New Friendships with a Side of Grammar Mistakes pv Meiyu

The Owlery was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of feathers and the soft hoots of its many inhabitants. Meiyu had come up for some solitude, clutching a handful of owl treats and a scroll she had yet to send to her grandparents, contemplating whether it was worth doing so or not. The cool November air bit at her cheeks immediately as she stepped inside, the stone walls amplifying the sound of her boots on the floor. A flutter of wings overhead made her pause. Out of the corner of her eye, she spotted a barn owl descending towards her, its snowy feathers stark against the dim light filtering through the high windows. She did not recognise this one — vastly different from the owl she usually used for her own letters.

The bird landed gracefully on a nearby perch, tilting its head curiously at her before extending its leg. A letter. Meiyu blinked unamused, setting her scroll aside to carefully untie the parchment from the owl’s leg. It nipped at her fingers softly, almost impatiently, before retreating to preen its feathers. “Not from home.” she murmured, turning the letter over, briefly analysing the letter in her hands. The handwriting on the envelope was crisp and precise, the kind of penmanship you only ever saw on formal invitations. She frowned slightly, intrigued, as she slid her finger under the seal and unfolded the letter inside.

As her eyes skimmed over the opening line, she couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.

“Dear you, I don’t know who you are yet but I hope you’re feeling good.”

“Who even writes like this?” she muttered to herself, her brows furrowing in confusion, as she leaned against the stone wall, the owl treats forgotten in her hand as she read the letter in full. A Durmstrang student, twelve, named Hans? Her dark eyes narrowed slightly in suspicion, scanning the parchment for any sign this was some elaborate prank. But the tone of the letter was genuine, even awkward in a way that felt endearing. The mention of texting drew a small, amused scoff from her. Meiyu glanced up at the barn owl, who was still perched nearby, now staring at her expectantly as if waiting for some sort of response.

She rummaged through her black satchel, which had consisted of necessary equipment for the day ahead, parchment, wand, quill and a few textbooks. Meiyu pulled out some parchment and her quill and immediately began to write back to the mysterious Durmstrang boy, she had nothing to lose, but everything to gain. The potential alliance thrilled her, her mind raced with possible outcomes on what she could achieve with the connection to the school, as she began to write away, her handwriting rather rushed compared to her usual pristine calligraphy.

Dear Hans,

I appreciate the sentiment that has come in the form of an unsolicited OWL, unfortunately for you, your letter has gracefully fallen into my hands. With the contents of your letter, I assumed you lack the ability to write adequately — something I had not expected from a Durmstrang student. Imagine the sheer horror had another student with no Muggle knowledge received this owl, the mere mention of 'texting' would have not prompted a reply.

As you read the contents of this letter, wondering who I am, allow me to introduce myself also. My name is Meiyu Xiang, a first year Gryffindor at Hogwarts, though my lineage may surprise you. My family, the Knights, have long been known for their pureblood legacy, particularly in Slytherin House. Perhaps it’s fitting, then, that I embody the phrase breaking tradition.

Your boldness intrigues me. It’s not every day I receive letters from strangers who decide to write to “someone, anyone.” Was this truly a whim, or are you secretly a fan of calculated risks?

Your letter paints an interesting picture, quite the athletic resume, Hans. Though, let’s not let these accomplishments go to your head. You mentioned you would “love to get to know me,” so here’s a fun fact: I’ve always had a soft spot for competition. If you ever find yourself at Hogwarts, don’t be surprised if I challenge you to a match — of what, I’ll let you guess.

I’ll admit, your “Dear you” approach made me laugh. It takes a certain amount of audacity to send out such a vague letter, hoping it lands in the hands of someone with enough patience to respond. Lucky for you, my curiosity got the better of me. So, let me ask you something in return: What possessed you to write this letter? Was it boredom or a genuine desire to connect? Perhaps it was something else entirely?

I’ll await your reply, Hans. Let’s see if your second attempt matches the boldness of your first.

Sincerely,
Meiyu Xiang

P.S. I’ll spare your owl this time.

Satisfied with the contents of her letter, Meiyu carefully wrote "Hans, Durmstrang" on the folded parchment before tucking it into the barn owl's talons. The bird blinked at her with an almost knowing look, as if amused by the weight of her carefully chosen words, before spreading its wings and taking flight. Meiyu watched as it disappeared into the twilight, the dark silhouette of its wings blending into the vast expanse of sky beyond the Owlery's arches. She couldn’t deny the odd thrill of sending a letter to a stranger, someone whose only introduction had been a whimsical note and a curious name. Hans.

The German, now with some regained zeal, cracked a smile at her fine attempt at cleverness. Very well done.

Still, Hans could not deny his excitement when the letter he received that day had not been in the formal tone of his parents but a sarcastically playful response to his invitation at friendship. Recent incidents have not exactly supported his faith in humanity, even in acts as insignificant as the proper reply of a letter, but he was glad at least such was fulfilled, despite the attitude it came with. Like Nikolai's quick quips however, he had nothing against the behaviour he found endearing.

