This letter was delivered by a Brahminy kite, who only allowed the recipient to take the letter when she closed the window and turned up the heating. As soon as the letter was obtained, the bird of prey snapped at the window for it to be opened, and then left in a hurry. The additional note stuck to the letter has a hasty scribble on it: "She hates the cold. Let her get out ASAP."

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To Elixa Mordent
Diagon Alley
London
UK

From:Arcturus Hollingbury
Shah Alam
Peninsular Malaysia

Dear Elixa,

Aah, I have received your mail. The owl was very tired and slept for the whole day despite the humid, hot climate here. I tried to keep it as cool as possible until night, which is...a lot easier than it sounds, considering that we're not allowed to do magic in our residence so electrics can run, and the muggles here have this device to "condition" air to make the atmosphere more comfortable. It's pretty cool.

You are permitted to hit me for that pun when I come back.

I had no idea all that happened back home whilst I was away. I'm not even sure if I have the words to describe my feelings about all those events, apart from "mixed". Far away, they seem so distant, and yet I feel that I should be there to watch all of it unfold. But I'm not, and somehow I feel thankful for it. I don't know. It's a confusing mess, not helped by pressure and work over here, but I guess I'll eventually sort it out - if not sooner, then probably by the time I get home.

I have not written to you, I am aware of that. There are no "buts" or "ifs", I'm not even going to defend myself for that. I'm sorry. Plenty of things have been going on here, maybe just as much as they are in the West. We don't get a lot of news of our magical counterparts in foreign lands in the East, so it came as a shock to me that there are a lot of strange magical disturbances here. I have been coming to terms with a lot of things over time, and it's left me with a lot to think about the here and now, not who I've left behind for the time being.

But it's no excuse. I'm sure you'd be worried about me. I'm doing fine. Also I apologise if I smudge any ink, my hands are a bit sweaty in this weather.

Hm...what else could I write? Our research - well, when I say 'our' I do mean both my mother's and mine - is going somewhat well, although we still have to occasionally clear out of our residence in an emergency if my mother accidentally lets the fumes of a Deathpod infiltrate the air conditioning device. It happens more times than I should be comfortable with, but at least I'm well educated about it.

The climate here is really difficult to get used to. I am actually a bit more tanned now, and am kinda used to the odd way they have tea here. Being exposed to different cultures and people has given me a new perspective to living and life, as well as the wondrous (even if unbearably hot - but what am I saying? Average temperatures here range around 30 degrees and it rains, compared to Greece where it gets wet 20 days in a year) amount of life that survives in the tropical rainforests. I daresay there's a lot that we potioneers are missing out here.

That's enough about me, I guess. How about you? How's your life in St Mungo's of late? Friends? Family? Work? Anything a little more positive and less gloomy than the news of the latest werewolf attacks? I think that when I come back I should at least bring you and Johann out to dinner so at least you know I'm actually back, not just being a hermit in the flat.

Hope to hear from you soon.

A. Hollingbury.

PS: Rustle and I thank you for the treats. They are a welcome break from the cockroaches - for me. I swear it's not my fault, he's practically gone mad with killing things and bringing them to me ever since he discovered the vast diversity of large insects that share our living space. I can't find his treats here, ugh, Kneazles are considered exotic pets and you have to ship special treats in. We're using a cheaper alternative, but he certainly only eats them because he knows they're all he's got.

Mr Arcturus Hollingbury
Shah Alam
Peninsular Malaysia

Ms E Mordent
Diagon Alley
London
UK

1st October, 2010

ARCTURUS!

OH MERLIN YOU ARE THERE.

I wasn't even sure my last letter had got to you, but I thought it had to if you wrote to Joh from there. Yeah, nice job trying to keep that quiet boys. I'm waggling my finger at you via letter, young Hollingbury!!

Knowing Joh it was probably all him. He's such a secretive little b… smudge

How did you not know what was going on back here? I thought you two were owling each other? Surely he mentioned? Oh. Perhaps he didn't want to worry you. Shit.

So sorry for the doom and gloom in my last two. I've just missed you more than ever for your practical, no-nonsense approach to stuff. I am still to learn your poker face skills, damn you for going, I need more lessons. Ok. So, happy things. Hey, that's not so bad, I suppose it's better to talk about them to make me happy too.

You specified categories for happy things, so here we go:

Me

I still have two arms, two legs, and I've only got a few more grey hairs than before. Nothing that a decent hair dye potion can't fix. Still the most gorgeous witch in Diagon Alley and your housemate. I mean, what on earth aren't you here enjoying me for?

Life in St Mungo's

Elliot is the world's strictest boss. Crap, positive things. She runs a really tight ship, which is great. Colleagues are same as, we're getting along fine in the apothecary and haven' t poisoned anyone.

I've had a few special requests from your old floor, and from creatures to brew some potions that take a month to mature which has kept me in and out the place at odd hours as it had to be added at certain moon phases.

Been shadowing Jules Deville a bit, after Joy, but not got back on the proper trainee stuff. I'm busy enough in the apothecary and it's playing to my skills.

Friends

Always gaining those. It's not annual leave without a hangover or a night on the town. I'll never grow up truly. It's been good to spend a bit of time with Joh's mum - Camille. I don't suppose you've ever met her? She's moved to teach Arithmancy at Hogwarts. I've known her since I was little.

Everyone's still about, and people ask about you plenty, but obviously I've had no news, but I'll let them all know you're well.

Family

Benedick and Belarius are both fantastic, but I miss them both. We're planning on going somewhere in the new year together, preferably warm, sunny and with lots of cocktails.

