Letters to Lupin Title: Letters to Lupin Author:shadowycat Rating: G Pairing: Snape/Lupin (pre-slash, post war) Word count: 1870 Notes: Many thanks to lore for extending this challenge. I hate leaving things unfinished. Oh...I know it's not obvious, but the little figure between each letter is supposed to be an owl, just squint a bit...;P
Mr. Lupin,
Thank you for applying for the position of clerk, but I’m afraid that the job has already been filled. We appreciate your interest and wish you well in your future endevours.
Yours,
Jonathan Smalley Head Clerk Parcel and Post
~o~
Dear Mr. Lupin,
I’m afraid the stock position we had open has been filled. Thank you for your interest. Best of luck in your search for employment.
Sincerely,
Priscilla Woodward
~o~
Dear Mr. Lupine,
Hey, thanks for asking about the bouncer job, but I had to give it to someone who didn’t look as if a stiff wind would blow him away, ya know? Hope there are no hard feelings.
Joey Gilderstone
~o~
Mr. Lupin,
As you know, rent is due on the 15th of the month…every month. I was lenient last month but I cannot afford to be lenient any longer. It is now the 17th and you are in arrears. You have until the 20th to settle your bill or I will have to begin eviction procedures.
Cordially,
Arthur Minter
~o~
Dear Mr. Lupin,
Due to the recent judgement against you, you have been ordered by the court to give up custody of your son, minor child Ted Lupin, to his grandmother Andromeda Black Tonks. Transfer of custody is set to take place in Room 6, Level Sub 9 of the Ministry of Magic on Friday the 20th of the month at nine a. m. Please be prompt.
Sincerely,
Jacoby Ratchelder Court Clerk
~o~
Mr. Lupin,
It is now the 21st of the month and as you have not paid your rent, I am officially notifying you to vacate the premises immediately or I will have to take steps to forcibly evict you.
Arthur Minter
~o~
(note tacked to door)
Lupin, the wards have been changed so don’t even try to get back in. Your stuff is here, be glad I didn’t sell it (not that most of it’s worth much).
AM
~o~
Lupin,
As you no doubt know, I’ve been hired by the Ministry to oversee their main potion laboratory. One of our current projects is to make some improvements to the Wolfsbane Potion so that it can be distributed to the werewolf population at large. The Minister wishes to reduce the danger to the general populace by maintaining better control over the werewolves, a goal that I agree with completely.
Step one in this process is to develop a cheaper, but equally effective, version of the Wolfsbane potion that can be widely distributed.
In order to complete this work, I require a guinea pig volunteer for a series of tests. It has been suggested that you might be willing to assist me with this task. You will be compensated for your time and trouble. If this is acceptable to you, be in my office in the Ministry at nine on Monday and we’ll get started immediately.
Severus Snape Master Brewer
~o~
Lupin,
As we discussed yesterday, one of the goals of this study is to develop a less expensive, but equally effective, Wolfsbane potion. To this end, you will find enclosed with this letter a series of test samples. You are to consume each sample on the schedule I’ve included and record your reactions on the reaction sheet. Once I discover which ones are best tolerated, I will begin to brew potions with the new substitutions for you to test every full moon for the next several months.
Please adhere to the enclosed schedule exactly. Adequate time must be allowed between the testing of each sample. If you have any difficulty, contact Healer Bruiner at St. Mungo’s, he has been briefed as to our experiment and will be unsurprised to hear from you.
Severus Snape Master Brewer
~o~
Lupin,
Now that you’ve recovered, please resume testing the samples as originally outlined. I do not wish to fall too far behind in my schedule due to your weak stomach.
Severus Snape Master Brewer
~o~
Lupin,
While I’m sure you cannot imagine how delighted I was to hear that you found ingredient number four to be “tasty and surprisingly good on pasta”, what I really need to know is how did it make you feel? Were there any side effects? You need to take these tests more seriously if we’re to continue with this.
Severus Snape Master Brewer
~o~
Lupin,
The first test potion will be ready for you to consume on Friday. Please be at my office at five to receive your first dose. It is most effective warm, as you know, so do try to be prompt.
Severus Snape Master Brewer
~o~
Lupin,
While I will admit that your point about people being more willing to swallow something that tastes pleasant has its merits, there truly is little I can do to mitigate the unpleasantness of the Wolfsbane. The main ingredient is a rather bitter poison, as you well know. It takes a delicate balance simply to render the potion non-poisonous to anyone who drinks it. Making it also “taste good” is neither a priority nor particularly feasible, not even with the inclusion of sample ingredient number four.
