Narcissa

[alt_regulus]

Cousin, I couldn't help but notice that you've just expanded your plans for your holiday entertaining. I wonder if you could use help with any of the preparations. I seem to be less in demand at the moment, so I'd be glad if there were something I could do for you.

I had a bit of a surprise yesterday. I stopped into one of the little shops down my street for sticking plasters and several other things, and while they couldn't supply the plasters--can you imagine: they stock wound cream but not plasters and then were out of washing up liquid?--Sorry. The point is, who should be there behind the counter but our cousin Nymphadora? Says she took the job to supplement what she's earning at the Ministry. I hadn't realised she was working there, either, though I guess I wouldn't have done. If I hadn't just seen her at the funeral, I doubt I'd have recognised her at all; before we were all together that day it had been ages since I'd laid eyes on her.

She's just as I remember, though: well, I can't say whether the hair was purple back then (and, obviously it wasn't at the funeral), but it was always one sort of odd or another, and there's always been that same inability to pick up one thing without knocking something else over. Merlin's tiny pants, that girl was always hopelessly clumsy, wasn't she? Well she's just as awkward now. Fortunately, it was the tin of biscuits and not the bottle of lamp oil that she knocked off the counter and then stepped on. I thought she was going to overturn a whole table of fruitcakes when she bent to pick it up.

I wonder how long she'll keep the job, honestly. I'd think she might break more than she sells. On the other hand, she did persuade me to buy a quantity of cinnamon and several other things that were nowhere on my list. She plied me with spiced cider and a sample tray of cinnamon biscuits that tasted just like the ones Kreacher made when we were children.

I asked her about that, why even when you can get the ingredients, nothing tastes as good now as then, and do you know what she told me? She says you can't buy proper cinnamon these days. I had no idea! Says it's not really cinnamon at all that they're selling in the shops, but cassia, instead. I suppose it's to do with import restrictions and pricing issues, but the point of it all is that her shop's got the goods. They've got a supplier for true cinnamon--the packet says it's from Sri Lanka--and they've got marvellous-smelling, fresh cloves and nutmeg and candied ginger. And now I have, as well.

I couldn't wait for Fifi to come round on Monday, so I summoned Kreacher last night and set him to baking. My flat smells a treat, I can tell you!

I suppose that was entirely more than you wanted to know, wasn't it, cousin?

Clearly, I need something more to occupy myself with than writing things in this book. Do, please, tell me you have some task I could do for you. Or at least agree to have tea with me some afternoon this week. Otherwise I may go mad and begin putting up fairy lights and pine boughs and baking mince pies. It won't be pretty, I can assure you.

Comments

[alt_pansy]

See, now, that seems to be the good sort of mad. The kind where you get really involved in something, and have mince pies to show for it.

[alt_regulus]

You only say so because you've never tasted my cooking!

[alt_pansy]

Well, I've never baked a thing in my life, so you're one step ahead of me. I'd probably forget to add sugar or leave it in the oven for too long and set it on fire.

[alt_sally_anne]

Baking's really not that hard. It's easier than potion making. But you've got an elf for that anyway right?

[alt_pansy]

Well, yeah. But it's not like I'll have one of my own when I leave school. Unless I do well enough to have a place of my own that comes with one. Or unless mum leaves me Hitty, but that wouldn't be for years and years.

Perhaps we could mess around in our kitchen when you come? I'm sure Hitty wouldn't mind showing us a few things if we asked. She's a bit helpless when it comes to laundry, but her sticky buns are top hole.

[alt_sally_anne]

I can show you how to bake bread if you want. I expect Hitty's is better but mine doesn't need house-elf magic to come out right.

I know a cookie recipe too.

[alt_pansy]

Oooh, that would be fun!

[alt_sally_anne]

Would your mum have honey? It uses a lot of honey.

[alt_pansy]

I'll write her so she'll be sure to have plenty.