Parental Debrief

3 September 2023 - Harmony's mother to Harmony

Dearest Harmony,
We are both so incredibly proud of you! Know that no matter what house you might have gotten, it would have welcomed you and given you a new home-away-from-home, but getting sorted in Hufflepuff is just some extra ammunition and bragging rights for your father. He’s casually dropped that you got sorted into his house so many times in conversations, you’d think he was the First Year.

Your dorm sounds like lots of fun! Did you have any difficulty making the choice?

This Hufflepuff character does sound interesting. Are you sure you know his name? Maybe there is a mutual misunderstanding between the two of you. I think you are showing some good maturity with your view of him being excited and you not taking it personally. How about you talk to him a little more and become the friend both of you need?

I do have a faint memory of rehearsal rooms, but I don’t think I used them as much as your father is reporting he did. I might have gone in to watch a friend practice their instrument or to practice a group piece myself, but I’m old and getting dementia so I have forgotten a lot. Who are you again?

I’m glad that you are enjoying your time and showing such interest in your studies; writing letters to us could definitely be some essay practice for you and I look forward to seeing your report card
Please remember to keep a good balance of study and relaxation, and look after yourself.

Love you more,
Mum

1 October 2023 - Harmony to her parents

AAAARGH GUESS WHAT I DID I’M SO STUPID
So there’s a Fall Ball happening right and I wasn’t going to go because I don’t like parties and I don’t have anything to wear and whatnot BUT THEN I went to watch some people practice quidditch
Oh yeah I kinda want to start quidditch maybe possibly what do you think
BUT ANYWAYS I was watching and stuff and then who should show up but this FLAN MONTGOMRY and bro starts challenging me to the ball so of course I’m like never back down never what and now i have to go to the ball and prove myself the best ball date that ever ball-dated (sad face)
Yes so my point is, I need a dress and i have a wonderful idea! Do you remember that pretty white and gold long flowy dress that someone wore for A Winter’s Tale? That white for innocent Hermione one? Yea so can you possibly shrink it down a little bit and then I think select panels here and there to charm in slightly different shades of cool light blue so everything’s very subtle and a little bit night-sky AND THEN I’m going to either drape some white fairy lights around the top or sew them under the skirt so that it glows nicely. I think draping it would make it less subtle and starry sky but also I’m not sure how to make the fairy lights so that there’s a few and not a whole string of lights dragging me down. The theme is Festival of Light by the way, so I’m being Light but not from the Festival.
Also, do you know if there are any nice blue cloaks that would go with the dress but also keep me warm because the ball is outside and I don’t want to freeze. If not, that’s ok and I’ll take a jacket for when I must. Can you also send my chunkyish white simple heel-boot shoe things thank youuuu

Anyways, school is going pretty good. There was this whole thing in the common room a few days ago where I tried to make one(1) friend and then suddenly there were a whole bunch of kids and the Head of house was there and there was a snake and someone got facebooked and someone got punched it was a lot. I'm fine though, I didn’t get hurt.

Yes thank you heaps I hope you are not missing my awesome presence too much

2 October 2023 - Marcus Hollins to Harmony

That is a LOT to drop on us, young lady. ANYWAYS because we’re so awesome, we took it all and made sure you will be the prettiest girl at the party.

Firstly, however, don’t think you can get away with skimming over that first sentence! You? Doing quidditch? Did you hit your head? The Harmony I know hates exercise! Who are you and what have you done with my daughter?
Jokes aside, it’s a good idea to get involved in the school, and I like that you’re stepping out of your comfort zone. What position would you go for? Do you want any help? Tell us all about it!

Secondly, Hogwarts really is magical, because not only are you doing exercise but you’re also going to parties? I have a sneaking suspicion that this Flan Montgomry is your Fallon/Flint/Finn boy? I think it would be absolutely hilarious if this competition that’s got you all worked up is another misunderstanding, but just in case it isn’t, your wonderful parents have taken it upon themselves to bring your vision to life. Your vision is absolutely incredible, by the way. I think your amazing creativity comes from me, personally.

Anyways, I hope the colours of the skirt are to your liking. If you lift up the skirt, you’ll notice that there are little independent lights sewn here and there under different layers of skirt. This is because neither your mother nor I trust a needle to not hurt anyone on the way there and then not hurt you while you attempt to sew for the first time. The little lights won’t drag you down but they’ll still look subtle and glowy like a night sky. Aren’t your parents the best? We’ve also sent the nice blue cloak that the Enchantress wore for Beauty and the Beast, as well as what we hope are your “chunkyish white simple heel-boot shoe things”. If they are not, then perhaps that serves as a reminder that we are sending letters over the year so please take pity on our deteriorating brains.

I don’t recall the common room ever being that chaotic in my time. What happened? It sounds like it was wild.

Fear not, dear child, for there is plenty of awesomeness to go around without your lameness dragging us down. There are lots of high-level jokes being made without you at home and I think you should be worried about becoming uncool without your super-cool parents to coolen you up.

Love,
Your super cool father

31 October 2023 - From Harmony's parents to Harmony

Dearest Harmony,
Happy birthday! We are not there with you to properly celebrate, but we hope you have an incredible day anyways and do something to make your day special; Hogwarts is a wonderful place and offers a lot of excitement that you just need to find.

Speaking of which, we have attached A Murmur in the trees – to note – by your favorite Emily. We think it is fitting, with the little glimpses of magic you are opening your eyes to.
We have also annotated the poem and invite you to add your own. Once you have, you could even send the poem back to us to reply and we’ll send it back again. This will be good practice for tackling a full book, which you will hopefully work your way up to for a future birthday (wink wink).

Just in case, though, we have also sent one of dear William’s plays for you to scrawl on to your heart’s content. The book is structured as a director’s handbook and every other page is blank for you to doodle, plan, write fanfiction, etc. We hope you have lots of fun with it, but not too much fun because you still have textbooks to study, young lady.

The world is only as ordinary as you make it, so go your way with “No fear you’ll miss the Road.” Have a fantastic birthday and we will go on some adventure in the holidays to celebrate a very late birthday with you!

Love,
Mum and Dad