I hope this letter finds you well, sir. If memory serves me correctly, you are in the midst of preparing to send out quite a few letters, so please don't hasten to respond should you need to prioritize. My name is Louisa Clearwater; I doubt you would remember me, but I was a Gryffindor prefect and my sisters, Gertrude and Heather were your Hufflepuff students a couple years my senior. They always spoke highly of you as their Head of House.

I write to inquire about an open position whose vacancy has reached my ears: The position of the Matron of Gryffindor House. As I understand it, of course having been a former Gryffindor is obligatory, but I wish to ask of any other requirements that the position might require.

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How wonderful to hear you remember us! Of course I should not have blamed you if you didn't, but I find myself comforted that you are still at Hogwarts. The years have been decent enough to someone like me, but I shan't beat about the bush.

I believe that I do have the necessary qualifications for such a position. You see, my primary profession all these past years has been as a governess, sometimes to the very children who are preparing themselves to enter your school. While my experience has certainly been guiding children who come from families who can afford a governess, rest assured I do not discriminate when it comes to my teachings, and thus, it is completely inexcusable in my practice to withhold tutelage and treatment from students who are of more unfortunate backgrounds. I am stern in my teachings, yet never harsh. Though of course, I understand proof from a third party is a great assurance in these instances, and so given that, please find enclosed past letters of recommendations from the various families that I have worked with. I shall endeavor to acquire a letter of reference from my current employer as soon as I am able.

Though you state that a strong moral character is valued above experience, I believe that my experience is what has made my character. I am fluent in French, Italian and Spanish, and conversational in German and Russian. I am also skilled at the pianoforte, painting, though I know there are plenty of professors at Hogwarts whose talents outweigh mine by at least the weight of a minotaur!

Should you require any other paperwork from me in your determination of my capacity for this position, please don't hesitate to reach out.

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I have confirmed that I should have no trouble making the appointment as stated in your previous letter. I look forward to our meeting. In the meantime, thank you for your time.

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