O
HERMES
Messenger
29th August 2021
Hey Dopey,
Paris is beautiful. Food is amazing too! The picture on this postcard is basically the view from our apartment. Thank you so much for the Spa vouchers. We're using them tomorrow.
We're going to extend our trip for a few days and go and stay with Gabrielle and Nicholas - Victoire's wangled the extra time off work. Will be back before you go off to school though. Hope you're enjoying the last week of your holidays.
Love you,
Teddy and Victoire x
30th August 2021
Dear Hope,
This isn't easy to write, but I don't think we should see each other anymore. It's nothing to do with you. I just don't really think it's right.
I'm sorry. I know we'll still see each other around Hogwarts and I hope we can still be friends.
Best,
Adam
13th September 2021
Hi Hope!
Sorry it's taken us ages to write - we were in India for three weeks and could not figure out the postal service for love nor money. In Thailand now.
We're having a great time. The plan is still to move towards Australia, but we're not in a rush because Australia's expensive and once we're there we'll have to find work and earn some money, which is less fun than being tourists and sunbathing - I'm sure you'll agree!
We've been in Thailand for two days and spent them both on the beach – we cast a disillusionment bubble and then we sit wherever we like and enjoy the sun. Going on some trips at the weekend because Dom's insisting we do some cultural stuff too. (She's protesting… *I mean, of course, because we both want to do some cultural stuff).
India was amazing, the food was incredible and we went to a festival (better fireworks than Wheeze ones, but don't tell Dad and Ron). We learnt so much about Indian culture too. Did you know 35% of their Wizarding population is an Animagus? They consider it one of the most important skills to have, so it takes precedent over most other magical learning. Imagine if we'd learnt that at Hogwarts instead of Astronomy! Fairly convinced that the names of Jupiter's moons will never serve me in life again...
The most entertaining part for us was definitely the flying carpets. You can get them anywhere, common as muggle taxis and just like the knight bus - you stick out your wand arm and one will come and collect you! They've got invisibility charms so the muggles don't see them, but they aren't very well regulated, so we had several rides where the charms failed and muggles did spot us. Carpet steerers aren't fazed - they just shoot a random memory charm down at them and are gone before they can see whether they did the job properly or not. It's pretty funny and kind of terrifying at the same time. They sell carpets everywhere and I wanted to smuggle one home but Dom was strict and boring about it (she's protesting again. I mean *sensible about it…)
How are you doing? Did you get quidditch captain? Dom says it's a crime if you didn't and I agree. How are things going with Adam? He'd better have made it up to you for not coming to Teddy and Vic's wedding.
We'll write more regularly from now on, promise. Ask for Eagle post instead of Owl when you write back - it's only a tiny bit more expensive and it'll be quicker - takes 5-7 days rather than 2-3 weeks.
Did your NEWT subjects get sorted in the end?
Miss you tons,
Roxanne and Dom
X
20th September 2021
Hi Dom, Hi Roxanne,
Your travels sound great, I'm so jealous. But all's going OK here! I was dreading going back to school but now term has started it's not as bad as I thought it would be.
I didn't get quidditch captain, Daphne did. I was a bit disappointed, but it is fair enough. She is older than me, after all, and she's doing an amazing job. She ran the trials really smoothly and got us a great new pair of beaters from fourth year. Samara has stepped in as keeper from reserve as you intended, Dom, and then Andrew Garswitch has replaced you as Chaser. He's nowhere near as good as you, but Daph makes the most of every minute of practice, so he's already improving. I reckon the first match will be a cinch. Hufflepuff have had about three training sessions since term started and most of their decent players left when you two did.
Teddy and Victoire had a great time on their honeymoon. They're looking for a house now, as you might have heard, and are dead set on buying in London, even though Bill and Fleur keep casually suggesting places down in Devon. My parents seem fine with the London move, although probably because they both work there and will take any excuse to pop in on their lunch breaks. Teddy will never get rid of them!
NEWT subjects are all sorted. Flitwick wrote a really nice recommendation to the new Charms professor, and said I should be allowed to continue Charms even though I only got an A. Neville let me keep Herbology too and I was fine for Defence anyway.
I sit next to Cadmus in all my lessons now - he's doing the same subjects as me plus Potions. Never knew him much before this year but he's good fun - makes me laugh a lot when he takes the piss out of the teachers, and he's helpful workwise when he can be bothered to pay attention. Also, did you know he's really good at drawing? I mean, insanely good. He spends a lot of his time doing caricatures of people. He's given me a few, so I've enclosed one he did of Edgecombe. Hope it gives you a laugh because I found it hilarious.
Elodie passed all her OWLs, obviously. With four outstanding. Urgh. She hasn't stopped going on about it. Luckily no one knows what I got and no way am I telling them. I am managing to work a bit harder than last year though, so fingers crossed no Ts this time around.
Adam... broke up with me. Sent me an owl the day before term started (?!) rather than doing it in person. Twat. I'm OK, honestly. I was a bit upset at first, especially as I'm not really sure what I did wrong, but kind of realising now that I don't miss him.
I do miss you though! Hogwarts isn't the same without you.
Tell me more about your travels.
Hope
xxx
30th September 2021
Hi Hope,
It's still a crime re quidditch captain. You're ten times as good as Daph and everyone knows it, so she'd better do a good job! Andrew? Alec Peter's mate? But he's so annoying. What happened to Carlotta? I had her lined up in reserve and I thought she'd be a cert after training with us all last year.
Adam broke up with you and he didn't even do it in person? Screw him, Hope you're better off without him. I'm glad you're feeling OK about it, but remember it's absolutely NOTHING to do with you. Boys aren't worth it, remember.
Rox says: Or maybe they are - is anyone else on the horizon? Not developing a crush on Cadmus or anything?
She's joking - I'm glad you're getting on well with him though. That drawing is so funny. He's captured Edgecombe's 'why did I take this job?' look perfectly. How is she as Head of House?
Bet Elodie is being a cow. Are her minions being horrible too?
We're on Ko Prem at the moment. It's a wizarding island off the coast of Thailand and it's as close to paradise as you'll get. We've attached lots of photos and written a bit more info about each one on the back.
