Feathered Friends

Heya, Zephyr!

Nice to meet ya, well, not really meet ya I suppose since we ain't face to face and all, you know what I mean (hopefully)

I, for one, think you sound really sweet, and working on a farm sounds really cool. I grew up in Scotland, can't really remember where exactly, but then I moved to England when I was 3 so I could attend Hogwarts if I was a witch.

And you say you ain't that loud or talkative? That's alright, I can balance you out and you can balance me out, 'cause I can be pretty talkative.

I'm glad your my Quill Pal, you seem real sweet and nice, looking forward to your letter!


Astrid

Hi Astrid,

It was really nice to get your letter again. In no time, I’ll get used to writing with you like this.

I liked reading about where you grew up, do you ever want to go back there again, or does England feel more like home to you now? England is very different from where I grew up, I imagine moving must have been strange even at that age.

Balancing each other out sounds reassuring to me. I don’t mind talkative people, especially if they don’t mind quiet ones. What kinds of things do you like talking about the most? I tend to talk more once I’m comfortable. It just takes time for me to warm up to someone.

Do you have a favourite place in school yet, or somewhere you like going when you want some space?

I’m looking forward to hearing more about you.

Zephyr

Heya, Zephyr!

I dunno if I ever want to go back to Scotland, I don' remember much from when I was that young, my parents are the ones with all the photos and memories they somehow remember.

I ain't sure what I like talking about the most, just a lot of random crap most of the time, I like to talk about singing too, I love singing. What about you? D'you like to talk about anything?

Probably my favorite place in school is the Great Lake, I love lakes, their always so still on quiet days, and so pretty on sunny and warm days. I can't wait for winter to be over, I hate the cold.

How's school going for ya? I hope its going pretty good, I hate the homework, I alway thought homework made no sense, we're in class all day just to get homework.

Anywho, I hope your doin' alright, nice to hear from ya again!

Astrid

Hi Astrid,

Singing, that's a good topic of conversation. If you don't mind, tell me more about it? When did you start singing? What usually inspire you to sing? Do you write songs too? How about musical instruments?

I play the tin whistle and the flute. Ever since I started at Hogwarts, I've developed an interest with flying, mostly quidditch and broom racing. I hope one day I'll get myself a nice broom but it'll take some time saving before I can get one that I really like.

That's great! That's something we have in common. My favorite place in school is the great lake too! Regardless of the season, whether it's cold or hot, I like climbing trees and just letting the time slip away while I'm up there. You'll have a good view of everything around you and it's very quiet. It's the same feeling I get when I'm flying on a broom.

School is fine, still a bit overwhelming but I think I'm finding my footing now. I'm making friends and enjoying different subjects. I like Herbology the most. I know how it feels for the homework but we have no choice but to do it anyway. If there's anything I can help you with, let me know!

Just chillin' here in a tree,
Zephyr

Heya again, Zephyr!

I dunno when exactly I started it, to be honest. I think just one day I started singing, and people told me I sounded good. I haven't been doing it for long, and ain't fond of people overhearing me, but its something I enjoy doin alone at the Great Lake or something.

I do want to learn how to play the guitar, that would be really cool. As for writing songs, I sure wish I did, but it kinda just slips my mind, plus its hard for me to sit still and do something, I need to be switching between at least three projects constantly to concentrate. Its weird, but it works for me.

Another thing we have in common! I really want to be on my house's broom racing team, as for a broom, its gonna take forever for me to save up for one too, but once I get enough money I'm gonna get a nice fast broom.

Yeah, homework's pretty crappy, but if I have three subjects I need to do, I'll switch between them constantly, and get them done in about an hour or two. Its really weird, because if I try to sit down and just do one subject at a time, it takes me hours to get it done. Plus the fact that I love to hang upside down on my bed to talk to people, or to read once in a while, its a comfortable position I guess.

Man, that was a longer letter for me to write, nice to hear from ya again!

Looking forward to your reply
Astrid

Hi Astrid,

Looks like your letters are getting longer and longer! It's only been a few weeks since we started writing to each other; the first ones were much shorter. Now, you’re starting to give me a proper run for my [money] galleon! I’ll have to start writing longer ones, too, so I can keep up with you! *just teasing you*

Then you're a natural when it comes to singing. Others would train day and night just to be a good singer, but you're different. You just sang for the first time, and you already sounded good. I totally relate to not liking performing in front of a crowd. I do the same when I'm playing my tin whistle. I play it when I'm up in a tree, so no one will be watching me do it. I hope one day, I can play a song for you and you can sing for me. I promise, I won't judge, and in return, I won't feel nervous performing with you. Deal?

