Correspondence
Dear Lysander
You caught me I suppose. It was more than just skipping a Gazette meeting. I had said some pretty awful things to my parents and I skipped the meeting to snog with Hector Owens. I don't know why I didn't tell you everything, I think I just wanted someone in this bloody world on my side.
I wouldn't be upset with you about your rather pissed state. I assume people, especially ones who have never been exposed to that amount of 'wrackspurts', are allowed to be a bit beyond their limits.
I don't know how you learned about Hector and I. It doesn't matter anyway because I'm breaking it off with him, he's incredibly too pushy and clingy. I keep avoiding him if I'm honest.
The dragons are finally making real progress. They are now eating together which is more progress than previously reached.
I have decided to continue as Sports Editor, I am to cover the Hufflepuff/Ravenclaw game this weekend. I do not plan to miss anymore meetings as I did make a commitment.
I honestly miss you my friend, please distract me from my woes, how is Ollivander treating you?
-Alice
Dear Lissy,
I miss you as well. Ollivander's is going wonderfully. I have begun learning the art of wand making fully and not just watching the shop. I recently made a beautiful wand of birch with a unicorn hair. The wood seems to speak to me in different ways and I love creating with it.
I am excited for the dragons. Mum says at this rate we will have dragon babies by May.
Josie mentioned in a letter to Lorcan that you two were involved. Hector seemed an alright fellow, but if he is not who you'd like to continue seeing, I will take your word for it. I confess I don't know a lot about him aside from when he and Josie were connected and his presence on the Quidditch Pitch.
I am thankful you will continue as Sports Editor, your young stand in, he is barely comparable to your knowledge of the game.
I am always glad to distract you from woes alone, I don't want to distract you from schoolwork or anything else.
I do miss you as well, it becomes more difficult as nearly all of my friends are younger than I and still in school. Ollivander is fine company during the day I suppose, but I spend most evenings with mum, dad and the creatures.
Honestly, I am glad that when Christmas is here, everyone will be home. Then I can see all of my closest companions, you especially included.
I hope you and your family will be at the Potter's party. Mum has already been to your Grandmother's shop to buy us all new outfits. Thankfully she is not insisting my brother and I match her outfits in anything but color.
Your devoted friend,
-Lysander
Dear Lysander,
You could not distract me from schoolwork, I have decided to throw myself into it a bit more. I simply miss you dear friend.
Do not tell your mother, but I am starting to lose a bit of hope. Since my letter to you last week Dusty and Duke have made no further progress. Still simply eating together. I know that they imitate what they are exposed to. Hagrid and I wonder if we should expose them to more romantic couples. The only issue is finding them.
Mum and dad are a lost cause for exposure as they barely show what most people consider affection outwardly around nearly anyone, Duke sees it more than the rest of us, but Dusty does not.
I would maybe allow Dusty the exposure of Minnie and Cas, but I'd be expected to be there as Dusty rarely leaves my side when she isn't with Hagrid. I cannot tell you how much I detest that idea. Not to mention she barely pays attention to Minnie and she mimics my lack of affection for Cas. I try very much to like him, but I sometimes cannot forget his grievances he used to bestow.
I have obviously decided romance is out of the question for me. I explained to Hector that I do not want his affection any longer. He does not seem to believe me. He practically chased me down before class the other day, begging me for an answer. I told him I want to focus on my education and do not want a boyfriend. He seemed incredibly displeased. I hope it doesn't effect Quidditch. I plan to treat him kindly, but I worry Josie will blame me, I swear she looks for any excuse.
I shall also count the days till the Pot
"Alice baby girl!"
Alice stopped her writing at the sound of her mother's voice. She could just barely hear her over her album playing.
Alice's mother called across the bridge to her again, "Alice your father and I would like to speak to you!"
