Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Returning to Sanity	By : AchillesTheGeek Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Harry/Draco Views: 31212 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 3
Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter books or films, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 92
- 93
- 94
Narcissa Malfoy to Hendrik Coetzee, owner, South African Magical Horticultural Supplies:
Malfoy Manor,

Tuesday 1 December
Dear Mr Coetzee,
I have been given your name by Neville Longbottom, who I understand does business with you, and speaks of you very highly. As you may be aware, following the wars in this country, the standing of pure-blooded witches and wizards is at an all-time low, and I am hoping to revive it by demonstrating some of the ancient traditions and helping other sections of our society to understand what they are and why they are important to us.
As part of this demonstration, I am interested in performing the Ceremony of the Woods at Yuletide this year. As you may understand, this ceremony calls for a number of different woods, and I have attached a list detailing the types and quantities required. As you can see, I plan to leave a Ritual Circle in place.
Would it be possible for you to provide these for me? If so, I have been told in particular to ask for those grown by Mr Andreas Adams, and would hope that he could deliver them in person to assist in the planting rituals. He would, of course, be most welcome to stay at the Manor and participate in the ceremony.
I apologise for the lack of notice; the possibility of performing the ceremony has only been raised with me very recently.
My very best wishes,
Narcissa Malfoy.
ooOOoo
Lucius Malfoy to Johann Ries, Director, Wool's Orphanage.
Malfoy Manor,

Tuesday 1 December
Johann,
I have received a most interesting piece of correspondence from a mutual sad acquaintance of ours. He is careful to make it clear that he is not writing on his own behalf, but is worried about one of the orphans – one Tony Adams. As you can imagine, this is surprising, if not shocking – from what we know from Harry, I suspect this is the first time in a long while he's expressed concern for anyone who couldn't do him a favour in return.
It seems that all may not be as it seems with the boy. If our caretaker is right, he had a family and was stolen from it and dumped in the orphanage. You may consider this to be far-fetched; but by the most amazing happenstance I also received, the same day, some other correspondence that tends to corroborate the story. If I'm right there is a chance we could bring father and son together in the near future.
Could you take a look at the boy and let me know your thoughts? Oh and I'm sure that I can rely, as always, on your total discretion. If someone did do something underhanded, we don't want them tipped off that they've been found out.
Regards
Lucius Malfoy
ooOOoo
Madame Olympe Maxime, Headmistress of Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, to Rubeus Hagrid, Professor of Care of Magical Creatures and Keeper of Keys and Grounds of Hogwarts
Tuesday 1 December
Mon très cher Hagrid,
Non, non, your letters are always very welcome. We were all very pleased to hear that our girls are behaving themselves – of course, Madame Dubois had already told us so, but it is very gratifying to have it confirmed by an outsider.
Anyway, I have wonderful news: one of our Abraxans has foaled during the week, and we have two adorable twin colts. We were a little worried that their mother Lampon would not cope; happily, she is doing very well. And I must thank you again for the Scotch that you sent us. She was not very keen on the old Scotch that we had been given by Professor Slughorn many years ago; he claims it's the best there is, but I must say that when we opened the barrel you sent me, we could barely keep them away from it, and the whole herd is thriving, none more so than Lampon and her foals. I hope you can come and meet them soon.
Also, I was astonished to read in your Daily Prophet that Lucius Malfoy is working on behalf of squibs. Can this possibly be true? There are many here who look at your country and despair, I wonder if that will soon change. And what of creatures? Our Veelas have not reported any overt prejudice. Is there work being done? On them or other creatures? Such as poor Grawp?
Please write soon and tell me how the blast-ended skrewts are doing.
Olympe.
ooOOoo
Hendrik Coetzee, owner, South African Magical Horticultural Supplies, to Neville Longbottom, horticultural student:
Capetown,

