new quill, who dis? PV

Friday, Sept. 6th, 2024

Dear Aodhan,

Well aren't you something? Your letter made me laugh, you're quite funny. As you know, my name is Alexandria Clark, of the prestigious pure-blood Clark bloodline and all that nonsense. (when introducing myself my parents often have me recite nearly an entire paragraph explaining who I am, but I'll spare you the bore) But you can call me Alex if you prefer, most of my friends do, just not "Alexandria" It makes me sound old and boring.

Anyway, I suppose I'll answer your questions! I'm in Gryffindor, much to my family's surprise, they thought I would for sure end up in Ravenclaw. My favorite color is probably like a soft blueish green. What's yours? I'm not too sure about the cereal question. I know what it is but I've never actually eaten cereal. Usually I eat whatever our cook whips up for breakfast. What's the right order in which to make cereal? As for music, I know much about that! I love music, I actually have been playing piano since age five. My favorite genre would have to be indie or alr-pop (but sometimes a like bit of Taylor helps the vibe). I don't really have a good joke if I'm honest. Lastly, "muggle" is the most polite term used to describe a non-magical person.

If you don't mind answering them, I have a few questions myself!
1. What house and year are you in?
2. What's your favorite magical and non-magical animal?
3. Do you plan on joining a sport here at Hogwarts?
4. What sort of hobbies do you have?
5. What's a "movie"? I've had a friend mention wanting to watch one, but what exactly does it do that's so interesting to watch?

Looking forward to your letter,
Alex Clark

@Aodhan Shaw

Sept. 7, 2024

Dear Alex,

Thank you for saying I'm funny! Some people actually believe I was a clown in my past life and I haven't proven them wrong yet. But anyway, I hear you loud and clear on the name thing. Alex sounds cool anyway. Real sick. If I had a pet and wanted to give them a name that made people think "woah," I'd use something like Alex.

Hey, we're in the same house! I'm a Gryfinn Gryffindor too! That must mean you're awesome like I am. And did you know liking bluish-green can mean you're a calm and grounded person? Like you're down to earth and stuff. That's why I asked, because of the different things colors can mean! As for me, my favorite colors are orange and blue. But I also like red and purple kind of. By the way, that cereal thing was a trick question. Only silly people focus on what goes first. The more important thing is eating fast enough for the cereal to not get soggy. (You should definitely try it when you get the chance.)

It's cool you played the piano. My parents tried making me do that too, but I kept driving my tutors mad or whatever they said. That's on them for not having me learn guitar instead. Still! Piano, very cool. Indie music is also very very cool. That's one of my favorites as well. I listen to electronic stuff on the side.

... You wound me with not having a joke. That's okay though my precious magical friend, I know it's hard to do on the spot. So I shall forgive your tansgresion transgression. For now let's talk about this "muggle" word. That's such a weird thing to call non-magic people. What is that even based on? If I went around calling my parents "muggles" they would think I'm crazy. More than they already do.

Now! Let me answer your questions.

1. I''ll only answer that second part for obvious reasons. I'm a first year.
2. My favorite normal animal is a fox because they're super cute and they always represent being playful and witty in stories. Red pandas are also great! I haven't learned about magical animals yet though. I can tell you another time after I do.
3. Yes actually! I heard of something called "quidditch" before school started and I want to get involved with that.
4. Oooh, a fun question. Right now I'm suuuper into drawing. Obviously I'm pretty bad at it, but I can officially make something for you when I'm better. Then I enjoy a bunch of other stuff like music and video games and football. Football is the best sport.
5. Okay woah, you don't know what a movie is? That's so weird! Do wizards not watch stuff like movies? I guess it's like a play that someone recorded with a camera and put on a television screen. Or a play without the actors and everything else physically being there? Or... actually, I'll draw it for you.

It's like a cartoon but with real people instead (sometimes) and it lasts a couple hours. I hope this helps you out! (Wow this is a really long letter.)

Cold regards,
Aodhan Shaw

Tuesday, Sept. 10th, 2024

Dear Aodhan,

I wonder if I have seen you around the common room but just didn't know it was you. We should definitely plan to meet sometime, you seem to be a very kind and fun person!

I did a little bit of research for you, so excuse my late response. From what I read, "muggle" likely to come from the word "mug" which... well... it's not exactly complementing. It refers to someone who is gullible, or a fool. But hey, there's always a chance that it derives from something a bit less insulting and I just didn't find anything about it.

Oh I love drawing! I have so many sketchbooks filled with things that I've drawn, dating nearly six years back. My giagiá (Greek for grandmother) is the most wonderful artist ever! She's taught me basically everything I know. Art is probably my greatest passion, and I've been told I'm pretty good at it. But my painting skills are quite shabby, I focus too much on drawing. Perhaps I'll pursue a career in that field. My father wouldn't be too happy about that though. He wants me to work in the ministry like him or do something that will bring more money to the family name. It's quite annoying.

So movies are like moving photos except they move for hours? So it's like a story, and you get to watch it play out rather than reading it. From your incredible drawing, I assume it's in color, but is there any sound? I feel like a silent play would be uninteresting, but perhaps it's different with movies. You know, I never thought muggles were more advanced than us, seeing as we have magic and all, but you speak of movies as if they are commonplace and they completely bewilder me. Maybe muggles aren't so far behind us in the magical world. What other things do the muggles have that we don't?

