Professor Ragnor Fell, the Fairchild Family (Matthew, Esme, Graham, & Vienna), & Essa Lightwood-Carstairs
May 1927
Shadowhunter Academy
From the desk of: Professor Ragnor Fell
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Fairchild,
It is with resounding disappointment that I write to notify you of disciplinary action that has been taken with regards to your son, Mr. Graham Fairchild. Mr. Fairchild was involved in an altercation with another student, Mr. Gregory Whitehall, which resulted in the exchanging of blows and, unfortunately, the breaking of Mr. Whitehall’s nose. Both boys were sent to the infirmary and healed with iratzes, and both boys have been given two weeks’ detention. When questioned about the motive of the fight, neither boy would say.
Please sign and return the attached form to notify us of your receipt of this message.
There. Enough of the formalities.
Fairchild and Fairchild neé Hardcastle, one of my worst and finest pupils from Shadowhunter Academy Days of Olde. I must say, when I learned the two of you decided to wed - and later procreate - I was quite taken aback. I thought, Esme Hardcastle? She’s far too smart for that. Smarter than that she is not.
I will not lie, I shuddered for many years at the thought of you and your little friends’ hellions barreling through the halls of our esteemed establishment (and by “esteemed establishment,” I mean “passable institution for Shadowhunter brats”). Anna and Ari’s children were fine (though neither of them, of course, attended the Academy themselves), and then I sighed in relief when Herondale decided to keep his offspring at home.
Then, of course, came Vienna.
You will be familiar with the attached disciplinary form, for you must have signed it over a four dozen times during Vienna’s two year Reign of Terror at the Academy. I do not say that lightly - I was in Paris during the actual Reign of Terror.
When I learned you had two more children, I wept into my pillow bitterly. I could not bear another round.
And then, Graham Fairchild came to the Academy. The Angels you all worship seemed to light him with a golden hue; he played many instruments beautifully. He was soft spoken and kind. He could even reign in his roommate (the Academy’s current brat and bane of my existence), Mr. Theodore Blackthorn. I deduced at once that he could not have come from either of you - he was too pure, too angelic, too gentle.
But now, he has broken another student’s nose.
I suppose I was too optimistic to hope one of Matthew Fairchild’s offspring could make it through the Academy without incident; Graham was close with only a month or so left, but he let me down in the end. Perhaps the next child will be better, though I know that is delusional thinking.
Still, what Graham did pales to the terror of Vienna or, even worse, what you yourself and that wonderful fool Christopher Lightwood managed with those explosives. I would check on your son - he does seem upset but, as I said earlier, he will not tell anyone what happened. He will only talk to that terror Theodore, who will not relay any information to us curious faculty.
There, that is all the parenting advice I will impart. Get that form back to me posthaste so I don’t have to think about this paperwork any longer.
Sincerely,
Ragnor Fell
Professor, Downworlder and Magic Studies, Shadowhunter Academy
London, England >>> Shadowhunter Academy, Idris
Graham,
Nice punch, kid—-
Your father can not be trusted to pen this letter, so I will do so instead.
Graham, what happened? We received a letter from Professor Fell informing us of your alteration with Gregory Whitehall.
This is so unlike you. We will give you a chance to explain, before we will be forced to be your parents and doll out an appropriate punishment.
(Did he do something to upset you? Because if he did, I will march over to that Academy right now and break his pompous nose all over again.)
With concern,
Mum (and Dad)
Shadowhunter Academy, Idris >>> London, England
Mum (and Dad),
I’m sorry if I’ve disappointed you. I don’t know what took over me, but Gregory was being an absolute prick, and I just- I just punched him.
I know it is not an excuse, and I know violence is never the answer. He was trying to get a rise out of us - out of Theodore and Hazel and I - and saying all these awful things about both of our families. Hazel said just to ignore him and tried to pull us both away, but then Gregory said something awful about Essa. I don’t want to repeat what he said - it’s too awful to even write out - but I was completely taken aback.
It was so unfair - Gregory barely even knows Essa, and she doesn’t even go to the Academy; it’s not like she was there to defend herself. And Gregory kept going on and on, and I couldn’t take it any longer and I just sort of snapped.
