Just a Short Break PV Santario Martin Closed

Dale~

You have NO idea how happy I am to hear from you! You cannot just up and disappear from Hogwarts without so much as a note! I thought you were eaten by hags! I am just glad to know that you are okay, well as okay as you can be coming from your news.

Do not worry too much about the owls. They pretty much always find their way. Since they are magical creatures, I think they can sense the magic in others, and it somehow just lets them find people without addresses. It is pretty interesting. I could send you a book that talks a bit of them if you wanted.

If you need anything at all, Dale, please do not hesitate to ask. I will be happy to provide you what I can. I am also here if you need to talk more about what is going on with your mom. Please remember to take care of yourself while you care for her. My mother was a Head Healer at Saint Mungos and a Mediwitch. I have seen people burn themselves out when caring for others.

I got a care package from my grandmother in Ireland right before I sent this along, so I boxed up a couple of her almond chocolate pastries for you. I hope you like them.

~Santario

Dear San

I'm glad I can finally write to you, past few weeks have been hectic but things are settling down. Ha trust me to wish I had been told in advance too, but still, I am sorry about that, don't worry, No hags or anything like that here. I am safely in the muggle world. It's actually quite weird to be home at this time of year, feels almost alien... which is strange since I lived here for like 6 years before coming to Hogwarts.

Yea, I'm slowly getting used to owling, it's a shame you can't have phones at Hogwarts, it would be much easier for us to keep in touch. But I guess these owls aren't too bad. Wow I must've fallen asleep in Magical Creatures class when they explained that one, but that sounds pretty cool, and I have lots of free time for reading so send it over for sure. Oh speaking of classes, I still have those here, well not the lectures, but they send me scrolls with the lessons and then the class work which I owl back, I was really hoping for no homework at all but, eh, I guess I still want to graduate this year, can't miss too much from the classes.

Don’t worry, Ill owl you first thing If I need any kind of help, and I really hope that extends to school work too, cause I’ll definitely need some of that here. I really do appreciate that offer San, but I think everything’s gonna be ok! My mom’s condition is getting better week by week, honestly, I should be able to come back right after Christmas Break, and I'm really looking forward to it. If anything I’m more worried about my dad at the moment. He’s really stressing himself out right now, he can't get any days off so he had to pull me out of school to watch over mom. The atmosphere here is kinda grim, but.. It's ok, things are improving for sure.

Ok enough about lame old over here, what's going on at Hogwarts? Anything fun I missed out on? There’s also something going on, and I kinda miss that now. But maybe that's just the boredom settling in. Still though tell me all that you can, I'm counting on you to be my sole news source San, this is a huge responsibility. Also, what’s going on with you, anything new in your own world?

Thanks for the cookies, first time I've ever had these, they are delicious, unlike anything I've ever had before. It’s not much but I included some muggle chocolate bars from here, not nearly as good as those pastries but I hope you like em.

I’ll have lots of money saved up by the next time I see you, so we’ll go to Hogsmeade to celebrate my grand arrival. It'll be on me. Oh you probably haven't even been to Hogsmeade yet? Even better, I’ll show you around, lots of fun things to do. Like buying chocolate frogs and drinking butterbeer… and uh… buying more chocolate frogs? There’s more I'm sure of it... kinda sure of it.

-Dale Kurt

Dale~

No, no, you do not need to be sorry; I probably overreacted. Your mother’s health is very important, and I think it is admirable that you care for her. I can understand it is strange for you though being back because you got used to being here with the mass amounts of people for the past two years. It is bound to change you at least a little bit, and it became your new regular now that standard has been interrupted.

I have one home telephone back in France because my grandmother still does dealings with muggles. I have seen a… a Mobile? A few times, but I have never really used one; the concept is fascinating, and it is a shame that magic and technology just do not want to coexist. I would not complain too much about doing homework; at least it will allow you to move into your fourth year. Imagine having to do classes with me all next year… Granted, it would be easier for you to use my notes then.

