Dear Flash | Sincerely, Evelynn PV Reopened

[font=Monotype Corsiva]Dear Miss Evelynn,


It was a pleasure to receive your letter, in no small part due to your concern. Thank you for thinking of me, though I regret to say that I was indeed one of the sorry inhabitants of the hospital wing. Nothing that hasn’t healed, so I beg you to rest assured that I am fine. The calamity had caused a great deal more damage to others than it had to me. Frankly, I think Victor Moore was the one who suffered the most of anyone, in his state it was a surprise to hear that he had somehow lived through it at all. I suppose you can thank magic for that.

Please don’t waste any thought to fretting about my condition, or when reaching out is most appropriate. It is nice that you’ve reached out at all, I might have done the same if life wasn’t always dragging me forward at breakneck speed. Time marches on quite quickly, it’s easy to get swept along. That you thought of me at all is something of value.

I’m glad you made it out alive and well. After Rafael had tried to tackle Vladimir, the mission was already over. Your trying to help further was noble, but we weren’t going to garner any revealing information from any of the three once violence had been introduced. I would think twice before shouldering any blame for things not going well, or for not being more useful. You can blame circumstance, or Rafael, haha!

Actually, I had been meaning to talk to you again myself. There were things you said before the ball that were news to me. If you are still interested in investigating the happenings around the castle, the ones that the students are being kept in the dark about, then there is no reason we shouldn’t collect and share as much information as we can with each other.

With the year coming to an end, there isn’t much time to do anything very productive. I won’t be able to do much back at the Holmwood estate either. It’s a bit secluded, and all we have is our own personal library. I can certainly ask Valerius about what the Ministry is doing, but I expect it to be something he can't openly discuss. I could try to ask Darius everything he knows about hags, but he’ll likely be off hopping around the forest on Asha with his mates rather than sitting around the table and chatting.

Forgive me for writing such a long and rambling letter. I’ve been inundated with countless thoughts, and sometimes it feels good to get them all out. It also is a bit easier for me to express myself through writing than it is through speech. You may tell me if I am being too forward or garrulous, I won’t take any offense.

Kindest regards,
[/font]

Dated: June 15th, 2020
@Evelynn Decipio

To be received: June 17th, 2020
Addressed to: Flash @Flash Holmwood
Delivery: delivered by owl at breakfast

Dear Flash,

It sickens me to know that I left to leave you to get hurt. I'm glad to know that you're alright, though. And you don't know just how much reassurance you just gave me. I was the one that put him out.. But I could hardly recognize him afterwards. I couldn't even look for any longer than it took to know the flames had finally been put out. I'd tried to put Becket out as well, but the fire had sprung back to life somehow. I'll admit, I had been too much a coward to visit the Hospital Wing for fear of whatever I might learn there. He hadn't been moving. That’s one of the things I remembered most clearly about it all. I thought he was

I suppose you're right, though. We weren't going to be getting anything worthwhile out of any of them. Not after the likes of D'Spacito and Reaper Lestrange had vindicated them. You joke about blaming the former, but I very well might, haha. Were you able to get anything useful at all? I think I might have overheard some interesting things when Lestrange was talking to Davenport and Moore. There's something that doesn't sit quite right with me, however. I just have a feeling about something, but I need to follow up on it still.

So in a word, I'm relieved to hear that you had been meaning to talk with me again. Obviously, the answer is yes, I'm still interested in investigating everything. Perhaps even more so now than I was before. If you'd be willing to collaborate, I'd be very interested in doing so. Given how wide a circle you already have with the Slytherins, I'll admit I'm not really sure how useful I could be, but I would make every effort to make it worthwhile for the both of us. And if you're saying that there were things I knew that had been news to you, then I suppose I'm on the right track there.

You're unfortunately right about the time, though. There are only a couple weeks remaining to us, not even quite that by the time I send this letter, and exams around the corner. Are you going to the summer camp at all? If you are, perhaps that could be a chance to network and pick up the stories of others? I'm not able to attend. My mother seems to think I don't learn enough here at school and has arranged for additional education to "remedy the blatant holes in our instruction" as she so eloquently put it, but I've been trying to do some last minute research and investigation before the summer starts, so hopefully I'll have a little more to share by that time. Perhaps we could correspond over the break?

