From the journal of Edmund Grey

[Edmund Grey]

This page is adapted from the code by Bree. Edmund tends to write in both English and Norwegian and strives to make the words legible, unlike most of those in his profession.

  

[Edmund Grey]

Thirty-first August, Year eighteen-sixty-one

I am to go to Hogwarts instead of Durmstrang as per family’s decree and my own agreement. I have no wish nor tolerance for Dark Arts, as that school is rumored to teach, and imagine that branch of magic will give me hard time, for intent is required for much magic to be effective. I promised Katharina to visit as often as I am able, of course, but I am uncertain I can do so. It would be interesting to see how this school of magic is working, after all, and we heard they prefer to focus on defending against the Dark Arts rather than learning them. For my family, it’s a plus.
Instead, we’ll be exchanging owls as constantly as time permits and I am to write in this diary, which I personally find a pointless exercise in wasting good paper. I’m to live with Uncle Duncan in London, as it would make my commute between Diagon Alley and Hogwarts a lot easier, but there are no plans to the contrary yet. Mother is the only one to have reservations, since she says Uncle Duncan’s a bit touched in the head, but she says that of everyone, so I hadn’t paid it much attention. I prefer finding things out for myself, and meeting the man would be the way to go about forming my own opinion about him.

  

[Edmund Grey]

October, Eighteen Seventy, Norwegian

Lately, I noticed that there seems to be some sort of tension between the Houses. At first, the idea of fair competition was novel, but later I started to realize that all wasn’t as it seemed to be. Inter-House rivalries seem a legend, especially those between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Woe be you if you’re taken for a member of that particular House by their legendary rivals. And apparently by history, said rivalry goes hundreds of years back, all the way to their Founders.
I can’t help but think that I much prefer peaceful resolution to many a conflict, and having been taken for a Gryffindor by standing up for a first year, I can tell that I definitely prefer avoiding a fight if I can help it. It was an excellent thing that it happened in Great Hall and the conflict was resolved immediately with the truly guilty parties identified without much trouble. These conflicts make me glad that Katharina is not likely to attend this school herself, for it would be difficult for someone like her to adapt. Nonetheless, I believe she could easily fit into the House of Lions. She is most certainly brave enough in facing many a trouble coming her way.
I digress. I have already sent my owl, or at least believe I had, and anything otherwise would be most certainly reminded to me and remedied in haste, for I do not wish to leave my friend without news for long. I did meet someone, however, who could be a good one if so happened, but I shall leave that up to time. After all, it is the only true indicator of who one’s true friends are, and I’d rather have a few true ones than many false.

  

[Edmund Grey]

October, eighteen-seventy-one, Norwegian

I surprised myself with making a friend. Well, more like said friend growing on me. I have met Alexander early on, and aside from being a member of Slytherin House, which seems to give those fellows an unfortunate reputation of evil-doers, he seems to be quite the opposite. So far I found him nothing but charming and well-liked by most other students, and that he’d trouble himself with company of a well-established loner was a bit surprising.
Pleasing, as well, was that through him I managed to meet a few more people, despite already knowing those in my own House – that came naturally, as the Badgers are a friendly group, but outside of it I had difficulty. As it is, things had been stressful aside from that and I cannot wait to get back home for Christmas. I believe this to be the year Katharina starts her own studies. If I cannot offer her any help in improvement, at the very least it shall be most amusing to witness, as everyone’s first attempts at casting magic naturally are.

  

[Edmund Grey]

Closer to the end of the holidays, eighteen-seventy-one

Katharina’s magic learning is most amusing to watch. She hasn’t quite gotten a hang of the basics yet and things tend to blow up in her face, or more accurately, beside or under her, quite frequently. Of course it upsets her, especially if she knows I can do the same spell successfully enough, but all I can tell her is that with more practice, she can be so, too. As it is, I already have a pile of essays I'm currently working on and thus no time for practical magic, so it’s still mostly work rather than a restful break, even when it doesn’t involve practice.
I’m starting to find myself reluctant to go back to school come winter term, despite knowing it could be worse so in Durmstrang. It would be interesting to see other schools of magic in existence, but I do not believe my parents will allow me to travel on my own far enough, given that my family moves primarily between England and Norway on business matters and all my stay had been so far family-related. Uncle Duncan’s being in England is just sheer dumb luck, as has been declared at my cautious attempt to find out if I couldn’t change schools, and if not for him, I would have found myself in Durmstrang.
Of course, with that particular relative comes a different view from that of most of my family. I am pleased to find out that Father does not subscribe to the propaganda upon social class and blood status, of which I have heard many an opinion, but our cousins seem to be of same ilk. Cousin Jefferson is the more annoying of the lot, and given he also attends Hogwarts, I shall not be too surprised to see him adapting the views of majority of pure-bloods there. I shall, however, hold the opposite as I happen to disagree with most of what’s being said.

