Dominik Skye Wiedman
Abraxan Flats,
London

Miss Liviana Elise Wiedman
Slytherin House, Hogwarts

Dear Liviana,

How are you fairing, little one?  Since you haven't mentioned any names I need to know as soon as possible about WHO exactly it is that I need to give a good smash upside the head to?  There has to be some one, so don't hesitate; there are probably several you can choose from.  Just let me get my hands on a few of the ones that are really asking for it, yeah?  According to the penny-dreadful Quibbler, I can hit a bludger clear off to the distance and have it assault the person that brings me the most displeasure.  I can live with that sort of reality.  Just, save me some major heartache and never ever start kissing people.  Ever ever.  Ever. 

I'm smashed myself leading up to this game against the Harpies Saturday.  Not more battles of the sexes, please.  I have a head full of me own troubles, as I'm want to say.  Last week I somehow wound up in Dolores's flat in the middle of the night drunk off my kneazle.  It didn't go very well, Liviana.  Not well at all.  We had ourselves a barney and the outcome was a bit ugly.  Dunno what went more generally wrong, or where it went sour.  How could it have been so awful, so wrong, when all this time I actually have been doing what I was meant to?  I know it sounds petty but it isn't feeling fair.  I don't want to be a bitter old man, Livi.  That's a gross and disturbing notion.  But how can't I be, living with this miserable merry-go-round of a mess that seems to have no chance of change behind it?

The Tournament sounds exciting, though, to speak of something much more fanciful.  What's the castle like with all of those schools present?  I remember the Triwizard Tournament being a blast, though we obviously didn't have any connection with Salem Witch's Institute back in my day.  Are they as insufferable as I suppose them to be?  Need a few good pranks to pull on them?

Speaking of pranks what are your plans for Halloween love?  Going to celebrate to the fullest, I'd hope?  If only to make your cousin Dominik oh so proud? 

That night is actually... Niobe and my first anniversary since sparking back up again... and I'm really working hard to figure out a way to recognize it without absolutely ruining everything.  You know?  I'm amazed that it's been a year again and we're still solid, even maybe at our most solid ever.  Last go around a year went and passed and then the sky near enough bloody collapsed.  So I have a lot of thinking to do round that.  Witches are fickle, Liv, there's another reason to never turn into one.  Stay your cute little Witchette self.  I say it too often but only because it's so true.  Growing up is the pits.  So don't do it!

Daz was doing a good job of following that advice until recently, and yeah, I know you want more details about what's happened with her.  You may as well stop asking though because it's something we can't even share with mum or dad.  I doubt I'd be allowed to know if I hadn't gone and seen it with my own eyes, and I'm even a little surprised I haven't had it wiped clean from my memory yet.  Suffice to say things have leveled out, and Daz can take care of herself.  I think it's less a matter of that thing of which we will not speak than it is the fact of Nate's being locked up that has her acting so weird.  She just needs a bit of time to piece herself back together is what I gather.  It'll all be all right, Liviana, you watch and see. 

On my way to practice though, so I think I'll send this out.  I love you and I hope you're having a good old time at the castle love.   

Sincerely yours,
Dominik

Miss Liviana Elise Wiedman
Slytherin House, Hogwarts

Dominik Skye Wiedman
Abraxan Flats,
London

My Darling Dearest & Only Brother,

School's alright, Mum owls weekly to ask if I've met a boy yet but for all the reasons you don't want me to. Honestly Niko it's exhausting. Other than that I'm fine, popular girl problems and all of that. Things seem a bit quiet on the sixth year front though there are a pair of battling first years that I want to throw in the lake... then again I wanted to throw first years in the lake when I was a first year so I suppose nothing has really changed. No boys for you to worry about, no one really at all. Things seem to be fairing smoothly for me at the moment - obviously I am the only even tempered of the Wiedman children, perhaps it is because I'm half Whitman but that can't be it because, though her though I do, Maeve was a raving Harpy.

