A brother is a friend provided by Nature.
Dear Dennis,
You said to write as soon as I could. Well, is this soon enough? I have only been gone a few hours. I already feel worlds away though. The Hogwarts Express is different from any train I've ever been on. I feel like I can't be everywhere I need to be or see it all. I really don't think I brought enough film.
There are so many things that just seem normal to the other kids, the ones from wizard families, like broomsticks. One kid actually asked how my camera was supposed to work. I showed him the picture of us at Nana's, the one where you tried on my robes. He said something about moving pictures and he wasn't talking about movies. Apparently, here the pictures and the portraits MOVE! The portraits even talk to you!
Scribbled in smaller print as if the words were squeezed in later were the words: I found a moving picture! It's in a candy called Chocolate Frogs. It's a card of a famous witch or wizard. I'll send it with the letter. You have to see it. Just don't stare too long, he's rather rude. There was a smear of chocolate punctuating the inserted print.
Alex was trying to explain it all to me. Alex's a first year too. His Mum's a norm- I mean Muggle. I think it's just such a weird word. Where'd they come up with "Muggle" anyway? Alex says if I really wanted to know I could look it up in the library. It's supposed to be huge. But you know how I act around libraries? I'm way too loud. I'd rather look around and see things with my own eyes, and with my camera.
The ink changes color here from the previous blue to a bright orange.
Sorry, a red-headed girl came into our compartment. She looked kind of like Emma, you know that neighbor the one my age who thinks you're the "cutest thing she's ever seen," except she obviously wasn't girly like that. Apparently she has six older brothers, including those twins on the platform, the ones with the fireworks.
Ginny was looking for her brother, Ron, and for his friend, HARRY POTTER! He's real, Dennis! He's not just a storybook character! He's a living breathing Gryffindor second year (You were right when you said it was the best house. If Harry Potter is there, well you know what I mean: Gryffindor's a house for heroes and legends.) I spent a while looking for him, before going to sit with Ginny. She had a lot more interesting stories than Alex and definitely didn't pull out a book as soon as she could. Plus she had Harry Potter at her house almost all summer!
I have to go. There was just an announcement saying we'll be at the school soon.
I love you,
Colin