wish you were here [abigail]

[Deleted]

dear abigail,

Hey baby sister!  I've been thinking about you a lot lately and just wanted to check in and see how things were with you. I'd ask about how your classes are but I expect you don't want yet another person pestering you about your grades and your career or whatever. You have time to choose. (If you're looking for work in journalism, though, I've totally got your back.) As for me...well, you know how things are. Mum's being mum-ish. I've been writing articles like there's no tomorrow - there's just so much to talk about, you know?

Don't even mention the book. The other day I tried to write it for three hours. Three. I gave up. Maybe tomorrow it'll come to me. I'd tell you not to get into too much trouble, but you're a Gryffindor, and Merlin knows how you lions like to roar. Have a great day. Wish you were here.

love, royal

[Deleted]

Royal,

what a lovely surprise! i've missed your stupid face. seriously, how does anyone at the paper take you seriously with that goofy lopsided smile? haha, but really i'm glad you wrote this week. it's been... interesting around here, to say the least! i'm glad mums still being mumish, that's a good sign that the word hasn't gone completely mad. gotta be honest thought, i haven't read a damn thing you've put in those papers. i'm sure it's all well and good but, reading uuugh.

yeah, yeah. grades and careers and stuff. i'm still planning on joining the auror training program after school if i can keep these grades up and going. it's been a good year in that regard, so i'm not too worried about it. still, harry says that there's a lot more than just good grades that goes into joining the program. like knowing how to follow directions-hah! that's going to be my hardest thing to work with...

hey, take your time with the book roy. seriously, i'd help you if i could but i hate writing even more than i hate reading. i promise ill read that, though! seriously, you'll get it. you snakes have a way of appearing out of the shadows and making a statement at the last second. trust me, i've got one of you doing that a lot lately.

bahaha! anyway, when can i see you?

-Abby

[Deleted]

my dearest abigail,

Me writing you is now qualified as a surprise? I didn't know I was that disconnected. By the way, I'm not the only one who is capable of initiating contact. You have access to a billion owls. I just have a cat. A very old cat. And I'll have you know that everyone takes me very seriously, thank you very much. Behind this lopsided smile is a freaking awesome reporter with a freaking awesome tattoo. It's hard not to take people with tattoos seriously, little sister.

I tear the criminals apart with words and you tear them apart with magic. We can be the dream team! I mean, they could write history books about us. Minister's children convicting criminals after his...his thing. (I know it's not a 'thing' or whatever but I can't quite say the d-word. Sorry.) I really do hope that you do become an Auror, Abigail. I'm sure you can learn how to follow the rules. Even if you don't, you've heard the stories Dad used to tell about Harry when he was in school. He wasn't always the virtuous Chosen One.

You better read my book! I might ask you and Joanna to contribute some memories you have of Dad from those years I was gone at Hogwarts and you were still home. I don't know, though. As for me, I'll stay here and be snakey. Tell me about this other snake, though. I'll be listening.

As for seeing each other, just set a day and I'll find a way to be there. Somehow I think my schedule's a little more flexible than yours at the moment. Wish you were here.

love, royal

[Deleted]

Royal,

Ooh, you know me. If you have no expectations than everything is a surprise. How is that cat, by the way? I can't believe that it's still alive... my goodness. It's like a demon, I swear. A very sweet demon, haha! Wait... does the tattoo affect your reporting as well? And taking people seriously and taking their tattoos seriously are different things, homie.

Awe, yes. It'd be a pretty good book. Crime fighting duo that we are! We'd sure be a sight to see. But seriously, someones got to handle this drama. That's why I'm going to be an auror. No hope needed. Hah, good point. Harry should be pretty understanding, right?

Eh, you don't need to know about the snake.

I'll try to be home soon. I miss you. Miss mom. Hey, how is she? I haven't really talked to her much lately... it's difficult, I guess. Jo's much better in that area. The daughter area.

-Abby

[Deleted]

baby sister,

I guess that’s a good philosophy for life? I’ll get back to you on that one. Sabor is fine – getting older by the minute, as cats tend to. If she makes it to Christmas I’ll call it a miracle. I think I’ll get a kitten when she dies. Cats are fun to be around, most of the time, even if they can’t carry messages. Actually, I should work on that. I’m sure a cat can be trained to carry messages. Maybe not all the way to Hogwarts, but at least down the street. Remind me to do that later. After I’m done the book.

