Waiting For The Letter Solo Closed

Location: Wicklow, Ireland

The nervous clink of Avis’ spoon against her teacup spread through the kitchen as she tapped at the porcelain, her leg shaking up and down under the table in rhythm with the spoon. Her cheek sank lower against her palm and her elbow squeaked against the chipped green paint of the table as the young girl let out an impatient sigh.

“Smashing your teacup to bits with that spoon isn’t going to make Eowyn come any faster y’know,” her older brother Will said through a mouthful of eggs. Avis huffed and made a face at him.

“Nothing could ever make that owl move faster,” she mumbled but set the spoon down anyway. Mum smiled at her across the table.

“Avis me love, why don’t you finish that toast so we can finish up your robe measurements. I think you’re a wee bit taller than your sister at that age than I realized…” Mum trailed off, seemingly making adjustments to the robe in her head as she stood to whisk away the empty dishes left on the table. Avis glanced at her sister Prim who hadn’t said a word to anyone since she’d appeared at the bottom of the stairs this morning. An untouched mug of coffee sat in front of her as she absentmindedly stirred the creamy liquid inside. Avis rolled her eyes. Prim had probably been up late writing again, judging by the ink stains on her fingers.

A sudden flutter of wings at the window made Avis jump up excitedly, only for her hopes to be dashed in seconds. A large white gull sat staring at the little family through the open window, its head bobbing up and down in curiosity. Avis sank back into her chair, her face finding its way back into her palm as she rested her elbow on the table.

“Bloody gulls,” she muttered quietly. Mum flicked her wand, her back turned towards the table, and a wooden spoon on its way to the sink tapped Avis lightly on the head.

“Language, young lady,” she chided and Will snickered, dodging the wooden spoon as he pushed his chair back from the table. He leapt up, snatching Da’s old woolen cap from its usual place on the stairwell and made his way towards the door, ducking another swipe from the spoon.

“I’m off to Ole Gallagher's shop. He wanted me in early today,” he chirped. Will stopped in the doorway and turned to Avis with a grin. “Let me know if my letter gets here, will ya Aves? They tell me sixth years need to nab their textbooks early. And not to worry about yours. Maybe you’re a Squib. Wouldn’t even need a letter then!” he chuckled and was off down the dirt path before Mum could send a few more spoons at his dark haired head.

“I’m not a bloody Squib!” Avis shrieked after him angrily, her hands gripping the old table. She sat back in a huff, crossing her arms over her chest. Mum turned from the sink twirling her wand lazily in the direction of a dish scrub hard at work. She sighed.

“Now don’t you pay him any mind love. We both know he showed signs of magic the latest out of the three o’ ya anyhow. That letter is on its way as we speak,” Mum reassured her.

“I know, I know, but what if it doesn’t come and I’m the only one in our whole family to never make it to Hogwarts and my magic disappears and I become a Muggle…” Avis gasped. Mum chuckled.

“That has never happened in all of wizarding history and I doubt you’d be the first,” she replied.” Prim, dear, are ya going to finish that cuppa?”

Prim’s eyes fluttered as she seemed to be gaining consciousness for the first time that morning. She sat up slightly and stared at her mug, pausing mid-stir.

“Er, no, mum,” she croaked and Avis grimaced. Prim’s stormy blue eyes were lined by deep shadows. She sounded as if she’d just risen from the grave. Mum sighed.

“A very bad habit, staying up late,” she said, clicking her teeth and shaking her head as she turned to wash out the coffee mug.

“Yes, Mum,” Prim replied, stretching her arms above her head,” Have the letters come yet?” she asked through a yawn.

“‘Fraid not, me love,” Mum replied at the sink. Prim stood and made her way to the staircase. She said something that sounded like ‘get more sleep’ and ‘wake me up later’ but Avis wasn’t too sure what her sister had mumbled. She crept up the stairs and Avis heard her door shut with a muffled thump. There was a slim chance the family would be seeing Prim before supper time later that evening.

Avis slid her chair back and stood.

“I’m going to Lottie’s!” she announced to Mum and to the mop scrubbing at the floor in the corner. “Mum, can you send Eowyn to the Wenlock’s if she gets here while I’m away?”

Mum didn’t reply. She seemed to have been caught in a daydream, gazing out the window and absentmindedly flicking her wand at the mop every few seconds. “Mum?” Avis said impatiently. Her mother started.

“Mm? Oh aye, love. Letter to the Wenlock’s, o’course,” she replied. “Say hello to Nora for me,” she added, but Avis was already out the door and headed down the house’s seaside path.

The warm summer wind tickled the girl’s cheeks and tugged at her dark brown braids as she skipped down the path, humming a tune to herself. The sea had been stormy the past few days so she was grateful for the clear skies. Avis stopped every so often to pick up a seashell or study a snail caught out in the open but eventually she made it down the narrow dirt path and onto the cobblestone street below. She waited for an old yellow truck to pass before she made her way across the street and through a shortcut in the neighbor’s back garden. One more leap over the short fence brought her to her best friend’s cottage.

“You’re late!” a voice chirped from across the yard. Avis looked up to see Lottie lounging comfortably across the chair swing hanging from the Wenlock’s massive oak tree. “Eowyn got here 10 minutes ago. She’s got all your letters,” the girl continued and held up 5 faded yellow envelopes, each with a large red stamp on the front. Avis grinned and sprinted across the yard, settling into the swing next to her friend. Eowyn hooted softly in the branches of the oak tree above them.

“Your da finally get rid of the bowtruckle infestation?” Avis asked as she sorted through the letter to locate hers. Lottie nodded.

“He had to bring someone in from Gimble’s Wizarding Greenhouse. The lil’ fellas were stubborn,” she replied distractedly as she waited for Avis to finish sorting. “Oh c’mon, Avis. Hurry up!”

Avis held up her letter and the two girls giggled excitedly.

“1…2…3!” they shouted together and tore into the envelopes.

“Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizar-” Lottie began.

“Nevermind that,” Avis interrupted impatiently. “Dear Ms. Greymond, We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts…Please find enclosed a list of all necessary… bla bla bla. Term begins on 1 September…Owl by July 31st. Bollocks that’s soon…Yours Sincerely, Solomon Lear… Do you think he really signs all of these?”

Lottie was deep into her list of books and supplies needed and replied with a distracted ‘mhm’.

After a moment of quiet reading and mumbling, the girls looked up at each other, not quite sure what to say. The excitement buzzed in the air between them.

Finally, Avis interrupted the silence.

“We’re really going to Hogwarts, Lot,” she said breathlessly.

“I know. I can’t wait,” her best friend replied and gave her a tight hug. The two chattered away, ready for a new adventure.