Frankly, My Dear... PV Closed

Demetra Fawley
The Fawley Manor
Westminster, London
England, UK


December 26, 2018

Helen Stavrou
Beechbury Estate
Bolton, Greater Manchester
England, UK

Dear Helen,

A letter from you was just what I needed to brighten an otherwise depressing holiday season. Heavens above! It somehow shocks me how different the Holidays are when you're grown. Much more stressful. I look forward to seeing you again, whenever the impossibly busy schedules the two of us possess finally clear up, and we simply must plan an event. Just the two of us! Maybe a day of shopping. Some of those muggle stores have such beautiful clothing.

I am quite glad you are home safely. I do wish the celebration of Giannis' birthday had been as peaceful as planned, but surely having Christopher home is a cause of celebration. We, mothers, do need our children around, however selfish it may seem at times. His timing is quite odd, I must agree. Perhaps he finally decided that holidays without family are barren and fruitless. I do hope he stays in England too, and the news of him sobering up is wonderful.

America is great for those kinds of things. My husband's brother, Adonis, has been off in America for a very long time. Adrian refuses to visit Adonis, in typical Adrian fashion, but I find myself rather close with my brother-in-law. He's like the brother I never had, but pardon me for the small tangent. The point is, being in America has done wonders for Adonis. He used to be the most insecure man, but everything changed when he went to America. I've had the pleasure of watching him grow into a strong and confident wizard. Those Americans, they simply must have some magic potion that gets all lives back in order! I swear, maybe I should go to America.

I can't imagine young Phaedra's face at the sight of a stranger in her home. Trying to imagine such a thing has to lead me to a fit of giggles in the middle of writing this letter. How is the young dear? I pray that she and Eris become friends, as I would simply love to see a friendship flourishing between our two families. Not only that, we would have an excuse to talk much more if the children started to visit the two different homes of our families.

The season hasn't gone as planned. I'm sure you've heard tell of the return of my son's abhorrent wife if you can even call her such a thing. She decided to come back into our lives during a Christmas party with my family, the Bishops, and kiss my niece's husband. Even worse, Aaron Bishop kissed the disgusting woman back. She insulted my family and had the nerve to show up. I can't even speak of the pain I felt, seeing the woman responsible for robbing me of my only son.

But, nonetheless, I must continue to live on. The troubles with Jane oft bother me, but I find that my darling granddaughter is the light in the darkness that I need. Even though she has not fully grasped how pureblood society work, it reminds me of when Luca was younger and is a welcome reprieve from the dramas surrounding my imposter daughter in law. I do adore children. If Luca would let me, I'd like to adopt another child to raise. He's strange though, my husband. Refused to have more than one child, insisting that it would be easier to have one straight line of succession. It doesn't make much sense, but he was always so firm upon only having one child. I do wonder if the same thing matters for our grandchildren. There are two girls, Eris and Belladonna. Even though I have yet to hear tell of her, besides for when she came with her mother to the Bishop party.

I am sorry to burden you with such tribulations, but I am truly glad for your letter.

Sending you well wishes, my dear friend,

Helen Stavrou
Beechbury Estate
Bolton, Greater Manchester
England, UK

December 27, 2018

Demetra Fawley
The Fawley Manor
Westminster, London
England, UK

Dear Demetra,

What a brilliant idea, having our granddaughters become friends! Phaedra doesn't speak much of school with me, but her parents tell me she's befriended a boy from the Avery family... and only him, really. I've told her to reach out more and grant her family connections. She's not shy, just unwilling. Stubbornness runs in her veins. Perhaps the reason is that people have come and gone around her, and although it's a part of life, she is still a young girl; much too young to know that she can't always rely on people not leaving her behind. It saddens me that she is all alone with no human her age in that gigantic home of theirs. Don't get me started on the cat.

As for an outing together, a day of shopping sounds wonderful. I haven't stepped foot in a muggle shop, but you know that I am quite the adventurer!

