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[COURTNEY MERCER]

Dear F

My name is Courtney Blake Deville Mercer. Apparently, I'm your daughter. I was born on June 9th thirteen years ago. I'm in my third year at Hogwarts and I'm in Slytherin. My hair is naturally blond like Mom's, and my eyes are blue like my Grandmother Victoria's. I'm tall for my age. Mom says I'll end up around six feet tall when I stop growing.

Mom never talks about you if she can help it. I don't know what it means. Corban and I were always curious, but I let him ask all the questions. She'd always get a bit mad whenever you were brought up. Did something happen before you split up? I do want to know a lot of things, though. I know what it means to be a Deville. I know all about my mother, but I wish I knew more about the other part of me. The part that comes from you.

I don't know if you want to know about me at all, but I figure you can't hate kids too much if you took care of Cassandra and had three other kids. I'm not sure you even knew about me before yesterday., anyway.

Tell Nimue to stay if you want to reply. I don't really expect it, though, so she won't bother you.

Sincerely,

Courtney Blake

[JESSE MERCER]

Courtney,

I'm sure you were as surprised to meet me as I was to meet you. It feels like so long ago that your mother and I parted ways. I've missed out on watching you grow up, but I know your mother has raised you more than well enough. You're turning into a beautiful young lady.

Your mom and I had to part ways when Corban and Cassie were just two years old. The enemy was all around, and we decided that we needed to split up for the safety of ourselves and the twins. We never planned to meet again, so "surprising" isn't nearly an adequate word to describe our meeting at King's Cross. Nothing bad happened between us before we parted, but you're right, I didn't know you existed until we met there. I think your mother doesn't like to talk about me or anything that happened before because she is a very present and future-oriented person. The past is in the past, and nothing can change it. It's better to focus on what is, and what will become.

Even so, you can ask me anything you wish. I can understand you feeling as though a part of you is missing, and I'll do my best in the time we have together to fill in the pieces, however long that time might be.

Your father,
Jesse Mercer

[COURTNEY MERCER]

Father,

You're right, she is very has her priorities straight. It just always seemed like something more to me. Maybe I'm just paranoid.

I kinda feel like I should be mad at you, but it's not your fault that

We have such a big family, you know. I've only met a handful of my older siblings. Christian and Cynthia visit a lot. They show up together a lot, so I think they might be like Corban and Cassandra or Mom and Uncle Jonathan. It's hard to tell, we don't see them that much. Do you think it's weird? I don't, but that might be because Mom of Mom. Most people think it's weird, though.

I didn't know how many kids Mom had until I found a box of birth certificates. Some of them must have died or something because she won't talk about them, either. I did sneak around the attic and find photo albums, though. How many other kids do you have?

Mom says people used to all her Satan. Is that true?

Did you ever go to Hogwarts?

Did you ever love Mom?

Where are you from?

Do you have any other family around?

Would it be okay if I saw you during the holidays? We usually go home to see Mom, so maybe like one day then if you're not busy or anything.

What were your best subjects in school? I make good grades in everything, but I'm best at Potions. I don't actually like it all that much, though. I started a few new subjects this year. Divination is interesting, but everyone says it's dumb. I wish it was real, though. It would be neat, I think. Cassandra says she does very well in it and that she's a Seer, but I don't know if I should believe her or not. Is she? I really like Arithmancy and Ancient Runes. The latter might be my favorite class. I wish we were still in Bulgaria, though. Durmstrang is the school for the Dark Arts. It would be more useful than this Defense crap. Mom still teaches us, but it would be better learning it year round instead of just two months during summer and Christmas holidays.

Do you teach your kids like Mom teaches us?

I also kinda like Herbology, but people think that's soft, too. Have you ever seen Little Shop of Horrors? It's a Muggle musical, and it's a little lame, but I think the idea of a plant that eats people is super cool. Do they have one that does that? I've tried researching it but I can't find much and when I ask people they give me a funny look.

