20/11/1989
Monday, 20th November
Dear diary, arriving in Russia was a bit exhausting due to the bad weather and strong magical protections. The Portkey journey was quite bumpy. Fortunately, we weren't in any real danger, but it could have gone wrong. In the international Portkey hall, there were several tourists who had lost their luggage due to the frenetic movements, and one family had lost a child. Luckily, the parents had put a tracker on him, and the authorities were able to locate him quickly.
Once we settled into our accommodation, we could breathe a bit easier. By the way, it’s extremely cold here. The first thing we did was visit the Kremlin in Moscow, a place full of history and mystery. The tall towers and imposing walls reminded me of how Dad describes Hogwarts, but with an older, more majestic air. Inside the Kremlin, we saw St. Basil's Cathedral, with its brightly coloured domes that look like something out of a fairy tale.
And speaking of fairies, at night you can see several ice fairies dancing among the domes, reflecting the moonlight on their wings that look like they’re made of crystal, giving off colours of the rainbow. It’s a truly beautiful sight, though we had to wake up at 2 AM to see it.
We then ventured outside the city to visit Lake Baikal, an incredibly beautiful and magical place. According to Russian mythology, the lake is inhabited by a water spirit known as the Tsar of the Waters. We heard stories about how the Tsar can be both benevolent and vengeful, and how local fishermen offer him gifts to ensure a good catch.
While exploring the shores of the lake, Luna told us about a magical creature that lives in the depths, known as the Drakon. According to legend, the Drakon is a water dragon that protects the lake and its inhabitants. Although we didn’t see it, it was exciting to imagine that such a creature could exist.
We also visited an old fortress called Kizhi Pogost, famous for its wooden churches with onion-shaped domes. The place had a special energy, and Blaise suggested that it might be related to ancient Russian magic. We were excited by the idea of finding magical artefacts or hidden secrets in the fortress, but in the end, we found nothing.
During our trip, I found some souvenirs that I think Anna and, though I’m not sure if I should bring him something, Xavier will appreciate. For Anna, I found a small figurine of a firebird, similar to the one in Russian stories. And for Xavier, I found a carved stone with the symbol of the Drakon.
We also celebrated Julius’s 7th birthday here, but I think he was more worried about his familiar, as it went into brumation because of the cold. Celty was also much more lethargic, but Dad taught us spells to keep them warm, so they should be fine.
While we were walking through Siberia’s nature parks, we encountered several creatures, all completely furry, but we couldn’t tell what they were. Luna said she thought she saw a Gnormond, a small furry beast related to garden gnomes, but we’re not sure.
We also passed by the house of Baba Yaga, who is actually a very old witch with hearing, sight, and memory problems. The poor thing lived alone in a house far from any town or civilisation, but when we tried to help her, she refused and said she was waiting for her husband, who, according to her, had gone out hunting a few hours ago. But we’re not entirely sure if it’s true or if her husband has been missing for longer…
We left her supplies and reinforced the heating charms since she wouldn’t move for anything… I felt quite sorry for her, but we couldn’t do much more.
Well... according to Dad, we also passed near a prison in Siberia, but we didn’t get too close because Sev said there are Dementors in that area. We could tell because it got even colder, and I felt terrible. Thanks to Merlin we had bought plenty of chocolate in Moscow because it helped a lot.
And… Time for similarities between Dad and Mum!
When Dad is very cold, he becomes more affectionate and doesn’t miss an opportunity to hug me or Julius.
Dad holds his wand with his index finger extended.
Dad loves dark chocolate but likes to eat it even more with red fruits.
Just like Mum! Well... Mum preferred her chocolate a bit less dark than Dad, but she also ate it with red fruits!
See you!
Goodbye!