Meiyu Xiang, he read, was a first year Gryffindor at Hogwarts, who had presumed her lineage would surprise the boy - it did not. Though not particularly impressive, he had long distanced individuals from kin. His own distancing - God, what a perfect time to bring this up - from his unsupportive family was proof enough "you are what you love not who loves you". Perhaps trite of her to proclaim she "embodies the phrase breaking tradition", it was a noble aspiration to pursue. This rebel always against custom was glad to meet one who shared his antagonisation.

Though her curiosity was not uncalled for - an unsolicited owl would have elicited more questions in himself than he would have liked to bothered with - her intense inquisitiveness was a trait Hans would rather evade. Perhaps more his fault than hers - after all rarely do people reach out in such a manner after distress (if they do reach out at all, that is) - it is exactly for that reason that he replied with the most conventional and fairly boring answer. The safest one being boredom, he was more in the mood to relax rather than delve into his psyche.

Today's letter was with more thought and refinement, though hopefully it would live up to her expectations of a reply as bold.

Dear Meiyu,

Wow, starting strong are we? So, sass is your thing. Fair. I was hoping to go for the friendly approach. I don't mind though, I mean it with love when I say I have a brother as annoying.

But you can criticize me after you write this in your third language (come on, I dare you to guess what this word means: Streichholzschächtelchen) because I'm not here to write a school essay. I was afraid "to whom it may concern" would have sounded too formal but if you want that so much I can do that next time. Also, I'd add you expect too much from Durmstrang if you want to improve your English, its not a particularly great school (but at least we're not threatened with death).

If you're so intent on breaking tradition then you really shouldn't be this fussy. You only show how badly you know me Meiyu when you speculate I am "secretly a fan of calculated risks". I am a fan of risks, not when they are calculated and definitely not secretly. I'm glad you find my message interesting though.

Since you're being blunt, I will be blunt back, and say that fun fact about you isn't really that fun. Loads of people are competitive, including me, so I would love to take you up on your offer but I'd like to experience the suspense and find out the answer if we ever come across each other. I don't want to flatter you, but I'm glad for your curiosity. Seems early to say this but I'd love to meet you sometime.

Boredom seems like a fine enough answer for now, perhaps something I never asked for but one I'm glad I came across. Let's settle on that for now.

Regards,
Hans

Slipping the letter into the talons of a waiting owl, an amused smile graced his lips as her words and his mingled together, replaying in his mind as it surely would be for the rest of his day. The owl departed with a magnificent flap of its wings, not even with a goodbye to the teenager in thought but he did not bother. Different from all other interactions he had initiated before, the novelty (or, considering the medium, apparent conservatism) of this newly-embraced means of communication was a cause for thrill as anything else. Containing his giddiness as he retreated from the owlery what originally stemmed from the desire to distract himself was growing into something of much more value.

@Meiyu Xiang

A few days had passed since her last letter to the Hans boy, she had begun to question whether he become a fragment of her imagination, occasionally pondering whether the barn owl had taken some rest breaks on its journey back to the mysterious boy. Meiyu's wait had not been long, she had received a in return this morning at breakfast and opted to spend her lunch in the dormitory writing away to her new friend.

His letter had unfortunately come at the wrong time, she had also received a letter from her parents detailing the plans for her return over Christmas break, an event she had not really looked forward for as it required socialising with extended family and attending courteous dinners with family friends leading up to Christmas day. It began to feel like a chore, she groaned at the mere thought of the long nights ahead of her, surrounded by familiar and almost pretentious faces who put up their best facades under prying eyes.

Upon inspection, she had found the Hans boy amusing, his response immediately satisfying her; it was not often the lioness discovered one to match her sass and blunt behaviour. Yet the Durmstrang boy's demeanour had shifted significantly contrary to his first letter, which had made Meiyu feel a lot at ease writing back. Unfortunately for him, she had just finished writing a letter back to her parents and the contents had to be formal. Hans was an interesting choice for a distraction, Meiyu initially assumed he too would portray himself in a pretentious manner, similar to the few Drumstrang students she had previously come across at galas and dinners her family had been invited to, forcing her to fraternise with their entitled pure-blooded children.

It's as though Hans was the breath of fresh air amidst chaos that Meiyu desperately needed.

Dear Hans,

Straight to point, I would be lying if I said I was not intrigued. Your first letter had painted you in a friendlier light, truthfully, I had doubted we would get along. Though in my defence, growing up with younger brothers has had that effect on me, they on the other hand — would never dare labelling me as annoying.

