Long time no..write?

[Nina Patrokov]

Today was the day of the Yule Ball, actually it was the Yule Ball now, but Nina Patrokov did not wish to go, she hated dancing, and was just awful at it. So she walked over to the Owlrey, because it was quiet there, and she needed a decent enough place to study. She did not want to go the the Astronomy tower because the disgusting hormonal first years would probably end up snogging there, she really didn't get how they could do that, she was 15 and she didn't do that.

Nina shook her head at this then sat down on the window sill and opened up her potions text book so she could study for her OWL's that would be coming up soon enough. Nina had a feeling that because of everything going on she wouldn't do all that well, it was quite stressful. If you want to be a Herbology Professor after Hogwarts you have to focus! she thought forcefully.

She began reading quietly, making sure that she was memorizing the mixtures of the potions she learned this year, though she had known most of them a year earlier because Nina was good at Potions and she went ahead of her class, mainly because Professor Mortis wouldn't let her get ahead of the class any other way, she had to do it in secret.

 

[Isabella Ormonde]

The raven flew down to the owlery exhausted beyond reason. He had never been sent on an errand before but as his mistress was all out of owls to send she had chosen to send her faithful raven Casper. In his beak was a letter for a student called Nina after heading first to the great hall and finding only noise and more noise, Casper flew directly to the Owlery in the hopes of finding at least a moments peace before he attempted to search out the girl. It was most likely kismet that led him there as the very girl he was seeking happened to be there. He dropped the letter on top of the book she was reading, then flew to the rafters to settle down for a nap before he even attempted the flight home.

Dearest Nina,

so much has happened I can't begin to tell you. Of course you and probably all at the school would have heard what happened to my mother. It was in all the papers here much to the delight of every student who always hated my guts. My mother in her Veela form attacked my father. He was injured but certainly didn't want to press charges but the ministry had other ideas and locked her up for a period of three years. My father sent me to Beauxbatons academy at the beginning of this year but it was dreadful. Everyone knew and everyone took immence pleasure in ridiculing me. It was so horredous. Eventually would you believe the headmistress wrote to my father saying I was too much of a distraction in the classroom and the professors were finding it exceedingly difficult to teach a class and therefore I would be unwelcome to return after the Christmas break.
You can imagine of course that papa was completely devastated, as if he hadn't enough to worry himself with. He insisted that I be home schooled but I managed to persuade him otherwise and guess what?
He has written to the powers that be at Hogwarts New Zealand and I am to attend in the New Year. Can you believe it? I knew you were after transferring there full time, so couldn't wait to tell you. I am of course dreading that anyone there other than yourself will have heard the news but I am also looking forward to returning to Hogwarts. Please write soon, Casper will wait and carry it to me.
I hope you're well and all is going great for you at the school. You can fill me in on what you've been up to of course by simply writing to me.

Till I hear from you,
Isabella

 

[Nina Patrokov]

Nina was surprised when she saw a raven, that she vaguely recognized, drop a letter onto her lap. She looked over at it as it settled down and drifted off to sleep. She frowned, the poor bird must have traveled far, she only hoped that it was not from her parents back in Russia, as she did not want to speak to them.

She picked up the letter and then put the book down on the ledge carefully, she did not want it to fall. As she read she recognized Isabella's writing, she smiled to herself, she hadn't spoken to her since last year, and was quite relieved that after everything her friend had been through she was alright.

But she frowned as she read the Gryffindor girl's words about her parents and her schooling, until she saw that she would now be attending Hogwarts New Zealand. She smiled brightly and then took out her wand from her pocket and flourished it as she said, "Accio parchment, quill and ink." When they flew into her hand she opened the top of vial of ink and dipped in quill in it, then began writing in her neatest cursive.

Dear Bella,

I am sorry to say, that I already know what happened, over the summer I contacted Sakura briefly and she informed me, as much as she knew anyways. I hope your mother can get out of Azkaban relatively unscathed; I'm glad to hear that your father is alright though. It is a shame that everyone treated you so poorly, but I can't hide my joy in hearing that you will be joining the hoards of transfers from Hogwarts Scotland. The minute you come into the school you must find me, as you can guess I will be studying like mad for OWL's so there are really only two places I'll be : The library and the Great Hall.

And you don't have to worry about people in New Zealand have heard, in fact the only people that might know are Alex, and Noah, the others I'm not sure, but surely it doesn't matter as most of the other transfers are second years. It seems that the people here are quite secluded and keep to themselves, so you're safe with that.

What I've been up to:
[ul][li]Studying</LI>
[li]More Studying
[li]Even More Studying
<LI>[li]And some flying[/li][/ul]Not much has happened with me since I have been here. But over the summer holidays a few things have. I found out that my Grandmother, is not my Grandmother, and that I am living with a complete stranger. A few things have happened with Cullen, but it really isn't my place to share that with you, so if you'd like to know, I think it's safe to say you're going to have to hear it from him, because I don't want to fight with him any more.

Love,
Nina

PS. I am going to send a school owl because Casper looks exhausted.

