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                   Dear Stella,

      Please do forgive the long delay in my response. I have been quite
busy.   Although I have not found the time to write you in several weeks,
rest assured that I have thought of you constantly, my dear.  

       My falcon's name is Mercury, and I am sure that he enjoyed your
kind ministrations.  

         Stella, do not allow that charlatan in Sensation Alley to take
advantage of you!  He certainly ought to be able to judge properly the
capabilities of his own delivery birds.   That is the entire point of his
particular business.   Please keep me apprised of that situation.  

      Perhaps we should consider the purchase of a good, sturdy post bird
for you... a falcon like Mercury, for example.  

      Of course, I shall have to ask Headmaster Dumbledore for
permission to have you visit me, but the paperwork for the request is
standard, and it's hardly unusual for faculty to have guests during holidays.
I see no reason why the Headmaster ought to deny us permission.   In fact,
I rather suspect that he will be delighted.  

      There is nothing here which poses any danger to you, and no one will
dare to laugh at my guest!   In any case, there are a good number of
students here of Muggle origins, and Headmaster Dumbledore is quite adamant
in his views that, in the best interests of both worlds, Muggle-Wizard
relations ought to be encouraged -- within reasonable boundaries, in any case.

      As to Easter holiday, I think it best if I collect you at your home, and
bring you to Hogwart's.   There is plenty of time in which to obtain the
required special permission from the Ministry of Magic and the Federal Bureau
of Magic and Magical Affairs, and to set things up here at Hogwart's, so that
one of your fireplaces can be hooked into the general Floo network.   Although
it's rather unusual for the Floo network at Hogwarts to be connected to the
general Floo network at large, it has been done before, for various reasons,
and it's hardly a security risk for so temporary a connection.   Since you are
coming from such a distance, Headmaster Dumbledore is likely to agree -- and
if he does, it will likely be permitted.   My next letter should contain more
of the specifics.  
          Until then ~
           I remain yours,
                    Severus

                     Dear Stella,

       I am not sure that this turkey vulture is the right bird
for your needs.   I wish you'd not make the purchase until I am
able to come and see him for myself.   The issue is not the money,
as I know that you are well able to get the best price that
anyone can.   In your own world, you are far better at that than
I am; I do not care enough to bargain, whereas you do seem to
enjoy it a great deal.   But, the wizarding world is still very
new to you, and I do not want someone unscrupulous to
to take unfair advantage of you.   Why not wait until I collect
you for holiday?   I can see him then.  

      That brings me to other matters at hand...   Headmaster
Dumbledore has not only graciously given his permission for you
to visit, but he is now awaiting the holiday nearly as anxiously
as I am, I do believe.   He may well see more in your visit than
there actually is; He is rather paternal, a mentor to me, and...
let us just say that he would love to see me "settled" --
regardless of what I myself might want.   Also... as you well know,
my dear, I am an intensely private person, and we have talked at
great length, in the past, about the emotional 'masks' that each
of us wears publicly.   In fact, it might behoove us both for me
to remind you of that one evening, when we talked until well after
the fire died down, that night you chided me for my "stiffness"
and "rigid reserve" in public.   Do you remember that?   I told you
then that that was my outward face, my dear, and that even for you,
I found myself unable to drop it.   You do know that I care for you
a great deal, do you not?   But that public mask is even more
firmly in place here, where I am on constant display, and where I
must remain professional at all times.   I walk a very fine line,
one of which the Headmaster is well aware, and I cannot change that,
even to please you.   I do hope am sure that you will understand,
my dear.   In any case, to return to the subject of the Headmaster's
views of this visit, do not let his meddlesome tendencies bother
you; He is an old man, and he is constantly reminding me that, as
such, it is his prerogative to be that way.  

      I miss you, my dear... even more than usual.   I am at a loss
to explain this.   I find it increasingly difficult to wait for
Easter holiday.   Alas, I must wait, as I cetainly have no time
until then.  

     I would like to Floo into your home after the students leave
that Friday that Easter holiday begins.   Your fireplace will, by
then, be hooked into the magical Floo network, I have been assured.
May I suggest that either your formal parlour or your sitting room
(forgive me, but I am still confused as to which is what you call
your 'living space' and which is your 'denning space'...) fireplaces
are most appropriate?   Do let me know which one you've chosen to
be "public" with your next letter.  

          Until then ~
           I remain yours,
                       Severus

                    Dear Stella,

    I must confess that when Franklin first arrived here, I thought
you had gone completely mad.   I must inform you that that behemoth
of yours caused a serious commotion when he arrived at breakfast
several days ago.   He terrified quite a number of the smaller owls,
and he certainly gave quite a fright to the rest of us, as well!
Students and staff.   He came soaring in here, far more
gigantic than any of us had realized a vulture could possibly be.  
What sorts of animals have you Americans?  

