Dear Jacob,
I really thought this year was going to be different. Already, people are getting hurt. Ben Copper, that Gryffindor in my year? He went missing. It's only the first day of the term, and no one knows where he is. Penny Haywood said he's been acting funny since the visit to the ice. . . But I never took him to see the Cursed Ice, and Penny knows it. He must've visited it on his own, but why? I don't know if I ever told you, but Ben is afraid of literally everything.
Rowan and I alerted McGonagall, and she said she appreciated our assistance. After the feast, we dropped by the Artifact Room. Charlie Weasley, Ben's roommate, says that he spent lots of time there. Spends, sorry. It's not like Ben is dead, right? Right?
Anyways, in the room, we found this note telling Ben to break into the Slytherin Common Room, and the note threatened him if he didn't follow through with it. It was signed R. There's more to it than that, though. On my way to Transfiguration, Merula stopped to talk to me, bragging about how she knew something about Ben Copper's disappearance. When I asked her who R was, she was surprised that I knew about them, and demanded me to tell her how I knew.
I have to ask. Are you R? Or do you know who R is? Because everything seems to come back to you. It's all the bloody same as last year. Did you ever think that what you did might have consequences? Lucky you, the only consequence you seem to be suffering is expulsion and living away from our parents.
They're nearly unrecognizable, some days. Mum found out about the Cursed Ice. She knows I was involved somehow, but I refused to tell her. She hasn't talked to me for quite some time. Dad doesn't talk to me either, and I think he's pretending I'm a muggle like him when we do. I wish I could tell them the truth, but you and I both know I'd be homeschooled or shipped off to Durmstrang or some other school.
I know I shouldn't let Merula get to me, but what she said keeps echoing around in my head. Something has started at Hogwarts, and I'm still holding you responsible. Do like Dad always said and come clean your room.
Love,
Gracie
Dear Jacob,
This is a terrible plan. I don't know what I'm doing. I'm acutely aware of that. Rowan came up with this terrible plan, and guess who gets the brunt of carrying it out? Me! Next time, Rowan can experiment with the spell Flitwick said not to experiment with.
Since Ben Copper is still missing, Rowan and I are going to follow R's directions. Actually, scratch that. I will be following R's directions. Because reasons. (I think it's because Rowan actually wants to heed Flitwick's warning.) But Gracie, you're asking, you're in Hufflepuff— how in the name of Morgan Le Fay will you get into the Slytherin Common Room? Good question, Jacob, probably the only smart question you've asked yourself ever since we're in this mess! I will camp outside the Slytherin Common Room during the Gryffindor v. Slytherin Quidditch match and then shrink myself down using Reducio, and sneak in. Then I will make myself larger and look for the Black Quill mentioned in the note. The problem? Flitwick said explicitly for us to not use it on ourselves. Besides, so much can go wrong with this.
But Gracie, you're probably asking, hit with another sudden bout of genius that will surely lead to you re-evaluating your life and coming home to fix your crap, why not make another plan? Why are you going along with this one, if you hate it so much?
I don't have any other ideas, and I'm desperate to find Ben. No one seems to care that he's missing. I've gotta find him. Just like I've gotta find you. I just wish there was another way. I'm scared, Jacob. I don't want to be the size of a thumb for the rest of my life. And what if something else goes wrong?
I feel stuck. I'm expected to be this great hero and do these dangerous things without a second thought. But that's not who I am. I'm Mary-Grace Elizabeth Hallow, a silver-haired Hufflepuff girl with visions I don't understand and a past that confuses even me. I'm not a hero, Jacob. I'm just someone who wants to do what's right. And Ben's counting on me, so I have to do it. So wish me luck.
Love,
Gracie
Dear Jacob,
I have a newfound appreciation for insects. At least I was able to make myself large again. So the infiltration of the Slytherin Common Room was a mixed bag. Good news: found the Black Quill. Thank Merlin I went to the private lessons McGonagall offered me. I needed to learn Revelio to get R's instructions. The thing is, I don't think Ben was the only one following R's instructions. The note said to return the note in quill form to the Slytherin Common Room. I won't though. R is dangerous, I'm sure of it. I just don't know who they are. Could it be Merula?
It gets worse. Rowan is just as terrible of a look-out as Penny. Snape and the Slytherin prefect, Felix Rosier, were waiting for me to leave. As soon as I mentioned R, I was off the hook. Snape was shaken, and ran off to send an owl to Dumbledore. I'm not sure if I dislike Felix even more than Jane, but he was whining for Snape to take away House Points. But he didn't, thank Merlin.
By the way, Jane is even more obnoxious this year. She's started demanding House meetings, like she's our mum or something. Her first order of business? She wanted us to attack the Slytherins! She called me a coward for not wanting to do it! Her plan was so stupid, too, we Flipendo-ed a friendly Slytherin into a fountain, and lots of people saw us do it. I'm sure Felix doesn't do this crap with his Slytherins.
Anyway, Rowan and I followed R's instructions, and went to the corridor. The Cursed Ice is spreading, Jacob. And McGonagall said it happened before. Is this what you did to get expelled? No wonder, if that was what did it. Or was there more? Sorry, back on topic. McGonagall and Snape were there, and they were talking about how the ice is spreading, and they freed Ben Copper. I don't know how long he was trapped there for, but he had to go to the hospital wing.
When I talked to him, he refused to answer my questions, said he couldn't remember the last three months he's been missing. Rowan thinks he's lying, though. I think everyone needs to be honest, because something wicked is at Hogwarts. The only question I have is who tampered with the Vaults this time? Is it still you? Some say you returned to Hogwarts after your expulsion. But I haven't seen you at all. Could that be how you're reading my letters. . . If you are reading them, that is. You've left that properly ambiguous. Help us if you're here, please!
