March 1st, 1893

Miss Warbeck,

With the warmer weather incoming, I was writing to check and see how your garden is coming. I hope the winter granted you some reprieve from the gnomes, though I know it does not always stop them entirely. It would be easier if they hibernated for the cold months. Chomping cabbages are typically quite hearty, so they should have wintered fine beneath the snow if you did not bring them inside, though might need a fertilizer boost. They come out rather cranky when they are dormant for long periods of time. Please let me know if you need anything to help.

Plants aside, I hope life is treating you well and the children are healthy.

Best,
Professor M. Skeeter

Delilah Warbeck

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   Delilah Warbeck

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magic by MJ the magnificent

March 3, 1893

Professor Skeeter,

I am very glad to hear from you. The winter was lovely as the gnomes seem to hibernate, although Rory chased one or two off he'd come back up. Luckily no bites, so at least they seemed to be a little bit weary of coming back to the garden. I will have to get some fertilizer for them, as I didn't think to bring them inside. Is there a kind you recommend? I recently saw some dragon fertilizer, but I'm unsure if it's too potent for them. I did watch a gnome trying to take down a cabbage, so I am hoping that they can be cranky in a good way.

Thank you! We are all well, although they are itching for better weather for some more walks to Padmore. I hope everything is going well at Hogwarts. No more dragons, I hope? I was always worried a student would try to keep one.

Miss Warbeck

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Mason Skeeter

  

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March 5th, 1893

Miss Warbeck,

Glad to hear things are well. The best fertilizer can be gotten from the Potts, they have a chomping cabbage Miss Daffodil had as a project here at school and I hear its doing well. They have the secret, I'm sure. I heard she has a new shop in Diagon Alley, would be worth a stop. Dragon fertilizer will also work, but can cost a pretty knut. Let me know if you would like a different recommendation.

No more dragons, dreadfully boring, though one of my co-workers has a cheeky little niffler that steals things a little too often. It has a penchant for a certain pair of my cufflinks and the headmaster's pocket watch. It's bad. He was supposed to train it over the Christmas holidays, but I'm not sure how well it went.

Wishing for some warmer weather here too, hopefully soon! Hopefully by the next school visit to town. Children cooped up for too long become as pesky as a niffler with sticky fingers, certainly. Wishing you luck with yours.

Best,
Professor M. Skeeter

Delilah Warbeck

  

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magic by MJ the magnificent

March 7, 1893

Professor Skeeter,

Oh yes! I've heard about Ms. Potts' shop in Diagon Alley and I have been meaning to stop over. The arrangements I've seen have been beautiful, and I'm sure I could speak with her about the best kind, learn a trick or two I could share. I've never tried dragon, but it sounds interesting. I'm sure everyone in my household would be less than thrilled at the smell though.

Nifflers are cute, but so troublesome. I can't imagine having one running around Hogwarts. Hopefully your cufflinks are safe and your coworker managed to do something with the training. We see too many beast accidents as it is at St. Mungo's.

They've been as nutty as anyone, but we've managed to get outside for a few hours. I’ve heard there might be some leprechauns out and about since it’s so close to St. Patrick’s Day, but unfortunately we haven’t found any proof. The children are looking for a pot of gold, but I’d take a four leaf clover.

Miss Warbeck

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Mason Skeeter

  

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March 16th, 1893

Miss Warbeck,

Fortunately for you, it shouldn't be too bad, it's considerably less intense after it's put outside and sits a little bit. Might help keep the gnomes out as well.

I wish you and the littles best of luck on your leprechaun adventures, I cannot give you any advice on finding pots of gold or four-leaf clovers, but I have heard leprechauns like sweets just like the rest of us, perhaps you could try to treat them. I feel like they may like a little whiskey too, but that would probably be better left for the adults.

Good luck!

Best,
Professor M. Skeeter

Delilah Warbeck

  

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magic by MJ the magnificent

March 21, 1893

Professor Skeeter,

I do love a good glass of whiskey after a hard day at work. Unfortunately we didn't find any leprechauns, but we did stop at Honeyduke's for some fudge to lure them out, so the children were happy regardless. The orange was an interesting flavor, but certainly not my favorite. The lemon though, was absolutely divine. Have you ever had muggle candy? It can be rather... interesting too. Not in a bad way.

Anyhow, my son Ambrose has taken a liking to the chomping cabbage and now refers to it as his best friend. Luckily I haven't seen any gnomes for quite some time, so hopefully that means I'm in the clear. The chomping cabbage seems to only like him though, and it's only a matter of time before it's named.

Miss Warbeck

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Attached is a crudely drawn photo of Ambrose hugging a chomping cabbage.

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Mason Skeeter

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   Daffodil Grimstone

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March 30th, 1893

Miss Warbeck,

Please thank Ambrose for the picture on my behalf. I have hung it in my office. I am sorry to hear your leprechaun catching was not successful, perhaps you will have better luck next year.

I have tried many a kind of candy in my life. Mr. Honeyduke and I were roommates at Hogwarts, I was an unlucky taste-tester for a large chunk of my schooling career. Fortunately he's gotten the hang over it over these many years.

It's nice to hear the chomping cabbage has done the trick. I typically have my OWL students care for semi-sentient creatures and many of them have had names over the years, no harm in that. I had a young student name her fanged geranium Oscar. She's now an accomplished herbologist. When school is out, I would like to some see your progress, if you're amenable.

Best,
Professor M. Skeeter

Delilah Warbeck

  

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magic by MJ the magnificent

April 2, 1893

Professor Skeeter,

He was very excited to hear that you have his picture hanging up. And thank you, I appreciate it. I did manage to stumble upon a bit of luck - did you hear about the felix felicis raining from the sky yesterday? I wasn't going to willingly put my tongue out and taste it, who knows what it was actually made with, but it was very entertaining to watch. I can't say St. Mungo's seemed any busier in the potion department, so it appeared that it wasn't laced with anything.

Oh, how wonderful, although I'm sure the beginning stages weren't very fun to test. My parents are very interested in muggle items, so I understand that. Some of the items they bring home are... interesting, but the children do love playing with them, so I try not to complain too much.

Oscar, how wonderful. I do enjoy that name. I would love for you to come over and see the progress when school is out. That should be the end of next month? How are things at Hogwarts? I hope uneventful, although I do remember there never being a dull moment when I attended.

Miss Warbeck

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Mason Skeeter

  

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April 6th, 1893

Miss Warbeck,

I had heard some rumblings amongst the students, but as they are often my only source of information it is hard to take some things seriously. I never know what to believe from them. I must admit, that's a new one, even for an all-magical town, at least I assume it was in Hogsmeade? I sometimes wonder if the town itself is cursed with everything that has happened.

It was quite the adventure growing up with Honeyduke, never a dull moment. I'm sure the children appreciate the ingenuity, good for their imaginations if you ask me. Creativity can be found in the most interesting of places.

Yes, end of May, though I usually spend a week into June cleaning up the greenhouses for easy start up in September. Takes quite a bit of work to get everything back to square one. The year is going just fine, though tensions are starting to rise as everyone remembers that exams will be coming up in a few short weeks. There haven't been any mishaps with magical creatures in a long while, which is always a bonus. I never thought I would long for dull moments, but the chaos of the beginning of the year is another beast entirely. I will let you know more securely when I'm free.

Looking forward to it,
Mason

  

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magic by MJ the magnificent