Harry, Kat, and Spellbound ➩ Book 1 [Harry Potter] | #Wattys2016

[CHAPTER 5] Letters

"Is it really wise I write to my father about my... location?" Kataleen asked the Beryls. It was a day after the accident, and only then did she decide to show what the letter had.

"I don't know, really," said Mr. Beryl. "But Remus is a wise owl, advising that to you. He knows right from wrong."

"Yeah. He's wise and he gets late for delivering letters more times than I myself can count," said Arlin, getting a glass of water for himself.

"Well, yeah, Remus is like that, but otherwise he's a wise owl," shrugged Mr. Beryl.

"Mr. Beryl, I think so too, but don't you think he'll make me stop going to Hogwarts after finding out?"

"I don't think so, dear," said Mrs. Beryl reassuringly. "But I'll tell you this: It's up to you to decide. But for me, I vote that you tell him. I'm sure he'll be worried sick about your safety. And should anything bad happen, it's best that your father can come over and help, especially if it's blood issues."

"Linda."

"What? Bad to put the possibility of worst comes to worst?" Linda said with an innocent shrug.

Kataleen just smirked, taking off her glasses and wiping the inside and outside with the bottom of her purple T-shirt, a gift from her father. With a nostalgic smile while looking at the shirt and putting on the glasses she said, "Dad has been there for me for a long time. He gave me this shirt and he used to own these glasses."

"Well, I guess the decision lies with you, then," said Arlin, resting his arm on the table as he drank his water.

She formed her lips in a straight line as she looked at the folded letter in her hands, undecided, until she declared, "I'm writing back to him."

Going up the stairs, she stopped short, and asked, "Um, pardon, but where exactly would you find a pen out here?"

"What in ganders is a pen?" Mr. Beryl asked as she stopped in the middle of the staircase. From behind him she saw Arlin roll his eyes.

"Dad, a pen is the replacement for quills Muggles use," Arlin explained, stopping his leaning on the table. "It is more portable and has a specific amount of ink until it dries out, unlike quills that need constant dipping in ink."

"Oh. Muggle creations, then," he said. Mostly to himself he added, "Muggles have the most fascinating inventions."

Mrs. Beryl rolled her eyes. "Well, there are quills in the boxes at the attic. The one with the ribbon. The ink is in the green box."

Upstairs, at the attic, Kataleen found the box easily. She blew off the dust and removed the ribbon of the large box, and was wide-eyed at seeing so many feathers arranged. "Nice."

She reached over for the green box, and had difficulty in opening it. She tried to make it budge, and it didn't work. She tried again, but one of the ink bottles flew out as the lid burst open and spilled all over her.

She made her lips on a straight line, standing up immediately. "Ugh, look at this mess!"

As she wrung the tip of her shirt, she saw the bottle rolled somewhere, and as it rolled it only spread more ink in its tracks. She could just click her tongue and pick up the bottle, closing it with what little ink it has left with its respective lid.

She looked at the box, both a teeny bit stained by ink. She took a quill and an ink bottle before closing each box properly, setting it down right where she found it before going out of the attic.

She was immediately met by Arlin running in her direction. "Kataleen, forgot to tell you the ink bottles are -- Oh. I was too late, wasn't I?"

"Apparently so," said Kataleen, rolling her eyes as she continued wringing the tip of her shirt.