I got sunburnt. Like, tomato burnt (photo also enclosed). Luckily Vic gave us some basic healing advice before we left so we were able to fix it without too much hassle, but thought we'd give you a laugh.
Let us know how your first match of the season goes and please tell us all the Hogwarts/family gossip you can. Our parents' letters have been boring so far and we miss it. And you, obviously!
Lots of love,
Dom & Rox
xXx
17th October 2021
Hi!
Thanks for the detailed photo walkthrough! Please keep them coming - it makes me feel like I'm there too (alright, not really, but it's better than nothing.)
We beat Hufflepuff 450-50. Flattened them! Slytherin will be harder though, don't worry Rox, they are still up to standard.
Andrew flew better than Carlotta in tryouts. Much better - I think nerves got to her - so Daphne didn't have much choice, even though we'd much prefer her to be on the main team, because as you say Andrew is so annoying. Carlotta is still first reserve though.
Actually, Natalie's been OK recently and Marion has always been nice. They don't pay much attention to me anymore which is fine by me. And even Elodie only calls me Hopeless about once a week now instead of every day! Think that might be progress?
Other Hogwarts/family gossip (everything I could think of in no particular order):
Edgecombe is alright as HoH, I suppose. She's still a bit off with me sometimes though. Maybe you were right before and a lot of it's in my head, but I still miss Flitwick. It's really not the same without him, and the new Charms professor is a pain - nice enough, but loves the sound of his own voice and goes into minute, unnecessary detail about every spell before we get to try it. We do about half as many practical classes as we used to because he does so much talking.
James got into serious trouble last week for rearranging every single book in the library, restricted section and all, so that nothing matched up to the indexes. They are still trying to sort out the mess. I know he's trying to live up to the Marauder name, but don't think he quite hit the mark with this one - all he's done is annoy people who want to study. He got a month of detentions and a Howler from Harry. Of all the people to have send you a howler… I'd be mortified! He didn't seem too fazed by it.
He's being a bit of an arse at the moment to be honest. He still spends most of his time with Adam, and Adam (for all he said we should be friends) won't even talk to me properly now. Then Lily's pissed off with James too because she tried out for Gryffindor seeker and didn't get it and he keeps going on about it - I think it's upsetting her a bit, and Hugo's getting annoyed on her behalf, so they're heading for a major row at some point. Hugo would come off worse in a fight with James though, so he'd better be careful.
I'm staying well out of it in the boring safety of Ravenclaw tower, where the only thing to report is that Rosie is obsessed with studying for her OWLS. She's taking everything except divination plus she has wangled herself onto the seventh year Alchemy course, and so she has permission for a Time Turner this year. I think she was very insistent and Vector and Edgecombe approved, but I know Hermione wasn't keen after her own Time Turner experiences. Then again, Rose doesn't have to save the world with Harry Potter on top of studying like she did. She was fuming about James' library prank, as you can probably imagine.
Umm what else..
Michael Longbottom is now going out with Esme Okare. They are super cute together.
And.. This feels really weird to be writing because I know you were joking in your last letter… but I think I might actually like Cadmus. As more than a friend?
Don't judge me, I know that sounds crazy and I'm not sure where it's coming from. I never thought we had anything in common before. But we get on really well and he's fun and we have interesting conversations and the last few weeks I've been getting these feelings that I like him as more than a friend now.
Is that weird?
Feels like it is.
Love you both,
Hope
xxx
25th October 2021
Hi Hope,
Thanks for all the Hogwarts gossip, keep it coming, it feels like we're there too. Glad Edgecombe's not too bad, and the new charms professor sounds like a drag.
That's crap that Adam won't talk to you, but maybe it's for the best. You don't miss him, do you? And if James is being a prick anyway then best avoid him too. However, if he and Hugo get into a fight we want all the updates.
Cadmus? Wow, we weren't expecting that (I notice you slipped that info in right at the end of the letter, ha!) But of course we won't judge you. You like who you like. Cadmus is cool and he's fancied you for ages, remember. That has to be a good thing.
Just bear in mind, if he starts to act like Adam used to I will track him down and strangle him myself.
(That was Rox - but the sentiment is shared. Make sure he treats you how you deserve to be treated.)
We left Ko Prem just before the full moon. They have a Full Moon Party every month and some of the other travellers we met were trying to convince us to stay on for that. Apparently it's a wild all nighter and the best party of each month, but we were keen to move on to Laos, and anyway, it felt like an insult to your dad. How is he? And your Mum? How's Teddy's research?
We've attached lots of annotated photos of Laos and Vietnam. Hope it's OK to keep sending you them like this - we're not showing off, honestly. It's just the best way of telling you what we've been up to without writing a million paragraphs.
We've also enclosed a fortune necklace. It is supposed to change different colours according to your fortune of the day (reference booklet included). Probably touristy rubbish but hope you like it anyway.
We've extended our itinerary a bit and are heading up to China, before going on to South Korea and Japan. It's supposed to be the best time of year to visit this area. Very excitingly, we were able to get a few nights' accommodation in Quichong - that's the floating village we were telling you about before we left, remember? The whole community lives a mile up in the air and everything is connected by tiny walkways. Sometimes not even that so they have flying horses which go back and forth. Kind of terrifying - you have to prove you can do a self levitating charm and sign a waiver before staying there. But, supposedly you can see blue phoenixes at night and that will be worth it.
We'll write back if we survive and don't fall to our deaths!
Love,
Roxanne and Dom
X
7th November 2021
Hiya,
Ok, calm down, nothing has even happened with Cadmus! Although I think you're right and he does like me back. I've always tried to seem oblivious to that before, but now I'm not sure how to act. It's so strange to like someone you see every day, you know? With Adam I barely knew him at all before he asked me out (yes, I know I thought I did in my head, but that didn't turn out so well…).
No, to answer your other question, I don't miss Adam at all. Sometimes I just wish it wasn't awkward so I could hang out with James and co like I used to. Lily actually confronted James about teasing her and told him she didn't appreciate it and he shut right up and hasn't said anything about it since. So no fights to report as yet.
