From the End to the Start
Chapter 9
Dear Maleficent,
I've got that book you requested. Magical Plants of the Mediterranean, was it? I think Chapter 10 would interest you best.
I will visit on the weekend. I look forward to seeing you, darling. You better have good stories to tell!
Love,
Uncle Balthazar
Dear Lefi,
It's been only a few weeks back and I'm already bored. I'm thinking of taking a babysitting job just to kill the time. My friends from primary school want to get together, but I'm sure they'll be talking about shows on the telly and movies (just like television shows but longer!) and other stuff I haven't caught up on. I don't want to feel out of place, and more importantly, I don't want too many questions about school and why I seem to be clueless to current happenings in the Muggle world. Too bad, because truthfully I want to be keep much of my muggle heritage intact, but I guess I've come to the point where I'm so immersed in the magical world that I'm inseparable from it.
Anyway, how are you? Parents still giving you grief?
Write as soon as you can.
Yours,
Diaval
Dear Diaval,
Uncle visited me and asked my parents if I can come stay with him for a few weeks, and they said yes! We won't have that much trouble writing now. Turns out my convoluted plan wasn't needed. I think my parents just wanted to get rid of me because they cannot stand being around a "blood traitor". Thank heavens for that.
I'm sorry that you find yourself unable to reconnect with your old friends. I cannot imagine what it must be like to be part of two cultures and being torn about it constantly. I only have the wizarding world, and while it has its cons, I do not think I can live without magic in my life. To quote you, I'm so immersed in it that I have become inseparable from it.
Babysitting, really? Personally I find it hard to be around children. Then again, I don't have siblings and I've never really been around a lot of kids growing up. Still, I think you must be really bored if you're considering that.
I'm sending this using uncle's owl. My owl is still locked somewhere I don't know about. Maybe they've set him free or gave him away. I don't know. I'm just sincerely hoping they're didn't do anything bad to him.
It's only been almost a month and I already cannot wait to go back to school. Not for classes, of course!
Yours,
Maleficent
Dear Lefi,
That's great news! I hope you enjoy your summer. Mine pretty much blows.
Babysitting isn't that bad. For one, it pays, and I really like children for the most part. As you know, I'm an only child as well, but for me it's where my love for children stems from, I think. It's probably also why I like talking to people and making friends- I've no one to talk to in the house so when I get out, I feel about to burst with the need for conversation. It's a good thing, I've decided, because if I wasn't as "overeager" as you seem to think I am, I wouldn't have dared to talk to you that day at Madam Malkin's, and I'm sure you wouldn't have talked to me, so we wouldn't be friends now.
Also, do you think you can read over my Arithmancy worksheet? I've appended it, and I'm hoping you will deign use your brilliance in Arithmancy to check on my solutions. Thanks in advance!
Yours,
Diaval
Dear Diaval,
Employing flattery when you need something. Tut-tut, Diaval. I've put notes in your worksheet. Read through them carefully.
I suppose you're right- as much as I curse your social zeal, it is true that we are friends because of that. By the way, when are you going to Diagon Alley for shopping? Maybe we can meet up?
Uncle Balthazar took me to Kensington Gardens yesterday. They had all sorts of plants, from Moondew to Wartizome. They even had Wiggentrees! You would have loved it there. Regrettably, uncle didn't have a camera so I don't have photographs to show you. However, I bought a book that lists all the species of plants Kensington Gardens had, with descriptions and illustrations, and I enclosed it. Just thought you might find that interesting.
Yours,
Maleficent
Dear Lefi,
I am so jealous right now. Kensington Gardens sounds amazing. It's certainly going into my list of places I will travel to someday.
Mum isn't sure when we can go to Diagon Alley. We'll probably go during the last two weeks of August.
Babysitting is proving to be fun so far. The kid I'm babysitting is extremely precocious and easy to deal with, thankfully. Other than that, though, my summer is pretty uneventful. At least I have more pocket money for the next Hogsmeade trip. I really miss Drooble's!
Yours,
Diaval
Dear Diaval,
This might be the last letter I send this summer. I'm going back to the manor as my parents demanded.
Uncle just told me- Mother is pregnant.
Father asked me to stay at home to tend to my mother and make sure nothing untoward happens to her. As he wrote- despite being a failure, I am still expected to fulfill my duties as their child.
I cannot believe Mother is pregnant!
If I'm not able to reply to any more of your letters, see you hopefully in Diagon Alley or Hogwarts. Enjoy the rest of the summer.
Yours,
Maleficent
Dear Lefi,
I hope this letter finds its way to you in good condition.
I don't know what to say. In part, I am happy for you, because while you say you're not bothered by the solitude in your house, I know that it does affect you and I think having a sibling around might be good for you. However, I am also sad because it will be another child raised in a dark household, and I think that even now you have realized that it is up to you to make sure that your new brother or sister's childhood won't be as bleak as yours was. It will be your responsibility to teach her what is right, to reject the principles you've grown to discern as wrong, and admittedly it is a heavy burden to carry.
I just want you to know that I'm here for you. Whatever you need, I'll do my best to give, may it be help or simply moral support.
Take care of yourself.
Yours,
Diaval
A/N: In case it wasn't clear, in the first letter, Balthazar meant that he wedged Diaval's letter inside the book, in Chapter 10. Remember, that was the plan. LOL