5th June, 1888

Dear "Not Fond of Dancing",

Having come from a family that has its own breed of peculiarity I do believe overlooking eccentricity if something I have been trained from birth to do! I will not tell you the particulars as I believe it would be a shame if the notoriety of others should come between two people and one could hardly fail to recognise the incidents thanks in no small part to Witch Weekly itself. If I trust you at your word, and I have no cause not to, then your excellent character and superior traits should be all that matters!

As for the rest of your advertisement I can be sure of my blood, but not entirely of my mind as sometimes I worry that I fall short of some people's expectations. However, I can promise that no imperfections of another would make me think less of them and after a few seasons - I daren't tell you how many though be assured it is not a number to concern you! - I am not quite as partial to dancing as once I was.

I hope to hear from you soon, however, I have never replied to a Lonely Heart before so I dearly hope I did not get it wrong in some respect and deter you from continuing your search. Bonne chance!

Sincerely,

M.P.

  

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no, really MJ is just showing off at this point

Mister August Echelon-Arnost,
Witch Weekly is pleased to inform you that your recent submission to our Lonely Hearts article has generated a response. Witch Weekly is devoted to providing help to all of our readers, no matter what their social disadvantages, and we are delighted to provide this service to the lovelorn in our magical community. We hope that you will be able to create a happy ending with our help, instead of being doomed to a tragically lonely life.

Please see the enclosed letter and advise us whether you will need your advertisement repeated in further issues of our magazine.
Y. Ventus
Editor in Chief
Witch Weekly

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6th June
unsent

Dear M.P.,

I'm afraid that one of my friends, or perhaps my sister, must have posted the advertisement that led you to contact me. I commend your boldness, however, and wish you the best of luck going forward.

Sincerely,
A.E.

The following 1 user Likes August Echelon-Arnost's post:1 user Likes August Echelon-Arnost's post
   Elladora Black

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set by Bree

6th June
sent

Dear M.P.,

Thank you for responding to the advertisement - I'm glad that it was not too daunting! While I mentioned intellect, I did not intend it to be over-daunting - although I was a Ravenclaw (and one employed in an intellectual field,) I didn't want to sound like a stodgy old man.

My family is deeply eccentric, so I appreciate that you understand, so to speak, the accompanying trouble. They're family, which is important, so we're willing to overlook their imperfections and other shenanigans.

I'm trying to think of something we can discuss easily: While pureblood, and expected to marry another pureblood, I find myself unbothered by matters of blood purity in particular. What do you think?

I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
A.

The following 1 user Likes August Echelon-Arnost's post:1 user Likes August Echelon-Arnost's post
   Elladora Black

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set by Bree

7th June, 1888

Dear A,

I'm sure you're very far from being a stodgy old man if you decided to send an advertisement into Witch Weekly, but then again I was a Hufflepuff myself and they say we're inclined to be kind about everybody!

I am delighted to hear that your views of blood seems to align with mine. So many people feel they can treat others as inferiors for something they cannot help and I have never understood that mentality. Do we not do as much harm to ourselves by creating constraints? Some of my family are a little stauncher than the others, a trait I do not think unique to us, but I admit I would hesitate to say such things to their faces. I wish I were braver sometimes. I try to believe that my family would rather see me happy than constrained in misery but I do wonder sometimes. If nothing else I know my sister would always fight in my corner!

It sounds as though you have quite a relatives to fight yours too? I'm one of four - how many are you?

Sincerely,

M.P.

The following 1 user Likes Minnie Macmillan's post:1 user Likes Minnie Macmillan's post
   Ophelia Devine

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no, really MJ is just showing off at this point

8th June

Dear M.P.,

My sibling situation is a little complicated, would, I think, be the term. I am one of nine, technically, but only even [u]remotely[/i] close in age to five of my siblings. Of those, three are sisters and two are brothers, and we were never particularly close growing up. Similarly, there are some members of my family who take blood purity much more seriously than I myself do - though we have never been the sort of family that disowns over it.

I'm glad that your sister is loyal to you; that's an important bond to have. One of my sisters, E., is a similar fighter, though her methods can be rather unorthodox.

I'll have to tell my friends I cannot possibly be stodgy by your evaluation; they can criticize me for being over-serious at times. I'll admit that I have some very deeply held principles, but - well, it is what it is, I suppose.

Have you read today's newspaper? I hope that my owl doesn't find you in Irvingly!

Sincerely,
A.

  

UNSENT

21st June, 1888

Dear Mr Echelon-Arnost,

I think it is high time we admit to our names-

The following 1 user Likes Minnie Macmillan's post:1 user Likes Minnie Macmillan's post
   August Echelon-Arnost

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no, really MJ is just showing off at this point

21st June, 1888

Dear Mr A,

Apologies for my silence of late, things have been rather troubling in Hogsmeade, as I’m sure you are well-aware. My mother and father are thankfully safe and sound leaving me in my aunt’s capable care but moving home without magic, even temporarily, has taken much longer than I thought it might. I hope your family is looking after you and that E. is fighting the fog for you.

Are things just as unsettled wherever you are? The loss of magic has been a harder blow than I could ever have imagined so I am beyond glad that owls still seem to be able to carry letters: I feel I would go mad without something to distract my mind.

Yours sincerely,

M.P.

  

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no, really MJ is just showing off at this point

Dear M.P.,

I've found myself in Hogsmeade as well, and rather regret not leaving when I had the chance, as several of my friends have. It's somehow infinitely more difficult to be without magic entirely than it is to follow the statute of secrecy outside of Hogsmeade.

I'm hoping that the problem is settled soon; I know that it's not nearly as difficult as the plague was, but that doesn't mean that it isn't a problem.

A question for distraction: what do you like to read?

Sincerely,
A.

  

27th June, 1888

Dear Mr A,

At the moment I find myself reading anything I can get my hands on simply to alleviate the boredom. I always believed that my days were filled with indolence but until this fog I had not realised how much I love being out of doors with friends. Even attending a ball would be a thrill, though I promise I would not force you to dance!

Instead I have steadily made my way through my father’s amusing muggle novels (he thinks they’re hidden well!) and all my aunt’s books on etiquette (there are quite a few!) and neither has managed to amuse me for long.

And how do you occupy your time, Mr A?

Yours sincerely,

M.P.

PS: I am grateful for your reply. I was beginning to worry you had perished somehow.

  

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no, really MJ is just showing off at this point

29th June

Dear M.P.,

Those all sound delightful - in particular the muggle novels. I myself am rather fond of Shakespe I'll admit to have dabbled in reading them in the past myself. Did any titles stick out to you?

I've been reading, as well, and I've been trying to keep my business running as much as I can, which has involved a great deal of going to and from the post office. Which does, at least, give me something to do, although I believe they are getting sick of me.

I'm sorry to hear that you worried, and am pleased to hear that you're well.

Sincerely,
A.

  

30th June, 1888

Mr A,

Your business? I am full of intrigue now and you simply must tell me what it is! The majority of my family do not believe in work so I would like to know what a gentleman such as yourself does so I can inform them their opinions are quite wrong and being respectable and useful can go hand in hand!

I rather think idleness might be the ruin of good minds.

Yours sincerely,

M.P.

  

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no, really MJ is just showing off at this point

1st July

Dear M.P.,

I suppose this may reveal my identity, if you haven't figured it out already: I'm a private attorney. I started out in Magical Law Enforcement to get my license, and then moved to working as a defense attorney. I rather agree with you, as well - the muggles have a saying that 'idle hands are the devil's tools' (or some such; I am not as familiar as some) and I sometimes I find myself agreeing.

Sincerely,
A.

  

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