Owl to Felicity Hjort

[Dante Vroom]

Dear Felicity,
I hope this letter finds you well as the summer progresses. I can safely say that my own break from Hogwarts is going rather quickly here in the Americas. I do apologize for my sloppy handwriting but it is rather hard to find a flat surface and some privacy to write letters cleanly. Not that I am complaining about anything, being out here is to much fun to complain about any single thing. So far we are trying to locate a temple that supposedly has a cursed artifact in it. Though the main curse breaker, Alfred, is reluctant to give me many details on the subject just yet. Really, he keeps to himself a lot, not much of a talker until you mention Quidditch. He is very quick to point out the stronger teams in the brackets. It's rather amusing.

Anyway, how is your summer going? I don't think I ever found out exactly what you were doing this summer. But I can trust whatever it is you're having some fun. You'll have to excuse my jumping around topic to topic. It takes several days to find the time to write. Any word from the rest of the crew? What anyone is up to for the summer? One last thing before I sign this away, if you respond to this just know that you should mail it first to the address on the front, the bank. They will be able to forward it to me, as I don't know where I might be when you mail anything back. Assuming you mail me anything. Would be nice to have a pen pal from across the world though! Anyway, keep in touch and be sure to have some fun. Say hello to everyone you can for me.

~Dante Vroom

He signed, sealed and sent the letter off. He had no clue how long it would take to get back across the ocean. Nor did he have much of an idea when he would see a response, if any. Not that it bothered Dante much, he had plenty to keep him busy from day to day. It was the only way he had to keep in touch with the rest of the world though. Out in the field news was hard to come by.

[Felicity Hjort]

Waking up to a tapping at her window, the dream she'd been awoken from still lingered in her mind, making her think of pebbles being thrown against the glass of her window, though she knew Drew wouldn't be that ridiculous, and would've rang the doorbell first. Shaking her head to clear it, she made her way to the window, surprised to see an owl...and from who it was sent.

Dante!

I'm so glad you decided to keep in touch. I miss Hogwarts, with everyone all around but I'm afraid I'm rather dreading this next term. Can you believe it'll be our last? After we return there'll be no other returns unless we are hired as staff members sometime in our life? It saddens me, but at the same time I cannot wait to be free, to be released in the world where we can make our own decisions and choices. I know we're of age in the wizarding world, allowed to use magic and make our own decisions, but most of us still live under our parents roofs and rules. Unfortunately, the rules at my house are rather restrictive.

The other day, I was trying to show off (a mistake, I know) and I accidentally set our sofa on fire. Dad made me put my wand away and I'm not allowed to bring it out from my safe spot until it's time to go back to Hogwarts. I tried to explain to him that it was merely an accident, he still didn't like it any. In fact, I'm not allowed to study for my apparition lesson now either, because I'm kind of, sort of grounded for setting fire to our sofa. Even though mum fixed it up all nice, I'm still in trouble for it.

But there's still good news, even if I can't study to apparate, dad is still taking me for my driving license in a few weeks. Though, I don't understand why, since I won't be allowed to drive on my own, and everyone else will be likely to shove me from the seat and into a passenger's one. Though, I suppose it doesn't matter, does it? I'm learning how to drive an automobile properly so at least I'll have one license. And maybe I can study at Hogwarts and during one of our breaks I might be able to take the test. But I'm scared about that too, because it involves using my own wand against myself, what if I blow myself up?

My plans for summer are to spend as much time with Drew as possible. He's not going to be around next term, because he's graduated, but we're all hoping he'll be accepted into the Auror Academy here in London, it's his dream. And since he won't be at Hogwarts next term, I want to see him as much as possible now so that hopefully I won't miss him too much. I know I'm going to though, that I'll never be able to see him enough to not make me miss him.

