February 2, 2010
Ianto,

I know I haven't written in like forever and I'm bad at writing and you're very busy but I had a really important question. Ambrose and I have to raise a tree for Herbology and it's a cute little tree and I don't want to kill it. I don't want Ambrose to kill it either. It's an Aspen, if that helps. It's still tiny and everything, but we have to keep alive for the rest of the term. Help?

And did you hear Ambrose has a girlfriend now? No idea how he did that, but she's all smart and pretty and her dad is one of the Professors. I guess this means I need a boyfriend now? How does that work? All the boys in my year are weird or icky or just different kinds of weird.

Love,

Zeta

February 3rd

Dear Zeta,

I’ll get to the tree in just an instant. But first, I must inform you that you do not need a boyfriend. Plants are far better companions, and quite less weird and icky than fourteen year old boys. I frankly cannot understand your generation’s habit of dating from such a young age; did you know that, in my age, things went much slower? It was all rather better, in my opinion, and the courtship stage was rather an improvement that allowed us to be certain we were choosing the correct other half. Take your time, dear, there’s no rush. And tell Ambrose he should be careful –there’s no need for him to bring more children into the world until he’s much older. Seriously, though… Ambrose? Dating? This is almost as strange as fern flower blooming in December.

Now, as for your Aspen: did you know that the wood is often used by muggles to make matches or to build the interior walls of what they call a ‘sauna’? This is basically a hot room they stand or sit in, because they believe the heat is good for their skin. A strange species, the muggles are. Some species of aspen’s are also used to treat burns and the like. Just a few fun facts for you. As for its care, one of the prime things you must keep in mind is that Aspens do not do well in the shade: as a matter of fact, fire actually benefits this species of trees, Zeta. They’re really quite remarkable plants. It also serves as food for the larvae of butterflies. See? Quite amazing.

Do let me know if you need any more help. I’m sending along a fern flower –it’s a very prized object for me, so do keep care of it. It is supposed to bring luck, and you might even gain the ability to speak to animals, although I’ve had this particular flower for many years and have yet to be able to bark, so I’m quite certain this is simple myth and untrue. The two bowties that are also coming along with this package are for Ambrose –you’ll notice they are the exact same, and this is because one is for him to put away so it can be the first of his collection, and the other I insist he wear. It’s about time he start learning about the wonders of bowties.

--Ianto

February 5

Ianto,

I haven't found any boys yet so don't worry. It will probably take me years. But you're right, plants are a better topic. I'll make sure to keep the Aspen in the sun, though. And fire? What kind of fire? We shouldn't set it on fire, should we? I'm not going to tell Ambrose you mentioned fire, he might try.

I'll give him the bowties though. They're really nice. And so is the fern. It hasn't taught me how to bark yet either, but maybe I'll ask the Professor about that. Maybe it's used in that sort of potion? I made a drawing of it for you. Not sure it turned out, I'm not very good at drawing plants.

Thank you!

Zeta