Writing home

[Harriet Turner]

Harriet decided it was time to write home and as she trudged up to the owlery she wondered why she hadn't been before and suddenly felt extremly guilty. She had promised to write home often and even promised her best friends that she would write as soon as she arrived. She really missed everyone but she had been so caught up in her new school life she hadn't even thought about sending an owl home. But now was defintly the right time to start. She opened the door ans stepped inside. She was pleased to see that it was empty and she got out her parchment, ink and quill and began to write.

Dear Mum and Dad,
Sorry I haven't written before this, it's been really hectic here and I am still getting used to the magical world of Hogwarts! How are you all? I hope you are well. I really miss you all but I am having the best time here!
The lessons here are so different and I think that I have got on well in all of them!So far I havent learnt to fly (!) and I think I am quite good. I have practised alot and am improving, I really want my own broom now. HINT HINT! No I'm jooking! We have also done potions which has been fun and in one lesson I even lost most of my bones! But don't worry everything is fine now! But enough about me. I hope everything at home is well send my love to nan and grandad and write back soon please!
I miss you loads
Lots of love Harriet xx
Oh yeah and your gunna have to get used to the owls

She read over it. Short but sweet. She smiled at the suprise on her parents faces when the owl flew to them! she hoped they would write back soon as she really missed them and it would be great to hear from them. She attached the letter to an owl and sent it off hoping it would have a replie for her by tommorow.

 

[Harriet Turner]

Harriet had recived a letter back at breakfast but hadn't opened it immedietly, it was private. Her first letter from home and just thinking about home at the moment bought a tear to her eye. She ran up the steps two at a time and dived into the room quickly ripping the letter out of her satchel and reading it.

Harri Darling!
It's so nice to hear from you. Your dad and I were starting to think you forgotten us here! We are all great here except from the lousy weather and missing you! We are glad to hear that you are having a great time! we knew you would be. Everyones missing you here especially Bruce, he keeps running up to your room and then whining I am sure her knows your gone dad says he can probably just smell some mouldy food under your bed, but i have checked and theres nothing there!

At this point Harriet laughed through her tears, trust her mum to take a joke that seriously! But the mention of Bruce her dog had bought tears to her eyes she missed him so much know more then ever they had been close and she had bought him when he was just 8 weeks and she was only 7. And now he was 4. 4 years she had spent with him and now she couldn't help but miss him.

Flying must be great! And we hope that we will be able to see you very soon on your broomstick! Hinting already for a brrom you have only been there less then a few months and your already demanding things! typical. But your dad and I will see about maybe getting you one for your birthday, how about that?
Glad to hear your ok now after your accident! Don't go doing anything silly now and whatever you do dont't get in to trouble. I have had enough phone calls asking me to go up the school and see your headteacher to last me a life time. Alright and I mean it now be good love adn write back soon.
Oh i almost forgot Emma,Taylor, Kate and Haden send there love and say they hope to see you in your next holiday. This owl nearly gave me a hearattack earlier, the silly thing flew straight into the window and knocked itself out all the neighbours were staring as your dad hurridly lugged it inside! Try and pick a better one next time!
All our love Mum and Dad xxx

Harriet laughed and wiped away her tears. She was glad to hear from home but decided not to write a letter straight back. In the next letter she wanted to have alot to say. So she stuffed the letter back into her bag and took out her mirror. Gosh i look awful she thought to herself. so she sat down for five minutes trying to rub away the tear stains before walking down the stairs grinning from ear to ear.

 

[Harriet Turner]

Harriet trundled up the stairs to the owlery where she was planning on replying to her letter and she knew she should have written sooner but she had lots to say know and knew her parents wouldn't mind waiting for a little while. As she climbed the final stairs she noticed and owl flying in it flew straight towards and she unclipped the letter from it''s bony foot.

Harriet darling were starting to get worried you haven't written back in a long time. Is everything ok? Love mum and dad X

Harri laughed she had been kidding herself, she knew her mum would worry and she had been selfish not writing back.

