October 1992
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Wizarding Scotland

Draco plunked himself miserably into his seat at the Slytherin table in the Great Hall. His arm was still sore from the fall he'd taken from his broom during the Quidditch match a few days prior and his ego was still bruised from the tongue lashing his father had given him due to the loss of the match.

He picked lazily at a scone, half listening to Goyle tell him a story about torturing a first year Hufflepuff in the fourth floor lad's bathroom. He was about to get up and head back to his dorm for a nap before charms when he heard the screeching of the owls overhead with the day's post.

The letter and package of sweets from his mother he'd been expecting, the white envelope stamped with the tax for Hippogriff Air Mail and postmarked from Boston, he had not anticipated.

He furrowed his brow and tore into it.

Hi Draco!
I hope you're doing well and having a nice fall. My dad and I, along with my History of Magic class, just got back from a trip to the American Museum of Wandlore and it was awesome! I didn't know wands were so cool. I mean, I knew they were cool, but I didn't know just how much went into them. I got this great book that is basically an encyclopedia on wands and what the components mean about the wandbearer.

I learned that my wand (cedar, dragon heartstring) basically says that I'm a loyal pain in the butt with a particular capacity for flamboyant spells. I thought you'd like to know that. What kind of wand do you have? Do you have a wand museum in England? How's Quidditch? Have you broken anything yet? Write me back!

Best,
Lyra

P.S. - Enjoy the picture and don't think you're too cool to wear the button.

He poured the additional contents of the envelope into his hand and saw that she had included a picture of her and her dad waiving at the camera in front of a sign for the museum. She'd also sent him a little badge that showed a wand casting the same message over and over again in gold script. "Someone at the AMW thinks I'm wand-erful."

"Hideous," he remarked down at it, with a little smile on his face.

December 1992
Ilvermorny, The American School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Wizarding Massachusetts, United States of America

"Lyra, you got a letter!" her friend Diana called to her from the Pukwudgie common room.

Lyra poked her head out of the washroom with her mouth full of suds and toothbrush. "Wha-?"

"You got a letter, dingus," Diana repeated.

"You...'ingus," Lyra retorted uselessly as she continued brushing.

After she finished, she hurried out to the table in the common where the mail was brought. Sure enough, she had a letter. It was from Scotland. Ugh. Professor Snape had started sending her letters prior to her intervals at Hogwarts telling her to read up before her arrival and reminding her that her schedule would be full and merciless. Oh joy, she thought.

She opened the letter and was pleasantly surprised. It was from Draco.

Dear Puk,

I've decided to start calling you Puk in honor of your house, and because you have so many goblin-like qualities. I know, it's brilliant. No need to thank me. I got your letter and that awful badge. I can easily confirm that I am far too cool to wear such a thing.

Quidditch is over for now, because of the snow. I haven't broken anything but the spirits of my enemies.

Wandlore? Seems horrid. I have no idea if we have a museum for it. If we did, I certainly wouldn't go. My wand is Hawthorne with a unicorn hair core. I looked it up and found that it means that I am a clever, handsome, powerful wizard with absolutely no flaws.

I wanted to let you know that I won't be at Hogwarts over the winter holiday, my mum wants to take me away to France for a few weeks. Have fun with Snape in my absence. Try not to miss me too much.

Happy Christmas,
DM

P.S. Enjoy the present.

Took him long enough. Puk? What a dingus. Pukwudgies are cool, she thought to herself.

She reached back into the envelope and pulled out a button, like the one she'd sent him. It had a little frog on it which tastefully vomited a message onto the otherwise blank field. "Badges are for losers, so here you go."

Lyra laughed openly down at the funny little thing. She was going to re-gift it to her brother for sure. He would love it.

Author's Note - Sorry for the delay! I was on vacay. Just to clarify, part of this fic will have short chapters like this one to include letters between D & L during other parts of their education. Happy reading! -MM