Sincerely,

C.B.M.

[JESSE MERCER]

Courtney,

I've only met a handful of your older siblings as well. I'm not sure if Christian and Cynthia are like Corban and Cassie, but I don't think it's all that strange. I knew about your mom and your Uncle Jonothan before Corban and Cassie were even born, so incest isn't a foreign idea to me. Cassie and Corban didn't know they were related when they began dating, but even if they had, I wouldn't have had a problem with it. All three of you have very good blood.

Your mother and I both have had our share of children, and yes, some are deceased. I had three before I met your mother, all of whom are dead now. Counting you and the twins, I now have six living children. I'm sure your mom has had many more than I even know about. People did used to call her Satan, that's true. The nickname came about from a religious zealot that opposed the Deville family. It was during that war that your mother and I met, actually. As for whether or not I've ever loved her, there are times when I think that I have, or that I do. I've never said anything to her, however. Our relationship has been more business-oriented than anything else, and I know neither of us wants to upset that dynamic.

I did go to Hogwarts for the first three years of my wizarding schooling. I received letters from both Hogwarts and Durmstrang, and my mother wished me to go to Hogwarts, though both of my parents said the choice was up to me. I chose Hogwarts at first to please my mother, then transferred to Durmstrang later when I had more of an idea of what I wanted to do with my life. I was in Ravenclaw House. Hogwarts is a very good school, and I'm glad to see you going there.

I grew up in Sicily, with my parents, an older brother named Jared, and a younger sister named Julia. My parents are dead now, and I don't know anything of what became of my siblings. We were once very close, all three of us, and I still think of them often. Sometimes I wish I hadn't been so hasty in acquiring my independence, and that I had kept better care of my relationships with them. It's all said and done now, though, and I'm not sure they are alive. You and your mother and your siblings are my family now, and I look forward to seeing you during the holidays. Your mother has invited me to stay at your manor for a while, and as of now I have no plans of leaving before Christmastime. I'll let you know if that changes, but I would like to see you, too.

I'm very glad to hear you do so well at Potions. That was my favorite subject when I was in school, as well as the Dark Arts I learned at Durmstrang. Potions was always just a little bit ahead, though. I love the various and potent effects a well-brewed potion or poison can have, and I loved learning about all the different ingredients and their effects, and how to mix them together to create the potion I desired. Medicine and potions have been my career since I graduated, second to serving your mother, of course.

Your other interests, like Herbology and Arithmancy and Ancient Runes, are intriguing as well. Don't let anyone tell you that they're "soft," or not worth pursuing. Power comes from you, not from your favorite subjects. In the right hands, something seemingly insignificant can become a valuable tool. Remember that, Courtney.

Jesse Mercer

[COURTNEY MERCER]

Well, I'm not sure anyone's quite like them. Cassandra's sort of obsessed with him, I think. I didn't get to know her much when they started dating, but now that we know we're related we've spoken a bit more. It's nearly as bad as Christian drooling over Mom. Only, you know, I think that's understandable and she actually likes him better than anyone else, too!

Mom has 17 kids last I checked. I dunno who all's dead, though. That's pretty funny. Mom's pretty proud of her Satan title. Makes sense, I guess, with her surname. She'd like being loved, but I don't think she loves anyone. It's probably good you didn't say anything, even if it would feed her ego. Christian disagrees. He said she loved someone named Paul, but it's hard to picture her in love. It would take someone special to get there, I think. She has all these walls and she wants to keep herself like a statue or something. It's probably smart. I'd never want to get my heart broken, either.

Cassandra Cassie says it is possible that Mom could love someone else. I think she wants you two to get together or something. Did you really used to be engaged? Charlotte told me that when she was here about a year ago. Why would you get married if you don't love each other? Cynthia talked about people way back when using marriages to form alliances, but if you were already alliances, that wouldn't really do much, would it?

