From: Ferguson Amherst
             Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
             Slytherin Table
To:     Sasha Schlagenweit
             Location Unknown


Sasha,

 First of all, I realize that you're probably not eager to hear from me after... what happened. And I promise I'll leave you alone after this if that's what you want. But a couple days ago your sister showed up at Hogwarts, and said that when Snark suspended you (for no reason, I'm sure, except that she hates you), you didn't go home. And that no one seems to know where you have gone.

 Jacoba seemed very worried about you, and it's made me worried, too. You really should write to her and let her know you're all right. If you can. If my owl even finds you. You are all right, aren't you? Like I said- once I know that, I'll leave you alone. I just want to know you're okay.

Note: This letter has received some editing before arriving at the Slytherin Table

From: Sasha Schlagenweit

To: Ferguson Amherst
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Slytherin Table

November 28th
Ferguson,

Your letter wasn't greeted with any lack of eagerness, in fact it was quite welcome.  I received a less-than-friendly letter from Knight over the weekend but that's only served to motivate me to stand up for myself more. 

And, I want you to rest assured that your letter found me doing quite well.  As you heard, I was suspended for the remainder of the term.  She apparently found out that, towards the beginning of November, Professor Ramsey gave me detentions for stealing test papers and cheating.  Of course, neither of which I did - but neither Professor Ramsey nor Madam Snark believed me.  She also claimed the trip to London wasn't authorized even though I had both the Ministry's and my Head of House's permission. 

As you know, I did not go home.  I'm taking a short vacation during my suspension and enjoying some relaxation.  Which, of course, is much needed.  I've been doing quite well, in fact and getting a fair bit of wandwork practice and riding in.  It has been a nice change of pace.

I've been unsure about writing before now but I do want you to know that I have no hard feelings about what happened.  And, I should apologize for the way I reacted.  It hadn't been something I was anticipating and it took my by surprise.  And, I reacted poorly.  For that, I do apologize. 

I look forward to seeing you, again, next term.  I know I'll be quite busy with lots of catch up but, nonetheless, I'm looking forward to getting back.

Liebe Grüsse
Sasha S.

From: Ferguson Amherst
             Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
             Slytherin Table
To:     Sasha Schlagenweit
             Location Unknown


Sasha,

 Callum wrote to you? I've been doing my best to avoid him (as usual), but he caught up with me yesterday, and I think, based on my encounter with him, I know what his letter was about. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I don't know how he found out. I haven't told anyone about what happened, except Jordyn, and I know she wouldn't repeat it. I tried to make it clear to Callum that it was a one-sided thing. Hopefully he believed me and won't give you any more grief over it.

 Thank you for the apology. I appreciate it. And, I'm sorry I caught you off guard in that manner. Whatever feelings I have for you, I shouldn't have acted on them when I know you're in a relationship and that my attentions were unwanted. I didn't exactly think it through. I'd like to assure you that you don't have to worry about anything like that happening again. We can still be friends, can't we? I mean, this doesn't have to change everything, does it?

 I can't believe Professor Ramsey gave you a detention for cheating. It's ridiculous! You're the smartest person I know - why would you need to cheat? Even if you had, that shouldn't have factored into your suspension if you were already being reprimanded. And how can you be punished for something the Ministry authorized you to do? The headmistress is grasping at straws. Did you see her letter in the Prophet? She makes it sound like you're a problem student. You! Like anyone who knew you would believe that.

 But, I'm glad that you're doing well and enjoying your time off. You deserve it. Where are you staying? It sounds like it must be pretty nice. Of course, at the moment, stuck at school with midterms starting up, anywhere else sounds nice in comparison. I can't wait for the term to be over. I'm impatiently counting down the days until I can get out of here and not look at a single school related book for a few weeks.

 When we do get back to Hogwarts, though, I could help you catch up. If you want. You take more classes than I do, but I can help with the ones I do take, and could make you copies of my notes.

 I hope my owl finds you well, and continuing to enjoy your vacation.

From: Sasha Schlagenweit


Ferguson,

Knight did write me a letter - apparently it was pretty rude and inappropriate.  I actually never read it myself; I was, gratefully, spared the need to do so but I was informed of the basic concept.  And, of course, if you didn't tell him then the letter isn't your fault.  No apology necessary.  Whether or not it was one-sided I doubt will make much of a difference to Knight; he is deficient and such subtleties are lost on him.  I'm not worried about him.  You shouldn't worry about him, either.  All that foolishness isn't worth wasting time or energy over.

No.  As far as I'm concerned, that doesn't change anything - I'm happy to still be your friend.  Assuming, of course, you still want to be.  Given the letters, I'm assuming you do.  And, I'm glad you believe that I wouldn't cheat.  It was the practical exam Professor Ramsey said I stole, though which, as you know, has always been a challenge.  She was insisted I was so worried about my grades that I stole the test papers to make sure I got an O.  Of course, I didn't but she wouldn't hear that.  I didn't see the letter in the Prophet.  A problem student?  I'm a prefect, though!  I'm not ... unfortunately, that seems to fit with the articles Skeeter has been writing.  Anyone who doesn't know me will think I'm some scoundrel.  I also heard Skeeter wrote another article.  I wish they'd find something else to do. 

I'm having an even better time then before.  I do get some studying done with tutors but there's still lots of relaxation.  Hopefully, I'll be ready for whatever midterms they let me take late in January.  It's definitely cold up here but I'm sure it's colder at school. 

How are things at school?  Is there any gossip?  Are the trees up in the Great Hall, yet? I bet you are looking forward to the holidays.  Another week or so - you're almost there.  Than three weeks of no school.  Are you staying in London for the holidays? 