With love and pleas for action,
Gracie
Dear Jacob,
Oh God. I almost got Rowan killed. I can hardly breathe. We went to the corridor, and found the Vanished Stairs. We approached the door like idiots. Rowan wanted to stop and tell the teachers, but I thought maybe we'd find you and insisted we keep going. We found the icy door to the Vault and it attacked us. I'm fine, but Rowan almost died.
Is this what you felt when you and your friends went looking for the Vaults? How could you live with this guilt? Maybe you really are as selfish as they say. . . I hope Rowan makes it. She doesn't deserve to die at the place she loves the most. What would I tell Mr. and Mrs. Khanna?
I just realized, I'm becoming just like you! Why can't I escape your shadow? Why am I following your path exactly? And what have I done?
Gracie
Dear Jacob,
You'll be happy to hear that Rowan's fine. That is, if you are capable of caring about anyone other than yourself— sorry, shouldn't have written that. Can't help but wonder sometimes, though.
I've got bigger problems than you, though. Penny Haywood said that people are saying Merula wants revenge for me beating her in a duel last year. Naturally, I confronted her about it. And yes, Merula wants revenge. What is her problem? She's not going to be the kind of witch she wants to be by acting like this. Let it be known that I, Gracie Hallow, still attempted to reason with the girl who nearly murdered me at the tender age of eleven. I deserve the First Order of Merlin for this crap.
Got any good dueling spells? I'm fighting her at midnight, tonight. I almost hope I lose just so she'll just shut up. Wish me luck!
Love, Gracie
Dear Jacob,
I must be as crazy and selfish as you, because I'm going back. And I'm going back with a new friend of mine. His name is Bill Weasley, and he might be the most popular boy in school! He wants to be a Curse-Breaker when he graduates, so naturally he'll help me! Or at least, that's what he says.
I've got some things to take care of first, before I can go back with Bill. Like Hagrid. He wants me to brew a Fire-Breathing Potion for some reason. At least Snape let me watch him do it. I think I can repeat it. I just wonder what it's for.
I'd better get to brewing it myself!
Love,
Gracie
Dear Jacob,
So that's what it was for. Apparently Hagrid needed me to drink the Fire-Breathing Potion to free his dog from the Devil's Snare. Somebody's got to get rid of the stuff! Someone is actually going to die in there if we're not careful.
Love,
Gracie
Dear Jacob,
I really am as selfish as you. I can barely write this, I'm crying so hard. Bill almost died. We managed to hold our own against the door, but then he got frozen. We need to break in with more people if we want to find you. Unless you want to make an appearance?
Just do something!
Sincerely,
Gracie
Dear Jacob,
Since Bill Weasley was in the Hospital Wing, I've been helping out. I've found this really disturbing book in the Hufflepuff Common Room. I don't like it, Jacob. The cases and treatments in it are so creepy, and even Jane Court doesn't know who wrote it. She's not evil enough to write it, is she? She still keeps harassing me about House Points. I am single-handedly gaining points for Hufflepuff! I've already earned 200! It's not my fault the other Hufflepuffs aren't picking up the slack! Harass some of them!
Sorry, went on a bit of a tangent, haven't I? Don't worry, we're still working on finding you and finding the Cursed Vault. I've been working on training Penny and Rowan in how to use Incendio, and helped teach Ben Copper how to make a burn-healing potion.
I've been thinking about something Merula said months ago. She said she knew where you were, and I had to promise her that I would tell her if I ever found a Cursed Vault. She only gave one hint, telling me I had to find a Cursed Vault first. She said you were running out of time, and that you might not be breathing soon. Is she telling the truth? What did happen to you? If you can see these, why aren't you responding?
Your sister,
Gracie
Dear Jacob,
Merlin's beard. The Cursed Ice is spreading through Hogwarts. The Ravenclaw Quidditch team is frozen in their locker rooms. So is Professor Vector's fifth-year Astronomy Class. Hagrid told me the professors are running around, but they can't save anybody.
Rowan and Penny are going to save the others. Bill, Ben, and I are going to break the Curse on the Cursed Vault and stop the spread of the ice. Someone's got to do it, Jacob. And I've got to find you, in case Merula was telling the truth.
Love,
Gracie
Dear Jacob,
I did it, I saved the school. We entered the Cursed Vaults last night. First we attacked the icy doors, and then Bill and Ben were frozen as this Ice Knight came out. I had to wash blood out of my robes because of that attack. I nearly died.
But I won, and that's what's important. We were able to enter and in it, we found a book and your broken wand. I guess that broke the curse. The Cursed Ice is gone now. I've been attending my classes, and I think we got away with it. I told Merula, by the way. I kept my promise, but she didn't keep hers. I don't understand why.
Level with me, Jacob, is she the one you don't want finding you or your room? I had another vision, you were speaking directly to me, telling me to find the Cursed Vaults. And your room? I know we haven't opened your room at home since you ran away. . . Is that what you mean? Or are you talking about something else?
Oy, Professor McGonagall just sent an owl. Best read that.
Love,
Gracie
Dear Jacob,
So we didn't get away with it, as you probably guessed. Well, we technically did— Ben pulled through so that they have no evidence to say that it was us. But they totally knew because I've been such a reckless idiot.
Got to talk to Dumbledore again. He's as useful as ever. Because of him, though, we won the House Cup again. I have to say, for all that he begs that we don't interfere, I think he secretly wants us to, with all the point-giving.
What did happen to you? No one at Hogwarts will tell me, and I know Mum and Dad know nothing. But I still wonder. . . What happened to you? Could you send your little message here somehow? I'd appreciate that.
Yours truly,
Gracie