Pen Pals (Victoria)

The pic enclosed:

There had been a new programme set up: something to do with pen pals and another school called Salem. Although he had been hesitant, Brooke had convinced to sign up, and he had. A few days after he had put his name on the list, he received a piece of paper with a limited amount of information about his 'partner'. So, after having debated actually writing the girl - and of course it just had to be a girl - he finally decided to do it and see where it led. Following the guide exactly, he started his letter, completely unsure as to how the entire thing would work.


Hi, Victoria. I'm Tristan. I'm from Hogwarts. I'm 13. I'm in Slytherin, second year. I put in a picture so you know what I look like. Tell me more about you!

Her reply had come surprisingly fast. Opening it in the privacy of his room, he was startled at the colour the words were written in: bright pink, but soon got over it when he saw the enclosed picture. The girl with whom he was writing to was beautiful! The letter was long, but he began to smile as he read it. Immediately, he set out to replying it, glad that she had initiated the conversation.

5th January, 2013

Hey Victoria.

Thank you for the picture! You look nice. The information on the houses is interesting! Slytherin is an interesting house, but I wouldn't say it was fun. There are some scary people here. It would be cool if you came here. We could meet up?

Yes, I do take DADA. I didn't know he was your brother, that is very cool! I also take Muggle Studies, Potions, and Herbology. I think I might also take CoMC. I don't have a favourite. I also don't have something I don't like. What about you?

I do play Quidditch. I'm a Keeper on the Slytherin team. Maybe if we meet up we could play sometime?

Tristan.

The letter had arrived later than he expected, and he wondered if he had scared her away. But the owl had come during lunch, and the pink words inside assured him that she hadn't been deterred by his lack of writing. Promising himself he would write a longer letter this time, he sat down and took more than an hour to write before heading straight to the owlery.

Hey Victoria!

Can I call you Vic? Victoria sounds really formal. Wow, you will be taking your O.W.Ls so soon? My sister is taking hers this year and she's 17! You're only 14!

No, I live in Cornwall, England. Hogwarts is in Scotland. I don't really know how far away it is but when my father apparates us to or from Hogwarts he had to make many stops. He said it was something to do with the accuracy of landing, but I don't understand what that means. I just know that we don't live near school.

Yes, I am a Keeper. Training is very hard because our captain is strict. People get injured almost every sessions.

Something about me? Well, I am adopted. I lived on the streets for 7 years. And now I can say that when I say there are scary people, I mean it. When I was on the street I met a lot of different people. I won't tell you unless you want to know because some stories can get scary, but when I say someone is scary, I mean it. I haven't gotten to know that person because I can already tell. I don't know how to explain it but I just know that he's a not nice person.

But forget about it. It's not something nice to talk about. I was adopted by Caleb and Aurelia Walters. It's a long story of how they found me so I won't tell you unless you really want to know.

Can't wait for your next letter!

Tristan.

The reply had come swiftly, and he was beginning to enjoy the sight of the pink penmanship whenever he opened the letter. The cupcakes had been a huge surprise, and he had been slightly taken aback at the ... pinkness of it. But still, he couldn't say no to free food, and had shared them with Brooke. She had advised him to send her something too, and after much deliberation, finally decided on something he hoped she'd enjoy. Brooke had gone to help him purchase it, and he was almost bouncing with anticipation when he sent the letter attached to the small box.

14th January 2013

Hey Vic!

If you prefer me calling you Victoria I don't mind. I just thought that people usually use nicknames for people they like.

Yes, my sister got held back when she was younger. She had dragon pox, whatever that is. Wow. You must be really smart, then!

That's really cool! My captain is Josh. Slytherin always wins, though, so I guess that is why he is always so strict with us. He is not my inspiration because he can be mean to people, but he keeps us playing well. That is good, isn't it?

Well, I don't remember what happened before I lived on the streets but I remember someone leaving me there. I don't know who it was, but he was wearing a suit. I also don't know how old I was. My mum, her name is Cornelia, saved me. I was in a drain passed out because I lost a lot of blood and she found me and took me to St. Mungo's, where she works. Then Caleb, my now father, and her decided to adopt me! I don't mind sharing but I don't know what you want to know! Maybe you can ask questions and I can answer them?

The cakes were amazing! I shared them with my sister and she loved them, too. How did you make the top so pretty? My sister wants to know so she can make them, too.

Oh, and I also bought you a present too. My sister helped me get it because I don't know what kind of things girls like. Do you like it? If you don't I can change it for another one. My sister said that was possible... I wouldn't know.

