Listentome.Hope.Hope.Withthemoldgatheringonthewallsofmycell.Laughatme，Albus.Goonhatingmelikeyoualwayshave.Enjoyyourself.

Regards，

othatmadbirdofyours.HopeIdidn，tkillhimtoomuch.

Restassured，speakingofsaidduel，thatIamtakinggoodcareofIt.

Thankyouforyourletter.WhenIthinkonit，Iseemtorecallyouentingonopowerintheworldcouldstopmefrombeing－－Ibelieveyourwordswere－－＂asmugbastard.＂I，mafraidIremainasincibleasever.I，vebeeinganowleversinceourduel，andwashardlysurprisedtoreceiveone.Indeed，Iwouldhavebeguntoworryinanotheryearortwo.

Howareyouspendingyourhours，whennotptingnature?Youare，Ihope，fortable，andallowedbooksaswelscorrespondence.Alongthoselines，actually，Ihaveenclosedabookyoumightenjoy.SomefasatingrefisofTransfigurationtheorycameoutofWalesiwenties－－youmightwellhavemisseditwhileyouwereoffpreparingtoquerEurope.

Igaveyourcharm，aperchbyFawkes，fire，andthreewhitemice.She，swonderfullywell－temperedaftersuchaflight.AndFawkeshimselfisquitewell.Notevenyou，adeptasyouareatsuchthings，couldkillhimenoughtobeaproblem，Gellert.IamiiltHogwarts，teagTransfiguration，headofGryffindorHouse，andAssistantHeadmaster.IamperhapssomewhatlessofanoverachieverthanIefirstmet.Still，Iamindeedenjoyingmyself.Thebeginningoftermhasbeenquitebusy，hencemyslowrespoisapeculiardelightthatOctoberthe13thhasbeenaquietandpeacefulday.

DearGellert，

October13th，1951

[enclosure:OfMidMatricution，GwalchmaiGwartney&IantoapMadog]

So，yes，Gellert，Iamnotsurprised.Andthismight，inturn，easasurprisetoyou，butIdonothateyou.Ihavesaiditbefore，Iknow，duringourduel，andIsayitagain.NordoIlookdownmyyou，nordoIughatyou.Doyoufindthisdifficulttouand?I，mafraidImightfinditdifficulttoexpin.Anditmightsimplybeanothersymptomofbeingasmugbastard.