20 Feb 2021, 04:37
Letters of Acceptance
Letters from Hogwarts with @Eleanore Reed
August 13, 2020.
6:51pm.
It was a Thursday and while school was out for the Summer, there was still other obligations on this particular day of the week.
6:53pm
For Simon, this was currently the children's choir in his church. They met every Thursdays for practice and only any other Thursday he wouldn't be concerned about the time but this particular Thursday was special - it was one of his best friend's birthdays!
6:57pm
He had most likely looked at the clock a dozen times in the last fifteen minutes. At 7 o'clock he would be free. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy his time there or enjoy his time with others that were part of his choir group but he had a gift to give. Not everyone turned 11 every day.
Finally, the outside bells chimed, indicating that it was 7pm and the director paused mid-song. "Have a good evening, all. God bless!" Simon pulled up the hood of his sweatshirt and darted out of the door. His first stop was at home, where he grabbed a box of cupcakes that his aunt had baked along with his wrapped present.
In no time he was at the door of Ellie Reed's where he knocked and was let in by her grandmother. "Good evening," he greeted her with a smile and a hug, careful to not squish either his present or the cupcakes.
He was told that she was upstairs in her room and immediately headed up there, knocking on the door softly as he got there and opened the door. "Happy Birthday to you," he sang. "Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to my dearest Ellie! Happy Birthday to you!" and he came in, presenting out the box of cupcakes in one hand and the present in the other.
It was his hope that she would find the cupcakes delicious, as his aunt was a fantastic baker to most. (Although Simon himself didn't like sweets.) It was also his hope that she would like his present - it was a jewelry box along with a bracelet inside.
"I hope you like it!" he smiled, and he paused a moment when he saw a letter on her bed. It was on the same sort of parchment with the same sort of ink and handwriting as one he had received earlier that day. It was delivered strangely, by an owl of all things! Was this some kind of weird prank or something? He paused, his eyes now off his friend as he looked to the letter.
"What uh...what is that?"
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
20 Feb 2021, 06:54
Letters of Acceptance
Eleanore ran home quickly, excited to get home. Usually she would walk home slowly to procrastinate her homework, but not today. Today was her birthday among any other day.Letters from Hogwarts with @Simon Kincaid
Eleanore arrived to her house, opening the door and stepping inside.
"Grandmother, I'm home" She called out, scanning the living room. Her grandmother walked into the room with a wrapped box. Her grandmother greeted her and handed her the box. Eleanore opened it, gasping when she saw a silver chain with a snake charm at the bottom.
"What is this for. Obviously my birthday, but what is the purpose?" Eleanore asked, pulling the beautiful necklace out. Her grandmother explained that her mother wanted her to have that when she turned 11. The necklace was a gift from Eleanore's father to her mother.
Eleanore thanked her grandmother and walked upstairs to her room. Eleanore sat down and placed the necklace around her neck. Just a moment after, she heard something fly through her open window. She looked to see an owl, holding a letter in it's beak.
"Well hello there" she said to the owl, grabbing the letter from the beak. The owl then flew back out of the window and off into the world. Eleanore looked at the strange letter, setting it on her bed. She walked over to her desk and sat down.
Moments later she heard a knock and then her bedroom door open. She saw her best friend come in, singing happy birthday. She giggled, enjoying the moment. He presented her two boxes.
Eleanore thanked him and watched as he looked at the letter on her bed. He asked what it was curiously.
"It's uhm, a letter I received from an owl just minutes ago" She said, looking at it with him.
Keep your head held high and your attitude to the sky. Trust me babe, it's the only thing that will protect you from the harms of the unknown.
Eleanore Reed
20 Feb 2021, 12:47
Letters of Acceptance
Still a little skeptical with @Eleanore Reed
Simon listened to her response and laughed, feeling a little uneasy. He had gotten one that morning and thought it was some sort of silly prank that was either by one of his classmates and friends at school or his aunt thinking she was just sooooo funny. She wouldn't take it as far as to doing it to Ellie though also, even though she adored her as well, and his school friends didn't even know her and the ones that did, didn't like her. Besides, they weren't inventive or creative enough to pull such a stunt.
He came to sit on the edge of his bed and glanced at it. Definitely the same. That morning he had read it, laughed, and then caught the frozen pause of his aunt - a look that gave away that she knew something here. That lead to a breakfast talk about all she knew about Hogwarts - a magical school that his mother had attended. Unfortunately she herself hadn't been of magic so she couldn't provide details, but she gave as much information as she could remember her sister telling her.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
His mother had been placed in Gryffindor and had loved her time at Hogwarts. She shined there, getting good grades and learning things beyond the imagination. She didn't boast or brag too much though, as she feared her sister would be jealous of the school. It was quite thoughtful, but now put Maggie at a disadvantage in trying to explain the place - and magical world in general - to Simon.