Wednesday 2 December
My friend,
I have received a large order from one Narcissa Malfoy, and I gather I have you to thank for it. Appreciate you recommending us. I hope that we don't tread on any local toes though, most of what she wants is from British woods, after all, so you don't feel it worthwhile to try sourcing there?
The order raised some eyebrows here, I can tell you. Ceremony of the Woods? Never heard of it, but Theo tells me that it's an old one. Looks like things really are happening back in England? Please write and let me know. There are many folk here who claim to hate the place but are really secretly dying to go back.
Mrs Malfoy has invited Andreas to go to the ceremony. Do you think that's a good idea? Has the lot of squibs really changed there? I did see that article by Lucius Malfoy which seems to indicate so, but it's always hard to separate fact from fiction at this distance.
Oh, and the order is no sweat except for one thing. It includes Elder – that's the one wood we have trouble with. It hardly responds to Anders and absolutely won't grow for anyone else. Can you help out with that?
Hennie.
ooOOoo
Johann Ries to Lucius Malfoy
Wednesday 2 December
Mr Malfoy,
I can't imagine who your other correspondent might be, but I think they're spot on the money. As it happens, I stumbled across the boy the other day, crying in his room and being comforted by the caretaker; I agree, surprising if not shocking.
Following on from your letter, I've since talked to the caretaker – don't worry, I made it clear he was in no trouble – and he made a convincing case that there was something wrong. The boy is definitely troubled. There is no record of a family; but there's no record of anything at all, and that is suspicious all by itself.
Do you want to meet him? A quick visit here might be opportune. Who knows, The Daily Prophet might get some anonymous tip-off.
Johann.
ooOOoo
Neville Longbottom to Hendrik Coetzee
Hogwarts,

Friday 4 December
Dear Mr Coetzee,
Thank you for your letter. Yes, Mrs Malfoy did approach me and of course I had no hesitation in recommending you. I'm sure there's no-one in the UK with enough stock of acceptable quality – Mrs Malfoy is very discerning.
Yes I really do think things are calming down a lot. Lucius's article was entirely real – it's not well-known yet, but his orphanage has been running for a while, and Draco tells me they are starting to rehouse squib families. You can tell people over there to get in touch with Lucius if they want confirmation. As for Andreas, not sure how to advise you. When I met him, I kind of got the impression there was bad blood there – I'm guessing 'Adams' isn't his real name and he's part of a pure-blood family. Or more likely, was part. But I suspect that Narcissa's invitation, and the thought behind it, are quite genuine. Tell him I'd love to see him.
No worries on the Elder – I have managed to get it to grow quite well over the last six months. I'm not surprised you're having trouble; magical Elder likes strong wizards, and, while I suspect Andreas has some special gift, it's not going to respond to him nearly as well as other woods will. I'm pretty sure my success with it is due to Harry Potter being in the castle. You may have read that he won the Elder wand from, of all people, his now-husband, Draco Malfoy, who had won it from Albus Dumbledore. With the owner and previous owner of the wand in residence, my trees seem to have reacted with vigour.
I'll let Mrs Malfoy know that I'll provide the Elder and you'll do everything else.
Please give my regards to Theo and Pansy. We miss them!
Thanks
Neville
ooOOoo
Dolores Umbridge, prisoner in Azkaban, to Messalina Nott, née Umbridge; letter delivered Friday, 4 December
Messy,
Help!
Dolly
ooOOoo
Hendrik Coetzee to Narcissa Malfoy
Capetown,