Yeah, Dad is fine thanks. Really well actually - he just got a promotion at work so now he's a Principal Researcher and he's in charge of all the biggest projects. Not sure he'd be up for a full moon party though!
Mums well too and Teddy's work is progressing - something good happened with his Sigma cells (I know it's far more technical than that but it's so hard to understand). I know that the tests he's doing are giving off the results he's hoping for and he's going to apply for in person trials to start. That could take a year to approve, and then the trials themselves will take at least two years, but it's still a huge step forward.
Please don't fall to your deaths from Quichong. I'd miss you alot. And yes, do keep sending the photos - comments and all. They are worth the regret that I didn't quit school this year and come with you (just wishful thinking, my parents would never have allowed it.)
Love the necklace, although today it told me - according to the reference booklet - that my 'road to love will be rocky but fulfilling'. I am none the wiser.
Blue phoenixes sound amazing. In fact, all the creatures you've seen do, I bet Hagrid would love it! I'm actually regretting giving up care of magical creatures in some ways. No one takes it at NEWT level which is why I didn't bother trying to continue it, but it would have made Hagrid so happy, and I think I would have really enjoyed it. Also, everyone else in Ravenclaw does at least four subjects - as usual I'm the dunce of the house.
Oh well, it's too late now, and maybe for the best. I would have been on my own and Merlin knows what creatures Hagrid would have made me look after - I'd have been locked up in Azkaban for breaching the ban on experimental breeding before you'd even reached Australia!
Please reassure me you are still alive. Thanks.
Love,
Hope
xxx
14th November 2021
Hi Hope,
We survived Quichong, you'll be pleased to hear. And we saw a blue phoenix on the very last night. Surreal experience, they are huge. It was like watching a massive blue and purple fireball go across the sky. Worth every minute of mild vertigo! Unfortunately no picture of that but we have attached lots of others.
Tell Hagrid we refused on principle to do the Flying with Dragons tour despite being plagued by sellers all over the place. It's all the rage here, particularly for tourists - flying with chinese fireballs. But apparently they treat the dragons horrendously. We weren't willing to condone it, and even if we were, not sure we could face Hagrid again (not to mention Charlie and Alex) if we did something like that!
Why don't you ask Cadmus out? Why shouldn't you make the first move? Hopefully your fortune necklace was referring to Adam about your rocky road to love and it will all be plain sailing from now on.
Glad your family are all well and fingers crossed for Teddy's research. Great news about your Dad's promotion too!
Don't worry about not doing a fourth subject, and you are absolutely not a dunce. Loads of people only do three or even two for NEWT level. More time for quidditch practice that way.
Speaking of, we saw a quidditch match in China, which was brilliant. The photos don't do it justice because it was hard to capture, but their style of play is beautiful, so elegant and acrobatic.
It's our first night in South Korea and we're enjoying our dinner while we write this (photo no4). It is exactly what it looks like - a giant squid shaped cheese pancake which grows limbs until you're full. In fact it grows limbs until after you're full. Both of us are feeling very sick right now.
We've got lots planned for this week. Going to see a show at the weekend although we are a tiny bit sceptical. It's the cheapest one we could get tickets for and it's called (loosely translated) The Centaur's Lone Star Love Potion.
Then we've booked for a tour of the Korean War Museums tomorrow, which will be sobering, but interesting. The Korea tensions had such an impact on wizarding politics worldwide, and yet they barely touch on it in History of Magic and Defence against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts. School was so focused on Europeen wizarding history, and it's amazing how much extra stuff we've learnt over here that we had no clue about before.
We're also considering the muggle theme park - supposedly the best in Asia. I'm more keen than Rox at the moment. She got seasick on the expedition to see Ramoras back in India and hasn't quite forgotten the experience.
Will keep you updated anyway!
Love you,
Dom and Roxanne
xXx
20th November 2021
Hey!
That cheese octopus thing looks SO DELICIOUS. Then again, maybe just because I'm really hungry. I missed dinner due to quidditch practice running late so I might go and beg the house elves for something once I've written this.
China looked incredible. I wish I could have watched the quidditch match with you. I particularly like the photo of the woman doing a backflip off her broom to dodge a bludger - maybe I'll try it out in our next practice.
Quidditch is still going well. Slytherin beat Gryffindor last week - Rox will be pleased to hear - although not by much. James is really good now; he wasn't exaggerating over the summer. He and Beth are like machines. I'm kind of scared of when we have to play them (Don't ever tell him I said that, his head will inflate even more), so if he could get another month of detentions in May for the final match that would be great.
Oooh and I nearly forgot because I don't do potions any more but Leppard quit! She was under investigation for some inappropriate comment to a student, and then one night she just packed her bags and left. No one's heard from her since. Professor Vining has stepped in while they look for a permanent potions professor. Leppard's such a cow, I wish she'd quit five years ago, then maybe I'd have enjoyed the subject more.
Do you think you could send me some info on the Korean Wizarding Wars? I have a DADA essay coming up and we can choose any wizarding warfare topic we like to comment on defensive strategies and that actually sounds like a good shout. Most people are doing the Voldemort wars and everyone's telling me it will be so easy for me. But seriously... I've heard about Harry Potter and the Order and Voldemort so much I could recite it in my sleep - why would I want to write three rolls of parchment on it too? I have managed to find one sole book on the Korean Wars in the Hogwarts library (which has finally been restored after James' rearranging prank) so any extra info would be amazing.
A muggle theme park? Like with those Rolling Coster things? Rather you than me. I still haven't forgiven Teddy for taking me to Thorpe Park that time and telling me it would be fun.
Cadmus asked me out in the end. So... I guess we're kind of together now.
Love,
Hope
xxx
25th November 2021
Hope - that is a shocking lack of detail about Cadmus. You know we aren't going to let you get away with that, nor with squeezing in the sentence at the end of the page and hoping we won't notice it at all. We do read your letters thoroughly, believe it or not.
More details needed. Please and thank you.
I am happy about Slytherin beating Gryffindor. Although I will actually be a bit put out if they win the cup just after I leave, so maybe I'll root for you and Ravenclaw this year too. (Maybe).
