The Dungeons

Harry,

What's going on? Where are you? You're not making any sense. Why would she need more clothes? Are you saying you moved out of the cottage? Is that what you're saying?

Want me to come meet you somewhere? Want to bring Lily here? If you're going on a binge she might be better off here with me. Not that I think you should. In fact, mate, you sound pretty crap. If you think I wanted you to be unhappy then you're mad.

Look, let us know where you are, at least.

Ron

I got your owl. ( We're fine. )Fl

Squabbling drives Boy who Lived to drink

By Rita Skeeter

In a stunning turn of events, the apparent domestic tranquility enjoyed by our hero of so many wars was shattered early yesterday morning when Auror Ron Weasley publicly threatened to kill Draco Malfoy, Harry Potter’s current paramour. Weasley, whose conduct during the war led to disciplinary action, was quickly joined in his threats by notably unstable ex-Auror Sirius Black. What, you ask, could have prompted such a vitriolic exchange? Little Lily Granger-Weasley, daughter of Ron Weasley and the late Hermione Granger, whose custody is currently shared between Weasley and our own Harry.

According to an unnamed Prophet source in the Wizengamot, Draco Malfoy has filed a motion to strip Weasley of his parental rights. This appears to be an ongoing argument, if the comments seen on Weasley’s open post are any indication. Harry claims that Malfoy intended to drop the claim but “forgot.” You may forgive this reporter, loyal readers, for being somewhat concerned for the integrity of the relationship our hero now finds himself in, as it seems unlikely that something quite so serious could have been forgotten.

In addition to this new uproar over his daughter, our Harry is also undoubtedly dealing with stress originating from the rumored illness of Hogwarts Headmaster Severus Snape, Harry’s unconventional third partner. Deputy Headmaster Horace Slughorn, while pontificating at length on the state of the school budget, refused to confirm or deny the Headmaster’s illness. Rumor has it, however that Headmaster Snape has not made an appearance at Hogwarts in over two months.

Stresses such as these, dear readers, appear to have driven our hero close to his breaking point. In a dramatically tense and often vulgar conversation, Weasley and Black threatened everything from murder to disembowelment of parties ranging from Malfoy, Lily and even our Harry himself. Surely such loutish words demand recourse, however this reporter has yet to hear of action taken against either party. The attitude of his former friends led the Boy Who Lived to give up in despair, saying “I’m going to go get pissed. I don’t know what else to f***ing do!”

Though the Prophet sends our most heartfelt condolences to Harry during this time of trial, we would also like to take this opportunity to encourage him to investigate his options for removing little Lily from the obviously unhealthy influence of both Malfoy and Weasley. The child will obviously be better off growing up solely with our Harry, who seems to be her last remaining parent with her best interests at heart. Admirable as it is that Harry is attempting to balance between all parties with a claim to this child, if this dispute has been going on as long as it appears to have, she will undeniably be better off separated from it entirely.

Ah, Professor Lovegood! A very good morning to you.

Are you off to enjoy the unexpectedly fine weather?

Well, other than the bump on your head which looks rather horrible, you seem all right.

*a sigh and the sound of her settling in a chair*

( I can wait here until you wake up... )

Ron,

(Sounds about time for a piss-up. You on? )

Black

(Is this seat taken?) You're bloody hot when you're being studious, you know.

Horace,

I hope I'm not bothering you on this Sunday afternoon. I know you are probably quite busy, but I was wondering if you might look at something for me.

It's a formula that was given to me that could, theoretically, be a cure for my magic problems.

Would you have a few moments today to look it over for me? If it seems to be safe to you, I'd like to try it out tomorrow night.

~Remus

Sirius,

It'd be brilliant bloody timing if I didn't have another thing going on. Maybe you could meet me later somewhere close for a quick one and I can fill you in properly but, you see, well, no I think you should know. Harry left Malfoy. Near as I can get it they were fighting about the custody thing and Harry just had enough and took Lily and left. At last, right?

But he's in a pretty bad way and they're both here with me now. Harry and Lily. I mean, that is, with us now, me and Viktor. Trying not to get confused about that right now. I'm sure he'll get better soon, personally I thought that cottage had some sort of effect on him, but right now what matters is keeping him calm and mostly sober so he doesn't do anything stupid.

Also, don't get too thrilled. I'd say one decent apology from Malfoy and he'd be back in a flash.

Anyway, no one can get to him here unless I want them to. Not unless they were Harry Potter themselves. So let's give him some time, right? And he'll start to see things a bit clearer.

Drop by about five if you want. Touch your wand to the number on the mailbox, wards will let you through to the door. Don't knock. I'll meet you there within minutes.

But we're keeping him calm, right? Getting him worked up and he'll probably run back there just to prove his love. You know Harry.

Ron

Harry,

How are you doing? Well, I suppose I shouldn't ask that. After reading the Prophet, I can't imagine you're doing well.

You have my support. I can see what you're trying to do, and I... I have faith in your judgment. I know the last thing you would want is for anyone to get hurt.

At any rate, now that's been said, I have something to tell you. Someone from the school has offered me a procedure that might be a cure for my condition. Possibly both conditions. Well, not that one, but...

... oh, I'm not making any sense right now, am I? It's the upcoming moon. They've been so hard on me lately.

No, It's a procedure that might bring my magic back.

I just wanted you to know. It would be nice to see you again, but I understand if you have your hands full.

Whatever happens, I just want you to know that I'm proud of you, and if you need to talk, I am here for you.