To enlighten that big head you clearly have, I am writing to you in my third language, Korean being my first, Chinese being my second. Also, I would not dare guessing what a foreign word means, I cannot pronounce that nonsense you wrote. Besides, it is not often you would come across a Durmstrang student so desperate for friendship across the ocean, I guess the threat of livelihood that comes with Hogwarts interested your barn owl to the extent it had no choice but come here. After all, that is the only thing this school has going for it.

Fussy? You should be lucky that it was me who received your letter, others may have not even sent you a reply with how desperate you sounded, it makes me wonder what really happens in your school, which I presume to be nothing. Besides, where is the fun in telling you everything about me so quickly? I have built a reputation in my short time here, becoming insufferable to others, though I would argue that there are not enough students who pique my interest. Though I guess your boredom was enough for me to respond.

I would like to apologise for my formality in this letter, I also received an OWL from home this morning, hence the sudden guard portrayed in my writing. I just wrote a letter to my parents prior to this, so it is a little hard to adjust and go back to normal. Just the usual Christmas plans, dining with family is not something I am looking forward to. What are your plans for the holidays?

If given the opportunity, I would like to meet you too at one point, you would be fun to torment.

Yours truly,
Meiyu.

Meiyu almost cringed when she scanned over what she had written, it was a lot more formal for her liking, however it was a given as her mood had slightly turned sour. She had hoped Hans would not find this letter that off-putting enough, deeming it unworthy for a response, had she received something like this, she truthfully would not respond. There was no point in fretting the contents off what she had written, she had classes to get to, irregardless of the irritation that began brewing within her. Without pondering any longer, the young red-head hurriedly made her way towards the Owlery, throwing her letters on an 'OUT' pile that the owls would pick up for their upcoming shift, hastily leaving the tower and making her way to the next class.

There were many things Hans wished to write about.

There were many things Hans didn’t write about. Inevitably, came the holiday talk. It came at all the wrong occasions and he needn’t to run scenarios through his head one more time. He should have been looking forward to reuniting with his loved ones and opening his presents on the 24th or feasting with his family on the 25th. But Hans knew, come the 26th, his parents would subtly bring it up over breakfast, thinking he would be too oblivious to realise their coaxing, even when his future was all he could care about. Then he would beckon them to quit beating around the bush, and they would ramble about how dangerous the world had become, as if he had not just witnessed its cruelty first hand. He would keep his calm despite his boiling heart, for he knew raising his voice and losing rationality would only escalate his predicament. He would clarify that he knew acceptance was hard to come by, but all he was asking for was understanding. He was well aware they did, through the years of love he would forever feel guilty about not properly returning. Their words came from a position of parental protection, and he knew he would be a hypocrite for not realising they to him was he to his brother. And all that remorse would come crashing down one more, but he knew he should have followed righteousness, for another regret was not something he could afford.

So those were the Christmas plans, but you know, all good.

And therefore Hans wrote in an evasive manner, allowing for talk of languages to make up half of his letter - Chinese, of course, as Meiyu would know, was complicated enough to turn eyes. He touched on Christmas for another paragraph, though without elaboration on his personal circumstances. Despite his elusiveness, he was glad for this mysterious girl behind the pen as he began with sincerity under the “dear” that was once an insignificant formality.

Dear Meiyu,

Of course you do, I should have never expected otherwise. I won’t try to argue with you about Chinese, that language is just a scribble of characters that I have no idea how people manage to understand. It doesn’t have an alphabet right? I don’t know how you would manage to remember all those characters. Anyway, I think “ni hao” is enough for me. Though I think it would do you good to try some new things once in a while, that word means match box.

No particular plans other than the usual myself. Excited for Christmas since I get a break from this icy wasteland. Also it would be nice to see my Muggle friends and my family. Eating together shouldn’t be too bad, just know what to say and I think you’ll do fine enough. Are there any Christmas traditions in your family that’s interesting? I know you guys open presents on Christmas Day, which seems like an unnecessary wait.

Also since you brought it up, I had also just replied to my parents’s letter just before sending you the first one. If the sounded weird that’s probably why. Hopefully these are better written.

Regards,
Hans

Ps. BTW, to your disappointment - I would assume - I am much less insufferable in person. This letter writing isn’t really my thing.

Rising content with his chest lighter, Hans handed the envelope into the talons of a waiting owl, murmuring a soft “here you go, thank you.” There was a certain solace in the process he would once have described as tedious, and even if Meiyu did not know of all his troubles - and he certainly not all of hers - the correspondences had become more than merely a distraction. Christmas was still ominously grinning at him from the shadows, but at least the days ahead shone with a brighter light.

@Meiyu Xiang

Alas a rare day had arrived, Meiyu had actually not had a singular moment of irritation. It was likely accredited to the fact it had been a Saturday as though the cloud that loomed over her head had briefly lifted, leaving a bubbly imposter in her place. The morning had begun with her favourite assortments of fruits amongst the breakfast buffet, savouring herself in the moment without overthinking or worrying, the raging voice in her mind had chosen this fateful day to rest. Not to exclude a peaceful and uninterrupted sleep the night prior, leaving her feeling refreshed upon her rise earlier this day.