  

[Edmund Grey]

Early spring of eighteen-seventy-two

I am looking forward to learn more ideas that are related to Healers. After seeing people hurt, however by accident, it looks to me that healing is harder than I thought before, but pleasing to feel that you’re saving a life instead of taking it. Perhaps ‘tis the matter of my possible upbringing if I had moved to Durmstrang instead, but I have come to find the idea repulsive, and as such not at all willing to explore it further.
Instead, when faced with electives, I would probably pick the subjects that are going to be of help rather than hindrance, and certainly will pay more attention to the ones directly related to the profession. Imagine being able to cure most illnesses with a simple spell or potion, though I realize I cannot bring it directly out into the other world.
Speaking of which, I should consider picking up a summer program. Father, I know, shall support me in this, and there are private schools that wouldn’t ask too many questions so long as I complete my tasks on time, but it shall give me more options to look into should nothing in wizarding world seem attractive. I do realize it’s an odd outlook on things, especially for a pureblood, but I cannot help my curiosity and ability to use the chance to the fullest. Uncle Duncan supports my decision as well, and I believe something can be gained of it. Seeing as I start noticing more and more how the relations, however nonexistent, for wizards and muggles deteriorate, I wouldn’t put it past for them to stop entirely sooner rather than later, and I want to catch every opportunity to it I can.
My parents heartily approve of my idea, and the only problem with it is less time with Katharina. Of course, I still spend how much of it I can, and the changes in her are both startling and surprisingly pleasing. She is growing up. Lord help any man who shall have the fortune of her attention in the later years, for she will grow up into a beauty the promise of which I can already see, and hardly can ignore. What will come of it, I know not, but hope I will have a chance to find out for myself.

  

[Edmund Grey]

April 1877

The unrest is growing, and I had to put my foot down at my parents’ resistance to relocation. Sometimes, it seems more trouble than it’s worth, but after being a witness to some better-known wizarding residences in London take fire, I decided it was best safe than sorry. Thankfully, Uncle Duncan was of the same opinion and helped me override my parents’ protests.

The relocation to Hogsmeade was as smooth as could be under the circumstances, and I hope it was kept as quiet as possible. The less was visible, the better a possibility that we would be safe while moving, but it seems that people of Oslo are a lot more aware of possible location of ‘witches’ – someone must have tipped them off. Well, let them cause trouble, but those I care about would be safe, and that is all that matters.

As I write this, however, Uncle Duncan informed me of the fire at our Oslo residence. I believe we made a good getaway, and Father would have to concede this round. While I do have many of good memories concerning my first home, keeping my family safe made it to the top of my list, and I hope we can reconcile… for the most part. Some trouble is unavoidable, of course, but it may be resolved in good time. I wonder how long that may be.

  

[Edmund Grey]

1878

I keep busy in St. Mungo’s. The internship was a good idea, and just around this time I’m unfortunately getting a lot of practice. Most injuries I see seem to come from recent unrests in England and across the wizarding community, and I hesitate to remain in their midst, and if not for responsibility that came with becoming a Healer and needing to learn, I do not believe I would’ve remained in wizarding world.
Thankfully, things in Norway begin to quiet down as wizarding folk continue to separate themselves from their mundane counterparts more than they already had been, and I believe the British may follow their example. It would be a relief not to be in the crossfire any longer, but I doubt we shall ever manage the same openness we had once before.
Still, from what I hear, there is equal unrest within mundane community, therefore it may be safer if we isolate ourselves. I am of two minds about it, for I am too used to having a foot in both parts. It seems my family is also going to separate. Father is against most prejudices that wizards hold, and he and one of his brothers disagree upon many a points. It is most frustrating most of the time, especially since I find myself in crossfire during those arguments, and it makes me glad that I spend a large portion of it in the hospital or elsewhere.
I have heard very little from Katharina, and it makes me wonder. Truly, both of us were hurt by each other, and I know not how to rectify it. For now, last I heard she fares well and was unharmed by the turning unrests, and it’s all that matters. I shall attempt keeping in touch despite increasing busyness on each of our ends, though I doubt it will keep. Perhaps later, things can be fixed, but time will tell if it will be so.

  

[Edmund Grey]

December 1877

I do not often attend social events outside Wizarding world, and even less lately, for there is always something else to do, but Uncle Duncan is to blame for this one. I was getting used to being with one foot in both worlds, of course, who in our family was not – Father is most insistent on that, but I am not the most social of the lot of us. My uncle says he’s just helping me for later, but I wager there’s more in the plots for this Christmas than usual that I’m not aware of.

It was during one of those days that we crossed paths with Miss Jennifer O’Neil and her friends, which ensured a pleasant company of the moment and not a few mis-steps on my uncle’s end that proved my father’s wisdom in his insistence. I am pleased to say that my own habit of observation whenever I am this side of the barrier prevented me from half of them. 

They have all spoken without a hint of awareness of wizard-kind, and we attempted to do the same. How successful we were I am uncertain, but it remains to be seen should the run-in happen again. After all, London or elsewhere, the world is rather a small place.