Of course, the offer extends to schoolwork; I would never leave you out in the wind like that! I am thrilled to hear that your mother seems to be getting better. I admit I do not know a lot about muggle ailments, but I am sure that if you follow the healers’ instructions, things should go well. When it comes to your dad, try to do something for him, maybe? Maybe try to play a card game or with your mom and dad? Try to do something fun to lighten the mood? I know illness is not something to be dismissive about, but that does not mean that you cannot still have fun at the moment if your mom is up for it.

Hm, Hogwarts, oh! Duelling is open again, and I am one of the Slytherin Captains along with Dmitri Jones. I think you might know of him. My partner is Bridget Collins, and we just won our first duel... Well, kind of. We probably should have lost, but a fourth-year Ravenclaw decided to forfeit. I'm not exactly sure why; to be honest, I think they would have won if she had stayed in. I am a little bitter about it; it is not how I like to you win, you know?

We also have another kind of ball happening very soon, you know, like clockwork how that goes. Oh, I also got a lizard. Her name is Khalan, and I’ll include a picture of her for you. She is the sweetest little thing, and I cannot wait until I can take her out with me in the courtyard during the summer. You will have to meet her when you get back. Speaking of around that time, is there anything in particular that you would like for Xmas?

I am glad you enjoyed the pastries! I really enjoy the chocolates, which says something considering that I do not care for many sugary things. These were pretty good, though! So thank you again! I would love to tour Hogsmede with you! I have heard it is stunning in the winter, so maybe we can go when you come back after winter break? I’ve sent the book about the owls, and I hope it made it there okay!

Keep me updated!

~Santario

Dear San,

You don't apologize San, I know how worried you can be, especially when someone got hurt. Honestly, I'm starting to enjoy being here, get to have more free time and freedom in general, even learning a few new skills. Cooking is one of them, so I might ask for a few recipes. Slowly getting used to what it’s like to be home for longer than 3 months, slowly getting more and more used to it.

Maybe we can talk on the phone when you get back home, but I'll be back by then, but still it’ll be easier to keep in touch over summer that way. Oh wow, you’ve never used a mobile before? The Wizarding world is weird, say have you ever used a computer before? Yea it’s a real shame, phones are so useful, always when I get back from Hogwarts I wonder how I went a year without using one. I would probably die of embarrassment if I was held back a year, and you and Annie would probably never let me live it down. The easier access to the notes is not worth my pride San, besides with all this free time, I'm really improving at magic, soon you’ll be asking me for help.

We don’t have healers per se, they're called doctors here, but yes we are following all of their instructions, she also gets weekly treatment. I took your advice, I got them to play some card games and just take a few hours to relax and watch movies together. I think it really helped my dad, it was the first time really seeing him smile for a while, so thanks for that San! I owe you one.

Oh wow really! Dueling captain.. That is a huge coincidence, I was planning on joining dueling. I've been practicing casting, and I think it would be fun to see how much I can improve. I think I've seen Dmitri around the castle, he’s a 4th year right? I don’t think I’ve ever heard/met/seen a person named Bridget, but hey you won your first duel. Maybe you were so intimidating they just felt too overwhelmed so they forfeit? Hey I’m sure you’ll win your second one, i'll be in there in spirit rooting for you, but hey still won your first duel! And when I get back we could practice together.

Ah yes the balls, one thing I don’t miss at all, are you going to be going? Oh! A lizard, she is very cute, I'm really looking forward to meeting her myself! She looks really sweet, I think I'll get a pet when I get back, maybe a rat, maybe a spider, not sure yet, but I have time to decide. Let me know your thoughts on it though since I am very torn between the two. Oh for Christmas.. Hmm a book will do, any really, i'll read just about anything. Anything you want, lots to offer here in the muggle world.

The book about owls was a great read! Really appreciate them more now, I sent it back, so no overdue fees I hope. If you want I can send some more back, not hard to get! Mhmm, after winter break sound great! I'll make sure to save some money for it. Keep in touch with me.

-Dale

Dale~

I adore that you are learning to cook! I have included four recipes for you to try at home, and they should be easy enough if you follow the instructions and prep things before you start cooking! For breakfast, try making these Blueberry Plantain Muffins. They can be made the night before and warmed up before serving in the morning. The next is a recipe for Carrot Cake Energy Bars; they taste like the dessert but are packed full of nutrients to help get you through the day, and you do not have to bake anything they set in a refrigerator. See if your father will take them to go with his lunches and you should eat them as well. The last two are suppers, one being a Chicken Pot Pie Soup and the last being a Beef and Barley Stew. Everything should also be pretty easy for your mom to eat as well.