Although it was still early on in the day, it had been good. With her spirts high, she returned to her dorm room within the Gryffindor chambers, a few of girls complimenting her akin to the shift in demeanour she usually supported. It was there she had spotted the discarded letter from Hans, finishing a busy week of classes had left Meiyu feeling run down, desperate for a rest day, hence she made mental note to reply when the weekend arrived. His letter matched her own, her friend away from home clearly unhappy, though restraining any deductions she had as to why. Almost pitying him, she immediately searched for parchment and a quill, seating herself cross legged on the large bed she had claimed within her dormitory by the large window. The alluring sunlight graced her bed specifically with more light than necessary, almost causing her to ponder had her positive mood been accredited to a day of good weather in comparison to the recent showers in the Highlands.

Without wasting any time, she began to write away.

Hans of Berlin,

Remind me once more how this turned into a linguistic discourse, I'm certain that your own linguistic ability is sufficient enough, besides, I do love a good challenge. Do you think I should invest time in learning a new language or is the Hogwarts curriculum enough? Though, that's a topic for another day.

I guess by the informality in this letter, it should be obvious I'm in a good mood... for once! Likely due to the fact I'm closer to leaving this hell, even if it is for a brief moment. Count yourself lucky to not be a student here, the students are something else. My family usually hosts a family dinner on Christmas Eve and exchange gifts then, does that count as a tradition? I received an OWL about the importance of this years dinner, not entirely sure why this year is different than the rest, aside from me being the first amongst the grandchildren to attend this wretched school. How about you?

Judging by the tone from your first letter, it appeared as though something bothered you, what did you reply to them with? Don't tell me you have the typical problematic family dynamics, fortunately mine aren't too bad... if you exclude my grandmother at times.

Speaking of, if you ever needed to escape, you're more than welcome to one day stay at our manor, Berlin isn't too far from Oxfordshire.

Sincerely,

Meiyu.

P.S. It's a shame, I would prefer you to be insufferable in person, that's where the fun is.
P.S.S. I can tell you weren't feeling too good with your last letter, I hope this letter is somewhat more fruitful, just as you had initially hoped our exchange to be.

Exhaling the breath unbeknownst to Meiyu that she had been holding, her letter was completed. The tone vastly contrasting her previous letters, yet evidently what the boy needed, although likely to be short-lived. Days like were rare, typically she would not care to waste time providing comfort particularly to those she did not know well. Yet the shift in her behaviour, as though possessed by a positive spirit, had been enough to convince her to include two additional notes at the end of her letter.

Reaching for her stationary set, she presented her letter in a different manner than before, opting to use a light pink envelope than her usual beige envelopes. Besides, she had to get rid of the ghastly pink sets she had been gifted by her only aunt, it was likely she would not have a use for them again, better to use them on the rare occasions she is in a good mood and had the energy to write, not to her family of course, going against the first rule of epistolary. Without further thought, she wrote Hans in neat penmanship on the pink envelope, opting to tidy up once she returned from her quick trip to the Owlery, her lips strangely almost curving in the smallest smile.

@@Archer Duncan

The change in envelope came as a surprise: light pink rather than the usual beige. Colour not being something he could care for, what changes he appreciated more was in content rather than presentation. A smile spreading across his lips at her unexpected words, he wrote eagerly despite the delay of his response. This time his own shone a different light onto his life. Convincing himself that nothing would come to harm since he did not know the girl in person anyways, Hans poured more onto the page than he would initially allow himself. What had begun as a distraction now took away his problems in a different way.

Still past woes were better left where it belonged, and Hans made an effort the lead the topic of correspondence onto more trivial chat of food and music. Having never really fancied delving into subjects too deep, the old habit was worming itself back to him on instinct. After all, why bring back the despondency of the last two months whe he was trying to wash it away with the lacklustre holiday lights.

Dear Meiyu,

My grandfather encourages me to learn some French, since I'm going there this Christmas for a gathering of some sort. Judging from my current progress however it seems completely impossible that I would actually be able to talk with anyone. Knowing three is quite enough for me right now, but if I get the time it would be interesting to try some others. I think you could too, doesn't Hogwarts teach runes or something? That counts as a language doesn't it?

Good for you, my mood seems to be improving too. I won't exactly say its because I'm leaving Durmstrang, but because even if I dread seeing my parents I kind of do miss them. And of course there seems to be something new coming up with this Christmas which is exciting. I am glad I am not a student here, last time I came there was a fight for absolutely no reason. But for your dinner maybe its a good sort of important, who knows? And out of curiosity what's your favourite dish at Christmas dinner? I like the potato dumplings. They're kind of like normal dumplings but the dough is mashed potato and the filling is croutons.