We've enclosed a few more photos of some weird and wonderful meals we have had here, and all the details we could get on the wars, including a book we got from the tour. We made it to the museums but sadly we don't have much else to report since our last letter as we've both been ill. No idea what it was - some kind of wizard flu - but we couldn't get out of bed for three days. Regulations about going out when you're sick are really strict here - have been ever since the Narcoviral Curse was released - so we've been shut up in our hostel room going round the bend.
We missed the show in the end so we'll never find out what happened with the Centaur and his Lone Star Love potion. And we definitely wouldn't have been up for the theme park even if we'd been able to go somewhere.
Feeling much better and we're allowed out tomorrow, so we're just going to shop for some souvenirs then we'll have a few days in Japan before heading further south again.
We'll write again soon, hopefully with more interesting news.
Love,
Roxanne and Dom
X
17th December 2021
Hello!
I hope you're feeling better, that sounds really nasty.
I seriously can't wait for term to end now, it's such a drag. Edgecombe's being a moody cow again. Something really bothers her about this time of year, for sure. But thank you so much for all the war info and you'll never guess what… I got an O on the essay! So shocked. Edgecombe couldn't seem to believe it either when she gave it back to me. Cadmus only got an A and seemed pretty put out by my grade.
Ok Cadmus, the full story (well a more detailed version than last time, anyway. But you know I hate talking about this kind of stuff):
We'd been spending loads of time together and we always ended up chatting in between classes, and hanging out in the grounds in the evening etc. And I started to realise I properly liked him, like I told you, and I was pretty sure he liked me back, because he was always making excuses not to go back to his dormitory in the evenings, or to keep chatting to me after class.
Then in November he asked me out on a proper date. It was quite sweet the way he did it - he drew a little picture of us eating dinner together with a question mark and slid it over to me during class. Also he seemed embarrassed - I didn't think Cadmus was one to get embarrassed, but it was cute and made me like him even more.
Urgh I can't believe I just wrote that. Way too soppy. Oh well.
The date went really well, we had lots to talk about and had a good laugh. And because I know you're going to ask: yes, we kissed. He's a very good kisser. Please don't make me go into more detail than that. Better than Adam, though. Nothing else for the moment, definitely not ready yet!
Since then we have been spending lots of time together and it's all good. We have lots to chat about and he also is good at making up all sorts of interesting word games, which keep us entertained in the most boring classes!
Hope that is enough detail for you? What about you guys anyway? Any travelling romances?
Enclosed your Christmas presents so they aren't late but you can't open them until Christmas Day.
Let me know how Japan is.
Love,
Hope
xxx
22nd December 2021
MERRY CHRISTMAS HOPE!
Hope you like our gift – sorry if it gets there late but it will look so pretty on you.
Amazing work on the essay! We're so proud of you and keep it up.
Re you and Cadmus : that's adorable. (Except the bit about him being annoyed you got a higher grade than him? What's that all about? Why shouldn't you be smarter than him?) I'd never have thought he'd be romantic in any way at all, but I'm glad you are getting on well, and you sound a lot more keen on him than you were on Adam.
No foreign love affairs for us. Although Christmas is considered an extra romantic time in wizarding Japan so maybe we should stick around and see what happens. Joking, we are actually going to travel to Australia on Christmas Day. You have to pay for Australian floo permits unlike for most countries, which is dead annoying, but if we enter the country on Christmas day it costs half as much.
Japan is lovely as I'm sure you can see from the attached. Sorry for the deluge of photos, but you did ask for them.
I've also discovered something very exciting. As you know, my wand is made of Cherry wood. Not a big deal at home, but here you get treated like ROYALTY. We're not kidding. We were upgraded to the best hotel room in the place the second we checked in and they noticed it. Japanese wizards are very courteous anyway, so with that on top it's been a bizarre but delightful experience. Looking forward to Australia but it will be a shock to the system to be treated like a mere mortal again. Roxanne says it's just as well because it's going to my head by I think she's kidding.
Will write again when we're in Oz!
Love you!
D
xXx
4th January 2021
Hi Hope,
How was Christmas and New year? We missed the Weasley chaos but it was quite nice to have the freedom to do whatever we wanted. It has also been very weird celebrating Christmas in the boiling hot sun.
We're staying in a hostel in the blue mountains at the moment, but I think we're going to need to migrate towards Sydney soon. We are slowly but surely running out of money and accepting that it is time to get a job and save up again, especially if we want to visit New Zealand and some of the islands (which we do… we're not coming all the way out here and then not seeing everything we possibly can).
It should be easy enough to find work, as there are quite a lot of wizard tourist jobs going.
The blue mountains are very peaceful and we've just been on lots of walks, as walking doesn't cost anything, but we're being careful. There are loads of tales about old, wild spirits living in the outback, or of magic not working when you go past a certain point/wizards and muggles getting trapped there forever, so we're just sticking to the trails.
How is the new term going? And everything OK with Cadmus? Do the family know, by the way?
DR
xXx
20th January 2022
Happy New Year!
Sorry it took me ages to reply. Christmas was fine and New Year was OK. The party was pretty boring without you, but I had fun with Lily and Hugo in the end.
I love the dress! Thank you so much, it's beautiful and I wore it on New Year.
I'm not loving being back at school though. Last term I felt positive about studying and this term all my motivation has just gone.
I haven't told my parents about Cadmus yet. Although James' stupid big mouth means all the adults now know I broke up with Adam. I wasn't planning on saying anything about it (They aren't thick and I'm sure they would have worked it out eventually for themselves..) but he went and told them that Adam 'dumped' me, so Christmas involved a lot of pitying stares and 'do you want to talk about it' s.
I'm so over it.
But yeah... I feel weird telling them about Cadmus. I know they don't like his dad at all and I'm a bit worried about how they'll react. Maybe I'm overthinking it. They don't like the Malfoys either and they have never had a problem with Scorpius and Albus being joined at the hip.
Speaking of Albus (I promised I'd keep you in the loop with gossip but fair warning you might want to puke):
He's going out with Natalie next Saturday. I'm trying not to be disappointed in him but seriously? Of all the people to date. I've known for ages that she liked him but I never thought Albus would say yes if she asked him out.
