Letter 31: Severus Snape to J. Alfred Prufrock, 10th 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.

It has come to my attention that some of you are confused as to letters 28 and 30. York offered both Snape and Jigger tenured. It is intimated in letter 30 that it was Jigger that accepted the tenure. In letter 28, it is explicitly stated that York offered Snape tenure because he is known for presenting Jigger’s paper at conferences on behalf of Jigger. Why? Because Albus has given out that Snape is Iigger’s protégé. That is explicitly stated in letter 30.

So the bottomline is this – Jigger accepted the tenure position. Snape was only offered it as a backup if Jigger turned it down. Snape was offered it because it is believed that he was Jigger’s student and could lecture like him Understood? Good. Now, on with the plot.

Proestigium or What the Seasons may Bring

Letter 31: Severus Snape to J. Alfred Prufrock, 10th June 1998

Severus X. A. Snape

Malmaison,

Alecto’s Way,

Leicestershire,

UK.

10th June 1998

There is no real hurry for Epistemological Alchemy. Drop the Obscurus/Esotericae House idea. I have written to Cambridge University Press’s wizarding imprint, Telos Press, and it has agreed to publish it under my name and Jigger’s. A bloody ex-politician owed Albus and Jigger a favour, so I called it in, in a “polite” manner, as befitting Jigger. It is obscure enough not to raise any questions. The readers can take Jigger to be the main collaborator for all I care. I AM Jigger, after all. I have given Telos Press your name card. One of its people will be in touch with you shortly. Publication can be delayed for up to two years.

Do you think that I have failed to give the other matter grave consideration? She will keep her word. She will not question my instructions. I have taught her for 7 years, another 2 or 3 will not signify. I have taught students in absentia for the past few years; Miss Granger should be no different from the rest. If I only see her work and not her, will not this “ridiculous amour”, as you call it, die a natural death as well? I am not so nihilistic as to commit some brainless act of chivalry. She has never suspected that Severus Snape and Arsenius Jigger are one and the same. I can keep it that way while keeping an eye on her luscious mind and her work.

Do not mock me, Prufrock. I am very safe from Miss Granger IF I see this scheme to its logical conclusion. She is obviously enamoured with Jigger’s mind, not mine. I am safe in that respect. Only let me admire her and shape her from a distance and I will be content. She will not be so foolish as to pursue Jigger. She knows only too well what is expected of her as a student. Jigger has also never given her any encouragement. It is my vanity that is flattered, not Jigger’s. It is safer for her to love a chimera rather than a creature of the shadows. If she is occupied with Jigger, who will be a harsher task master than Severus Snape, all her girlish notions of misplaced affection would soon melt away. When that is done, I will be free.

Miss Granger is interested in co-writing an additional section in the Love Potions book for Nomos so as to conclude our discussion. You will be handling that, I understand. That would be an exciting prospect for you, as you can rub your bloody nose in our affair and knock sense into my damnable head every now and then. If everything goes well, you should have a draft of the book by December.

No more ‘Buts’, Prufrock, unless you want a hex between your eyes. I know exactly what I am doing. I know when to gracefully bow out, and now is definitely not the time.

S. Snape

Footnotes

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