I think I have seen a computer while shopping maybe? Is that what muggle shopkeeps use to ring up my purchases? I will try and be with my grandparents in Ireland this summer, and if we do a summer camp, I will be wherever that might be. I will probably be spending a lot of the time at the bakery, but here are both the bakery number and my grandparents’ landline at home. If, for whatever reason, I am stuck in France, here is the landline there as well, but try the first two numbers first.

Doctor is kind of a funny word, but regardless I am glad they attend to your mother. It makes me happy to know that you could get them to relax a little with cards and movies. One thing that I learned from my mother and her work is that just because you are sick, that does not mean that it must be gloom all the time. Even when the illness is severe, open the curtains and let the sun in, play some easy games and just enjoy the time you can while still allowing them rest. She used to say that it helped people who got very, very sad when they were sick. I think she used the word depressed?

Oh! I would love to have you on the team, and practicing with you would be great! We have a waiting list right now, but I will make sure to get you signed up right away! That way, when you get back, you will already be on the list. Yeah, Dmitri is a fourth-year kind of struts around like he owns the place. Short blonde, almost white hair, thinks he is better than everyone else. I have learned that is just how he is. I do not believe he could be any other way if he tried to be honest. It was annoying in the beginning, but I have gotten used to him. Bridget is in your year, but she was really into Quidditch last year.

I am probably going to go to the ball mainly because things do go wrong. I want to be around to help now that I am a more proficient caster. I do like to dress up, but other than that, I would not have a reason to go. It is not like I ever get asked to these things anyway, but that is okay too. Being a duelling captain makes me feel like I have to help, you know?

Kahlan is lovely, a little skittish still, but she seems to be getting used to everything around here a little at a time. Personally, out of those two, I would go with Rat, but I also think that they, along with Frogs, are underrated as pets. I have heard that rats can learn more tricks than dogs can, and since these are magical rats, I wonder how many tricks you can teach them! I almost got a rat, but I think my grandmother would have killed it.

Hmm, I have heard about muggle journals and fountain pens like pretty books with lined paper in them? That is kind of what I am everyone for this year. I feel like the pen is incredibly amazing. There are also pretzel sticks, and these like cheese cracker things. I really love those too! They are not the easiest of things for me to get a hold of in France. I do not think they are fancy enough to enter that household. You know how my grandmother there is.

Do not worry. The book made it back in time, and I will make sure to have some money saved up for it as well. We will have to sneak me in, but we can manage. Not the first time we have gone skulking around together.

I know your mom does not know me, but I have also included a small photo album of our time at Hogwarts last year and a get well soon card that I made. That way, she can kind of see what we see every day minus the magic. Everything in there is muggle safe, so no one will get in trouble if anyone outside the family sees it. And do NOT dare remove the flower suit photo of you. I know your mom could use the laugh!

~Santario

-Dear San

Cooking is lots of fun, I'll try to send you something I make, if I succeed that is. I tried making all four, so you gotta send me more thing to cook now. The beef and barley soup was by far both mine and my families favorite, finding the barley for it was difficult to say the least, I had to bike for like an hour going there and back to go to another grocery store just to get it, although I did get distracted by a bakery on the way there and back. The carrot cake energy bars were pretty good, my dad and mom loved them, ill making more in the future. Oh, the chicken pot pie was great too, although next time I think I'll add more carrots, I had no idea I liked carrots so much, but it might be the combination of the chicken and the carrots. Ok so, I think I might’ve messed up the measurements on the muffins, they came out a bit… weird, misformed and had a strange taste to them. It’s ok I fed them all to one of my friend’s owls, his name is Eiryk and he loves blueberry muffins so at least he got something out of them. I'll try to make them again sometime soon. I'll include some of the leftover beef and barley soup in a thermos, I hope it stays warm by the time it gets over there, but I doubt that, just cast incendio on it or smth, it'll warm up for sure.

