Extraordinary

Em sat on her comfortable four-poster bed pulled out two pieces of parchment and her quill and ink. Using the light of Lumos from the tip of her wand, she started writing:

"Dear Remus,

I feel bad for leaving you this close to a full moon but I'm so excited to start classes! I might need help in a few so expect some homework sent your way. George made me go sit with Ron and Harry on the train. Harry Potter. He looks exactly like James, Remus. Exactly like him except for the eyes. His eyes are Lily's. He was also quite quiet which I wouldn't expect but he was very nice. He bought every sweet from the trolley to share between us.

The girl from Flourish and Blotts was there too. She was being a little know-it-all, showing off with her little 'Oculus Reparo'. I really don't like her, dad Remus. I thought maybe she would've been a little less snobbish and that in Diagon Alley she was just having a bad day or something but no. It seems she's like that all the time. The prospect of befriending her went out the window.

She was helping a boy named Neville find his lost toad. I eventually found out that he was Neville Longbottom. He lives with his grandma now. He's nice, a little bit dim, but I can look past that. He really likes Herbology so we bonded over that. I promised to lend him some of my Herbology books, would you mind sending me 'Wizarding Window Weeds', please? I'd love to show it to him. He'd really love to grow his own little garden of magical plants.

I also met Draco Malfoy. I really quite hate him. He's bloodist and a brat. He said that Harry shouldn't 'hang around the wrong sort'. Ron being the wrong sort. He's a twat! He tried to be friends with me too. Well, I struck up the conversation but had to slip away when I heard he was a Malfoy. You told me his dad was a Death Eater, that can't have translated well into him, right?

Hogwarts is more than I ever thought it would be! It looks magnificent from the boats and only gets better when you go inside. You didn't tell me the ceiling was enchanted! It was just so happy and, well, magical. I think I found Snape though. You told me he looks like a greasy bat? That was offensive to 'Owl'. He just seems horrible, the type to trick you into making yourself look stupid. Does he ever smile? He was glaring at everyone, especially at Harry when he was being sorted.

Ron, Harry, Hermione and Neville are in Gryffindor. Malfoy in Slytherin of course. I bet you think I'm going to say I was put in Ravenclaw, well you're wrong. I'm sorry... I'm a Slytherin. I wish I'd have argued with the stupid shoddy hat. Harry and Neville talked to the hat, so why didn't I? I didn't want to cause a scene but I guess if it thinks I'm supposed to be here, this is where I'm supposed to be. I don't have to be happy about it though.

I know the full moon is soon, I promise to send chocolates home. Tell me if it was particularly bad and I'll ask Dumbledore to let me come home and help, I'm sure he'll let me.

I'm going to go to sleep now because I want to get up early to 'wake up' the girls tomorrow.

Lots of love,
Em."

She set her quill aside and moved her ink so she didn't spill it. She paused and read it over, gently blowing on it to dry the ink. After folding it, making sure each corner lined up perfectly, she placed it in the envelope and pushed the top flap/lid/thing inside the envelope because she couldn't be bothered to seal it properly.

Looking back at the remaining piece of parchment she picked up her quill and dipped the tip in the ink.

"Dear Sirius,

I'm sorry it's been so long since I last owled you. I miss you if that's any consolation. I wish you could've been there to see me off to school and given me a pep talk before getting on the train.

I met Harry for the first time today! He looks like James in every way. Apart from his eyes, they're green like Lily's. He even wears glasses like James! George made me sit with him and Ron and I'm glad he did because I think he's my friend. He was really nice and bought all the sweets from the trolley to share! I couldn't believe it. We pigged out on it all until a snooty girl that I met in Diagon Alley interrupted us. (Remember Lily showing us 'Crystal Tipps and Alistair'? She looked like Crystal Tipps.)

Ron was gonna change his rat yellow with a 'spell' that Fred and George gave him. She was all like 'you're doing magic? Let's see then' and he did it and, of course, nothing happened. Then I did a spell to actually make it yellow. Then she was like 'I've only done some spells myself but they've all worked for me'. Then she flounced into our compartment and sat across from Harry and fixed his glasses! I could've done that but I didn't 'cos I'm not a show-off! I can't wait to see the day that she doesn't know something.

Anyway, I made friends with Neville Longbottom too. He's cool. They all got sorted into Gryffindor and this prat Draco Malfoy went to Slytherin. Yeah, I met a Malfoy. I know that his dad was a Death Eater so I'm trying to stay away from him but he's making it hard. He seems really nice, then you put him near Harry and he tries to be all important. I imagine he could actually be quite sweet if he tried. Yeah, he went to Slytherin and then I followed him. I'm sorry. I know you didn't want me going to Slytherin and I think I'll have to be friends with Draco because otherwise, I'll have no friends.

Everyone else I knew went to Gryffindor so they most likely won't want to be friends with a Slytherin. The head of Slytherin house is Severus Snape. What can you tell me about him? I'd like to know how to push his buttons 'cos I know he's a git and deserves it. What about other teachers? What are their buttons? I want to see how far I can push it and still end up being loved.

I'm gonna have to go. I'm gonna get up early and 'wake up' the other girls in my dorm. I hope to hear from you soon, Padfoot.

Lots of love,
Em.

P.S. What pranks should I pull in my first week to set an example? I'm sending you a refill-quill to reply. Be discreet, Sirius."

Once she had finished her letter she placed it in a letter with a quill stuck to the side of it. She quickly addressed them and called for Owl. Not being an owl, he didn't like it in the owlery so he stayed in the dorm. She put them in his mouth and whispered: "To Remus first, then Sirius."

She crept silently down the stairs to let Owl out of the dorm. Not having windows is really inconvenient for late night letter sending.