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First Year, First Time PV Simon Kincaid Closed

Written to Quill Pal @Simon Kincaid on 28th November 2020, Hogwarts


Heya Simon,

So, this is my first letter to a quill pal. It's been some months since my school time started, but I decided why not. It would be really cool to find a friend. It's a bit weird, because you're in the castle with me, but I don't know what you look like and I might share my deepest, darkest secrets with a stranger... Maybe. Just kidding. Maybe. So, who are you? Tell me about yourself and your life.

Oh, first of all, I'm Katherine, but really, it's Kat. I'm in Gryffindor, if you don't already know. I'm from Scotland, from a Muggle family. Well, except for me. I also have a little brother called Iain, and he might be magical, too! But I don't know. In any case, I'm absolutely loving magic so far. It's ballistic.

I like writing, thinking, singing, music in general, and other stuff, but those are the main things. I really enjoy creating and thinking about all the stories in my head. I often think about them when walking, and while falling asleep. I used to be able to stay up for around 30 minutes just listening to music and nightdreaming (it's a bit hard to do now because... no electricity). I love Iain, too. He's my best friend in the family, aside from my grandpa.

Anyway, that's it about me for now. Write to you soon!

Kat
First Year, First Time PV Simon Kincaid Closed
Written to quill pal @Katherine Jager


Greetings, Kat.

I sort of like how Hogwarts assigns us this quill pal. It's a nice sort of introduction and sure-fire way of knowing you'll at least meet one person, right? Even if perhaps only through written means. We can see how things go.

Hello... good to make your written acquaintance, hope you are well, and all that jazz. Writing anything and everything works best for me as it's better than not writing at all! It's sort of nice to have someone you can confide in that won't judge and I won't, no matter what those darkest secrets are! Mean to Iain over the holidays? I won't tell. Rob a bank? Psh, saying nothing. Murder someone? ... ... Well, let's hope it's not THAT but you know, I said I wouldn't tell so I suppose you've got yourself an accomplice of sorts!

I'll follow a similar format to your first letter. Hope you don't mind. I'm Simon and I'm in Hufflepuff. I was born and raised in London, England. My mum was a witch and attended Hogwarts herself. She was in Gryffindor like you.

I don't have any siblings. My mum's parents both died in an accident when my mum was 17 and so just after graduating she was thrown into adult life of helping take care of her 14 year old sister. Then a year later I came along. My father isn't in the picture so she had her hands pretty full. Unfortunately she fell ill a few years later and now it's just me and my Aunt Maggie. She's the best though. I'm very fortunate.

I like reading, learning, music, and writing. This magic stuff is completely brilliant and I'm so glad to be a part of it but there's SO much to learn! I spend a lot of time in the library just looking through book after book of one topic of magic to the next.

For books, I mostly seem to stick to some of the classics. I'm a fan of Hemmingway and such. For music, I play guitar and saxophone and piano. I too have some falling asleep issues. Good to know I'm not alone.

Tell me, how is Gryffindor? Do you think it was the right choice for you? ...Is the hat even ever wrong?

Kind regards,
Simon Kincaid
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
First Year, First Time PV Simon Kincaid Closed
Heya Simon,

It was really cool to read such a long letter from you! I love writing too, as I said, and even though it feels a bit old-fashioned, it's nice to sit down and concentrate on writing (something not academic, or academical?). Though my hand is a bit achey from writing so much for classes - we really didn't have to write this much in my old school! Muggle elementary. I'm not sure I like the term (Muggle), it feels a bit... weird.

You're not "Muggle-born" then - do you know if you're Pureblood? I know you said your father isn't really a thing. It seems weird that blood status is such a huge thing, we just label our blood types with letters... Oh yeah, I'm Muggle-born, if that wasn't already clear! So this magic thing is well and truly new for me.

It feels good to have someone to talk to, and the letter format makes it easier for me to be... "myself", I suppose. I'm so much more practiced at writing than speaking and can express myself much easier. Thanks for being my quill pal already. And not wanting to be non-judgemental is really nice. I'll try my best, too! I think I'm pretty open-minded.

I'm sorry your parents aren't around anymore, especially your mum. I don't really know what it feels like, but I'm very sorry.

I play the piano, too! Have you seen one at Hogwarts? It's an absolutely amazing castle/school, but restrictive in some ways. I really miss my piano, and electricity. It feels rather isolating and dreadful sometimes, to be honest, and my parents aren't really used to using owls for communication. I'm told my aunt almost had a heart attack when she saw mine flying at her.

And I don't really have falling-asleep-issues, I think, I can fall asleep rather quickly, I just often choose not to. :P

Gryffindor is really cool, it's cool to be in the house of bravery. Though I'm not exactly convinced why I'm here. I thought I'd get sorted into Ravenclaw, it was my wish. I feel much more... eagle-ish than lion-ish. I wonder whether the Sorting Hat is wrong sometimes, too. How is Hufflepuff, and do you think it's the right choice for you? Oh, and what do you think about your mother having been in Gryffindor?

