Dear Jacob,
I don't know why I'm writing this. It's not like you'll get it— we don't know where you are, or even if you're alive. Never mind that Mum and Dad are worried sick. They want you to come home, Jacob. Even though they're still as angry as they were the night you came home, they still miss you and love you. Do you even care?
But I thought you ought to know what's going on, and Mum and Dad haven't really spoken to me since my Hogwarts letter came. I suspect they're afraid I'll be like you. I will never be like you.
Anyways, Mum took me to Diagon Alley today. She left me in the Three Broomsticks with a stack of Galleons and a time to meet her by, and let me loose. I used to love visiting Diagon Alley. I hate it now. All eyes were on me— and not just because of my silver hair. Ever since Rita Skeeter "accidentally" found and published a family picture, everyone knows that I'm your sister.
I met a new friend, Rowan Khanna. Her family raises trees to become wood for wands. She's a little weird, but nice. But she knew all about you and those stupid Cursed Vaults. She said everyone at school would know.
You were the oldest. You never had to live in anyone's shadow. But couldn't you have realized that maybe I didn't want your shadow? Did you ever realize that I'd have to live with what you've done? Or are you really as selfish as they say?
It's already left scars, in case you care. I bought a blackthorn wand from Mr. Ollivander. Rowan says that wand woods have meaning, and blackthorn belongs to warriors, to fighters. You know I never wanted to be a fighter. I was always playing with animals in the back garden and admiring all the pretty things, and was afraid of confrontation. I still don't confront Mum or Dad. . . I was also too afraid to stand up for you, the night you came home.
I don't even know if I'll still make it into Hufflepuff. Even though it was your house, I always wanted to be a sweet, kind Hufflepuff. Not. . . whoever I am now. I'm not sure I recognize myself anymore. I blame you for that.
Love,
Gracie
Dear Jacob,
The only reason I'm writing this to you is because Dad would put me back on the Hogwarts Express before you could say, "Merlin's baggy Y-fronts" if he or Mum knew. It's only been my first day, and someone tried to kill me.
I should start at the beginning, shouldn't I?
To start off with, I think the Sorting Hat is getting lazy. It just asked me which House I wanted and put me there, no questions asked. But I guess I shouldn't complain. I got what I wanted. Besides, Rowan's in my dormitory with me, and this girl named Tonks. Wouldn't tell me her first name. She's super cool and has pink hair. She and Rowan are nice, but most people aren't. Other students say I don't belong here, and that I never should've been allowed on Hogwarts grounds because of you. But you don't care about anyone other than yourself, do you?
Professor Flitwick misses you, by the way. He said you were one of his best students. He says that I might be the greatest though, because I had the best Lumos Charm of anyone in the class!
On my way to Potions, Rowan was harassed by this girl named Merula Snyde. Rowan later told me over a game of Gobstones that her parents were Death Eaters, in Azkaban for life. Merula, it seems, thinks the same way her parents did, and that because she's a Pureblood, she's the most powerful witch at Hogwarts. Before she could hurt anyone, Snape intervened, thank Merlin. But that witch blew up my cauldron! Lost Hufflepuff ten points! Jane Court, my prefect, is already on my arse about those.
Jane also received a note that said it was from Snape, and that I needed to find something in a corridor somewhere. Rowan wanted to come with me, but I said I'd go alone— that turned out to be better for me, because guess what was waiting for me in the corridor?
Devil's Snare! Merula faked the note and sent me there so I'd die! If it weren't for good 'ole Lumos and the Keeper of Keys, Rubeus Hagrid, I wouldn't be writing to yours truly!
Did I mention I hate Jane Court? She was snotty about my clothes and being a disgrace to Hufflepuff because the vines from the Devil's Snare ripped up my clothes.
Anyways, I went to the courtyard to relax and play Gobstones with Rowan. Two guesses as to who was waiting there for me. Apparently Merula's been spreading rumors that I'm as mad as you, and that you joined You-Know-Who!
I said you never would, in case you were wondering. Even though I hate you, and what you did to Mum and Dad, I know you'd never be evil enough to be a Death Eater. . . Would you?
Then again, Hogwarts isn't about fun and learning, like you always said. It's about bullies, and nearly escaping death. Nothing's the way it should be anymore. And it's all your fault.
Yours always (unfortunately),
Gracie
Dear Jacob,
Am I mad? I heard your voice today, in the artifact room, looking for Hufflepuff's secret dueling book. You were talking to me, like in a vision. It's not the first time I've heard voices, but I wonder. . . Have you been receiving these letters? Or at the very least, have you been looking out for me?
I feel like I don't know you anymore. Whether you're selfish or kind, whether you're clever or mad, or even if you're good or bad. Is this why Mum and Dad are so angry? Because you've become a stranger to everybody!
I'm learning how to duel. So I can stop Merula. Jane's even teaching me. Finally got off her soap box and has come to terms with the fact that one of the first-years under her care was almost killed by another student. No, I'm still not letting that go. I don't want to hurt Merula, though. I have to believe that she can be reasoned with. I know her life must've been hard, and she was taught that by her parents. I can't say you have the same excuse.