Saturday 5 December
Dear Mrs Malfoy,
Thank you for your enquiry. I confess I was unaware of the Ceremony to which you refer, and have discussed it with someone whom I understand is a mutual acquaintance: one Theodore Nott. He seemed most interested to hear what you were up to and I must say I was a little surprised that he hadn't heard; I hope I haven't broken any confidences!
We would be delighted to fill the bulk of your order. The only problem is that, at present, we cannot supply Elder as our own supplies are not of saleable quality. I have discussed this with Mr Longbottom and he assures me that he will be able to provide that for you from his own stock.
As for the matter of transportation and delivery, I'm loathe to send Andreas to you for three reasons: (1) he is invaluable here; (2) as a squib, would need accompaniment to travel magically, meaning I would have to send another worker with him; (3) as a squib, I worry for the reception he would get in your circles. Against these concerns, I note that you seem to be wanting to plant trees permanently as well as burning wood, and there I have to agree he would definitely be the man for the job. It seems strange, of course, to plant trees in the wintertime; but I suppose there is some magical element particular to Yule there?
Anyway, Theodore Nott has asked if he could accompany Andreas, which would help me as he doesn't work for me. So they will be bringing the woods for you. I trust that you will be able to accommodate the two of them?
Assuring you of our best attention at all times,
Hendrik Coetzee.
ooOOoo
Messalina Nott to Kingsley Shacklebolt, Minister for Magic
Monday 7 December
Dear Minister,
During the week I received a most disturbing communication, in the form of a letter from my sister, Dolores Umbridge. It is a very short missive indeed; presumably because it appears to have been written in blood. If this is due to Dolores being forced to use a blood-quill, I can understand her reluctance to write more.
Is the Ministry now forcing its prisoners to use blood quills? I'm sure this is in contravention of several by-laws, especially for pure-blooded prisoners like poor Dolores.
I also attempted to contact Azkaban to arrange a visit, but was told this is not possible. Since when has it not been possible to visit the poor unfortunates incarcerated there?
I am shocked to the core at the callousness that your administration seems to be displaying to those who are entirely dependent on its care.
Messalina Nott.
ooOOoo
Narcissa Malfoy to Hendrik Coetzee
Malfoy Manor,

Monday 7 December
My dear Hendrik,
Thank you for your letter. That all sounds admirable. Neville had Floo-called to explain the Elder and that all seems in hand. I shall instruct Gringotts here to prepare the transfer of funds to your account ready for when the woods have arrived.
I'm sure accommodating Theodore as well as Andreas will be no trouble at all. Theo is a dear friend of my son Draco, and I am sure they will enjoy catching up. Will his wife Pansy be accompanying him? She would, of course, be most welcome.
We will make sure that Andreas being a squib does not cause any problems. Are there any special needs he has that I need to be aware of?
Best wishes
Narcissa Malfoy
ooOOoo
Lucius Malfoy to Theodore Nott
Malfoy Manor,

Monday 8 December
My dear Theo,
Thank you for your letter. I have been looking into the situation. I certainly wouldn't put the actions you describe beyond Messalina Nott; I'm afraid your cousin-by-marriage is not a very nice woman, and highly intolerant of squibs and Muggles.
Quite by co-incidence, I also received a letter from the caretaker at an orphanage I help run for magical children that. One of the children there had been showing some signs of distress; it seems that he was given into the orphanage's care but remembers having family who loved him, whom he was taken from. The child may well prove to be the boy we are looking for. To make sure, I interviewed him on Friday; there did seem to be some possible family resemblance between him and your cousin Godfrey.
I understand from Narcissa that you and Andreas will be visiting England for Yule? That would suit very well. If you can arrange to have him here we shall make sure to schedule a visit during that time.
Best wishes
Lucius Malfoy
ooOOoo
Ministry of Magic

Interdepartmental memorandum

From: Kingsley Shacklebolt, Minister

To: Gawain Robarts, Head Auror

Date: Tuesday 8 December

Att: Copy of letter from Messalina Nott to KS
Gawain,
Attached please find a delightful missive from Messalina Nott. I see age has not affected her charms in any way. She describes a letter from Dolores Umbridge as 'disturbing'; it's not clear to me how it could be anything else.
What's this about a blood quill? Knowing what she did to Harry, it's a brilliant prank but we should probably step in. We'll have to let her visit, I'm afraid.
ooOOoo
Ministry of Magic

