A. Bored, Seeks B. At Random

[Antigone Lestrange]

         
 

July 4th, 1887

Dear Recipient,

I have probably never met you before, but I don't need to have met you to know that you are either the sort of dull-witted person who throws an anonymous letter into the fire or you are, in fact, a more interesting specimen who might consider an anonymous correspondence a diverting prospect.

Which are you?

   

A.

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   Terpsichore Van Helsing

[Terpsichore Van Helsing]

July 4, 1887

A,

Hmm...

I think I would like to think of myself as the second as I seen to be sitting here writing this.

I don't believe we have met, at least not where I would have seen your handwriting as it doesn't look familiar. 

As you have introduced yourself as A, I will introduce myself as C.

Now what had given you the idea to freely send a letter to an unknown individual?

— C —

  

[Antigone Lestrange]

         
 

July 5th, 1887

Dear C,

Possibly the same inclination that lead you to reply.

Seeing as you have engaged me in correspondence, I shall inform you as to my only rule: under no circumstances may either of us request the identity of the other or reveal our own. This would rather defeat the purpose of anonymity, don't you think?

Any other questions remain on the table.

Does this sound agreeable to you?

   

A.

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   Aldous Crouch

[Terpsichore Van Helsing]

July 5, 1887

A,

That could be the case - I honestly answered because the idea of an anonymous letter seemed like some kind of thing out of one of my sister's books. Kind of adventurous.

That rule seems fine to me. How far does that extend? Age? Gender? Or simply names? I don't want to cause you to stop writing, I'm quite fond of this concept. It seems like quite a story to tell one day of an anonymous penpal.

— C —

  

[Antigone Lestrange]

         
 

July 5th, 1887

Dear C,

Only names.

However, I would say there's no real obligation to answer truthfully or explicitly were I to ask, for example, your age.

What would you say were I to ask your age?

   

A.

  

[Terpsichore Van Helsing]

July 4, 1887

A,

17, is what I would say.

I answer honestly. I have no reason to lie or really anything to hide. I'm afraid I am a quite blunt person.

Now what would you say, A?

— C —

  

[Antigone Lestrange]

         
 

July 6th, 1887

Dear C,

I would say that I am older than yourself.

You must be entering your final year at Hogwarts in September, unless you happen to have a birthday in the next few weeks?

   

A.

  

[Terpsichore Van Helsing]

July 5, 1887

A,

Fair enough of an answer, though vauge.

No, I graduated in the past year. I was born a day before the cutoff, therefor I was the youngest in my year. I wasn't to good at schooling so I am grateful for not going back. I'm shocked they kept me around till my seventh year - probably only my sister saved me from not being invited back.

Did you enjoy your schooling?

— C —

  

[Antigone Lestrange]

         
 

July 6th, 1887

Dear C,

I wouldn't say I enjoyed it, it was rather tedious.

What are you doing now that you're no longer at school?

   

A.

  

[Terpsichore Van Helsing]

July 6, 1887

A,

We seem to be of a similar mind set - to some degree when it come to the work behind schooling. It just doesn't help me to much with what I wish to do - and I'm not to good at it anyways.

I have the summer free and then the step-mother is shipping me off to finishing school - like that will do anything.

What about you? You said you were older then me, I assume that means you are no longer schooling. What are you doing?

— C —

  

[Antigone Lestrange]

         
 

July 7th, 1887

Dear C,

Finishing school? How odious. I assume Mrs. Pendergast's finishing school or are they sending out of the country? You must have done something terrible to deserve that. I had a sister who attended a finishing school and she loathed it.

You're quite right, I'm far beyond schooling now, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to tell you that I now work at the Ministry, although I shan't disclose which department.

What is it you wish to do that Hogwarts couldn't help you with?

   

A.

  

[Terpsichore Van Helsing]

July 7, 1887

A,

It will be Mrs. Pendergast's. I am not a fan of going, however, the step-mother and father decided it would be a good idea to send myself and my sister. None of our older sisters have married yet and we are the youngest. I'm not thrilled, but at least Papa talked to her and she settled with only one year in finishing school. She just wants us off and married even if it isn't what I want. In fact, I have done nothing wrong, thank you, A. But I apparently have no say in how I am to spend my time. 

The ministry? I can say that comes as a surprise to me. It doesn't quite fit my mental picture of you, though I am not too sure why. I pictured you more as a society woman - though frankly, I don't even have reason to assume you are even female. Guess that says something about me, anyway, not the point. 

I supposed Hogwarts helped some in spells and all, but much I could pick up in the field or learned at home. For the family business, actually. Something I grew up learning and seeing. It does happen to be very family specific though so if you want me not to say who I am, I can't really tell you what the business is. 

I suppose now it is only fair I propose a question. If you could have done anything with your life - regardless of expectations, gender, class or really anything, what would you want to do?

 

— C —

  

[Antigone Lestrange]

         
 

July 9th, 1887

Dear C,

I would be an auror, I suppose. Or a cursebreaker for Gringott's.

And what would you be?

 

A.

  

[Terpsichore Van Helsing]

July 21, 1887

A,

I do appoliogize for the long gap of time from your letter and my reply. I went out to the Wizarding Market and I am afraid I was only rescued a few days ago and spent most of my time in the Hospital from then, I only came home this morning.

Oh, those would be fun jobs! I would quite like to do something with dragons, myself. They seem so powerful.

 

— C —

  

[Antigone Lestrange]

         
 

July 23rd, 1887

Dear C,

How awful, I'm pleased to hear that you're all right. I must confess I was worried when the news broke and I hadn't heard from you. You weren't hurt too badly, were you?

 

A.