I wonder if Mum or Dad had come from a witching family, if they would have known why I hear the voices, why I have the dreams. Remember the first time I told Mum about the voices? I'd heard someone telling me that she was going to get hurt at work. She thought I was mad. Then the next day. . . She had to go to St. Mungo's for that accident. She and Dad took me seriously after that. . . But I don't think they've ever looked at me the same way since.
I remember you never looked at me any differently. You let me wake you up even in the middle of the night if I had one of those dreams. You told me that even if I was mad, all the best people were. You helped me make sense of them.
You were the best brother ever.
Now I'm alone, even with a bunch of voices in my head. Your voice came with a vision of an Ice Knight and a Cursed Staircase. I wish you could help me figure out what it means. Did you send it to me? What am I supposed to understand?
Most perplexedly yours,
Gracie
Dear Jacob,
How can I convince Professor Flitwick to teach me Expelliarmus? I've already learned Rictumsempra, so at least I won't hurt Merula. Permanently, that is. I'm not her, and I'm not going to try and kill her back. Two wrongs don't make a right. Dad always taught us that. Learning Expelliarmus, however, would end the duel quickly without hurting anyone.
I don't think Flitwick would, though. According to Rowan and Jane, the teachers talk about me. They think I might be in league with the Death Eaters, like they think you are. That's not true, is it, Jacob? You would never. . .
I'm a good duelist, though. I beat Jane in a practice duel. She begged me not to tell anyone. I have to admit, I was sorely tempted to brag. But I promised her I wouldn't, so she could keep her dignity. I'll remember this the next time she's crying about House Points to me.
I've been doing as well as I can in classes, hoping it'll convince Flitwick. I'm even going to stay over the holidays to help. Someone has to put a check on Merula. Unfortunately, I seem to be the only one who can do it.
The Hufflepuff Common Room is warm, even as the cold rages on outside. I hope you're safe, wherever you are.
Love,
Gracie
Dear Jacob,
What have you done? The Cursed Vaults are open again, or someone's tampered with them. Cursed Ice is spreading down a corridor. I overheard Filch and Snape talking about it, after my duel with Merula.
I won, by the way. It started with Merula harassing a boy in my year named Ben Copper. I told her to stop, and she cast Flipendo on Rowan, then on me. I put an end to her nonsense right-quick and used Expelliarmus. You should've seen the look on her face when she dropped her wand! And she was threatening me and bragging, when the teachers found us! I love it when bullies get what they had coming!
I'm now the Hero of Hogwarts! At least, the most popular girl in my year (another 'Puff, funnily enough) Penny Haywood thinks so! She's so cute and her smile is like sunshine. . . Sorry, what did I just write?
Anyway, Snape was about to give us detention for the rest of the year, probably when Filch came and got him. Me and Merula followed him, and we saw this corridor full of Cursed Ice. Snape also referenced a "Hallow" situation. Is he referring to you? Are you behind this?
I haven't heard anything from you at all. What will it take for you to come home, or just to send something saying you're alright? I didn't want to do this. . . But if it will bring you home, I will go after the Cursed Vaults.
Even after all you've done, I still love you. And I have to do this.
Love,
Gracie
Dear Jacob,
We entered a room the ice was coming from! Bad news: I don't think that was the Cursed Vault. It took a lot just to get into this room. I had Penny Haywood teach me how to brew the Draught of Living Death, and tricked Filch into staying in his office. On the plus side, I think Peeves finally did something productive!
On the downside, Penny is not good at being a look-out. We got attacked by who else but Merula Snyde? She got what she deserved when the ice trapped her. Lucky her, though, I saved her, Penny, and Rowan. I couldn't leave her there, Jacob. I think I got a good look at myself right then and there, and I couldn't recognize what I saw. What you did left a scar. I'm angrier, more bitter. . . Nothing like who I want to be, or who I used to be. But tonight, I felt myself again when I saved Merula. I'm not going to let what you did continue to cut me up inside and make me into someone I don't even know. Not anymore.
It was all thanks to Penny that any of us survived. It was looking like we'd be trapped in this closet, but she used this potion and literally broke the door open. I think I swooned at the sight.
I think we got away with it, though. But this isn't the end of it. The Cursed Vaults are opening, and if you are reading these, you need to help me stop it. They nearly killed someone last time— that was why you were expelled, right? No one ever told us anything. Please, if you're anything like the brother I remember, help us.
Love,
Gracie
Dear Jacob,
It turns out, we didn't get away with it. Jane's pretty angry. I told her I went alone so she would be happy. Happier, I mean. Jane's mean for a Hufflepuff. But then again, I'm pretty bitter and angry for a Hufflepuff.
Rowan found a code on the wall, I forgot about that. She deciphered it right before I was sent to see Dumbledore. Apparently it says, The Ice Knight waits by the Vanished Stairs. I have to ask, did you leave it? Because coming up with your own coded runes sounds like you. Or was it always here?
Dumbledore at least wasn't angry. In fact, he gave me one-hundred house points, putting Hufflepuff in the lead! It looks like we will be getting the House Cup. Finally. And Dumbledore said he regretted expelling you. But he also said you fell. What does that mean? He wouldn't tell me why he expelled you. I think I deserve to know why, at this point.
At least I'll be going home soon. I can't wait to be home and just forget about all of this for a little while. I wonder how much I should tell Mum? My offer still stands, by the way. Come home if you can.
Love,
Gracie