Disclaimer: I am just a fan. I do not own Sailor Moon or Harry Potter. I am not making any money off of this whatsoever.
Heirs of the Founders
Chapter15
Letters to Tom
Tom remained calm and didn't fight against the ministry wizards when they took him to Azkaban. He hated that his dreams were crushed and he wanted to curse the wizards and run away to freedom, but he knew he would be caught. He knew that he might even be killed. If he kept his head, maybe he could possibly fool the ministry into thinking that they had made a mistake and let Tom out of Azkaban before his four years were up.
He did quite well until the boat landed on the island and looked up to see the tall, ominous building. Sometimes, depending on how dangerous the criminal was, the officials would leave the prisoner with the dementors and allow the dementors to take the criminal to his or her cell. Because Tom was under age (and Mr. Potter believed it should be his responsibility) escorted Tom to his cell personally. The dementors sensed new blood, new emotions coming and they soared toward the group.
"They always do this when we bring in a new prisoner!" complained a ministry wizard. "Let's just drop him and go."
"Come on, Riddle," said Mr. Potter, Raye's father. He kept a firm grip on Riddle's arm as Ogden held the other. They approached the gate and the dementors came closer. Tom felt his skin become icy cold. When the gate opened and Tom's escorts began to bring him inside, Tom's legs became stiff and he would not move. Tom could not go in there. He had too many dreams. He could not become the greatest wizard of all time this way. Everyone would forget him.
"No," Tom said, twisting in the men's grasp. "No. I cannot go in there. I won't go in there!"
"Now Riddle, don't make this any harder on yourself," said Ogden.
"Don't call me by that name!" Tom shouted, still squirming. "I will not be called my filthy muggle father's name. I am Lord Voldemort!"
"He's cracked already," said a wizard behind them.
"Open the door," muttered Potter. "Now!"
Two people opened the door as Potter bounded Tom's arms behind his back with chains. Mr. Potter pushed Tom in roughly. They pushed and dragged Tom up to his cell. The prisoners were sent to floors indicated the severity of their crime. The lowest floor they were on, the least severe the crime. The highest the floor, the more severe the crime. There were twenty-four levels and Tom was going to level sixteen. Tom shouted and dragged his feet all the way up.
"You can't do this to me," he said out outrage. "I am the Heir of Slytherin! He founded the school your children go. How dare you put me in here?"
"Your cell, Riddle," said Ogden, opening the cell door.
Mr. Potter removed the chains from Tom's arms before pushing him in the cell. The locked the door and Tom turned around, his eyes wide with fury.
"You can't leave me here! You can't leave me here!"
"Yes I can," said Mr. Potter, "because I know that my little girl can sleep better knowing you're where you belong."
--
Ever since Tom was sentenced to Azkaban, Serena became sorrowful and withdrawn. Raye Potter retold her father's story of Tom in a letter to Serena and Amy. It made Serena feel worse knowing he tried to run away. She couldn't serve any customers for weeks until her dad urged her to return to work. Mr. Moon insisted that work would get her mind off of Tom. Tom's sentence was in the Daily Prophet and was most of the buzz in the wizarding community. It was the first time in history hearing of an underage wizard going to Azkaban, guilty or otherwise. Some of the wizarding community knew Tom Riddle pearsonly or at least heard of him. They knew he was hardworking, zealos, good looking and he had much potential. It was hard for them to grasp that he would ever be involed with the Dark Arts and throw his future away. Every customer would ask her how well she knew Tom Riddle and she'd break into tears every time. Work was supposed to get her mind off things but that was impossible when others brought it up. Because she was so distraught, she couldn't metamorphose like she used to. After their last customer left for the night, Serena turned to her parents.
"I'm worried about Tom," she said. "Everyone's talking about him but no one's told me if they saw him in Azkaban."
"People rarely visit Azkaban," answered her mother. "They are walking where nearly all of the dementors in the world live. They wouldn't volunteer to go there unless necessary."
"Well, I want to see Tom," Serena said, putting away the ales. "He'll probably be happy to see me."
"Were you two ever close?" questioned her mother.
Serena paused. "Not really."
"Serena, underage wizards and witches normally are not permitted in Azkaban," said Mr. Moon.
"So why is Tom there?" she demanded. "It's not fair!"
"I mean underage visitors," Mr. Moon told her.
"Oh…I see," said Serena. "But why? Is it the dementors? I think I can handle them—I'm already sad enough."