No, I love my family, I hate teenage hormones. And the timing wasn't exactly great because I had just came back from Hogwarts and in all honesty I did not enjoy my time there.

Thank you for the offer, I'm sure Oxfordshire is just a ten minute walk away from Berlin. It's cool that you have a manor, Germany has its fair share of castles but most of the buildings I've actually been in are meh. Some of the traditional architecture are cool though. But sure, next time I come to your gloomy country, I'll see if I can stop by. Is Oxfordshire where that university is, by the way?

And another question, what kind of music do you like?

Regards,
Hans

P. S. You're right, I wasn't really, not because of you though. As you can probably imagine my mood hasn't really been great ever since the attack. But I'm feeling better and moving on. I don't know, time heals everything or some cliché bullshit like that.

Smiling despite the pessimistic finish of the letter, there was hope that time would heal everything, if only Hans let it do its job. Without much more he wanted to say today, he was satisfied, as letter-writing to Meiyu had often left him feeling. Watching the owl flap its wings off into the distant isle, he sat there, basking in the sun's rays for a few brief seconds before standing and turning away.

@Meiyu Xiang

With the end of semester approaching, Meiyu felt slightly on edge with the looming anxiety of returning home. As though able to read her mind, Hans' letter had arrived a few days earlier, yet the stress that came with the end of semester and packing had resulted in a slight delay in returning correspondence. Though she did anticipate the festive season, facing her grandmother worried her more than she let on, finding herself isolating more than she usually did. The lack of friends contributed to her sour mood, though writing to Hans provided her with the breath of fresh air she never knew she had sought.

A few days passed since she had received his letter, finally finding time to write back, she found herself writing more than she usually did, more than she would even converse at times. It made her heart ache, knowing she was yet to find a friendship similar to the one she had with Hans, though her mind wandered, questioning had he even saw her as a friend. For all she knew, they were strangers. After all, they have never met. Wasting time pondering on their relationship would have not eased her anxieties on returning home, merely deflecting on the main issue at hand. Instead, she began to write her worries away, though not directly addressing them.

Hans,

Apologies for my delay in writing. Glad to see you'll put that French to use, let me know how the gathering goes, hopefully better than the shamble that was the gala held here. Considering your already wide range linguistic ability, I'm sure you would do well with mingling. You know an awful lot about this school, perhaps more than I do, despite my attendance here. Runes is not available until.. third year? Besides, that would be a waste of my time here, who even uses that in the modern world, perhaps it would be those pureblooded families with outdated beliefs who believe it is worth the hassle.

That good mood did not seem to last, going back home is the only thing I'm looking forward to, believe it or not, being around these students get pretty tiring. I'm sure Durmstrang is not as bad as you make it seem, though the competence of Hogwarts is always questionable, evident by the events that transpired at the gala, though I can't say I have not had my fare share of fights during my short time here. It would have been nice to meet you there, my evening would have likely ended a lot better than it did. Maybe I'm approaching the terrible teens, as my mother loves to remind me in her weekly owls. At least the reunion with your family will bring some form of happiness for you, even if it is a little. Potato dumplings? Odd dish to enjoy, though it does sound good. Personally, I enjoy Yorkshire puddings with gravy, I don't get to indulge in the delicious cup like pastry often, but it is a treat on Christmas day.

The more you write, the more I learn how much you despise Hogwarts, would you blame that on your teenage hormones or is it safe to say this school truly is awful. If given the opportunity, I'd love to visit Durmstrang, see the source behind your misery. Would you sneak me in?

Perhaps we should do a house swap one day, I'd take a castle over a manor any day, the interior is to die for, far cooler than the inherited antiques found in my family's manor. Maybe this is my confession as an architecture fien, or in regular words, a fan of architecture. I guess that's why deep down, I do like the castle, it is pretty if you exclude the hideous trolls that terrorise the castle under the guise of students. It is nearby the muggle university, more-so the surrounding area, think more village-esque, the gloom makes it a little pretty if you squint hard enough. I'm sure it's a contrast to Berlin, are you city based or on the outskirts too?

You ask too many questions, Hans. Though, I'll give you that considering how horrid you make Durmstrang out to be. I enjoy a range of music, though if this letter somehow gets into the hands of my parents, I adore classical music, nothing more relaxing than that. One of the perks of being a half-blood is the access to all things muggle, including music. You really should listen to some rap artists, though I don't take you as a rap guy, more-so a ballad lover.

Since I now have an inside source, could you tell me more about the attack? I've heard a few things but not enough to answer my questions. It's as though people don't want to talk about what happened so I can't eavesdrop as much as I would like to do.

On a lighter note, let me know what you get for Christmas. Merry Christmas, Hans of Berlin.

Regards,
Meiyu.

