Letters from Finland PV Closed

JULY 14^TH

Dear Gris,

Would you look at that, I guess I'm writing owls this summer! How are you doing, how is your summer?
Mine has been quite alright so far, a lot better than my last. I am getting along with my family, so much that I can probably even forgive them for dragging me to this ball filled with snobby people a few days ago. I also have a lot of time to read and catch up on school things, which is nice, I can't wait to go back to school. By the way, are you coming to summer camp?

Also if the owl makes it, can you give it some water and a place to rest for a bit? I already feel terrible for making the poor bird fly across countries.

See you soon!

To @Griseldis Edelhardt

[font=Monotype Corsiva]Dear Opeila,

It's nice to hear from you, I was glad to recieve your letter. As requested, I made sure the owl was properly taken care of, it seems to enjoy perching in the rafters of the stables as I'm writing. It will have plenty of food, water, and rest.

I hope the people of this new home are treating you well, I know the owl will find you regardless, but why is it that you haven't mentioned where you are? Do you have anything to entertain yourself, or would you like me to send some books or anything to you while you're there? Please don't hesitate to reach out if there's anything you need.

To be quite honest, I have been spending my summer doing chores. I have to take care of a great gaggle of horses, as well as some other cleaning and tidying. It is not grueling or anything, the location is out deep in the forest, so I have also been able to enjoy myself in my free time. Reading, mostly. It is nice to write as well, I am ashamed to say I had been so absorbed in my own life that I neglected to write to anyone so far. Getting your letter really made my day.

As for balls, if you absolutely must attend them, my suggestion would be to distract yourself by playing games. See if you can get any of the attendants to say certain words or phrases, or tell you something they aren't supposed to. At least, I always found that amusing at my mother's balls. We aren't blood purists by a long shot, but that doesn't make them any less boring to attend.

I hope to hear back from you again, though don't fret if it is too much of a hassle. Even just one letter has made a great deal of impact. I will indeed be seeing you at summer camp, I hope we can have some fun while we're there, before school starts up again.

Kindest regards,
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Dated: July 15th, 2021
OOC: The letter was accompanied by a wildflower Flash picked from the area
@Opeila Winters

JULY 16^TH

Dear Flash,

Thanks a lot for taking care of the owl. I appreciate it very much.

Honestly, I am not used to the way I am treated here, but I would not call it negative. Just people leading a very different lifestyle than mine and I simply have to adapt. I think I am getting better at it. To stay with honesty, I have held back some things about my summer after first year. It has kind of turned my world upside down and I needed a bit of time to find a way of living with it for myself. It also has been a bit of a training in terms of secrecy, as that is what is now expected of me at all times. Lying and secrecy. The two things I am just terrible at.

I am very well entertained in terms of books here, the family has a big library. Not as big as the Hogwarts one (I mean what library could ever compete), but there are some great books in there. Thank you for the offer anyways! I am sorry that I can't give you details in my letters, but my family is scared that they might fall into the wrong hands. My new stepbrother could only talk them out of controlling my letters (thank god). He is a great person to have around, I guess we really have kind of become siblings over the past weeks.

I'm glad that you've had time to enjoy yourself and don't worry about not writing, we all get busy, don't we? We'll all see each other soon again anyway, I just didn't want to completely fall out of touch this summer. Taking care of horses sounds like great fun! Are there more animals around or only horses? Do you go riding sometimes? I mean, forests have to be ideal for that, right? We have a small stable here, but I am not allowed to touch the horses. They belong to my stepparents and brother and I guess they don't trust me to interact with animals. Sometimes I think that especially my stepparents take me for a generally less intelligent being because of my upbringing. That's one of the things that annoy me a bit but how would they know better, they never really get out of their usual circles.

I'm not given a choice whether I want to go to balls or not. That's expected of me. I wish I had thought of that, that actually sounds like a fun challenge. Well, I have met some interesting people anyway and a few of our classmates too. Scarlett Aden and Santario were there and that was actually quite nice. Still I miss being able to live the way I like again, I can't wait to go back to Hogwarts.

I used to go jogging on the grounds every morning during the last year, it was a great method to take my mind off of things and here they won't let me. I really miss that, it used to be a great start of the day before classes.

Thank you so much for your response, it makes me really happy to hear from you. I put the flower into a frame and it's hanging on my wall now. Oh, fun fact- My family really tried to be considerate in some ways, they decorated my whole room in dark green to match Slytherin house. It's really hard to study here sometimes because even during the day, the room can be really dark. Maybe I can get them to let me redecorate it.