"Not just the dementors, but the other prisoners," said Mr. Moon. "More than half of the prisoners there are insane and they might attack you. Underage wizard and witches don't go unless it's an emergency and you just wondering how he's doing, is not an emergency."
"Well, what if you come with me?" Serena asked.
"We don't know where Azkaban is," said Mr. Moon, "or how to get there. Besides, Serena, we have to take care of the Inn."
"Serena, why don't you just write to Tom?" Mrs. Moon suggested. "It's difficult for a human to get to Azkaban, but not an owl."
Serena pulled a hopeful and concerned face. "But won't that hurt the owl to be around dementors?"
Mrs. Moon shrugged. "I am not an expert on dementors, but I'm sure dementors prefer the thoughts and feelings of humans than animals, and with all the prisoners in Azkaban, they probably wouldn't even notice the owl is there."
Serena decided that she would risk an owl's sanity and write to Tom. There was no other way to contact him. She thanked her parents and in better spirits, went up to her room to start her letter. She took out a notebook of yellow parchment and grabbed her pink Fwooper quill. Though she didn't like writing for school, Serena liked to write letters to family and friends. She had a collection of parchment and quills and envelopes. After taking a second to gather her thoughts, she began her letter:
June 24, 1943
Dear Tom,
I wanted to see you in Azkaban personally but my parents won't let me. They told me that there is too much protocol for underage wizards and witches to travel to the prison. I promise that I will come visit you someday.
I am so sorry that the ministry did this to you, putting you in Azkaban before you become of age. I really don't think it's fair.. If they were going to sentence you to Azkaban then they should at least wait until you turn seventeen. If there was anyway I could've stopped it, I would have. I think that regardless of what you did, you are still a good person. You made some mistakes and I know that you have to learn from them but I don't think this is the best way.
You must be going out of your mind in that horrible place. I hope my letters will help you when it gets difficult. I don't expect you to write me back. You may not want to or may not even have the permission to. You probably have no paper there to write a letter. I don't know anything about Azkaban except that it's out in the middle of the ocean. Whether you send me any replies or not, I will continue to write you. I will tell you everything I do, say, hear, and feel. I want you to feel as if you're still apart of the outside world, especially Hogwarts.
I will write you as much as I can. I want you to come out of Azkaban as a new person, sane and whole. I will never forgive myself if you end up like those others that go completely insane from too much exposure to dementors.
Do me just one favor, Tom. Stay strong, remember that I am, and will always be your friend.
Your friend,
Serena
She placed the letter in an orange envelope and wrote:
TOM RIDDLE
AZKABAN PRISON
She hiked over to the post office to owl her letter. She decided that using a post office owl would be better tan one of her own. She paid the fee and sent the owl on its way to Azkaban. As she watched the owl fly away, she hoped that it would get to Azkaban safely and that the letter would put a smile on Tom's face—at least for a moment until the dementors took it away.
--
Serena's mood improved some after she began writing to Tom. Serena's OWL results soon arrived. When her brother handed her the envelope, she knew exactly what it was.
"My OWL results!" she gasped.
She stopped serving a customer and went up to look at her results in private. She took in a deep breath and tore open the envelope.
ORDINARY WIZARDING LEVEL RESULTS
Pass Grades Fail Grades
OUSTANDING (O) POOR (P)
EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS (E) DREADFUL (D)
ACCEPTABLE (A) TROLL (T)
Serena Iris Moon has achieved:
Astronomy P
Care of Magical Creatures A
Charms A
Defense Against the Dark Arts A
Herbology A
History of Magic D
Muggle Studies O
Potions E
Transfiguration O
Serena stared at her results for a moment to let the news sink in. "Oh…Oh! I've got an O!" she laughed then look at the results again. She had done better than she thought. Her mind had been on so much at that time, she thought for sure she got Dreadfuls on about everything. "I've got two O's and only one D and one P! It's in History of Magic and Astronomy, and that really doesn't matter!" Laughing and waving her results, she hurried downstairs to tell her parents.
"Dad! Mum!" she cried. "Look! Two Oustandings!" she handed it to her parents.
"A 'Poor' in Astronomy?" Mrs. Moon frowned. "Serena, how could you get a P in Astronomy when we have space themes in the Inn?"
"Hey, I know all the planets," Serena said defensively, "but I don't know that fancy star chart stuff—it involves mathematics and calculations—they hurt my brain, Mum!"
"And a 'Dreadful' in History of Magic? Now really!" said Mrs. Moon.
"You know I never liked that class!" Serena retorted, groaning.