Learning the guitar is cool. I hope you get to learn one day. I’m more of a stick-with-one-thing-at-a-time kind of person, so I know I will struggle with doing three things at once.

Ah, so you're also into broom racing, that's awesome! Who knows, one day, we'll get to compete against each other. I'll be looking forward to that day when it finally happens. For now, I'll do my best to train harder and save a lot to buy the broom I want.

I wouldn't say I expected you to have that habit of hanging upside down on your bed while reading or talking to people. Don't you get headaches? Or becomes dizzy by doing it for a long period of time? I haven't tried that at all, not even when I'm up in a tree. As long as it works well for your focus, who am I to worry too much?

Have you joined any school clubs? What are they? Maybe we're members of a few?

From up in my favorite tree,
Zephyr

nice to hear from ya again, Zephyr!

aye, your right, my letters are getting longer. I never knew I could write that much. Without doing something else.

I suppose I can call it a deal, I'll sing for ya if you play the tin whistle. I think its pretty neat that you play the tin whistle, I've never heard of it until now, is it like a whistle that Muggles use, except made out of tin? Or is it like a mini flute made out of tin? Whatever it is, it sounds interesting.

Sticking with one thing at a time? That must be real simple. I wish I could do that, but I tried and it took me forever just to finish reading a chapter of a book. So far the only thing I can do without switching between tasks is writing a letter. It's either progress or just something I've always been able to do and never knew of it until now.

Playing against each other in Broom Racing sounds pretty cool, hopefully I get on the team and be able to save up for a nice broom.

You should totally try hanging upside down, its so cool and helps me focus. I've never gotten dizzy or gotten a headache, weird, but it works for me. I should try doing it in a tree, that would be really cool, and maybe I could freak people out, like they be walking below the tree, then BAM! I'm hanging upside down and smiling at them. That'd be real funny.

Can't wait to hear back from ya!
Astrid

Hi Astrid!

I’m glad my letters are not putting you to sleep just yet! Consider me flattered that we're writing this long now. It just flows naturally now once you're into it, even for me. When I’m sketching, I feel like that too, except mine is more pictures than words.

We have a deal, then. I'll be looking forward to that day when we can play together. You’re close to what a tin whistle is, it’s a small flute usually made of tin or metal. It has a nice sound when you play it right. Unlike you, I stick to doing one thing at a time because if I switch too much, I get restless. I tend to notice more when I focus on one thing at a time. It's very useful when doing homework. I can't really comment on your approach to juggling a bunch of things at once, since we all have different styles in doing something. But if I'm honest, that's exhausting to me as well as impressive.

I'm lucky I get to try broom racing at least once this year. I don’t know if I will ever be as good as the other official team members in my house since I'm still a newbie, but I’m going to practice regularly until I become a better flyer like them. Someday, we'll get the brooms we like and hopefully, race each other. Fair warning: I am competitive, and I always try my hardest.

Now you got me curious, I might try hanging upside down in a tree once. But not to hurt myself, maybe I'll do it in my bed first as a test. It will probably take some getting used to. The idea of surprising people was hilarious, let's hope they don't have a heart attack.

I heard from other students that we have a school band. Any chance you are a member? With your pretty voice, you will be a nice addition to them. Who knows, one day, I'll get to watch you on stage!

Anyway, I think I have written enough for one day. I want you to know I am really enjoying this letter exchange. Happy to have someone to share my thoughts with.

Tree dweller (not upside down yet),
Zephyr

Heya again, Zephyr!

I'm glad letters aren't putting me to sleep either, I'm just finding more and more to talk about at this point.

I'm looking forward to when I can hear you play too, about one of the only things to look forward to because no one looks forward to homework. And at least I was close to what a tin flute is like, considering I've never seen one before, that's an accomplishment, eh?

I've never considered doing multiple things at a time 'impressive' because I've always done it that way, but I guess your right, it kinda is impressive if ya take a step back and look at it.

I sure hope I can get onto the Broom Racing team in my house, it would be so cool, esecially if we raced each other. And I'm also very competitive and do the best I can in everything, besides homework, I do the bare minimum for that honestly.

And I am on the school band, singing. Yippeedoo for me (I'm being sarcastic) I still don't know why I convinced myself to become a part of it, but I am. Better than homework still I suppose.

I wonder, do you ever talk to yourself, like a full on conversation? That's what I do a lot, and how I convinced myself to join the band. Just wondering if anyone else talks to themselves like me (I'm not crazy, I swear)

Maybe slightly crazy,
Astrid