See you soon,

To @Flash Holmwood

[font=Monotype Corsiva]Dear Opeila,

I have to admit, this last letter has me worried about you. Above all I hope you take care of yourself, any secrets or life changes aside. I don't know what happened to you last year, but it must be difficult to adjust to a new living situation regardless. Just know that you can rely on me, and don't try to do everything by yourself. I know I am not your only friend at school as well, so I hope you will lean on us all if the weight of the world seems too heavy. I am grateful for their library and your new stepbrother, though. I will not ask any prying questions so long as you are safe and happy.

Here, there are no other animals. Back at my family's stable there is a barn cat, and the family owls. I am actually at my brother's lodge at the moment, so the stable is only used for the summer and empty the rest of the year. There is a pack of dogs that also came with them to the lodge, but they are always either inside or roaming the area nearby. I feed them, but that's about it. I don't really go riding, even though one of the horses is mine. Maybe I should. I'm just worried about him tripping on a branch or getting spooked. I'm not sure I would know what to do if I was alone in the woods with a broken leg. A red sparks charm would work, but then I would be caught for underage magic. Silly, isn't it? Maybe in the future.

Believe me, you are not missing out. Taking care of animals is just another chore, except they also smell bad and can hurt you if you aren't careful. I don't know if you're right about what they think of you, but I wouldn't be so quick to feel like your missing out. Taking care of horses involves cleaning up their defecation and picking out dried mud from their hooves. It's not exactly fun.

I know the students you mentioned, Miss Santario is a Slytherin in our year, the dueling co-captain paired with Miss Bridget on a team. Miss Scarlett I met in awkward circumstances, but she seems perfectly nice. I can imagine the three of you being an entertaining group, I would have liked to have been there with you. As for jogging, I am the same as you. We must have taken opposite routes as to never run into each other, maybe this next year we could run together? In the past, I invited Willow and Anastasia to join me, but neither of them were interested in jogging, but rather walking and talking. I think I would prefer to jog and get my blood pumping. Would you be interested in something like that?

I'm glad you liked the flower, it was very eye-catching, but I don't know what it is. As for your room I think so long as your family gives you freedom you should take it. Make the space yours, I implore you.

Kindest regards,
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Dated: July 16, 2021
@Opeila Winters

JULY 14^TH

Dear Santario,

I don't know through how many countries I made this poor bird fly this time, I hope she reaches you alright. Would you give her some water? She must be exhausted.
The reason I am sending you this letter is what you did at the Beckett Ball a few days ago. You knew that I wasn't a pureblood, didn't you? The story behind that is a long one and also one that should not be told in a letter, but hiding my bloodstatus and my name are currently essential to keep me alive.
I know we didn't have the greatest start and I know that this is at least partly my own fault. The more I am grateful that you did not expose me anyway. Know that your discretion was very much appreciated, I won't forget it and I do owe you. Let me know if I can do anything to repay you.
Thank you.

I wish you a pleasant vacation,

To @Santario Martin

Dear Flash,

I know that it must sound worrying, however, I can assure you that I am safe and happier than I have been for a long time. Please don't worry about it, enjoy your summer as I enjoy big parts of mine, I really do. Last summer my situation has been a lot worse, I think the people I live now actually might care about me in their own, unfamiliar way. They were friends of my grandmother.
Thank you, Flash. Keeping secrets from you the last year has been hard, but it was necessary. I can explain when we see each other again, if you want me too. You have been carrying your own secrets. I hope you know that I am always there to listen and share your burdens as well. You are not alone if you don't want to be.

That sounds great! I think, although Loras often doesn't get along with other animals, he feels a bit lonely here. After a few days he realized that house elves are no new playmates for him.
That's understandable. I don't know what I would do either, but I believe in case of an emergency, underage magic is okay, especially if there are no muggle witnesses. But if you don't go to fast, I don't think horses trip that quickly. I've seen a TV show about horses with my dad last summer but I barely remember it.

I see, but isn't there a bright side too? Honestly, I think I'd love doing such a chore, just to have some time to talk to the horses. Animals don't judge, but they listen and I often find talking to them really freeing. The cleaning up doesn't sound that bad to me, but maybe that is only because I don't have to do any chores at all here. Everything is done by house elves. Is it weird to miss chores? I feel like having some work to do would just make me feel more normal.

Yeah, it was quite fun in the end! Scarlett was very relaxed, while my step mother made the greatest deal out of dressing me up as feminine as possible (I said no to wide skirts and thank god that she didn't ask me to wear heels), Scarlett just wore a suit. It looked amazing on her, I wish that would have been an option for me. I also met another guy, Felix Kolbeck. He looked like he was around our age, maybe we will see him at summer camp.

Oh, I can't believe we never ran into each other! I'm absolutely down, I'd love to have a jogging partner!
Now I'm looking forward to next year even more.

I agree about the flower, although I'm not sure what it is either. I'll see if they have a flower guide in the library, I'd be very surprised if they didn't.

See you soon,

To @Flash Holmwood