Letters to the Dearly Departed
September 13th, 2025
Saturday, 8:30pm
Saturday, 8:30pm
Dear Mom and Dad,
It's been two weeks since I've entered Hogwarts. It feels like just yesterday you guys were next to me, cheering me on. I miss you more than ever.
The therapist assigned to me before I came here told me that when you miss someone and have things left to say, it's good to write a letter to get your words out. So, I guess that's why I'm writing this. Where I'll even address it to, I don't know. Our house is still a mess, as you could imagine. I don't even know when they'll fix it or if I'll ever move back in there again. I'm living in the dorms now, so I guess I don't need to go back now. But I really really miss it, you guys.
Everyone here is really nice. I guess, at least. It's been a little difficult for me to make friends. You can imagine that I've had other things on my mind, but that doesn't mean I haven't tried, you know.
I tend to camp out in the library most days I have off. Mostly I spend it roaming the stacks, looking at the books and remembering your library mom. This place is way bigger than you made it seem! But thankfully, having two bookworm parents made it a bit easier to navigate the stacks. In fact, I've seen my fair share of first years just like me get lost trying to find certain books in the library.
I suppose being shy is normal here, but for some reason they don't want to ask the librarian for help. I can't blame them, sometimes I was shy to ask you for help in finding a book. There was this one Ravenclaw girl who wandered around the library for hours looking for this one book, I couldn't tell you how long I spent watching her. I kept hoping she'd ask someone, but in the end I could see her tear up from looking all the time. Luckily for me, she kept muttering the name of the book. There was only so long I could watch her before I found that book for her. No wonder she couldn't find it. It was on the top shelf! I should really start learning accio.
Of course, you know me. I was too nervous to give it to her myself. I tossed the book next to her hidden behind a stack. She probably thought it was some sort of magic that called the book to her, but she looked so happy.
You guys would have been proud of me, now that I think about it. Dad would have probably ruffled my hair and told me to ask her to be friends. Maybe I should have.
But all I want is to see both of you again...
Your son,
Emil
Last edited by Emil Roan on 8 Mar 2026, 04:18, edited 1 time in total.
Letters to the Dearly Departed
October 4th, 2025
Saturday, 8:37pm
Saturday, 8:37pm
Dear Mom and Dad,
It's been a few weeks since I last wrote to you guys. I know you're not really getting these letters, but I like to pretend you are, you know?
My quest for making friends still continue. I haven't spoken to mostly anyone outside of classes and Poppy. Thank god for Poppy, guys. Otherwise I'd barely use my voice these days. I know you two would properly scold me for not trying harder, but everytime I hang around a group of kids, the conversation somehow makes me think of you guys and I just... I don't want my first words to a group of kids to be a bummer, you know?
So instead of talking about how I'm failing miserably in making friends, I'll tell you about the Hospital Wing! Did you know they're allowing students to be interns now? I didn't really think I had it in me to apply (and I still haven't yet) but just the other day, there was this tiny Hufflepuff, even smaller than me! He was running around and scraped his knee out in the grounds. I ran to get an upper year student who was walking back into the castle, and they went out to help him.
Of course, I didn't go along. I hid behind a tree. But seeing the upper year student fix up the tiny Hufflepuff really brought a smile to my face. I wished I could be able to do that for him, rather than just find someone.
I know it isn't a huge deal and that I didn't do much. But maybe instead of potions, I could be a healer in the future?
I suppose that'd require me to successfully cast a spell, though...
Your son,
Emil
Last edited by Emil Roan on 8 Mar 2026, 04:19, edited 1 time in total.
Letters to the Dearly Departed
October 8th, 2025
Wednesday, 7:14pm
Wednesday, 7:14pm
Dear Mom and Dad,
I didn't expect to be writing so soon after the last letter, but I wanted to tell someone about this and I realized there wasn't anyone I wanted to tell more than you guys.
Tonight I had my very first detention.
Now before you two freak out (as I know you would), it wasn't my fault.
No, really! It wasn't!
