Halcyon

A letter written to Oswald ( @oswald-horsfall ) from Henrietta. 

Dear Oswald,  

Happy new year! I hope you are doing well and having lots of fun in the castle! I am having lots of fun back home too. Guess what? I pushed Holden onto a fresh bank of snow the other day. It was really funny, I wish I could have saved a picture of that to send to you. I did not do it just for the fun, although I did throw a snowball at him just for fun. You see, I had convinced him to teach me how to skate, but he kept on insisting to go back. So he deserved it.

Onto more news, I’m afraid I must get to the point of why I am writing this letter. I will not be returning to Hogwarts the coming year. Holden has met an old mentor of his, who was also our healer back home, and we will be journeying east. I know that this is sudden, and I was looking forward to see what new things we could find in the castle. Keep it warm for me while I am away, will you?

Though I have not known you for so long, you should know that I have loved you as my own brother. You have made me braver, and stronger, and I will cherish the memories that we’ve had forever. I do wish we had more time to make more memories, and perhaps we will someday soon. Maybe you could even visit me when school is not in session! I will be sure to let you know of our whereabouts once we settle.

I believe that you will continue doing great things. You have gotten much better at charms, and I’d like to take a little credit for that. I jest, of course. It’s all you. I would say try not to give the founders such a hard time, but where’s the fun in that? Don’t do anything too dangerous, though. I would not like to find out that anything bad has happened to you while I was away.

I will miss you very much, and all the fun we’ve had too. Do enjoy yourself for the both of us while I’m gone. I will also try to do so from wherever I will be. Take good care of Fizzle, and yourself for me, okay? We will see each other again, someday soon. Until then, I will continue to write to you, so please write to me as well.

A letter written to Godric ( @grydric ) from Henrietta. 

Dear Godric,

Happy new year! I heard that you left for a little while, but have now returned to Hogwarts. I hope that you are doing well. It has been nice to go back home, still I do miss you dearly. 

It’s still snowing here, and it is just as beautiful as Hogwarts. I went skating the other day. I never really learned, but I managed to convince Holden to teach me. He wasn’t of much help, since he kept insisting that we leave after an hour. I may have pushed him onto a fresh bank of snow for that. He is fine, though! 

Anyway, I bet you are having just as much fun there! I would love to hear all about it. Unfortunately, you are going to have to send me a letter for that. See, I am writing to let you know that I will not be returning to Hogwarts. Holden has met an old mentor of his, who was also our healer back home, and we will be journeying to the east. 

Before I leave though, I wanted you to know that during the time we have known each other, I have considered you as a father to me. I am very sorry for the time I had yelled before you left on your quest. I do not hate you, and I could never hate you. It had been difficult for me to think about someone I loved leaving, and I get that now. Which is why I have to apologize again for leaving now. 

You have taught me a lot, and I am grateful for all of that. Truth be told, I am a little nervous at the thought of traveling so far away. I know that I have always wanted to, but I never imagined it would be without Helga. Still, I recall that letter you had me care for. In the end I did open it even though I know you said I should not, but that you truly believed I could be a Gryffindor has given me the strength to be braver. 

I do have one request though, and that is to take care of everybody in Hogwarts. Oswald, Juno, Eleonora, Freddy, and all the other students. Most especially, please take good care of my sister. I had hoped that both Holden and I could be there with her, but it seems like that would not be the case.

We will see each other again, someday soon. Until then, I hope that I will continue to hear from you, as I will also write to you of my travels. Take care, and always know that I love you.

To Henrietta,

A flower for some sunshine, Happy Christmas.

To Hen,

Keep yourself warm with these gloves Hen, it’s not much, but I made it meself. I hope you like it.

Happy Christmas.

“I’m sorry yours doesn’t move like everyone else’s, but I wanted yours to be a surprise. I did the charmwork myself. It makes its own heat, so maybe you and the girls will stand a chance next year.

Henny,

Merry Christmas. This Globe is something very special I have created for you. You see when it is too much to go outside, the globe can be your sun. Touch the globe and it shall glow for you, it even makes you warmer when you sit next to it.

Love,

Felicity wanted nothing less than to get to know this young woman. She was obviously some sort of dimwit with her singing and flower crowns. Anyone that innocent should be murdered to create a more cunning species. She must be a hufflepuff. But, regardless, the charming persona she wished to create would love the other woman and therefore she must be a good sport. “Why thank you, miss!” She sat down next to her and put the crown on, grinning, “How does it look?” She placed the blossoms on her head and winked, only flirting a little. It would be fun to destroy this girl if she could. 

