closed Secret History by Donna Tartt for Christmas Solo

How should one mellow someone's negative feelings towards you? In Aurelia’s case, as far as she was concerned, she took every negative feeling she was harbouring towards a person to the grave, cross her heart. Oh, I will remember this, Aurelia always say, and she is always true to her word. She's a spiteful person; it majorly affects her relationship with people, along with her mother's, of course. No one gets the special treatment. If you did something the young Hufflepuff witch deemed terrible in her vocabulary, you can bet your galleons she will remember it and use it on you as leverage. Aurelia might forgive, but Aurelia will never forget.

One example is the fact that Aurelia had to stay in the castle over the holidays as her mum insisted, stating that she has to work and might not celebrate Christmas with her anyway. Aurelia did not like that implication. Already upset at the first E she had gotten in her homework and the fact that it was Defense Against the Dark Arts when she was aiming to become a Duellist in her Second Year, the letter from her mum had been her last straw. The young badger deliberately ignored all the letters from her Mum, hoping against hope that her mother is stressing over this silent treatment. Satisfied at the fact that her Mum had snapped at her in her last letter, Aurelia initially thought this would be the first Christmas where she would not get anything. She decided that even if the year had been fascinating for her, it was obvious to her that this year had highlighted the large rift in her relationship with her mother's. Aurelia had channeled her inner Skeeter Phelan, just like that.

However, this Christmas morning, Aurelia had received a gift from her mother nonetheless. Already rolling her eyes and thinking about still going with this silent treatment game with her mother, she had been GOBSMACKED when she opened her present. A thick copy of Secret History by Donna Tartt. The young Hufflepuff witch immediately thought that she was, perhaps, dreaming. This is an expensive book; Aurelia initially planned to use and save her little daily scholarship to buy a copy of it. Donna Tartt became her favourite author after finishing the thick book of The Little Friend last year, impressed by Tartt's style of writing and how ingenious the book had been for her. Donna Tartt is a brilliant author; no one can tell her otherwise or that someone will meet the business end of her wand automatically, no second thoughts. Anyone who has read Donna Tartt's and has a taste for classic, scholarly-based, or philosophical types of books will definitely agree with her. Aurelia is feral for her, to say the least; it broke her heart when it has been 10 years and Tartt's still on hiatus. She always wondered if the genius writer would ever write again.

Aurelia inevitably squealed, standing up from under the Christmas tree. Everyone residing in Badger Bungalow had turned to her then, still in pyjamas like her, who had also rushed from their private quarters or from the sleeping halls. Blushing heavily, Aurelia collected all of her things and locked herself up in her room. Forgotten for a second that she was mad at her mother, Aurelia jumped around her bed and on her bed, hugging the copy of Secret History by Donna Tartt on her chest and squealing on her pillows. Merlin, she always receive books every year and every year she jumps around and squeals like a toddler would. How can one not be happy about this? This copy is expensive.

After doing her routine that day, eating breakfast in the Great Hall; skimming over the newsletters she had subscribed to while sipping her hot cocoa, already planning to re-read it all over again later at night for better comprehension (“Perusing Potion-Making holiday issue is an interesting read, will definitely check Magical Drafts and Potions to fact-check and test its credibility,” Aurelia thought); and going about her day to proofread her article about Giant Squids, Aurelia approached the few Gryffindors managing the sketchy black market. This black market had been famous among students; this is where you buy products you don't initially find around the castle (e.g., banned prank products, sweets from Honeydukes, school supplies and secondhand textbooks where Aurelia reckons were stolen) for incredulous prices. Buying a few boxes of chocolate frogs as gifts where she paid extra to gift wrap them too and package it (“This is high-key theft, just so you know,” Aurelia reminded, which the Gryffindors only snickered).

Upon entering the Owlery, Aurelia looked up to appreciate its mundanity. Owl hootings can be heard, and the smell of owl droppings wafted through the air. Making a point of avoiding stepping on any owl dropping littering the stony floors carefully with her winter boots, Aurelia approached a meek school owl she usually uses for owl post and delivery. Glad with its availability, Aurelia smiled appreciatively before revealing owl treats from her mittened hand to offer them to the owl. She bought that from the black market too for an incredulously high price; making a note that she will buy owl treats from the Magical Menagerie next year to prevent herself from being hustled by that stupid black market.

Regretting the day she had switched from muggle ballpoint pen to using quills, Aurelia dabbed her quill in the inkwell before writing her letter for her mother. It wasn't long, the young Hufflepuff still implicating that she was still angry about staying in the castle, but appreciatively mentioning the Secret History copy and thanking her abruptly. Aurelia's chin was jutted out haughtily as she scribbled her letter, like she was doing her mother a favour by replying in the middle of the hustle and bustle of her academic work.

December 25, 2024
12B Willow Grove St., Croydon
London, England

Dear Mum,

Happy holidays to you. I have received your gift, the Secret History of Donna Tartt, and I should say that I'm incredibly impressed by the fact that you are actually listening to me sometimes, excluding the fact about our holiday predicament, of course. Pardon me for not replying back to your owls as I've been immersed with the hustle and bustle of my academic work that I've completely forgotten to write back.

That being said and clarified, I'm sending in some treats that hop around—which I know you'll enjoy—chocolate frogs, it is called. Pardon me again, for I know you will receive this package on or after Boxing Day. That's all. Happy holidays again. I'll try to write back even if it is difficult—given my schedule, of course, as it is very demanding, you see. You understand, of course, given your work? You always remind me that I can almost recite it in my sleep. I understand, of course.

With love,
Aurelia Margaret

Completely satisfied with her letter, Aurelia haughtily put the letter in an envelope before using spellotape to stick it over the little package. The letter had been passive-agressive, and this little feud will never end, as just like this young badger currently tying the package around the meek owl's talon, her Mum also is spiteful, although Aurelia knows her Mum will be the first to give in. She knows she's acting like a child, that she was throwing a passive tantrum like a toddler, but is it so wrong to ask for attention? Thankfully her mum is against the prospect of having another child because if she had been inattentive to Aurelia, who had been an only child, what more would Aurelia receive if she had a sibling? Merlin, she'll get droplets. Countable droplets of attention, to say the least. What more could she have? Gifts are not going to cut it; it will only divert its attention from the underlying issue at hand. Her Mum knows that. Aurelia knows that, from the very bottom of her heart.