When Nina finished writing the letter she jumped off the window sill carefully and walked over to one of the school owls and she opened the cage and as she tied the letter to it's foot she said, "Send this to Isabella Ormonde..." Nina was going to say her location, but Nina really didn't know where she lived so she was unable to. She quickly stepped out of the way and the bird flew off towards Isabella.

 

[Isabella Ormonde]

Isabella sat in the old rocking chair that had once belonged to her great-grandmother. Slowly she pushed her feet off the ground, setting the chair into motion. It creaked as it rocked too and fro, Isabella's right hand was bunched into a fist that her head rested on. The other was holding the letter she had just received from Nina, she had read it with a heavy heart. Nina knew from Sakura, yet her best friend hadn't mentioned telling anyone. She was going through her own problems with home schooling and such but Isabella felt an acute betrayal. Herself and Sakura had been friends since second year, the best of friends. They had always been there for one another and even when they had been seperated by miles, their respective birds kept up a loyal correspondence. Never in all their friendship had one betrayed the others confidence. Sure it had been in all the newspapers, that wasn't the point. She wanted to pen a strongly worded letter almost immediately to her but refrained from doing so, perhaps given some time to review the situation she mightened be quite so mad and would see why Sakura had told her gravest of news. It didn't matter that it was only to Nina, the point was she had told and then hadn't bother to tell Isabella.

She could have warned her surely? With a sigh Isabella got up from the chair and went downstairs to where her father sat. His face was so pale now, his spirit crushed. She knew that as healed as he was physically, without her mother here he would never heal emotionally. As dangerous as the woman was for him, he loved her dearly. Isabella placed a comforting arm around his shoulders.
"I'll be heading away shortly Papa" she kissed his forehead and straightened up once more. Her trunk was already in the hallway. She would be staying at the Leaky Cauldron until school started, it seemed the easiest option. That way she would be able to buy her school supplies before she had to start after the Christmas break.
******************

The port key led her directly to the post just outside Obsidian Harbour. She went to the Leaky and booked in, her room had been reserved for her. It was here that Isabella wrote once more to Nina.

Dear Nina,

I apologise for not writing back sooner, I had packing to do and moving. Are you at school over the Christmas holidays? My father insisted that I go to New Zealand early as he really can't cope with celebrating Christmas this year and doesn't want to have to see the disappointment on my face. Or so he says. I am staying in Obsidian until the Christmas break is over, I have a room at the Leaky Cauldron.

If you have decided to stay at the school over Christmas then perhaps we could meet up in Brightstone someday. I would really like to see you before school starts. Just send any reply to the Leaky Cauldron and thank you for letting Casper rest up. He is a funny old sod and would most likely have attempted to post your letter if you hadn't sent the owl.

Your friend,
Isabella

p.s studying is always very good and so much more gratifying than boys.

 

[Nina Patrokov]

After a fair bit of time went by, and lots of studying had, Nina had finally opted to go to the common room, in hopes that it wouldn't be terribly busy, much to her displeasure it was, so she ran up to her dorm room and began reading a novel called, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

"First the colors.
..Then the humans.
..That's usually how I see things.
..Or at least, how I try.
</B></I></SIZE></COLOR>

*** HERE IS A SMALL FACT ***
You are going to die.​

<i></i><COLOR color="#9300C4"><SIZE size="50">
<I>
I am in all truthfulness attempting to be cheerful about this whole topic, though most people find themselves hindered in believing me, no matter my protestations. Please, trust me. I most definitely can be cheerful. I can be amiable. Agreeable. Affable. And that's only the A's. Just don't ask me to be nice. Nice has nothing to do with me."

Just as Nina was about to flip the first page of her book a letter dropped on her lap, and she stroked the Owl's beak gently as she took the letter off of it's leg. As she read a smile formed on her lips, she was quite excited to see her friend, and was happy that she was so close. Nina turned around the piece of parchment Isabella had used for her letter and began writing the letter to her, so she could save good paper.

Dear Isabella,

Yes, I am staying at Hogwarts over the holidays, so naturally I will be pleased to see you. Are you free at all tomorrow? I think that's the only day that I might be able to get into Obsidian, as I have already finished Christmas shopping, and I can't seem to stop myself from shopping when I am around the shops. Book fetish. If this doesn't work, please let me know when you are free and I'll just stash away my galleons. (Insert snicker here)

Your - bored - Hufflepuff friend,
Nina

PS. I've always felt this way, now I have the perfect excuse to read as many text books as I wish without looking quite insane.

Nina searched in her pocket for a treat for the Owl and smiled when she found one and she gave it to the bird, who ate it from her hand as she put the letter to Isabella on the birds leg. <B>"Send this back to Isabella please, at the Leaky Cauldron."

 

[Isabella Ormonde]

The owl flew back after the briefest of rests with another note for Nina.

Nina,

Tomorrow at Obsidian would be wonderful. I can't wait to see you, do you want to come to the Leaky Cauldron where I am staying? If you meet me there around twelve noon we could have a bite to eat before heading off to the shops. Looking forward to seeing you, really.

Isabella