Royal disputes (Marauders Era)

Ink and Arguments

Ophiuchus and Hildred sat in their beds, dressed in a simple nightshirt. They sat and chatted about their families, in Ophiuchus' case about Hogwarts and the people there. He also gave some advice about Kendrick to him.

"Do not be afeard to stand up to Kendrick would he bother thou. Thou aye mention the fact that thou are the closest friend of Princess Elizabeth Tudor, sister to the King. That implied threat alone should'st be enough to forbear his verbal assaults."

Hildred sighed heavily, then he suddenly remembered what he had meant to ask him earlier.

"Hast thou known from Elizabeth lately? These last couple of months, aye since the king's death, we hast lost contact with each other." Hildred asked him.

Ophiuchus narrowed his eyes in thought. "Now thou mention it, I haven't known from mine dear cousin in quite a while. Belike we should'st write to her." He drew out a pile of parchment and envelopes and handed Hildred a couple of sheets. "Write to thy parents as well. I am sure they shall like to know about Hogwarts so far," He suggested.

Hildred grabbed the first sheet and wrote one the first envelope:

Baron and Baroness Potter
Lavenham Castle
Suffolk
United Kingdom

He placed it aside and began his letter.

Dear Mother and Father,

I arrived safely at Hogwarts earlier today. I was sent straight up to Headmaster Undercliffe's place to be sorted into mine house privately. 'Tis apparent that I hast followed in thy grandfather's and his forefather's footsteps and hast become a Gryffindor. I hast been partnered with our dear friend and cousin, Viscount Ophiuchus Black, whom hath invited us round for dinner next weekend. I hast been selected to join his room with sir's macnair and montague. I fear that Sir Macnair doth not like me. Ophiuchus says it is because he is jealous, yet I never understand the reasoning behind it. We watched the sorting of the first years, and then ate in the great hall. There is not enough space to write the words to begin to describe the great hall, so I shall say to thou when I next see you. By the way, Ophiuchus says good day.

Hope to hark from thou anon,

Hildred.

He placed it in the envelope with a flick of his wand, magicking on a wax seal, stamping it with his family crest. Then, he re-dipped his quill in the ebony ink and wrote a new envelope and letter.

Princess Elizabeth Tudor
Sudeley Castle
Winchcombe, Cheltenham
United Kingdom

Dear Elizabeth,

How goes't? I hast not known from thou in a long time. How are things at thy step-mother's? I hast many things to say to thou about mine new place of learning. I hast become reacquainted with our dear cousin Ophiuchus Black, whom hath invited us to his home for dinner on Saturday, as I am sure he shall say to thou in the letter he is currently writing addressed thee. I hope thou are well, and that I shall until anon.

Thy good friend, Sir Hildred.

He repeated the process of closing his letter, and looked up to see Ophiuchus was just doing the same. "To the owlery in the morrow ere class?"

Ophiuchus nodded an affirmative just as Cyneric followed by Kendrick entered the room. Hildred looked up to see Kendrick haltingand staring at him. "What is he doing hither?" He glared at the two. He is hither to keep, remember? And what didst I say earlier? Thou treat him with the utmost respect, so enough of this stupidity. There is no want for it. Besides, doth thou not wot whom thou are speaking to? I know I told thou earlier yet thou seem to hast forgotten, Sir Macnair. This is Baron Hildred Potter of Lavenham, son of Godwin Potter and Elizabeth Plantagenet. He is the closest friend of my cousin Princess Elizabeth Tudor, second in line for the throne of England."

Kendrick had grown quiet at the revelation of his mother's surname, and had now gone a concerning shade of white at the mention of his friendship with the young royal.

"The... the Princess? Merlin's beard... mine deepest apologies, Lord Potter." It was evident that he was not, but obviously was afraid of beingstripped of his title or worse by the princess or worse the King himself. Hildred simply nodded at him, catching Ophiuchus discreetly smirking in the corner of his eye.

"Now, Professor Orpington sent all of our timetables up to the common room by owl earlier today, so lets hie and check 'em out, what say thou?" Cyneric broke the awkward silence, which Hildred was grateful for. Out of the two there was no doubt about which he preferred.

"Nay, mine friends. I doth would like to retire early for the morrow. I want to write to mine mother also. Prithee bring mine up so I may read it to-morrow." Kendrick replied, already reaching for his quill and ink pot on the bedside table.

oo0O0oo

"Transfiguration, double charms and then divination. Thou?" Cyneric read off of his timetable.

"Same, and also so for Hildred it looks like. To-morrow?"

"Potions, arithmancy, charms and astronomy." Cyneric sighed. "I canst not wait to leave astronomy. How are people interested in it?"

"Ha. 'Tis a primrose subject for me, after all mine namesake is the constellation of the serpent-bearer. A something fitting name for mine brother, that would hast been." Ophiuchus laughed.

"I hast the like as thou apart from arithmancy. I hast care of magical creatures instead," Hildred said. He shared practically all of his lessons with the other two boys, that was a good sign. "Thank Merlin," he whispered under his breath.

"And Kendrick? Oh... merely divers. We only share potions with him it seems." Rather guiltily, Ophiuchus thought that it was most likely for the best.