Rose is still working extra hard, doing about twelve classes a day, and somehow finding the time to nag me about my work as well! She also keeps asking me to do OWL practice papers with her, as I 'took my own so recently'. The fact that I failed most of them doesn't seem to be a dissuading factor.
So yeah. Fine generally but can't really be bothered with studying.
Tell me more about travelling. It must be way more fun than my life right now.
Hope
xxx
27th January 2022
Hey Hope,
We're settled out on the East Coast, near Sydney. We've found a reasonably priced hostel so we're going to stay here for a bit, and we've found work too – in the local wizard bar. The clientele is pretty… unique… as you'll see from our recent batch of photos, but the pay is decent and they are fun people to work with.
What the actual hell has got into Albus? NATALIE? Go and slap him round the face to check he's thinking straight. Or get Lily to – she's had more practice. At least it's not Elodie though. You said Natalie had been alright recently?
I wouldn't worry too much about your family's reaction to Cadmus. I know his Dad has been in prison, but it's for two quite minor charges and neither time was for very long, Morella's told me about it before. I met him once and didn't warm to him at all, but it's not like he was a Death Eater or anything. And like you said they've never had a problem with Scorpius being around, have they? His dad was a Death Eater (and his grandfather) and he and Harry were proper arch enemies at school.
You should tell them. They'll be happy for you! Like we are.
Are you alright though? You sounded a bit down in your last letter.
Love you always. We'll write again soon with more news but we haven't been doing much except working as we can't afford it until we've saved up a bit more.
Rox
X
10th February 2022
Hey,
I'm fine, don't worry. Been a bit meh but I think it's just the cold, and the lack of daylight hours. You know how much I hate February, and this year is even worse because I don't have your birthday celebrations to look forward to. Cadmus has been a bit off with me the last few weeks too, and even Elodie and Natalie had a massive falling out yesterday, so I think everyone's feeling the winter blues. It's so cold here at the moment, ice on the inside of the windows and everything. Can't wait for Spring!
Albus is still dating Natalie so looks like they'll be having a fun, couply valentines day in Madam Puddifoots (bleugh). Lily is not impressed and struggling to hide it. Hugo can't seem to stop himself rolling his eyes whenever he sees them, and Rosie isn't bothering to hide her disapproval at all. James just thinks it's funny - lots of teasing as always - and I feel a bit sorry for Al. I don't think it helps at all and he doesn't seem able to confront James about it the way Lily did.
So basically, standard Potter-Weasley lack of tact on that one. Then again, I'm hardly a model at tact so maybe I shouldn't judge. I'm trying to be open minded because Natalie really isn't as bad as she used to be, but it's hard. Albus could do way better than her.
I loved the recent set of photos! Who is that man in the green robes with the jewelled teeth?
Enclosed your birthday presents. Doing anything exciting for them?
Love,
Hope
xxx
20th February 2022
Hi Hope,
Wish you were here. You'd love it, plenty of daylight and it's boiling. No ice on the windows for us, just a lot of ice cold drinks.
Ah, we must have forgotten to say. That man is the owner of the bar we work at - Gee. He's odd, to say the least, but always has a story to tell and the customers love him. And he treats us well as employees which is all we can ask for.
Poor Al. Not hugely surprising though. Us Weasleys don't really do tact - except Hermione, and she isn't a Weasley by blood.
If Cadmus is being an arse then ditch him. We meant it about tracking him down and strangling him if he doesn't treat you right.
We spent our birthday weekend in Tasmania (Photos enclosed as always). We went on two incredible jungle tours, saw some amazing scenery and learnt about these tiny wizarding tribes who still live there in secret - four or five to a tribe and they are completely self-sufficient. Quite a lonely lifestyle but still fascinating.
We were planning on going out to this bar that's right in the depth of the rainforest. Everyone raves about it and says you have to go if you visit Tasmania. Then Roxanne got stung by a Tasmanian Billywig at the end of the tour and spent all night with her arm wrapped in icing bandages, vomiting into a bucket. So I guess the night ended exactly how it would have done if we had gone out, minus the bandages.
-oggr'\'
(That was Rox attempting to write OI. But her arm is still swollen so she can't! xD)
We still had fun though. Thank you SO much for the bracelets, they are beautiful. I'm wearing mine every day. Rox will put hers back on when her arm doesn't resemble Bart the Beefy Beater (remember that story - it was our favourite!?)
Love you,
Dom and Rox
xXx
7th March 2022
Hiya,
Big news here - you might have seen but I'm not sure if it will be as publicised on your side of the world. The Crow took his own life in Azkaban last week. It's been a shock, especially now they know everything Umbridge did to him. There's loads of horrible vitriol about how he deserved it but I feel sorry for him and I know Mum and Harry do too. He never really had a chance at all.
They've released the report on what happened in the hospital too. I've enclosed the article in case you don't get it out there. Pretty interesting and also scary how many things slipped through the cracks for years when it came to Umbridge's case.
Things with Cadmus are good, don't worry! He was off with me at the start of term but we're fine again now. Maybe he had a shit time when he was home for Christmas or something. I know he doesn't get on great with his dad. You won't need to track him down - he's nice to me, honestly, not distant like Adam was and always complimenting me loads. Bit too much, actually. Gets sickening sometimes. But other than that it's great. Although he'd never heard of Bart the Beefy Beater! What a sheltered childhood. So I got it for him when we were in Hogsmeade. My favourite was always Chad the Cheeky Chaser.
Your Tasmanian birthday sounds… swell? Hope you're feeling better Rox, and sorry you didn't get to go to the rainforest bar
Love,
Hope
xxx
15th March 2022
Hi Hope,
Haha, very funny. My arm is fine now anyway, and we had a night out in Sydney to make up for it. And no there was no vomiting at all, I'll have you know.
-Just a night of passion with a hot Australian bartender-
Ignore Dom - it was nothing.
We did hear the news about The Crow, and we feel really sorry for him too. What an awful life to have led. We hadn't seen anything about the hospital report though so thanks for sending it. It's terrifying - how did they never realise Umbridge was lucid that whole time when she spent most nights communicating with The Crow or hexing her carers?