Alice took a deep breathe, wondering what she could have done wrong. In the last three weeks she hadn't stepped a toe out of line. She wanted her mother's trust back. It was now the last weekend of November, her family would be traveling to her Grandma and Grandpa Fyre's for Thanksgiving on Sunday so they were staying at the Hogsmead cottage.
"Please Alice come down quickly!" Her mother said, "And please turn down the music please, I think the whole house has had enough of Taylor Swift's music today."
She worried their calls could be about her dismal grade on an essay in Defense Against The Dark Arts.
"Alice please!" Her father's voice called along, his voice sounded more jovial than if she were in trouble.
Alice waved her wand turning off her music. She exited her room before running across the bridge, Dusty following closely.
"If it's about my Defense Against The Dark Arts grade, I just can't seem to understand the hole blasting spell." Alice defended as she slid into the family's sitting room.
Her mother began laughing as she looked up from her writing desk, Duke happily on her shoulder. "Baby girl, don't worry no one ever uses that spell."
"And everyone is allowed to suffer in at least one class. Why else would we have them?" Her dad shrugged from his spot laying on the sofa.
"We have good news for you baby, but you may want to sit down." Her mother said motioning for her to sit down in the bay window.
"What good news?" Alice asked sitting down on her hands.
"Charlie has invited you and Dusty to accompany him and Felix to America, to see the Dragon Ranch." Her father said with a giant smile, sitting up from the sofa.
"What?" Alice screamed at the top of her lungs. "Really?"
"Of course!" Her mother said as Alice jumped up and kissed her on the cheek.
"When this Summer?"
"No, in December." Her dad laughed as Alice kissed his cheek next.
"December!" Alice exclaimed with a set of little jumps in a circle. She waved her hands and exclaimed, "Me go to Kai Jones' ranch in America? I haven't been since I was a little girl."
"You will leave the day after Boxing Day then be gone till the new year." Her mother explained watching Alice dance around. "So a full week."
"Oh mum!" Alice felt herself jump around excitedly even more. "A full week in America? Really?"
"I want to see that my donations are funding healthy and happy dragons." Her mother explained, "I normally visit every few years as you know, but I don't think I have the physical capability for travel this year."
"And I don't have the stomach for American food." Her dad laughed as he stood from the sofa. "You are old enough now for such pursuits and I trust Charlie to keep you out of trouble."
"Which is a better job than we do." Her mother insisted, "But please, I hope you are kinder to Charlie than you are to us."
"I am still sorry for what I said." Alice apologized again, feeling slightly more genuine about it now. "You know I do love you both."
"I'm so glad we have managed to bring ourselves back into your good favor." Her father chuckled as he began to leave the room, "But we aren't doing this to reward bad behavior, just to give you the opportunity to see your chosen career up close and maybe learn something for Dusty and Duke."
"Where are you going?" Alice's mother asked looking over to her husband.
"I must tend to that Fanged Geranium." Her father said as he began walking towards the stairs to leave.
"Caroline and Chester are supposed to be meeting us in an hour." Her mother reminded. She waved her hand, sending a pillow to the back of his head. "Unless you forgot."
"Sam!" Alice's dad turned around with a snap, but a laugh left his throat as he grabbed the pillow off the floor and threw it at her, "I didn't forget, I just wanted to get this done first."
"Oh so you can be filthy?" Her mother asked leaning away from the pillow. "Thats perfect for our double date!"
"Is it a date?" Alice asked as an idea formed. "Could you bring Dusty? She could maybe mimic them!"
Her mother shrugged, "I mean, it's not outwardly a date for them, but if Dusty will go with me I'm sure we can give it a shot."
"Not outwardly a date?" Alice asked with a laugh.
"Not exactly, strictly speaking Professors aren't supposed to be involved with each other." Her father began to laugh as Alice's mother waved her hand sending several pillows in his direction.
Her mother dropped behind the sofa as her father drew his wand. "If McGonagall knew, she'd have them both out in a moment."
"Then she should have fired you two already." Minnie joked as she walked across the bridge combing Artie's fluff. She ducked beneath the pillows as they flew around.