Celina is spending the summer with her family, though I've asked her to come over for a weekend, I don't think she'll be allowed to. Alexander is going to Africa, he's attending law school and will be focusing and spending a lot of time there. I don't know about Connor, he and I haven't spoken a whole lot in a long time, I should write him, too. I'm not entirely sure about anyone else, but I hope they all have fun-filled plans. What about Tallulah? What are her plans?

When are you coming back? We should meet up to shop for Hogwarts together! Maybe we can get Tallulah and Connor and Celina to join us? It'd be worth a try, wouldn't it be?

Tell me all you can about your summer! It sounds like so much fun! Curse breaking in South America? It's amazing to hear that your doing something so keen. Write me back again, I'll be waiting!

With much Love,
Felicity E. Hjort

[Dante Vroom]

Felicity!

So glad to see a letter back, and even better to find you are doing well. Next year being our last is something I don't honestly think about just yet. I doubt it will really sink in for a while anyway. Probably once we are all back in school it everything will be different. For now though it just feels like it will be another year coming up. The usual check list of supplies that I'll eventually need to get. Remind me though to keep you away from furniture that might be flammable. Just kidding, though I can relate. Not to setting a sofa on fire, but in the sense of not using a wand at home. Though the reason might be a bit different, the general rule at home is no magic in the house. Admittedly it sounds rather funny, setting fire to a sofa.

It's also cool to hear that everyone is doing all sorts of stuff over the summer. I had no idea Alexander was going to start in Africa, that's awesome! I figured you would be hanging out with Drew as much as possible. And be sure to wish him the best of luck trying out for the Academy. I know that place isn't the easiest to get into. It will be different in Hogwarts without everyone, that is for sure. Hopefully some of the lower years will be interesting though. All the little first years to hassle when they arrive, should be a lot of fun.

As for Tallulah she is spending a lot of time this summer with her family. Last I heard she was going to be spending most of the time in Italy. I know she has a house there, I think it was a summer home. Hard to keep track of her, always on the move from party to party with her family. Sometimes I wonder about it all, but I know I'll be happy when summer is over and I get to see her again. She said something once about coming to South America and visiting. I would have to get out of the deserts and jungles for a few days. Somehow I don't think she would enjoy the bugs around here. So the way I figure we might spend a day in one of the wizard towns out here. There is a rather nice place outside of Rio de Janeiro that we stopped in before heading out this way.

As for exciting news from South America two days ago I ended up going inside a pyramid in search for the artifact I wrote about before. Though we still don't know exactly what it is, one native village seems to know a lot about it. So hopefully we can find a clue to it before my time here is done. Speaking of coming back, I'll be getting back just a week before classes start. Not much time at home, or time to relax. Though, to be honest when I get a chance to look around the views around here and the weather are outstanding. I wish I could show everyone what it's like out here, but I have nothing to take pictures with while I am out here. But anyway, yes we should try and get together and get stuff for Hogwarts. Anyway, I best finish this letter soon, it's supposed to rain and I'd rather not have the paper soaked.

Oh! Something you might enjoy, we ran into a Dugbog yesterday in a marsh outside of camp. And a group of Puffskein have taken to following us. Apparently one of our guides fed it some leftovers and now they follow us around. He says they are a sign of good luck traditionally, but I find them a bit annoying.

Later On!
~Dante Vroom

He was quick to sign the letter, as there was a storm coming. He wanted to be sure the letter was sent before the rain came. That way hopefully it would not be soaked when it arrived finally. He looked up the the sky. It really was keen, to use her word, being out here for the summer. So he settled into his sleeping bag a bit more, deciding to forgo the tent for the night, the cloudy sky and cooling rain would be refreshing for once.

[Felicity Hjort]

The speckled letter worried Felicity a bit, seeing the splotches here and there, they were dried, quite obviously from the flight, but she wondered whether he'd been tearing writing to her. However, her nerves were calmed after reading what he wrote, and the first thing she did that day after work was find her camera and packaged it well to send him to take pictures for her. They would be amazing if they could develop them the wizarding way, with things moving. Maybe there was still a little left over photograph potion in the newspaper room she hadn't been in in ages, and if not, they could make some of their own at school.