To be fair, the Blackthorns did try to stop me. Theodore was trying to pull me back and Hazel started yelling at Gregory, but it wasn’t enough.
So I punched his pompous face.
I think Hazel went afterwards and told someone at the Academy what Gregory said about Essa, so hopefully he will be punished appropriately. I was just so mad; Essa is the kindest person I’ve ever met, and I couldn’t let Gregory talk about her like that. Hopefully he learned his lesson.
Please do not tell Essa any of this; she is so generous, and I do not want her to feel guilty. Nor do I want her to know what that awful prick said about her - she has been through enough, already.
I will accept whatever punishment you give. Hopefully it will be a punishment involving an extra piano lesson each week with Uncle Alastair…?
I love and miss you,
Graham
London, England >>> Shadowhunter Academy, Idris
Graham,
An extra piano lesson each week over the summer it is, kid.
Violence is never the answer, but it’s right to stand up for your friends… especially our friends who are as dear and kind to us as Essa. Let’s just try to use our words instead of our fists next time, okay?
We love you and we cannot wait to see you next month. Please pack up your trunks before we portal over, so we do not get stuck spending four hours sorting dozens of reams of sheet music before packing them away again.
With love,
Mum and Dad
London, England >>> Shadowhunter Academy, Idris
Graham,
BY THE ANGEL!! Hazel told Madeleine who told Edmund who told Owen who told Elizabeth who told ME that apparently you got in a fight and broke some loser’s nose at the Academy?! (Why was I so many steps removed from this? Why wasn’t I told from the source directly? These are the kind of updates I want to hear!)
As your older sister, I’ve never been more proud of you. I knew you could follow in my footsteps one day!
But also, as your older sister, I demand to know what happened. Does this piece of sh garbageneed to learn a lesson? Because I will come over there right this instant and kick his as butt to the curb faster than Professor Fell can even sense my presence to haul me off the hallowed grounds of my esteemed alma mater.
This might be the best day ever.
Your favourite family member,
Vienna
Shadowhunter Academy, Idris >>> London, England
Vienna,
Sorry for not telling you sooner. I feel like you; I was in detention.
You know the Whitehall’s? They’re pretty new to London - I’m pretty sure they relocated from Manchester just about a year ago. Well, their son Gregory was saying all these horrible things about our family, and about Essa especially. I don’t even want to write them out, because they were so cruel.
You know how much I care about Essa. I couldn’t let him talk about her like that, so…
I’m not proud of it. But hopefully he’ll leave Essa alone now. We’ll have to keep him away from her once we graduate and we’re all back in London training together.
Are you coming to my graduation? I know Mum and Dad are. You should come, too; I’m sure Professor Fell will lift the Vienna Ban for just one day.
Yours,
Graham
London, England >>> Shadowhunter Academy, Idris
Oh Graham,
You sweetheart perfect cherub, you. Only you could make punching someone the sweetest thing ever.
Never change, darling. Never change.
I love you. Of course I’ll be at your graduation.
See you soon,
Vienna
Shadowhunter Academy, Idris >>> London, England
Hi Essa,
I know I just wrote to you yesterday, but something happened today that made me think about you. I really do miss you, and I cannot wait to be back in London with you this summer. I’ve been counting down the days - only 46 left to go!
You’ll never guess what happened today: I got detention, and somehow Theodore got off scotch free. We must have fallen into a parallel universe of opposites land.
Anyways, I know I said I always wanted you to come here, to the Academy, but today reminded me why I’m kind of glad Uncle Alastair and Uncle Thomas kept you in London. Of course I wish you were here with me, but the people here can be so awful. And your fathers love you so much, and Taron, too; I’m glad you’re with all of them.
I miss you. 46 more days!
Love,
Graham
London, England >>> Shadowhunter Academy, Idris
Graham,
Hazel told me what you did for me. She did not tell me what Gregory said - and I don’t think I want to know, to be honest - but she did tell me that you stood up for me, and that’s why you’re in detention now.
I’m sorry that happened, and thank you for sticking up for me. You’re truly the best friend I’ve ever had.
You know we’re going to get married one day, right? That’s probably 1000 days away, so I’ll take having you back in London for now.
46 days. I’ll see you so soon.
Love,
Essa