At Least Our Handwriting Is Different PV Closed

To @Anastasia Beckett

5 July 2020

Dear Ana,

I'm doing alright, thank you for asking! So sorry I didn't write back straight away. There was the barbecue on the 3rd, and I couldn't seem to find the time between then and now to write. Between managing our tent's drama (and there is a lot of drama, might I add) and meeting all the international students, I really have been quite busy. Summer camp is going rather well at the moment, although I must say - our tent has the oddest combination of people! Ariana and Janet are currently in an argument (over what, I don't know) so it's rather awkward when they're forced to speak to each other and there's Lizzie as well.

Speaking of the barbecue, I met Alexei there. He seemed to have mistaken me for you, which was rather amusing.

In all honesty, I'm not sure how I feel about you finding letters. You see, I don't quite like the thought of my mother... well. You know.

I suppose there's no avoiding it, though. I'll simply have to bite the bullet and we'll have to take a look - and see if we really are sisters. Although, I'm not sure they'll let me out to have lunch, so it'll have to wait until after the 20th.

Sincerely,
Ivy Bellamy

To @Ivy Bellamy

5 July 2020

Dear Ivy -
What fun! That all sounds quite consuming and interesting, so thank you for writing. Depsite the fact it's been a few days, I already dearly miss all the drama of school. Honestly, the most interesting thing that's happened here lately is some fools delivered the wrong color of lace napkins for my mother's garden party next week and I got grounded, but that's an entirely separate story for another time. Cream instead of ivory! Can you imagine the indignity?

Alexei Petrov? He's quite decent company at parties and such. We were dragged to many of the same events when I was in Russia last year, so we're fairly well acquainted. It's certainly never boring when Alexei is around.

As for the other matter, I don't think I particularly mind waiting a bit longer to delve into all of who knows what. As lovely as you are, I think I would rather prefer being able to pretend I'm an only child. For a while longer anyway.

I'm sorry I took so long to reply. I had partially finished a reply for you yesterday, but my father walked in on me and I panicked and threw it into the fire,(One would think I would have stopped doing things like that) seeing as this isn't exactly a topic I want him to know I'm learning about until I know things for certain.

Well, I'd best be going!

Much love,

To @Anastasia Beckett

6 July, 2020

Dear Ana,

Of course. Cream instead of ivory - a truly heinous crime worthy of a death sentence! Yes, the garden party will surely be a disaster after that. Honestly, you would think that attending a dangerous school like Hogwarts would make our parents a little more sensible, but all they ever really think about is pureblood parties and whatnot.

Alexei Petrov is certainly one of a kind, that's for sure. He had girls from all of three schools flocking straight to him, which was quite hilarious to watch. How do you know him, by the way? I didn't stick around to ask.

I'm actually rather impatient to get to the bottom of this whole mess, now that I've really thought about it. I hate the fact that it might be real, but the longer we put it off, the more anxious we'll grow. Besides, if it isn't, I'll feel ridiculous for being so nervous - and, Ana, there's something I forgot to ask last time . What will we do if it is real? Confronting our parents can't possibly go well, but keeping it a secret isn't great either.

Your friend,
Ivy Bellamy

Postscript: please stop setting things on fire.

To @Ivy Bellamy

7 July 2020

Dear Ivy -
Exactly! One would think that having gone to Hogwarts, things like garden parties would seem a bit less life or death. My parents were fourth or fifth years when that one big battle happened, so you would think that maybe they would realize some things are as important as they seem. Definitely not the case though...

Alexei is great company. We met summering in France a while back, but we got to know each other a bit better when I was in Russia last year. He's quite a bit of fun - you know he taught me some excellent Russian curse words. You should ask about those. Russian curse words have a spirit to them that English can't even come close to matching.

I honestly don't know what we'll do if it's real. Somehow it feels like it would change everything and nothing at the same time. I can guarantee that my father won't speak of it unless confronted with undeniable proof. I don't know that confronting them about it is the best idea, but it also begs the question: who knows about this? If you didn't, I would guess it's fairly few. Who knows if your father or my mother knows anything about this? Call me crazy, but I don't relish the idea of having to broach this subject with my mother.

Shit, Jaz is attacking our house elf again, I've got to go!
Much love,

To @Anastasia Beckett

8 July, 2020

Dear Ana,

Honestly, it truly is a shame you aren't attending summer camp. There really is far too much drama to handle over here - at the stargazing event two nights ago, Zykeal Lane and I had spoke to each other for the first time in months and it went horribly - boys are so very stupid, aren't they? I'm not sure if you know him, but for the record, he's the biggest jerk in the world and should be avoided at all costs.

I know quite a lot about Russian curse words, actually! My Uncle Igor is Russian, and says quite a lot of them for someone who's supposed to be all polite and, well, you know - the perfect pureblood. When summer camp ends, I'm supposed to stay with him, my aunt and my cousins - which I was rather upset about at first, but in all honesty, it's rather exciting. My cousins are absolutely insane and my aunt and uncle are surprisingly laidback for purebloods. I have a feeling you'd get along with the second oldest - Iris. She has a knack for setting things on fire too.