    At any rate, he attempted to land on the Head Table, and,
unfortunately, he rather more used it as a runway, as it took him
most of the length of the table ultimately to come to a halt.   He
frightened Professor McGonagall so badly that she actually drew
her wand! (something I thought never to see!)   The creature then
waddled to the Headmaster, reached out, and nipped the tip of his
nose, before taking a large piece of ham from a platter (no, not
from one of our plates, but from the platter of clean food).   Only
after eating this piece of ham, did the wretched beast then turn,
and come over to me, and extend his leg to allow me to untie your
letter.   As soon as I released the letter from him, he wandered
over to Professor Lupin, and stepped towards the man's face until
they were quite literally nose-to-nose and attempting to stare each
other down.   Now, under most circumstances, I would hardly care if
the bird ate Professor Lupin, truthfully... but Lupin is our Defence
Against the Dark Arts instructor, and I feared for the bird's life
-- and your feelings -- should Lupin (who as been quite an ogre
these past few days -- as he usually is the week before a full moon.
I shall explain that more fully when you arrive.) have decided to
hex him!  

     At that point, Headmaster Dumbledore (who is usually good with
animals) and Rubeus Hagrid (who is our grounds- and games-keeper,
as well as our Care of Magical Creatures instructor, quickly came
over and drew the bird's attention away from Lupin, and began to
pet him in the hopes of quieting him.   He seemed to enjoy their
attentions, and he preened, for a while.  

    The next thing we knew, it -- he -- had, for some reason, taken
the notion to fly straight up to the top of the ceiling, and, began
to cruise the Hall! Now, I remembered what you had said about carrion
eaters, my dear, and so I was not concerned for the students' welfare,
but they were not so sanguine about the beast's intentions.  

    If that wasn't upsetting enough, he dived randomly down to the
students' tables, grabbing bits of food as interested him, frightening
the students badly enough that most of them flung themselves underneath
their tables, while others pulled out their wands and began to throw
hexes at him.   Now, Stella, please do not be concerned, my dear. The
spells that did reach him were minor, and I was able to remove them
easily and quickly; most of the students were so afraid that their aim
was abysmal.   In fact, I must remember to point this out to Professor
Lupin, as it is quite obvious that he is being remiss when teaching the
students how to handle dangerous situations with care.   And, of course,
the Headmaster restored order before your bird could be hit by one or
two spells.  

     Headmaster Dumbledore had visited your country many times in his
youth, and he says that he realized quickly that the bird meant no harm,
and was only looking about... and perhaps showing himself off.   He said
further that this vulture looks remarkably like an eagle, when in flight,
except that he is much larger, and the fact that his head is red -- not
white or yellow, like American eagles' heads are... Is that true?   Are
eagles as ugly as this fellow?   I was under the impression that eagles
were majestic birds. Although, I must admit, after seeing your Franklin
in flight (both in the Great hall that morning, and since, out of
doors... he does indeed look more graceful than anything I've ever seen
fly before...  

     Once the initial confusion had abated, most of the staff did agree
that he is a spectacular bird... In fact, despite his rocky beginning,
your Franklin seems to have made friends rather quickly, here.   The
sole exception is Professor Flitwick, who remains quite frightened of
the bird.   No wonder, since the creature is almost the same height as
Professor Flitwick, and must be very alarming to him!   Even Lupin finds
Franklin amusing.   He has even, along with Madam Hooch and Hagrid,
found the time to play with the beast with broomsticks and a quaffle.  
(I'll explain these strange-sounding things once you've arrived here;
They are all parts of a soccer-like game we wizards play.   If I told
you in this letter, you'd never believe me, anyway; It is a thing that
must be demonstrated.)  

    In fact, he has proven so popular that we have kept him a few extra days,
both to socialize him to people some more, and to try to train him to
behave better in the Great Hall.   At any rate, Franklin has "passed
muster", and you should purchase him.   The price is no great bargain,
but it is a fair price for such a bird.  

     Now, as to your visit...   Today is Tuesday; In a fortnight
plus two days (Friday), I shall Floo to your home at 2:00pm --
which is 9:00am to you.   That will allow us enough time, without
rushing, to take supper here at Hogwart's.   I recommend that you
refrain from eating breakfast, as the first experience of Floo travel
can be quite distressing, physically, although I assure you that the
discomfort passes quickly.   Hogwarts regularly provides ample meals.
Should you desire to eat a light late lunch, one will be available. (I
should point out here that wizarding methods of providing meals for
large numbers of people do not result in the nearly-inedible quality
of food served at most Muggle institutions and large gatherings. If you
arrive on Friday, that will give us an eight- or nine-day visit.   Your
home will be part of the Floo network, for the duration of your visit,
and you can wait until sometime during the second Sunday to return
home... if it suits you to stay here that long.   You may of course
return home at any time.  

    I eagerly look forward to your visit, Stella, my dear.  
         Until then ~
           I remain yours,
                     Severus