Do you think you'd ever tell her if you knew for sure you loved her? If what Cassie says is right? It's weird thinking about her in a relationship. Will you two have more kids? She doesn't need more, but she's been trying anyway. I heard her talking to Cameron about trying to have the Dark Lord's baby. That's kinda weird. And a bunch of his Death Eaters, too. They were talking about good blood, but Constantine supposedly has good blood and I don't think he's all that great.

Corey Cornelius wants to know if you have tattoos.

Ravenclaw's good. The Sorting Hat really wanted me there, but I begged it to put me in Slytherin because I thought Mom would be mad if I was anywhere else. I regret it sometimes. Slytherin's great, but it's so obvious for us, you know?

That sucks. I won't ever escape my family, I think. There's too many of us. What are my other siblings like?

It'll be good seeing you there. Christmas is always great at our house. Do you like the garden? I helped with a lot of that. The labyrinth was my idea.

Potions is interesting, in theory, but in practice I find it dull. Maybe I'm too good at it. Maybe I'm not challenged enough in my class. I don't know, but I don't enjoy it as much as some of my other classes. Also, your little speech was kinda corny. It was nice, though. It made me feel better.

From,

Court

[JESSE MERCER]

Courtney,

I got that feeling too when they met at the platform. It would worry me much more if Cassie's affections were directed at someone besides Corban, but he's my son. I trust him with her, even if her devotion is a bit extreme. I should have asked her more about her boyfriend, but I'm not always with my children as often as I'd like to be, and Cassie might have thought it awkward to talk with me about him. I remember feeling the same way when I told my parents about a girlfriend or two. If I had learned his name, I might have had some idea of what was going on. Your brother isn't the only Corban in the world, but it is a unique name.

I didn't know your mother until after Paul, but I've heard that she loved him, too. Love is kind of a tricky thing, which is another reason why our relationship is strictly business and alliance. Your mother is smart to keep herself guarded, especially with all of her suitors. Heartbreak is no fun, to say the least, and love can mess with your head, make you do silly things. Only rare types of love can make two people stronger, which is why I'm sure your mother would agree with me when I say I'd rather not mess with the whole thing. On the other hand, if the moment was right and I had a clear head about what I was doing, I might tell her. It all depends on a lot of different things.

We were going to get married to cement our alliance and make it official. Besides, your mom loves weddings. They're a great excuse to get family together and have a party. It was going to be extravagant, at one point. But then we ended up having to separate, two months before we were supposed to be married.

You can tell Cornelius that yes, I do have two tattoos. I have a wolf design on my upper back, for the house I was in at Durmstrang, and a raven on my upper arm for Hogwarts.

As a Deville, you'll do well in Slytherin. I'm sure it made your mother proud, and there's no reason that you can't express your more "Ravenclaw" qualities in that house. There were times I wished I'd been sorted into Slytherin, also. With everyone being so different, I'm sure the Sorting Hat has a difficult job trying to categorize them all.

I know a lot about your older siblings, but I'm sure I don't know anything that you don't. I don't know them that well personally; they were always off doing things for your mother. You might say I know of them. As for your younger half-siblings, this is Xavier's first year at wizarding school, and he told me in an owl that he'd been sorted into Ravenclaw. He's always been a quick learner, very intelligent. Viola isn't afraid to get her hands dirty, but she's got quite a temper on her that will be useful if she learns to control it. Jadis likes dragons a lot, and has a purple one that she carries around. I think she'll do very well in Care of Magical Creatures. Maybe she'll be a dragon tamer one day.

It could be that you're not challenged enough, yes. But you're only in your third year; believe me, the challenges will come. Even if it's not the most interesting subject, it's still a strength of yours, so I would stick with it. And you're right, my "speech" was a little bit corny, but I'm glad it helped. Sometimes, the way I give Cassie advice, she feels it necessary to tell me I'm older than God. I remind her that yes, I was born before your mother.

Your father,
Jesse