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Nov. 19th, 2003 11:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
essayelHad a little rush of blood to the head at work today. I'd spent all morning doing the illustrations for our next exhibition - bloody nursey rhymesand they won't even let me do the violent ones - so I needed some writing time. It's only a sketch - might get bigger - but for the moment, with my usual (lack of) flair for titles I'm calling it
The Amazing Disappearing Potter
The Amazing Disappearing Potter
1. part of owl - HP to SB July 6th 1995
“…you are well and Remus too, of course, if you have reached him.
Everything goes on here as normal. Uncle Vernon locked my trunk in the cupboard as soon as we got here and has had my room fitted with a new deadbolt. Dudley is still enormous and still on his diet so I have to be as well, but being hungry is nothing. I just wish I had some one to talk to. Someone who understands what it’s like – you know, to be scared and to have seen things like that. At least I can write to you and you will write back won’t you? I’ve told Hedwig to bite you until you give her a reply…”
2. part of owl - SB to AD July 7th 1995.
“…very worried about my godson. He sounds so miserable and I understand that they are not feeding him properly. He could come here – Remus says we could put another bed in the study – and he’d have a chance to do his homework instead of rushing it at the last minute…”
3. part of owl - AW to SB July 10th 1995.
“…so sorry but the answer has to be ‘no’. Dumbledore warned me that you would probably be in touch and, while Molly and I would be delighted to have Harry to stay, we have been told in no uncertain terms that Harry must remain where he is to fulfil the conditions of the protection spell. As I said, I’m sorry but what can I do?”
4. part of owl - Prof. L B Haldane, Regio Occultus, British Museum to RJL. July 18th 1995.
“…first rate work. Copies of the succeeding sheets are enclosed and I look forward to seeing your interpretation.
Your query was an interesting one and enabled me to spend several happy hours in the archives with a clear conscience – an all too infrequent occurrence these days. Such protection spells are a very old fashioned form of magic now - most people prefer to use the more easily applied wards – but that may be a protection in itself because of their very obscurity. Using your description of the subject’s conditions as a starting point, I think I have tracked down the particular spell that has been used. The unwilling blood relative, imprisonment in the family home and restricted diet sound to me very much like the Seclusio charm, first recorded in the twelfth century - where the subject is thus secluded for an entire lunar cycle. One must admire the economy of a spell that confers three hundred and thirty seven days protection and comparative freedom in return for a mere twenty eight days close confinement.”
5. Letter sent by Royal Mail - PDursley to AD 31st July 1995
Dear Sir,
I feel that it is my duty to inform you that my nephew had disappeared from his room this morning when I went to rouse him to begin his day’s work. His clothes and other personal items are also missing. Can I stress once again how inconvenient it is for him to disappear in this way leaving jobs unfinished. In future kindly have to courtesy to inform us before you come to take him away.”
6. part of owl - AD to RL 31st July 1995
“…immediately. I cannot believe that you may have been a party to such irresponsible behaviour and strongly urge you to add your voice to mine in persuading Sirius of the wisdom of compliance.”
7. part of owl - RJL to AD 4th August 1995
“…apologies to the Dursleys. However, I can be of no assistance whatsoever. I understood Sirius to be staying for a few days with Arabella. Perhaps she knows where he has gone.”
8. postcard delivered by hoopoe HP to RW 4th August 1995
“…so brilliant! See you at King’s Cross and keep your mouth shut, Harry”
9. postcard delivered by bee eater HP to HG 19th August 1995
“…snorkelling and getting really good at it. Sirius is out most nights – he says he’s chasing the beach bunnies but I didn’t think they had rabbits here? It’s brilliant. This morning we’re going surfing – if I can wake him up…”
10. part of letter with package delivered by stork from SB to RJL 25th August 1995
“…on the second, when I suppose I’ll have to submit to my telling off with good grace. It’s worth it though. You should see Harry – he’s having a good time, I think, though he’s properly sullen and uncommunicative like a real teenager. He reminds me so much of James, Remus, that sometimes it hurts. Remember that holiday we all went on – that bar on the beach? They still sell those awful cocktails – the ones that make you feel next morning as though a badger has shat in your mouth – but the barmaids are younger and more…friendly. Wish you were here, Ree. Hope you enjoy the cocktails.”
11. part of owl - RJL to AW 26th August 1995
“…worst hangover I’ve had for years. It really took me back. Anyway, I thought you and Molly would be worried so I thought I’d put your minds at rest. I’ll see you at King’s Cross on the 1st. Thanks for the list…”
12. part of owl DM to NM 2nd September 1995
“…looking like he hadn’t washed for a month. He is brown as a tinker and was wearing the most awful, scruffy clothes. When he has been all this time nobody seems to know but I am sure that I can find out.
Now, please tell me, has father decided to try that new variety of winter wheat or are we letting the upper fields lie fallow? And are we trying out that new Suffolk ram? Oh, Ma, tell me everything.”
13. owl SB to HP 5th September 1995.
“…hung up by the knackers and beaten with a haddock but instead he settled for bending my ear for a full half hour. I haven’t heard anything like it since I left Hogwarts – it took me right back to many happy days pranking…which I deeply regret and I was properly apologetic as you can imagine.
