Owl: Letter to Andromeda
Dear Andie,
Oh, Merlin! I'd almost forgotten about Grandma's apple pie! Yes, that was me. Grandma had put cinnamon in it, and it smelled so good! I was sure I could conjure another one, but instead of getting apple pie, I kept getting apple slices, which was no help.
Do you ever make crust pies? I still love them, especially when the crust turns out right. I've had a few, though, where I made the crust too thick, so it didn't bake all the way through, and I made one that I sprinkled in too much sugar, and it came out with this layer of glassy, hardened sugar and cinnamon across the bottom. Draco was rather cross with me for spoiling it, that night.
I was thrilled to hear that Professor McGonagall wrote to you about taking the Transfig professor's position. She would assuredly never have written such a letter to me; I was horrible in her class! That's quite an honour she paid you.
I'm sad to hear that you want to move. I liked your house very much when I visited. But I also know what it's like to want to leave a home. When they released us from DMLE detention, I couldn't bear to be inside our house. Added to that, the Manor is so large that the three of us can disappear inside it for hours at a time and be completely alone. For a while, I wanted that, but now I begin to think that's a bad thing in a home. A home ought to be a place that brings a family together instead of allowing its members to isolate themselves from each other.
In other words, if you'd like me to help you find a new place, I'd be glad to; it would give me something to do, if nothing else. All the things I used to do are just...most, I never want to do again, and others--I don't know if I'd be welcome, and I'm afraid to find out.
It's crazy--my first inclination is to invite you and Teddy to move in here--there's certainly enough room, and I'd happily have you over. But I doubt you or Lucius would care for that. And even if Lucius wouldn't mind, you might well prefer a place of your own.
What part of the country would you like to live in, and what price range are you looking for? Also, do you want to rent a flat or buy a new house?
One last thing--Is it possible that, if you had some help with Teddy, you might not want to move? I admit I'm remembering your house and the fact that it's a home. If it felt like less of a trap, would you want to stay?
Truly, Andie, I am willing to help care for Teddy, should you come to feel comfortable with that. At the very least, it should be possible to help you find a decent witch to care for him for a few hours a week, so you could have some time for yourself. Any mother needs that.
Maybe the two of us could go on a picnic sometime this week to talk about it? You could bring Teddy, and we could just go out into someplace with graas and trees and sort some of it out?
Love,
Cissy