October 25, 1889
Dearest Ma,I am fine. Well, as fine as can be. I got sorted into Hufflepuff. While I have no problems with the house itself, it is too cheery! I don't feel like I fit in Ma! I think the hat made a mistake. I get along better with the Ravenclaws anyway. An older girl has agreed to tutor me so I can advance beyond my peers, while still practicing restraint of course.
Ma, I miss you dearly. But may I stay here for break? Food would be supplied to me so you wouldn't have another mouth to feed until summer. I can ask my boss if she would be OK with me staying at school for winter if you are OK with that? I ask you first because you are my Ma, of course.
I remember writing you when I got to the school. Did you not get it? That would be odd. Perhaps the owl dropped it. It was a young little thing, might have made a mistake. I hope no one else got my letter!
Yours,
Alina