Dearest Evey,

It is with great pleasure to announce that you have become an auntie — hardly the first time for you, but the first nonetheless to one of my children. It is so surreal to be that now — a mother. I feel that bringing my treasure into the world has given me profound maturity!

Let me tell you about her: she is tiny and she looks like a Pendergast more than a Lestrange. We’ve named her Simonetta, after the woman who inspired Boticelli’s Venus! I confess that I hadn’t thought of many girls’ names, seeing that there was such pressure and certainty that it would be a boy. Her middle name is Alexandria, like Claude’s mama.

I confess that I do somewhat feel like I’ve disappointed the family. Well, uncle Lucius that is — Claude will be an amazing father and he’s told me he’s rather glad our first baby is a girl, for she can be ours entirely, whereas a boy would be “snatched” away by Uncle Lucius.

I’m also worried about what I’ll have to name my following children. The Lestranges have their tendency to go with themes, so what shall me and Claude do? Go with S names? Go with art related names? Or maybe Renaissance ones? I know it’s early to talk about this with Netta (that is what Claude calls her) only two days old, but I doubt we’ll have difficulty expanding the family.


Yours,

Ellory