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┄┄ .•* 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐔𝐄 𝟓 *•. ┄┄

𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐲

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To my dear mother,

That's how my friend Evan would've started the letter, I'm sure. He's all proper and posh most of the time. When he isn't is when he had his guard down. Usually when it's just me and the boys.

Now, you must be wondering who the boys are. Well, they're my new friends. You were right. It's the first week—sorry I took so long to write but I forgot! But in my defense I wrote a note to you on Lily's letter before she sent hers off; I did forget to write one my own later on but it still counts!—anyway, I already have friends. I'm not sure whether they'll last, though. I might decide they're bad friends after a while, or simply get annoyed by their voices and try to avoid them as I do with old Susan from around the street. But Hogwarts is really different from our little town.

Either way, they're my new friends:

Evan, as I mentioned before, Evan Rosier. It's a really fancy name if you think about it or say it with a French accent. He's generally nice (ish). I wouldn't say he's a bad person but I'm sure that if I want to continue as his friend I'll have to knock the prejudice out of his mind. I met him on the train, you see, and do you know how he introduced himself? "Evan Rosier, pureblood." I was annoyed by it. But then again he grew up with those disgusting notions. But he isn't so bad, he doesn't act on his ideas. He didn't look disgusted when I said Lily was a muggleborn, so that was good. I think he just wants to make his parents proud.

Then we have Regulus. Regulus Black. I met him on the train (he was sitting with Evan). He was also the little boy from the train station; the family we used as our guides. He seemed rather insecure and confident at the same time. I still don't know where his beliefs are placed but until now he hasn't done anything for me to dislike him. I guess that's good. But I feel sorry for him. His brother is in Gryffindor, Sirius Black, and Regulus is a Slytherin, like me.

Oh, I totally forgot! I'm in Slytherin. That's the house for cunning and ambitious people. I'm still not sure what that means but I'll figure it out.

Anyway, Regulus got sorted into Slytherin but I don't think his brother was pleased with it. I dunno why. They're family, they're supposed to support each other. I guess families aren't all like ours or the Evans.

After, we have Rabastan Lestrange. I am officially in love with his name. Rabastan says he doesn't like it though. I disagree. It's so unique. I think it fits him. From the day I've known him, Rabastan seems really nice. He's rather formal sometimes (but so are Evan and Regulus) and doesn't talk much. Well, he does talk a lot, but it's only about Florence; the painting we met.

And then, last but not least, we have Barty Crouch Jr. His real name is Bartemius, but he says that's the worst name ever, and that his father probably named him Bartemius so he could share his pain by bearing the hated name. I don't think it's bad. I actually like it. It's unique. Anyway, Barty seems to have this inner fight against his father. I think that's why he's so aloof and informal. Not because he wasn't taught to be formal like the others, but because he does it on purpose. I dunno really. Maybe he's just like that. Either way, he's really funny and we get along well!

Those are my new friends. They're all in Slytherin with me. I haven't properly met the girls in my house (in my year) but I don't think they're very nice. They looked at me like I was dirt when I woke up later than them. It's bad enough their day walkers but to be pretentious ones. . . . Kill me already. Rosalyn Knight was passive with me and I think Meredith Bole only acted like a twit because she isn't a morning person or didn't have sugar in her blood. She could use with one of Joe's strawberry muffins.

Oh, Lily also introduced me to her friends. Alice is one of them. She talked about her before. She's really nice. Then there's Marlene and Dorcas, Lily has also mentioned them before. The thing is, they were nice during the team ride but after I was sorted they are being kind of cold. I dunno. I just know that this school has a lot of prejudice. And I was never more glad to be raised by you and dad. . . . You taught me to never judge others too quickly and to not base our opinions on prejudiced ideas. I plan to put this in my friend's heads even If I have to hammer the ideas into their thick skulls. I may kill them, but at least they'll die with the right ideas in mind.

I won't be explaining the classes though. They were mildly boring and it would only bore me more as well as you. It's really of no use. In a summary, they basically taught magic—with wands. Your classes were much more effective and I officially don't like using a wand. It's useless. After everything you taught me, I'm better at wandless magic than anything else but here they don't use it. I actually cheated in class and pretended to use my wand at some point.

On the other hand, we did have a flying lesson. It was cool. But my expectations were so high that flying in a broom couldn't meet them. You've officially ruined flying for me, mother. With all your Quodpot stuff and how amazing and utterly relaxing it felt being on a broomstick and soaring through the air. . . . Well you've ruined it for me! It was quite underwhelming.

On a less dramatic note, I really liked my first week but I do miss you already. And dad. I wish I was with both of you. . .

I love you,
Annie!

P.S.: You were absolutely right about them liking to show off. Firstly they've managed to create whole eighteenth hundredths aesthetic in this school. And I've tried writing with quills. They're no fun. I have cramps in my hands after this week. Also, they have golden (!) plates and food just materializes into them. I know I'm supposed to be used to magic but the most I've seen, other than the magic you taught me, was a Quodpot game and you cleaning the dishes!