We're hopefully going to be moving into a proper house soon. The hostel is reasonable, but still eating into our savings, and sharing a room with different people every night is getting tedious. Last week there was a witch who recited the laws of transfiguration in her sleep, and at the weekend a couple who managed to smuggle in ten fairies. We thought it would be fun at first, until they sang all night. Luckily, we've made good friends at the bar - a few of them live together and will have a spare room going from next week. It will be nice to have a place that felt a bit more like home for the moment. Will keep you updated as always!
Recent photos enclosed. How's school? Work? Quidditch?
Roxanne and Dom
X
25th March 2022
Hey!
Um - please could I know more about the Australian bartender? I told you all about Cadmus, remember?
School is pretty much the same. Quidditch is great - we're favourites for the cup after a second win last week. All is good with Cadmus too, although I still haven't told my parents that I'm going out with him. I know I should. It's just become a big deal now in my head and I'm not sure how to bring it up.
Everything else is meh. You're still coming back in July, right? Wandless Witches are touring over the summer and I thought maybe we could go to their London gig for my birthday?
Hope
xxx
20th April 2022
Hi Hope,
Sorry we didn't reply straight away. This is hard, but the thing is... we've been thinking about it alot and we're going to stay here in Australia for a bit longer - maybe for another year. We weren't going to originally, as you know, but there are a lot of reasons why it makes sense to. Our youth wizard travel and work permits are only valid once. When you leave the continent they become nul and void and then it gets more complicated with the international travel rules. We want to make the most of living here as we'll almost certainly never get another chance to.
The move into the shared house worked out too, which means we are paying a lot less for accommodation and are able to save properly. We'll earn more here than we would if we were in London paying rent and working an entry level job, so it makes sense to save up everything we can, finish our travels properly so we don't regret cutting them short, then hopefully we'll still have money to tide us over when we're back home and job hunting.
I hope you understand. We are really sorry, Hope. We miss you loads and it was a really hard decision. We'll 100% be back by next summer, maybe before then and we'll keep you updated. We'll make it up to you on your next birthday, take you to whatever concert you like?
Are you sure you're OK? We haven't heard much from you recently and your last letter was really short. We're still here for you if you want to talk about stuff, you know that, even if we're half a world away.
Love you always,
Dom and Roxanne
xXx
1st May 2022
Hey guys,
I don't really know what to say. I'm gutted and I'll miss you so much but it sounds like you're having the best time so I don't blame you. I just wish I could be there too.
I've… been better... to be honest. I feel so lost at the moment. I hate school. I never in a million years would have imagined that I could hate Hogwarts when I first started, but I do now. I can't get my head into studying, even though I told Mum and Dad that I'd try harder this year, and if I'm not careful my NEWTs next year will be even worse than my OWLs.
Things are getting a bit difficult with Cadmus, but I still like him a lot so I'm confused. We had a weird argument the other day. I asked him why he could see thestrals and he clammed right up and didn't talk to me all evening. I know it's a personal subject, but I thought it would be OK to ask, seeing as we've been together for months, and I always tell him about my life when he asks me. And he could have just said that he didn't want to talk about it, instead of blanking me all night. Also, I think he wants us to sleep together but I know I'm not ready. He isn't forcing me into anything, but he does try and take it further each time, even though I've already said no. It's all a bit… confusing.
I went home for Easter to clear my head but I kept arguing with Mum and Dad, and it was horrible, so in the end I wished I'd stayed at school. Even Dad got properly angry with me at one point. It was all my stupid fault as well. I said some awful things to Mum that I didn't mean, then I wouldn't apologise, because for some reason I can't say sorry when it really matters like a normal person would.
Every time we argue I feel so, so guilty, because all it takes is the memory of Mum in hospital or Dad being ill and I just want to go and see them and hug them and make everything OK. But whenever I talk to them it comes out wrong.
Also, Oompa died last week. I know I shouldn't be surprised, she was already old for a pygmy puff, but I'm so sad. It felt like losing another friend, and it's not like I have many of them.
And most of all I miss you. I miss having proper friends who I can hang out with. Michael's the only real friend I have in my year and he's always with Esme at the moment. Adam is still being weird with me, so I stay away from James' lot too, and I end up spending all my time with Cadmus and it gets overwhelming at times.
I wish I'd-
X
1st May 2022
Hey guys,
That's fair enough. I'll miss you, obviously, but it sounds like you're having the best time so I don't blame you!
Yeah, I'm ok. Bit down at the moment and I'm not doing great at work. I'm scared of getting terrible NEWT results but I also can't get my head into studying.
Everything with Cadmus is good, although I'm having to be firm on the 'going all the way' front. Any advice?
I keep arguing with Mum and Dad too but maybe that's normal? I know you did Rox, with your parents a few years ago, and it's all fine now, isn't it?
Oompa died the other night. I know she was old but it was so horrible waking up and finding her in the morning.
Other than that I'm honestly-
X
1st May 2022
Hey guys,
Ah no worries. Sounds like you're having the best time.
I'm fine, don't worry!
Things are a bit difficult but nothing I can't handle –
X
1st May 2022
Nooooooooooooooo. How can you abandon me for another whole year? Can I just quit school and come and join you? Please? -
X
1st May 2022
Hey guys,
That does make sense, and you can't miss out on an opportunity like that. Sounds like you're having the best time, and I'll miss you but will be looking forward to seeing you next summer, maybe before then! Don't worry about the concert, maybe I'll see if Teddy will go with me (we all know how much he loves non-muggle music…)
Yep, I'm all good! Just a bit sad because Oompa died a few days ago. I know she was old for a pygmy puff but I still wasn't ready for it.
All fine with Cadmus. Not sure if it will last, but I'm taking it as it comes. I do like him alot, way more than I liked Adam, I now realise. I'm not even sure why I liked Adam, looking back. We didn't even have interesting conversations.
Albus and Natalie did not work out, so that's one good thing. Scorpius seems much happier now they have broken up too… which is interesting.
Other than that, same old. Elodie's still being mean. Edgecombe's still being weird. Quidditch going well.
Love you both,
Hope
xxx
7th May 2022
Hey Hope,
So sorry about Oompa. She was adorable and we know how much you loved her. I'm sure Dad and Ron will let you choose another one, if you ask them. I know it's a bit soon, but maybe over the holidays?
