Letters Home: Series 1

[Astin Descartes]

Hi Mom.

I wish you could see this place. You wouldn't believe it. Everything's so... well, magical. It gets kind of cold, though. It's all made of stone here. I'm just lucky I don't have to sleep in the dungeon!

I got sorted into Hufflepuff. Here, they have these things called Houses. I don't really understand it, because it just seems like a basis for a bunch of stupid rivalry, but I guess that's what school's about. Anyway, everyone says Hufflepuff is the loser's house, but I like it. My roommates all seem really nice so far, at least. My Head of House-- her name's Professor Smith, and she also teaches Astronomy-- is really nice. You'd like her.

I forgot to tell you. I got into a fight the first night here. This kid-- his name's Dastan-- bumped into me and was really rude about it, and now I think he hates me. We have practically all our classes together, but at least he's not in my house. He's in Slytherin; that's the annoying, pompous Pure Blood house. Their mascot's a snake, which is kind of fitting. He sort of looks like one. A really ugly one.

But other than Dastan, I haven't had any issues yet. I've met two of my roommates so far. Griffin's really nice, and his smile kind of makes me think of the Cheshire cat. The other boy, Carter, offered to tutor me. I hope I don't do something dumb to make them hate me.

It's really weird being here without you. I kind of miss TV and actual pens. We have to use quills. It's so weird. I feel like I'm back in the 1800s.

I've only had my first lessons, and so far, it's been pretty much all bookwork. But we're supposed to start real lessons tomorrow. I'll make sure to write you about those!

Anyway. It's really late now, and I'll get in trouble if I'm caught out this far past curfew.

Give Marcel a hug for me!

Love,
Astin





Dear Astin,

Marcel really misses you. He keeps asking to see you. I told him you're studying magic, and now he tells everyone he sees that his big brother's a wizard.

Your father would be so proud of you. I can't tell you how happy he'd be to see you at Hogwarts. He always said you were special. Of course, that was when you were little and going through your paste-eating days. If he was here, he'd probably say something about how maybe eating all that paste was healthy for you.

Don't let bullies get to you, Astin. I don't know who he is, but don't bother with him. Boys like that aren't worth it, and I'm not going to have you thrown out of that school just because you don't like the way he talks to you. You've always been a good kid; don't change now.

I hope to hear from you soon. It's so lonely without you and your friends here all the time. I love you and miss you.

Sincerely,
Mom

PS: Don't you dare get caught out after curfew or I will slap you with a wet noodle.

[Astin Descartes]

Mom,

It's me again, obviously.

I'd prefer it if you didn't mention Dad, you know. He left you. It's weird to hear you talk about him like you still care. If it's for my sake, don't bother.

Anyway. That bully I told you about? He's not really as bad as I thought. After lessons today, I ran into him in the Astronomy Tower. I thought we were going to kill each other or he was going to curse me well into next week, but he didn't. We just argued a lot. I made some comment about him sleeping in the dungeon and missing his castle, and he got really quiet. It was weird. For a minute, he was almost human. He got over that quick and said something about not having emotional attachments, though. I told him that's why men suck so much. Sometimes I hate being lumped in with them. Why don't guys ever care about anyone but themselves? But I somehow got over that, too. So now I don't want to hit him so much, and he hinted that he wouldn't absolutely hate talking to me again. (Actually, he told me to come back when I found better insults. Do you happen to have any?) Professor Smith says I should be wary, but I think I'll be fine. Dastan thinks I'm useless, anyway, so why go through all this trouble to use me? It sounds weird like that, but it's the truth.

Lessons were okay. I nearly fainted in Astronomy, though. We had to go up to the tower-- I'm sort of telling you what happened in reverse, because this was before the situation with Dastan-- and then some girl bumped into me and I thought I was going to fall off the edge. I didn't, obviously. It was kinda cool being up so high after I got over how scary it was. After that, some idiot thought it would be funny to pretend that telescope had burned his eye. I wanted to hit him. I think people here like messing with me.

During Potions, I blew up my cauldron. Luckily, the teacher didn't seem to mind too much. I guess he was expecting someone to make that mistake. Who knew that potions had to be made so carefully? I sort of thought you just threw everything in and shook it a little and then it would be fine. I guess I was wrong.

Someone here mentioned keeping a journal. Do you still have that one from when I was little? I'd like to read it. I wonder how much has changed since then.

It's getting late, and I have classes tomorrow I'll write you again soon. Love you!

Astin





Dear Astin,

I'm glad to hear that you worked things out with this Dastan boy. He'd better not still bully you, though, or I'll come there and fix that myself. But why don't you like your father? He never did anything to you. You hardly knew him; you shouldn't hate him so. You can't blame him for leaving. When you're older, you'll understand.

If you're doing so badly in your classes, maybe you should get a tutor. Didn't you say that Carter boy had offered? You might want to take him up on that. We can't have you failing magic classes after you almost had to repeat second grade.

I don't think it's the best idea to send you that journal. Someone very important and trustworthy advised me against it. I'm sorry.

Marcel and I send you our love, dear.

Sincerely,
Mom