I'll have to enjoy my relaxation now, though, I'm afraid.  My father has me riding in four shows and twenty-three classes over the holidays.  The first is in London from the seventeenth through the twentieth.  Then, I'm on the overnight train to Barcelona, a few days there and then another overnight train back to Germany for Christmas Eve and Day.  I'm there a couple days before on to a show in Zurich and a last one in Rome.  I take an overnight back to London to catch the Hogwarts Express.  It's going to be busy but, if we do well, it'll pay off. 

Thank you for your offer of notes and I will likely take you up on it.  I'm going to have so much to catch up on.  I'm trying to ignore that as much as possible. I'll have to deal with that in the new year.

I look forward to hearing from you again and hope the term is finishing quietly, at least. 


Liebe Grüsse
Sasha S.

From: Ferguson Amherst
             Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
             Slytherin Table
To:     Sasha Schlagenweit
             Location Unknown


Sasha,

 While I'm relieved to hear that you aren't worried about Callum, I must say that I'm surprised. I thought that would bother you more than it seems like it has. I'm not particularly worried about him either, though. Or, well, not about what he has to say about me, anyway. I think I've heard all of the insults he has for me at least a dozen times by this point. Can't say I'm exactly excited about him having another reason to physically torment me, but I guess I'm used to that, too. Besides, in a few days I'll be out of school for the holidays, and with a bit of luck I can avoid him until term starts back up again.

 You're still a prefect, then? Some people are saying Snark took your badge away when she suspended you. I'm glad to hear that's not true, it would have been terribly unfair to you. And I'm sure not everyone will believe what the Headmistress and Rita Skeeter have to say about you. I mean, who takes Skeeter seriously, anyway? (Although, if you get a chance, you should check out that article she wrote about you - the one you mentioned in your last letter. It said something that... anyway, you should just read it.)

 School is... it's murderous, right now. I feel like I'm going to go mad before midterms are over. But, yes, the trees are up, so at least I'll have something pretty to look at when I crack under the strain.

  I am, admittedly, over dramatizing a little. Strange as it may sound, midterms have been a welcome distraction. Everyone's so busy with revising that there isn't a lot of time left for personal drama. But of course there is still gossip. Fauna Blake and Devlin Matthews are officially an item, I'm told, and Ayla Collins has been accused of trying to seduce the Muggle Studies professor. Not sure if that's true, though. Erin Harper kissed another boy out in the corridor in front of everyone, so maybe people will focus on that instead of...

 Unless you were only interested in if there was any gossip about you. I haven't heard much. Like I said, course work is keeping everyone busy and the past week or so I've stuck to the library as much as possible. All I've heard is what I mentioned earlier, about the prefect thing,  and some people talking about the Prophet articles.

 I was trying to make other plans for at least part of my holiday, but they haven't worked out and it looks as though I will be spending all three weeks at home in London. Not that I'm complaining, exactly, it's just that my brother will be hanging around doing his best to torment me. Oh well, at least he's not at school anymore. Last year, with him and Callum ganging up on me... things weren't exactly pleasant.

 It sounds like you are going to be pretty busy during your break. Are you going to make it to the Winter Festival at all? I'm going to try to get up there as much as possible. I hear they are having a fashion show. I'm excited about it.

 I think it goes without saying that of course I still want to be friends with you. But... I told Neely what happened. I had to - Callum knew, it was only a matter of time before it got around to her, and I didn't want her to find out from someone else. I don't think she'll be angry with you over that, I explained things to her - or at least, I tried. But needless to say, she's not very happy with me. I don't think she'll be too keen on the idea of us continuing to be friends, so I understand if you change your mind.  Your relationship with Neely is important, I realize that, and I don't want to do anything further to mess it up. I'd miss you, though. A lot.

 Anyway, I ought to get back to my studies. I look forward to hearing from you again.


P.S. Reading back over your letter, I'm confused. What did you mean - you were 'spared the need' of reading the one from Callum? Does that... Is someone screening your owls? Are they reading mine?

From: Sasha Schlagenweit



Ferguson,

I wouldn't say I'm not bothered by it; the rumor mill can be a bit of nuisance.  But, I've resolved not to worry about Callum anymore.  I have no intentions of allowing him to hold any control over me anymore.  He's simply not worth it.  As to the rumors - I assume most people are smart enough not to take him seriously.  Most people know Neely and I are together so, no, I'm not worried.  I think they'll just see it as Callum trying to stir trouble.

I don't know if I'll still be a prefect - I won't know until I get back.  I'm not sure if I will.  I might be on probation or it might be taken away.  I won't know until I get back to school.  I admit, I haven't seen a Prophet in weeks and may not until I get back to London.  I'll try to hunt down a Prophet, then.  Was Skeeter as horrid as usual?

They're saying Ayla tried to seduce Professor Frasier?  Obviously, that's just a stupid rumor - I don't see that happening.  Fauna and Devlin, though, seem a fitting and likely pair.  It seems to go with Fauna's new rebellious image.  It's sad to say but maybe Fauna will learn some fashion tips from Devlin.  I'll talk to Neely when I get back to school.  I'm sure, by then, she'll have relaxed and it'll be behind us. 

Chances are, by the time you get this, the term will be close to over.  And, yes, I'll be going to the Winter Festival on the first day.  I'm supposed to be back in London on the sixteenth so that's the only day I can make it.  I'll miss the fashion show and most of the events but I'm glad I get to go at all this year.  My friend, the one I've been staying with, is making sure I get to go at least one day before having to head home again.  He's very nice - you should meet him if you're there.  Either way, I hope we run into each other there.

Liebe Grüsse,
Fergie