Thank God Albus has finally seen sense! How has Natalie taken it? And Scorpius is happier now that Albus is single? That is interesting. You don't think he likes Al, do you? It wouldn't be that surprising.
Are you sure you're happy with Cadmus? Please only stay with him if you are. You deserve the best, really you do. And you liked Adam because he's pretty, remember? Don't feel bad, it happens to us all at some point. It sounds like you are with someone who gets you a bit more now.
AS LONG AS YOU ARE HAPPY WITH HIM (To reiterate, in case that wasn't clear.)
Had a bit of an incident out here - I broke my wand the other day when we were trying out winged horse surfing (turns out we are both rubbish at it and would be better off sticking to flying…). I've managed to borrow one from our boss but I'm not sure how good it is. I'll have to get my own new one at some point but I'll miss the Ollivander one so much, and there's no way I'll be able to afford any of his final stock - they go for at least 200 galleons now!
At least it wasn't Dom's. I hope my next wand is Cherry as well. If we ever go back to Japan I want the same treatment as she had.
We're both good other than that. Been enjoying the sun, and our housemates are cool. We're very close to the sea and the sunrises are stunning. Some pretty pictures attached.
Also, we're not telling many people about this but we'd never keep it from you - Dom's looking into getting some permanent morphing treatment out here, so she doesn't have to keep taking the potions. They don't do it in Britain at the moment. Not sure if she'll go ahead with it but we'll keep you updated.
Love you,
R
X
1st June 2022
Hi Hope,
Just checking in as we haven't heard from you, but no pressure. I'm sure you'll be busy at the moment with work.
Quidditch cup yours yet?
Attached are some photos of our weekend out on the coastal reefs. Amazing - a whole community living under the sea. What's really sad is that local (and tourist) wizards keep damaging it with careless magic, so it might die out within the next two decades. We went on a tour that forbade any magic though - you had to leave your wand behind and wear a magical dampening suit, and we were observers only.
We also saw some Australian merpeople. They are stunning, nothing like the merpeople in the black lake. I couldn't stop looking at them - they were the most beautiful people I've ever seen in my life and I have a family of veela cousins!
Roxanne is now going out with one of our housemates (second from right in photo 2). His name is Leon and he's from Paris, so as I'm the only one who also speaks French it's quite fun talking away to him when no one else can understand.
Not much else to report as we're saving up for our trips to New Zealand and a few of the other islands.
Dom and Roxanne
xXx
10th June 2022
Hey!
Sorry, I know I'm useless at the moment.
But in amazing news… We won the quidditch cup. Again! Biggest goal difference in Hogwarts history. Slytherin came second, Rox, our two teams were ahead by miles. Although James was injured for the final match so that's probably why Gryffindor did so badly. He smashed his arm to bits climbing the Whomping Willow for a dare and had to spend three days in the hospital wing, so he doesn't deserve any sympathy for it. I'm kind of relieved that I didn't have to play against him. Definitely wouldn't have scored as many goals. Beth was as good as ever but their reserve beater couldn't keep up with the pace. She was furious with James for screwing up their cup chances, as you can probably imagine...
That means we are five time champions, which equals the record Gryffindor got in 1910. Fingers crossed for next year then we'll beat that record. Daphne's keeping us training right up until the last week of term.
Natalie's already onto her next conquest (Andrew Garswitch of all people.. ergh), so she doesn't seem too heartbroken, and pretty sure Albus is relieved! Scorpius and Albus… not sure. Maybe. Hope so! They'd be perfect for each other.
You may have heard Teddy and Vic have finally found a house they like in South London. I haven't seen it yet but Mum says it has 'character'. No idea what that means.
Leon sounds great and he's very cute. I hope for your sake it all works out, seeing as you live together. Adam and I have never got over the awkward phase and it's uncomfortable even running into him between lessons. So stupid, thank goodness he'll be leaving after this year.
Coastal reefs look like paradise! Keep sending the pictures. I am loving them, even if I'm crap at replying.
And the morphing treatment sounds great if it's what you want to do, but I know it's a big decision. You know I'm always here if you want to chat about it.
All my love,
Hope
xxx
17th June 2022
Hi Hope,
You are NOT useless. Or crap. Please never say that.
Amazing news about the cup (From me. Roxanne is less enthused, for all her talk about rooting for Ravenclaw). You have GOT to be captain next year. I don't think any player in Hogwarts history has been on the team for five straight wins in a row. Even Charlie lost one when he played for Gryffindor.
Not surprising that Daph is still going strong. But that will be good for next year. And you must have most of the team sorted already? It will make your captaincy a breeze!
Yes, Mum mentioned about Teddy and Vic's house too in her last letter. Her words were: 'not what I would have chosen' ha! But apparently they are going to do loads of work to it, and it'll be cool for them, living in London. I think we'll be looking to live and work in London when we're back in the country too.
Sorry our letters are a bit short at the moment. But we're going to Nauru next week (odd choice I know but we wanted to do something different) so we'll tell you all about that in our next letter.
D
xXx
28th June 2022
Hi Hope,
Pictures of Nauru attached. It was a very uncomfortable place to visit, to be honest. Witches and wizards there live in total luxury, as you'll notice from the photos, but it's at the cost of the muggle populations - muggle Nauru is one of the poorest countries in the world. They have a tiny patch of land as their official country, when Nauru is actually huge, spread over loads of islands. Wizards have just laid claim to 90% of it and made it unplottable.
The local wizards are very welcoming and friendly, so no issues there, but they don't seem to have any clue about the extent of wealth that they live in, and they don't seem to care that it's at the muggles' expense, either.
The only thing we really enjoyed was the transport - some random wizard crossed a jarvey with a malaclaw twenty odd years ago (do not ask how!) and created these creatures - as shown in the first picture, the one that looks like a giant woodlouse. They curl themselves up into a ball and roll to wherever you want, and are trained to respond to the harnesses, so that part was a good laugh!
So to summarise - Nauru is not a place we will be going back to or would recommend, unless you want to be sickened by wizarding privileges and gain three times your body weight! The food laid out in our accommodation every night was about double what we'd get in a Hogwarts welcome feast. We've sent you some fudge though, because it was too good not to. Just don't tell Granny Molly, you know how proud she is of her own, and the official line is that hers is still our absolute favourite.
