I'm kidding, I'm kidding. Son, to be a marauder, you've got to develop a thicker skin than that.
I have to admit, son, that I was a little concerned when you left last summer for school. You looked so lost, so bewildered. I wasn't sure what to expect. I mean, where was this shy kid that I'd grown used to? How did this academic son show up that I didn't even know?
I wonder, Harry thought.
But after reading all the reviews from your teachers and Headmaster Dumbledore, I can only think that my son is finally coming into his own. I'll have you know that Dumbledore thinks the same. As does Professor McGonagall. She even mentioned your mother's congratulatory howler and how you were called a momma's boy the rest of the day. I don't think I've been on the receiving end of a howler like that. Mine have been more in your face, you better shape up or we're shipping you off to the French Foreign Legion variety. I mean, I was just having a little fun in my school days.
Anyway, I hope you have had no further problems of trolls being found at Hogwarts. You haven't mentioned anything in your letters other than to say you weren't even near the thing when it got loose, and the one general alert notice that the staff sent out on November 1stindicated a troll had somehow gotten into the school only to be neutralized by someone on the staff. Your DADA professor I believe.
Harry snorted. That's not the story that actually made its rounds in the halls the day after Halloween.
I'm not sure your DADA professor is playing with a full wand, if you catch my drift, based on some of the comments he's sent us about your progress, but he must know something if he was able to subdue a troll. As is, I'm glad you weren't involved. Your mother was near hysterics as it was. She wanted to floo to the school and make sure her son was all right. Of course she wanted to do it the next morning right in front of the entire school, but Shelia managed to hide the floo powder until she calmed down.
Your sisters say hi (your brother just grunts), and even Jasmine wanted me to send you her regards. Is there something going on between you two? You thinking of dating her? Caught your eye, did she? Even at that young age, we can all tell she's going to be a beauty. Everyone with some Veela in them has this happen. You want us to arrange a marriage contract with the Black's?
Kidding! I'm kidding! No marriage contracts until you are 13 at least.
You are just too easy, I'm telling you!
So how are classes you're teaching? I expect to hear some interesting things when you get home. According to Dumbledore, your own grades exceed normal levels, but that's to be expected since you're an apprentice. He even said that you might want to take the Wizarding MIQ test to see where you should be placed. You know, if you were a prankster, you could take that test and possibly answer every question in Farsi. Let them stew over the answers for a bit I always say.
Until they cast a translation spell and then you're stuck with whatever they give you, Harry thought.
Until they cast a translation spell and then you're stuck with whatever they give you that is. Which is why you deliberately throw every answer and then they consider you a moron, but since you know how to translate languages, they think they might be in the presence of the next department head for wizarding relations, so they shower you with job offers in case you manage to graduate. I tell you, you just have to love pureblood politics.
A conversation your mother and I had with Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall the other week came to the overall conclusion that you should be in a higher grade. They thought you should be a 4thyear at the very least. They did say that Lily's influence on you was a good thing which appeased her greatly. We even went out for dinner that night!
Now, I have to offer my apologies to you, son. Severus Snape is a bitter man for some things that happened when we were kids together going to Hogwarts. He was in Slytherin and I was a Gryffindor. Even then the house rivalries were strong and it didn't help that his best friend was sorted into Gryffindor with me. Or that I wanted to go out with her when we were younger. He saw me as a potential threat and tried to embarrass me as often as he could. I in turn did as many equally awful things to him. Yes, that's right. I was a prat when I was younger.
Years later I tried to apologize to the man, but he wasn't having anything to do with me by then. I've tried apologizing several more times over the years but they went over like a wet kneazle in a roomful of rocking chairs. So now he takes out his anger at me by antagonizing my son. I'm sorry for that, Harry.
On another note, your mother and I are going to want to talk to you about your temper and what you did to Mr. Stamro some time ago. We both think that a letter is not the proper place to discuss this with you. She's going to scold you about picking fights, but I want to let you know that while I agree with your mother in principle, there are just some people that need a good smack down to get a point across. Most aren't like that, but there are those select few that can't see common sense if it hit them across the head. Which is where a good swift punch comes in handy. On a side note, Stamro Sr. hasn't bothered to come to my office or lodge any of his usual complaints since you took his boy down a peg. Not that he bothered me much before, but working for the corps means you can't really go out of your way to alienate anyone in the ministry, even if it's a minor flunky in the Wizard Ministry International Herbology & Gardening Relations department.
Remus is looking forward to seeing you again and hopes you are studying well. He said he's going to test you when you get home. I'll leave you to decide if I'm kidding or not. Your uncle Sirius and aunt Amy say they are both proud of you as well. Don't be surprised if she brings up the topic of a marriage contract while you're home over the holidays.
One last note: you play rough in Quidditch, kid. To that end, we're coming to your next match. Tell us which team you'll be playing for and Sirius and I will see if we can't trade a shift to see it.
Just do me a favor and don't play for Slytherin. I don't think my delicate constitution can take you playing for the silver and green.
Take care and see you soon.
Love,
Dad
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