A large barn owl found the red-haired young Slytherin during her breakfast. It nearly landed on some toast before trundling over closer and extending his foot to his recipient. He hooted impatiently. He was a Daily Prophet owl and had better things to be doing than running personal errands for a reporter.

Niobe Thursby
Daily Prophet
Diagon Alley, London
England

Celene Oglesbee
Slytherin Commonroom
Hogwarts Castle
Hogsmeade, Scotland

Celene,

Hey you! Are you coming to London this summer? You should tell your mum that the whole Leaky Cauldron business is taken care of. Diagon is completely safe. I've got loads to show you, anyway, and I don't want your parents locking you up on that tiny island because they think you'll get attacked by Dementors... The chances of that are so statistically slim...! Hardly worth a thought. Besides, what's summer holidays without a slight chance of danger?

I might need to get a follow-up from the Headmistress before the end of term. I'll owl you ahead so I can grab you between classes.

Best,
Niobe

Celene was absent-mindedly chewing her sausage and mulling over her classes for the day when the owl landed beside her. She knew immediately the subject of the letter it clutched between it's talons both because she recognized it as a Prophet owl, and because she had meaning to send an owl to her cousin for weeks now.

"It's so impolite to make them contact you" she reprimanded herself.

She read the letter from Niobe, smiling at the thought of the shenanigans they'd gotten into last summer, and the prospect of relaxing with  her cousin once these blasted O.W.L.S were done with.

She quickly tossed the owl a dingy silver sickle, rolled out some parchment, and began to write.



Celene Oglesbee
Great Hall
Hogwarts School
Hogsmeade, Scotland


Dearest Cousin,

My apologies on not contacting you sooner, I've just been so swamped with studying lately. I read your piece for the prophet about the Cauldron opening back up, and thought it was wonderful! Congratulations on being chosen for such a prestigious assignment.

My mum has indeed been lobbying for me stay at home this summer. It took many owls, but I've managed to convince her that it is safe for me to stay with you this summer. I'll be visiting them for the first week of the summer holiday, and then I will join you in London. I'm excited to see what you have to show me, especially the new Cauldron, and I know Cricket is ready for a change in scenery (you know how he hates our damp common room. I think I even heard him sneeze the other night!)

As usual, at some point over the summer I will be visiting my Uncle Arty, but that has not been arranged yet. I will let you know when I have more details.

I would love to see you if you visit Hogsmeade! Please let me know if you come 'round.
-Celene

She quickly tied up the letter and sent the owl on it's way, silently admonishing herself that she'd best get that letter to her uncle on it's way before the week was out.

It was a few more days before Niobe got back to her cousin.


Glad to hear it, Celene! I'll make up the sofa. I'll actually attempt cooking you a decent breakfast at least once. Your mum should appreciate that.

If you can peel your brain away from O.W.L.s, I need a favor. You remember I've been covering the Runespoor smuggling case for the last couple of years.  My contact in the Auror office isn't returning my owls and I've hit a wall.  But you've got access to that big lovely library... Do you think you could wiggle your way into the Restricted section? I need to know if there's any possibility that Runespoors could be somehow bred or enchanted to no longer be venomous. It's a long shot, but I'm at my end here.

I'm going to be up there to have a word with McGonagall next week. Think you can have it for me by then? That'd be grand, love.

Okay, speak to you soon!
Niobe

Celene just sort of gaped at the letter for a while after reading it. She had tagged along on Niobe's adventures for the Prophet before, but she'd never before been asked to help with any of them.

Her mind was swirling in a thousand different directions as she collapsed into one of the comfy armchairs that were scattered about the Slytherin Commonroom. She desperately wanted to help her cousin, (fearing that saying no would cause Niobe to cut all ties with Celene and never speak to her again) and this help was even magical beast related! But breaking the rules! That was not something Celene did lightly, or at all, really. If she were caught, the punishment would be swift and fierce, and no teacher would ever like her again!

She swallowed hard, and took a deep breath. With shaky fingers, she slowly began to respond to her cousin's request.


Niobe,
Yes, I will help you. I will attempt sneak into the Restricted Section tomorrow night.
-Celene

P.S- Term ends on 11 June. I will be staying with my Uncle until 8 July, so I be coming to live with you from 9 July through the end of the summer. Hope this will work for you.

The next letter from Niobe came speedily and was written with haste.

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23 April 2011

Don't get into any trouble on my account, little one! See you next week! xoxo  - N