Yup those are computers.. Like 80% of the time, some of the older shops use other machines, but most modern ones use computers. Ah Ireland, I've been there a few times for vacation, my parents love it there, that and France, although they’ve only taken me once to France, they usually go when i'm away, they said they’ll take me when I’m older, but they’ve been saying that for like 3 years now so who’s to say. Oh yea summer camp, forgot that was a thing really, who knows if I’ll go, my parents are planning a vacation around Europe as soon as my mom gets better so i'll probably be with them. Alright, lemme know when you’re home so I know when to call, I don’t wanna call at the wrong time and accidentally call your grandparents, that would be incredibly awkward.

The gloom is still kind of there, the downstairs area was a dark mess, but I'm slowly cleaning it up and making it look less gloomy. We keep my mothers room well lit, I didn’t know just how many board games there were out there, we’ve been playing a new one every week, maybe we’ll be able to play some one day, i'll bring a few of the card one's back with me, there's one where you try to build the biggest city while trying to make sure other don't, it’s called Citadel. Ah yes, depression, it happens to the best of us, I would definitely say what me and my dad felt when we found out the news was depression, my mother’s actually been taking it pretty well all things considered, although I know she’s trying to stay strong to try to make us feel better.

Great! Thanks for signing me up, the sooner I can get in the better, I assume it’s pretty packed for our house? Ok yup I have definitely seen him around, working with him seems like a nightmare and a half, good on you for putting up with it. Now that I think about it I think I might’ve heard her name before in some classes before, she seems like a nice person, who else is on the team?

That's… really sweet of you, I was going to say “didn’t expect that from you” but no, that makes a lot of sense, you do wanna be a healer after all, the balls have got to be the best practice for that line of work. Well keep me up on any public misfortunes. Dates are overrated anyways, who needs em, not me that's for sure. Oh yea, I guess managing a team is like it’s own job, more than just being a dueler on the team, I'm glad you found something like that.

Rat it is then, i'll probably go and get everything for it.. And it right before next year. I've read about them both being great wizard pets, I don’t know if I’ll be teaching them any tricks, maybe just to play dead and uhh… can rats play fetch? Hopefully. You should send me a book on magical pets, I’d like to learn more about them, like the history and stuff, I've read about the history of muggle pets and wanted to see how that kinda goes with the magical kind.

Alright, fountain pen, a bound journal, and some junk food, you’ll have it all around Christmas time. In your grandmother's defence they are disgustingly unhealthy so eat them sparingly. I have them in abundance but I tend to stay away from them. What kind of food do you have over there in France? Whatever it is, I can guarantee you it is better than any kind of junk food over here. Oh yeah I’ve heard they have really nice bakeries over there.

Not our first time indeed, and hopefully not our last. I actually got caught once when I was sneaking around Hogsmeade, it’s ok though, the prefect that caught me ended up being pretty nice, I ended spending the day going around with her, ironic right?

She loved the get well card! She’s been flipping through that picture book like everyday, she’s been making copies of her favorites and hanging them up on her wall… including the one with my flower suit. I have never been laughed at so hard before by both of my parents, my dad is taking me clothes shopping in a few weeks, says I can’t be trusted with fashion anymore… Gonna take a lot to earn back that trust. And now they want to frame that photo, this has to be the worst possible outcome. Thanks for making it happen San, you’re truly the best. You’re also on my parents' good side now, so now you’ll have to come visit me sometime, they wanna meet you!

-Dale

Dale~

I am delighted that you have found a new hobby in cooking, though it is unfortunate that you had to ride so far on your bike to find barley. Now that you like it, though, you can stock up on it for the future. I am glad you liked everything, though! I heard our tastebuds change as we grow, so maybe you did not want them as much before, but you do now? I did not use to like broccoli, but I do now. When it comes to the muffins, just practice and slow down while reading the recipe, you will get there, but I am glad they did not go to waste anyway. Good to know owls like them as well! I am sure I can figure something out with whatever you send me. Though just nestling it into the fireplace might be safer to warm it up, knowing Hogwarts. I am also sure that Professor Jensen would frown upon using incendio to casually heat something up in the common room.

