Dear Sophie,

I hope that you're doing well now that the school year has started back. I'm sure you've been really busy getting things ready for SAWS, catching up with friends, and getting to know your new professors since classes have started back. I just wanted to send a quick letter to you to catch up, and let you know that I'm here for you if you ever need to talk. I'm sure that you're doing better now, and that you've got more important things to do than send letters to an old fuddy duddy like me- but I would be sad if I didn't hear from you at all.

Love,
Uncle Griffon

My Dearest Fairy Godfather,

I have so much to tell you and I don't even know where to start! I had a meeting this morning with Headmaster Reid, and it went surprisingly well. I am holding my breath for the other shoe to drop, something to go wrong, something to blow up in my face but right now on the SAWS front things seem good. I have permission from him to actually put up a booth on club day! He, of course, can't put any weight behind the group because he'd probably lose his job and has to seem unbiased but he has agreed to meet with us as a whole in the future and I think he would be willing to let you come speak too. He agrees with me that educating people is the only real way to effect change, that we have to acknowledge the danger. I don't know if allowing Ollie back into Hogwarts was a political move or not, but he seems to genuinely respect what I'm trying to do. I'm trying to make you proud, to make Mum proud.

The first week of classes was a lot to process. Divination was particularly strange, we had to communicate with our desks that had been possessed. I got lucky and my ghost was at least civil. Other people didn't get nearly so lucky, and Astronomy went how Astronomy usually goes... with the exception of the fact that Professor Trishna was a tiny Pegasus! Which explains the very strange dreams I was having the week before, the one I told you about when you met me on the platform... I never did thank you for coming to see me off. I know Ruby was in near hysterics, so having someone not sobbing their head off at me leaving was nice. I know when I asked you to come I said I didn't think Da would show, but I can't say it doesn't still sting a little that he really couldn't be bothered with me. I guess that isn't fair, he's in Spain or something, maybe his Apparition Licence is no good there or something.

Anyway, what else can I tell you? I've been spending a lot of time with my American pen pal Colton. He's very nice, very gentlemanly. You would like him. His friends seem nice, the other schools are not... quite as friendly, at least that I've seen. The Durmstrang students absolutely terrify me and I have no idea why. The tournament is going to get intense I can already tell. I don't know if I'll be putting my name in the Goblet, I just don't know that I have the energy and focus for it with everything else I'm trying to do. The first meeting for the Hogwarts Howler is tomorrow and then SAWS' first meeting is the next afternoon. I'm nervous and excited and a little queasy. Mostly I miss home, and the mutts, and Nana, and bothering you at your office when I could get away with it.

You're the least old fuddy duddy I've ever met in my life, and there may be a million boys to fall in love with in the world but you will always be my favorite.

Love,
Soph

Dear Sophie,

I'm glad that your meeting with the new headmaster went well. He's a smart man, to try to keep bias out of it. I can't say I agree with his decision- I know Ollie is your friend, and that you love her- but I still think it's too dangerous. But he worked well with my department to come up with a satisfactory compromise on keeping the werewolves at Hogwarts away from the school while they were dangerous, and in our custody to make sure they don't hurt anybody else. He seems like a smart man who knows how to keep himself out of trouble.

I was glad that you asked me to come see you off. I was surprised how Ruby was, but she's your sister and she loves you. And you know how I feel about the situation with your dad. I don't care if he's on tour- his kids should always come first. He could have made time to see you off if he had wanted to. But your mum always told me I wasn't allowed to say things like that to you, so I don't want to start doing it all the time now. But if you need me, I'm here for you- because that's what she would have wanted, and what I want for you.

Nice and gentlemanly? You're too young to worry about romance, Sophie. Don't let his American accent and nice manners fool you. All boys your age are dogs and they only want one thing. I was sixteen and seventeen once. It might have been a long time ago but I remember what I was concerned with. You just focus on classes and SAWS and leave the boys to the other girls. You're not allowed to have a boyfriend. I said so. I'll scare him into dumping you if you do get one. You have to at least be graduated before you even entertain the idea of having a serious boyfriend, okay? Promise me?

If you want, I can talk to your headmaster, too, about me coming to speak. I'm not sure what you want me to do- but you give me the details, and I'll take care of it. Your friends might not like everything I have to say, though. I know you're trying to do something good, but you also know that our opinions on werewolves differ quite a bit. But I do promise I won't insult your friends (if I can help it).

Keep an eye on my sister for me. She's too much like my dad. Keep her out of trouble if you can at all. And be nice to her. She's weird. She needs friends.

Love,
Uncle Griffon

Uncle Manley,

I know that we're never going to see exactly eye to eye on Hogwarts and Werewolves. I just feel that they have a right to lives, real lives. They have a right to an education, a good education at that, and jobs, and not having to live in fear because once a month they turn into something they can't control. If they are willing to comply with Ministry regulations, to be a part of the registry, to stay in their designated safe houses or at the ministry itself, then why should they be punished the rest of the month? Ollie is a good person, and I do love her - but it's not about that, not anymore.

I won't lie and say I understood in the beginning the magnitude of the danger; but you of all people should know by now that I am more than aware of what is lost when something goes wrong. That is what I want SAWS to be about this year, the ins and outs of being safe on both sides; tolerance through education. I want you to come talk not to lie and say you believe wholeheartedly in readmitting werewolves to Hogwarts, but to explain what it is you are doing on your end to ensure safety for the school, both for Ollie and Alexandra and for the rest of the student body. I think making people aware of what is being done might reassure them.