Although, perhaps that wouldn't be in our best interest. A friend of mine warned me the same day I got your reply about owls being intercepted for the contents of their letters to be read. We'd have to be careful not to include anything that could be potentially devastating if it got into the wrong hands. Which could make any attempts to be productive rather limiting. Unless we were to use a code, I suppose?

Sorry, I think I'm getting a bit ahead of myself and presumptive. Anyway, there's nothing to forgive you for. Really, your letter was a rather pleasant surprise. I'll admit, I wasn't sure if there would be a reply at all, and you've got quite a way with words. It was nice to read. I can appreciate what you mean about it being easier to communicate through writing than speaking, though. I think that's why I keep a journal. I suppose it's my mundane pensieve, in a way. It helps to clear my mind. And no, I don't think you're being too forward at all. In fact, I'm not really sure what I would think you're being forward about? To collaborate? Because if so, really, that's what I was alluding to in my post-note… Unless you mean something else?

Warmest thanks for your thoughtful reply,
Evelynn

[font=Monotype Corsiva]Dear Miss Evelynn,


It saddens me that you feel so responsible, you should rest assured that things turned out alright, given the circumstances. Well, I could languish in the idea that I allowed the ball to go on despite having the opportunity to stand against it, since in the end we learned next to nothing, and instead got Victor nearly burned alive. Regrets rarely do one any good though, better to focus on what we can do going forward.

Don’t be too harsh on Rafael, I’m sure he only did what he thought was right, as misguided as that might have been. Perhaps you are like me and forget it from time to time, but we’re still all young and stupid. I hardly think he was the only one who did something calamitous that night.

As for what I learned, it was paltry, but I’ll share it anyhow. Vladimir knew he was being watched, but hadn’t known who and how many. He probably got more information out of the ball than we had. Selim Faust had rummaged through Vladimir’s bag and left with what he found there, though I can’t say I know what it was. I could try to talk to him, but he sort of hides away and keeps to himself, so it’s easier said than done. I still need to get back together with Opeila and go over what she learned, since she was closer to Vladimir through the duration of the event. At some point I switched to fighting the mosps instead, since two were attacking Willow. Once I do that, I’ll tell you what I’ve found out from her. June 21st

You may think I’m well connected because of my cooperation with the Slytherins at the ball, but the things happening around the school aren’t just happening to us, and most of them are too prideful to exchange information with other houses. I have people I trust in the other houses, but so far no one in Gryffindor but you seem interested in sharing information either. Perhaps that is also out of pride? I think there is a lot you could tell me that no one else could.

I am going to summer camp, though I was hoping to do anything but dwell on this year’s events. To be quite honest, I was going to hole myself up in a tent alone and read books the entire time. Is that selfish of me? Still, I’ll keep my eyes and ears open. Once I return home after the two weeks are over, I will write to you again if it wasn’t too uneventful. You could tell me how your supplementary education went. Better than you thought, I hope.

I hadn’t considered that our owls might be intercepted though. It certainly isn’t impossible or unheard of. I know Vladimir is aware of my involvement to some degree, but not if he knows my name, or to what extent. Maybe you’re right, it’s not like it would hurt to begin using a key now, before it’s too late. We could do Rot13 for words we want to conceal. Though admittedly not a hard cipher to figure out, it could work until we have something better.

Actually, one of my favorites is using Rot13 but slanting the outcome so it doesn’t seem out of place. Sort of like cockney, so it would take a bit more work to know what words were concealed and what weren’t. For example, Vladimir in Rot13 is Iynqvzve, which is a pretty odd word that stands out. I could instead call him “Ivansky” which is a real name. That way, only by knowing who I might be talking about and seeing if the slant fits will you know for sure, and someone else would have a lot more trouble to go through. Well, perhaps I’m having a bit too much fun with that, I’ll leave it up to you.

