watched, as the obliviators haven't swept down on the two of us over the previous letter. If this triggers them, sorry.

McDuff and Cinead Tawse seem to have developed a new type of werewolf. I don't know how or why. They're the day-wolves, the direwolves the press mentioned. They're transformed for 3 days, it seems. Which is not fun, let me tell you, maybe that's how women feel every month can you imagine, especially Hannah.

I don't know if he knew exactly what the effect would be, but he made the curse worse. The only boon is the ability to control it somewhat. Either way I'm like him now. I think they were experimenting - Tawse was there at one point, but I don't really remember what they did to me. Either way I was an experiment. I don't know if it was a successful one or not.

Hair enclosed. Should be properly labelled. It's from a white collar criminal - got shanked. Without the dementors Azkaban is turning out more corpses, you'd think it'd be the opposite, but human nature, you know.

You could always have him clean the library and have an accident in the Restricted section, you've got a good set up for that. I know a book in there nearly took my arm off as a kid, you could have him clean those. Or just, you know, book to the head. Some of those things weigh 50 stone.

(in a much clearer hand)

I'm sorry for the messyness of this letter but have no time to repen it. Don't write while drunk and annoyed, Landis. Hair should be properly labelled. The next group should be next week. Let me know if you need it faster.

Landis Morgan
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Librarian's Office
Scotland

Colin Downer
Number 15, Westboune Park Road
Uxbridge
UB10 0DX
United Kingdom

April the 23rd.

Don't be ridiculous. Do you think I'd be writing about polyjuice and dead elves if I thought there was even a possibility of my letters being intercepted? I don't presume to think I could get around those who would be watching you (Department of Mysteries staff, do you think, or have they relaxed enough to share their concerns with the Aurors?), but there is a spell on this paper honed in to your touch and yours alone. Your essence, anyway. I still have some blood and hair samples that I took when I first started brewing for you; your touch serves as the password, and there's another copy charm laced over it to show a different, shorter, less morally questionable letter over top. Otherwise all the blank bits of parchment being owled to your house might seem a bit suspicious. Of course, I can't speak for your end. Let's hope you're right.

Yes, I made the connection to the direwolves when you mentioned that his bite affected you again. It was the only thing that made sense, that direwolves would have a different makeup than regular werewolves - stronger, faster maybe, less affected by the rigid timelines of the moon. I didn't know that it was a developed, purposeful strain - I thought perhaps a random mutation in the virus - but it sounds exactly like something Tawse would do, from what the papers say of him. You told the Aurors, I assume?

You know, I'm not so sure this is a bad thing. For thugs like McDuff who will abuse it, yes, it's very dangerous. But for you, perhaps not. You were too weak to leave your home during the day regardless; if you have better control over yourself now while transformed, you could make it through the moon changes without so many injuries. Although I hate to say it from a business standpoint, you might even be able to forgo the potion.

Thank you. Your precision is greatly appreciated.

Some of them weigh more. And although I'm sure a few of them would appreciate the snack, you would not get the body intact and I would never get all the bloodstains and brain matter off of the parchment. Curb your enthusiasm; I'm working on it.

Regarding the postscript: duly noted. Expect a package within the next three days containing your potion. I've already packaged it, just need to send - and I've taken the liberty of including a few vials of Replenishing potion for after.

Landis Morgan
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Librarian's Office
Scotland

Colin Downer
Number 15, Westboune Park Road
Uxbridge
UB10 0DX
United Kingdom

December the 21st. The package is small and cool to the touch. When opened it reveals a linen-wrapped corpse, shrunk and kept under a freezing charm, flecks of grave dirt littering the bottom of the box.

Happy Christmas. Here's your house elf.