Lots of love,
Dom and Roxanne
xXx
13th July 2022
Hey Hope,
Us again! You all good? Glad to be broken up for the summer holidays I'll bet. ONE MORE YEAR to go!
Few bits and pieces to report:
We've joined a local quidditch league out here. Figured we might as well, as we both miss playing, and we want to keep up to standard. It's a pretty good league but we're able to hold our own.
I got a lovely new wand now from a reputed seller out here - not cherry, sadly, but it is phoenix tail and holly. Just like Harry's! Maybe this means I'm destined to bring down the next dark wizard who comes along.
I also broke up with Leon soon after we got back from Nauru, so that didn't last long at all. No awkwardness though, thankfully. He just has to go back to France sooner than expected and it wasn't going to work out long term. We'll probably still keep in touch.
Dom is still considering morphing treatment, we're just looking into any potential complications etc.
We're going to New Zealand in four weeks, we've finally saved up enough money! So we'll be able to give you lots of details on that and we'll send you presents too.
Write back soon.
Lots of Love
R
X
27th July 2022
Hi Hope
Fleur said in her last letter to us that your dad was injured on the full moon? I hope he's recovering. Give him our love.
We haven't heard much from you – you OK? How's the summer going? You'll be of age in three weeks, how exciting! Just don't do what Fred did (set fire to his jeans trying to do them up with magic).
Photos attached of various beaches we have visited, and more weird and wonderful people we have got to know through working at the bar. Oriany (lady in blue and purple) was one of the most fascinating people we've ever met. She's visited all the countries of the world and has stories from every single one of them. She recently celebrated her 7000th day since leaving home and has basically spent the last 20 years travelling. Don't worry, that's not on our agenda. We'll be coming back next year for sure!
We also have a new housemate who has replaced Leon - Robyn. She's alright but a bit loud. She also is terrified of spiders (what a great idea to visit a country infested with them...) and has this weird notion that there is going to be spider rain. Apparently spiders can be sucked up into the clouds by certain weather fronts and then rain down on unsuspecting individuals... Don't ask. She's a tad irritating sometimes to be honest. Wish we could just have you out here for a bit instead. Fancy commuting to Hogwarts from Sydney every day?
Love, Love, Love,
R
X
6th August 2022
Hi Hope,
Roxanne is out tonight but we're off to New Zealand tomorrow and I fancied a quiet night in so I thought I'd write again. I'm worried about you - your letters have died off completely and you didn't seem yourself in some of the more recent ones. It's hard to tell over writing but that's the impression I got.
Please let us know if you're not OK, we're still here for you and we'll help however we can. Hope your Dad is all better now too?
As for me, the glow and excitement of being away from home is starting to fade a bit. I miss Mum and Dad and Louis alot. I even miss Victoire. And all the family. I love Roxanne forever and we're having a lot of fun but it's not quite the same without you here too.
The people we live with are perfectly nice, but I don't feel like I click with any of them, especially since Leon left - he was the person I got on best with. The others are pretty wild, always drinking and partying and taking all sorts of drugs and stuff, which I'm trying to be cool about even though I'm not.
They can also be a bit off with me sometimes. Not bigoted exactly (no Elodies, don't worry!) but it's been a bit awkward on occasion. Our newer housemate - Robyn - thought it would be ok to weigh in on whether I do that permanent morphing treatment we were telling you about. I'm still undecided, but that doesn't mean I want to discuss it with everyone - I haven't even mentioned it to Mum and Dad yet! She was very opinionated about it and I was so uncomfortable and then Roxanne told her she was being inappropriate and she got all snappy and said she was only trying to help and it ruined the whole evening.
Ever since she has been extra nice to me, being super careful about what she says. I'm sure she's only trying to make me feel comfortable but it's having the opposite effect, you know?
I wish I could just come over and hang out in your room and have a proper talk with you about it. Or chat to your parents, even - they are always good for advice.
So yeah… missing home a lot. And you. Wondering if it was the right choice to stay out here for another year, but maybe it's a blip and I need to be more positive. I did love it here at first, and Roxanne is having the time of her life still. I don't want to miss out on anything just because I-
X
6th August 2022
Hi Hope,
Everything OK? I'm a bit worried about you as we haven't heard from you for ages. Don't worry if it's just because you are too busy, but Roxanne is out and I'm home alone having a quiet night, so I thought I'd write and check in.
The constant drinking and going out is getting a bit much for me, and I was never a wild partier to start with (as you know!). I feel a bit uncomfortable sometimes with our housemates, not helped by the fact that they take a lot of drugs. Novakine in particular - it's less heavily penalised out here so they take it all the time. Trying to be cool with it, but I hate thinking about what my parents or Harry or your mum would say if they knew. It's five years in Azkaban minimum for Nova possession in Britain. Roxanne tried it once and hasn't bothered since. I won't touch it at all but they keep trying to persuade me every time. I don't drink a lot either so I'm feeling very much like the boring member of the house at the moment.
Then sometimes they say things that-
X
6th August 2022
Hi Hope!
Just checking in - are you OK? Haven't heard from you for ages, but we think about you all the time. Our housemates are cool but I'd trade them all for you any day of the week. They are a bit wild for me, really - take quite a lot of drugs (whatever you do don't tell the aurors in the family!) and go out about four times a week. I'm still clean and boring though, don't worry, and even Roxanne finds them a bit much sometimes.
Here are a few recent photos and we'll send lots more from NZ! Don't feel left out. Once you're finished school we'll save up and go somewhere fun together as well.
Looking forward to your final year? Did you get your captain badge yet? Our quidditch league is going pretty well, and it's great playing with Rox instead of against her, but I do miss the Ravenclaw team and playing with you.
We'll send your birthday present with the next letter. Enjoy your last days of being a 'child' but don't worry, it's definitely more fun once you're of age.
Love you always and miss you lots,
Dom & Roxanne (I've signed on her behalf because she just stumbled in from the bar and has passed out already!)
xxxxxxxxx
OOO