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Year 1: Letters (September to December)
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September 1.
With her death sentence clutched in hand (after rewriting it 5 times), Maggie ignored the cocking of Corvus' head, as if he were questioning her sanity. The owl's large round eyes reflected Maggie's own large, scared-out-of-her-wits eyes.
Her eyes stung with the effort to not roll them in annoyance - "no, I'm not just waiting for curfew so that I have an excuse for not sending them a letter tonight."
She pointedly ignored Corvus' condescending chiirrrp.
"Ugh, what do you know, anyway!" she huffed, bending a corner of the parchment, nearly ripping the entire thing into shreds.
Corvus spread out his dark wings and flapped them harshly. Large eyes honed onto his companion.
"Sorry..." Maggie tried to consult her irate owl but he only squawked at her in return. "I'm sorry, Corvy, I didn't mean it, I'm sorry."
Corvus hopped around the ledge of one of the Owlery's open windows.
She sighed, bending and unbending the corner of her letter, watching her black feathered owl.
"Corvy..." she breathed, her pale breath wasn't nearly as white as her sallow face.
Two large round eyes found hers.
"I'm..."
lost.
She stepped closer to her owl, wanting, needing, searching for some kind of comfort.
The soft flesh of her fingers warmed from Corvus' head nudging into her touch. A low trill lessened the tight anxiousness in her chest.
"This is..."
not at all what I wanted.
Digging her heels into the floor, she bit her lip, wishing more than anything that she could just...she'd give anything to -
Ugh!
Maggie wanted to scream.
She wanted to go back in time, she dearly wished to know what do to after today's fiasco.
Mother is going to kill me, she sucked her lips to her teeth at the thought.
Even if she chose not to send the letter (a stupid, impossibly stupid idea), her parents would discover the truth from her cousin's family.
The tie around her neck twisted like a rope. She roughly pulled at the tie and it was impossible for her eyes to not wander to the colors of it.
The colors of the tie mocked her.
The two colors she never thought she would be forced to wear for the next seven years of her life, yet here she was... standing alone, on a bone chillingly cold September afternoon, wallowing in her misery.
"Lady Ravenclaw, why...?"
why am I not enough for you?
September 2.
Corvus swooped low as his wings brought him to his target.
Aim, land, and chirp for bacon and toast! The three steps basic steps for any morning delivery.
Maggie crooned and let him nibble on crumbles of bacon bits. Fly! The last step of delivery, and Corvus left her alone with her letter.
She slipped the letter into her pocket and the heavy weight of it left her uneasy the rest of the day...
After classes and lunch, and more classes, Maggie went to bed with her letter.
Breaking the smooth wax seal depicting the Greene family coat of arms, she unfolded the crisp letter, her heart beating in her throat.
She braced herself and took one look at what was written -
in the next second, the letter was crumpled into a ball within her fist and fresh tears pressed into her pillow. She whimpered, her noises muffled from her dorm mates.
Daughter,
The word 'disappointed' cannot be more suited for times such as these...
November 1.
Family,
We're safe. Cousin Draco and I stayed in our dorms after the headmaster told everyone to go to their common rooms.
No one knows how a troll passed the wards. The prefects didn't share any news of how or why there was a troll near Hogwarts grounds. Maybe they don't know the answer? Could Uncle Lucius find out through the school board?
Signed,
Magnolia Greene
November 7.
My dear little sister,
I never received a letter from you, Corvus has never failed to deliver... so I don't know what to think. Even if I am in Russia, I still wish to hear from your tales of Hogwarts.
I will be home in time for Yule. I will be speaking with mother and father. Mother and father have not shared much about how your first term is going... I found out about your sorting from Beth.
Our parents are harder on us than most. You not being in ravenclaw is not the end, even if they say otherwise. There will be so many feasts and clubs, and of course - quidditch. Watch the squid in the lake, get lost in the castle when the staircases change. There are so many fun experiences at Hogwarts.
-Shawn
P.s. - What's this about a troll in Hogwarts? Beth's imagination, or not?
November 19.
Big sister,
I miss you. I climbed a tree today, do you remember the tall oak? It's a little scary climbing to the top without you here. Mother was mad at me. I won't tell you how she punished me. Hint: my hands still hurt from the scrubbing!
I fed the chicks, Shawn helped and Daddy too! I know how you love to feed them too.
Mother was mad at me for smelling like manure today. And ruining my new robes. I fell into a mud puddle. I think it was mud. Maggie?! What if it wasn't mud!?
Aunt Cissy had tea with me and Mother. I was bored to tears near the end. I miss you, you would have loved the new tea blend Aunty brought for us to try.
Shawn stopped by the house today. He misses you. Why won't you write him?
Love,
Your favorite sister
P.s. - A bit of Aunty's tea is in the parcel!
December 4.
Family,
Cousin Draco and I study twice a week in the library. Studying in our commons isn't allowed because slytherin students are not allowed to bring any students from other houses into their common room. Only slytherins know the location of the common room, isn't that neat? I thought Beth would like to learn of another fact about Hogwarts.
The professors are honest and grade fairly, for the most part. However, potions is a challenge, especially with Finnigan, Potter, and Longbottom blowing up cauldrons nearly every class. Uncle Severus gives them more detentions than anyone else. I wonder if our dear Uncle thinks of moving them to Remedial Potions.
I keep out of trouble, as always.
Signed,
Magnolia Greene
December 15.
Daughter,
In the parcel is a new mink coat your brother Shawn wishes for you to have. He is currently travelling home and feared Corvus would lose it due to the snow.
We expect to see you and Draco at the station.
Signed,
Mother
P.s. - Write to your brother