Author's Note: So welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to my newest fic! I've been working on an SS/HG fic ever since I finished 'If' but, surprisingly, this isn't how I imagined it would be! In the middle of planning an entirely different fic, I found myself stuck for inspiration and so browsed back through the other things I'd started writing. I'd written the very first letter from Lucius to Snape two years ago, but never continued. However this time, I decided I'd give it a go and here we are! The characters, in my opinion, wrote this for themselves. I suggest that you read the sender and the recipient of each letter, as well as the date on which they're sent, just so that you don't have to try and work it out from the content of the letters! Please leave a review, just so I can see how I'm doing. I hope you enjoy the first chapter of Yours Faithfully. Thanks!

A missive from Miss H. Granger to Mrs G. Potter.

10th September 2002

Ginny, I know you told me not to write whilst you are on your honeymoon but I just could not resist! I've been reading all about wizarding America, and there's absolutely tons of interesting things to do! I only wish that I had the opportunity to visit. Something that sounds particularly fascinating is Salem – I'm sure you know all about the witch trials there, but there's a museum and everything. Also, there's a wonderful shopping district in New York exclusively for wizarding objects and, of course, I can highly recommend the muggle shopping too! Harry will no doubt hate me for saying this, but Tiffany's is surely the place to go for classic jewellery. If he whines too much, I also read about an impressive Quidditch pitch in Texas – although, it isn't really my cup of tea! Wherever you visit, make sure you take dozens of photographs on the camera that Colin gave you as a wedding present. I'll make sure that I sacrifice an evening to look through every last one of them with you!

I also had to write to you because I've gone against your word. I know you told me not to end the relationship with Lewis, but I simply couldn't abide it any longer! Arrogance has always been a pet hate of mine and, although he is both handsome and intelligent, his constant preening was just intolerable! I can't stand a man who cares more about his hair than I do my own, and you know how little attention I pay to mine! He wasn't particularly upset when I broke the news, but neither was I. It's lovely to have peace and quiet in the flat again, and he never could understand my complex love affair with Shakespeare – such a pity! Lewis was always harping on about how I don't "appreciate the finer things in life", but what could be finer than a glass of red wine and a good book? I do think that this is the last time I will see someone you recommend, but only because I never seem to like them enough. The next man will have to meet my list of requirements to qualify for even being looked at twice – I feel I've neglected it for far too long – even though you think it's laughable. Not all of us can meet our future husbands at the age of 11, you know!

By now you'll have grown inexorably bored with my ramblings, so I will sign this letter off. Only I must ask that you write a reply to my letter, even if it is just a few lines; I've always valued your opinion, and I especially need it regarding my love life – you know how terrible I am with all that. I heartily wish that you and Harry were here for my birthday tomorrow but I suppose I shall have to be satisfied with the gift you bring me back from America! Make it something interesting!

A missive from Mr L. Malfoy to Professor S. Snape.

12th September 2002

Severus, my dear friend! I know that I have neglected you sorely for the past few years and that you will no doubt be displeased upon receiving this letter. I have never been especially good at keeping up a correspondence, so you must forgive me for this abominable disregard! I trust that you are well, although I have read several newspaper reports that refer to your growing depression – I hope this is not true, for you know I cannot abide melancholic gentlemen. Speaking of unhappiness, Draco has become wilder than ever. I know you have always warned me against indulging him too much but I simply cannot help it, especially since the demise of his mother – by the way, it was very bad form of you not to attend her funeral.

Life at the Manor is as dreary and ennuyeux as one might expect. I have come to have a great fondness for the garden which, owing to Narcissa's delicate complexion, I have heretofore not really been able to enjoy. It might also interest you to know that I have recently decided to install a potions work-area in the manor, in order to dabble with the wealth of ingredients that I find growing in my grounds. Whilst my initial intentions were purely to satisfy myself, I hope that this will tempt you into visiting me here. We have been friends for a terribly long time, Severus, and my hope that we would be able to salvage some of our friendship is a genuine one.