Dearest Dante,

I'm afraid of what might happen this year. My first year at Hpgwarts, it was taken under siege by those horrible people, and last year we weren't allowed to go home for winter break, what if something happens this year? Those who helped me so much won't be around. Drew, Alexander, Lucas, Caleb, Tristan, they're all leaving us. I know it's not because they want to, they're not abandoning us, but it feels like it. I'm praying nothing happens this year, that we won't be kept prisoners at the castle at any point in time this term, but I fear something may happen, as history there has shown me nothing less.

It was rather funny to see the expression on my dad's face, but unfortunately, the look afterward only confirmed my belief that he doesn't much appreciate the magic flowing through my blood. I've never been sure, but I really think he doesn't like it, and it gives him one more reason not to like Drew, which breaks my heart. Magic is a part of my life, something I don't want to be rid of, and so is Drew. If he doesn't accept either, how can I truly continue my life the way it's meant to be?

Drew's nervous as anything about his application, we haven't heard word back, but I pray every night for him to be accepted. I'm slightly afraid that if he isn't accepted he may not be allowed to stay in London. I haven't yet met his mum, but he's told me she wants him back in California, and that frightens me as well. If he does return, what does that mean for us? But I will tell him you send the best of wishes, and please keep sending them.

It sounds like Tallulah has an amazingly filled summer! Parties constantly? That sounds so much fun! I'm working mornings, though I have Sundays and Thursdays off. Sunday mornings are spent at Church and whenever possible afterward with Drew. Actually, every day, when possible, I'm spending it with Drew. Though, I wish I could spend time to come and visit you, too. South America? I've never been outside of the U.K. but I'm banking on getting that position in Kenya to study Erumpents after school. I'll be away from everyone, but with Alexander, and Drew and I have it all planned out, we'll spend as much time as we can get with one another, even if he has to work on a weekend I manage to get off, I'll be going to visit him. I just hope it works out for us.

I would give nearly anything to be where you are right now, doing something so exciting and thrilling. But at the same time, I would give anything to be here with Drew right now. However, I am sending you a gift, please use it! And I've packed extra with it, I'll send more for it with each letter I send, but this way, you can show everyone what you did, and show us what you see when you look around.

Puffskeins? Oh! You should make friends with them, they are supposed to bring good luck, it'd be bad luck on you not to accept it, Dante. Maybe you might even find a perfect one within them for yourself, or Tallulah, it'd make such a nice gift! Sammy could play with it at Hogwarts! Well, I must be off, I'm expect Drew soon and I don't want to make him wait. Be safe and careful!

The Friday before Hogwarts begins, we'll meet then? That gives you the whole weekend to spend with your family and hopefully Tallulah, but then we can all get together to shop as well? Let me know and I'll contact everyone else.

Many hugs and kisses, and much Love,
Felicity E. Hjort

Sending Dustan with her letter, she reminded herself to pick up extra film for her camera to send next with letter.

[Dante Vroom]

Felicity,

I write now under a starry sky. And I thank you for the camera and film, hopefully I can keep the film safe until getting back to develop the images. I received the other mail you sent out to everyone, and I still think it is a fantastic idea. Of course I shall be attending, I'll just need a time to know when to make my appearance.

I realize it has been a while since the last letter. Forgive me, between our expedition finding what we sought, and some other news I have stumbled across I have truly been busy. I must say I never thought I would learn something about my family out in South America. It has been so random in fact that I have written my mother to confirm if any of it is true. If it is, then it's almost impossible to explain. So I pray it a rumor for now. The next several lines have been scribbled over and are unreadable

Any word on Drew getting accepted? Sure hope so, as usual be sure to say hello to him for me. I've not heard from Tallulah lately, which worries me just slightly. But knowing her she's being kept far to busy to write very much. So many questions I have for everyone when I get home. Mostly about stories from summer. Admittedly the thing I miss out here the most is being able to go out with everyone else. Visit friends, those kinds of things, the usual summer routines. Here it's like a vacation, but work at the same time. Not the best mixture.

