Noriko Wakahisa
Slytherin Tower

Eirene Antonopoulos
Hospital Wing

Dear Eirene,

How are you?  I am doing well.  I hope that this letter finds you well, too.  I am sending it using a trick called a Whizzper that Zeta Pepper taught me, so hopefully it will reach you.  If you don't receive it, let me know and I will try something different next time.

How is the Hospital Wing?  There must be a lot of students in there with you.  I hope that everyone is starting to feel better.  The professors told us that you will be fine, which means you shouldn't worry.  Your magic will come back again, so you won't be trapped as a Muggle forever.  What do you do all day when you can't go to class? 

I know that you are probably upset about missing classes, but don't worry.  Today you only missed Charms, Transfiguration, and Care of Magical Creatures because Defense class was cancelled since Professor Storm is gone.  I attached my notes for Charms and Transfiguration, so hopefully they will help you study.  I am trying to find someone who took notes in Care of Magical Creatures for you, but I think it is mostly Gryffindors and they all said they never take notes.  If I can't find anyone else, I will try to sneak into the next class to take notes for you if Professor Onuris will let me.

Is Professor Storm there with you too?  He was gone from the Welcome Feast, and we heard that he was also sick.  Someone said that he might be dead, but I don't think that that is true.  Probably he is just sick.  So if you see him, let me know.

Did you know that someone is starting SAWS again?  Well, someone is, and her name is Zeta Pepper.  I talked to her on the train when I couldn't find you.  She said that she is starting it again because people are still prejudiced against werewolves, even at our school.  I haven't decided if I want to go or not, but some of the older Slytherin boys are upset about it.

I don't want to worry you, but this is our last semester before Professor Greyfriar chooses prefects for our fifth year, so I think that you should get well soon so that we can start carrying out our plan to make sure we get chosen.  I have been raising my hand a lot in class just like we talked about, and I brought back Christmas presents for all of the professors, but I think it will work better if you're there to do it, too. 

Feel better soon!

Your friend,

Noriko

Attached to the letter are four pages of carefully handwritten notes detailing the Charms and Transfiguration lessons on Tuesday, January 3.

Eirene Antonopoulos
Hospital Wing

Noriko Wakahisa
Slytherin Tower

Dearest Noriko (B.F.F. in aeternum infinity symbol),

It is so heartening to hear from you! As you know, I am not well, but your letter indeed found me! Tell Zeta Pepper thank you, will you please, and that I'm glad she's put her cleverness to use for our benefit. She should focus on class, but that's a lecture for another time. More important things are happening. I lost all my luggage to the sea!

I received the copy of your class notes, and they are the most thoughtful gift that has ever been bestowed upon me. I must say I've been remarkably calm about this horrific situation, but the other students here (there are many! Too many!) have accused me of distraught behavior. They clearly don't understand how important school is. I've spent the past few days ordering them to rest and be quiet (which incidentally helps me focus on my studies), but they'd rather cause a ruckus. Oh well, nevermind the plebeians, I've thoroughly reviewed your notes and made just a few comments for our reference on a separate scroll of parchment (please see footnotes A through E regarding the hidden sixth exception to Gamp's Law, and appendix A for my diagram of Accio wand gestures). You're welcome!

Professor Onuris may indeed let you take notes for me if you ask him nicely! He is tres gentil. The Gryffindors cannot be trusted to hold a quill without poking themselves in the eye!

Professor Storm is most certainly, absolutely alive! Professor Storm is home with Praecantatio Deliquus, watched over by the great Healer, Miranda Storm. At times, in moments of weakness, I do wish he were here to rein in the snotty masses (not me! I sniffle delicately), but I suppose this is a valuable life lesson for me. On a happy note, Headmaster Greyfriar has visited several times, and he gifted me with the responsibility of taking notes about the students' condition! Of course, he told me to do so while an esteemed Healer was visiting us, but I've taken that to mean I should continue noting every sniffle and sneeze even when she's not here. I've created a legend categorizing the violence of the sneezes...[1]

The esteemed Healer I mentioned is Elixa Mordent from Saint Mungo's! She knows my mother. They even work on the same floor! She knew of me, of course, and asked me to help her! Frank and I have been busy preparing ingredients for her to brew. Frank has been quite helpful, though his sneezes are distracting. A ten on the violent sneezing scale.

I do hope Healer Mordent stays on as our permanent Healer (we so desperately need one as I can only do so much) but when I mentioned it, Noriko, she appeared to pale from the flattery! She must need more time with me to process the idea.

I am trying to get better soon! I can't stand being sick! My temperature is unusually high. Did you know that I can SMELL the fire damage done to this place? I can very nearly see the fire, and smoke, and bats in the rafters, circling above us.[2]

What was I saying? We will absolutely be prefects next year. I'm proud of you for raising your hand in class! How have Professor Storm's defense classes been going without me? We will most certainly be prefects tomorrow. Have you been raising your hand in class like I told you to, Noriko?

Why in Merlin's name would anyone starts SAWS again? We only have one werewolf. I strongly suggest not attending this upstart club. Zeta Pepper would do well to focus on helping us pass notes and focus on passing her classes! Imagine! I am resting in the very infirmary that was burnt down by SAWS and rebuilt by the magic of honest workers! Imagine, the Valentine's Day dance in February, ruined by rebels who spike the punch! Don't they know there's a queue of boys waiting for the right moment to ask us?

What is Greer Grant like? I barely remember her from a few years ago. Is she as bad as the other Gryffindors? Note I said Gryffindors, not werewolf, so it's not terribly offensive.

I forgot to tell you, I lost all my luggage to the sea! Let me tell you the whole story. I ran into Frank at the train station and poor Frank had broken his nose running into the wall! Muggles surrounded us, but we managed to escape their scrutiny...

...We broke into a   Luckily, the house with the floo system was unlocked! We wisely chose to go to Hogsmeade...

...Slandermouth! I looked over and saw my luggage, lost in the sea! My books, my clothes, my books, my holiday presents for the professors! A frightening man accosted us...

...Chased by a pack of twenty jarveys...

....At the tea shop, Cosima's mother found us! She worried over us, but I put on my bravest face and told her everything that had happened! Frank looked a bit sniffly, poor Frank...

...Professor Onuris rescued us.... Professor Onuris said...

...My luggage! ... The sea!...[3]

I hope you are well! I miss you! How have your other classes been? I won't even mind if you tell me about Divination! Do tell Taiki if he misbehaves I will come after him with a jinx once I'm better! Tell Daichi not to cry, I will get better soon and I'll be there in the common room to help him with his revision.

Your best friend,
Eirene


P.S. I apologize for the delay in replying! I fell asleep and dreamed I had sent it to you and when I woke, I had not.

P. P. S. Don't fear - I'm wearing the gloves my mother sent me so that this parchment does not infect you.

P. P. P. S. I will never understand people who make fun of me for caring! What is so funny about 'dearest', I ask? They don't have a best friend like you!

P. P. P. P. S. Clever Cosima promised to help me smuggle this letter out. If worst comes to worst, it may fall into the hands of a small yet loud Hufflepuff who keeps trying to talk to us through the door and tell us that the school has turned into ghosts and we are the only survivors. He goes by Wesley. Be warned.

1.	Eirene goes on for several more paragraphs, including a diagram of sneezing smiley faces reminiscent of those pain charts: 'how much pain are you in from 1 to 10'
2.	Eirene goes on for one more paragraph detailing her fever dream in a confused ramble
3.	Eirene continues, ending with a description of how she is rebuilding her planner.