Private message to Nymphadora Tonks-Ponds

[alt_hydra]

Hello cousin Dora,

How were your Christmas and New Years? Very happy both, I hope. Has the shop been terribly busy? I suppose if it were, it ought to have slowed down by now. I'm sure that Bea got a load of presents that she's happily playing with. Please give both her and Mr Ponds my best wishes for 1996.

I know it's terribly short notice, but before we go back to Hogwarts, do you suppose my friends and I might have another Tea Appreciation at Lazlo's? Everyone so enjoyed the last one, and have been asking when we might be able to go again. I think Bea has a lot to do with it, as it's not very often one gets to see a metamorphing baby! I'd like to see Snuffles again, too, if you think he might be around. I missed him last time - maybe he doesn't like crowds very much? - but one never gets to see dogs at Hogwarts, only cats and rats and things.

Though of course that all depends on whether you'll have us or not. We could do tomorrow, easily I think, or perhaps squeeze in on Saturday. If the timing's not good, and I understand if it isn't, then maybe we can work out something on our next holiday from school.

From,
Hydra

Comments

[alt_nymphadora]

Well, hello, you!

We'd love to have you come, of course. Tomorrow might be better than Saturday, if you can manage it. Only, it's hard to tell about Saturday what with the faire on. It could be really quiet, but sometimes that's just when we get a crowd and have to scramble because we weren't expecting it. People are funny like that.

How are things at home, then? Rigel must be getting more interesting to play with. What is he getting up to these days? Doesn't have a puppy, I guess?

I'll see if I can't lure ours in tonight and try to keep him around tomorrow. He's a mind of his own, though, and he's very clever about giving us the slip sometimes when he fancies a ramble.

[alt_hydra]

We could come tomorrow, and if it's too crowded, we can make ourselves scarce. You won't have to put us first and can help your other customers first.

It is fun to watch Rigel play. He got some brilliant toys for Christmas, and he's quite good and well-behaved, really, I don't know why Mrs Baylock hovers 'round him so, as if worried he'll need something or might hurt himself. I suppose that comes from having watched after Harry Marvolo when he was a baby.

But no, he hasn't a puppy. Mummy doesn't like dogs, or any other animal, really. He does have a rabbit. It follows him everywhere.

I'll let my friends in the Tea Appreciation club know that you said tomorrow is all right.

From,
Hydra

[alt_nymphadora]

It'll be lovely to see you. I'm glad you can come!