The Quill-Pal Requirement PV Nell Zoldak Closed

She felt a little sad that Nell said there was nothing she could help with and although she claimed there was nothing she needed help with - everyone had their troubles. She wondered if somehow that escaped the truth-telling quill. Still, these letters were to be on-going so she wrote back, but she'd keep her own troubles to a minimum, as it really wasn't something that needed to be discussed. She felt bad for blabbing it to Nell and probably boring the poor girl to no end.

Nell,

I'm lucky to have probably the best Head of House in the entire school. Professor Caradoc Browne is simply amazing. He has this way of welcoming you and really listening, then offering up some really good advice. I think I would have gone crazy during my first week or two if it weren't for his words of wisdom. Plus he always has candy in his office. No lemon drops, but still everyone likes a chocolate now and then.

Prefects are another story. I feel all they want to do is enforce rule after rule after rule. Let us have some fun! School isn't ONLY about the academics. Speaking of other than academics, have you found yourself in any of the school's clubs or organizations?

- Alina Rosier

Interacting with @Alina Rosier

Alina,

I am in the "Friends of ABC." A great group, but I can not spell it in French. I agree with you about prefects. Rules, rules, rules. I wonder if they ever even have fun. I may have gotten detention once, but only because I was out after curfew. Come on, give us a break. Your head of house seems fabulous, by the way!

How about you? Are you in any clubs or organizations? I find I am very little clubs and or organizations because of my schoolwork. How busy are you in your classes? Are you excited to begin your second year? I sure am! I think we should keep these owls going over the summer. What do you think? I’m staying at Hogwarts over the summer I believe. How about you? There isn’t really much for me at home, so I chose to stay here.

I am not sure, but I think our curfew should be a bit later. What is your opinion on that? It’s just, well, let us have fun for a change. If I can find enough people, I might start a petition for curfew to be later. I highly doubt it though.

-Nell

Nell,

Les Amis de l'ABC. My native language is French although at times I think I'm going to forget it. I was born there and we lived there until I was Seven. That's when we moved to England.

She was glad the quill didn't make her go on and clarify any details on that matter or surely something there in her dormitory would have burst into flames, as it always had when she thought of her mother's death.

No clubs here. I haven't found any that really interest me. I don't dance, but my sister Bella is in that one, and I don't have any special talents when it comes to performing arts. I don't play gobstones and I'm not muggle-born. I guess I could always think about organizing a club but I guess its nice right now just spending time with my friends and going on adventures around the castle. That hasn't gotten boring yet.

Curfew should definately be later! I know they want us in our dormitories so we can finish up our classwork before going to sleep but we're also given so much opportunity to get it finished during the day as well. It can be difficult to find time to spend with friends here and I find it exceptionally hard when those friends are in different houses, like me with my twin sister. She's in Slytherin and we don't have classes together, she sits at a different table...its almost impossible sometimes!

So the detention for staying out past curfew...I think I need some details on that! What were you off doing?

The thought of a Ravenclaw breaking rules interested her, plus she wanted to get to know a little more about Nell.

Spill.

Alina Rosier

Alina,

I bet you have some sort of talent! Everyone does. You just have to try new things until you find what you are really good at. It takes some trial and error, but it will all come together in the end.

Oh, yes, the detention. I was just going into the ballroom for a look around. More so to try the new dress my mother sent me. There wouldn't have been a time to do it in school hours, so I did it then and there. However, a prefect caught me. Detention itself wasn't too bad, though. I just had to dust some bookshelves. That was all.

About your adventures around the castle - tell me more about those! I've always wanted to explore but I could never find a good time to. I am always busy. Maybe over the summer I will, seeing that I'll be staying at the castle during the summer months. I think it will be better that way.

Anyway, now it's your turn to spill. What or who did you encounter on your adventures? Was there anything interesting in the castle? What parts of the castle did you explore? I want to know what I'll see if I go!

-Nell

Nell,

First, let me just say how jealous I am of you staying for the Summer! I'll be going home to my...well, let's just say less-than-perfect family. Maybe even far-from-perfect family. I'm not looking into it and there are some things that I need to talk to my father about that I cannot see going very well. I'll have to be brave though.

As far as the castle...just take care. I tried making a map of this place but sometimes...I don't know how to explain it and this might sound crazy but sometimes I wonder if the castle isn't somehow alive/growing itself. Or at least enchanted. I'll go down a corridor I swear wasn't there the other day or it'll have more doors on one side than previously, or a staircase just appears!

Now I'm gong to really sound crazy but...I talk to the portraits. There's a girl with flowers down the East Hall that I've named Poppy and she's really nice. Then near the Hospital Wing there's a cat named Artemindora. She was Artimindorous until I discovered her misisng one day and upon exploring, found her in another painting with her kittens!

That is one of the things I will look forward to upon returning for second year - more exploring. I think I could be in this castle for a hundred years and still discover something new!

PS: What do you do in the ballroom? I've noticed it seems only the singers, musicians, and dancers go there. What do you like to go there for?

-Alina Rosier

Alina,

Your adventures sound amazing! I don't think - not in the slightest - that talking to the portraits is crazy. We are in a completely magical castle to start. We make potions for a class and use wands to cast charms. Talking portraits doesn't surprise me at all.

This castle sure seems to hold so may interesting secrets! I definitely will do some exploring over the summer months.

Oh the ballroom. I had really gone in there, to, well this is going to sound a bit weird but, my mother sent me some dress for absolutely no reason (though it was quite nice). I couldn't find a time during the day to try it on or anything, so I decided to go during the night. Then I heard footsteps, so I hid behind the piano, or, I don't really know what I hid behind. In was dark. Anyway, I eventually came out and saw a prefect. I got detention the next day.

Normally, I don't go in the ballroom much. Sometimes I go in there to, well, maybe sing a bit. I don't really have a very good voice though. It's just a sort of getaway from classes and dinner. Have you ever been out past curfew?

-Nell

Nell,

I was once. A friend and I were around the castle and although curfew was approaching we decided to go up to the Astronomy Tower. Luckily we didn't pass any prefects or professors along the way, nor on our way back to the Hufflepuff Common Room. It sounds as though we got lucky.

Did you end up liking the dress your mother sent for you? That sounds very nice of her to do so. It must be exciting to get something in the mail from back home. I've seen some of my fellow Hufflepuffs get packages in the morning delivery, some are gifts and some are baked goods.

I am hoping to send some of my own sort of packages in the mail come summer to some of my friends, just a little something so they know Im thinking of them despite being apart those months. Think that sounds too hokey? It's kind of weird to say but this is the first time I've ever had friends really, because growing up it was always just me and my twin sister and our childminders. We didn't go to a primary school or anything like that.

Good luck with all the end of the year assignments! I'm sure if anyone can pull of f a strong finish it's a Ravenclaw!

- Alina