Dear Father,

I hope everything is running smoothly at home with me gone. I guess that by now you've heard that I got into Ravenclaw- just like you said Mum should have. The classes here are amazing so far. However, Potions can be a pain. It feels like Professor Snape has a sort of vendetta against me with how cold he always is. No worries, I suppose. I refuse to let that get in the way of enjoying my favorite subject. And who knows, maybe he will learn to accept me a little more as time goes by...

I miss our mornings the most... but I've made amazing friends already. I have a feeling you would like them a lot- especially a girl named Lasea. Her parents are Muggles, and she was sorted into Hufflepuff, but she has stayed very close to me since the Hogwarts Express. She plans on staying at Hogwarts over Christmas, so maybe I could send her some of the fudge we love to make together. I know she's a lover of sweets so she'll probably enjoy it a lot.

You've met the Lovegoods, right? Mr. Lovegood's daughter Luna is in my house and we have beds right next to each other. She's actually a really sweet girl even though people are intimidated by her curiosity. I think after a while she could even remind you a little bit of me if you spent enough time around her. She has a great sense of humor too- one of the best I've ever seen.

I know the full moon is coming up... I'll be thinking of you when it's here. I know how much of a special time that was for us back home, so don't forget to treat it just as important while I'm gone. I can't wait to see you again for Christmas!

Love,
Abigail

Folding the paper neatly, I slid my letter inside an envelope before heading downstairs to the hall for breakfast. Luna, being the early rider she was, had already left just when I started writing the letter and I arranged to meet up with her again as soon as I finished. On my way through the doors of the Great Hall I ran into (quite literally) one of the Gryffindor boys I shared Potions with yesterday.

We both stumbled a little bit, flailing to regain our balance while clumsily apologising to each other. "So sorry!" The boy said holding his hand out to help steady me. "Hey! You're that girl from Potions."

"I'm sure there were lots of girls in that class." I excused sarcastically and the boy laughed politely. "I have a name- and it is not Miss Lupin if anyone but Snape is referring to me."

"And for some devastating reason I can't seem to remember it." The boy raised one eyebrow at me until I finally offered my name.

"Abigail." He eagerly shook my hand when I introduced myself.

"I'm Colin." He grinned at me and followed by my side as I took a few steps further into the Great Hall. I nodded shyly and he continued to speak excitedly. "Well, sorry for bumping into you again. My dad told me to make friends with everyone I can while I'm here- he's a Muggle, you see, and my whole family's new to this wizarding business."

"Well that's a good idea on your father's part. What's a better way to learn than making friends?" I offered. Luna sat at the Ravenclaw table, looking at me intently as I approached with a familiar looking owl perched in front of her.

"Iring!" I exclaimed excitedly, running over to the family owl. He was a northern hawk owl with large yellow eyes and a matching beak that would frequently tend to kindly nibble on my fingertips whenever I passed by.

"Iring? Is that your owl's name? Lots of people here own owls, and their mail is delivered by them. Do you have to train them to do that? Or is that in their instinct when they're around wizards?" Colin kept questioning me, but my focus was directed on the letter that sat neatly propped up against a plate of toast. My father's handwriting showed my name scrawled out in big letters across an aged envelope, and my heart jumped in excitement to hear from him.

"Actually, I wouldn't know. Iring's been in my life since I was born and my father never told me about any behavior problems he ever had." I admitted, taking a seat next to Luna. "Would you like to have a seat?"

"I'm a Gryffindor." He stated blandly, looking from the table across the room and back over to me. "I'm not sure how much that matters, but... I'll see you around later?"

"Alright." I shrugged. Colin scurried back over to where the rest of his house was seated and I looked over at Luna.

"I already set up your plate." She said, flipping through pages of The Quibbler casually.

"Thank you so much Luna." I said, picking at the toasted bread for a few seconds before declaring it finished and tearing open my letter.

Abigail,

The house is already empty without you, my love. I hope you're having a wonderful time at school and I can't wait to hear all about your courses. You got into Ravenclaw! I know how excited you were about making it to Gryffindor, but believe me when I say that I have always known you are the perfect example of a Ravenclaw. Your mother would have been so proud to see you all grown up, but I suppose I have already produced enough excitement for the both of us. Papa Will has been asking about you since the day you left. I've told him all about how great you're already doing so be sure to live up to what I said.

Everything is looking great for the full moon coming up. I wish you were here with me for it, but I'm sure you will be able to enjoy the sight much more at the castle- you're mother was always enticed by the way the sky looked. I will most likely write you just after the full moon to give you a full update on the house, just like I know you'd want. Also, Iring has made quite the habit of screeching around dinner time. I believe he's used to you playing little games with him so I've made arrangements to have him stay with you at the castle.

Stay safe and have fun,
Remus

Holding the paper close, I sipped at my glass of pumpkin juice and stroked Iring's head, offering some of the crumbs of my toast. "I bet you're all worn out, poor birdie. Get some rest before delivering this to Dad, all right?"

Iring cooed in response, nuzzling my knuckles a bit before pecking at my bread once again. Luna made comments about the paper she was reading every now and then, but breakfast ended up being a generally quiet time for the two of us. When we got our schedules, I sighed at the thought of beginning the day with Muggle Studies. I could be an interesting class at times, but it made me anxious at the thought of being in there and being one of the only ones to know Muggles personally.

Families all around this school had such pride for pure blood that it became a constant daunting chore to hide my father's condition and the fact that my grandfather is a Muggle. Between the two, it sank in that I was about the farthest from ordinary in this entire school- an encouraging thought. Luna stood from the table and glanced my way, signaling for me to get up and join her.

Iring joined the rest of the owls on his way to the owlery where he would be staying for the rest of the year. Without any more excuses, I got up and followed her on our way to class. Hopefully this one would turn out better than it did with Snape.

Sorry it's been so long! Between school and major writer's block it was pretty tricky getting this chapter out, but I'll make sure the next ones after this are better!