Interdepartmental memorandum

From: Gawain Robarts, Head Auror

To: Kingsley Shacklebolt, Minister

Date: Tuesday 8 December

Att: Copy of letter from Messalina Nott to KS
Groan. I see what you mean about Messalina.
Standard-issue quill and ink has been given to Umbridge. She's restricted to one letter a week and apart from M I can't see who she'd write to. Especially since we read the letters.
There's a visiting day on Sunday, I'll give her clearance to go.
ooOOoo
Dolores Umbridge, prisoner in Azkaban, to Messalina Nott, née Umbridge (redacted)
Tuesday 8 December
Messy,
Thank you so much for your efforts on my behalf! As you can see, I now have proper ink and quill, instead of the blood quill they made me use previously. I'm sure you're as outraged as I am about that; unfortunately, the prison staff don't seem to listen to me much …
I hope you will be able to write often. I am only allowed to write one letter a week, and am kept in solitary confinement by the …
Dolly
ooOOoo
Rubeus Hagrid to Madame Olympe Maxime
Thursday 10 December
Dear Olympe,
Sorry I'm not very good at writing (this is my third attempt to answer yeh letter!) but it was lovely to hear from yeh.
Course I'll come and see new foals! Can't be before Yule, I'm helping Narcissa Malfoy with a party she's organising; some sort of funny pure-blood thing called the Ceremony of the Woods or some such. Do yeh know it? Didn't really follow it, but o' course I'm happy to help her out.
Means I'm stuck in Britain till then, though. Perhaps I could visit over Christmas? Everything here will be fine for a week or so, and Headmistress McGonagall is always telling me to get away when I can.
The skrewts are doing right well. Charming little things, they are. Mind, some of the third years have taken to poking them with sticks, which saw two students needing a quick trip to the infirmary. Nothing Madame Pomfrey couldn't fix in a trice, though. They won't do that again, I suppose.
Grawp has been moved. The Ministry was concerned that being here was "not a good environment for him", they said. Windbags. Anyway, Arthur Weasley, that's Deputy Minister Weasley now I should say, found a giantess in the North of Scotland who agreed to take care of 'im. He writes to me occasionally; his writing is coming on in leaps and bounds, and he sounds very happy. I miss him hugely, of course, but I s'pose it's best for everyone this way.
Those rock-cakes you taught me to make are wonderful, by the way. I even offered one to Draco Malfoy (or Malfoy-Potter I should say now) when he and Harry visited the other day, and he ate it and asked if he could take some away with him! Even wanted the recipe but I told him it's not mine to give away.
Anyway I won't bore yeh with any more.
Hope to hear from yeh soon.
Love
Hagrid
ooOOoo
Messalina Nott to Horace Slughorn. Head of Slytherin House, Hogwarts
Thursday 10 December
My dear Horace,
An issue has arisen with regard to my sister, and, remembering that you were always very interested in your former Snakes, I thought I should let you know.
It seems that poor Dolores, who, I'm sure you know, has been incarcerated in Azkaban on simply ridiculous charges, has been forced to use a Blood quill for her correspondence. A blood quill! Can you believe it! Of course I demanded that this be remedied at once, and she has now written to let me know she at least has quill and ink. But it seems that she is being kept in solitary confinement. I'm sure you will remember how gregarious she was, so can imagine what effect this draconian punishment will have on her.
I hope I can count on your support in having her treatment reviewed and this travesty of justice swiftly righted. To think that our own Ministry is treating pure-bloods in this way!
Your old friend
Messalina Nott
ooOOoo
Madam Vivienne de Pompadour, Charms Mistress, Beauxbatons, to Rita Skeeter, editor, The Daily Prophet society pages
Beauxbatons
Friday 11 December
Dear Rita,
Such exciting news! Hagrid has written to our oh-so-lovely Headmistress (rolls eyes as she said it) and it seems that Narcissa Malfoy is holding a party! For Yule! The Ceremony of the Woods, no less! My dear, how exciting! And don't tell me I knew it before you did – and yet it must be true, for otherwise you would have published, yes? You must find out all and tell me more!
I can also tell you …
Your old pal
Vivienne
ooOOoo
The Daily Prophet society pages (Rita Skeeter, editor),
Sunday 13 December
Well dear readers! I wonder what you have in mind for celebrating Yuletide. A little bird tells us that one Narcissa Malfoy is setting up no less an event than the Ceremony of the Woods – a somewhat obscure ceremony that used to be performed annually by our older pure-blood families, but has somewhat fallen into disuse over the last fifty years. Not much is known about it; but apparently it involves something about the different woods for the thirteen months of the Celtic year. Can any of our readers enlighten us about this? And if anyone could swing me an invitation, that would be wonderful too!
RS
ooOOoo
Messalina Nott to Theodore Nott
Monday 14 December
Theodore,
I don't know if, living in that backward country, you receive the Daily Prophet, so I have clipped some articles of interest from the last two weekends. As you can see, the country is going to Hell in a hand-basket; Lucius Malfoy, of all people, is coming out in support of squibs! And, instead of lining them up and hitting them with Avada Kedavra, he's giving them houses!
I'm sure you will join me in my revulsion to such nonsense. I understand, from the Society pages, that Narcissa Malfoy is planning on reviving some of the old pure-blood rituals; how the woman dares, given what her husband is up to, is beyond me. How these two, convicted of being part of You-Know-Who's faction, can prance around the country freely while fine upstanding pure-bloods like my sister Dolores languish in jail, is a cruel mystery.
I assure you, you are well off out of this. It's possible that Draco might procure you and Pansy invitations to these rituals, so I felt it my duty to inform you how the land lies so you will know to refuse them.
As for my poor sister, I have written to Horace Slughorn to ask him to intervene on her behalf, but no action has been forthcoming. It must have slipped his mind somehow. Perhaps you could write to him and encourage him to act?
Your cousin
Messalina
ooOOoo
Godfrey Nott to Philippe Paquin, La Chetive Pecore, Marseille
Monday 14 December
My Dear Philippe,
I have been made aware of some trouble that some mutual acquaintances of ours have been having with regards to a certain personage who is currently very highly esteemed in these isles. I was hoping that you might be amenable to seeking some form of payment for the expensive investment you have made in the matter? If so, I have a plan that would involve coercion being applied to one of the weaker links – our personage's father-in-law – but I require the assistance of some strong young men in the matter.
Is this something you would wish to push further?
ooOOoo
Draco Malfoy-Potter to Narcissa Malfoy
Hogwarts,

