Nefarious • Maurders Era

ii.

RACHEL WOKE UP TO Winnie's little tongue licking her cheek like her own personal alarm clock. She opened her eyes slowly, crawling out of bed as the white Persian cat circled on her pillow and returned to snoring.

She petted Winnie on the head before changing into her skirt and school robes. Fiona was already awake, applying a layer of mascara to her already naturally long eyelashes. Rachel didn't really bother with makeup anymore. She had given up in her fourth year when she realized that everybody worth impressing already knew her.

Her only morning beauty routine consisted of a hard attempt at running a brush through her tangled mess of long black hair.

Once Fiona had finished getting ready, the two girls left the Ravenclaw tower and made their way downstairs to the Great Hall for breakfast. When the arrived, the hall was already crowded with students who were munching on biscuits or eggs with sausage.

The two Ravenclaws sat at the end of their table and Rachel began eating a piece of toast with jam while Fiona simply drank a rather large cup of camomile tea. The strawberry blonde had been on some sort of herbal diet since the beginning of the summer.

As they ate, the screech of owls flooded through the Great Hall and after a few moments, the hall was filled with the flying creatures as they dropped off mail to the students which they were addressed.

Her mother's familiar tawny owl dropped a small envelope into Rachel's lap and she eagerly ripped it open, happy to receive mail. She was even happier to see that across the hall, Rebecca had received nothing.

She unfolded the parchment to see Robert's messy writing written across the page.

Dear Rachel,

I know you've only been gone for a day but I already miss you! Home is boring without you here. Mother has been working overtime at the hospital a lot lately. She tells me not to worry but I think it's because of that man they say is the next Grindelwald.

I try not to complain much because I know that she would rather be home then doing her grueling work at St. Mungo's. Plus, I know that this time next year I will be there at Hogwarts taking classes with you instead of being here and wishing that I was there.

Hogwarts is so exciting.

I've been thinking a lot lately about what house I'm going to be sorted into. I know I won't be a Hufflepuff, that's for sure. I hope I'm a Ravenclaw like you but I'd even be okay with being a Gryffindor like dad. You know, as long as I'm not a Slytherin.

Speaking of Slytherin, Rebecca isn't causing any trouble is she? You know, if she is bothering you I can tell mother and have her sent home from Hogwarts immediately.

Well, perhaps on second thought we could have her sent somewhere far away since I don't want to be stuck home alone with her all day for an entire year! Maybe we can send her away to Beauxbatons or even better, we can send her to Ilvermorny.

Yes, I think Ilvermorny is good. The further away she is, the better.

Anyway, Mother is taking me to a Chudley Cannons game this weekend for my birthday. I do wish you could come with me. I'll be able to see everything because we get to share a box with the minister of magic!