"Have you...have you looked at it? Read it?" Didn't she find it peculiar? Even delivery by owl was odd in itself. The post was delivered midafternoon and by the postman...not letters coming by owl. It was so difficult for him to wrap his head around the notion of this school and culture in itself existing.
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
20 Feb 2021, 18:46
Letters of Acceptance
Eleanore watched as Simon sat down on her bed, still looking at the letter. He was looking at it as if it was a box of golden rats.
Eleanore sat next to him and continued looking at the letter.
'Hogwarts' It read, with a crest and a seal. It was a strange looking letter. Why would she be receiving a letter by owl, usually it was her grandmother who got letters by owl.
Eleanore brushed off the strange way of it arriving, and though about how familiar the name sounded. 'Hogwarts', it sounded too familiar. Eleanore thought for a bit while Simon continued looking at it. That's when it hit her.
Hogwarts was the school her parents attended. Her parents were wizards, so it only made sense that she was too.
Eleanore looked at Simon, as he continued looking at it. He was probably in a deep thought. Why was he acting so strange though. Eleanore watched as his eyes slowly moved from the letter to her. What was it?
He asked if she had read it, the letter. Of course she didn't, it had only arrived seconds before he did. Plus, the seal was still on and in tact.
"No, I haven't. Strange one isn't it. I wonder what it's for" Eleanore replied. She knew exactly what it was, but wasn't sure if he knew.
Eleanore sat next to him and continued looking at the letter.
'Hogwarts' It read, with a crest and a seal. It was a strange looking letter. Why would she be receiving a letter by owl, usually it was her grandmother who got letters by owl.
Eleanore brushed off the strange way of it arriving, and though about how familiar the name sounded. 'Hogwarts', it sounded too familiar. Eleanore thought for a bit while Simon continued looking at it. That's when it hit her.
Hogwarts was the school her parents attended. Her parents were wizards, so it only made sense that she was too.
Eleanore looked at Simon, as he continued looking at it. He was probably in a deep thought. Why was he acting so strange though. Eleanore watched as his eyes slowly moved from the letter to her. What was it?
He asked if she had read it, the letter. Of course she didn't, it had only arrived seconds before he did. Plus, the seal was still on and in tact.
"No, I haven't. Strange one isn't it. I wonder what it's for" Eleanore replied. She knew exactly what it was, but wasn't sure if he knew.
Keep your head held high and your attitude to the sky. Trust me babe, it's the only thing that will protect you from the harms of the unknown.
Eleanore Reed
20 Feb 2021, 19:56
Letters of Acceptance
Talking with @Eleanore Reed
"Well uh..." he hesitated because it was new to him...far new than it would be for her if she knew of her grandmother and anything about her parents. The wizarding world couldn't just go spreading around this information to muggles though so it was something that Simon never saw from Eleanore's home, even if it was talked about behind closed doors.
"I think you should open it. Read it. From my understanding it's a great thing and something that we should probably put some good thought into." His Aunt Maggie had said that the Hogwarts years were some of his mother's best years.
But that meant going away. Going away to the Scottish Highlands and leaving London where he only knew. He would be leaving his school and some of his friends behind. Leaving Oliver, leaving Gabe. Leaving his church and leaving his aunt. But at least now if Ellie would attend Hogwarts then he wouldn't have to do this journey alone. That was a good thing.
Simon picked up the letter and handed it out to her. He knew what it would say. He was rather eager to see her reaction to it all.
His aunt wouldn't lie to him about this and he was certain of that, so this was no prank. Still, it was rather difficult to wrap his head around the idea that there were witches and wizards in this world and they weren't just a thing filling fantasy books in the fiction section at the library. Wait until he learned about dragons, giants, vampires, and werewolves!
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
20 Feb 2021, 20:42
Letters of Acceptance
Eleanore's skepticism raised with his words. Why would he want her to open it? How would he know if it was something to put thought into. Unless...Talking with @Simon Kincaid
"Did you get one too?" Eleanore asked, grabbing the letter and holding it. It only made sense for him to have gotten one too if he knew what it was. Was he from a wizarding family too?
Eleanore didn't know much about his mom or dad for that matter. She knew that his aunt was a muggle, but wasn't sure about his parents. She knew that Simon knew nothing of his father, so that would be unknown no matter what. What about his mother?
Eleanore knew that his mother was a kind woman, she had known her when they were little. Obviously she doesn't remember much, as she was 3. She knew that his mother had some sort of secret that was rarely talked about among his family. Maybe it was the fact that she was a witch.
Eleanore and her Grandmother had always been careful to keep from talking about the Wizarding world around Simon or his aunt. They couldn't risk both of them being muggles and then knowing something they shouldn't.
"Why would it be important?" She continued, bringing up the fact that he knew it was important.
Keep your head held high and your attitude to the sky. Trust me babe, it's the only thing that will protect you from the harms of the unknown.