"It's all right, dear," said Mr. Moon. "Look, she has two Oustandings and Four Acceptables. That is very good Serena. Do you know what classes you are going to continue for NEWTs?"
Serena shrugged as her father handed the results back.
"I'm not sure," Serena said. "I guess I'll discuss that with Professor Root when I go to school. But definitely not Astronomy or History of Magic. Can't take them anyway and I don't see how they'd help me as a Kwikspell Teacher."
"What's that, Serena?" said Arabella Perkins, Serena's best friend.
Serena turned around to find her best friend walking up the counter. Arabella grabbed her apron to start her shift and pointed at the paper in Serena's hand.
"Belle, I've got my OWL results!" Serena exclaimed. "I think these are just the marks I need to become a Kwikspell Teacher. I can help you work your magic!"
"Really, Serena?"
"Yeah," Serena said, laying the results on the counter so Arabella could see. "Just two failing grades, but there're in Astronomy and History of Magic."
"You got a failing grade in Astronomy?" Arabella said incredulously. "With all this space stuff your parents have here?"
A few people, including Serena's mother laughed. Serena blushed a little with embarrassment.
"Again, I know the planets, just not all those calculations and angles and things," Serena said as she took the piece of paper. She folded it and put it in her pocket.
"But that's still very good, Serena," said Arabella. "Better than I would have. I haven't done as much as transfigure a teacup."
"Which is why I've decided to become a Kwikspell teacher."
"Just for me?" Arabella said.
"Of course," Serena said, checking the glasses for spots. "You're my best friend, Belle. If there is any magic useful in you, I'm going to find it."
"Way to go, Serena," said Mr. Moon. "I'm proud of you. All right, happy hour is on!"
The customers hurried forward to get their free refills. They thanked Mr. Moon and congratulated Serena on her good marks. Some gave her sympathy on those that she did not too well on.
"Not to worry, dear—I did not pass History of Magic either," said a middle-aged witch.
"Well done on that Oustandings in your Muggle Studies," said a wizard that worked for the Daily Prophet.
"Yeah, I felt pretty good about that," said Serena. "All I had to do was write an essay about my attitude for Muggles."
"Might I get a copy of that for the Daily Prophet?" asked the wizard.
Serena shrugged. "Yeah, sure, if the school board will let you!" She laughed. "I'm afraid I didn't have enough paper to re-write it all and they didn't send it back to me."
"I'll see what I can do," said the wizard.
Serena glanced at the clock. It was nearing five o'clock and she wanted to send a letter to Tom about her results. If she didn't hurry, the Post Office would be closed and she did not want to wait until morning.
"Hey, Belle, watch the counter for me as I make a quick errand!" Serena exclaimed, rushing upstairs to write her letter.
"Wh-what?" Arabella asked.
Serena hurried to her desk, grabbing her quill and a piece of parchment. Her quill dripping pink ink, she began her letter.
July 12, 1943
Tom,
I have good news! I got my OWL results today. I have two Oustandings in Muggle Studies and Transfiguration; four Acceptables in Care of Magical Creatures, Charms, Transfiguration, Herbology and Defense against the Dark Arts; an Exceeds Exceptions in Potions. I got a Poor in Astronomy and a Dreadful in History of Magic though. My Mum isn't exactly proud about that. Of course with all the space themes at Rabbit in the Moon, I'd have an Outstanding but the calculations bit seems to take the fun out of Astronomy I think. I'll discontinue History of Magic and Astronomy and maybe Care of Magical Creatures. I do like Care of Magical Creatures but I think I'll have my hands full already. I'll know for sure after talking to Professor Root. I can't remember if I told you or not, but I plan on being a Kwikspell teacher after Hogwarts.
I hope this doesn't make you even more depressed, knowing getting news about OWLS when you didn't even get to sit them. But I know you would've got Oustandings on everything! I'm sorry that this is a short letter and you may not be able to read my writing, but I have to get this to the post office before it closes! I don't know if my owl is not fit for the trip to Azkaban. She's too tiny!
Your friend,
Serena
While licking the envelope, Serena hurried down the stairs, out of the Inn and into the street to find the Post Office. She made it just in time. The next time Serena made a visit to Diagon Alley, she had to get a new owl.
--
Serena rode the train with Amy, Rufus and Raye. They were discussing their OWLS.
"You actually did pretty good, Serena," said Raye playfully. "I guess you do got brains in that meatball head of yours."