Meiyu's eyes trailed through the contents of the letter, appearing messy and all over the place at best. Briefly hoping it wasn't a sudden shift to extreme formality until she decided she no longer cared, he was a friend, whether he liked it or not. Her first friend, she owed him some sense of informality and a lengthy letter, it was the least she could do given the slightly delayed response. Wasting no time, she hastened, preparing her things to immediately head towards the owlery, spotting the same owl which would sometimes wait patiently. Meiyu placed the letter into its claws, and it flew away, feeling content knowing a letter would soon arrive, before she leaves or in the New Year, once the new semester begins. The mere thought caused her to smile, ever so slightly, a rare occasion for the burgundy haired girl, particularly during her time at Hogwarts.

Maybe Meiyu would not oppose the idea of a friend, it was rather comforting and a better experience than what she had so far.

Christmas had just passed, and undoubtably Hans was in one of the best moods he had ever been with his family. His relationship with his parents had miraculously became one he adored rather than dreaded, and that jubilation was bound to be evident even in his penmanship. Having written a letter in which every word was charged with excitement to his pen pal, he was just dying to send it the moment he reached his grandpa's house. Briefly scanning over the pages - because character development includes starting to proofread his work - he would waste no time, and after having added a quick note of caution at the bottom, rush to send it.

Meiyu,

I got a SILVER ARROW!! God can you believe it? A fucking Silver Arrow oh my god. An actual SILVER ARROW that's like the best broom you could have or something. Oh yes and of course I had a much better time than expected with my parents.

Sorry I got carried away. Yes, anyway, I did go to the gathering. I think there's a very good reason these events are called "gatherings" rather than "parties" or something fun like that. It's because, surprise surprise, they are very unfun. Like nobody is there to have fun, at all. In fact the whole point of the ball turned out to be finding a suitor for a girl barely older than me. That is just messed up and part of me wished that I hadn't gone. Still, I don't know, had a nice time getting to know people and spending time with my grandpa. Also I agree with your comment are runes. We are to learn Latin apparently, which my brother knows but I feel like is just a waste of time.

Oh well, sorry you didn't have a nice time. A lot of people in Durmstrang are probably the stuck-up pureblood socialite type which always sucks. But there are always nice people and I'm glad to have those as my friends. And I mean the fact that we have a dark arts curriculum is questionable, though I'm sure certain Hogwarts students are dying to learn that. I wouldn't think people would be fighting here, they're all too busy studying or training I bet, the try-hard nature gets tiring sometimes.

I googled a picture of Yorkshire puddings though. I'll be blunt they look so plain, no wonder you have gravy with it. Also maybe just me but I still can't wrap my head around the idea of that sort of pudding. Like isn't it supposed to be soft?

Also sure.... You'd have to survive the damned wilderness surrounding it though. You know I think it's actually sadistic (sadistic? I think I'm using that right) how we do a survival training thing to get the school. Like when I was just ten! I can't really remember it but it was for around a week and was about just how to survive in the forest. However I am very very glad for it, since it probably helped save the life of a loved one. But anyways, you'd probably also learn Russian (actually I have completely no idea why we speak Russian. We're in Scandinavia - somewhere in Scandinavia, I genuinely have no idea, the fjords are nice though - for God's sake, but we do have quite a population of Russian students. No idea why they don't go to Koldov instead, but probably also a nice thing, because my best friend is Russian.) It's nice that my grandpa knew I was going to Durmstrang and taught me Russian, saved me a lot of trouble. But yeah you will most definitely not get caught or land yourself in trouble. And I'll humour you, where are you planning to stay even if you come? You would certainly not enjoy our room if you're not a sound sleeper because my room mate always messes up my sleep schedule. I shall complain here that I don't think I need to tell him why staying up till 3 am is unhealthy.

Well problem is I don't actually live in a castle. I've only been to a few castles, the most famous one you might recognise: Neuschwanstein, which inspired the Disney castle, that's pretty cool. Also I don't actually think it might be cool to live in one, it's bound to be cold. Durmstrang is also a castle I guess. What's good about that is its fire resistant, because we have most definitely not tried burning stuff in our dorm rooms. Anyway I live in an apartment in the actual city center so yeah no romantic village-esque vibes for me. In German it is literally called Berliner Innenstadt which means inside city. More specifically Mitte borough, so sometimes it's kind of busy but that's fine. It's also touristy, but that's kind of what you get living here.

But right now, I'm at my grandpa's manor, which is pretty cool. This one is in the countryside, just outside Berlin. I'm not really that accustomed to how quiet it feels here away from the city, but it is really pretty. I've been here before, but I'm still not that used to how big it is. I definitely know the magic side of my family used to be a pretty influential household with a lot of people, but now that it's only my grandpa and I it feels really empty and sometimes thinking back to what it must have been that feels sad. Anyways, I feel really privileged complaining about how big it is, God. This place is really nice, if you ever want to come visit definitely go to the Schafer manor rather than just some random apartment.

