To: Professor Keene

[Handsome Whitledge]

Written in sloppy handwriting that may suggest desperation, as well as being covered in ink smudges.

03 June, 1887

Professor Keene,

It's been only a little more than a month since school ended, but I cannot help finding myself wishing to be back at Hogwarts. I presume you have been spending the summer with family and friends, but I hope that receiving a letter from me won't be too much of a bother. I'm sure you're aware that I've lived in a fatherless household since my father's passing in 1884, but recently my household has been devoid of a mother. Though I love my mother terribly, I've recently come to accept that she cares for her role as a healer more than her role as a mother; and without her, I've been left to care for my five siblings without much guidance.

If I'm not mistaken, my sister Sweetie Whitledge is a member of your Ghoul Studies OWL-level class. I'm quite sure you're aware of her obnoxious actions disposition, and I'm sad to say that it exists beyond the classroom walls. She first harassed Miss Madeleine Backus, a the Hufflepuff prefect, regarding the friendship between her and I when she visited our home to deliver bread from her bakery. When I attempted to reprimand Miss Whitledge for the incident, she proceeded to flee home to stay with our cousins.

Upon attempting to retrieve her from our cousins' home, I was greeted with insults and then described in a manner which would make any stranger believe I was the devil. I have not yet found a way to get her to come home, as even threats to pull her out of Hogwarts have not budged her. I cannot allow her to continue to burden our extended family and throw our family into a state of chaos.

Though I'm of legal age, I'm not so silly as to think I'm a fully-grown man. I lack experience handling children — especially ones so close to my age. It is one thing to handle a bunch of misbehaving first years who fear punishment, and another to handle a sister who refuses to acknowledge me as the only authority figure in the home. I do not wish to exert complete control over her, nor do I wish to be on the receiving end of her resentment, but I've found no alternative.

You have far more experience handling troublesome youths than I do, and I must admit that you were the first to come to mind when I thought of an adult figure to reach out to. Is it possible that you might have a solution for this problem, or at least a way to handle it until school resumes?

Sincerely,

— Handsome Whitledge —

@'Barrett Keene'

  

[Barrett Keene]

Mr. H. Whitledge,

You aren't a bother at all; although I am ostensibly free of duty during the summer, I certainly don't mind offering advice in some form.

If I expected Miss Whitledge to expect my authority, I would offer to talk to her myself, but I feel as if that would be innappropriate, unhelpful meddling. But with the caveat that I am not a parent, and my niece and nephews would laugh to hear me giving advice, I'll try my best to help.

 The way I see it, you have several options: 
- Allow her to simmer in your cousin's house with no financial contributions until she grows bored and comes home.
- Get your mother (for you'll need legal authority, and you're underage) to send her to a muggle convent for a few weeks.
- Get your cousins to kick her out. Without them, she'll have nowhere to go, and will be unable to perform magic legally (and, as a well-off young girl, will be entirely without survival skills.) She'd likely return home within less than a day. If she doesn't, you can always appeal to the DMLE to take her home from wherever she wandered off to.

Obviously her behavior cannot be allowed to continue, but I agree that taking her out of Hogwarts is extreme. I think that the second two options are most likely to work; they seem a tad extreme, and unenjoyable for all involved, but may not lead to lifelong resentment and may solve her behavioral problems.

As it stands, it sounds as if your sister could benefit from an etiquette tutor, such as Mrs. Letitia Swift. 

Sinc.
Professor Keene 

  

[Handsome Whitledge]

04 July, 1887

Professor Keene,

Thank you for writing back so promptly. It's relieving to hear that my letter hasn't caused much of an issue for you.

I have considered the possibility of employing an etiquette tutor for Sweetie on multiple occasions, but I have a dilemma: Sweetie is perfectly capable of being a proper young woman, but she chooses not to. Even if one was to teach a child all the skills necessary to paint a masterpiece, none would be created unless the child chose to create one; that's how I see the situation at hand. How could I teach Sweetie to want to be a proper young woman when she equates propriety with slavery under her brother? She is all too irrational.

I would hate to pull her from school — it would not only ruin her, but it would surely cause gossip surrounding our family — so I will definitely consider the advice you've given me. Life-time resentment seems unavoidable for what's already happened, as Sweetie blames me and the discipline I've doled out to her for her unhappiness in the past year. Though she is fifteen years old, she acts more like a child than our incoming second year sister, Honey.

I told my cousins to inform my uncle and aunt that she should not be allowed to stay there more than a night. I do not wish to throw her out on the streets while tears are falling from her face, and I wish for her to have time to consider her possibilities. Without her sister there, she will definitely feel far less comfortable.

— Handsome Whitledge —

  

[Barrett Keene]

7.07

Mr. H. Whitledge,

It sounds as if you have things well in hand; please let me know if you need any more advice.

Sinc.
Professor Keene 

  

[Handsome Whitledge]

13 July, 1887

Professor Keene,

Do forgive me for bothering you once again. I do wish to make sure you were uninjured at the Wizarding World Market; I've been unable to get a complete list in my hand at the Ministry despite my multiple requests.

My mother unfortunately perished in the accident, and I've been left with no guidance. My grandmother has taken on responsibility of caring for us, but her absence most of our lives has left her unable to soothe my distraught siblings.

I'm a Gryffindor; I've always thought myself courageous to some degree. But to be truthful, my younger self always imagined my bravery would manifest itself while facing peril or confronting foes. I would have never guessed that facing my own family in times of tragedy — and becoming the parental figure my siblings now need — would be the challenge I'd need the most courage for.

— Handsome Whitledge —

  

[Barrett Keene]

7.15

Mr. H. Whitledge,

First of all, I'm very sorry for your loss.

Unfortunately I am afraid that I cannot give you the advice you want - it is impossible to become a true parental figure for people who are so close in age to yourself. The best thing you can do is focus on being a good brother, and allow yourself space for your own grief. Allow yourself the courage to let your grandmother be the parental figure; this is her new job, after all, and she is better equipped for it than you are.

Sinc.
Professor Keene 

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[Handsome Whitledge]

16 June, 1887

Professor Keene,

Grandmother has proved useful for many things, but soothing the children whose lives she's played so little in is not one of them. She's but a stranger in our house. I will, however, encourage my siblings to take their troubles to her instead of I; she does, of course, has far more experience with these children than myself.

— Handsome Whitledge —