France is usually a vacation spot for couples so that probably makes sense as to why your parents go without you. They say Paris is the most romantic city, whatever that really means. Since I live there, you are welcome to visit any time and show you the places you would actually enjoy. So maybe next time you can always tell them that you can stay with a friend or something like that. My grandparents probably wouldn’t mind if you called while I was not there, but I promise to let you know when I am. They are really understanding about things like that, and they’d probably just try to get your address to send you pastries because you are my friend.

I think while she is sick, even when she is getting better, there will still be a bit of gloom. It is natural, but I am happy to know you are doing what you can to fight it off. Citadel sounds interesting. Learning how to play that would be fun, and I am sure I can understand it quickly. Your mom seems like a good and strong woman. I am happy to hear she is improving. I really look forward to meeting her someday.

Do not worry, it is no problem really. Just writing your name on a piece of paper. Not surprising, we are the most popular team. Just talking to the other captains, they have not had as much success with signing up, so we’re going to do some things to help bolster additional sign-ups, like putting flyers around the school and stuff. Our team currently consists of Dmi, Myself, and Bridget as captains. Then Adonis Thorn, Opeila Winters, Henry Knight, Astrea Neptune, Ruby Cazares, Sarah Lightwood, Illowy Magnard, Ileen Knight, and Alexander Varillion. Most of them are in my year, but you should recognize Ruby, Illowy, and Astrea from your year.

The first years dunno what they are getting into, though it is not always outside forces in play at Hogwarts sometimes; it is just the crazy ones starting drama. This year’s Masque was different, though. I heard there was a hag doll there which is not good. I did not see it myself, but I trust who I heard it from. Halloween is coming up quickly, too, and since the ball was not on Halloween, I hope it will be a quieter night, but famous last words, right?

Well, in my cracker junk food-loving defense, I could stand to gain a few pounds. I am probably a little too thin. I run around the training pitch a few times every day, weather permitting, and I am constantly training for duelling, which is quite the workout. So I think a few carbs would be beneficial. I do not stuff my face every meal anyway, but I need to keep up with the exercise. I want to look filled out and healthy, not like a twig that someone could snap in half with one hand.

It is pretty funny that you guys ended up spending the whole day together instead, but hey, sometimes friends are made in strange circumstances. The first time we met, I thought I had broken your nose. One of my closest friends right now was a chance meeting during the last blossom ball right before the craziness broke out. Now they know more about me than most people do; honestly, I would trust them with my life.

I love every ounce of that, and hey, someday you will look back at that suit with your parents and just laugh about it, and you will be glad that I shared that memory with her. The flower suit will never die, Dale. Besides, your father is right, and it was a terrible choice, and you are not to be trusted with fashion anymore. I hope that photo ends right smack dab in the middle of your mantle!

I really want to meet them too. Maybe if you all come around Ireland during the summer, I can find a way to meet you guys somewhere? Let them know! Here is to hoping I survive Halloween.

~Santario

Dear San-

Sorry for the long delay in between letters, I promise I have a good reason... well kind of a good reason. It's been incredibly boring, there's really not much to talk about outside owling you full book reports on all that iv been reading, and I doubt you would wanna read 20 pages of the complexities of all the horrible romance novels my mom likes to read in her past time. Still, anything is better than just sitting on the couch and waiting for the day to pass I suppose.

The long bike rides are nice actually, sometimes I forget that my town is a pretty big stop for tourists, but it's not hard to see why it is. Lots of beaches and beautiful scenery, not to mention the incredible Cafes and Bakeries they have here, sometimes I really wish I could like coffee if only it tasted as good as it smelled. Ah well, ill stick to the more sweet stuff for now. If taste buds really do change then maybe one day ill enjoy coffee and coffee-flavored stuff.

Let's see I haven't really cooked much, just a few soups and things I found online. Some the things I needed to get for those recipes were wild, like a shallot, never knew what that was till a couple of weeks ago, it's like a small onion, incredible stuff really, well as incredible as a small onion can be.

Oh is it? I thought the name city of love was just a metaphor. Romantic city eh? I guess the city must be famous for bringing together couples or something, then on second thought I think ill move it down on my list of places I wanna go, I really dislike sappy things, the romance novels Iv been reading are enough sap for several gallons of maple syrup. Oh then do tell them my address, I would not mind a few surprise pastries in my mailbox, in fact, I would actually like that.