Also, kind of a random question, but do you employ house elves? I can't bear to use the words "own" like some people do... I mean I wouldn't even say I "own" a pet. Like, a pet doesn't even work, but isn't that just slavery? On some levels I can kind of understand, like how people used to employ horses for carriages, but this is the modern day and they are still being abused. But still, I'm really glad my grandpa doesn't, we employ a housekeeper/janitor sometimes to help because of how big the house is but the idea of house elves in general and their mistreatment is just despicable.

If this letter falls into the hands of my parents, which I don't suppose it would, I have no idea what they would want me to like. I doubt they could really care that much about what I listen to. Not sure about rap but I do love rock. Rammstein is probably the most famous when it comes to German rock but their stuff was always a bit too much for me. Like to close to heavy metal I guess? Tokio Hotel and Scorpions are nice though. Scorpions is more 80s and on the topic of older music I also enjoy KISS, which I believe is American? Another one I like is Måneskin, which is Italian, and in one of their most famous songs Zitti E Buoni there's some rap if you'd be into that. I have absolutely no idea why you would think I'd be a fan of ballads. Honestly what even is a ballad? And aren't all of them all super old? What modern songs count as a ballad? Oh yes, and another thing, I like some songs from musicals. Greatest Showman was well great. I especially enjoy the Other Side and Come Alive.

Ok yeah.... Well yes, I can't imagine anyone would want to talk about something like that. Though now that time is working its magic healing those wounds it's not as hard as it used to be. I can't remember much of it, mostly I was trying to get my brother to safety but at some point we got separated I think because he happens to be stubborn as an ox and brave as a lion and decided to go into the explosions to save people. Stupid I know but looking back I cannot praise him enough for that level of morality. Anyways, and then I was evacuated? Sorry, I don't exactly keep this particular memory on the top of my head and I'm sure you know why.

God that was long. Well, I hope you really got something you like for Christmas and happy New Year!

Sincerely,
Hans

PS. This is my grandpa's owl by the way. Hebe will actually bite you if you mess with her.

Quite proud of his letter despite how long and disorganised it was, he grinned into the distance, then jumped up from his seat to greet the grumpy Hebe. Like he had warned, the owl was most definitely a hostile one and that was one of the first lessons he had learnt when he stayed over at his grandpa's. Hissing at him - damn, can owls even hiss? - as he handed the letter to her, she turned curtly and flew off into the west onto that little island where Meiyu was waiting.

@Meiyu Xiang

Han's letter could not have come at a worser time than it did. Christmas, a joyful holiday, only left Meiyu feeling unlike herself, anxious and frequently on edge. Never did she think she could achieve such misery at the age of twelve, yet it had welcomed her into its horrible warmth, which dulled her spark, leaving her visibly pale and more withdrawn than she had planned for. Her heart churned, unable to match the excitement in the letter she had received from what she presumed to be her first and only friend. Surely, he would understand, right? Friends stood by your side no matter what. Yet, the unfamiliar feeling of friendship left her wanting to avoid writing back.

She paced around her bedroom, the four walls feeling as though they began to close in on her, the tip of her thumb's nail finding solace between her teeth as she chewed, contemplating if he would even appreciate a letter from her. The girl she was the last time she wrote was vastly different to the girl who would write to him once more. As she continued to ponder, a thought dawned on her, concealment. It was her best option, conceal the truth, as much as she could. Without wasting further time on her looming anxieties, she rushed to her desk, pulling out the necessary equipment to write back, Meiyu's heart pounding with slight fear and anticipation — laced with hints of adrenaline, taking hold of her favourite red feather, the mere colour distracting her with its uncanny resemblance to the liquid flowing within each human, a liquid she had the misfortune of now knowing too well.

Hans!

A Silver Arrow? That's amazing, I hope it will be useful during your Quidditch matches. Though I am not at Durmstrang, I'll support you in spirit. I've yet to attend any matches Hogwarts hold, nobody worth watching at my school. Besides, the holidays always turns out that way, you fear returning home and the experience ends up being much better than expected. Though, I cannot say it was the same for me. I got a dagger from my uncle as a belated birthday/Christmas gift. It wasn't exactly what I expected, though uncle Alaric thinks it would serve me good use, I guess he was right.

Oh, did I mention the gathering I had to attend? It was... eventful, to say the least. The same uncle I mentioned is getting married, so I guess this gala was to announce that, he's marrying some Russian pureblood, who happens to have a niece my age, she's very pretty, I'll give her that. Though, we bonded quite quickly, shame it was under those circumstances. I cannot begin to imagine how gruesome and out-dated balls for the search of suitors are, don't tell me you almost got roped into being a suitable candidate for her, if that was the case, good luck, though, I'd argue you're far too young to get married, but in hindsight, I'm glad you had fun with your grandfather. Latin on the other hand, seems a lot more useful than runes, each letter we exchange, I'm more intrigued in your school.