I had not heard of Jane's return until opening your letter. I offer my sympathies over what you've had to endure these past days. I would ask what she wanted out of the visit, but at the end of the day that doesn't matter. Abhorrent doesn't even begin to describe that woman, Demetra. If it were up to me, I would have cursed her right then and there, holidays or not, but you are a much more patient woman than I, after all. It is unforgivable what she has done to you and your family and Aaron Bishop should be absolutely ashamed of himself. That was the highest act of disrespect towards his wife and daughter, and he didn't even bother to at least conceal it. He has no shame. If he was so outwards with his affections, then I can only imagine what lie as his deepest secrets. I thought he was respectable, but consider his reputation ruined in my eyes. If there is anything at all that I can do for you or Luca curing this time, please let me know. I will try everything in my power to make things somewhat better.

I don't blame your husband's concerns about his succession lines. I know all of the frustrations around that subject after having multiple children all close in age to one another. If it weren't for Christopher's inability to maintain a courtship, perhaps he'd be a father himself by now, and most of the inheritance would go to him. Instead, it's due to Giannis in his place, but then there is the issue of him only having bred daughters. My sons are aware of this and I'm sure it's done little to mend their ever-lasting competitive nature. Even I sometimes think our ideas of succession as complete hogwash, but challenging traditions can amount to social suicide within our circles. I hope the younger generation will achieve some sort of progression that we were unable to. It's long overdue, I think.

I'm happy that Eris makes you feel that way. We all need someone who can do that for us. And pardon me, but I must admit that I had no clue there was a second girl. Belladonna is a beautiful name. Does she attend Hogwarts? 

I look forward to hearing back from you,

Demetra Fawley
The Fawley Manor
Westminster, London
England, UK


December 26, 2018

Helen Stavrou
Beechbury Estate
Bolton, Greater Manchester
England, UK

Dear Helen,
My goodness! An Avery boy. It is wonderful that she has latched so closely onto him, although alarming. A marriage between the Avery and Stavrou families would be lovely, but ignore me. Just the rantings and daydreams of an old lady. They are, of course, young. Although, I would like to see our beautiful grandchildren graduate before I die. Phaedra seems to be a lovely child, from what little I’ve heard of her. She certainly shares her grandmother’s beauty, but I regress on that particular front. I don’t blame the poor dear. Her life has been fraud with pain and terror, what with her sister being disowned and her brother’s struggles. Quite frankly, I think that Eris and Phaedra share a lot in common. I wish not to intrude upon their friendships at school, but I truly wish that the two grow closer. I suppose we shall wait and see. Hard to believe, but they still have five years left at school.

Gosh, it feels like just yesterday that my own son was going to Hogwarts. He was so scared for the sorting, but that lovely group of pureblood children helped him out. I’ve had the pleasure to watch all of them grow up and raise families of their own, but sometimes I long for the simple times. I truly do wish that we could turn back time to when everything was right with the world. When we were young, and our children were younger and happy.

But don’t listen to me. Just idle dreams from the idle brain of a tired woman.

Shopping would be lovely. They have such lovely clothing. While primitive, their clothing is to die for! I hear that the brand called gucci is quite resplendent. Although, I always do struggle with the muggle money. However, it will be an adventure. I can promise you that much, my dear friend.

On the matter of Jane, you are too kind. Your friendship is all I need in these harrowing times. My husband will not accept help on these matters. This is our family’s shame, and we shall have to endure it. I feel bad for the poor Bishop heiress, Rhea Bishop. I heard tell that she was close with my Eris, and she had to endure watching that horrid man kiss that repulsive woman! I shudder to think about it. It does make me worried. The way she spoke, Helen. She seemed so convinced that she deserved Aaron, that what she was doing was justified because of the scum of my husband’s own family tree.

I really do hope that our grandchildren can mend the mistakes and struggles started by generations before us. Social succession included. I fear topics have gotten tragic. That was not my intention, I promise. But yes, there is a second girl. I believe she is either a squib, or homeschooled. She carried a wand at the Christmas party, but I did not see any trace of emotion or magic in her eyes. She seemed as stoic as a gargoyle.

Sending you well wishes, my dear friend,