Letter 30: J. Alfred Prufrock to Severus Snape, 1st June 1998

A/N: For simplicity’s sake, titles of books, journals etc are underlined and emphasises 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 30: J. Alfred Prufrock to Severus Snape, 1st June 1998

J. Alfred Prufrock

15 Windswept Terrace

Hetty’s Fields

Leeds, West Yorkshire

United Kingdom

1st June 1998

Good Merlin, Snape!

Has everybody at Hogwarts gone potty? Does Albus not know that you have something of an amour or a tendre for Miss Granger? How could he allow you to continue teaching her? She is no longer your concern because she has graduated from Hogwarts. Why do you have to make her your concern at York? If you keep doing this, sooner or later, she is bound to know that it is you, Snape. Listen to me; exercise care or this will be your undoing. You have worked so hard to establish yourself. You have contained yourself thus far because you have Albus at Hogwarts to fire you bloody arse. Who will fire your arse at York? The University administrators are wary of you because you are the last D.Mag.A student of Nicolas Flamel; damn it, they are also afraid of you because you were a Death Eater. The Head of the Department lives in fear that if he crosses Jigger, his memory will be erased like that poor ex-student of yours who tried to look you up.

I know the Alchemy Faculty at York are still in dark as to Jigger’s true identity. Let us hope that it will remain so. They offered you the tenured position because you can lecture like he does. They take it that you are his protégé or something like that. Snape, do not ruin your future. I am not worried that you will have a “liaison” with your student because I know your concern with ethics. It is often those who claim that they are thoroughly immoral and unscrupulous who possess the staunchest principles. I am worried that your Nimue will reveal your true identity. She is brilliant and will discover it sooner or later. Be reasonable, man! You are practically committing academic suicide! As your literary agent and friend, I do not wish to see you do this.

Fine, you made her a promise. How are you going to keep it? Can you be so sure that she will not notice that you are at York? You go to Betty’s once a fortnight and frequently haunt the black markets. Don’t you think she will notice you? She may even find out that your raven picks up your post from the university every night at 11pm. How many wizards keep ravens, I ask you? She will notice something. It may be easy to disguise your tone in your letters, but your style is still there, old man. Think for a moment: she is your student. She has studied with you for seven years at Hogwarts. Don’t you think she will familiar with your lecturing method? She is bound to notice the similarity and what then?

Jigger’s explanation that Severus Snape is his protégé will not suffice for long. There are certain nuances that will creep up. The disciple will always be like the master in some ways, but he or she cannot be alike in every aspect. No matter how disguise your hand and so on, she will suspect and what then?

Bloody hell! And WHAT is this nonsense of you retiring to concentrate on writing and researching upon Miss Granger’s graduation from York? You are the best Potions Master in Western and Eastern Europe. Giving her your job isn’t going to help things, Snape! It may heighten her suspicions.

I hope that you are right in doing this. If you really want to slowly let go of Miss Granger while she is York, I am supportive of you. But I know you, you do not give up that which you want.

Whatever it is you do, let me know so that I can bail you out if it gets too much. Don’t worry, I won’t tell the Dumbledores. Take care and reply soon.

Regards,

Prufrock.

P/S Penelope is still editing Epistemological Alchemy. Obscurus is interested in publishing it under your name, not Jigger’s. There may be a slight problem because you write in the same style as Jigger. I will see what you can do. I suggest publishing next year. Also, contact Miss Granger on the Nomos offer on the love potions debate.

Footnotes

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

Betty’s is an old fashioned English teashop. It is a real place in York, UK. It sells the loveliest crumpets and raspberry napoleons; and every afternoon, at tea time, there will be a fellow playing the piano in the largest tea room.

Penelope, if you’ve forgotten is the editor of the Literary Agency. She is married to Aberforth Dumbledore, her maiden name is Tudor. She gives her name to half the Literary Agency.

Hand has two meanings: (1) the appendage with the fingers and the thumb, (2) handwriting. In the context of this letter, definition (2) is used.

D. Mag.A is the wizarding PhD/DPhil. It stands for Doctor of Magical Arts.