mum n' dad solo

september 8th, 2023.

Dear Mum and Dad,

There's a lot I want to tell you. So much, in fact, that I don't know where to begin... I'm currently writing over my unfinished pile of homework. It's around 22:30, I think, and my hands are all dirty and sticky with ink - everything's dirty, actually. Quills are so hard to use. If I squeeze them too hard, ink spills everywhere and ruins my parchment. Obviously, this has happened more than once already. I was so embarrassed...

My first week at Hogwarts has been a lot. I got sorted into Gryffindor, first of all. I know you all aren't familiarized with the Houses yet, but we're the brave ones. Chilvarous, and impulsive - our animal is a lion. I think we're pretty neat.

I met some nice students and professors, like Linda, a fellow Gryffindor. She helped me calm down during breakfast on my first day. If it wasn't for her, I would have passed out, face first on a bowl of porridge. There's Ophelia too, but she's a Ravenclaw. All the professors are brilliant. I was so impressed with everything they showed up.

I haven't had the chance to speak to other students. Well, other nice students... This one Slytherin girl, Winona, ruined my football. I was playing outside one day, and she got really mad when the ball hit her. She's older than me, and knows more spells... she set it on fire right before my eyes. I didn't even know what to do. It made me so upset, and now I can't get another one...

Everything here is different than what I expected, and if you ask me, I can't even tell you what I expected in the first place. Every day was a surprise from start to finish, and there was not once a moment where I didn't miss you two. Perhaps if you two were here, adapting would've been much easier.

I hope you manage to send the owl back because I'd like to hear from you.

All my love,
- Juliet Ashbrook

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