From Me to You PV Cormac McCarthy Aurelia Blake

This letter was tucked behind the Pears' picture on the 29th October, 2019
To @Clementine Hamilton and @Aurelia Blake

Hey there,

I stumbled upon both your letters on my way to the Great Hall. They kind of stuck out from the Pears' picture. You might want to hide them under the Apple Pie one next time; I reckon it'd make a better hiding spot. Anyway, I'm supposed to be writing a Potions parchment right now and since I don't feel like it, I thought I'd contribute to this letter-conversation of yours.

I've never been to Birmingham or Liverpool. In fact, this is my first time out of Ireland. I do know The Beatles, they are pretty cool. As for Birmingham, I had a friend back in primary school that was from there. He had a funny accent. I wonder if yours, 'Clever Slytherin’, is funny too. I'll definitely be paying extra attention in the halls from now on, trying to spot a Brummie accent.

I love Quidditch, too, like the two of you. The Irish National Team is the best Quidditch team ever, without any doubt whatsoever. If you disagree, let me know in future letters and I'll be delighted to explain why you are wrong.

I'll list of a couple things about myself:

-I'm in Ravenclaw, and I'm really looking forward to getting on the Quidditch Team.
-I like sweets. Any kind of sweets.
-I'm from Dublin.
-I'm bad at Charms. Like, proper incompetent. But I'd like to get better and even craft my own spells someday. For example, wouldn't it be cool if there was a spell that would make vegetables taste like chocolate?

Given that you'd like to keep our identities secret, I guess I'll say no more about myself. ‘Liverpool's Pink Runaway’ and ‘The Clever Slytherin’, those are funny names. It's got some mystery to it. Really cool. I'll be dropping by every now and then to check whether there are any new letters behind the picture.

Sincerely,
Bertie Bott
(There you go, best pen-name ever)

This letter fell from behind the Apple Pie Painting on November 2nd 2019

Dear Bertie Bott and Liverpool's Pink Runaway, I came across your letters and I see that you, Bertie Bott are as much of a Quidditch fan as I am. I see no reason to quarrel with you about who is the best Quidditch team as in my opinion they are all quite awesome! I see that you are also struggling with Charms, I'd be happy to assist! Maybe I can help you through owls! And you to Liverpool's Pink Runaway maybe I could help you with your potions through the owls!

You say your partner is a little off because you botched your potion? I think a good way to make it up to him would be to remake the potion in front of him with the teacher present to assist in correcting his perfect grade, just study a bit more and you'll get there. I have to admit though, it will take a lot of practice but I think you're allowed to practice outside of class with the Professors permission so try that!

These nightmares you say you get, that's never really happened to me and so I don't really know how to assist you with that although I do feel for you, maybe talk to the headmaster about it, he might know a little something about why the same dream keeps reappearing.

I've never really heard of the television programme you're referencing although I can practically hear your enthusiasm through the paper, for fun I usually just read books. I like to study in my free time to stay ahead of my classes and such but I do also like to draw.

I was out of bed after hours myself and that's how I found your note, but I will place mine behind the painting in the morning. I'm so glad to have met you both though, I had no idea having a Quill Pal could be so fun!

See you around, maybe~!
The Clever Slytherin

This letter was placed behind the Apple Pie picture on the 3rd November, 2019
To @Clementine Hamilton and @Aurelia Blake

Hello again to the two of you,

I'm glad you've kept this going. Finding the stack of letters behind the picture was such a thrill. All this hidden-identities thing is really cool, I reckon. It feels like one of those teen muggle movies that they sometimes show on TV. We don't have a TV back at home, but some of my muggle friends do. I don't know that Ladybug character, though. Never heard of it before.

As for that lousy grade you say you got in Potions, Runaway, don't you worry about it. I'm terrible at everything. I bet you a thousand chocolate frogs I'd get a worse grade. I'm only somewhat decent at flying, and that's because my older cousin had already taught me about it before Hogwarts. I really do think I'm going to flunk at least half of the subjects. I'm magically hopeless. I might have to work in some muggle petrol station when I grow up. That'd be funny.

If that kid got mad at you because you messed up the potion, then that boy needs to relax. Academics aren't everything. You should tell him to take it easy and enjoy life and its many gifts: butterbeer, sleeping in, a new Quidditch broom, Fizzing Whizzbees... And if that doesn't work, Clever Slytherin's suggestions seems fairly reasonable.

I don't think I've ever had a proper nightmare myself. One that made me jump or scream during my sleep. My father does get them sometimes, though. Once, my mother had to pour a glass of water on his face to wake him up from one. He was yelling and tossing around like a mad man. So, I get what you mean, Runaway. Hopefully, they'll go away soon enough.

Halloween was quite uneventful this year. I ate so much during the evening feast, that I actually got sick and spent the rest of the day in bed. I don't think I'll be able to eat pumpkin pie ever again.

Anyway, it's really cool talking to you. I look forward to finding more letters behind the picture.

Sincerely,
Bertie Bott

This letter was found hidden behind the picture of Oranges, on November 7th 2019

Dear Liverpools Runaway and Bertie Bott,

It's so lovely receiving these letters from you both! Honestly the excitement of checking behind the photos continuously just to see if there is something waiting for me is absolutely amazing. I can't believe how fast this year is going so far! Hogwarts has honestly been the highlight of my life, not to mention the fact that Christmas is coming soon! Are you excited? I know I am, even though I will be spending my time here.

I have this partner in Potions and he is not by any means particularly loquacious. I try to get him to help participate when we're working on a potion together and he just... Well he just stares at me as if he doesn't understand English. It drives me nuts I tell you.

