I Really Need To Learn How To Block My Mind

[Seneca Lestrange]

10th October 1887

Cousin Tiberius,

I apologize if my letter is coming at an unfortunate time. Your family suffered a great tragedy recently I really wasn't sure when it would be the right time to write you about my progress with my legilimency project, as we discussed.

Things on the Legilimency front are going really well. I finished your book. I will read it one more time, of course, to ensure that I have really sunk in everything it has to offer. For the time being, I have enclosed a copy of my personal notes for you to look over when you have the time so you can give me your input as to my comprehension of the finer details of the art.

I was also wondering if you've made any breakthroughs in your research regarding the removal of emotions. I have a newfound urgency regarding learning Occlumency. You see, with my brother's birth, that strikes Belphoebe out as a possible teacher, as she will undoubtedly be so busy with him! As such, you have become my only chance.

Yours,

Seneca Lestrange

@'Tiberius Lestrange' @'Ophelia Dippet'

  

[Tiberius Lestrange]

11 October 1887

Cousin,
      Your notes are a welcome distraction from recent events. I'll go over them in my free time over the next few days and send them back with any commentary I have.

      My own research has yielded mixed results. I've found a potion which temporarily suppresses all emotion and would be quite convenient for this purpose, but I fear that learning occlumency under such circumstances would be deceptively easy, and the skill would not translate to your unaltered mind. Unless you intend to use this potion consistently in everyday life, it would be worthless to use it during instruction. It might be possible to begin with it and then slowly ween yourself off of it, but this would be rather cumbersome and so if you have, as you said, a "newfound urgency" to master the skill I cannot recommend this as a very expedient path to doing so.

      If you require my assistance with or without this potion's help I am willing to revisit the issue of tutelage; however my wife's health has made it impossible to use my home as a location for any such meetings, at least until she has recovered. When did you expect to begin?

T. Lestrange

  

[Seneca Lestrange]

12th October 1887

Cousin Tiberius,

Thank you for the quick response, Cousin! I am happy that my writings have been able to do that for you.

I agree that using that potion would, in the long run, be less help than it is worth. I must ask, however, in what way it suppresses emotion? Say, I could drink some of it to endure having to work with someone I don't like so my true feelings don't show?

I would begin my lessons today, but unless you were planning on taking up a teaching position at Hogwarts, I don't think that could happen until the Christmas holidays at the earliest. You see, I am already engaged on my November Hogsmeade weekend - Papa wants me to meet my new sibling on that day, so I will have to sacrifice any academic pursuits!

Yours,

Seneca Lestrange

  

[Tiberius Lestrange]

       

14 October 1887

Cousin,
      Nothing so useful, I'm afraid. I fear the change in personality while using it would make its presence too obvious to be used casually.

      I'll see whether I can uncover anything more valuable before the Christmas holiday.
 

T. Lestrange

  

[Seneca Lestrange]

15th October 1887

Cousin Tiberius,

Alright. Thanks.

Yours,

Seneca Lestrange

If this was modern day facebook messenger she'd only send the blue hand