So... the Niobe thing is sticking then? Well, it's a thing at least. I'm not like Mum and Daz and think you ought to just join yourself at the hip with Dolly. I love her, you know I do, but you should be free to make your own choices...even if that has worked out dreadfully for our sister. Has she heard anymore about when she can see Nate or he gets to come home? I know you tell me not to but I can't help but worry. You didn't see she and Dolly together over the summer. It was like complete strangers only Dazmond wasn't even aware of it. Dolly was so very unhappy, I wasn't supposed to know of course because she wanted me to have fun seeing all the places she and Dazzy had roamed in their wilder days... I suppose that's the thing about being the youngest - you see all the things no one means for you to because they think you're too self involved to notice.

I'm not judging, I would never judge because you're my big brother and I adore you but... maybe Dolly is mad because you're not making the choices that she thinks will make your life better, and really if you're happy with Niobe (and I do hope you are) why were you showing up at Dolly's anyway? It's a mixed signal Bruv. You love Niobe, you're happy with your life and what you're doing; but you can't stay away from the person who most disproves and feels hurt by the choices you've made because they didn't include her. I don't care who or what you choose so long as you're happy Niko - but from the outside looking in I can say (as much as you hate to admit I'm well on my way to becoming a woman) there comes a point when you don't get to have it both ways. You don't get to be loved by two people at the same time. It isn't fair, not to you or to Dolly, or Niobe for that matter.

The Tourny has proved interesting - the Americans are a ragtag bunch I can tell you that. The Durmstrang girls think they're vastly better than everyone which is highly annoying while the French, bless their poor wretched little hearts had a terrible showing in the First Task. Second is in November, but everyone seems to be coming down with a case of something that is rather nasty. We'll see how that effects the turn out this go around. I think I find it so terribly hard to get excited about all of this because, well, mostly it's increased Mum's interest in seeing me settle off with a boy and I just don't like the idea. I know she'd never force me but you two (bless your hearts) have left her wanting for grandchildren and my ovaries seem ripe for the picking or some such nonsense.

I do hope you're happy Niko. Try not to think so hard and just follow your gut, I mean obviously if you went there to break up with Niobe in the first place and now you're happier than ever your head isn't going to get you any place with that lady.  Must dash off to class.

Hugs & Kisses,
Livi

Dominik Wiedman
Ye Old Dark and Smelly Flat Houses
London England

Miss Liviana Elise Wiedman
House of the Snake, Hogwarts

Dear Liviana,

Writing this between sessions of getting rung out like a towel in preparation for tomorrow's game against the Harpies.  Will you be listening in on the wireless?  I'm betting that I'll have to answer questions from the press after about, "How come you show no mercy even with an all Witch team there Dominik, you monster?"  And I'll say, Pummel em all, is my philosophy.  Witches are just as strong if not bloody stronger than us!  Many ways.  And I can't wait to be up in the air over those crazed crowds again.  To hell with everyone.  Rough and tumble Quidditch in front of the whole, mob-like world is bleeding fun, and I'm hungry for it!

Fantastic news that you're doing so well, Liviana, and staying out of drama in your world.  I'm happy to hear it.   

Yes, things with Niobe are going very well, actually.  It's a delicate dance with her, but I think I've been playing it the way she likes; as in, giving her some space and also getting out of my head a lot.  I really do love her, Liviana.  I sometimes doubt that it will last but Merlin knows I do so secretly hope that she'll be in the end equation my wife.  And on that note, if you've ever the means to, never ever tell her I said that.  She will probably bite off my ring finger and spit it out, snarling, and then walk away never to be seen again.  Clearly I'm exaggerating, I think, but it's a touchy subject.

I know that it must be strange for you, as obviously now I'm with someone not of the typical stock, you know?  And Daz with Nate.  But the reason mum and dad tolerated that, in part, is that Dazmond and Nate babies will technically be pureblooded, despite the shorter term purity of their blood it'll still have an absence of straight-up muggle and, let's face it, the tides have been turning and a Witch is a Witch, right?

I've all sorts of ways of figuring it in my head.  Believe me I've had to give this a lot of thought.  I don't know why I shouldn't work as hard as I can for it if all the signs in the world tend to be telling me to keep on going with it. 

