H is for HOMESICK

It wasn't until a month later that Lily found enough time to sit down and write a decent letter home.

Dear Petunia - because "Tuney" sounded too young, too informal; it sounded like friends, and Lily wasn't so sure her sister wanted to be friends anymore.

It's marvelous here at Hogwarts. I wish you could see it! I was Sorted into Gryffindor - there are four Houses, and in order to determine which House you belong in, they put a magic talking hat on your head! Gryffindor House is the one where they put courageous and loyal people. But the Hat told me that the truth is, anyone could thrive in any House. The House you're in helps to bring out certain qualities in you. So because I'm a Gryffindor, I'm going to inevitably learn how to be more brave. Isn't that amazing?

My classes are going extremely well, although I've fallen into the bad habit of putting off my homework. It's only happened twice now, but I see a lot of others - one boy comes to mine, actually, his name is James Potter - constantly leaving their homework until the night before, or sometimes even the morning of! I try to take excellent class notes to make up for it. How are your classes going? Are you excited about starting the year at a new school?

(Are you excited that you get to do your homework without me around?)

I'm not excited without you. I was positively petrified when I got my first glimpse of Hogwarts. I had to take a train there, you see, and then when a tiny rowboat that took me across a lake to the castle. It was colossal, with towers and flags and candles floating in every window. It looked like it had room for thousands of people, probably, but at the same time it looked cozy, like a nice place to sit in a corner and get lost in a book.

And it was then, during my first glimpse of my new home, that I realized desperately wanted to go home.

Oh, I'm fine now, of course, but on that boat ride all I wanted to do was jump out and go back to you.

Because I miss you - here she paused for only a moment before writing - Tuney. I miss you a lot. And the only way Hogwarts will ever truly feel like a home is if you're here with me.

Please write back. You can just give your letter to the owl, she'll know how to find me. Or, if that makes you feel uncomfortable, I suppose you can just wait and see me at Christmas.

I hope you're doing well. I hope you don't hate me anymore.

I'm sorry, if you still do.

All my love,

Lily.

But as she blew on the ink to dry it - as she carried it up to the owlry - as she tied it to the leg of a great tawny bird - as she watched it fly away -

- she knew there would be no return letter.

[100 Prompts challenge: bad habit; notes; excited]

[So You Think You Know Your Character: Lily Evans - how did you feel the first time you saw Hogwarts?]