"No one had ever done it," Q tells Severus earnestly. "Scamander's entry in Fantastic Beasts was woefully incomplete. No sense in going over ground that's so muddy with other footprints you can't see what you're looking for." He's quoting his father, but Severus needn't know that.
"All right, I was wrong," he says, giving a shrug. "What did Voldemort offer you?" He doesn't expect an answer, not a complete one, but it can't hurt to ask. He hopes.
"John is my turtle. I named him after John Lennon," Q explains. "I never had a dog." Q looks at Severus, puzzled. He doesn't understand that at all. "I would imagine having a brother like Sirius would complicate ones life enormously," he says. "I'm glad I didn't have a brother." He squares his shoulders and changes the subject. "So, since I need to write to the IAMB, and you don't recommend using the post and I really haven't time for a trip to Germany, may I ask you for a letter or something introducing me to Lucius Malfoy for the purposes of obtaining an owl?"