I love Dolores, I do, but it isn't at all working between us and I don't think it has for a while.  Maybe I'm stupid but I can't seem to figure out how to improve our relationship.  I usually make it worse just by trying.  You're right to bring it up, and I don't know exactly why I wound up on Dolly's doorstep last week.  I was very inebriated, to tell the truth, and it just sort of felt like habit.  I missed her and so I went to see her, not even really expecting her to be home.  I think I just wanted to cuddle her bed blankets.  And I'm going to stop talking about those particular details now.

I dunno.  Dolores maddens me because she has all these expectations and then instead of talking to me and keeping touch and asking how it's going like a normal, loving person she just... keeps this wide gulf between us and then says she doesn't want to influence me, and then when left alone I do my own thing she freaks and says what about me and her?  It's the most confusing thing in the world!

If you ask Daz though, I swear she can tell you the exact number of days until Nate's next hearing.  It won't be until next August.  Daz doesn't know when she might see him, or if she'll get to visit him at all till then, which is very sad business.  But you know what they say, about where there's a will there's  a way?  I doubt anything can keep Daz from him, even if she has to swim across the sea again. to get there.

That's good advice, little girl.  I will follow my heart and guts and try to think less. 

Gotta go finish getting ready for tomorrow.  I love you, Livi!

Sincerely yours,
Dominik

Miss Liviana Elise Wiedman
Slytherin House, Hogwarts

Dominik Skye Wiedman
Abraxan Flats,
London

Dearest Niko,

One week till the Halloween Ball, it's strange but as I've gotten older it seems less...interesting. I mean it isn't like the Yule Ball. I adored the Yule Ball last year. Halloween feels more and more like a holiday for the younger years the older I get. I like dressing up of course but now half the time I never know who anyone is supposed to be because they're all muggle things. It's very strange. You are right about a Witch being a Witch - but in some ways I feel torn. I'm not as old fashioned as Mum or Da by any stretch of the imagination but... our heritage is important to me. It's how I connect myself to the wider wizarding world. It isn't that I think I'm better than a half blood or even a muggle born, it's just a sense of pride in who I am. I don't much enjoy the trappings that come along with it - like the stigma we're all muggle hating murderers... and I can't imagine the kind of pressure that you're under to carry on the family name and bloodline; but then you can't really know what it's been like for me either. They've done everything so differently with me. It's almost as if Mum decided when they adopted me that "Well we see how well the other way worked, lets be conventional parents and give her rules and regulations". I suppose it means they love me more, you think?

As for the Dolly-Niobe-You situation... I have no idea what to say. This is one of those moments where I feel the need to remind you that I am only sixteen after all and you're my big brother. It makes me wonder about things though, not in judgment but just in terms of what the future might hold for me. Is it really possible to love two people at exactly the same time? Do you love Dolly or do you love the idea of who you were to one another, conversely do you really love Niobe or her lack of expectation and the challenge to keep her happy? I'm not saying any of this is how it really is Bruv-Luv, but I wonder. I worry too. I worry that the idea of change scares you so much you'll lose it all and I just want you to be happy.

It makes me feel like maybe we never really grow up, that the things we worry and fret about in Hogwarts and the things we will worry and fret about for the rest of our days. Then I think I think too much and ought to just go snog a boy... is that vein popping out in your forehead? I hope so, it makes me giggle. I wish Daz would write me, I know she can't tell me anything but I miss her. I wish Mum would give me a chance to miss her. I got another letter today inquiring about some of the French boys. No one interests me Niko, they're all the same. Even the boys I'm friends with, when I think about being something else with them... it would just be so ordinary. I don't want to end up like you and Dolly but a little excitement would be a nice change of pace!

Speaking of excitement I believe I hear hexes coming from the common room. Must dash to witness the drama!

xo
Liviana

Dominik Wiedman
Abraxan Flats in London

Miss Liviana Elise Wiedman
Slytherin House

Liviana,

Never forget Halloween is a fantastic time to exercise your freedom in any way that you dare.  Do something nutters that even I would shake my finger at you for.  That's what I learned Halloween is for.  You can get away with anything that night.  It's why it's my favourite time of the year; though I tend to extend that logic into other days as well.  Bad example.  Don't follow that example.

