Dear Bentley

[Elsie Beauregard]

1st September, 1884

Dear Bentley,

It's feels oh so very strange not to be heading off to school right now. I know seven out of eighteen years isn't even half, but school encompassed my life for so long it's hard to imagine what else to do! I got up and I went to work just like I've been doing all summer, but today if felt different. I suppose all summer I've just been feeling like it was an interim thing, but clearly that is not the case. I'm not going back to school, it just feels so odd.

I'll get over it, I know, but Hogwarts was just as much home as here. My bed in the Gryffindor tower just as much mine as the one here in the house. I know I was never a social butterfly, but I do miss seeing my friends every day, yes, even more than the library. I did learn more than academics at school, even if you wouldn't believe me. Having Mary around the house helps. Mother is very fond of her, which certainly makes things easier. I can tell Dell is happy to have us around too. I think it was hard for her when it was just here and mum, especially after everything happened.

The house is still pretty full even with Harvey, Owen and Lottie off at school. Oh Owen, I do hope Harvey keeps tutoring him. He won't make it past OWLs if we don't sit on him to study, I swear. He's such a good kid though, so resilient and intuitive. Unfortunately he's just not one for the books. I have high hopes for him though. Lottie's blossomed so well, though I worry about her for other reasons. I have to rely on Harvey to keep an eye on them, but like I said, he's doing so much better. They're all young- we're all young and everything will work itself out, I know it will.

Love,
Elsie