Anyway, other than that my week has been wonderful, I am excelling in all my classes according to my understanding and hopefully that will rack me up some points on my path to becoming a prefect. How has your week been?

I apologise for taking so long to leave this letter, I've been spending a lot of time studying and doing my homework and so, unfortunately it took me a little longer to reply to your owls, I do apologise sincerely though, as despite the fact that we use code names, you guys are the only friends I have - Wait can I call you friends? I hope so cause we do seem to have a friendship even if its only through owls...

Well, besides that, I can't wait to here from you both again as its the highlight of my day. Wouldn't it be funny if after we finally reveal our names to each other it turns out we all sit next to each other in every class? I guess that would be what you call fate, right?

Anyway~! Jeez I say that a lot don't I? Haha. I'll speak to you guys again after I find the next stack of letters!
The Clever Slytherin.

This letter was hidden behind the Lemon Pie picture on the 11th November, 2019.

Hello again, Liverpool's Runaway and Clever Slytherin,

I'm sorry for taking so long to answer back. I got into some trouble last week and then I've also been quite busy with the new study club I've joined. I was actually sort of worried I'd fail this term, and decided to get into one. I'm getting better, for real. I can more or less cast Wingardium Leviosa properly and everything.

I'm counting down the days for Christmas. Hogwarts' been great so far, but I'm looking forward to seeing my family and friends back at home. Though my family isn't very exciting for the most part, Garrick, my eldest cousin, got on the Wexford Weasels recently and is now their seeker. They're not on the national Quidditch league, but I reckon it's still impressing. He'll tell me all about being a Quidditch player on December. I can't wait!

Oh, and I hate Potions with a passion, now. I really don't know what's with that class and all three of us, but we just don't seem to fit in there, do we? Well, I had Potions class first thing in the morning last Monday. I'd always thought Potions couldn't possibly be that hard. After all, it was just a matter of putting the right amount of stuff into a cauldron. I was wrong, obviously.

I paired up with a Hufflepuff girl to make this really simple antidote. We cut up the dittany branch exactly like the textbook explained and prepared the Wiggentree bark infusion very carefully as well. For the last step, we had to put both ingredients inside the cauldron and stir for three minutes. The moment we put them in the cauldron, yellow-ish steam started to come out from it and the worst odour filled the classroom. I thought my nose would fall off my face from the horrible stink.

And so the Professor had us repeat the potion. The second time, after stirring for precisely three minutes, the mixture started going black and thick and bubbles formed on its surface. Professor Price had to use a vanishing spell on it, because he said it was too toxic to simply throw it away. How could we possibly get it that wrong? After the fourth failed attempt, he told us he'd give us time to complete the assignment during the week and bring him an antidote vial on Friday's class.

We tried over and over again. By Wednesday evening, we both were pretty sure we wouldn't have it ready for Friday. Neither of us could afford another bad grade. Therefore, we politely asked a third-year Ravenclaw boy to brew a sample for us, so that we‘d have something to turn in. Apparently, this kid's the brightest Potions' student ever, because when we handed the vial to Professor Price, he was beyond impressed. He said he'd never seen ‘a more wonderfully executed antidote’ in his whole teaching career.

Then, he asked us to show the rest of the class how we’ d done it. Needless to say, we messed up big-time. Price started growing suspicious. The Hufflepuff girl got nervous and confessed. We got detention every single day this past week. That's why I haven't been able to reply earlier. I was cleaning cauldrons.

Anyway, I hope you two are doing well.

Sincerely,
Bertie Bott

This letter is crumbled behind the painting of avocados, on November 12th, 2019.

Dear, Clever Slytherin and Bertie Bott,

Oh, you have no idea how giddy I am that you managed to write back. Honestly, I don't anxious easily, but I was genuinely so afraid that you had gotten bored and decided to leave us, Bertie Bott! I checked behind the paintings at least twice every day. You can say I get attached easily, but hey, both of you, if you don't feel like talking anymore, let me know!

I have a lot of things to tell both of you!

First, I'd like to reprehend you, Bertie Bott. Though, I know Potions can be a pain in the ass (and that I'm very lucky to have such a dedicated partner like Roman), you shouldn't ask another student to do your work! Perhaps if you talked to Professor Price, he'd understand and even help you. Now, whenever you hand him a potion that looks good, he'll doubt your skills! And, Clever Slytherin, I'm sorry for your partner (it's funny that's coming from me, but well... I try to understand my partner, at the very least).

So, today's been such a great day! I got my first O in, like, ever. Shocking, right? And in Charms, of all subjects! Well, I can't say I wasn't expecting a good grade, I worked really hard on that homework but, God, I even teared up when Professor Vernatis handed it back to me. He seemed so proud too. Now I'll have to work even harder to keep this momentum going. Wish me luck, I'll surely need it!

Now, I have a question: any of you play the drums or the guitar?

My partner just formed a band called The Witching Hour and he's still looking for members, and I'm trying to help him out (though he doesn't know that). If I had any talent related to music, I'd join (I doubt he'd let me join, he seems really passionate about the whole thing), but, well, I can only play the flute and I'm not even good at it.

Well, if that interests any of you, I think the auditions are happening in the Rehearsal Room!

Anyways, I hope your week's been treating you well.

Love,
Liverpool's Pink Runaway.

OOC: I'll be dropping some clues about Clementine's identity here and there. I mentioned the potion partner (Roman Kingston) in order to reveal a bit more about her, in case any of you want our characters to meet soon!