Louisa
I have just received an owl in my office. Your mother has planned a birthday part for Sabine and me, next weekend? Sunday. The day students return. I don't want to believe that was intentional, but I don't know how.


Help keep me from killing her, please.

Private
The Dark Lord is not improving and it's difficult to tell whether or not He's getting worse. He wants no one around, at all. I believe He might be sleeping most of the time. My mind reels with the possibilities of the fallout if He does expire. It will be chaos. I don't even know how many of us have a desire to continue the work toward His vision. Not very many, I'd wager. So what, then? What do we do?

Rabastan
I think it's time we start putting contingency plans into place.

Do you feel like Louisa is doing any better than she was three months ago?

Katharina
I think I need your help.

Avery
Can you possibly supply teach Muggle Studies for an undetermined amount of time? Alecto has decided, today, that she's not going to be able to return from maternity leave yet.

Who: Severus, Louisa, and Bronte
What: A slice of their new life.
When: Five weeks after Bronte's birth
Where: Hogwarts
Why: Aren't you curious?

( The system was working, but Severus was exhausted and feeling a bit alone in this. )

( Bronte Eileen Snape )

Louisa
When do you think you will be ready to tell your family? I slipped when talking to Lucius today, fortunately, he is too self-involved to have actually picked up on what I said. Keeping it a secret is getting increasingly difficult. Especially since you are starting to show. To me.

Private
I had assumed that my ability to become erect without the potion, as happened at Lucius' party, was a one-off, but apparently not. Could it be that my body has finally been healed from its trauma? Thrice is not enough to believe this is permanent, but it is just enough to get my hopes up.

All this time I have been convincing myself that the feelings and sensations I was able to have using the potion felt exactly the same as before the potion was needed. But that is simply not the case.

Louisa
My newly self-starting body is interested in seeing you right now, and my brain has been unable to come up with a good reason to deny the request.

Curfew is being extended by one hour until the end of term. Use it wisely, or it will be rescinded.

Louisa
I feel as if we should use this holiday thoughtfully, considering the child we will be expecting this time next year.

Louisa
I was able to convince The Dark Lord to give us an extension. I am so relieved.

Louisa
I apologise for having to work most of this weekend. I always forget when I give rash, reactionary essay assignments that I am also making more work for myself.

What are the Christmas plans for this year? Should I start drinking now in preparation?

Death Eaters
I would like to have a meeting tonight, at Hogwarts, 8pm. I have had a conversation with the Dark Lord and have been able to pin down some specifics concerning expected procreation. Don't bring your families, you can pass down the information to the appropriate parties afterward.

Louisa
Is Easter a family holiday? Should I brace expect to see your parents?

Private
I have walked through the churchyard that lies between Spinners End and the shop hundreds of times. Not once have I ever run across this headstone. I cannot understand how I could have possibly missed it. It is facing the path. Not the main path, but still one I take on occasion.

I couldn't breathe for an uncomfortable time once I saw it. And I've felt odd ever since. I'm quite sure Louisa's noticed. I'm just not ready to talk about it. Perhaps in the morning.

Louisa
I should return tomorrow. Everything has been repaired, there is a two score body count, but nothing irreplaceable. Dealing with this has interfered with the plans I wanted to make for our birthdays. Do you have anything in mind that you would like to do?

Important message to all Hogwarts students, staff and parents.
The flu that has been contracted by a few living in the castle is NOT Avian Influenza. It is just a run-of-the-mill flu.

However, we don't want the flu going around the school to be come epidemic, so everyone should take the following precautions, as per the healers at St. Mungo's:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. Germs spread this way.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people. There will be no visiting the sick in the hospital wing.
• Practice good health habits. Get plenty of sleep and exercise, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the bin after you use it.
• If you have flu-like symptoms, report to the hospital wing, where you will remain for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone without the use of fever-reducing potions.

Lucius
I'm taking Louisa to St. Mungo's, and I'm leaving you in charge. I don't know when I'll be back.

Private to Katharina and Walden Macnair
I wanted to let you know, before you hear about it from an ill-informed source, that Louisa is ill. She collapsed while working. She's running a fever, and Madame Pomfrey has determined she has the flu. We are probably going to have to move her to St. Mungo's. I assume you will want to be there, if we do.

To the attention of Hogwarts students
Please remember your pets. At the end of last year we were left with a two cats and a toad.

Have a pleasant summer holiday.

Louisa
Twelve more hours and the castle is ours. I have to say, there are a few I'll be glad to see go. Notably, Rava Dolohov. I feel like this entire year has been about teaching other teacher's classes, and dealing with her.