The first SAWS meeting went well, I didn't push recruitment this time because I felt like there was some old business to attend to, but a lot of new people showed up. I was most surprised that a Durmmie actually came. I don't know what his angle his. he seemed antagonistic at first but things went smoothly for the most part. Colt got some Salem kids to come too, it was really good. Noni's cousin Tracy even came, which was good. He's Salem's class president - which I think is like a Prefect only...elected? Anyway it might give us some sway with the Salem kids and like I've said a million times I think educating everyone is important.

As for dating, you do realize you're a little late yea? I have had my first boyfriend... and you didn't have to scare him off because I walloped him but good myself. Besides, Colt really isn't like that; I know all girls say that to all their over protective father-figures but it's true. He gets so blushy and awkward when I hug him. It's kind of adorable. I like spending time with him, we talk about things. He listens. I needed that. He reminds me of you a little bit, the way he thinks girls should be treated. It's a little vexing at times because he thinks I'm so tiny and in need of defending. I wonder if you made Mum feel that way when she started out at the ministry.

You're asking a lot you know, keeping Ligeia out of trouble is like saying "keep the Giant Squid in this bathtub". She has a very romanticized view of the werewolf situation and it is... very hard not to lose my temper with her. I try though, because I think her heart is in the right place, it's her mind I wonder about. There are worse things to be than strange though; like shallow, or vapid, or just plain hateful. She isn't any of those things. She has friends too! Even if she didn't, I'm not totally sure she'd be self aware enough to notice. Try not to worry so much, we'll both be fine.

Love you to the moon and back, twice!
Sophie

Dear Sophie,

I'll give you that much. If a wolf complies with Ministry regulations, and works hard to make sure that the public is safe, they do have the right to an education and to jobs. But the second they decide or make poor decisions which leads to the possibility of harming another person, I'd lock them up in one of our holding cells without batting an eye. It's not something to be toyed with. And people who've been werewolves for a long time, or who are new at it- they get careless. It's the facts.

But I don't want our letters to be all about werewolves. Because there's more to both of our lives than just that.

I'm glad to hear your first meeting went well, and definitely keep an eye on that Durmstrang kid. I met a few in my travels and everyone I've met had a mean strike a mile wide. He gives you any trouble you don't handle it yourself- you get one of your professors to take care of it, or one of his. Cause you don't need that kind of trouble when you're so close to graduating.

You may have had your first boyfriend, but that doesn't mean you should have anymore! Everyone gets one mistake, and he was it. You keep your nose clean. Boys aren't worth the trouble they cause at that age. They aren't really worth a damn until they're almost thirty- but I wouldn't try to make you wait that long. But I guess if the kid reminds you of me, he can't be too bad.

Liegia's heart is in the right place, I think. If you knew my dad any better you'd understand. He was sixty-eight when she was born, you know, and that's way too old to be having kids. Never really was a firm father figure (at least not from what I've gathered, I know he wasn't with me). The old man has a whole nest of bats roosting in his belfry, and I'm afraid she'd taken after him a bit too much. But as long as she has friends and stays out of trouble, I'll consider your job well done.

Any idea when your first Hogsmeade weekend is? Let me know and I'll send both of you some extra pocket money. If I have time in my schedule I'd love to catch lunch or something to see how things are going. But I know you'll also be busy with friends and I wouldn't want to embarrass you. Just thought it might be nice!

Love,
Uncle Griffon

To My Favorite Fairy Godfather,

So much has been going on I don't even know where to start. I've got myself in an ethical jam not even you can help me out of. I'd explain it but you won't want to be involved, I don't think you could help even if I did. This year has not, exactly, gone off like I had hoped. Ollie seems so unhappy, I know it isn't my job but I wish there was something I could do to make it better for her. She so ashamed of who she is, of what she is, I try to keep her as positive as possible but I can see she's struggling. I can't imagine how hard it must be for her. She's never gotten to be like everyone else, there is always going to be this thing about her that makes her distinctly other.

It just makes me sad to watch her suffer, and to know somewhere inside of her she believes she deserves it. None of them do. I know we all have our burdens to carry but most of us have the luxury of them being an internal struggle, something no one else can see, no one else can judge us for. Life was so much easier when a cuppa tea with Mum made everything feel like there was some order to the chaos. I don't want you to worry of course because I'm fine, I really am. I'm just worried about...what comes next, which is silly because it isn't even close to Christmas yet!

I'm not sure about Hogsmeade weekend, I can't think that far ahead - even if they've told us! I would like to see you though, I'm missing home and summer more than I thought I would. The Castle seems so crowded with all these new people. I stand by my earlier assessment that the Americans are the nicest of the bunch - their Headmaster is a riot. I don't know if he's actually insane or just acting insane but I feel like he is what would have happened if Dumbledor's personality had mixed with Trelawney, from everything I've ever heard or read about them. It's absolutely fascinating. I like Colton more the more time I spend with him. I think I like that it's just so easy to talk to him about things... which is probably also why he reminds me of you.

They announced the Hogwarts Champions last night at dinner. Joshua Harcroft, Erin Harper, and Sasha Schlagenweit... I don't know how those three are going to work together but I'm trying to be positive. I feel like I should be more excited about the whole thing, it seems like everyone is so wrapped up in it and I can't find the spark. I'm probably over thinking the whole thing, or maybe it would be different if I had felt I had time to devote to trying to be a Champion. I'm rubbish under pressure though, obviously, or I'd have a better handle on all the SAWS, Paper, and music things I'm trying to do.

I'll quit with the musing of an easily distracted sixteen year old, other than to say I think you need to get out more. If I need to be less interested in boys, you need to be more interested in women. Go on a date. Make goo eyes at some nice lady from the Ministry, or some other lady. Fall in love, do stuff! I like being the center of your universe but it's a lot of pressure sometimes!

xoxox Sophie