Monday 14 December
Dear mother,
Thank you for your little gift yesterday, the tartes au citron were truly wonderful, as ever. Though I must admit that, to Harry's great amusement, I've fallen in love with Hagrid's rock cakes. I'm claiming it's because of the pregnancy cravings. Annoyingly, Hagrid tells me the recipe is from Madame Maxime from Beauxbatons, so not his to give out. Perhaps you could write to her and ask for it?
I wanted to ask you about Skeeter's little comment in the Prophet yesterday. I'm guessing that you didn't exactly authorize it? I can't imagine you giving her the time of day, never mind an interview. She seems to have a bit of detail – I hadn't realised you were going for the Ceremony of the Woods. Am I hawthorn? Please say yes, I've always wanted to do it. And is Harry elder? Or holly?
Please forgive the impersonality of a letter, but so far we've managed to keep the article from Harry – thankfully he has no interest in the Society pages unless I bring them to his attention - so discussing it in a Floo call, when he would hear, doesn't seem like a good idea.
Your loving
Dragon
ooOOoo
Theodore Nott to Robin Banks, Auror and Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts, Hogwarts.
Tuesday 15 December
Dear Professor Banks,
Please excuse me writing to you out of the blue, but I couldn't think of anyone else who might be able to help. It seems that my lovely cousin Messalina Nott wants something done about Dolores Umbridge's conditions. Me, I'd want her locked up where no-one can ever contact her again, but apparently she's Messalina's sister so that isn't what my cousin had in mind.
I've enclosed the letter so you can see if there is any possible credible threat here. Given what Umbridge did, I wouldn't put it past Messalina to try almost anything. Let me know if I should take any further action.
Also, as you can see, she's been writing to Professor Slughorn as well. Somehow, I doubt very much that he will reply, I'm sure you can guess why.
In the meantime, I'm scheduled to visit England for Yule; as Messalina says, I've been invited to Narcissa Malfoy's Yule party, and in fact I'm accompanying the man bringing the woods that are required. I really don't want to miss it especially as Draco is my friend, but I will if you advise me to.
Best wishes
Theodore Nott
ooOOoo
Philippe Paquin to Prisoner Gaston Gaspard, via pigeon post, enclosing the letter from Godfrey Nott.
Tuesday 15 December
GG - Any idea what he's on about? Can't understand a word – PP
ooOOoo
Ministry of Magic