Warm regards,
Alex Clark

@Aodhan Shaw

Sept. 11th, 2024

Dear Alex,

Aw, you flatter me too much. But I don't know, maybe you have seen me? I don't hang around the common room much if I can help it. There's too many things to explore and read about! So staying cooped up sounds like it would kill me. Actually it kind of is. Curfew is killing me.

Thank you for looking into that by the way, I sorta forgot about it! And if that's the only meaning you found then let's just stick with it for now. So "mug" stands for gullible. That's so weird isn't it? If you really, really think about it then muggles are only "gullible" because wizards make them gullible. They're super secretive about everything so of course muggles are going to look like fools. Wizards force them into that role all the time... which is kind of messed up actually! It's like calling someone stupid when you're the one keeping them out of school! Super funny, right?

Also, six years?! How old are you? I don't think I asked yet. That's really cool though (and it's even cooler that you're Greek). Now I'm convinced that you're right. We definitely have to meet! You can give me some tips and show off the things your giagiá taught you. (That sounds like a real fun word. "Giagiá." I like it.)

There's something I'm not understanding though. Will your family go broke if you don't listen to your dad? Because I say you should go for being an artist if you guys will still have money.

Anyway, you explained movies kinda perfectly! That's exactly what they're like except there's sound too. People work very hard on the background music and sound effects that play to make it super immerssive immersive. It's like a form of art, and since you're asking that really is just one thing muggles have. We got people working on robots and rocketships and we have cellphones and computers and soooo many other things. I hope you can see it all for yourself, and I wouldn't mind guiding you!

Warmer regards,
Aodhan Shaw

Friday, Sept. 13th, 2024

Dear Aodhan,

Ah yes, curfew. How dare they not want kids running around the castle at ungodly hours, especially little troublesome firsties like yourself.

Yep, it might take some a while but most people know that the wizarding world is full of injustice that's labeled as protective measures. I mean, I understand not wanting muggles to find out, we can't simply forget things like the Salem Witch Trials. After they may have tried to kill us. But the way many wizards look down on muggles is quite unnecessary, it's not their fault they can't do magic.

On a less serious note, I would love to meet up with you and do some art! Most of my friends aren't super in to art so I'm often by myself when I paint or draw. And to answer your question, I'm ageless. I'm just so smart that the limitation of a number can't define me.

(back to the serious note) So, it's a bit difficult to explain. Elitist Pureblood families like mine see themselves as some kinda of magical royalty. And like all royal families, there are a lot of (unspoken) rules that we have to follow. How we act, how we talk, even how we dress just has to scream "WE'RE BETTER THAN YOU." It's all about status and power and money. If I were to become an artist, my family wouldn't become poor, they would just be that one family whose only daughter chose the career of a "dumb muggle." It all comes back to muggles honestly. In their eyes, muggles are bad, muggle-borns aren't real wizards, and halfbloods are tainted. It's all super messed up and wrong but it's just how Purebloods are raised.

(and now back to the less serious note) I don't know what like any of the things you said are. Well, I know what a cellphone is, kind of. It's like a metal rectangle with a screen that emits light and you can talk to anyone else who has one with it! My best friend, Kenzie, is a muggle-born and when we hung out this summer she told me about all these cool muggle things. I think after I graduate from Hogwarts I might spend some time in the muggle world! Do you think I should?

Warmest regards,
Alex Clark

@Aodhan Shaw

Sept. 15th, 2024

Dear Alex,

I am not just a troublesome firstie, I am the troublesome firstie. I must be referred to with the respect I deserve.

Also I haven't heard of the... Salem Witch Trials? Was there some muggle named Salem that was elected the head judge for all wizards at the time? Or maybe not elected but put into power from some actual wizard or witch they were related to. Wait, let me guess. He or she went super berserk and started wrongfully putting people in jail! That tends to happen, which kinda sucks. But one bad apple doesn't spoil the rest... is what my mom tells me. I think she's wrong literally speaking but we're not literally speaking so it's fine.

Anyway—LET'S GO!! I can't wait to meet with the genius immortall immortal entity that is my quill pal and learn how to steal hearts through use of a paintbrush! Hopefully you can catch me or I can catch you, and you teach me how to hypnotize people with crazy art skills. Wait, we can make a game out of it. Whoever catches the other first buys them treats!

But uh. As for that pureblood thing... isn't that just racism? Or bloodism? Whatever you wanna call it. I'm sorry to hear you pretty much grew up around all that. Still, it's good you clearly don't agree with them! You should eventually just spit in their faces though, or something. Maybe turn all their clothes pink or put too much spice in their food. And then live your life freely instead of following imaginary rules, without caring about their opinion! Just a thought.

And yes!! I can't say this enough, yeah you should spend time in the muggle world! Travel the whole place if you can actually! You'll find so many people and cultures and ideas and inventions! It's kinda like how I have to see the wizard world. We all look the same but everything is so different, and it's like expanding your mind! People like you and me get to experience the world twice over!

Do you get excited thinking about all that's out there to discover too??

Another day, another slay,
Aodhan Shaw