Tell me, when’s the next Hogsmeade weekend and where shall we go next?”
The Amazing Disappearing Potter
The Amazing Disappearing Potter
1. part of owl - HP to SB July 6th 1995
“…you are well and Remus too, of course, if you have reached him.
Everything goes on here as normal. Uncle Vernon locked my trunk in the cupboard as soon as we got here and has had my room fitted with a new deadbolt. Dudley is still enormous and still on his diet so I have to be as well, but being hungry is nothing. I just wish I had some one to talk to. Someone who understands what it’s like – you know, to be scared and to have seen things like that. At least I can write to you and you will write back won’t you? I’ve told Hedwig to bite you until you give her a reply…”
2. part of owl - SB to AD July 7th 1995.
“…very worried about my godson. He sounds so miserable and I understand that they are not feeding him properly. He could come here – Remus says we could put another bed in the study – and he’d have a chance to do his homework instead of rushing it at the last minute…”
3. part of owl - AW to SB July 10th 1995.
“…so sorry but the answer has to be ‘no’. Dumbledore warned me that you would probably be in touch and, while Molly and I would be delighted to have Harry to stay, we have been told in no uncertain terms that Harry must remain where he is to fulfil the conditions of the protection spell. As I said, I’m sorry but what can I do?”
4. part of owl - Prof. L B Haldane, Regio Occultus, British Museum to RJL. July 18th 1995.
“…first rate work. Copies of the succeeding sheets are enclosed and I look forward to seeing your interpretation.
Your query was an interesting one and enabled me to spend several happy hours in the archives with a clear conscience – an all too infrequent occurrence these days. Such protection spells are a very old fashioned form of magic now - most people prefer to use the more easily applied wards – but that may be a protection in itself because of their very obscurity. Using your description of the subject’s conditions as a starting point, I think I have tracked down the particular spell that has been used. The unwilling blood relative, imprisonment in the family home and restricted diet sound to me very much like the Seclusio charm, first recorded in the twelfth century - where the subject is thus secluded for an entire lunar cycle. One must admire the economy of a spell that confers three hundred and thirty seven days protection and comparative freedom in return for a mere twenty eight days close confinement.”
5. Letter sent by Royal Mail - PDursley to AD 31st July 1995
Dear Sir,
I feel that it is my duty to inform you that my nephew had disappeared from his room this morning when I went to rouse him to begin his day’s work. His clothes and other personal items are also missing. Can I stress once again how inconvenient it is for him to disappear in this way leaving jobs unfinished. In future kindly have to courtesy to inform us before you come to take him away.”
6. part of owl - AD to RL 31st July 1995
“…immediately. I cannot believe that you may have been a party to such irresponsible behaviour and strongly urge you to add your voice to mine in persuading Sirius of the wisdom of compliance.”
7. part of owl - RJL to AD 4th August 1995
“…apologies to the Dursleys. However, I can be of no assistance whatsoever. I understood Sirius to be staying for a few days with Arabella. Perhaps she knows where he has gone.”
8. postcard delivered by hoopoe HP to RW 4th August 1995
“…so brilliant! See you at King’s Cross and keep your mouth shut, Harry”
9. postcard delivered by bee eater HP to HG 19th August 1995
“…snorkelling and getting really good at it. Sirius is out most nights – he says he’s chasing the beach bunnies but I didn’t think they had rabbits here? It’s brilliant. This morning we’re going surfing – if I can wake him up…”
10. part of letter with package delivered by stork from SB to RJL 25th August 1995
“…on the second, when I suppose I’ll have to submit to my telling off with good grace. It’s worth it though. You should see Harry – he’s having a good time, I think, though he’s properly sullen and uncommunicative like a real teenager. He reminds me so much of James, Remus, that sometimes it hurts. Remember that holiday we all went on – that bar on the beach? They still sell those awful cocktails – the ones that make you feel next morning as though a badger has shat in your mouth – but the barmaids are younger and more…friendly. Wish you were here, Ree. Hope you enjoy the cocktails.”
11. part of owl - RJL to AW 26th August 1995
“…worst hangover I’ve had for years. It really took me back. Anyway, I thought you and Molly would be worried so I thought I’d put your minds at rest. I’ll see you at King’s Cross on the 1st. Thanks for the list…”
12. part of owl DM to NM 2nd September 1995
“…looking like he hadn’t washed for a month. He is brown as a tinker and was wearing the most awful, scruffy clothes. When he has been all this time nobody seems to know but I am sure that I can find out.
Now, please tell me, has father decided to try that new variety of winter wheat or are we letting the upper fields lie fallow? And are we trying out that new Suffolk ram? Oh, Ma, tell me everything.”
13. owl SB to HP 5th September 1995.
“…hung up by the knackers and beaten with a haddock but instead he settled for bending my ear for a full half hour. I haven’t heard anything like it since I left Hogwarts – it took me right back to many happy days pranking…which I deeply regret and I was properly apologetic as you can imagine.
Tell me, when’s the next Hogsmeade weekend and where shall we go next?”