You needn't apologize! I'm quite overwhelmed with work myself at the moment - hence my own lack of writing. Truthfully, I've only managed to keep up more frequent correspondence with Mr. Moony, and that's only because he's taken over for me with my siblings.

Which, to answer your question on that front - they have due to Mr. Moony's insistence. The letters are infrequent and brief, but my parents don't mind so much. It irritates me some I'll admit, especially Bridget's lack of monitoring our siblings. However, without my being there there's little I can say on the subject.

Now, please. Elaborate on these dragons! I heard it was quite the commotion, there were mediwitches in Hogsmeade that were aiding when necessary. I can only imagine Sloane and yourself chasing after the things. I'm relieved to hear you didn't squirrel any away in your dorms! Sure, they're cute and tiny now, but they wouldn't be for long. I hope Sisse reminds you of this daily.

I hadn't heard but I'll be sure to visit. That's amazing for Daffodil, are your parents pleased that she has moved out on her own? It hasn't even been six months yet and I've already begun to fantasize about when I might move away from the farm. It's so dreary here in the winter, not even fond summer memories make the place enjoyable.

Mediwitch training is interesting and exhausting. It isn't as terrible as I suspected it might be when I first left school. I suppose you might see me as more of a medic than a healer? Most of our work is administering potions and mending any minor wounds. I don't feel as challenged as I would like to have been, but it's enough for now. Perhaps one day I'll follow up on the traveling healer idea that was once mentioned to me.

Tell me all about your classes! Are you enjoying the lighter course load?

She might only be fourteen but in our family fourteen is old enough to understand responsibilities and obligation. One of my aunts was even married at fourteen. She's not a nursing babe - she can send our parents letters. Although, I must say I do appreciate your looking out for them. It's a relief to have so many eyes on my siblings in the castle. Feel free to hex Bridget whenever you please.

Only you would truly fancy having a dragon in your dorms. Burnt curtains, crispy notes, the list is endless. Were they that cute, then? I've never seen a dragon outside of textbooks.

Astronomy was always a favorite of mine. I wouldn't have been able to justify it as a NEWT level course, but it was one of those things I enjoyed. There's something special about a star filled sky. I suppose that's one benefit about being home - my skies are still full of stars. Did you happen to see them the night of the coming out ball? It was magical.

Do you think you'll intern at the zoo again next summer? There's one at that beach resort too, I think. The Sanditon? I wonder if they have more aquatic species on the premises since they're so close the ocean. But, perhaps it's not the best place to visit considering what transpired last year. Yes, you ought to stick to Irvingly. I'll try to stop there for you too sometime soon and report back on whether or not they were able to keep the dragons. Is there anything else I ought to make sure I see?

Sometimes older sisters are afraid to burden their younger ones with their troubles. She also might not have wanted to jinx her good fortune. Either way, it doesn't soothe her absence at home. Do you think she'll allow you to stay with her from time to time? It might be a fun adventure for you over the holidays to experience Christmas in London.

There's nothing childish about wanting to remain at home. Your home is safe, a place of love and comfort. Why should you want to leave it behind? Besides, do you think you'll move out outside of marriage? Do you even want to ever get married?

You can do it, I'm sure. And if there's anything I can do to help you manage your classes please let me know. I spent all of last year in the library copying from the textbooks so that I could have some more advanced resources to pull from. I might be able to at least direct you if you need it.

Most of my stories are of drunkards or foolish people with foolish injuries. Anyone of interest goes to the hospital and I'm closed out of their care after that point. It isn't a very glorious career path.

What is this place? Could you pass along whatever information you have?

The topic of my family is one we should avoid for now, I think. I'm sore over the situation still. You have my apologies.

Please, Calla. Do not attempt to train dragons. At least not until you're a full fledged magizoologist. Or at least under the care of one. Healing burns is a miserable experience for both the healer and the patient, with the deeper ones requiring more intense debridement before salves can be applied. There was one burn patient I had to help transport a few weeks ago - it was ghastly. The risk isn't worth the reward, however fun it seems.

On a lighter note, the fire crabs say hello. (Or at least I assume they did!) I visited on a surprise afternoon off when there wasn't much to be done at home. There were far too many creatures for me to see in a few short hours. Let's plan to go over Christmas! Should we extend the invitation to all our friends? (I'll still avoid the sanditon for a while yet though. Perhaps I'm being overly cautious but I truly only know how to swim in the still waters of my pond. A raging, violent ocean would drown me in seconds.)

A roommate! How adult! I dream of the day I can move away from home. Although, with the threat of America looming nearer I doubt those roommates would be anyone other than my siblings. Daffy likely is only trying to find her footing as an independent woman. Give her some grace, she'll clue you in to whatever troubles her eventually.

As for marriage, I've thought about it quite a bit this summer. It seems like it would be something of a dream for me. Funnily enough, I once dreamt I'd marry Cameron, not that he'd ever cross my mind now. I don't think he spoke more than ten words to me specifically the entirety of last school year, and I've not heard from him since we left school. Which, I supposed is to be expected. I always knew friendships would be difficult to maintain in the adult world, I just never thought his would be one of the first I lost. Maddie maybe, or Alycone. Even Lester seems a more explainable lost than Cameron. But, the drama of fourth year is not to be forgotten, and he and I are on two paths now, no imaginary marriage to be had.

