don't die pls

[Seneca Lestrange]

July 6 1884,

Dearest Gretchen,

My poor, dear friend! I just learnt of Aunt Silvia and Cousin Aric's deaths. I would have never thought that that foolish illness would have claimed the life of anyone in the family, but the thing is done and cannot be undone.

With them sadly gone, I cannot help but fear for your own life and safety. I know that you and Cousin Meta have been safely locked away, but this is an extraodinary illness and I cannot help but fear that it might somehow reach you even if Uncle Orestes has taken precautions on your safety. What if the water or the food is infected, or the house elves did not clean the silverware used by one of the sick people before giving it to you?

Please, keep safe and keep me updated on your health. I should hate to lose you.

Yours,

Seneca

[Seneca Lestrange]

July 7 1884,

Dearest Gretchen,

My heart despairs for you! First I learn that there have been losses in your household and now I learn that you are stuck like a prisoner in Hogsmeade! And you have yet to write to me and my mind wanders to the worst possible scenarios!

I know that the Ministry had the best in mind when they took that decision, but I cannot help but fear for you and any of my dear friends that have found themselves stuck in that town.

I imagine that people are panicking by now and horrible things happen when people panic. What if you run short of food and water? What if the poor try to break into your homes and claim your supplies for themsleves?

Please, stay safe Gretchen. Keep some sort of tool to protect yourself if the worst happens. I imagine the house elves bring you butter knives with your food?

Yours,

Seneca

[Gretchen Lestrange]

Dearest Seneca,

I apologise for not having been able to write- the household here is in ruins. Our food was a whole hour late this morning and it took me nearly three hours to get a spare owl just so that I could reply! We were informed of Aric and Granny’s deaths by the house-elf, but I haven’t seen another human being save Meta in nearly a week, but neither of us have shown symptoms so it seems to be working no matter how inconvenient it is to be confined to a single room for such a period of time- I doubt the quarantine will affect us seeing as we cannot move beyond these four walls anyway. Since your letter I’ve been making sure to keep a jug of water back from dinner, boiling it in the fire and making sure to wash the cutlery myself before we eat, though I doubt that would save me if one of the house-elves messed up with the food! If I were not a Lestrange, I think I would be quite scared by events.

The house-elf has assured me that we have sufficient stores of food and water, but I will admit I had not given thought that the house might be broken into! Perhaps they should make the people in the slums have to stay there, just to be safe! They’re villains at the best of time- you always hear such horrible stories of people who are stuck on desert islands who resort to cannibalism! I shall certainly take your advice- we must be having steak at some point- I’m sure a steak knife would be much more use incase of a raid than a butter knife, though I’m certain a big dictionary would also be of use!

How is the Manor? I so wish I could be there with you.

Yours,
Gretchen

  

[Seneca Lestrange]

OOC | I'm writing that as if Sen knows Gretchen's in London, since you wrote that letter after we knew about the Lestranges and all. xD

July 10 1884,

Dearest Gretchen,

I am glad to know that you are safe and sound! I would hate for my dearest friend to be in danger, especially after we lost Aunt Silvia and Aric already. I can only imagine how sad it must be in your house, with them gone. Luckily for me, all of my siblings are safe, save for of course, Valeria, but I am sure that she will not die.

Things are well here, save for the fact that you are not around and we constantly receive news of this relative's or friend's death. We have the Carrows staying over with us as well. I was not entirelly enthusiastic about it at first, but I am not happy with their presence. Mr. Carrow has a daughter about Tullia's age, Miss Artemisia, and she is very pretty and nice! I would quite like to have a sister like her, rather than someone constantly bitter and unking like Cornelia.

Yours,

Seneca

[Gretchen Lestrange]

Dearest Seneca,

Mama is dead.

The governess says it was of the laughing plague and that she didn’t suffer, but I am still grievously upset. I did not even know she was ill, but I suppose father concealed it to keep us all from too much distress in hope she would recover. I did not believe an adult would die of this plague- Granny was old, and Aric was very young- but it appears it is more serious than we thought!

It also seems muggles cannot catch the plague, so I suppose it is much safer here in London, even if I am scared to be surrounded but muggles and mudbloods. I suppose they won’t try to lynch us if they don’t know we have magic, and that we’d be able to fend them off if need be.

Have you heard? Apparently Hogsmeade is on fire! I hope all our friends are in a safe place!

Yours,
Gretchen

  

[Seneca Lestrange]

July 13 1884,

Dearest Gretchen,

Oh dear, that's so terrible! I hope your mother's will be the final death in your household and in our family in general.

I did hear about the fire of Hogsmeade and I am so glad that Papa brought us here for I've heard most Wellingtonshire homes have burnt to the ground. We are lucky to have the manor, as if our own house was destroyed we could always move here. I really hope all of our friends stay safe, but I am losing hope every single day. Miss Eudora Shafiq died, according to today's paper. We were not particularly close - she was quite odd, if I must confess - but she was still a friend nonetheless.

Yours,

Seneca

[Gretchen Lestrange]

Dearest Seneca,

I hope so to- Papa is refusing to let us out of the house until we are clear of the plague, so I hope it will not be long. I am getting along better with Meta but there is only so much time I can spend with them before I go crazy, especially in London where there is so much else to do and see!

It is such a shame it seems to be the grandest houses being affected- imagine if all the purebloods died out! It wouldn’t surprise me if this was a plot by the mudbloods to get rid of us all! Miss Shafiq might have been peculiar but it is still a pureblooded life lost, after all. Some houses might be forced to marry halfbloods just to survive!

The maid seems to think our Wellingtonshire home has been burnt down- I can’t say I’m sorry, this house is much larger and more comfortable, though it is surrounded by muggles- so I think Papa might be moving us to London permaneantly.

Yours,
Gretchen

  

[Seneca Lestrange]

In a messy handwriting, with obvious hints of tears falling on it.

July 23 1884,

Dearest Gretchen,

Iris is dead. An adder killed her. I'm too upset to write more.

Seneca

[Gretchen Lestrange]

Dearest Seneca,

I am so very sorry to hear about poor, dear Iris! I’m sure she is now in heaven, for she must have died a noble death. I’m sure Linette is sad too, for she’s been moping all day.

I wish I could see you. Poor, dear, Iris.

Yours,
Gretchen