Snowy greetings,
Kat

Reducio
@Simon Kincaid
First Year, First Time PV Simon Kincaid Closed
Writing to @Katherine Jager


Kat,

No, not muggleborn exactly as the other students here would say, however...I can't say I had any prior knowledge of this magical world until I received my acceptance letter. My mum was the only witch in her family and her and my Aunt Maggie were always really close. I guess she was afraid it would cause jealousy if she spoke too much about Hogwarts so Aunt Maggie said she didn't talk about it too much, but she could tell that she loved it here. Said it was some of the best years of her life, she thinks.

My father, honestly...no idea. I was told that my mum ended the relationship before even finding out she was pregnant and I don't even know his name. I guess I've grown so comfortable in the years with just Aunt Maggie and I that I honestly haven't even asked of his name. I'm not even sure my aunt knows it. Kincaid is their family name.

But don't feel sorry that I don't have either of them around. My mum sounded like a kind, giving, selfless person and I do wish I could remember her but I do have my Aunt Maggie and she's absolutely amazing. She is the most caring person I've ever met and just being around her makes everyone feel happier and I'm a better person for having her in my life. I truly am blessed to have her. She's only twenty-five though, and sometimes I do feel I'm more mature than her. It makes for a different dynamic than that of what my friends have with their guardians, but it's normal to me and I love it.

I know what you mean about the lack of things from back home. I miss having my saxophone and dare I say it...my cellphone! I never realized exactly how addicted I was to mine before coming here. There's a piano in the Rehearsal Room! Go there! Especially early in the mornings or a bit before curfew. That's when someone is least likely to already be there.

So you're not a complete insomniac? I heard that they say insomniacs are more prone to being psychopaths so maybe that's a good thing! I find sleep too eventually.

Maybe as time goes by at Hogwarts you'll discover why you were placed into Gryffindor. It was the perfect place for my mum. I'm not sure what she was like during her Hogwarts years but to lose both parents at 17 and be placed in charge of her 14 year old sister, only to have me a year later, then fall sick a couple years later...she had to go through so much in so little time. She handled it with grace and had to have a lot of strength.

For me, I think Hufflepuff is a good choice. My aunt is always saying that I'm selfless and driven to help others and I agree. We're people persons, her and I. We enjoy doing what we can to help anyone in need.

Need any help with any of those assignments from the professors? Ha, just kidding. Not so much that kind of help but you know, being there for others. Sometimes I think it benefits us just as much as the person we're helping.

What are your plans for the holidays?

Write back soon,
Simon Kincaid
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
First Year, First Time PV Simon Kincaid Closed
[quote]
Hey Simon,

Disclaimer, I'm pretty tired. If there's anything I don't reply to you want me to reply to, tell me.

How come you feel more mature than your aunt?

I really miss my smartphone too. It was a Samsung. I think it's really unfair actually that electricity isn't a thing here - not everything can be done with magic! I really miss the Internet, and just writing with strangers and discovering things. I feel so cut off from my non-magical life, and if you don't like your classmates here, there's nowhere to escape. It's weird. I don't like it. I still love magic, but... aye.

Thanks for letting me know about the piano by the way, that's something to make it easier. :) I'd love to play at night, alas, curfew innit. I could break the rules, but don't know of any noise-cancelling, invisible-making spells. Besides, a castle at night while alone might be creepy as hell.

I just wonder if the Sorting Hat knows your future and how you'll become. Or if it can analyse those seeds in your soul and what they'll sprout into. But doesn't life change a person as well? Will we always remain mostly brave, etc?

So, I haven't met many, but you sound like a Hufflepuff across your letters. And you do sound a bit mature.

I actually could use help with Potions, haha! Just kidding. I mean I could, but yeah, no worries. And that's nice of you to offer being there. I suppose you already are.

My plans for the holidays are to go back to my family. I'm really excited to see my brother again, but not so much my mum. She's not that nice to me sometimes. But I've kind of missed home despite that, and the rest of my family. What about you?

Magically,
Kat

Reducio
@Simon Kincaid
[quote]
First Year, First Time PV Simon Kincaid Closed
Letter to @Katherine Jager


Kat,

I mean, I wouldn't really say it out loud to her that I feel more mature. It's just she's twenty-five and trying to keep everything together so I'm sure that's tough on her. It's caused her to be thrown into chaos and I think at times me to grow up a little sooner than needed. Right now maybe we're more like on a level playing field. All my friends back in London and those I saw at Diagon Alley getting their supplies over the Summer have such a different dynamic when it comes to themselves and their parents. She's my parent figure and sometimes I feel it's more comparable to my friends that have siblings.

How were the holidays? I hope things with your mum were okay and you enjoyed seeing the rest of your family. I went home and we had the typical Christmas and it was lovely. I got to see my London friends, we did our usual traditions of Christmas Eve mass, caroling, Christmas Dinner where we invite some of the recent widows and widowers.

Not that I didn't like it here at Hogwarts before but I was more eager to get back here than I had anticipated I would when I left. I guess Hogwarts is finally starting to feel like home.

Best Wishes and Holiday Greetings,
Simon
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
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