The whole situation with our parents feels like a strange dream - which honestly sounds so cliche, but it's true. I feel positively awful every time I think about it, and I can't imagine having to confront my parents about it. I can definitely understand how you're feeling - I'd like to put off talking to my father about it for as long as possible.

With love,
Ivy Bellamy

To @Ivy Bellamy

11 July 2020

Dear Ivy -
First off, I'm desperately sorry I didn't write you back sooner. Preparations for my mother's garden party yesterday filled quite a bit of my time these past few days. It also doesn't help that I'm constantly being lectured and yelled at. In case you were interested, my mother did end up selecting ivory after all, and received many compliments. Overall, it was a boring affair, but the food was rather good so I won't complain.

I believe I vaguely remember Zykeal from a game a while back. If I recall correctly, he was your date(?) to that stupid ball, yes? I don't imagine that went well. Boys are quite stupid for the most part. Not that I know him, but you're likely better off if he's "the biggest jerk in the world".

Oh, how splendid! I wish I had an uncle who taught me Russian curse words. Instead, I've got my father's twin brother who I supposed is alright, but rather a pompous windbag. Make sure to tell me all about your cousins!

I honestly don't know what to think about this situation. While you are lovely and certainly on the shortlist of people whom I would actually choose to be my sister, it means that so much of what I thought I knew about my parents is a lie. I can't even imagine how you must be feeling about this. Still, we'll figure this out, I just know it!

Write to me soon!

Much love,

To @Anastasia Beckett

12 July, 2020

Dear Ana,

I can imagine the garden party was rather boring! After a while, pureblood parties do get quite old and they all feel the same... oh, don't yell at me for this, but I wish my parents cared enough to lecture me. I believe they forgot I existed in the past year! I feel like there are only two kinds of pureblood parents. The kind that only nag, nag, nag and the kind that never say a thing to you at all. In that case, my parents fall under the second category. But good for your mother with the handkerchiefs! Funny story: my parents once ordered tablecloths in the shade of egg shell. Egg shell, Ana. Egg shell.

Zykeal was indeed my date to the ball. It went down horribly. So did stargazing. I'll have to fill you in on the details when we meet for lunch after camp! It was a very miserable affair.

I ought to introduce you to my cousins. You should come over to their house at some point - actually, maybe not. I have a feeling you and Iris would burn the house down within the first two minutes. (Honestly, Ana, what is it with you and fire?) The Grahams are all very fun - nothing at all like what our households are like.

I never thought I'd find a half-sister at Hogwarts... honestly, if this is real, I really don't know what my mother was thinking. The letters suggest she and your father were old friends. She would have known that he would send you to Hogwarts, and an offer from Beauxbatons did come in at one point. It would have made so much more sense for me to go there instead. Oh well, I suppose we'll have to talk over the finer details when we meet up later. I'll ask my aunt about it once camp is over, I'm sure she'll say yes. Hopefully we can figure everything out soon - the suspense is killing me!

As ever,
Ivy

To @Anastasia Beckett

Reducio

The handwriting in this letter is messy and sloppy, partly due to the fact that it was written at 1am, partly because of how she was feeling when she wrote it. It is clear that the writer hasn't paid much attention to spelling and punctuation. The parchment has creases and is crumpled, thanks to Ivy tearing it apart multiple times before casting Reparo on it again to finish it.

19 july

ana,

you should can you pleas maybe you could you need to write back. you're worrying me. you're worrying a lot of people, actually. i don't want to make you feel bad, but it's true. everyone is worried about you.

i know it's onnly been a week since i sent my last letter, but so much has changed since then. everything has changed. everyone i thought i knew, everyone i trusted, is leaving me. first zyk, then may and now y

there are so many things being said about your family. about your parents, about you. they're... they're saying so many things. There are so many versions of the story and no one knows the exact truth but we all know something terrible happened to you and your family. some people say your parents just abandoned you, other people say your entire family was kidnapped and only you made it back, and there are even some who claim you murdered killed your parents.

i don't believe any of them of course, because rumours are just rumours and also i can't believe it them. i don't know truth from lies anymore because i feel like everyone is lying to me nowadays, and I can't believe that about you as well.

i've spoken to a lot of people and they say you haven't been replying to them either. it's like you've.. completely disappeared. are you trying to disappear? from our lives i mean, because that's just a dick move and God, maybe you've just gotten sick of us or something. maybe your family's rivals are just being idiots and spreading stupid rumours about you.

but if you're going through something please don't shut us out. we're your friends.

at least, I think i'm your friend. am i? i can't be sure anymore, Ana, the thing is that when you told me you wanted to keep in contact over the summer i was so, so happy. because i thought maybe we were finally becoming friends or something. i don't know. it's so stupid... but now i'm second guessing everything because what if, you only wanted to keep in touch to entertain yourself or soemthing, to have a laugh over how stupidly attached i am? what if i'm nothing to you?

Talk to us, ana. please.

we want to help.

we want to be there for you..

maybe i'm overthinking it and being a big baby and making a fuss about nothing. i don't know, Ana. i'm sorry for writing this, i've written it so many times and ripped it apart and my hands are inkstained and my eyes hurt from crying and my tentmates are going to wake up any minute and

i don't have the energy to write anymore.

Ana, please, just... respond. let me know you're ok.

i can't lose you.

- Ivy

[THREAD FINISHED]