Letter 20: Hermione Granger to Victor Krum, 6th Merch 1998

A/N: For simplicity’s sake, titles of books, journals etc are underlined and emphases are italicised. In reviving the old tradition of epistolary novels, I understand the plot may be a little slow, laborious and difficult to follow. Some might consider it AU and a little OOC.

In order not to weary the reader’s patience, a number of letters from the series of correspondences have been suppressed; those only have been given which appeared necessary to a complete understanding of the events in this group. For the same reason, some letters from the actors in the events of this drama have also been suppressed.

Proestigium or What the Seasons may Bring

Letter 20: Hermione Granger to Victor Krum, 6th Merch 1998

Hermione Granger,

21 Fullers Road,

South Woodford,

London, E18 2QB,

United Kingdom.

6th March 1998

Dear Victor,

I left several messages on the Krum action figure but have had no reply from you. I do not know what to think! Are you hurt? Are you busy? Or has Irina demanded that you cut off all contact with me because she is suddenly jealous and possessive? I need to talk to you because I think I have reached the end of my tether.

Britain is still suffering from an eclipse and there is chaos everywhere. I am not panicky; rather, I am beginning to have some crazy thoughts. The Muggle British government has declared a state of emergency to minimise widespread looting. That’s the New Labour line – in my opinion, it wishes to avoid answering for the citizens that get killed as part of Voldemort’s plans to seize the British Isles. So far, he and his coterie seem to be targeting muggle spouses of witches and wizards. There have been 2 reports deaths so far and the New Labour government has (expectedly) hushed up the matter. All these incidents lead to only one logical conclusion – the end is nigh.

I know the final battle is around the corner but I cannot help but think on Dr Jigger. I somehow have the feeling that he is encouraging me, and not merely in the academic sense of the word. He invites me to continue writing to him. But this is nothing. He sent me a gratis copy of the reprint of Magical Drafts and Potions (through the offices of the Prufrock and Tudor Literary Agency). He autographed it! Yes! He did! He wrote, “To Miss Granger, Best regards always, Arsenius Jigger.” I have always liked him, now I think him absolutely wonderful. Do you think he knows that I am a little in love with him? A funny joke at my expense, no doubt.

The Magical Drafts and Potions book was the nice surprise. I dare say Professor Dumbledore was pleased with it too because it was dedicated to him. There was a somewhat disturbing surprise as well. Wait till you hear of the other book he sent me. It’s the second edition of Thomas Strauss’s Dark Potions. He penned something in that too. The words “Miss Granger, You will find this intellectually stimulating and particularly useful. Yrs., Arsenius Jigger” were scrawled in it. What am I to make of it? Is he apprising me of his sentiments? Is he trying to warn me that his intentions are less than honourable? And why the hell did he send me a potions book on the dark arts?

Ron and Harry suspect that Dr Jigger may be working for Voldemort. I told them off for it because it is well known in the British wizarding community that he is a contributor to the war orphans and Order funds; and he is a bosom friend of Professor Dumbledore (the Headmaster acknowledged it). I showed Professor Dumbledore the book and he merely laughed at me, and at Harry’s suspicions. Oh Victor, what am I to make of this? I’ve always been very proper in my correspondence with him. What if he thinks that I was flirting with him through my letters?

I showed Professor Snape the Dark Potions book and expressed my concern of its perceived ‘immoral’ contents – after all, it is a book on dark potions, what did you expect to call it? It proved to be a fatal mistake. He scowled at me, jabbed at the book with his long pale index finger and frowned disdainfully at me. Then he said in that low contemptuous drawl of his, “Insufferable! There is no such thing as a moral or immoral book. Books are either well written or badly written. Be more catholic in your reading, know-it-all!” His eyes, oddly enough, glittered as he said that. Strange occurrence, is it not? And I swear; his eyes lingered on the new Magical Drafts and Potions book from Dr Jigger. And he quirked a smirk; at least, I think so, or else, I had imagined it. I think it must have been my imagination.

Dr Jigger sent me a letter where he practically pressed me to write to him. He all but revealed that he enjoyed receiving my “intelligent letters”. He even added, “So write again, so that we do not lose track of one another.” This strikes me as something written by a lonely man reaching out for a kindred spirit. I also get this impression when I read the reference to me in the draft article he wrote on the properties of arrowroot. The footnote reads, “The author extends his thanks to J. Alfred Prufrock, Albus Dumbledore, Thomas Strauss and the anonymous reviewer at Ars Chemica for their comments on the earlier versions of this paper. The author is also indebted to the research assistance of Miss Hermione Granger, a final year student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Miss Granger was instrumental in forwarding the novel theory expounded herein.” I was similarly thanked in the acknowledgement pages of Magical Drafts and Potions.

Meanwhile, Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape have a cunning plan to exterminate Voldemort. The extirpation will hardly risk Harry’s life and for that, I am thankful. However, Harry is monstrously upset that he has been left out of what he considers ‘the real action’. I do not see how he can feel thus when he will be the central core through which we will channel all our wands’ power.

In any case, reply as soon as possible and let me know your thoughts on all the strange occurrences. My regards to Irina.

Take care,

Hermione

Footnotes

Proestigium is Latin for illusion. Ironically, the English word Prestige derives from it.

One of my reviewers once asked me how Hermione knew ‘Jigger’ was not a Voldemort sympathiser. Well, I trust this answers that question.

Disclaimer: The bits about New Labour are made up. In the previous letter, I alluded to the change of muggle government in Britain. That too is made up. I have always been a Tory supporter, so this is a joke at the Labour government. It is not meant to insult any supporters of the Labour party. I am fully cognisant of the fact that the Tories are presently the joke of the British political system – but I hope for a return to the glory days of Tory power. Enough politics…on with the plot.