And did you know they even have a Gandalf here? The headmaster is what I always pictured him to be like. How cool is that?

Oh and McGonagall turns into a cat. She's an Animagus.

Huh. They are show-offs. I love this school.

Annora finished writing her letter and smiled, reaching her arms up in a stretch and cracking her neck after having suffered half an hour of writing with a quill on top of all her classes.

"Finished yet?" Barty asked as he sat down on the chair beside her and Annora nodded. "Good! Let's go send it off!"

Annora's face grew into a grin but she bit her lips with hesitation, "You do know it's already past curfew—"

"So?"

"—We're first years and it's Friday and our first week only—"

"Three more reasons to take a night trip to the grounds," Barty said standing up and bouncing on the balls of his feet. "Come on, Annie! The other three are snoring already and I'm beside myself with boredom! I never go to bed this early!"

"Why not?"

Barty's face scrunched up in a grimace, "Father doesn't let me go to bed until he shoves my dinner down my throat."

The blonde girl on the table rose her eyebrows, "You're that picky of an eater?"

"No! But father insists on giving me anything he might find I'm allergic to," Barty confessed nonchalantly, "he says it'll eventually make me stronger."

"That's awful! How are you even standing here?" Annora screeched a little too loud causing Barty to slap a hand on her mouth not to wake up the whole house. He let go slowly when Annora glared at him.

"Winky always heals me," Barty explained, when Annora send him a questioning glance he added, "She's our house elf. As sweet as a Sugar Quill."

"Barty, I don't think—"

"Don't worry, I'm here in Hogwarts now and I just want to go run around the campus with my friend and deliver her letter," he said, promptly cutting her off; a grin on his face. "Come on, Annie, you know you want to do it!"

Annora pursed her lips and looked around the empty common room. Her lips tugged into a smile and she nodded.

Both first years slipped out of their dark common room. Annora had her letter safely tucked away into the pocket of her sweatshirt. Both kids grinned at each other as they got further away from the common room and effectively avoided the Slytherin prefects.

"Remember," Annora told Barty quietly, "if we're caught I'll start crying saying I just wanted to get my letter to my mother—which isn't far from the truth."

"And I'll say I was being responsible and didn't want to let you go alone," Barty replied.

They paced down a familiar corridor only lit by the faint light of the torches and Barty grabbed Annora's wrist as they stopped in front of Florence's portrait.

"Maybe she knows a passageway," he hissed at the curly-haired witch, "I don't think we can avoid every bloody prefect in the castle."

"Some faith you have in us," Annora said with a scoff.

Barty rolled his eyes and looked up at the beautiful woman in the painting who was sleeping soundlessly. "Florence?"

Florence twitched in her sleep but didn't wake up.

Annora tapped on the frame of her painting, "Florence?"

Finally, the painting woke up and looked at the kids with furrowed eyebrows, as she swept some graceful flowers from her flowing hair. "What are you children doing here so late? Shouldn't you be sleeping?"

"Annora wanted to send her mother a letter as soon as possible," Barty replied throwing the blame at Annora who looked at the boy in annoyance.

Florence's face softened and a smile graced her features. "Why didn't you say so sooner? Come along kids, I'll take you as far as I can."

With that, she left her painting carefully walking into the other ones trying not to wake anyone. Annora and Barty followed in her steps.

Florence took them through a few corridors and up some stairs before she arrived at a big painting of a horse's stable. She petted the horse and the painting opened like a door into a small unlit passageway. The two kids in front of her gaped at the sight before mischievously grinning at one another. "Go on, children. The door will take you to the Great Hall. There's a painting there of the grounds, if you ask nicely and say I sent you, you can use it to get to the outside of the palace."

"Thank you so much," Annora smiled with a squeal as she stepped into the corridor.

Before she knew it, Barty had jumped in after her and the door had closed swiftly, leaving them in the dark. "Someone was coming, by the disgusting breaths I think it was Filch," Barty muttered just as Annora produced a ball of light in her hands.

Barty gaped at her, "How—You can do wandless magic? Annie, you can't even use a wand properly."

Annora scowled at the mention of her failed attempt at making the feather fly in their Charm lesson—she had properly turned the feather black instead as her wand clattered on the table. "My mother taught me. That's why I'm not particularly used to using a wand."

"Blimey, Annie! Do you think I am?"

"You're not as bad as me," Annora grumbled under her breath as they moved.

"But I certainly can't do wandless magic."

"In the States, it's the first thing they teach," Annora explained, shivering as a cobweb touched her shoulder. "At least that's what she told me when she taught me how to produce light during a blackout. I could only manage one little sparkle," she told her new friend with a nostalgic smile.

"I don't think you should tell people," Barty warned her as they neared the end of the hallway, "wandless magic is only taught in older years and even then I'm not sure. It could be your secret weapon!"

Annora laughed as he clapped his hands. "I won't hide it. But I won't parade it around either—"

Annora felt Barty's hand cover her mouth for the second time that night. He let out a sound of disgust when she bit him. "Salazar Slytherin!" he hissed quietly, "I was just shutting you up, blabber. I heard voices."