God, you should see some of the terrors that roam Hogwarts, carrying their out-dated pureblood supremacy views whilst looking like inbred creatures. That mere description should be enough to make sure you never return to Hogwarts, even if it is for a visit. But, truthfully it would be a shame. After all, we still have to meet! My first semester at that horrid school just led to fights, physical, of course all the perpetrators were disgusting boys who have no idea how to keep their emotions in check, I hope you're not like that, Hans. I wouldn't want us to physically fight, because, I will win.

Yorkshire puddings are so delicious, next Christmas you'll have to come to Oxford just to try it, it's actually a soft pastry, not a pudding. Surely, you Germans, eat a lot worse. I've heard that a lot of the food you guys eat lacks seasoning... I'm not sure how you survive like that. Personally, I love spicy food, though with my maternal side, the spice factor seems to lack in comparison to my paternal side. Consequences of moving to England.

Wait, you guys have to do survival training? Are you sure this isn't another tactic to get me to beg my parents for a transfer, though I doubt they would. If it was up to my parents, they would send my brothers to other schools, but considering my entire maternal side attended Hogwarts, they want us to follow suit, hence the move to England. I do miss South Korea, I think we will visit again during the summer for a longer period of time, that is if my aunt and uncle don't come to England to stay with us. South Korea is a lot, in nice terms, prettier than England. But, I can admit the autumnal and winter seasons in England are a lot more cozy, minus the rain of course.

You seem to be a lot more sociable than I am, it makes me somewhat apologetic that I was the one to receive your little letter. Though, I must admit, I'd likely get in trouble with how strict everything seems in comparison to the life I have, both at home and school. I did not even think about sleeping arrangements, surely there would be a spare room somewhere? You would not ever catch me sleeping on sofa's, they're far too uncomfortable for my liking, that plus the fact they are not beds. Since we're on the topic of dormmates, I share a dorm at Hogwarts with a few girls, ages all raging, but, I'm not close to most of them, only slightly acquaintanced with one. I try to spend as much time away from the dorms, there's far too many girls there, though I do follow a strict routine when there, rest is important when it comes to dealing with the terrors at that school, though staying up until 3 am isn't that bad.

I love the countryside, you should really see my grandparents manor, it truly is beautiful, but so big. I guess they knew that one day the family would extend, which in theory makes no sense considering it was passed down from previous generations. I'd love to visit your grandfathers manor, though not entirely sure what would warrant such a visit from myself, perhaps one day I would have to attend a gala in Germany, if that's the case, Merlin wouldn't be able to save me. I'll keep the Schafer manor in mind, I wish I could recommend you such places in England, unfortunately I cannot, that job is best suited for my mother and grandmother, they know everyone who is someone.

My family personally do not employ house elves, but my grandparents used to when I was younger, the memory is vague. In terms of pets, it's safe to say you would own one, right? But I do agree that families who still employ house elves are lazy, the world has moved on since and surely magic has evolved too, everything can be done with a few simple spells. Though, I would argue having a housekeeper is a similar concept to having elves, don't they do the same thing?

I also heard a lot of Germans adore rock music, particularly German rock. I don't really known a lot of the artists you mentioned, though Måneskin does sound familiar, I most likely heard it in passing at one point while out in Oxford, the English do love to play the same songs over and over again. Besides, you cannot fault me for believing you'd like ballads, considering the contents of your initial letters, I'd easily presume you to be a sentimental guy, who listens to ballads in his spare time. Not to mention some ballads are good, you should definitely listen to some Korean ballads if you get the chance, I'd recommend 'Do You Love Me?' by Taeyeon, she's probably my favourite artist, that plus my father adores her music. I'll check out the songs you mentioned, even though I've never heard of the Greatest Showman, I'm not really into musicals, but makes sense that you are.

You have a brother? Did he die? I hope not. He would make a great addition to Gryffindor from what you mention. I understand not wanting to talk about it, I guess some events are traumatic? Sorry for the questions, I'm not the best with emotion, though I hope my words made sense and you don't misunderstand my intrigue as intrusion.

I now realise, I too, have written a long letter, though mostly answering everything you had to say. Things are, a little difficult at this moment in time. I hope your year started out well.

Regards,
Mei.

PS. I'm surprised Hebe found out where I live, owls never fail to amaze me, this owl is my family owl, her name is Prudence. I believe she is friendly.

God, the contents of the letter was awful, far too secretive for her liking. Yet, some things were better left unsaid, Meiyu did not want to provide Hans any ammunition to delve further into the horror she had recently experienced. With a sigh, she carefully folded the lengthy letter, neatly writing out her friend's name on the letter before quickly making her way out of her room and downstairs, placing the letter on the silver platter that her father would then provide to their family owl, Prudence, a name chosen by her grandfather many years ago.

@Archer Duncan