vereticus

*the door closes and a pause*

Speak if you have something to say.

Dear Lainey,

I'm sorry this is late. It's so complicated but I talked to Jacek and Magdalena and Edgar and they said I should tell you if I want, if I trust you and want you to know. And I do trust you and I hope you won't be angry with me for not telling you all this time, and that you'll understand, but I'm scared, too. And that's not right, is it? I shouldn't be scared because we're best friends and you should know, it's only right. I know about you and your family and how your mother is a Muggle and how sometimes that's hard and you never get to know that much about mine. And I shouldn't be scared of something like this when there's so much more to be scared about and it's just silly to be scared about what might be when it isn't even certain.

Oh, I should just say it. I'm a lycanthrope, a werewolf. I was turned when I was six and the Pack and my family adopted me because my parents didn't want me anymore. And yes, Jacek too. We all are, even the little ones. That's why Edgar is so strict, although he's not as, well, he's not as strict as others have been.

But this is why I think Douglas won't understand, and even if he does, even if he likes me enough, it's not just me is it? There's the whole Pack family, too. And I know I'm not allowed. It was never allowed before and no one has asked if it's different now, but the Pack family is family, it's here for us and we're here for it. We can't ever leave, and we wouldn't want to because it's everything. And I know that Douglas isn't serious, he just fancies I fly well or something, but I don't *a blot of ink like the quill sat for a long moment* I don't want to like him, it, I don't know, something. And I don't want to make trouble for him.

Anyway, I said it was complicated. Can I say "I told you so" like Cosmo does to you, now?

Love,
Klara

Dear Lainey,

I'm sorry this is late, we weren't home. Please please please please don't ask Douglas! It's complicated and I don't know, he wouldn't understand, I know he wouldn't.

Love,
Klara

Dear Lainey,

I don't think he'll understand. He just wont. And they will never allow it, anyway, because he's not Pack he's not one of us, well, they just never will.

It doesn't matter how long it is, it's not allowed. It just isn't. Oh, I wish I could explain!

Maybe we should talk about something else entirely, then? Edgar brought home a game called Bananagrams for us. It's a word game with little tiles, all in a bag shaped like a banana, and you have to spell out words so they interlock. Only it doesn't use magic, you have to do it all by yourself. I don't even know where he found it, he says it's Muggle and just shrugged, but it's so much fun even without magic. We played it with the little ones and you should have seen how serious they got trying to think of words. I think Jacek wants to charm it, though, so it will "peel" for everyone when someone peels. "Peeling" is when you finish all your tiles and need to get another one, and everyone else has to get one too, and whoever uses up all their tiles at the end first wins.

I wish you could come visit. You could meet the little ones and play games and see the sheep and cows and my very own hen. But Edgar won't allow that either, and now you're at school again and I have to stay home. And it's all right, I love it at home, but I miss you and everyone. I don't like it when things change like this. It's, I don't know, itchy and sad.

Love,
Klara

Dear Lainey,

Even if he was Peabody! I just like Peabody because he's, well he's so much older and so clever, it's not like he'd ever look at us, would he! A detention, really? That doesn't sound like him at all, but you keep saying the school is different now.

And if Douglas tries again? I don't think he would, would he? I don't remember what I said after, do you think he misunderstood? Oh, that would be dreadful. Jacek says I can always break his arm, but that is no use at all. It's not like I hate him, after all!

I know he's nice enough and funny and smart and everything, and Jacek says he's all right, which you know he never says but I just don't think it will work out. There are too many things he wouldn't like about me if he knew, about my family, and it's just best not to get started with something I can't have anyway. But I'm glad you're happy with Lukas. We should talk about that instead, it's much happier!

Love,
Klara

Dear Lainey,

I can't do that! I haven't the foggiest what I would say to him. It wouldn't work, anyway. It's not that simple, it just isn't. I just wanted friends, not a boy! It's not up to me. You don't know my family at all, it would be horrid if they found out. And even if I liked Douglas that way he wouldn't like me anymore if he knew he wouldn't like my fam- oh, I don't even know.

Maybe if I pretend nothing happened. That would be all right, wouldn't it? We can just go back to the way it was and if we never talk about it it'll go away. Oh dear, this is too complicated!

Love,
Klara

Dear Lainey,

I don't know, we were just talking and you and Lukas were off somewhere and Jacek was doing something outside and I don't even know, we were alone playing that game of his and I said something and he kissed me! And I just sat there like a lump because I didn't know what to do and he kissed me again, just like that! And that's got to be leading him on, right? Even if I pushed him away right after? I don't even know what I said to him. No one's kissed me before, not like that! I wasn't expecting-. And I can't. I just can't. I never thought about him like that at all and I'll get in so much trouble. It was so much easier before he did that! Why did he do that? Everything was lovely the way it was and it's never going to be the same again!

Oh no, they're back, I have to go.

Love,
Klara

Dear Lainey,

This is late, I'm so sorry. Jacek and I had so many chores to do when we got back and the little ones all wanted something and I just couldn't get away. I'm hiding in the school room after dinner and they'll leave me alone for a little bit.