I hope you are doing well!

Tristan.

By this time, he had been looking forward to her reply, and ripped it open when it was delivered. He smiled at the reply and immediately set to a reply.

16th January 2013

Vic,

You are most welcome! I'm glad you like it. I will tell Brooke she made a good choice. She said it is the polite thing to do when I am given a gift and it's not for my birthday. Wow, I didn't know there were such spells, you really are smart!

I didn't know dragon pox was that bad! I must ask my mum about that, she is a Healer.

I don't know. Josh says mean things and makes people do things that aren't so nice. But maybe you are right. I mean, Slytherin always wins so you probably are right.

I was bloody because someone had hurt me. Don't think me a bad person but I had picked his pocket. I took his wallet and he must have attacked me because the next thing I remember is running away. I fell into a ditch and passed out. I still have scars on my arm where my mum says a magic spell cut me very deep.

Again, don't think me a bad person, but I ate whatever I could steal. Sometimes I stole money to buy better food. Normally I ate fruits or small pies, but on days I was lucky I ate bigger pies or meat.

I slept wherever I could. Usually on the side of the streets or under bridges. If I was very lucky I met a nice person who let me stay in their place but I stopped accepting offers after something happened. I don't know if you want to hear it because it's quite creepy so I won't tell you unless you are sure you want me to.

I would not want to return at all. It was lonely and scary. There were a lot of bad people who tired to hurt me and do weird things to me. I had one friend, a girl younger than me but we got separated. You can't trust anyone when you're on the streets because if they were given a chance they will hurt you for food or money. I learnt that the hard way. I think there was nothing I liked about living on the streets, but I do think that what I've learnt while I was there is very useful! Not the stealing, of course, but things like survival and the like.

I will let my sister know what you said about the cakes! I think she would like to give it a try. Do you go to the kitchens often? Are the house elves there nice? The ones here are very friendly. I like them a lot.

Can't wait for your reply!

Tristan.

Almost ten days had passed before Tristan received a reply, but he wasn't too worried. From what they had conversed about so far, Victoria didn't seem the type to shy away, and he was proven right when the owl came in the early morning. Just as he opened it, there was a brief wonder if he had indeed frightened her with his last letter and that she had written to tell him she didn't want to talk any more, but at the sight of the length of the reply, he knew this wasn't the case.

25th January, 2013

Vic,
That's okay, I understand. You sound like you have a lot of friends! I don't, actually. I have a few but not enough to keep me that busy. Why doesn't she know you're taking care of the animals? Are you breaking a rule? Is that why you didn't tell her?

Well, Josh helps us win Quidditch matches, so I guess that's a good thing? He is also a beater and he always hits the bludgers at people so we can win.

You know what it's like to be homeless? I thought your brother was a Quidditch star, how can you have been homeless? What do you mean by 'walk again'? You couldn't walk before?

If you really want I can teach you what I've learnt, but I don't know if you want to. It's things like how to catch and kill small animals for food, and how to steal things without people knowing. I do not think you want to learn those things. But there are other things I think you will like, those I can teach! I know how to make things like tents out of cardboard and newspaper and how to tell the very nice and helpful people from those not-so-nice.

I've tried to learn all their names but it's hard because some of them look the same! But I do know almost all their names. Yes, I know exactly what you mean. Whenever I'm in the kitchens I like talking to them. They are very fun to talk to and be with!

Looking forward to your reply!

Tristan.

29th January 2013

Hi Vic!

Wow, that sounds like a hard thing to do. I don't think I could ever be nice to everyone because there are some people who are not nice to me! How do you still act nice to people who are mean to you?

Oh dear, that doesn't sound good. If you don't mind, can I ask what happened? Well, I hope you never have to go through something like that. Being homeless is never fun. Well, almost not fun. Being able to do what you want was quite fun, to me, but I still like it more now with parents helping me.

Oh my Merlin, that sounds horrible! If my sister was paralysed, I would be unhappy, even if she wasn't! I think it's because he doesn't want to see you injured like that, but I don't really know. I can only tell you how I would feel if Brooke got hurt like that. Maybe he pretended he wasn't upset so you wouldn't get upset, too?

That doesn't sound good. The ill part, that is. I'm more of a fighter, I think. That's what Brooke says to me when we're talking about when I lived on the streets. I'm not sure exactly what she means because I never get into fights in school, but I didn't ask.

How are classes going for you?

I hope to hear from you soon!

Tristan.