29th March, 1891

Professor Shaklebolt,

I write to you having delivered my son and daughter to the train station for their return to Hogwarts, having greatly enjoyed their company over the Easter week-end. The latter, one Miss Ruby Urquart, you are well-acquainted with, and it is for her benefit that I write to you today.

My daughter made known to me your offer of employment, for which I first must thank you. Divination is a subject in which Miss Urquart is deeply interested, and your encouragement of her has given my daughter a confidence that any father should relish in seeing. She has always been a driven girl, but clear direction was lacking in her for some time; that this seems to have been remedied puts me at peace.

Miss Urquart touched on the nature of the work to some extent, and my consent, inasmuch as it is needed, has tentatively been given. Our family circumstances, fatherhood, and my own nature, however, make me protective of my children, and so I will not feel comfortable in my decision until I have heard from the horse's mouth directly, if you will pardon the rather unflattering idiom.

I hope that you might be able to shed some light upon the finer details of the arrangement, be it via owl or face to face. I would ask—though you are not obligated to agree—that you not tell my daughter of my request. I do not wish her to think that I do not trust her judgement, for I certainly do; rather, it is my own shortcoming that sees me seek out further edification.