As for being too forward, please don’t think too much of it. Since I can’t unwrite what I’ve written, I should at least explain in part. I only meant to imply I might be assuming too much interest on your part, since brevity in letters is considered more proper. I wouldn’t want you to have to read too many of my inane thoughts and become bored. Perhaps I was being a bit more insecure than the situation warranted, since you were kind enough to say I have a way with words. I quite enjoy receiving your letters, so I’m thankful that the feeling is mutual.

Kindest regards,
[/font]

Sent: June 18th, 2020
@Evelynn Decipio

To be received: June 19th, 2020 (the morning prior to the staff announcement)
Addressed to: Flash @Flash Holmwood
Delivery: delivered by owl at breakfast

Dear Flash,

Admittedly, I felt responsible only for where I know I could have and should have performed better. That night made it clear that as far as I've come with my spellwork, there is still an endless path ahead. There is so much that we don't yet know. Even seeing what the professors were able to accomplish in so little time that dozens of us couldn't do in the time leading up to their arrival.. It's a bit galling in a way. It just means we have to study that much harder if we're to stand a chance at all of being able to protect ourselves. Or others. So you're right in that regard; at least this can be used to refocus on what's important going forward.

Which also ties in to what you learned and what you wrote in that piece. Even if you feel like you didn't learn very much at the ball, it's possible that we might collectively have pieces that could be put together for a better overall picture. I was planning to reach out to Seilun myself as well, actually, so I would love to hear what you learn from her after you've had a chance to meet up. And from Faust, too, if you're able; you would have better luck there than I would. He's a Slytherin, isn't he?

I was thinking as well… perhaps it would actually be prudent to form something of a coalition of sorts? I had tried gathering a group after the winter holidays. It had been dubbed the Liberation Club. It was mostly focused on things pertaining to Mister Potter and his trial at the time, but I think everything that we learned then, and the things that we discussed at the meetings… well.. Professor Browne made mention of a hag from the Masquerade Ball, and there were numerous other things brought to light. I'm fairly sure everything is linked in some way. Even the Potter trial might be.. It might be helpful to have a bit more formal of a gathering. Not that it would have to involve many people or anything.. But even if there were a select few of us that met regularly to keep each other informed and assign tasks or trails to investigate..

And that's just it, too. Everyone seems to be somewhat.. Reclusive in their knowledge. It's pretty clear that there are a lot of people out there that know a lot of bits and pieces. We just need to be able to extract it all and put it all together. I think I've at least somewhat managed to create that trust in the general Gryffindor populus. I could champion Gryffindor, so to speak. I think I might even know another lion that might join me in that. You and Seilun for Slytherin. I've been trying to scout people from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw as well. It would be helpful to have a boy and girl from each House to have eyes and ears in both sets of dorms. Maybe I'm getting ahead of myself a bit… What do you think?

I'll admit, I'm a little bit jealous that you're going to the summer camp. I desperately wanted to go to watch the Quidditch game. If it isn't too much to ask… Will you make sure to watch it? I don't actually know anyone else, personally, who is going, and I would absolutely love a play by play. Or as close to one as can be given. I know.. It's a bit of a farfetch'd request.. Otherwise, the reading sounds lovely. That's not terribly far off from what I am planning to do when I go home. Although my mother insists on summer school, it will, at least, allow me to remain at home instead of having to travel and stay abroad. I'm planning to spend as much of my spare time as I can out riding, or in the stables reading when Cassie's out to pasture.

Which brings me to the letters. I would be thrilled if you would write to me. I'm hoping mother will let me get an owl before we head home from the station as well, so I would be able to write back without any limitation. And I'm familiar with Rot13, actually. It's one of the first ones that my mother taught me to use, although I've never slanted it, as you say. Instead, I went from Rot13 to making use of other ciphers, like Vigenére. Can you show me an example of how you would make use of your version of Rot13? I'm not sure I quite understand. Are you saying that most of the letter would be written normally without a cipher, and then we would just encrypt and slant the important information? Personally, I quite like ciphers, so I don't think you'd be having too much fun at all. If you were, then I'd be right there alongside you, I suppose.

