Blood of Mud, Wing of Bat

Chapter 4: Owls Redux

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Draco,

G. says she's dead certain the raid is planned for two weeks from Friday at 4:05AM. They know about the fourth floor closet and also about the false trunk in the tenth century torture chamber. They might not know about the others yet but if it's me I'd be plenty paranoid. You do know they captured B.? Be careful. I love you.

--P.

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Dear Father,

I love you and miss you. How is Sal doing? I hope he is doing better.

Can I ask you something? Why do I have to go to this horrible school? All the teachers are prejudiced against Slytherins except Snape. Do you know what they have me doing for detention? Scrubbing the owlery!!! It is so! gross! And it is taking forever. I have already been on it for two nights and you can barely even tell. And I am sore all over and I smell… like owl droppings! All I did was say a couple of things to a crummy little Weasley mudblood and I was the one who got my hair pulled and pushed down the stairs! It just isn't fair. I'm sorry about the blotches on the ink, but I can't stop crying. Do I really have to keep going here if Sal doesn't come back?

Also I was wondering, can I have a new dress for the ball coming up? I'd feel ever so much better. The next Hogsmeade day is in only 4 days. Maybe you could come and help me pick it out? Do you have a new girlfriend or fiancee yet? She could come too.

Love,
Lucia

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Dear Lucia,

I hope that you will be strong and will uphold our family honour in a dignified fashion during this difficult time. I certainly hope there will be no more owls from Hogwarts about your behavior. Have you any idea the embarrassment I went through receiving a letter of that nature at the Ministry, and with Arthur Weasley standing right there?

Your brother is finally conscious and feeling much better, although of course the glue has yet to be removed. Since the reversal of Everlasting Glue has been one of the Great Puzzles of the wizarding world for some centuries, it is probably too soon to expect progress on that front. If you would like to know more about Everlasting Glue, I would suggest asking Professor Jigger. I am certain he would be thrilled to have you show some interest in the Potion-making Arts. After all, there is only so much even a sympathetic teacher can do for the grades of a student who displays your degree of apathy for the subject.

Regarding your remaining at Hogwarts, we will discuss it this summer.

As for the dress, is this your way of asking if I will arrange for the Hogsmeade restriction portion of your punishment to be lifted? Regardless, the answer is yes, of course. And no, I will not be bringing anyone. Just myself.

Enclosed are some chocolate frogs, melt worms, and exploding liquorice. I hope you and your friends enjoy them.

Your Father,
Draco L. Malfoy

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Listen you piece of shit,

If you dare harm a hair on my wife's head, or say a single word to threaten my kids again, the entire Chudley Cannons Quidditch squad from my fellow Beaters down to the pumpkin juice boy are going to come to your home or work and beat your puny little git ass to a bloody pulp. Enclosed is a drawing illustrating some of the possibilities just in case you didn't understand what I meant. Don't bother writing back.

Ron Weasley
Beater (Of both Bludgers and Ferret Faced Midgets)
Chudley Cannons

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Dear Salazar's Dad,

My mother made me write you a letter apologizing for gluing cockroaches all over your son. Well I'm not sorry but here goes:

"Sorry"

There. He deserved it though.

-- Freida Weasley

P.S. Are you really a Death Eater? Everybody says so.

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Dear Mr. Malfoy,

My sister and I are so sorry for what we've done. We really had no idea that the Everlasting glue was really everlasting or we would have used something like incantatum stickum instead. Honest! Also we had no idea that our mum would get so peeved! I guess we made a mistake. But you know, none of this would have happened if Salazar wasn't teasing our little brother for getting on the Quidditch team. It's so ridiculous anyway. I mean, everyone knows how your son got on! And you too when you were at Hogwarts, if my dad can be believed. Well I think I'm getting a bit off topic here. All I'm trying to say is, we're sorry and we won't do it again. Really!

--Georgia Weasley

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Dear Mr. Malfoy,

I am sorry for pushing Lucia down the stairs. I realize it was a bad thing to do seeing as how I am a year older than her and she wasn't even bothering me personally. My mother says I need to learn how to control my temper and besides, Nellie needs to learn how to stand up for herself. I hope Lucia will be OK and I apologize once again.

-- Jude Weasley

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You Great Git,

I hate you! You're nothing but a bully and your rotten little brats are just as bad. Why don't you go drown the both of them like the runts they are! Then go drown yourself. I hope you fall down some stairs and kill yourself. I sent this using a public owl so you'll never know who I am. Nyeahh!!

-- Ju An Enemy

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Dear Mr. Malfoy,

Why is Lucia so mean to me? Is it because my sisters got Salazar back for picking on my brother? But she was always picking on me even before that. My mum wants me to apologize but I didn't do anything! It just isn't fair. My friend Megan Chafferty says the reason you Malfoys are so mean is because nobody loves you. That doesn't seem fair either! Can't we all just get along?

--NellieBellie

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Dear Mr. Malfoy,

We realize you're a very important man and rather busy but we hope you will turn your attention to your Daily Prophet bill. It is really such a small amount and surely someone of your financial standing should have no difficulty in paying in a timely fashion. Your bill is, at this time, six months late. We certainly hope this has nothing to do with the Rita Skeeter article we published regarding your sensational breakup with Amexia Brandt. After all, we only publish the truth, nothing more. And the public deserves the truth, doesn't it?

--Pristina Closure
Accounts Receivable
The Daily Prophet

P.S. Did you receive our previous letter? Our owl returned badly wounded and appeared to have been attacked by a goshawk or some such.

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Malfoy,

Never forget. We're watching you. One slip and it's over.

A. Moody

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Dear Mr. Malfoy,

You bigoted, inbred, over-moneyed, under-brained, albino freak. Thank you for the awful Howler my sisters got from our mum for teaching your miserable git of a son a lesson. Thank you also for paying "Sally's" way onto the Slytherin team, because the rest of that lot of ogres resents it so much they make life hell for everyone else at the school. I would like to thank you for ruining my little sister's and brother's lives as well. By the way this letter will explode into fiery ashes the moment you finish reading it, because I'd rather die than ruin my perfect record by getting in trouble for sending this. I hope you're standing somewhere flammable, asshole.

--Christopher Wea/

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