And no I don't think mum and dad love you more, you dork.  If I was there I'd give you a tickle tackle for that.

I understand what you mean though, and I do of course agree about the importance of our heritage, whole heartedly.  I would sooner be caught dead than with a Witch who knew more Muggle things than she did normal things, for instance.  I'd never marry a Witch who looked and acted and dressed like one of them, or had a home that raised relics to their world.  But blood purity is different than that.  It's such a subtle thing that comes in degrees on a spectrum... of course a direct relative without magic would be alarming.  If only for the simple fact that I don't know what on earth I would do if my first born came out a squib.  Merlin.  My life would be ruined. 

Niobe, for her part, is a Witch through and through.  She isn't part of the pureblooded world, but, I think it's something that I actually like about her?  If that makes sense?  She believes in being true to yourself, you know?  She feels sorry for me that I'm always being pulled in a million directions, like mum is starting to do with you.  It's hard to explain what it is, but, it isn't a lack of expectations.  It's the opposite.  She tells me exactly what she wants and doesn't leave any ambiguity.  I feel... contained.

And yes, as fecked as it is to have to be the one to tell you this, it is completely possible to be in love with two people at the same time.  Love is a strange bird, Liviana.  It too comes in many shades.  And it hurts.  It always hurts.  Which is why you should probably avoid it.  But don't listen to me.  Follow your heart and see where it takes you.  Because the best advice I can offer you is yours.

As for Dolores....  There is so much pain there I don't even know what to do with it all.  I've loved her all my life.  Do you ever have something that is just... just too painful to think about because it is so complicated and you never know how to unjumble the mess?  Helplessness is at the core of it, and doom, and murky heart sick feelings.  Then there's hope... hope that causes more pain as expectations flower only to be trampled on....  I am such a sick man, I feel, that I need to be let loose from the chains and expectations she's placed on me.  Then maybe... maybe in the face of change we'll be blessed with some blossoming fate that allows us to be together.

I don't know.  Don't go snogging anybody now.  I'll see if I can get Daz to pick up a quill, and maybe get mum to put hers down for a spell!  Be well, Liviana, and know that I love you!

Sincerely,
Dominik

Miss Liviana Elise Wiedman
Slytherin House, Hogwarts

Dominik Skye Wiedman
Abraxan Flats,
London

My Dear Brother,

Of course Mum and Da love me best, I'm surprised you have to even question it; even you love me best Silly!

I will, again, remind you that I am only sixteen and have never really been in love with anyone or thing besides the clothes Darian Morgan designs - I know that pains you so. I will tell you the most truthful thing I can think of at the moment and it is... watching you and Dolly makes me terrified of love. If that's what love does to you, if all it does is hurt and twist you up and make you crazy then bugger that idea. I'd rather live to be a million with exactly 100 black cats roaming around the Cottage, cooking up brews and inventing cruses than be trapped in the cycle the two of you go at. I say it with love of course, but honestly Bruv, you're awful for one another most of the time.

I'm not even sure I understand what it is you want to be free of from her - you weren't happy when I told you she went to see Elliot while we were in Paris. It's very confusing from the outside because I can't know what the two of you are like alone, what it is you say to one another, what promises you make when things are going well... I can only tell you what I've observed and if you're with Niobe and Dolly is back to being a scandalous socialite then what expectation of you does she really have anymore? Unless, of course, something has happened that neither of you have told me about recently. Grown witches and wizards are just odd. I'd rather be sixteen forever than deal with that bollocks.

That isn't even really true. I can't wait to get out of here. Just a few more weeks till Christmas, I can't wait. The snake pit is a cold and lonely place when all you've got to keep you warm is your reputation and the idea that there are people who would kill to see you fall.

It's late, I'm tired. I miss you dreadfully. Don't get into too much trouble tomorrow night.

Always
Livi

Dominik Wiedman
#8 Abraxan Flats
London

Liviana Wiedman
Slytherin Table
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry

Dearest Liviana,

Sorry for not writing in a while.  As you might have heard I neglected to follow your advice and got into trouble Halloween.  Needless to say I've been kept busy since then - who knows why but when you get in trouble it tends to kill your free time for a while. 