Severus Snape Master Brewer
~o~
Lupin,
No, causing your fur to turn purple was not intentional. It was most likely an unanticipated effect caused by the inclusion of tincture of harthow. The harthow plant has a chemical structure that is similar to common indigo. Regardless, this version of the potion was less effective than desired, so I will be discontinuing the use of the harthow. There will not be any reason to change the colours of the holding cell so you don’t “clash” with the décor.
Severus Snape Master Brewer
~o~
Lupin,
No, I will not have dinner with you. Don’t be an idiot.
Severus Snape Master Brewer
~o~
Lupin,
No, I told you I would not have dinner with you, and I meant it.
Severus Snape Master Brewer
~o~
Lupin,
No, I will not have lunch with you either. Please cease these ludicrous invitations. We are not friends, and we never will be.
Severus Snape Master Brewer
~o~
Lupin,
Because I do not wish to be friends. I have no need of friends. They are always more trouble than they are worth.
Severus Snape Master Brewer
~o~
Lupin,
Bringing me gifts will not change my mind, particularly such cheap and ill chosen ones. I despise treacle, though it does have its uses as an antidote to some poisons.
Severus Snape Master Brewer
~o~
Lupin,
I prefer my chocolate to be dark to the point of bitterness as would anyone with a refined sense of taste. I don’t know how you can stand that sticky sweet tripe you eat. And no, I still do not want any gifts from you.
Severus Snape Master Brewer
~o~
Lupin,
Wherever did you find a copy of Argonise’s Treatise on Crawling Vermicular and their uses in Potions to Improve Memory? I thought it long unavailable. And, yes, the chocolate was much more to my taste.
Severus Snape Master Brewer
~o~
Lupin,
You left your scarf in my office today when you came to take your latest dose of potion. The weather has been bitterly cold lately and your garments are far too thin to keep you adequately warm as it is, so I’m returning it by owl. You need to be more careful with your possessions. If you become ill, my experiments will be thrown off schedule, and I cannot afford that. I’ve included a pair of gloves as well. I noticed that yours are riddled with holes. Surely now that we are paying you this stipend, you can afford some new clothes.
Severus Snape Master Brewer
~o~
Lupin,
I suppose having tea together would be acceptable. We do need to discuss a few changes in the latest test potion. I think I may need to have you test several new substitute ingredients since none of those in the first batch turned out to be as effective as I hoped. Tomorrow at four will work for me. I will see you then.
Severus Snape Master Brewer
~o~
Dear Mr. Lupin,
Your request for an appeal of the judgement against you in the matter of custody of the minor child Ted Lupin has been denied. The court record was examined thoroughly and no basis for such an appeal was found.
Have a pleasant day,
Jacoby Ratchelder Court Clerk
~o~
Lupin,
I don’t know why you’re surprised. Blacks have always had close connections with those in power. Simply because Andromeda chose not to use those connections for a time, does not mean they don’t exist.
If it would be helpful, I’m willing to look into the situation for you. I’m at the Ministry every day, it would be no trouble.
Severus Snape Master Brewer
~o~
Lupin,
There’s no need to thank me. Going up against a Black carries its own reward, I assure you. Meet me at Maggiano’s for dinner tomorrow, and we can discuss strategy. Eight o’clock sharp. I’ve reserved a table in the back where we should have a bit of privacy.
Severus Snape
~o~
Remus,
I did a bit of investigating as we discussed and to my utter shock, and yours too, I’m sure, I discovered that Andromeda had what could be termed a less than above board financial arrangement with several members of the Wizengamot panel who ruled in her favour at the custody trial. When I pointed out what I’d found to those concerned, they reacted as expected. I’m quite certain that when you file a motion to appeal their decision this time, things will go differently.
Severus
~o~
Remus,
I told you there was no need to thank me, and I meant it. I assure you I enjoyed myself thoroughly. Have you filed a new appeal? If not, you should do so at once. I’m certain that it will go through both quickly and smoothly. I’ve reserved a table for two at Maggiano’s to celebrate. I’ll see you at eight.
Sincerely,
Severus
~o~
Mr. Lupin,
Due to the recent judgement in your favour in the matter of custody of the minor child Ted Lupin, you have been reinstated as the guardian of said child. Transfer of custody is set to take place in Room 6, Level Sub 9 of the Ministry of Magic on Friday the 18th of the month at nine a. m. Please be prompt.
Sincerely,
Jacoby Ratchelder Court Clerk
~o~
Dear Remus,
You know, you really don’t need to waste time looking for a new flat for yourself and your son. As you know, I live alone, and there is plenty of room at my house for two extra people. In truth, I would welcome the company. We would need to discuss a sharing of expenses and household chores, of course. I have no intention of picking up after either of you.
Sincerely,
Severus
~o~
Dear Remus,
Excellent! Your rooms are ready and waiting. I’ll meet you at the house at four. Dinner is on you this time.