I digress – I find myself becoming a little too overwhelmingly emotional. There is a reason for my writing to you after all this time, and I must admit that it is purely selfish. I need your help, Severus, because I too am dying. I have not yet been able to confess this to anyone, especially not Draco for Merlin knows what that would do to him, but I fear that you will be the only one capable of helping me. The healers have diagnosed that my brain is deteriorating due to an unknown bit of Dark Magic – it seems that, although the Dark Lord did not kill me directly, he has come to get me in the end. Both the Dark Lord and Dumbledore trusted you, and only you, to brew their personal potions, and I must confess that I am the same. Although the healers are qualified and, a select few at least, know what they are talking about, I find that I would not trust my life into any of their hands. I have been desperately hoping that you would know something about the condition, or know of a potion that would cure my affliction. It is simply not fitting for a Malfoy to die of such a shameful ailment, and I am sure that you will see the urgency that is required with this matter. At present, the disease is not restricting my everyday activities, but as it progresses I will become immobile and, for want of a better turn of phrase, insane.

I must reassure you Severus that, although I am ill, I am no less powerful. If you refuse to oblige and assist, I will have to use baser means to force you. Need I remind you of that particular predicament in your seventh year? I do believe that, because of me, your desires were well and truly met – it was I who ushered that infuriating little chit into your bed and made you a man. As those less refined than ourselves might say: it's "tit for tat", I did that for you and you must do the gentlemanly thing in return. If serving Lord Voldermort taught us anything, it was that courtesy is necessary at all times – it is only polite to say 'thank you' when pillaging a house, after all. Oh, I mustn't forget that the utmost secrecy is also required. I am having enough trouble calming my son as it is, and I find that Skeeter woman most frustrating.

I expect a hasty reply Severus, hopefully with the best of news. Do not disappoint me; I really do not wish to expose myself to the dank air of Hogwarts' dungeons any time soon.

A missive from Professor S. Snape to Mr L. Malfoy.

14th September 2002

I must say I was surprised to receive your letter, Lucius. You are as eloquent as ever, and I am pleased to see that you have not lost your pernicious edge – an achievement indeed! I can only hope that when I reach your age, I will still be as strikingly spiteful as I am now. There are not many people in today's world who are capable of writing excellent missives, and so I must say that it was a change to receive one I could appreciate. With regards to your absence for the past three years, I cannot say that I have missed you all that much. In fact your incorrigible clinginess after the war was unbearable, and it has been a lot quieter in the dungeons without your irritating presence. I am certainly not suffering from depression, and you contradict yourself by believing such dross and then saying how you loathe Miss Skeeter. One thing that I do suffer from, however, is a distinct lack of challenging work. Teaching classes is all very well, but the problem you have given me to solve is truly intriguing, as well as greatly saddening.

I have been spending the time since I received your letter hunting for information about your condition. In fact, I am led to believe that I missed out on a truly excellent Jam Roly Poly at dinner, because I was cooped up with my books. However, it is with no small amount of regret that I must inform you that my research thus far has been to no avail. My library at home, which you know is extensive, has not provided a single thing, nor has the Hogwarts library yielded any useful information. I vaguely remember reading a passage about such an affliction, but cannot for the life of me remember the name of the book or the author. My search will not end yet for I do believe that Albus has a large collection of books that may be of use to me, however if further research does not produce what we are looking for, I ask your permission to refer this matter to someone else.

Your privacy will not be jeopardised if this happens, for the person with whom I intend to share your predicament (if necessary) thoroughly understands the need for secrecy. We have worked together several times over the years, and I have full confidence in her ability to help us. She is a bright witch; observant and persistent – qualities which are useful in a researcher. I know that this will offend your sensibilities and your requirements, but you must trust me. As you choose to remind me often, you are one of my greatest friends and I will not see you die. Can you imagine the outrage it would cause if the wizarding world was to lose Lucius Malfoy? Your reputation as the man we all love to hate will go down in history, and I'm sure even Potter will attest to that. Do you see much of the gormless git about the ministry? I hear that he's as dense as ever, especially following his marriage to Miss Ginevra Weasley. It is a shame we cannot all afford a month-long holiday in America. Although, with the Malfoy fortune, you probably could.