Interdepartmental memorandum

From: Robin Banks, Auror

To: Gawain Robarts, Head Auror

Date: Wednesday 16 December

Att: Copy of letter from Theodore Nott to KS
Sir,
Are we aware of this? Looks to me like this Messalina Nott is trying to cause trouble. Not sure what he means about Slughorn?
ooOOoo
Gaston Gaspard to Philippe Paquin via smuggled letter, returning the letter from Godfrey Nott.
PP,
He's talking about the attack we made at the Zabini wedding. You remember the one, the attack that Potter foiled with that stupid shield and which put Eva and me in this hell-hole. He's got some angle on Malfoy père by the sound of it. Find out what it is and give him what he needs to stick the bastard for me.
I'm sending back the letter. Don't want it here to incriminate me if anyone finds it.
And for God's sake put the tavern prices up. You're practically giving the wine away.
GG
ooOOoo
Ministry of Magic

Interdepartmental memorandum

From: Gawain Robarts, Head Auror

To: Robin Banks, Auror

Date: Wednesday 16 December
Auror Banks,
Yes, on both counts. Tell Theo to ignore it and come to England.
Slughorn collects notable people. He would have loved Umbridge at the time – she rose up the Ministry ranks spectacularly; but now she's in Azkaban he won't want anything to do with her. Might tarnish his reputation.
ooOOoo
Narcissa Malfoy to Draco Malfoy-Potter
Malfoy Manor,

Thursday 17 December
My dear Dragon,
Of course I did not say a word to the odious woman! I don't know who her source was, but she got it quite correct. Yes, of course you are hawthorn, and Harry elder. I do hope I don't have to ask him? It would rather spoil the point. Blaise has agreed to the other. And thank you for keeping the article away from Harry. I'm very cross that it's gone public, of course, but Harry's the one I most wanted to surprise.
I'm delighted to hear that your cravings don't involve things like coal or pickles. Though there's time for that, I suppose. I shall see if Olympe Maxime will give me the recipe – or more likely the Beauxbatons chef, who owes me a favour or two.
Do give my love to Harry. Please forgive me for not meeting you at the station on Saturday, but we have guests from abroad to organise. Very much looking forward to seeing both of you next week.
Lots of love to you, too.
Mother

Notes:

I hope you enjoy something a little different; I thought I'd try my hand at a roman des lettres. It's hard work!

Grateful thanks as always to the wonderful Bicky Monster for helpful suggestions.
Other locations: See my profile for details about facebook. The story is also now available on AFF should anyone prefer that site.
Thanks: To all who are following and favoriting! It gives me a lovely warm feeling that you're interested. And double thanks and Madame Maxime's rock cakes (without real rocks!) for those who commented.
- 92
- 93
- 94
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Returning to Sanity