kaleidoscope (albus)

[Deleted]

Hi Albus Severus Potter,

I hope you're having a good summer so far and now getting in any rows with your brother and sister. I was just thinking about next term and how weird it's going to be. You won't be there! I'll miss you a lot. I'm really glad to have gotten to know you last term, not sure if I told you that before. Do you have loads of plans for the summer?

Love from,
Brígh

[Deleted]

dear brígh,

Summer's been alright. I haven't seen either of my siblings enough to pick any fights with them, since I've been at work and they've been... say, what do Gryffindors do in the summer, other than try to annoy their siblings? I did almost get into a row with my mum, though. I don't think she's pleased that I've decided not to go into Auror training. She thinks it's because my dad disappeared and I'm scared. But of course, that's not it. I'll miss you, too. Not being in school is already kind of weird, since I started working almost immediately. I don't have plans, because of work. But I can make some, if you want? 

albus

BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH

[Deleted]

Dear Albus Severus Potter,

That is our sole purpose in life, to annoy our siblings. So they must be terribly bored without you. It's a bit silly for her to want that of you. Shouldn't parents want their spawn to be happy and productive in what they want to do? Bran handles dragons, for Merlin's sake. Not everyone wants to be an auror, and lots of careers are respectable. Didn't she play Quidditch anyways?

I heard about your dads disappearance-- I'm sure he will be found soon. You're very brave, are you sure there isn't a bit of Gryffindor deep deep down inside you somewhere? I'd love to see you at some point. Maybe we could see a play or something cultural like that? I dunno. I'm up for anything. Except maybe Quidditch.

Love from,
Brígh

[Deleted]

dear brígh,

Aren’t there Gryffindors who are only children? What do those poor sods do? I don’t think that she wants me to be an Auror, exactly… I just don’t think she understands that I never wanted it, and she thinks I’m giving up my dreams because I don’t want to be killed or something. I’m not a coward. I just realized that following in my dad’s footsteps achieves the exact opposite of my goal. And yeah, she played Quidditch. She works at the Prophet now.

I doubt he’ll be found if he hasn’t been yet. He’s one of the best wizards of his time or something like that; don’t you think he’d be smart enough to find his way back? Unless they’ve wiped his memory or something, in which case he’s not even my dad anymore. I’m not a Gryffindor. Never have been, never will be.

Anything but Quidditch? You’re going to regret that.

albus

BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH

[Deleted]

Dear Albus Severus Potter

You know, I'm really not sure. Most people I know are always griping about their siblings. I suppose its an investigation for the coming term. Not everyone wants to be an auror. Merlin knows loads of people don't even know what they want to do with their lives, so it's impressive that you've managed at least something. I think I've read one of her articles once, but I'm not really all that into Quidditch. Feet on the ground or in the water, thanks.

Maybe your dad doesn't want to be found? He's one of the best wizards... he's probably got something completely under control didn't he disappear for ages when the whole wizarding world was looking for him? Okay, you're not a Gryffindor but that doesn't mean you can't be brave. You actually one of the best people I've met. Regardless of house.

Anything but Quidditch. Surprise me. I regret nothing.

Love from,
Brígh

[Deleted]

dear brígh,

I just realized my dad was an only child, and so was his dad, and they were both Gryffindors, so, to answer my own question – yes, yes it is possible to be a Gryffindor and an only child. It feels like everyone wants to be an Auror sometimes. It’s like one of the answers that kids always say when they’re not sure what else they want to be. I know that a lot of people don’t know what they want to do… but at the same time I feel like I should have it all figured out. Feet in the water? Can you walk on water now, Bri?

If he didn’t want to be found, wouldn’t he at least try to find a way to tell us that he was safe? I mean, it’s a possibility that he disappeared, but… he’s always felt like he had to fix me the whole world. I don’t think he’d just disappear, not with what’s been going on. And his letter made it seem like he was going someplace dangerous, and… I don’t know. It just feels wrong.

One day I’m going to come kidnap you, and then you’ll have some regrets.

albus

BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH

[Deleted]

Dear Albus Severus Potter,

... Damn, I do hate being wrong. Alright, alright. I stand corrected. Gryffindors can be only children. But the best ones have siblings, like me. Though Bran does wish I didn't exist 98% of the time. I reckon you're right. Honestly, I don't even know what I want to do with my life. The most obvious option seems to just... try for being an auror. That whole saving people thing. I don't like sitting back and letting everything happen. I want to do my part to change the world. But I don't know what to do to do that.

Brígh/Jesus, same thing right? That's blasphemous, my catholic parents would have my head for saying that. I just love swimming is all. Wish it weren't frowned upon to have a dip in the lake. Though the water's probably a bit nippy, come to think of it. Nothing I can't handle. Perhaps in a past life I was a mermaid.

Maybe your dad thinks that methods of communication are being watched and he doesn't want to put you in more danger by reassuring you that he's actually okay? I know, it's a long shot. But we musn't give up hope. The ones we love never truly leave us.

Regrets? I'll be with you. What would there be to worry about?

Love from,
Brígh

[Deleted]

dear brígh,

Are you saying that my father and aunt, arguably two of the greatest Gryffindors of all time, are not “the best” just because they don’t have siblings? If you want to be an Auror, then be an Auror. But for the love of all things holy, please don’t do it just because you want to save people. I don’t want you to end up with a saving-people thing, because I’m fairly certain my dad had one of those things and it made life absolutely miserable. You change the world just by being you, Bri. I thought you knew that already.

My parents aren’t Catholic, so am I allowed to say it? I don’t think it’s frowned upon so much as unsafe – you know, with the merpeople and the squid and everything. There’s the pond if you really want to swim.

I dunno. I just feel like he would have had a plan. He knew that this could happen, so he could have found a way to send messages even if we were watched, and… I don’t know. I want to have hope, but it’s also so hard.

Well, kidnapping people isn’t a good thing. Even I know that.

albus

BRÍGH ENNIS O'DALAIGH

[Deleted]

Dear Albus Severus Potter,

Changing the world by being me? I'm not really sure what is so special about me. But I suppose I have a bit of time to figure things out. I appreciate the confidence. It goes without saying that your opinion is highly valued, not because of your family but because you genuinely are one of the kindest people I have ever met. Not many would give the time of day to random fourth years, after all.

Ah bollocks, I always forget about the pond. They really should kick me out or something, I spend too much time in the forest and not enough in the actual permitted areas. But the merpeople nor the squid would hurt anyone. Not like I would be pounding down their doors and using magic on them or anything, you know?

I know it's hard. But I really believe he's not dead. If there's even the tiniest bit of hope inside you, that's all you need. And I'll always be here for you if you need me.

All this talk of kidnapping is making me wonder the definition... is it kidnapping if it's consensual?

Love from,
Brígh