"Nev, can you believe it?" Her mother laughed raising an eyebrow at Alice's dad, "We're dating!"
Alice laughed along as pillows continued whizzing past their heads. Dusty and Duke both began flying between them.
"Are we?" Her dad laughed as the pillows stopped, "How'd a lump like me manage to get you?"
"It certainly wasn't your pillow fighting skills!" Her mother exclaimed looking him over.
"Mum!" Minnie interrupted as she replaced her father on the sofa, "Might I still have Cas over tonight?"
"Why wouldn't you?" Her mum asked as she waved her hands making all the pillows go back to their places. "He's bringing you dinner isn't he?"
"Yes, that's why I didn't want you to ask Lulu to bring me dinner." Minnie swallowed and her ears became a ghastly shade of scarlet, "But you and dad won't be home. You weren't a fan of that last time I asked."
"You are an adult Minerva. I trust you and Cas to be perfectly appropriate." Her mother insisted.
"Maybe you can keep Dusty and have her observe Minnie and Cas?" Her dad suggested as he began to leave.
"Dad!" Alice groaned standing up and running over, "But she doesn't even like being around them-"
"And keep them from doing anything inappropriate perhaps?" Her dad whispered.
Alice laughed, "I see you don't agree with mum."
Her dad simply coughed, "I'm going to check on the Fanged Geranium."
Alice nodded before whistling for Dusty. Dusty retreated to her shoulder as the two escaped back to her room so she could finish her letter.
I shall count the days till the Potter's Party. Not just to see you dear friend, but also because I am to accompany Charlie Weasley to America to check on Kai Jones' dragon ranch. Mum and dad have just told me.
What is Queenie like? She is your great Aunt, maybe you could give me some pointers on how to impress her. I simply can't wa
Cas' laughter began to fill the house making Alice groan, she waved her wand to open the door to her bedroom. She peered across the bridge to see their outlines on the sofa. Minnie was wrapped under Cas' arm.
They weren't doing anything Alice was worried about. Cas was reading to her with Artie upon his lap.
Minnie was smiling in a way Alice could scarcely remember seeing. Her ears were pink, but the skin beneath her eyes was still green.
Dusty flew from her shoulder before perching herself on the bridge. Her little eyes looked between them much as Alice currently did.
"I see we have a visitor." Cas exclaimed noticing Dusty.
"You two don't mind right?" Alice called across. "I'm trying to get her to see romance."
"If it helps them Lissy." Minnie yelled back but laughed, sinking back into Cas' arms.
"What did you bring her for dinner Cas?" Alice asked excitedly, wondering if they had any leftovers she could pick at.
"Dinner?" Cas asked pulling back his face, "I thought you had already eaten Min?"
"I have." Minnie yelled back at Alice. "Alice just hasn't yet."
Alice bit her tongue.
"I'll tell you if Lulu arrives with food." Minnie yelled back.
"Please." Alice said turning back towards her unfinished letter to Lysander. "Do you want me to close the door? I'm not sure I want to hear Cas reading his homework aloud."
"It's not homework, it's my first published piece, in the Prophet."
"Oh whatever." Alice rolled her eyes, "I will read your decent work on my own countenance."
"That's the closest thing to a compliment I think you've ever given me Alice." Cas yelled to her.
Alice wasted no time, waving her hand and closing her door with a slam.
I simply can't wait to have my very own adventure. A real one. I'm excited to be around large and full dragons. Maybe with them things will make sense. Maybe I will fully understand myself and who I am. I can't wait to learn everything I possibly can.
Just think, in less than three years maybe I can apprentice with Charlie just as you do with Ollivander. Maybe I can move to Romania away from some of the people who confuse me, and give pride to the people who don't.
I look forward to seeing you in a few weeks dear friend.
-A
Alice stopped writing her name, making a swift decision to show her real trust in her friend. She crossed out the A.
-Lissy