Monday, January 16

The First Letter

I got my pen pal. Her name is Gabrielle Montegue. I hope she likes me. I found a nice bit of parchment and my best quill and wrote her a letter.

Dear Gabrielle,
Bonjour! Hello is the only word I know in French, but hopefully you can help me learn more. My name is Emily, I’m 11 and attend Hogwarts here in England. I’m sorted into Ravenclaw house, we’re the smart bookish house. I love to read so it is a perfect fit for me. Charms is my favorite class, and Potions is my least favorite. I like the professor quite a bit, but I just don’t seem to have the knack for Potions, although I got a tutor and am practicing more often now.
In my free time I read, did I mention I love to read. I like all sorts of books, anything with a good story. I’m also starting to collect chocolate frog cards, I only have a few so far, but I think they’re really interesting.
I’m excited to write to you and learn all about your school. Write back soon!

Sincerely,
Emily Bennett

I went up to mail the letter this afternoon, and when the little brown owl saw me he pretended to be asleep. I went up and gave him some steak from lunch, and explained he only had to go to France, not America, and he took the letter and flew off. I hope he flies fast!  

Tuesday, January 10

Pen Pals

I've been back at Hogwarts for a few days now. The trip back with the floo powder was luckily uneventful. I tucked my new fairy doll deep in my bag so she'd stay safe and clean on the way back home. I didn't relieze how much I missed being here until I got back. Ravenclaw tower is starting to feel like home. Yesterday was the first day of classes and everything went well. I read quite a few of my textbooks over break, including my potions book. I worked on memorizing the steps for different potions to help me when I brew them. 
This morning a notice appeared on the board in the common room. I got quite excited and cast Gemino to have a copy to save for my journal:
Would You Like to Make New Friends?
Learn about another culture or even a new language?
Then sign up to be a Pen Pal!
Every interested Hogwarts’ student will matched up with a student from Beauxbatons Academy of Magic to correspond with.
Those interested please send an owl with your information to:
Morgana Ilmacoa
Beauxbatons Pen Pall Programme
Department of International Cooperation
                                                                                        
I sent off the Owl at lunchtime. I can’t wait to hear from my pen pal. I hope they’re nice. Anne is always encouraging me to learn French, and this will be good motivation I think. I didn’t even know there were other schools for magic, but now I’m off to the library to research and see what I can find out about them.