Slipping Away
[quote][quote]
Stephen Schwartz
That North American School
U.S.A.
EmmaLee LeDames
That United Kingdom School
Scotland
March 19, 2024
Dear EmmaLee,
I start this off needing to let you know I am so ashamed of myself for letting everything not within my immediate sphere of influence simply slip away. You, and our friendship, has sadly been one of those casualties and I could make a million excuses to you for why that is, but that is all they would be. Excuses. And you don't deserve that. You deserve the truth, so here it is. If it does begin to sound like excuses, I hope you will believe me when I say that truly is not my intent.
Something happened over the winter break while I was at home. I finally felt like I had a little breathing room and began to think on things I actually wanted to focus on rather than those I had to in order to pass my exams. It likely will not surprise you to know that Selene Wartnaby was one of those things. I did what I could in the Muggle libraries to see if there was any mention of her or her family. I came up with a big goose egg. But what that little exploration did for me is to reignite my desire to see my dream come true. My real dream. That dream is not the one I was feeling like I was having to settle for since attending Ilvermorny. Apparating to the moon was always a poor, second choice in my mind and has left me feeling like my life would be less because of being magical.
Not the popular opinion amongst the magically blessed, I know, but the world of magic has not, quite honestly, caught up to the Muggle world's expertise in the areas of space exploration. Feeling like I was going to explode if I could not at least pursue my dream, I had a long series of heart to heart discussions with my father. I wanted to leave Ilvermorny altogether. He vetoed that outright, but he did offer a counter proposal. He has put a number of tutors on his payroll, and while I am off the books, so to speak, in the Muggle world as an Ilvermorny student, my father has set it up so that I can be legally "home schooled" in the subjects that the Air Force Academy will be looking for applicants to have at the time I actually graduate. He is helping to make it possible for me to have a real choice when the time comes. It is now up to me to make the best of it.
Once it all started, and it started quite quickly, it has been relentless. I promised my father Ilvermorny studies were always to come first, and they have. All the rest of my time has been devoted to advanced mathematics, history, some robotics, geology, and English. Sometimes the studies actually enhance my magic education, and that is when I am happiest. I am happy most of the time if I stop to think about it, but there generally is not time to think about it.
And time is why you have not heard from me. This not an excuse, it is just my reality. I have little of it. Time that is. I should have written you almost immediately. I meant to. Your last letter from January sits on the very top of my To Do pile, day in and day out. I have been dreadful about picking it up for what lies beneath it and setting it back on top, always meaning to get to it next. Clearly I failed in that, and continue to do so, and I do apologize for that. I hope you will believe it was never because I did not care, because I did. I do. But selfishly, I have to admit I obviously care about this more.
Today I was in the Library and I overheard that Ilvermorny has, once again, been invited to Hogwarts for the Spring Ball. I think we are to leave here on the 7th, or somewhere there abouts. I have sat here for a few hours debating whether I will even go or not, and because I do not know, I wanted to get an owl off to you to let you know at least that much. I feel like such a heel. I know it was probably not a "given" that we would attend the Ball together, but I can see where the expectation that such might have been the case would cross your mind.
It certainly crossed mine.
I understand it is to be a Masquerade Ball. I have no idea at this point in time, truly, whether I will be there or not, but if I do show up, most of my time is going to be in the cabin where I will be studying. I would like to see you at the feast that first night though. Will let you know before then if I am coming.
And if I do, I want to hear in person all about the dueling phenomenon I imagine you have become. ;-)
As always,
Stephen
Reducio
[quote][quote]
Stephen Schwartz
That North American School
U.S.A.
EmmaLee LeDames
That United Kingdom School
Scotland
March 19, 2024
Dear EmmaLee,
I start this off needing to let you know I am so ashamed of myself for letting everything not within my immediate sphere of influence simply slip away. You, and our friendship, has sadly been one of those casualties and I could make a million excuses to you for why that is, but that is all they would be. Excuses. And you don't deserve that. You deserve the truth, so here it is. If it does begin to sound like excuses, I hope you will believe me when I say that truly is not my intent.