Plus cell time and community service hours, I've been kept busy with both the Witches I never seem able to shut up about.  Both of them just had their birthdays.  You know Dolly's was a big one - sorry mum wouldn't let you leave school for it.  You'll be home for the holidays soon though!  Indeed we are getting perilously close to that time of year when I get to be your favourite grumpy person to spoil with ridiculous things I claim to loathe.

I have a feeling both of them are feeling somewhat homicidal towards me at the moment.  I hope you aren't as mad as well?  Granted you aren't I want to hear how these past few weeks have been treating you, and what do you want for Christmas?

I miss you and I love you,
Dom

Miss Liviana Elise Wiedman
Slytherin House, Hogwarts

Dominik Skye Wiedman
Abraxan Flats,
London

My Darling Niko,

Do you know, when I was a very little girl I believe the sun rose and set on your command? You were my big brother and I worshiped you, almost more than Papa. You two were the knights in shining armor of my life, the ones who chased away monsters from under my bed and wore silly hats for pretend tea parties. I was sure that some day I would meet a man just like you, full of charm awith a carefree smile. He would whisk me off my feet and we'd live happily ever after because if he was like you I couldn't be anything but perfectly, wonderfully, blissfully happy.

The hardest lesson a girl ever learns is that the men who hung the moon are just men, fallible and flawed. It's never made me love you less, I don't think anything ever could. You're always going to be my big brother, the defeater of monsters and wearer of silly hats... but I wish so much that you would stop for a little while. Stop with Dolly, stop with Niobe, just stop. You're so painfully unhappy, you're making such dangerous choices. Halloween was a stupid choice, and you're not a stupid man so why you keep making stupid choices is beyond me.

What if it had been something they couldn't cover up? What if they had sent you away? What would I do without you? Who would I read old French poetry to? Who would protect me from those beastly ferns Daz keeps in the cellar? Who would I sit up with all Christmas night listening for Father Christmas, even though we both know I'm far too old to believe in such silliness. Who would I buy dreadful holiday jumpers for and actually be able to get them worn?

You have to look after you because I'm at Hogwarts. You have to take care of yourself because you can't just make yourself my big brother and then make choices that mean you might leave me forever. You don't get to spend sixteen years making sure you're tied with Papa for the single most important role of man-I-love-most and then leave. It isn't fair. I haven't found someone to sweep me off my feet yet, and even if I had you don't get to just throw your life away. I know you're unhappy and you feel like a dreadful caged animal but I love you, Mum loves you, Dolly loves you (even if she acts like she hates you).

Now I've gone and splotched the paper with silly school girl tears. I stand by it though, you need to start making proper life choices or I will give you the most unmerciless silent treatment. I can out do Dolly and Daz combined. You've seen me use it on Mum.

xoxo
Livi

Dominik Wiedman
8 Abraxan Flats, London

Miss Liviana Wiedman
Slytherin Table, Hogwarts Castle

Dear Livi,

I'm sorry, Livi.  I really am and I understand what you were saying in your letter.  I'll make it up to you, alright?  Over holidays.  Anything you want.  Anything!  I promise you.

I love you and I will always be here for you.  I mean that.

Now, what do you want for Christmas?

Love,
Dominik

Miss Liviana Wiedman
Slytherin House, Hogwarts

Master Dominik Wiedman
Abraxan Flats,
London

Well, for starters you can open the attached package and wear one of the sweaters and the hat when you pick me up at the Station. You're long over do for a turn and I am absolutely sure that if Mother or Papa were to pick me up they would interrogate Ezra at length were they able to pick him out of the crowd. Since you upset me so dreadfully I know that you won't because the last thing you need is your very last favorite girl screaming at you and then not speaking to you until after the new year.

Secondly you can convince Mum she and Papa need to spend the New Year somewhere that is not the Cottage. I have been under absolutely everyone's thumb and Carys and I would like to have a New Years party all our own. Before you lecture me about this remember that I am well aware of what you, Dolly, and Dazmond used to be able to get away with because everyone used to spend most of the holiday rather intoxicated and for some reason you've all changed gears and decided to be adults now that it's my turn to have a little fun. That is terribly bad form of all of you.