Serena tenderly touched the buns on her head. "Thanks, Raye."
"I think you should do okay as a Kwikspell teacher with those grades, Serena," Amy said as she handed the list back to her. "You ought to double check with Professor Root to make sure though."
"All right," said Serena. "How did you do on your OWLS…wait, I bet with brains like yours, you've got all Oustandings, didn't you?"
"Yes, I did," said Amy, more surprised than impressed. "I thought with all the commotion of last year, I'd get all Acceptables."
"Amy, I'd think to get a grade lower than an Outstanding," said Serena, "You'd have to be away from school almost the whole year. Well, I guess you have no problem becoming a healer."
"Hmm, probably," said Amy. "How did you do, Raye?"
"Two Oustandings in Runes and Divination," began Raye, taking out her list, "Exceeds Expectations in Astronomy, Charms, and Defense Against the Dark Arts. Acceptable in Herbology and Transfiguration, Poor in History of Magic and Potions." Raye sighed. "Never seemed to like Potions or History much."
"What do you plan to do, Raye?" Amy asked.
"I was thinking auror," replied Raye, "but now I don't have the grades for them but my second idea was a cursebreaker."
"Raye, that's nearly as dangerous as being an auror," Rufus said. "Why don't you become one of those fortune tellers? You can set up your own shop in Diagon Alley."
"A fortune teller?" Raye gasped as Serena and Amy giggled.
"Well, you're fabulous in Divination," Rufus said. "People can pay you to tell their fortunes."
"Rufus, divination is complicated," said Raye, "I can't just look at someone and tell them their future!"
"I know, but there is palm readings and things like that, isn't there?" said Rufus.
Raye sighed and shook her head. "But that's not what I want to do. I want to do more with my divination skills than just sell fortunes. I can use divination o find what ancient ruin has the most treasure. Many ruins have ancient runes on them, and I can find out what all that says. Some of them might be warnings and they can be messages to tell you how to get in. "
"But Raye, you only got an Acceptable in Transfiguration," said Rufus, "what if you walk into a place, and you get the face of a cat or something?"
"Well, if I have read the warning correctly," growled Raye, "then I won't have to worry about that."
She glared at him, warning him not to say anymore on the subject and Serena decided to cut the silence.
"Hey, Rufus, how'd you do on your OWLS?" she asked.
Rufus looked away from Raye and ran a hand through his hair. "Oh, passing grades in everything except for Astronomy and History of Magic. I should be all set for being an auror."
"That's great," Serena said with a smile.
"Serena, is that a new owl?" Amy asked, pointing at the cage above them.
"Yes, that's Maurice," Serena answered. "I got him in Diagon Alley this summer because Candy's too small to send to Azkaban."
"Come again?" asked Rufus.
"Well, I've started writing Tom," Serena said, "I've been using the Post Office owls instead of Candy. But you can't just come to the Post Office at Hogsmeade whenever you want to and I don't want to use a school owl, so I decided to get my own owl. I needed one that could take long trips."
"But why write Tom at all?" demanded Raye.
"Because I can't see him in person," Serena replied.
Raye groaned, shaking her head.
"I didn't know that they even allowed owls to Azkaban," said Amy. "But I suppose dementors don't have such an effect on animals as they do humans."
"I'm not asking you all to write him too," said Serena, "but I just wanted you guys to know that I intend to remain his friend."
Rufus shrugged. "If you think that sending him letters will keep him from becoming the madman Raye saw in her vision, then send all the letters you want. Just don't get your hopes up. Azkaban changes people."
"I know," said Serena, looking out the window. "Thanks Rufus."
--
It was hard coming to Hogwarts and not seeing Tom Riddle there anymore. Serena would keep looking at the Slytherin table hoping to see him there.
Serena couldn't wait until Defense Against the Dark Arts. Her first Defense Against the Dark Arts class wasn't until Friday. She had many questions about Azkaban. Professor Merrythought was nearing one hundred twenty-five years old. She knew a lot about the Dark Arts, having been a hit witch back in her younger days. Serena got to class before anyone else so she could talk to Professor Merrythought alone.
"Professor Merrythought?" Serena said. "Can I ask you a few questions…about Azkaban?"
"Azkaban?" said Merrythought.
"Yes," said Serena, "I wasn't sure if we were going to talk much about it this year, so I thought I'd just ask you. You see, I wanted to visit Tom Riddle in Azkaban this summer but my parents told me the ministry does not normally allow underage visitors."
