Letters From Home

Chapter 01 | Penelope

Her steps were quick and light, it was snowing, the wind was whipping cruelly and she wanted to get home as soon as possible. Her mother was waiting for her at the gates bundled in a luxurious full length coat with fur around the neck and wrists that was covered in a light layer of snow, she looked like an arctic fox waiting to pounce.

"Good Morning dear, it is lovely to see you," Her mother gave her a quick hug. "Let's be quick about it, it's bitterly cold." Her mother reached out, put one hand on each of her daughter's shoulders. She stepped forward and they spun together, whirling quickly before landing gently on the frosted grass of the apparition circle. "Much better!" Her mother shrugged out of her long coat and laid it across her arm as she began walking, "Don't dawdle Penelope." She didn't look back or wait for a response before heading for the house.

The apparition circle was 100 yards from the house, it was the only way into the property offering protection from unwanted invasions. As if there were hordes of angry wizards assaulting the house on a regular basis, the idea always amused her as a child. It was a hold over from a different time, when her family felt they needed the protection, it was only prudent to be prepared, as she was constantly being reminded. It wasn't impenetrable, the frost had crept in although the snow was pilling high up around the perimeter so it did offer a decent protection and most importantly a warning of an approaching friend or foe. It was warm here, unnaturally warm and quiet. Penelope loved the apparition circle, it felt like a reprieve from everything around her. In the summer months flowers grew in the grass around it and the path leading off was heavy with foliage, it was beautiful. She would play find the fairy with Jacob in the trees between the house and the circle, she looked at a near by tree and held her breath for a moment. She turned away and walked towards the house.