Thirdly, you have to promise not to break all the bones in Ezra's body, or even pretend you're going to should I be able to convince him that he would actually be welcomed at the cottage. You'll be on your best behavior.

Fourthly... surprise me. I like things that sparkle. Normally I would suggest you as Dolly for advice but since I'm assuming you two still aren't speaking...ask Dazmond to ask her. Don't actually ask Dazmond because, well, she is bohemian and I am high tea with Darian Morgan.

Oh! Possibly number five, let me give you a makeover. I feel the need to style you whenever I see your picture in the Prophet. You're a very handsome brooding man about town, you should dress the part. Take me shopping and all will be forgiven. Also, I'm hanging enchanted twinkle lights in the basement, and we're putting up a tree.

Don't you just love it when I come home?!

Love you madly Bruv,
Livi

Dominik Wiedman
8 Abraxan Flats, London

Miss Liviana Wiedman
Slytherin Table, Hogwarts Castle

Liviana,

There will be some middle ground to be had.  First of all, thank you for the ugly sweaters and the old yule tree hat, I am certain to be the laughing stock of the Wizarding world if I pick you up in them.  But, I just might be convinced to wear them at the cottage. 

Second, I can deal with lights, but not a tree.  The tree on my head will have to do.  I don't want to be picking pine needles out of my boxer briefs well after May Day. 

I think a party is as good a compromise as any.  It won't be easy to nag mum and dad into leaving the comfort of their warm and toasty cottage, especially with you here, without raising suspicions.  I'll give it my best go though.

CONDITIONS.  I will be at said party.  No one will venture down into the basement.  Zero funny business.

Sparkly things I can do.  You don't need Dolly's taste in clothes and jewelry, though.  You're only sixteen.

See you at the Hogwarts Express, love.

Dominik

Miss Liviana Wiedman
Slytherin House, Hogwarts

Master Dominik Wiedman
Abraxan Flats,
London

Are you really trying to negotiate with me? You're terrible at this.

First point of order: The Sweaters, You can wear the red one that is mildly offensive, people would believe you wearing something like that. Conceding to wearing them around the cottage isn't anything at all because you always wear them around the cottage. It's tradition, and you know how strongly I feel about tradition. The hat is optional to be worn in public but it would win you some extra sister points and make me very happy - you should consider this because you made me cry recently.

Second point of order: Decorations, Never again do I need to hear anything about your boxer briefs. I will change my demands to you have to let me put up a paper tree and then cut out lacy ornaments to stick on it. This will involve arts and crafts and yes, I will be taking pictures.

Third point of order: The Party, You can't be at the party. You have to make an appearance at the New Year's Eve Gala Liadán Ó Móráin and Dolly are planning, before you argue with me that you don't have to go, I will remind you that you need to drum up some good press. Also, Miss Ó Móráin has been very supportive of you in the past and is an old family friend. Speaking strictly as the person you treat as your public relations officer I would also suggest signing up for the auction, or at least donating something. I realize you don't care what the public thinks of you but it's very short sighted in the long run. I know social games aren't your thing, but as someone who has had to play them the last six years of her life here is how I see it: the more you act out against the public the less seriously people take you. If people don't take you seriously then you never get to make an impact. If, however, you were to act like a proper gentleman and productive member of society you would have more sway which could then be parlayed into having a political voice or at least a social one because then people would see you the way I do: a very articulate intelligent person rather than a glowering grunting oaf. You're not an oaf. You have a brain. I happen to like your brain. Sometimes you have to play the game to get out of the game, or at least get into a position of power that you can change things about the game you don't like.

Also, what is wrong with the way Dolly dresses? I realize you would keep me in reindeer rompers until I was fifty if you could, but compared to what a lot of witches wear be glad I've chosen someone so stylish rather than wanting to put holes in my nose and walk around in corsets. I mean I guess if you want I could start dressing like Magnolia Nettlebottom? If that is what you prefer change "sparkly things" to "tattered leather things", also lacy lingerie to be worn out in public for every Wizard with at least one good eye to see.

I'm actually counting the days till I get to come home.
xoxo, Livi