To Mum and Dad,
Sorry I haven't written back in a long time, schools been hectic!
I miss Bruce too and I don't think there's any mouldy food, dad's just jooking! good one dad! I love flying now it's my favorite hobby and I fly lot's, it's amazing! Really a broom for me! But there expensive you don't have too! I don't mind I'm ok using the school brooms!
I will have too teach you too fly I'm sure you will love it! I am being excellent at school the lessons are great and I have gone record time without a detention! And I was never naughty the teachers were just stressy you hated them as much as me! tell everyone I said Heyy and that they can all stay next holidays if thats ok with you?!
I will choose a better owl, was it ok when it got knocked out!
Love you lots and lots, Harri

Harri looked over her letter it was short but sweet, she attached to a nice tawny owls leg and sent it off. Before racing down the stairs to the common room.

 

[Harriet Turner]

Harri walked slowly up to the owlery. She hadn't spoken to her parents since they sent news of Emmas death. She thought she owed it to them to write something but had been putting it off untill now. Just before she got to the owlery she stopped and sat on one of the steps. She was on her own now. No-one was with her and she could think over what had happened in her head. She went over it again and again and must have been sitting there for hours. Each time she went over it she thought of another way in which it was her fault Emma had died. Although this wasn't true Harri could have done nothing to stop the death, but she thought that she could. Tears streamed down her face and she carried on walking up the steps.
Once inside the owlery she took off her satchel and took out parchment, she was just about to start when an owl flew across the room and stood by her. She wiped the tears from her eyes and began to untie the letter. Once she had got the letter she stroked the owl and looked down. She froze. She recognised the writing on the front. How could she not. It was Emmas writing.

Hey Harri!
I have't heard from you in ages! I've been round to your house raided your room and spoken to your mum! We talked for ages and she read me the letter you sent her! Flying sounds soo cool I wish I could learn, Maybe you could teach me! On second thoughts maybe not you know how scared of heights I am! Potions sounds cool! It sounds like your living the dream at this school! Remember when we were little we always preteneded to be witches and you could always do things you couldn't explain? It's weird to think you were actually doing magic! Well enough about you time to talk about me! Haha. Well I've started my new Secoundry school it's the best, me and all the girls really miss you! Some of the boys have even been asking about you! they pretend they don't miss you but I know they do! Of corse I haven't told them your at a school for witches they's probably think I was mad! I have met the best boy though his names Luke and he asked me out the other day and we are offically a couple! God I sound so grown up! Only Joking I will never grow up I'm gonna be like Peter pan except I'll be the girl who never grows up!Obviously</FONT>!

At this point Harri burst into tears. How could this have happened. Emma had died yet in this letter she was full of life. Harri couldn't take this it was messing with her head, her head started spinning and she had to deeply control her breathing to stop herself from passing out. She could hardly breathe she was crying so hard she could hardly breathe she was crying so much but she carried on reading.

Well we went to the cinema for our first date, It was AMAZING Harri! I wish you were here to meet him but I guess  you'll meet him at christmas and I will make sure of it. I've told him all about you and so he basically knows everything there is to know about you! Well Harri I've spoken to your mum and I'm coming to New Zealand with your folks to pick you up and I'm going to be the first person you see when you get of the train. I'll probably be screaming alot when I see you so I've warned you don't get all moody with me and embaressed infront of your new friends! I have to go now my mums been nagging at me to come down for dinner for about half and hour! Well I miss you soo much hope your enjoying yourself Em <FONT font="Geneva">X 

Harri cried. She cried and cried till she could cry no more. Emma would have met her at the trainstation they would have had so much fun and Harri could have shown her all the new shops around. Her eyes were swollen and she couldn't speak she was hurting inside. Her heart was beating to fast and it felt like she was about to explode. And she was on her own. No-one would come and she knew it. She would recieve no friendly hug or words of advice, because Emma wasn't here. She sat down with her back against the concrete and she must have drifted off to sleep because the next time she opened her eyes it was dusk. Her face wasn't puffy and her eyes had calmed down. She walked down to her dormitary and got straight into bed. With not a word to anyone. Not even Goodnight.

