Puerto Lobos, Chubut
Argentina
21 August, 1993

Headmaster:

          It is with some difficulty of mind with which I respond to your most recent letter. I apologise for my tardiness.

          I confess I had given little thought to the relation of seasons and holidays. There is no particular reason that those inhabitants south of the equator should change their traditional celebratory days merely because local conditions are counter to that of received tradition elsewhere. The weather here is reminiscent of the more ghastly days of revelry at Hogwarts, but the Weasleys and other such hooligans are mercifully absent, so I am at least granted a reprieve from anatomically correct snowmen (with carrots) and other such charming quirks of the adolescent sense of fun. Please do not distress yourself, Headmaster, I have supplied myself with adequate footwear for the winter. I would not describe my stay here as "merry", but I am pleased to report it is at least productive.

          As to the main point of your letter: I imagine it would do little good to try to sway your mind once it has been made up. Nevertheless, I must earnestly request you—beg you, if I must—to reconsider your choice of Defence Against the Dark Arts instructors. Lupin, no doubt, is quite well-versed in the subject. He has had first-hand (or -paw) experience in such matters. But would one really hire a hinkypunk as a guide into fen country on the grounds that it was eminently experienced, or choose a kappa or grindylow to demonstrate the fine points of wrestling whilst standing hip-deep in water? Instructive though such a method might be to a feckless class, the practical outcomes of such an idealistic choice of teacher would prove catastrophic.

          I have followed Mr Gyunnum's work with great interest. If it is your wish that I attempt the Lupi Contra Mentem, I shall do my best to create the potion. I would be happier, however, if the recipient of said potion were to experiment with my batches well away from innocent bystanders. I have ample faith in my ability; nevertheless mistakes can happen and I do not wish any inadvertent error of mine, no matter how small, to be the cause of unnecessary carnage among students and staff.

          Have no doubt of this, Headmaster. Lupin is dangerous. His malady may not be of his own choosing, but he nonetheless is the carrier and potential transmitter of a very, very deadly disease. Worse yet, this illness manifests itself in the worst forms of madness and physical disorder. Potion or no potion, his presence forms a clear and present danger to all around him. He may well have an interest in re-encountering the Potter spawn—though why Potter would have any interest in encountering him, I fail to imagine—but even Lupin must realise what an appalling risk he would prove to the boy. There is no such thing as a tame werewolf. They do not understand familial loyalties when in their frenzied state. They do not understand right and wrong, they do not have any goal but immediate gratification of their hatred and bloodlust. To have one charge straight at you, its stinking breath panting, fangs gleaming under curled-back lips... to have known this is to know such bone-chilling, bowel-twisting terror as will scar the soul for life.

          I am sure you can understand how humiliating this is for me to write. I apologise for my atrocious handwriting. I fully admit that I have a personal bias in this matter. But I simply do not want any child, no matter how backward or foolish, to be ripped apart by the teeth and claws of a monster. Mistakes can happen. A Whomping Willow may be circumvented. A patient may forget to take his potion or make some error in its administration. The potion's creator may have his hand slip or suffer a lapse of inattention, inexcusable though this is. Anything can happen, and, Murphy's Law being what it is in both the wizarding and Muggle worlds, inevitably WILL happen, despite the best of intentions. And we all know what the road to Hell is paved with.

          As for the entirely unexpected and shocking news that BLACK has escaped... I am more disturbed by this than I can say. If Black is indeed heading to Hogwarts with the intent to kill Harry Potter, I believe the last thing we should do is to have Lupin there waiting to let him through the back door. Lupin and Black were almost as close friends as Potter senior and Black were—closer, if certain rumours of the day are to be believed—and with Lupin's inherently untrustworthy lycanthropic instincts combining with Black's murderous insanity, the results can be nothing but deadly for the students and staff of Hogwarts in general, and Potter in particular. I have no particular affection for the boy, as you know, Headmaster, but it is my duty as a teacher to instruct and protect all my students, regardless of my personal feelings towards them. Potter seems to have a death-wish which is extraordinarily difficult to avert at times, as well as an utter foolhardiness and lack of common sense not seen since his father's youth. The gestalt of Potter's folly, Lupin's innate untrustworthiness, and Black's absolute wickedness (a word I seldom use for anyone outside of certain circles) makes me shudder. I make no claims to preternatural foresight—I am sure you know what I think of such claims—but I can only see blood on the flagstones of Hogwarts if this enterprise goes through as you plan. And adding Dementors to the mix...! I hope this is merely a foolish rumour put about to discourage Black from his murderous quest. If not, we shall simply have to prepare ourselves to behave with utmost responsibility for the students' well-being, and sharply discourage the gaddings about and nocturnal wanderings so many are prone to. This ESPECIALLY applies to Potter, who seems to suffer from a form of insomnia which leads him to be in the exact place he should not, at the most inopportune moment possible. Potter may indeed get away with murder on a regular basis, but Black must not be allowed to. Again.

          If you are indeed determined to carry out these plans, Headmaster, it is unlikely that anything I say will matter. I shall be certain to request the Baron to keep a sharp eye on Peeves and to rein in his distressing hooliganism. I make no promises to refrain from carrying silver on my person, but I agree that stainless steel cutlery should serve well enough. I agree it would be wisest not to tell the students of Lupin's true nature, as I have no wish to see panic and further disruption of behaviour amongst them. No doubt the truth will eventually come out, whether we wish it or not, and parents will flock to Hogwarts to rescue their little darlings from the jaws of death. Nevertheless, I shall do my utmost to avoid scandal from being brought upon the school. You may rely upon my discretion on this.

          But... .

          Well. It is not my place to say more.

          Your most obedient servant,