Still no wand in the house? I must admit that I told that story over the campfire one night, and the rest of the team had a good laugh about it. One man said his son had done a similar thing years ago. So don't feel to bad about it, as it seems to have happened before! The Puffskein I told you about before have since moved away from us. I got a few pictures of them, they seemed to like the flash of the camera. Jake, another team member ended up keeping one, apparently it will be a gift to his young daughter.

I can't wait to get back and see everyone!
~Dante

P.S. What you said before, about worrying what might happen this year. I think we all worry about those things, but you must also remember the good times. Like the pool party, the camping trip, and even some of the things that resulted from those bad things. Like the Dragon Pox, if not for those we would not have been able to share our Christmas traditions, which I'm still very thankful for learning.

His pen nearly out of ink from scribbling he turned to Palmiro and apologized for making him work so much lately. Taking the two letters he had to send he signed them both away. He feared the response from one, the letter home. What the news in it might be. If everything he learned was real, than what would the future hold. It was to much to think about. The other letter, the one to Felicity, he awaited a response to it. The time of summer was ending, the excavation team would be heading home soon, and with that the start of the school year again. Which would hopefully give him something else to think about.

[Felicity Hjort]

The letter was received late at night but Felicity didn't mind. It was a nice change from the early morning when she was unable to write back immediately due to work at the diner. However, when she flicked the switch of her light on, she spent several minutes pouring over the contents of the letter, wondering why Dante would scribble something out as he had when he could've easily just used magic to make it disappear if he'd decided against it. Though, she wondered what had happened that he had to turn to his mum to ask.

Dante, love,

Things here have been dreadfully boring, and no, still no magic on my behalf. Mum still brings her wand out for a few things now and then, but no one really notices because she keeps it so well hidden. In fact, she keeps it so well hidden that no one but I or my younger nephew Freddy really sees her use it. Freddy is worrying me. Things have been happening, as I'm sure they did to you when you were younger. I think he's showing signs of magic, but I can't be sure. I fear for him almost, as things at home are not as well as I wish they were. My mum is ill, and refuses treatment of any kind, muggle or magic. And as I will be leaving right after Hogwarts, I don't think I can stand to live at home with my dad's rules, what will become of him if he is magical? He's only eight years old, but he has three years left to live fully at home, and if mum isn't around, I know dad will fight him to go to a magical school as I did. It was in part because of him that I did not start at Hogwarts until my fifth year of schooling.

And I hope that what you have heard ends well. I am afraid I couldn't make any sense of the scribbling you made, so I gave up trying, I'm guessing you decided not to write what you planned. Though, I'm surprised you didn't just use magic to make it disappear. You are of age, are you not? So you do not have to rely on others to perform magic for you now.

The sky here is so dark that it's like walking through a Hogwarts corridor without light of your wand to guide you. The clouds overhead hang low, meaning they will open and pour soon. I wish the stars were more visible here in London, but the sunrises are amazing anyway.

Drew still has yet to hear back from the Ministry, but they're so selective on who they train that it likely will take more time. I have full confidence in him though, he works so hard and was Head Boy and has recommendation letters from Professors, so I know he will be passed through and will go on to train as he wants.

We'll be meeting the Friday before our return, at one thirty just outside of Gringotts. Please tell me you can make it, I've all ready sent letters to everyone else. Tallulah promises to buy ice cream for all of us, maybe that will entice you to join right on time?

I must be off as it is dark here and late and I must be up early for work once more. Be safe and take care, I have much to tell you when we meet again. Though, alone, preferably not in front of everyone, maybe just you and Celina. So when we see one another in school, we must talk, and I have a favour to ask of you.

Love deeply,
Felicity E. Hjort

Bundling together the film she had purchased and her letter, she sent Dustan off into the night to head toward her friend.