 

[James Turner]

James sat dow and thought although his brother didn't want him to say anything he didn't feel right keeping it from Harri any longer. It was finally time to write to his niece and tell her the truth.

Harri!
How are? You liking Hogwarts? I've spoken to your mum and dad and they say you have settled in well I'm glad!
Now I have something to tell you. And I know you've been through alot lately and I understand and know how your feeling. I have been in contact with Emma's parents and they send their regards and hope your coping well. But the news I have is good (well I think it is!) Now I think you might be a bit angry with me for not telling you before but I'm a wizard. Your nan and grandad aren't magic but I like you was muggle born and attended HNZ. I'm sorry for keeping it from you for so long but I think you have the right to know! Also Harri your mum and dad have been called away for work so your stuck with me for the holidays! I hope thats ok!
I know I've given you alot to think about know but please write back to me soon! All my Love J.

James sealed the envelope and attached it to his owls leg. He wasn't sure how his niece would take the news but he hoped she would be ok and write back to him soon. They had always got on so well and she hoped that this wouldn't ruin their relationship.

 

[Harriet Turner]

Harri stared down at the letter in her hand. Lately she had been reluctant to open any letters she had had a traumatic time everytime she opened one and hadn't written a letter since. The owlery bought back bad memories of dark times when she had felt so alone. The last time she had been her wasn't nice and know she looked down at the place in which she had sat and had to fight back tears. Lately she wasn't in control of her emotions any little thing set her off and the stutter that seemed to come whenever she talked about Emma was becoming unbearable. The letter in her hand she took a deep breath and opened it and was glad when she saw the writing was from her uncle James. She had such a good relationship with him and even his handwriting bought her a sudden rush of comfort and she felt relaxed as she began to read. She read on and on and her mouth dropped open. He said she might be angry but she was far from it she was absoloutly ecstatic! Someone who she was already so close to suddenly felt so much closer! A smile crept across her face and for once the smile wasn't forced it was real! The smile spread to a grin and as she read on and found out that she would be staying with him she felt happy. Happy. She hadn't felt happy in a long time and she grabbed out her parchment and quill before the feeling went. She had so many questions but she would save them for the holidays. She began writing.

Dear Uncle James,
It's great news! I am really happy that your a wizard! It's amazing! I'm so happy for you and I am very glad that I will be staying with you because I have alot of questions for you so be ready to answer them!
I miss Emma lots each and everyday. I have been upset and had an accident but I'm fine now. I fainted thats all but Mr.Obrien helped me get through that, he helped alot .
Lot's of Love Harri.
P.s It's really great news

She knew mentioning Emma changed the mood of the letter but she couldn't pretend to him that she was fine when she wasn't. He was being honest with her and she was going to be honest with him. She quickly attached the letter to the birds leg and sent it off hoping it would reach James soon.

 

[James Turner]

As James saw an owl approaching his heart hammered in his chest, he hoped with all his might that it was bringing a letter from Harri and he hoped it was good news written inside. As the owl landed on his window seal he hurridly undid the letter. His eyes flicked quickly over the letters and a smile crept across his face. The news was good and he was glad that she had accepted him for who he was. As he read on further his smile dropped and he frowned, he felt a deep paternal instinct which he had never felt before, he hoped with all his might she was ok and from the way she spoke about Emma he guessed thr subject was still raw and thought it best to talk it over in person rather then words. He was worrying now and felt that he needed to protect Harri he couldn't wait for her to be home and got his quill out and began to write.

Harri so glad your happy. Will talk about everything you want when your home! Am off to your house now to get everything ready for you! Love James

He knew the letter was brief but he was feeling a mixture of concern and joy felt the need to rush over to the Turner residents to make sure everything was ok. He pulled on his coat grabbed his wand and headed out wondering what christmas gift would be suitable for Harri now that she as a witch.