I don't even know. I don't even know, Lainey! He kissed me! And I don't know, did I lead him on or something? I thought we were just friendly, you know, like mates, because of you and Lukas and oh I don't know! I don't know what to do! Jacek thinks I'm being stupid and it's not like we see a lot of each other, but Lupa I don't know how I can face him again. I can't tell anyone but you and Jacek, and oh please don't tell Lukas, I couldn't bear it if he thinks I blabbed to everyone. I feel sick.

Oh no, I have to go. I'm supposed to read tonight. Your owl is a dear.

Love,
Klara

What.

You're really doing this. Will you tell her?

*The letter, dated Monday June 22, is delivered by an extremely disgruntled and exhausted owl who looks at Bill accusingly before flying to the nearest tree and deliberately ignoring them both*

Professors Weasley and Lovegood,

I think you will understand why I cannot in good conscience allow Klara to attend your wedding without a few assurances. Her safety is of paramount concern to us.

I understand that she would be in a party of other students from Hogwarts, selected by Douglas Wells Lovegood, made up of Klara's friend Lainey Winklebrock, and Lukas Ciureja. She was unable to give me further details regarding lodging for the night, nor when and how she would travel to and from the event, beyond the repeated injunction that it would be "late" but "no trouble at all".

I think you see the difficulty here. As professors at Hogwarts, you know our secret and Klara's. I do not scruple to remind you that there is at least one person out in the world who has an interest in harming Klara, if only to revenge himself upon me. You must be aware of the risk this places upon you and yours, as well as her.

I remain, however, cognizant of the honour you do our Klara in inviting her to attend your wedding, despite these concerns. In light of this and against my reservations, I will permit Klara to attend your wedding if I may be assured of security of the event and her lodgings for the night. If security is not an issue, a number of our family bring her to you on Saturday, and then retrieve her on Sunday. I will require Apparation coordinates and the precise time for delivery and retrieval.

Edgar Lowell

*pacing*

The damage extends 6m to either side of the impact point, but the wards held.

Danica,

I know it's silly, but I'm worried about the ewes and since we're visiting the Owlry for a bit, I thought I'd write and see how it's going. Has the ewe that had the false labour last night progressed at all? At this rate she won't drop for another four days, the tease.

Klara

*footsteps*

It's a few hours, I don't like it any better than you do but it's required, and we do what is required.

*the letter has a standard privacy ward on it which prevents any mention of lycanthropy from being noticed if one of the children's dorm mates should catch sight of the letter.*

Dear children,

Use caution when interacting with Professor Lupin and his pack. If they seek you out, be polite and excuse yourselves as quickly as is appropriate. Do not seek them out in turn, and use discretion when speaking to them. I know you already avoid Professor Lupin as much as is practicable. Continue to do so.

Klara, I am very displeased that you named one who is lost to us to someone not of the family. It was poorly done. You must guard that tongue of yours, and not be so eager to speak without thinking. Do not give away information so hastily. That being said, you are correct. We seek the betterment of all, not just those who are in our own family.

I have enclosed the directions for treatment for magical blockage in lycanthropes caused by splinching. You will recopy the information onto fresh parchment purchased in Hogsmead and deliver that copy to Professor Lupin. Keep the copy and original separate at all times, do not allow the parchment to touch. If you are asked why you are not giving him the original, you may say that the rest of the letter contains personal matters, as indeed it does.

Jacek, the galleon enclosed is for the both of you, and you have the management of it. I did notice that neither of you requested additional money over Christmas. It is well done that you have saved your money, but do not scrimp essentials. The money is yours to use as you see fit. I ask only that you use it well.

Edgar

Dear Edgar,

Everything is fine; we're working hard. Hufflepuff won against Ravenclaw last week, and Klara flew really well.

I flew brilliantly well! Jacek and I are writing home because we miss you, but also because we talked to Professor Lupin and he's sick and can't do his magic anymore, and the moons make him poorly and it sounded like what was wrong with Konrad that time and Jacek promised to write home and ask what it was that cured him.

And Klara is a great blabbermouth and needs to be more careful. Just because she likes Professor Lupin's little girl doesn't mean we should talk too much to her or any of them. Like Professor Lupin's beta is, we shouldn't be so chummy. We don't know them, we don't owe them anything. And that girl can't keep a secret. She cries out we're wolves like there's no one else in the castle.

And Jacek is a great worrier, what's the use not talking with her when she already knows? And I know I shouldn't have mentioned Konrad's name, and I'm sorry. But he's dead and it won't hurt him, right? And Professor Lupin is so sad, and he smells funny; stuffy and wrong. And that's not right if we can help him. He's a wolf too, even if he's not one of us.

Right. So that's why we're writing. We hope everyone is well, and we promise to work hard and keep our heads down.

Sincerely,

Jacek and Klara

Put your feet a little wider apart, and don't square your shoulders like that.

*there is considerable background hubbub*

I guess he's not that bad, still a great sneak but it was nice of him to ask you to go as a friend.

Mrrff, wha?

You should have seen us, we were brilliant!