"Yes, that is true," Merrythought replied. "It's quite difficult for even witches and wizards of age to visit Azkaban."
"How come?"
"So that no prisoners can be smuggled out of prison," said Merrythought, "of course, no one has ever escaped Azkaban. It looks impossible but the ministry needs to take these precautions. The ministry keeps a log of every visitor and you have to arrange with the ministry before coming to Azkaban. You can only get to the island by boat. There is a boat house at the coast of the mainland, so prisoners and visitors can be escorted to and from the prison."
"I see," said Serena, "but I am writing to Tom. Owls won't be harmed y the dementors?"
Merrythought shook her head. "A dementor would only prey on animals unless they really need the energy. They're like werewolves and other dark creatures. They prefer humans."
"Yes, that's what my parents thought," said Serena. She cleared her throat and got to her more important question. "Professor, do you think it is fair that Tom Riddle is in prison right now?"
Professor Merrythought looked surprised by the question. "Why are you asking me?"
"Because you have experience in these sort of things," Serena answered. "Does Tom seem like any of those dark wizards you caught in Azkaban? I don't think Tom deserves to be in Azkaban."
Professor Merrythought sighed and took off her spectacles before answering. "Serena, I've spent nearly all my life around the Dark Arts, studying them and capturing those that perform them. Some of the people I've caught started indulging themselves in the Dark Arts at Tom's age. I think if they were caught early, then they wouldn't have committed such terrible crimes.
"Tom was a gifted boy. Talented, bright and I was surprised and disappointed to learn what he did," Professor Merrythought went on. "There is no correctional facility for underage apprehenders. If there was such a place, I believe Tom should have gone there. However, Azkaban is the next best thing."
Serena gasped. "But Professor! Tom never killed anyone before!"
"I know, Serena," said Professor Merrythought, "but in my entire career as a hit witch, I have not seen someone as young as Tom in the Dark Arts. When Azkaban was created, there were no young criminals. It was intended for prisoners above the age of seventeen. Tom needed to go somewhere; Azkaban is the most suitable place."
A few other students began to pile into the classroom. Professor Merrythought nodded to Serena's desk. "It is nearly class time. You should sit down."
"Yes, Professor," mumbled Serena.
"But Serena, it is good of you to keep in touch with Tom Riddle," Professor Merrythought added. "Not many prisoners get letters. Writing to Tom would allow him to keep his sanity."
"I hope so," Serena said as she took her seat.
Once class started, Professor Merrythought welcomed her students and gave a quite surprising announcement.
"This will be my fiftieth and final year teaching here," Professor Merrythought said. There were gasps around the room and Professor Merrythought waved them down. "I am getting old and I am looking forward to retirement. Now don't think that just because I am retiring doesn't mean I'll take it easy on you this year. I expect you all to do your best. Well then…let's get started…"
--
Tom against the wall staring at his cell door. He had been living in Azkaban for about three months and he couldn't stand it. How was he supposed to survive four years of this misery? In a corner sat a small pile of letters. They were all from Serena. Tom wouldn't open the letters and read them until the fourth one came. He had decided that Serena was his only link to the outside world and she wasn't going to stop writing him. Tom was going to spend four years in Azkaban with nothing to do but sit and stare at the door. The letters gave him something to do. Though he already figured that the majority of her letters would state how much she missed him, he read the letters anyway. They didn't give him too many happy thoughts. Any happy thought he had was quickly snatched away by the dementors.
Tom tried to think positive. He did not want to let the dementors to win but the dementors were too many and too powerful. His mind was filled of his worst memories: All the times the other orphans called him a freak, when Professor Dumbledore set his wardrobe on fire and made him return the stolen belongings. He wasn't sure if it was a real memory or just a hallucination, but he thought he could see his mother dying and all the nurses trying to resuscitate her.
A letter slid into the bars of his door and fell on the floor. It was the familiar orange stationary Serena used in her letters. He recognized her letters immediately and not just because of her handwriting or the stationary she used, but because she was the only one who wrote to him.
"Serena…" he mumbled, reaching for the letter. He ripped it open and read it eagerly. How long has it been? Three months? Hogwarts may have already started and Serena must've put the news in her letter. He had already gotten the letter about her OWL results. He wasn't sure what to think about her getting an Outstanding in Muggle Studies. Why in the name of Merlin was there such a subject in Hogwarts? Who in their right mind would want to work with muggles? He knew Serena was planning to be a Kwikspell Teacher, but she'd be working with Squibs and they were the closest thing to Muggles.