"I just think we shouldn't have done that," a squeaky voice whispered from the other side of the wall and Annora and Barty shared a curious glance; they pressed their ears to the back of the painting hiding them from sight. "How does it make sense for our first prank of the year to be on the ninth day of the year?"

"It'll be Saturday, Peter," another voice replied casually, "Will be doing the school a favor. Starting off their weekend with a Bang!"

"Technically it's only a Crack!" came a third voice she recognized as James Potter, "Well, multiple cracks! Pops really."

Annora and Barty were looking at each other in utter confusion.

"Just remember to stay away from the pumpkin juice, Pete," the fourth voice, Sirius Black, said with a snicker as if it was a common occurrence for Pete to forget their planned pranks.

They continued to talk as they walked further from the wall and once out of earshot, Annora turned to Barty. "Who in their right mind would drink pumpkin juice in the morning?"

Barty gasped offended, "I would! And apparently, it's off limits now that those four morons messed with it." He glared at the floor.

"I think I recognized some of the voices," Annora told him as her brain wheels began spinning. "I think it was Reggie's brother and his friends."

"Bloody Gryffindors," Barty grumbled, "messing with my breakfast."

"I don't want pumpkin juice to explode in my face, Barty!" Annora said ignoring his complaining. "I'm allergic to orange! It clashes with my hair!"

"Then we'll just make sure to be bloody far away from my precious beverage."

Barty and Annora returned to their common room an hour later having delivered the letter to a compliant school owl—peck on her window as hard as you want, but she has to wake up, Annora had instructed the owl.

Breakfast the next morning was everything promised and before anyone could even think, pumpkin juice exploded from the jars and left the Hall with shrieking students—Annora and the boys were able to be far away enough from the explosions (one kid having been hit right in the face when Barty shoved the jar next to them into his hands before he ran away and hid beneath the table), and the Gryffindor girls—Lily and her friends—after having been warned by Annora had ducked under the table too.

The only ones left unharmed other than those were the four Gryffindors who cackled even as McGonagall screamed at them and issued detentions. Annora couldn't help to admit a little respect for the group of pranksters, though her mind was immediately occupied by the arrival of her mother's response.

My darling Annora,

Is this what your friend Evan would write? I've never been good at formality.

Anyway, first, the package with this letter contains. . . . A bunch of pens! Write away, honey! You'll be better off than with those ancient quills.

Second, I'm glad you already made friends. I never doubted it. They sound decent. But the poor kids must be facing that inner struggle of what's wrong and what's right. And I'm glad you want to help. But, or so help me God, if they ever look at you like you're nothing or call you slurs or are openly assholes towards anyone, please do something about it. I know you were sorted into Slytherin, but I bet you have the bravery of a Gryffindor (that's the right house, innit?). Stand up for what you believe in. Don't be afraid to tell people off. Some of them need it. Like that idiot that's been rising into power.

Here everything has been an absolute bore. And I have to point out that your letter was late, I was tempted to write you a Howler just so everyone knew you forgo your poor mother. Lily wrote to me faster. I hope you like being my second favorite daughter now. Kidding. You're the first one, honey. But seriously, you have to remember. I want one letter a week!

Oh, and FYI Joe promoted me to manager. Isn't that great?! Honestly, I think he just wanted to distract me from the fact that I am now alone and alone. That you have abandoned me forever. . . . I'm dramatically sighing right now. And hoping this would help you make up your mind and have you fly home on a broom and forcefully learn that you actually like flying!

And yes, having a Gandalf in your school is pretty awesome. I bet Dumbledore read the books you know. You can't be the first no-maj-raised mage to point out he looks like the dude from Duke of the Earrings. Hahaha haha. I could see your eyes rolling. I meant Lord of the Rings.

And by the way, I absolutely adore your friends' names! I mean, Rabastan Lestrange? That sounds taken out of a movie. It's awesome. And Evan Rosier? You're right. It does sound better in French. Oh, and your friend Barty, just tell him Bartemius sounds like Batman! Oh and let's not forget you, star-named friend. Regulus? And his brother is Sirius! That family is original! Also, isn't Sirius your favorite star? Hmmmmm.

I love you too, Annie,

Miss you,
Mom

P.S.: Old Susan from around the street started smoking again. She joined Jacinda. Her voice is now tolerable, though. Do you remember her squeaky voice or have you already forgotten home? Maybe you don't remember, actually, I usually make you cross the streets to avoid her—she always has these pet rats on her shoulders and that freaky hat.

Oh, also, I think I made friends with an actual wizard couple! They're about twice my age but the wife is really sweet. I made small talk about the cafe and she promptly appeared there the next morning in no-maj clothing. She's invited me over for dinner at their house next week. I won't say who they are now because I want to surprise you!

But rest assured they are nothing short of delightful and Euphemia has said she is quite bored in her house without her son and being at the cafe is sure to be entertaining (there was a big drama her first day there because Joanne's cat (she does have a cat) ran into the cafe because it saw Susan's pet rats).

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