Something happened over the winter break while I was at home. I finally felt like I had a little breathing room and began to think on things I actually wanted to focus on rather than those I had to in order to pass my exams. It likely will not surprise you to know that Selene Wartnaby was one of those things. I did what I could in the Muggle libraries to see if there was any mention of her or her family. I came up with a big goose egg. But what that little exploration did for me is to reignite my desire to see my dream come true. My real dream. That dream is not the one I was feeling like I was having to settle for since attending Ilvermorny. Apparating to the moon was always a poor, second choice in my mind and has left me feeling like my life would be less because of being magical.
Not the popular opinion amongst the magically blessed, I know, but the world of magic has not, quite honestly, caught up to the Muggle world's expertise in the areas of space exploration. Feeling like I was going to explode if I could not at least pursue my dream, I had a long series of heart to heart discussions with my father. I wanted to leave Ilvermorny altogether. He vetoed that outright, but he did offer a counter proposal. He has put a number of tutors on his payroll, and while I am off the books, so to speak, in the Muggle world as an Ilvermorny student, my father has set it up so that I can be legally "home schooled" in the subjects that the Air Force Academy will be looking for applicants to have at the time I actually graduate. He is helping to make it possible for me to have a real choice when the time comes. It is now up to me to make the best of it.
Once it all started, and it started quite quickly, it has been relentless. I promised my father Ilvermorny studies were always to come first, and they have. All the rest of my time has been devoted to advanced mathematics, history, some robotics, geology, and English. Sometimes the studies actually enhance my magic education, and that is when I am happiest. I am happy most of the time if I stop to think about it, but there generally is not time to think about it.
And time is why you have not heard from me. This not an excuse, it is just my reality. I have little of it. Time that is. I should have written you almost immediately. I meant to. Your last letter from January sits on the very top of my To Do pile, day in and day out. I have been dreadful about picking it up for lies beneath it and setting it back on top, always meaning to get to it next. Clearly I failed in that, and I do apologize for that. I hope you will believe it was never because I did not care, because I did. I do. But selfishly, I have to admit I obviously care about this more.
Today I was in the Library and I overheard that Ilvermorny has, once again, been invited to Hogwarts for the Spring Ball. I think we are to leave here on the 7th, or somewhere there abouts. I have sat here for a few hours debating whether I will even go or not, and because I do not know, I wanted to get an owl off to you to let you know at least that much. I feel like such a heel. I know it was probably not a "given" that we would attend the Ball together, but I can see where the expectation that such might have been the case would cross your mind.
It certainly crossed mine.
I understand it is to be a Masquerade Ball. I have no idea at this point in time, truly, whether I will be there or not, but if I do show up, most of my time is going to be in the cabin where I will be studying. I would like to see you at the feast that first night though. Will let you know before then if I am coming.
And if I do, I want to hear in person all about the dueling phenomenon I imagine you have become. ;-)
As always,
Stephen
[quote][quote]
Stephen Schwartz
That North American School
U.S.A.
EmmaLee LeDames
That United Kingdom School
Scotland
March 19, 2024
Dear EmmaLee,
I start this off needing to let you know I am so ashamed of myself for letting everything not within my immediate sphere of influence simply slip away. You, and our friendship, has sadly been one of those casualties and I could make a million excuses to you for why that is, but that is all they would be. Excuses. And you don't deserve that. You deserve the truth, so here it is. If it does begin to sound like excuses, I hope you will believe me when I say that truly is not my intent.
Something happened over the winter break while I was at home. I finally felt like I had a little breathing room and began to think on things I actually wanted to focus on rather than those I had to in order to pass my exams. It likely will not surprise you to know that Selene Wartnaby was one of those things. I did what I could in the Muggle libraries to see if there was any mention of her or her family. I came up with a big goose egg. But what that little exploration did for me is to reignite my desire to see my dream come true. My real dream. That dream is not the one I was feeling like I was having to settle for since attending Ilvermorny. Apparating to the moon was always a poor, second choice in my mind and has left me feeling like my life would be less because of being magical.