September 10, 1945
Tom,
It is the first week of a new Hogwarts year. I spoke to Professor Root about my class schedule. I'm no longer taking History of Magic, Astronomy, or Care of Magical Creatures. I thought a while about discontinuing Herbology, but as My Head of House teaches that class, I'd like to remain in Herbology so I can still talk to her. Professor Root doesn't pile on the homework so much anyway and it looks like I'll only have Herbology once a week. She tells me I need to focus mainly on Charms, Transfiguration and Defense Against the Dark Arts, and Potions is a plus but not exactly as necessary. But you know what, I couldn't stop taking Potions—it would upset poor Professor Slughorn too much! Potions is a bit of a difficult subject for me, but Professor Slughorn makes it fun. If the teacher were a big scary grouch, I probably wouldn't continue potions.
I have some sad news about Professor Merrythought. She's retiring this year. I'll miss her. I enjoyed her lessons and she was so nice, most of the time. She may be retiring this year but she'll still give us a lot of homework. I'm guessing she wants to go out in a bang. I wonder who the next teacher will be. It will be strange having a new teacher after learning from the same person for six years.
I'll try to get a letter to you at least once a week but no promises. It looks like I'll get a lot of homework this year, even though I'm dropping three classes.
Your Friend,
Serena
After reading the letter, Tom crunched it a bit too hard than he intended as he put his fist to his chin in thought. Professor Merrythought was retiring from her post as Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, leaving an opening at Hogwarts. If Tom Riddle hadn't been expelled and chucked into Azkaban, he would try to take the job. It would be a perfect solution for him to remain in Hogwarts, his favorite place on Earth. Now he wondered if he'd ever see Hogwarts again.
Tom looked at the letter and sniffed the paper. He never thought he'd miss the smell of crisp parchment. It was a much more desired smell than the smell of dirt and death and decay in Azkaban.
Tom Riddle felt tears sting in his eyes and fear and anger stab at his heart. He jumped to his feet and fought to speak. With all the dementors around, it was hard for him to use his voice.
"This isn't fair!" he shouted in a whisper. "I should be in Hogwarts right now! I am the Heir of Slytherin!"
--
Serena wrote Tom a letter at least once a week and told him all of the week's happenings to him. What happened in classes, out of classes, during meals—everything. She wanted him to feel that in some way or other, he was still in Hogwarts. The more Serena wrote to him, the more Tom looked forward to them. It was hard to explain. He didn't know why. He and Serena were never close. He barely even liked her. But being in Azkaban increased the need for human touch. He would spend all his time reading and rereading her letters. When a new letter came, he jumped to get it. Sometimes he would stare ad the door, wondering when her next letter would come. The letters helped him know what time of year it was.
He was lonely in his cell and loneliness was an emotion he rarely felt. He liked being alone. He preferred that. Now, he was in the company of dementors and madmen. He heard screams, yells, and wailing every hour of every day. He heard people talking to themselves. Tom did not want to turn into the other prisoners around him. He began to hate Azkaban more than anything—even the orphanage. He thought he wouldn't hate anything more than the orphanage. Now his body seemed to long for the orphanage. Though he hated that place, it wasn't anywhere as bad as the hell hole he was in now. How was he going to survive another day in Azkaban?
A small parcel fell through the bars of his door. He lunged to catch it before it fell on the messy floor of his cell. He ripped though the parcel, taking out the letter and a piece of Honeydukes chocolate.
December 18, 1943
Tom,
Happy Christmas! I hope your chocolate isn't confiscated. I wasn't sure exactly what to get you but then I remembered that chocolate is an antidote to dementors. I thought it would be the best for you right now.
I'm doing my best to keep my studies up. The teachers are really pouring on the homework now even though we don't meet for classes as much as before. I've decided to spend the holidays at Hogwarts so I can be more focused on my work. I'll get too distracted if I go home.
It's sad not seeing you at Hogwarts anymore. I could probably use your help on some of my subjects. You were great at everything. People are starting to forget you. When Hogwarts started again, people wouldn't stop talking to you. Either they're too excited about the holidays or they consider it old news. It doesn't matter, I won't ever forget you. I know it will be hard for you to have a happy Christmas where you are, but please know that I am thinking of you constantly.
Your friend,
Serena
Tom opened the chocolate and took a bite. The second it touched his tongue he felt the chill go away. How was he going to survive another day at Azkaban? If Serena would continue to write him, he may just make it through his entire sentence with his mind still intact.
TO BE CONTINUED