I'll have to marry to be free of my siblings though, as I doubt any spouse of mine would tolerate their antics for long. Callum's most specifically. Perhaps once I'm no longer training I'll be able to consider the idea of courting more.

Have no fear, Mr. Moony drilled a fair bit of self defense into me over the summer. After several practice sessions I can stun with decent reliability, which is more than I can say my ability was upon leaving school. I'll be safe, I promise.

I'll look into it, although if Mr. Selwyn was on about it the odds of my ability to afford it are slim to none.

I hope your classes are going well! I miss you.

Happy Halloween! I hope the day passes without any major catastrophes. I do so miss the pumpkin bread from the great hall, though. Please enjoy some for me!

Hippogriffs are fearful creatures. Their height alone intimidates me, never mind the specifics of how to approach the creature. Have you been caring for it, then? Do you like the new CoMC professor? I so disliked having to grow accustomed to new professors and their teaching styles. There's a certain peace found in reliability I think.

As for that patient, no. No one informs me of their status once the hand off has been made. I can make inquiries, of course, but as a whole that practice is frowned upon. They don't want you to grow too familiar with the patients or invade their privacy much. I hope he's well though. Those burns were particularly horrifying.

What if we were to try to make multiple trips? Once for the personalized tour and so we might catch up and then a second outing as a group if timing allows for it. I can't promise to be afforded that much time from work, of course, but I should at least be able to secure a single afternoon to spend with you. Might I request no demiguises? The one at the zoo was awfully bizarre and I had nightmares about him for a week. The farm is a bore to visit at this time of year. Everything is either brown or grey. Aside from the stars at night there isn't much worth looking at, and you have a far better view of those from the castle than I do here.

Perhaps I could take boarders during the school year. I could occupy the smallest bedroom and rent out the larger ones. Or I could rent the entire house and live in a boarding house myself. I'm not sure, there's still time before that becomes a reality I hope. Have you considered more if you will live at home long if you decide not to marry? Have you considered more about marriage as a whole? I'm curious to know your opinion on it.

The subject of my marriage and any questions about love should be addressed in person, I think. Those aren't secrets I'd like to put to paper. Not yet, anyway. Maybe some day it won't have to be something spoken of in hushed tones. But yes, something happened this summer that made me consider it and yes, I do hope to marry someday. I promise next time we're alone I'll divulge more.

Truthfully, I've known the end of the group has been coming since third year. There was one conversation we all had — I can't remember the circumstances of it now — that made our disparities that much more obvious. Then, I spent much of the summer between fourth and fifth year exchanging letters with Mr. Nelson who only solidified my opinion. We're all so different, Calla. Wishes or not, the circumstances of life will take us all our separate ways eventually. Some individual relationships will be more salvageable than others with close proximity or valiant efforts made. Perhaps in another world they would be easier to save, but we're in this bleak and lonely one.

I hope you're doing well. How is quidditch going? And your studies? I miss gardening with you.

Oh, Peeves! What a disaster that caused. Perhaps next year you ought to stash some sweets in your dorm in case he makes a second attempt of locking you downstairs. Vanishing stairs -particularly Hogwart's moving staircases - would require an excessive amount of magic, perhaps they were simply obscured? Did anyone try walking where they were to see if they were simply invisible? I daresay, I don't miss Peeves.

That's alright. Even if I could source all the ingredients, I doubt I'd be able to replicate the recipe with much success. The disappointment of failing would be another difficult concept to accept.

I hope you continue to have an enjoyable school year with this new professor. I'm rather impressed with Headmaster Black for hiring a woman for such a hand's on class. It's very empowering for women like you and I and so very unlike such a strict, traditional man. Perhaps the times truly are changing! Did I tell you I treated a woman at the ministry wearing trousers! Not even bloomers but pants like Edison or Cameron might wear! It was jarring to see but now I cannot stop thinking of how much more practical that would be for working in the field.

My nightmares largely consisted of being in a house of mirrors of sorts and them suddenly appearing and reappearing. I don't find them cute at all but quite freaky! Maybe it's more of my not enjoying things I cannot see. I don't know, just please - no demiguises. And yes, we can work out our visit details closer to Christmas!

Well, if you do decide to move out after graduation and I'm living somewhere other than the farm that's suitable for you (unlikely, but you never know!) perhaps we can rent somewhere together. Maybe Sloane could even be enticed to join us! I can't see Sisse or Maddy abandoning tradition so severely, but maybe she would join us for weekly dinners or a sleepover. What a fun daydream that is to consider.

It isn't foolish or naive to dislike the changes happening within our friend group. I'm actually quite envious of your hopefulness. I think the relationships will equal out to the effort put into maintain them. Like I wouldn't consider Cameron a friend anymore, but that's because of the silence that has existed between us for the better part of two years now. If you make the effort, if you write letters and arrange visits and attend to those you still hold dear then you will be eighty-five and laughing around a table. It's all a matter of effort now, we can no longer rely on convenience.


You'll do great at your classes - I know it. And art will always be there after graduation. It's better to absorb as much of your education as you can while you have the access to it. I'm sure you're doing great! And I look forward to gardening with you again come Christmas.

The treats aren't from Honeydukes but a muggle sweetshop I found in London. Do let me know if you enjoy them! Happy almost birthday, dearest Calla.