August 7, 2014
To Darian Blyth,
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Whatever House
Hey Darian,
It's me! You're sweet, kind, lovable, adorable, wonderful, pretty, perfect, sister! I tell you, this whole "owl" thing is weird. We just got our first one. I think I'm going to name her Becky. Mom needed Dad special order a Spotted Owl for us, since it's native to the NorthWest and we need to keep a low profile. Dad had to ship it to us as live parcial. You should have seen the look on the neighbor's faces when the UPS guy drove up to our home, and pulled out a huge box with holes in it marked live cargo. Since we live in the northwest, we had to get a special permit to keep her, Spotted Owls are endangered, we don't want to anger the conservationists, (Mom helped me look that word up) who like cause a big fuss when they think animals are being mistreated.
As you know, we turn 11 this week. Mom said Dad's sending you to a school called Hogwarts? I hope it looks better than it sounds. Is the mascot a big pig with lots of warts? The only warthog I know of is from Lion King; Pumba! (Call me Mr. PIg!)
Mom said we need to get my supplies for the school I'm going to. It's called Alderwood Academy in Salem, Oregon. I was hoping to go to the big school in Massachusetts, but Mom wants me to go to a 'progressive school', so Alderwood… Here I come!
When I got my acceptance letter, Mom was so excited for me! She took me out and I got to eat wherever I wanted. I chose Red Lobster and got a bottomless shrimp plate. Mom said if I had one more plate, they'd fry me up and serve me to the next table.
After lunch, we went to this mall in Portland (that's where we live) and entered this shop called "Living Earth" That sold crystals and incense. It was very cool! THe lady who ran the shop was really old, she probably saw some of the rocks form! I was looking at a geode when Mom waved me to the back room. She pulled out her wand and tapped a doorknob. When she opened the door, it lead to the OUTSIDE! When we walked through, she told me we were in New Salem, over 100 miles away! It's hidden in the actual Salem, Oregon.
Mom explained to me that Salem was founded a long time ago by a group of pioneers who didn't like how Salem Mas, treated them. They formed their own city and own rules. The city is hidden from muggles, and is unplottable, the only way to get there is through locations like the one in the mall. We're currently in the Willow Quarter where most of the shops cater to education and school. A street away is the Oak Quarter where most supplies are bought. People who live in the city live in the Elm Quarter and the Pine quarter is where the business sector is.
Mom said there was a similar place in England that Dad probably took you to. Diagonally? ... Mom's laughing... anyway. It was cool! There's lots of people who are like us and they were using magic just out in the open! I saw some of the weirdest things, I couldn't imagine what half of them did. There was a cart with spinning whirlygigs and doodads making all kinds of noise. Another window had flying brooms. There was a man with an arm full of monkeys. It was crazy!
We stopped off at a small stone building covered in spikes and gargoyles. Mom said this was a branch of Gringotts where we keep our money. I was so excited that I got to see my first goblin! Newtscrape was very nice. He complemented me on my dress too! I asked him if he went to Alderwood, but he said no. He hoped in a few years to have his child attend, since there was no regulation about 'extra-species' at Alderwood and it's nice to see 'non-segregation' in a wizarding school. I promised him when his son attends that I'll make an extra effort to make him a friend and show him around. Newtscrape smiled a mouth full of sharp teeth and told me he'd appreciate that.
Mom withdrew a handful of gallions, thanked Newtscrape and we left the bank. She told me most wizards look down on the goblins, and Alderwood will be really pushing the limits of what's tolerable to most people by letting a goblin attend school She didn't know how he'd complete the classes if he's not allowed to use a wand, as part of the goblin rebellion treaty, they were not allowed to have wands.
We continued down the street as mom read the parchment. The letter gave Mom a list of school supplies. I don't know what half of this stuff is for, but I'm interested in trying them out. We have standard dragonhide gloves, and pewter cauldrons, along with spell books. Mom says the American schools are trying to find a better synthetic type of glove due to the inhumane nature that the dragons are killed and utilized for their parts. She says it's a brutal and horrible practice and if she could find a better way to keep my hands from being dissolved to the bone while brewing some potion or being torn to shreds in Herbology, she'd boycott them.
After we got the gloves, cauldron, and spell books, it was time to get my wand. We entered the shop "Trueheart Wands" As soon as we opened the door, I was hit with a cloud of incense smoke and the sound of a beating drum. The man running the shop was so nice. He was as big as a bear. He wore brown leather pants with no shirt, and leather armbands decorated with feathers and beads. He had long black hair and dark skin and piercing brown eyes. I wished I could hide behind a display case and just stare at him, but that would be creepy. Mom said he was Native American. I've seen a few people like him around the city, but no ne with a gaze like his.
He asked me my name, and I could barely whisper it. He took my hand and stretched it out, felt my elbow, and held a measuring tape to it. I thought I was going to die, or faint, or pee or something! The large indian released his grip and I was able to gain some composure. He handed me a box and I opened it. It was a long stick of wood. He asked me to take it and wave it around. Nothing happened! We tried box after box until one wand shot a jet of pink glitter right in his face! He smiled at me, face covered in pink glitter and nodded to my Mom. I wanted to die just then I was so embarrassed.
As he rang up my new wand, I asked him where he learned how to make these. Trueheart said when he was a boy, he studied under a man named Orvilredenbacher (... Mom's laughing again...ANYWAY) he studied under some wand guy in England and moved back to America to try and learn how to make wands with the trees and cores found here. We have Sasquatch cores, raven cores, coyote cores, thunderbird cores, Jackalope cores, chupacabra cores, batboy cores, (they were both laughing about that one. I think they're teasing me with it) and more!
So, I got my wand. Mom says to tell you it's Alder (like my school!) 9 inches with a raven feather core. I named it glitter. Alder is a white wood, so it's color should work with anything I wear. I was going to carve my name in it, but Mom said it might ruin the magic. We can send it off to get engraved at a wand engraver.
Next stop was to get my clothes. I got fitted for my uniform. It's really cute! We're allowed to make minor alterations but it's your standard prep school attire; pleated short or long skirt, blouse, and so forth. Mom says you're going to have to wear a robe! Ha ha ha! I'm going to look glamorous! I'm sure you're robes will be ok.
Oh! I am allowed a familiar! We could have a raven, a cat, or a snake. I wanted a raven, but Mom said we already got Becky, which she's talked to the Principal and was approved to let me use for mail. I got Lucky instead. A lovely, smart, cute wonderful American shorthair all back cat. It has spooky red eyes too! When I learn transmogreration, I'll transmogrify it to be a giant black sabertooth tiger to eat people who get in my way! hahaha! (Mom says I haven't even read my first spell book and already I'm mad with power!)
So, bags are packed, Lucky is in her cage, and Mom is driving me to open house. After that, it will be one last week at home and I'll be all alone and at the mercy of the world. Oh, the anguish! My own mother is abandoning me! She says most folks don't live at school, they can go there and come home and sleep in their own bed. I think she's just trying to get rid of me so she can have a social life. I do tend to keep the poor woman tied down.
Anyway I'll tie this to Becky's leg and send it off to you. Should make it there in a few days. I will come visit for the summer, but you and Dad need to come and spend Christmas with us! Mom says Dad agreed to meet us at the airport when we visit. I love you and hope you have a good year! I want to hear all the details
Your super loving sis,
Marian Blyth
Soon to be attendee to Alderwood Academy
