(letter contains language; handwriting is shaky & tear splats on the paper)

A. DELACROIX
Hufflepuff, Hogwarts

ELLIE ST. JAMES

jan 12, 2oo9:

Nori.

I really didn't know who else to turn to as I just imagine everyone must find me out t'be an arse caked liar. The secret I shared with you, about Fauna being my sister? She knows ... as does Alfie an' probably Moira too. I suddenly think about tha' Rocky Horror phrase. "I'm lucky, he's lucky, she's lucky! WE'RE ALL LUCKY!"

Feck. That. I would hardly consider my fortune (ha, more like MISfortune) to be so pleasant, Nor. Why didn't Da just up an' be honest? More like why did he pick my mum instead of Catherine? Dumb git. an' start up a family wiv us? He left that family essentially high an' dry!

She yelled at me. AT ME. I donno what to really think, much less how I'm goin' t'deal wiv this. My heart's shattered in zillion of pieces an' it bleeds for my siblings. Not for me, 'cause aren't I guillty for what me da did? My head says 'shut it, git' while me heart is too destroyed t'make logic, dammit.

Get back to me, please. I can't be the martyr too much longer.


Adelia.

Ellie St. James
Dad's House
London, England

Addie Delacroix
Seventh Year Girl's Dormitory, Hufflepuff House
Hogwarts Castle
Scotland

Addie,

Calm down. Breathe. How did Fauna discover this little (big) secret of yours? Did you tell her? Did she find your diary? Did someone else with a vendetta find out and blab? It's best I know these things before I tell you how to mop up the mess... But, really, it was going to come out sooner or later, and none of it is your fault, Addie, so just breathe.

I don't know why your dad did what he did, but he's the responsible party, not you. At the very least, you can thank him for having good taste-- he obviously produced a lovely bunch of kids, didn't he?

I know you're upset, and I know you're confused, but you must realize she is, too. She's not taking it out on the right person, obviously, but she has the right to be afraid and scared and angry. She has the right to hear the answers to all of her questions. You're just not the person who needs to be giving them. I'll write your dad and tell him to grow some testicles. This is Malcolm's doing, and it's his responsibility to fix everything. When Fauna calms down, I'm sure she'll realize that. I'm sure she'll also realize, over time, that you were caught between blood and water, and it wasn't your place to tell her these things, as much as you love her and have always loved her.

If there's one thing I know, it's that family can be a giant pain in the arse, and friends can be just as bad, but we all still love each other at the end of the day. Except for George.

Ellie

PS - Don't mind the adult shtick. I'm only test-driving it. A certain Gryffindor needs to know his place, so this is good practice. Hugs to you! We'll have spiked tea in Hogsmeade soon, alright? We have a lot to catch up on.

PPS - Keep an eye on Quidditch Illustrated. A certain someone has been flirting with one of the cover stars.