Not the popular opinion amongst the magically blessed, I know, but the world of magic has not, quite honestly, caught up to the Muggle world's expertise in the areas of space exploration. Feeling like I was going to explode if I could not at least pursue my dream, I had a long series of heart to heart discussions with my father. I wanted to leave Ilvermorny altogether. He vetoed that outright, but he did offer a counter proposal. He has put a number of tutors on his payroll, and while I am off the books, so to speak, in the Muggle world as an Ilvermorny student, my father has set it up so that I can be legally "home schooled" in the subjects that the Air Force Academy will be looking for applicants to have at the time I actually graduate. He is helping to make it possible for me to have a real choice when the time comes. It is now up to me to make the best of it.
Once it all started, and it started quite quickly, it has been relentless. I promised my father Ilvermorny studies were always to come first, and they have. All the rest of my time has been devoted to advanced mathematics, history, some robotics, geology, and English. Sometimes the studies actually enhance my magic education, and that is when I am happiest. I am happy most of the time if I stop to think about it, but there generally is not time to think about it.
And time is why you have not heard from me. This not an excuse, it is just my reality. I have little of it. Time that is. I should have written you almost immediately. I meant to. Your last letter from January sits on the very top of my To Do pile, day in and day out. I have been dreadful about picking it up for lies beneath it and setting it back on top, always meaning to get to it next. Clearly I failed in that, and I do apologize for that. I hope you will believe it was never because I did not care, because I did. I do. But selfishly, I have to admit I obviously care about this more.
Today I was in the Library and I overheard that Ilvermorny has, once again, been invited to Hogwarts for the Spring Ball. I think we are to leave here on the 7th, or somewhere there abouts. I have sat here for a few hours debating whether I will even go or not, and because I do not know, I wanted to get an owl off to you to let you know at least that much. I feel like such a heel. I know it was probably not a "given" that we would attend the Ball together, but I can see where the expectation that such might have been the case would cross your mind.
It certainly crossed mine.
I understand it is to be a Masquerade Ball. I have no idea at this point in time, truly, whether I will be there or not, but if I do show up, most of my time is going to be in the cabin where I will be studying. I would like to see you at the feast that first night though. Will let you know before then if I am coming.
And if I do, I want to hear in person all about the dueling phenomenon I imagine you have become. ;-)
As always,
Stephen
The magic is real.
Slipping Away
WC: 347March 21, 2024
Dear Stephen,
I am ecstatic to hear that you have been able to find a way to pursue your astronaut dream and that your father was receptive enough to make a compromise. I understand your need to focus more of your time on your second course of study. It must be so much work and I am glad that you are enjoying it so much already. I will be all that way over here rooting you on and I hope things turn out well for you. Do not worry about my waiting and simply write when you can.
Our next dueling stage was on January 27th and I am proud to say that I won that one as well. In October, Hufflepuff won every round we participated in, but I am sad to say that our luck seems to have run out during this stage, as my duel was the only one we won. We are still ahead in the rankings though, so if we can do well in the final stage, we should win the whole game.
Hogwarts students leave for Spring Holiday on the 24th and we will be coming back on the train on April 7th, the same night the other schools will be arriving. I will be more than ecstatic to see you at the welcoming dinner and then leave you alone to your studies. I have a friend from Ilvermorny that I met over the summer named Kaya that I can probably catch up with while you are otherwise occupied. : ) Further, if you wouldn't mind, we could spend time on our separate studies in the library or on the grounds together at some point if companionable silence is something you enjoy as well. April here is wonderful weather to study outside.
I do not want to distract you too much by sending too long of a letter to I well end here.
All my best,
Hoggy Warty Hogwarts
P.S. With my own birthday being today, I realized that I do not know your birthday. May I know when it is?
@AngelFyre McCubbin
Fearless | Calming Presence | E.L. | Prodigal Transfiguration
ST: 9 | EV: 9 | STR: 3 | WI: 8 | ARC: 9 | ACC: 11
Caretaker: A. P. Finch | iNPC: Yasha V.
ST: 9 | EV: 9 | STR: 3 | WI: 8 | ARC: 9 | ACC: 11
Caretaker: A. P. Finch | iNPC: Yasha V.