Let's see I think I know a few of those people, have a couple of classes last year with Illowy I'm pretty sure. Most of those names are completely new to me, or maybe I just forgot, it could be either. It's a bit surprising that other houses are having issues getting sign-ups, I thought for sure they would be full since dueling is fairly popular. but maybe I've been around too many Slytherins.

Wait... what's a hag doll? I think I vaguely know what a hag is, mean old swamp ladies or something like that. But I've never heard of a hag doll. I hope everything went well at the Halloween party, but if there was anything interesting fill me in, and I want details.

Put on a few pounds of muscles instead of fat, well at least that's what I'm trying to do, it not going so well because I always just forget to work out, but hey at least I'm trying. and honestly, I can't blame you junk food is great when eaten in moderation, but I'm not here to lecture you on health, but I am here to send you some various cracker based junk food, but don't tell your grandparents it was from me, I'd like to be on their good side.

Well crazy and deadly balls are a great way of bringing people together, I'm glad you have someone you trust that much, that's kinda hard to find. Honestly finding just friends is kind of hard, outside of you and another person I cant really name anyone else... maybe I should try talking to more people when I get back.

I wish I could burn that picture every day. But it's safe... for now, anyways no more talking about my embarrassing fashion sense. let's talk gifts, other than just the junk food I'm also sending some candy since I missed Halloween and a vegetable stew I had left over from thanksgiving a little while ago, I don't know if you celebrate that but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless.

I think we might be able to meet in France over the summer once my Mom gets better, but I don't wanna stress them out with the talk of travel right now so ill keep you up to date about it.

-Dale

Dale~

Do not worry so much about the length between your letters; you have yourself and your family to take care of.

Hags usually roll in covens of, I think, threes with some kind of hierarchy between them.
Hag dolls are dolls that hags presumably make, and they often bear an unsettling resemblance to a child. They can also be living dolls which is a doll that happens to be moveable, and as far as I know, they become obsessed with the child they are around and try to kill the people that come between the child and the doll. They have been plaguing our school for quite a while now. Some students here, in particular, are entwined with the hags, and I am working to help them break free of that entanglement, but I am not sure what I will be able to do. Still working on gathering as much information as I can from different sources. I think this will get worse before it gets better. I will keep giving you details as I have them. Since it is getting so close to Winter break, I will be able to fill you in better while you are here as well.

I promise not to send word to France that you supply me with delicious cracker-based junk foods or any other sweets. I promise to uphold your upstanding and completely, totally innocent disposition. When you get back to school, I just make you go running around the pitch with me, weather permitting, of course, but if you think you will get off running just because it is cold out, you shall be sorely mistaken. I am also sure that you can probably find someone to help keep you on a workout schedule when you come back. Plenty of meathead jock types around the school.

Speaking of mutual friends. Kaegen has disappeared, kind of. It is rumored that he still goes to classes, but he does not talk to anyone and seems to be missing beyond all of that. No one seems too worried about it at the moment since he is still in classes, but I worry for him greatly. If he does not return more than just classes, I might try to find out where he has been holed up within the next couple of months. I will keep you filled in as I know more about this as well.

I will introduce you to my closest friend when you return to school. Perhaps, you can help as well, and if not, it is still good to know each other. Make friends. I would like you two to be friends anyway. I think right now, the people I hold the closest to me are you, Alan Vanes Gryffindor in your year, Quinn Healy Hufflepuff in my year, and Thomas LeStrange in my year. Thomas is the one I hold closest, however though. So it will be him I introduce you to first. He is in our house, so I am sure you two can find time to bond or whatever it is guys do.

Do not worry about bringing up travel to your mother for now. Focus on her getting better; we can talk about other things later when they are more appropriate to bring up. Everything you have sent me so far was delicious; thank you again. Here are some more simple recipes to follow as well. Try to keep up that morale at home. Some of them are just soups which will be easier on your mom's stomach.

Sorry, I am cutting this off a bit short. Duelling practice calls. Give your mom a hug for me and pass on my good wishes!

~Santario