Love,
Remus

*A firm knocking on the door. The door opens before an answer could be made*

Draco. You haven't come out all day and you haven't eaten. After you have finished this we will go for a walk.

(Hello, Scorpius. How are you doing this afternoon?)

Harry,

You just let me know what you need, ok? If it's to be left alone, then, well, fine, but just not for too long, all right?

I love you.

Tonks

My dear Remus,

I've reviewed the potions and I can see your concern. The first is what I would consider a very rough and ready sort of brew, a bludger instead of a snitch and lacking in subtlety. Reviewing the ingredients, however, and the process, I believe the warnings are in good faith and overall the potion is as safe as anything which contains such a large quantity of white arsenic.

Do let me know if you have any other questions, lad. I'm glad to help and anything which might return your magic to you is of great concern to me.

Your friend,

Horace Slughorn

Ron,

If you think I'm going anywhere NEAR that you're off your nut.

Besides, I'm poisoning Remus tomorrow night. We'll have to put the booze up off til after.

And it's (hey ho for the home front), right lad? What I wouldn't give for a few monsters I could hex right now.

Black

Hand me that block, Lilibet. ( You need a tower on this castle. )

Harry,

If you're not even going to comment on my owls then that's extremely rude and I think you owe me at least the courtesy of telling me to stop writing to you.

But you can't possibly mean that. I don't believe you could. Sometimes I want to tell myself you never meant the things you said to me; I tell myself that Legilimency could let you make me think I saw things that were not there. But I know it isn't true. If I had doubts before, and you know that sometimes I did, I never had them after our night at the opera. I know you love me.

And you know how I feel about you.

So how is it that we find ourselves in this situation? I know you can't be less miserable than I am but even if you're only half as unhappy then I hate to think of it. Was it really all my fault? I swear to you I was not trying to do you or her any harm. But apparently I have managed to hurt us all. I should never have plans. Or, hardly ever.

I will withdraw the case. I don't agree that I was doing it maliciously at all but perhaps it has turned into something that can't help anyone at this point.

It's not a condition, exactly, but please come home, Harry.

I am desolate without you. Don't make me spend another night without even knowing where you are. If you have to punish me in some way don't let it be by keeping our family apart. For Lily and Scorpius, even if you want to sleep in another room, come home. For me, because I am deeply sorry and I miss you both desperately, please come home.

Yours,
Draco

Severus,

I do hope you're feeling better, more relaxed and more yourself.

I had thought that I might have heard from you by now. I hope the fact that I haven't is a sign that you are enjoying yourself and not the opposite.

I wouldn't write to disturb you but something has happened. It's hard to know where to begin, perhaps at the climax. Harry and I argued about the custody case and he over-reacted. It was hardly the first such argument we've had. Or the most heated. But I suppose there were many other pressures on him, from other quarters, and he left.

Now I still do not know where he is and it has been more than 30 hours. He took Lily with him. That is difficult to write let alone to understand but I suppose it is more my fault than his. I know they were well enough to receive a parcel late last night, but since then nothing. I tried to get Vega to give me some sign of how they were, but she is in one of her moods and now she's avoiding the Cottage entirely. That almost always means that it was at least mostly my fault, if a phoenix's moral compass is something to be guided by.

I thought you had a right to know and, yes, I am writing to ask you to come home and help me. It's horribly selfish of me, of course, but then this will hardly surprise you. I am sure you remember that much of me. And you do still care about Harry, don't you? I've asked you before, and you've never answered me. Do you know that before Scorpius was born you both promised me that if I did not live you would stay together? Perhaps you don't want to remember.

I have written to apologise to him and assure him that I will withdraw the case. I suppose it has not been very long since I sent the letter, and perhaps he is far away, and of course it was just an ordinary owl as I can only instruct my solicitors using my own.

If you are not too busy, Severus. I need your advice, at least. No one knows my failings better than you. No one better understands the mind of someone who loves me but is too furious to think of me. I could find him, of course. That is magic I can do. But when I find him, then what? If he doesn't want to see me?

I am sorry to bother you. If it seems an impossible imposition then I will try to understand.

Always Your Draco

Mr Preece,

I had previously instructed you, on my father's recommendation, to take over my custody case scheduled to be heard by the Wizengamot in March. I now find myself in altered circumstances and obliged to withdraw my suit.

I would appreciate your sending a clerk to me at Lake Cottage to make the necessary arrangements at your earliest convenience.

Yours Faithfully,

Draco Lucius Malfoy

Perhaps this really isn't the best timing, but I wanted you all to know. (I got engaged last night.)

Draco. ( What the hell is going on? )

Horace,

Thank you for looking it over. You know, I wouldn't know a safe dose from a lethal one. Would you be so kind as to brew this for me? I know that you're probably busy with other things, but I have quite a bit to get ready before tomorrow night. I don't expect I'll be up and around for a few days if the side-effects are anything to go by.

And if you could forward this cure to Poppy? It might be useful for her to have in her notes in case of any future accidents.

If you cannot brew it, I'd understand, and I can ask someone else.

Thank you again for your help.

~Remus

Blaise?

There you are.

Severus is coming home tonight.

He's happy for you to stay. You know that I am always happy for you to stay.

Hello Darling, are you never going to sleep tonight? Come to Father.

My dear Remus,

I would be happy to assist you in any way. I presume you require the purgative as well? It's really quite simple, even Sirius could prepare it, but as you've asked for the former, the latter is simple enough to append. And I have ready access to all the necessary components.

You will need to advise me on the time of moon rise and set, so I may time the preparation properly. I will send the potions along to you via House Elf, to assure all care in their delivery.

Horace