“It looks great! You should keep it. The weather is taking away all the flowers, and with the snow, some colour would be nice. I am planning to gather as much flowers as I could and place them all over the castle. That, or I’m thinking fireflies. They’re lovely creatures, but as far as I know they prefer warm places, so it might be trickier to find them now. If you’d like though, I can make a flower arrangement for you, just to brighten up your room. Which house are you in?”

“A good cry or a smidge of fear never hurt anyone,” she flounced by her with a grin, “it’s just a bit of messing about, nothing intense or anything.” Juno grinned as she tucked her hands into the pockets of her dress and shrugging happily into her robe. “Oh? You want me to sneak around a Founder and her nervous overprotected Healer brother with their precious little bird?” she grinned and bopped Henrietta’s nose with a devious grin, “Turn that hour into three, we’re off to make some ruckus without their shadow. When am I ever doing anything, but never fear, I am here.”

“Only happy tears are acceptable,” she declared. “And absolutely no fear.” She got up excitedly as Juno put on her robe. “Are you up for that challenge? Mind you, my brother and sister are very talented. This will not be an easy feat. We will need courage, skills, and a whole lot of cookies.” It was all good fun, of course, Henrietta would not lead her friend to get in trouble with her siblings, especially Helga. “I might be able to turn that hour into three, but that’s an extra challenge for us.”

She smiled at Henrietta, the young woman was proving to be difficult, and sweet. But Phoebe was not going to fall for any silly tricks such as these, no matter how much fun and practical it sounded. “Better to deal with you pouting than Holden having a conniption I let you run about unattended when he told me to keep you from running off.” The Healer quirked an eyebrow, “So you want me to get in trouble with your siblings, it’s not very nice,” her tone was wheedling and pouty, trying to play to Hen’s sympathies. “That’s not a game that’s a death wish, for me, for you, for whatever hidden beast tries to eat us. I’ve come across many a magical beast and let me tell you I am not at all good at dealing with them.” she did not want a redux with that sphinx again, or the Griffin, or another dragon. Traveling was fun, but harsh and terrifying alone. 

“Phoebe, I will let you in on a secret. Holden.. is a big softy. He’ll forgive me either way, and he most definitely will forgive you. I think he would know that it was most likely my idea. Helga as well. She would not pick on you for that. If anything, I think they would be glad that you were there with me instead of me going off on my own. Also, I am quite good at dealing with magical beasts.” She did not say that she’s never encountered the more dangerous ones, but she was already planning to convince Os to keep that salamander as a pet. “I think between you and me, we would be able to befriend them just fine.”

Eleonora narrowed her eyes at the girl suspiciously, though she could never be truly angry with Henrietta. She was simply too precious and sweet. But a little hint of amusement came to her lips as well. “He does live there. One day— I think we should come up with a plan to make him come out of his little healing hole and have some fun.” Eleonora knew something was up the very moment Henrietta began to shift on her feet. “Henrietta,” she said in the beginning of her chastising voice. “I want you to know that of course I will go get the potion. But the moment I get back I will finish lecturing you.”

“Definitely.” Henrietta nodded in eager. If there was one thing she loved to do for Holden, it is to make a mess of his work. Of course, it’s not that she didn’t love what her brother was doing for her, but she wanted him to live his own life than just trying to save what’s left of hers. “It might take a miracle before he does, but it will have been worth it.” She looked sheepish at Eleonora’s chiding. “It was an accident,” she tried to defend herself, but she knew it wouldn’t save her from the lecture. “Just.. maybe we could not mention this to Helga or Holden?”

Looking down at the jacket he was patching up, he noticed that she had decided to follow him. “What does it look like?” The stitches were small and neat, even though the jacket had seen better days. “I don’t waste my time on flowers.” Despite the sharp words, Tomas adjusted his crown with a faint smirk. He’d seen the girl with Helga, so he wasn’t going to be too rude in case he got in trouble.

“You don’t waste your time on flowers, and yet you still took the ones I made. Well, I will waste my time and tell you that flowers are worth the time.” She leaned forward to look at the jacket that he was patching up. Curious as to what he could have done to cause such a tear, she asked, “what happened to your jacket?”