Eleanore Reed
20 Feb 2021, 20:49
Letters of Acceptance
Giving the letter to @Eleanore Reed
Simon didn't really want to say anything until he knew absolutely sure that this was the same sort of letter because his aunt had told him to keep the secrecy and not spill anything to his friends about this. They would even had to pitch it that he was going away to a residency school and keep it at that, no mention of name, no mention of where specifically, no mention of what type of school.
Still, this was Ellie Reed. She was more than just a friend, she was a best friend and practically family. She would be one of the people that deserved to know and frankly, it seemed she too also would be joining him.
"OPEN it," he laughed, shaking the envelope now at her. He was growing impatient and wanted to see that what he suspected was true and that she also had gotten accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"But to answer your question, yes. I got one too. This morning actually. I'm almost quite sure it's the same. It's something I'm hoping is the same." While a pretty independent person, he didn't want to go on this journey all by himself. He wanted a friend at his side.
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
20 Feb 2021, 21:57
Letters of Acceptance
Eleanore watched as Simon shook the envelope in front of her face, asking her to open it. He had also said that he was hoping it was the same letter he got earlier.Opening the letter with @Simon Kincaid
Eleanore nodded and took the envelope. She carefully opened the seal and pulled the letter out of the envelope. She set the envelope aside and opened the folded letter. In it, it wrote...
'Dear Miss Eleanore Reed
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School
of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books
and equipment.
Term begins on 1st September. We await your owl by no later than 31st of July.
Magically Yours,
Solomon Lear
The Hogwarts School of
Witchcraft and Wizardry's
Headmaster'
Eleanore looked at it blankly, making sure Simon couldn't read it. She had gotten accepted into Hogwarts, but what if this isn't the same letter as Simon's. She didn't want him mixed up in her crazy world.
She was already thinking of excuses of her sudden move. 'I am being sent off to a boarding school in America'.. No, too risky. 'I have an aunt in France who wants me to move there and get a better education'.. No, London has good education. Whatever it was, she had to make sure that Simon wouldn't find out that she is going to a Wizardry school in the highlands of Scotland.
What if it was the same letter Simon had gotten, what if Simon is a wizard. They would be going together, she wouldn't be alone. This thought got her hopes up, hoping for the latter.
Keep your head held high and your attitude to the sky. Trust me babe, it's the only thing that will protect you from the harms of the unknown.
Eleanore Reed
21 Feb 2021, 04:49
Letters of Acceptance
Talking with @Eleanore Reed
Simon watched as she read it. It had to be the same sort of letter. He waited for her to say something but she didn't.
He waited longer.
Nothing.
"Ellie, what does it say?!" he said impatiently and quickly moved closer to her, taking a peek now over her shoulder at the letter. Maybe she didn't want him to see but he did and he was surprised - even if it was what he had already suspected.
"You got accepted too! To Hogwarts," he said quickly. That school, the one of of witchcraft and wizardry. It still seemed unbelievable to him.
"Do you...do you think it's real?" he continued. Sometimes he thought this entire day had been a bit of a dream but that wasn't very likely as he didn't actually sleep most nights. He would sleep about every third night, sometimes a little longer. It was just one of those oddities that made up his life.
If this wasn't a dream and if this was real, and if this was a place that his mother had attended school, did that mean that Ellie's parents did, too? Is that why she also had been accepted? Would she decided to attend?
Be kind to one another. (*iNPC is Miles Thatcher)
21 Feb 2021, 05:21
Letters of Acceptance
Talking with @Simon Kincaid
Eleanore looked at him blankly as he said he also got accepted. Was his mom a witch? Was his dad a wizard? Or was he muggle-born?
"Uhm yeah it's definitely real alright. My mom was a Hufflepuff during her years, and my father was a Slytherin" Eleanore said, thinking about her parents. They both kept journals through out their lives, so it was pretty easy for her to know them.
"I can't believe you're a wizard, I mean I have never seen any signs of it. I have had a few slip ups with accidentally letting my anger get the best of me, but you haven't" Eleanore said, looking back at her friend who was peeking over her shoulder.
They would both be attending the same school together, finally. Her grandmother had her in an all girls school because she was afraid that Eleanore would fall in love too young just like her parents had. Her grandmother feared that Eleanore would loose her innocence too young.
Instead of stopping Eleanore from liking people intimately, the outcome of Eleanore being in an all girls school made Eleanore also like girls. The only way Eleanore wasn't a full on Lesbian is because she had a crush on Simon for years. That crush faded when she met a girl she liked. That girl rejected her, but Eleanore never went back to liking Simon.
Eleanore identified as bisexual once she realized that it is a thing, and is sometimes normal. She never came out to anyone besides Simon though.
Eleanore was excited to finally be able to go to a school with both genders, so she could explore her sexuality more, but she didn't want to go alone. She needed her best friend there. She needed Simon there to help her through hardships, and pain. Now he could always be there. Right?
Keep your head held high and your attitude to the sky. Trust me babe, it's the only thing that will protect you from the harms of the unknown.
Eleanore Reed