I did go back home to see them not too long ago, had a big old family dinner with my parents and traipsed round town. I do believe my little obliviator brother might have found himself a girl for keeps. Bel looks all loved up, I'm almost envious.

I felt a little homesick for Britain though which was weird. I guess I'm starting to feel at home after nine months. Nine months! I can't believe it. Only seems like yesterday I was in Sweden managing Drammes.

How is your family? I see your dad every now and then around and about, but how's it been living with your mum out there?

Anything a little more positive

I can cook some mean burgers. I learned how to do vegetarian ones too and they're just as good. I still cook a lot of the stuff we used to cook together, so you won't be missing out dinners when you get back.

Oh, and I may have turned the pantry into a little home brew base, but I'll get rid of that if you let me know when you'll be back, but boy the stuff will blow your head off. Burn this letter.

Ooh! Do you remember that time someone turned Edwin's car into a flying one and your dad met me? Well, the guy - Monty - is still flying them around in Britain. He's hilarious. i want a go! Imagine that, flying around the countryside in a CAR.

Dinner

I am holding you to contract because you signed the letter that said you were going to take me to dinner.

I am so very curious about the whole electricity things you have there. I mean, wouldn't it be easier to use cooling and freezing charms? Thanks for keeping the owl cool all the same, it was one from the hospital and I don't think it was the right sort to send all the way out there. Kept thinking Elliot or one of her minions was going to come and shout at me for using it. But you're worth it - AND - I could reason it was on hospital business.

Is electricity as efficient as magic? I have a hundred and two questions but don't want to make you write me an essay in return! When you get back I want to hear everything, or you're going to have to tell me when I can come visit. Or else I'll write to your mum!!

Please give Rustle lots of pets from me. I miss his furry little backside as much as I miss his owner. Enclosing more treats. If he wants more, he's got to bring you home. Then he can have a trade bag full. (Apothecary's privilege)

Get your bum back here before I rent your room to a big hunky quidditch player.

Love you lots and miss you sooooo much

E xxxx

To: Elixa Mordent
Diagon Alley
London
UK

From: Arcturus Hollingbury
Shah Alam
Peninsular Malaysia

Dear Elixa,
So enthusiastic! Also, "Mr Arcturus Hollingbury"? You're getting formal.

No, actually I've not been keeping in contact with Johann. I've not really written to anyone save for both of you, in fact, and only just recently. Work has been fairly intense ever since I got here, and along with getting used to the food and the culture, I've not actually had free time until now.

All right, all right, I'll teach you my poker face skills, don't you get antsy over that.

Love how you mention a hair dye potion to me, mm, a few more grey hairs can't hurt than half a head of unnaturally white hair, surely.

Aah yes, we have a new boss. I'm looking forward to getting to meet her, and all I hope when it comes to adjusting to her is that she doesn't find my network of contacts on this side of the world a little too unconventional. Elixa, as long as you're not handling a Deathpod or even have one in the vicinity, consider your luck very high.

Who asks about me? Who could possibly ask about me? It's not as if I leave such a mighty impact on people's lives...surely?

My mother is fine, she loves it out here and is spending her free time jokingly plotting on how to smuggle seeds of some of the exotic specimens back home, but in all seriousness that's not even possible due to how strict the Ministry would classify these seeds. She writes to my father far more than I write to anyone. I really should follow in her example, but at least now I don't nearly fall asleep in the bathroom right after I come home? So I supposed it would be a good time to do something that doesn't involve hours of staring at how many teaspoons of ground stag beetle horn a potion needs.

Get that crap out of the pantry before I come back or I'll blow your head off. I'll pass on the flying car.

Oops, I have to go. Needed for a thorough testing of some new ingredients we may have discovered from specimens. I don't think I'll have the time to write anymore to you or Johann over the next week or so, but I will be thinking fondly of you two. We'll see if I can find out when we're coming back here, though it would depend on whether we finish our current research and my mother's ready to get home after finishing her studies.

A Hollingbury.

A Cocky Hollingbury
Shah Alam
Peninsular Malaysia

Ms E Mordent
Diagon Alley
London
UK

4th October, 2010

Dear Arcturus,

Yeah, sorry about that. When I send from the hospital owls I feel I have to at least make it look like it's on official business on the envelope in case I get stopped.

Please don't bring back any deathpods, I've looked those things up. Plenty of people asking if any medicinal worth out of them is balanced by their risk in the research at St M's. I swear if you start asking me to stock them, we may have trouble. Or you're going to have to show me your wealth of experience in handling them to be sure we don't get trouble.

You would be surprised at who asks about you! Practically everyone on your old floor, and the rest of them ask 'what happened to your mate with the funny hair?' so if nothing else, your locks have a 'mighty impact' on their lives. Some of the long term patients have asked me too. Who knew you had fans of your bedside manner? Clearly not you!

You should get Johann and his Department to organise some sort of paperwork to help you bring your research home. Seems a great waste to leave it behind. I'd ask him for you, if he were here.

Only a few more weeks in the pantry, I promise, I've just about figured out the right technique now to create something that isn't too strong and has a great flavour. Then it can go. I promise.

I know you said you wouldn't write for a few weeks, but did you send Johann some photographs from out there? He's left some stuff here, and there's an envelope addressed to him in your handwriting with some in amongst it. Looks pretty darn awesome anyway. But no photos of you Arc, just your mum eating noodles?? Don't tell me you're still a bit camera-shy in the sunshine?

My love to you both. Off to work to post this, and don't care what I've addressed it as this time!!

Love,

E xxxxxx