(Gaah! Sorry for the delay - you must be quite hopped on tea by now! Work, as always. But here we go - one final chapter coming up!)
March
Newt, buddy,
You can talk risks and hazards till you’re blue in the face and I’d still stand by my word. If they’ll let you and me be a we, where you live, then they can paint a moving target on my back – plenty of room – and I’ll take it from there. Hell, Newt! I been in a six years’ rodeo your Mister Dark had nothing on, trust me. I can keep my eyes out. Just, tell me your folks won’t give you the icy mitt on account of me being a working-man with no liquid assets in their currency. But if they’ll take one that’s hard at work and will have your back, rain or blizzard, then I’m as good as gone.
You speak of the life I have , Newt, like you ain’t the one made it possible. So that’s one life. You – we – can make plenty others. My pals, yeah, they’re good people, and my folks are buried here around. But we Kowalskis were ramblers ever before we touched ground. It’s in our blood to hit the road. I did it, back in ’18, and I’ll do it again, if the ride ends in meeting you. Any time. Any glad time, Newt.
Yours, J.
(I figure Bat has forgiven me for going and tying my note to her leg! She’s clicking her beak as I write – either for this or the minced meat on the sideboard. I’m making croquettes. Wish I could share, but they get dry and crumbledy on hold.)
--------------------
Mr Kowalski,
My name will likely ring a bell with you – possibly an alarm. The last time ‘we’ met, as I recall, I was not myself and you were a prisoner. Hardly a sterling introduction.
Yet I would be grateful if you agreed to see me in person at the day and hour of your choice. I suggest the Automat in Chestnut Street, two blocks away from your place. It has the advantage of a No-Maj neighbourhood and a loud radio, two excellent things for a private talk.
This parchment will self-destruct in five seconds. Just give my owl your answer – a nod or a shake will do. If the latter, you have my word that I shall not bother you again.
With my sincere regards, Percival Graves
----------------
Headmaster,
Alas! It seems that you have one more rogue within these walls. Much as I am aware of your iron rule that all should stay the Easter holiday in Hogwarts, and bow to its wisdom, I must decline. My oldest living friend requires my presence in terms that cannot be denied – all the more as her mission for me concerns a former Hogwarts student who was quite unfairly expelled by your predecessor. You, Armando, are the last man to put your well-being before that of our charges. Would you expect less of me?
On the upside, Miss Bagshot’s strawberry plants are the best and brightest in wizarding England. Quite scrumptious to the eye and taste buds. I’ll go on a wild guess here and say that she would not be adverse to sending you a few cuttings.
Respectfully, Albus Dumbledore
-----------------
April
Honey,
I did it! I mindread my first ghost today! Golly, I’m so pumped up. You were right, it’s totally feasible, only you gotta keep the cobwebs off your head.
Now for my report. The big silly had no idea who GeeGee is, only thought the twentieth century had gone to the dogs and here was a nice, clean, whitewashed fella like him, all set to bring back the glorious days. Of horse wagons, that is, and riding the Sasquatch trail well into sunset. So I mindsaid that we’d take care of the horse end of business, and not to let anyone through the South Portal ever again.
Meet you on the roof at noon? To celebrate? My team’s broken out the root beer already!
Fill - When the Clouds Roll By (13/?)
March
Newt, buddy,
You can talk risks and hazards till you’re blue in the face and I’d still stand by my word. If they’ll let you and me be a we, where you live, then they can paint a moving target on my back – plenty of room – and I’ll take it from there. Hell, Newt! I been in a six years’ rodeo your Mister Dark had nothing on, trust me. I can keep my eyes out. Just, tell me your folks won’t give you the icy mitt on account of me being a working-man with no liquid assets in their currency. But if they’ll take one that’s hard at work and will have your back, rain or blizzard, then I’m as good as gone.
You speak of the life I have , Newt, like you ain’t the one made it possible. So that’s one life. You – we – can make plenty others. My pals, yeah, they’re good people, and my folks are buried here around. But we Kowalskis were ramblers ever before we touched ground. It’s in our blood to hit the road. I did it, back in ’18, and I’ll do it again, if the ride ends in meeting you. Any time. Any glad time, Newt.
Yours,
J.
(I figure Bat has forgiven me for going and tying my note to her leg! She’s clicking her beak as I write – either for this or the minced meat on the sideboard. I’m making croquettes. Wish I could share, but they get dry and crumbledy on hold.)
--------------------
Mr Kowalski,
My name will likely ring a bell with you – possibly an alarm. The last time ‘we’ met, as I recall, I was not myself and you were a prisoner. Hardly a sterling introduction.
Yet I would be grateful if you agreed to see me in person at the day and hour of your choice. I suggest the Automat in Chestnut Street, two blocks away from your place. It has the advantage of a No-Maj neighbourhood and a loud radio, two excellent things for a private talk.
This parchment will self-destruct in five seconds. Just give my owl your answer – a nod or a shake will do. If the latter, you have my word that I shall not bother you again.
With my sincere regards,
Percival Graves
----------------
Headmaster,
Alas! It seems that you have one more rogue within these walls. Much as I am aware of your iron rule that all should stay the Easter holiday in Hogwarts, and bow to its wisdom, I must decline. My oldest living friend requires my presence in terms that cannot be denied – all the more as her mission for me concerns a former Hogwarts student who was quite unfairly expelled by your predecessor. You, Armando, are the last man to put your well-being before that of our charges. Would you expect less of me?
On the upside, Miss Bagshot’s strawberry plants are the best and brightest in wizarding England. Quite scrumptious to the eye and taste buds. I’ll go on a wild guess here and say that she would not be adverse to sending you a few cuttings.
Respectfully,
Albus Dumbledore
-----------------
April
Honey,
I did it! I mindread my first ghost today! Golly, I’m so pumped up. You were right, it’s totally feasible, only you gotta keep the cobwebs off your head.
Now for my report. The big silly had no idea who GeeGee is, only thought the twentieth century had gone to the dogs and here was a nice, clean, whitewashed fella like him, all set to bring back the glorious days. Of horse wagons, that is, and riding the Sasquatch trail well into sunset. So I mindsaid that we’d take care of the horse end of business, and not to let anyone through the South Portal ever again.
Meet you on the roof at noon? To celebrate? My team’s broken out the root beer already!
Queenie