So we had been learning some basic spellcasting for Herbology. I'm sure mom learned it, but it was that one that lights things on fire? It was for like burning the weeds in the greenhouse or something like that. I still haven't gotten the hang of it, but I wasn't alone in that. There were a couple of older Slytherins in the neighborhing greenhouse who were playing around, and I saw them! They lit the greenhouse on fire!! Could you believe it??
Unfortunately they ran away laughing, leaving a first year Slytherin there to take the blame. Luckily the greenhouses are probably charmed or something so that one spark won't burn down the whole thing, but still, people were maaaaaaad. One of the older kids was going to report the little one and give them detention.
Poor kid, you could see the tears in his eyes.
Well, you know me mom, I'm a sucker for tears. After the little snake left crying, I told the older kid that the little kid didn't do it, but that I did. Now I know what you're thinking, I should have told them that the older kids did it! Well, most of the kids here aren't a huge fan of snitches, you know? I mean, the people who tattle tale, not the little golden ball.
So, hence my first detention. I probably got off light because I'm pretty small myself. I only wish I could have actually had the ability to make fire come out of my wand like that...
Your son,
Emil
Last edited by Emil Roan on 8 Mar 2026, 04:19, edited 1 time in total.
Letters to the Dearly Departed
November 1st, 2025
Saturday, 9:22pm
Saturday, 9:22pm
Dear Mom and Dad,
Happy All Saint's Day!
Yesterday was the first Halloween without you guys. Luckily, it was on a Friday, so we could spend as much time enjoying the Great Hall as we wanted. Well, I say we, but as you can imagine I haven't made too much progress on that front either.
It's an entire event at this school. I know we used to celebrate it as well, but when we did it, there was a lot more candy. Here, it feels like there's a food extravaganza. Pumpkins everywhere! I wish I could show you dad, although mom probably already told you all about it.
There was one thing I wanted to tell you. I'm thinking of signing up for the dueling club! I spoke to an older boy in the common room and he convinced me that signing up for some sort of sport would be a great way to make friends my age. I even got the last spot on the list!
But... then there was another first year who was right behind me. He really, REALLY wanted it. He was pretty upset about not getting the spot. I mean, he wasn't mean or anything about it but you could just tell, you know? Mom always told me I wore my heart on my sleeve. Well then this kid's got it like he's wearing a sign! So, I gave up my spot. It's not that I didn't want it, but I could really tell it meant a lot to him.
But don't worry, I'll sign up again when a spot shows up! Until then, I can really work on some of my dueling spells. As of now...
Actually, I can't really do any dueling spells now that I think about it...
Probably should have thought about that before I signed up.
I still miss you guys,
Emil
Last edited by Emil Roan on 8 Mar 2026, 04:21, edited 2 times in total.
Letters to the Dearly Departed
December 22nd, 2025
Monday, 4:53pm
Monday, 4:53pm
Dear Mom and Dad,
Tomorrow is the beginning of the Christmas holidays at school. I can't say I'm looking forward to going back to Uncle's house. Poppy has been looking... forward? I can't say I'm honestly sure. I would have preferred to stay at school but I'd rather stick with Poppy and the therapist tells me it's better to be with family in these times.
I'm not too sure about that.
But whatever happens this holiday, I'm sure it won't be the same. It can't be. Not without you guys.
You know, I thought I made a friend this month? There was another first-year, a Hufflepuff. We were grouped up for our Defense Against the Dark Arts class for a study group, the groupless, I called us. For a week or two, it seemed like we were gonna get along! But then it turns out he was just fighting with his group of friends. They asked him back to their study group and he looked at me with these puppy dog eyes. I didn't even know guys could make those kind of eyes!
I told him to not feel bad about it. I had another study group I could go with. I didn't want him to feel bad about going back to his friends.
Of course, you both probably know I definitely don't have another group. But he didn't need to know that. Even though it's been a little bit lonely these last months, it really doesn't cost anything to be kind. I know you guys always raised me like that, but I guess it's different seeing it for yourself in person.
I'll keep writing to you guys about my Christmas vacation soon. I'll never stop, I think. I hope. You'll always be on my mind and in my heart.
Emil