You’d be surprised how many people think that I’m a thug just because I have a tattoo. It’s not even a particularly big tattoo. And no one really gets it, either. I mean, I don’t expect them to know what the constellation Lynx looks like but it doesn’t take a genius to figure out it must have something to do with dad. Like, I just so happen to get a tattoo four days after my father’s body is found. It must be a coincidence. Sorry about that mini rant.

I’m sure Harry will understand, sis. Your dreams will not be crushed anytime soon if I have anything to do with it.

I do need to know about the snake! Tell me. Tell me. Tell me. Tell me. Don’t make me send a Howler. Tell me. Tell me. Tell me.

I miss you too, stupid. Mom’s as okay as she can be given everything that’s happened in the past couple of months. You know how she is, though. As soon as you want to talk to her, she’ll be there. It doesn’t matter if you’re not a good daughter. I don’t know whether or not you remember, but I wasn’t always a great son.

Still thinking of you loads. Still wish you were here.

love always, royal

[Deleted]

Royal,

Awe, well give that cat a big hug for me. Even though she generally just glares at me. Hah! Kittens are a lot of work though, Roy. Do you have time to take care of one? I know I wouldn't have the time or the patience for it. Well, cats are less work then dogs though-so that's a plus. Haha! A messenger cat? Brilliant.

Yeah, seriously. People are dumb. I think your tattoo is rad, and I'm sure most people respect it and think it's brilliant! Just like I do. I should get one too, shouldn't I? Will you take me? We can wait til I graduate, make it more of an 'adult' activity I guess haha. Can you imagine me adulting!? It's coming up so soon, only two more months til graduation. Then I get to join the Auror Training program, if everything goes well, blah blah you know. Harry is a good guy... but we'll see if he can deal with me.

Oh my gosh! Calm down. His name is Theo he's... the reason I disappeared for a few weeks over Christmas break? *innocent smile*

Moms a good person. I wish I could be more like her.

I love you too, hey, I'm always there in spirit! :-P

-Abby

[Deleted]

sister,

I’m pretty sure if I gave Sabor a hug I’d break her. She’s skinny as a rail, you know that, and I’m not exactly a weakling. Well, at least I’m not half-giant. Might as well be, though. Anyways, I’m not sure if I have the time, but it would still be nice to have a cat that is actually capable of meowing. I have to talk to something when you’re not here, and it feels less like talking to an inanimate object when the cat meows back. Besides, if I get it as a kitten, I can train it to be a messenger cat!

I’m glad that you think my tattoo is rad. If you do want to get a tattoo, I will definitely take you! You should get one to match me. Do you think we could get Joanna to get one, too? That would be super awesome. But I can’t believe you’re going to be an adult. Remember when you used to cry when dad was gone for too long? I can’t believe that little baby is all grown up and following in her father’s footsteps. I’m sure he’s proud of you, wherever he is.

Theo. I need to have a talk with this kid. Tell him to send an owl my way, would you? Otherwise I may have to resort to some…less than pretty tactics to get information about him. Remember, newspapers have archives. Lots of archives.

You’re a good person, Abigail, just in a different way than mom is. Joanna’s a good person, too, in a different way than both of you, and I hope I’m a good person, too. We just show our goodness differently. Keep your head up.

Wish you were here (in the flesh).

yours, royal

[Deleted]

Royal,

Sorry it took me so long to write back. Things have been really busy.

Poor Sabor! I think she could take you, though. As for a kitten messenger thing, that sound terrifying! Cats are super sneaky and you'd be like 'oh there's suddenly a letter on my pillow how did that get there'. Nope, nope. Owls are much better! Well, it could be an inter-house messenger cat. Like when I'm visiting for the Holidays and whatnot.

Speaking of... I'm not sure how long I'll be staying there after graduation. I don't know, I just think I'd like somewhere different, you know? A place of my own, I guess. I don't know. At least we'll have matching tattoos to keep us together, right! This is happening. I'll talk to Addie! Hah, yeah... yeah I remember. Thanks. Hey, as long as you're proud of me too.

