Parvati opened the return letter with some difficulty, but she managed to not rip this one in half by accident. The Quick-quotes quill fell out, and Parvati felt tears come to her eyes at her sister's thoughtfulness. She immediately seized it and found some parchment to write her back.
Darling!
Sister, dear, have I told you how much I appreciate and adore you lately? I cannot tell you how much I've missed you and wanted to whinge to you, no don't tell her that....strike that out! I've missed you terribly, horribly, felt like half of me was missing....isn't that a little excessive, oh fine, leave it!
You know, this quill has a brilliant mind of its own....I didn't say brilliant, take that out! Even better, its a conceited quill!
Oh, darling, I've been out of mind with worry! George was so sick and he itched so painfully. He made me tie his hands to the bedposts so he wouldn't scratch not that in other circumstances I wouldn't have minded that, you know....strike it out, you stupid thing, she doesn't need to know that about her sister! I've been beyond worry for him, worry that he would die and I'd never see him again or be able to tell him that I loved him. Yes, sister dear, I've decided that I love George. It's taken this horrible experience to clear my mind and show me the truth.
And I feel so guilty, Padma! I should have made him leave Hogsmeade with me. I should have taken him to Nott Manor and kept him safe. But I didn't. This whole thing took me by surprise. Illness didn't occur to me. I mean, it's so random, isn't it? But I knew something was coming, and let me tell you, if I see that man again, I will scratch out his eyes, myself, and than leave claw marks all over him to match the ones on my poor Georgie, and then I'll rip off his head and spit in his neck, and oh my goodness, do I really think that? Oh, dear, Padma, you better keep him away from me because I apparently can't be held responsible for what I might do. Or I would be and that's the problem.
This is such a mess, Padma! It was a shock to see such horrible things in writing, but I have to admit to thinking equally dark things over the last weeks so I have to claim them. He can't have thought he could control an illness? And that potion? Beyond worthless! And how do I explain to Georgie my culpability in this? I can't! So I lie to him...by omission, but it's still lying and I feel like such a horrible worthless, no-good, nasty, kinky....alright, strike it out before I break you, you stupid thing! person!
But don't you dare come here, Padma! It would kill me to have you sick, too. I can't go through that. At least I knew the whole time that you and Narayana and Theo were safe. Please apologize to Theo for not answering his owl. Or owls, I can't remember if there was more than one...there might have been. My joints have swollen so terribly, and that was one of the first things that happened. I've not been able to do anything that required fine motor control, write or make potions or anything! But I wasn't trying to be rude, so please tell him. Tell him, I know he tried. I was just blind.