Haha, I doubt Theo would write an owl to anyone, actually. I'll ask him though.

You keep your head up.

Gods, it's embarrassing. Ava just saved my freaking butt. Midnight winter trips to the Quidditch pitch in pajamas anyone? Ah, anyway. Have you talked to Ava, lately?

-Abby

[Deleted]

dear abigail,

I totally understand - I got swamped with work, and unfortunately, making a living is slightly more important than responding to your letters. Is that mean to say? Oh well, I'm your brother, so I'm allowed to be mean to you. I'm also doubly allowed to be mean to you because you're a Gryffindor - honestly, at this point, I don't know why I'm nice to you at all.

Do whatever make you happiest, Abigail. that sounds super passive aggressive, sorry. Writing really doesn't inflict the warmth and brotherly affection I was hoping for there. Anyways, yes, we really do have to talk to Adelaide about it. Wouldn't it be cool if the three of us all matched? We could look like a magical Wizarding gang or something. Either that, or be even more identifiable as siblings. Well, I would be able to be identified as your sibling, since you and Adelaide are literally twins. Damn. Why am I always left out of the cool stuff?

I'm sure he could write one if he wanted to. Gotta communicate from the bowels of Hogwarts in some way.

As for Ava, yeah, we've spoken. Any particular reason you're curious?

(I almost forgot to add - wish you were here! Hope you didn't do anything stupid since I last wrote.)

love, royal

@abigail

[Deleted]

Royal,

Well, I asked Theo to send you a letter and he's wondering which letter you'd most like to receive. He's being a sass-face.

You've got a good point, though! There are a lot of reasons why you shouldn't be s nice to me and why I shouldn't be so nice to you, haha, but we've never really been known to go with the norm, have we? But yeah I think the matching tattoos would be lovely, I'm sure she'll be into it. Well, we kind of aren't talking right now actually... it's complicated.

No particular reason, no. I just wanted to make sure you still had some real friends out there. I know that's been a rough department for you lately-not to be blunt- but I know Ava is a good friend so I was just hoping you'd been talking. How are things in that department anyway? Have you talked to... you know... since she was elected?

-Abby

[Deleted]

dear abigail,

Sass faces? I'm sure you wouldn't know anything about that, oh sister of mine. You've never sassed anyone, ever. By the way, tell him I'd like the letter k. I'm particularly fond of that one.

I definitely don't want to get in between anything that might be happening with you and Adelaide, but I hope you're alright. Just...remember that, despite all your closeness, there are things you don't know about each other. And it's better that way. And if you do need me to get in between you guys, well, what else are brothers here for?

Surprisingly enough, I have talked to her. I talked to the whole crew, actually. We all were at the Three Broomsticks at the same time, which was really weird and serendipitous and kind of freaked me out. But whatever. I don't really know how I feel about seeing her again. We can talk about it later. Wish you were here.

yours, royal

@abigail

[Deleted]

ROYAL,

The letter K it is. Yikes, I'm afraid you two might actually get along, and that would be incredibly weird. Well, maybe not because you and I get along and he and I get along so... by that logic he would get along with most people. Which is actually kinda true. Anyway, enough about Theo.

Adelaide and I will be fine, Roy. Thanks for the... advice?

Oh, like Odette, Jake and Teddy too? You guys were super annoying. Kidding, kidding. But really, I'm glad you saw her. I mean, you can feel however you want, obviously. Anyway, I love you.

- Abby


@royal

[Deleted]

dear abigail,

Why would you think we wouldn't get along? I get along with absolutely everyone, because I am overwhelmingly perfect. It says so in the About the Author section of my book. (Not really, in case you're wondering.) But you can tell me all about him later.

I'm only slightly better at giving advice than you are. Which means not good at all. So no judging.

Yeah, those are the friends I normally talk about - unless something has changed you haven't told me about? Personally, I think you only found them annoying because they weren't your friends. Right now my feelings are sliding between 'utter horror' and 'total embarrassment' and 'actually really happy'. I'll settle on one eventually.

I'd tell you that I wished you were here, but you don't have to be. I'll be with you soon.

love forever, royal

@abigail (end? finally?)