Here's an example of Vigenére, though, making use of the keyword you gave me in your last letter. The one that was the result of the name in question being put through Rot13 and slanted.

Rpsg sc mftgrf myv wrvfq yjjug lrc zpia gp y uztnd dfzjutz sra xoejyqqjn gg bsao, sb lym kvn gzo apvof lryb dngg imc wrrsdfmn lvxo zzdnt slmco tuw bsqi os eslm dn n krmezr bx nsao.

But, as you somewhat alluded to on your own part, I almost worry I might be making this more difficult than it needs to be. You've said you'll leave it up to me, but I think I will have to riposte and hear your own thoughts.

Sincerely,
Evelynn

Q’h sbjbw bcag lrga geglop edly fyr jz af xypuvl nk ww xmeiaysa jnrk, lsb D izsqgvz ybm gczz ag lrc Omenl Rytg wuwx rpz pegpcanoek wylz tuw klvjuauokmit gg dfm rhbdo qkcobd kzwpt pmbdmr. Tuwi qidd gzow jzlvwfc Tzae osjt we osmi vzxg qoyz, vnq lyjl zvrjimvz aoger bce usqq. Q caiw kjaj lrsblmy a swg kwme gzslon fegw rpz dvkmsanibf kr bce Fdirpzrvf dyjge gzkr njlyggcl, no ndvme he gg pgtg ybm sl.

Jprawdr pvs zwd y pvg cwbqwiaydi, hcnt bmdqqye bx dfm Aoetsblzn Sgbcao, bl lrc kvrrlkimm’s umd. Fm raf osrp Zrvf Bwii, a Fdirpzrvf pmcmtu qoyz. Nhr zkq jmitzd ncmpyw ryqm aav sq wi tuw Asqydvlmf bzaz, ky G qhataxc gju nl vcint xfyu pzr vf zyaniay. Sr ejuyv ccmh tuwbc ime nudsigll lgm pvg pgfcvn ag gnba rigz oykc ogzop. 

Bcif esepo sbmxb aornfqc, jpt usqq mvt pzsjlmea, ter ime ndcm azngaolb xrrsdszzs jadf bce ntsjqoy gg lc zzfbjwcl. Wepseqm jf gzkr, Q yoa’l cczdohkvw msprud rpz Mvfsqbmy gg kab jn gzsq edtu sxw sdnq gp qedfgfoqa. Dt’f s wslylrv sqape, nfn mp coj lrcg goiw dm xvsf lrc jpcx.

Tepvztg kkgl ce jsc ewdnt ly rmgl rnopgohvfq fm fnro kzwpt gzo fibs gg Wylvmr Bolazn, nk pyz vs V cxme ce qan qw. Ce ndcm uzngaylmy, nbl ccmhiayvw mitvjojg xoanslkzd, gzkr pvgf uysty cusxem nhnho. Gb mezaxbmy mr gp upzn lge qidd gzkr xjtvgx gvbrrvscvos usn rcmnrv en udsfaxe-- lj ybm ulwr wusd gvbrrvscvos gzow ezrr? Orcv caq ad fikprfob, iid jwbc iiy bx dfmh pnjd mn ohr Hyjgeuvuo Nwoibf? Lcaddrk dfio, wr esepo hnno rw xoaloll rigz dfm ddrs dfio tuwi aii cusxem nhnho yb riyd, gfqxh V vyl’b mendvw evng ly guvgvfo.

Ya aoe lrc Xjtgwb rzday, A rydzn’g uylndrzwn upztuwb wwp ayjoylt kagg rpvt Idkbqhie, Nsabjr, nfn Kimibf gczz ayd ggbiefkoq bj tuw mpqhe. Jzorpzr gzow pvvr sxwbciay dm lj wvlr rpz hnyc ga iog kykmohvfq G sioj. Lryb raf oryb ohr tkjt raf xyp, bj srw gfmme gzow ndt vf. Sd bcel sbc kjnawmrmy tugeep, ohrf dfm Koglop bmind wsao ayky zm v pnjd mn dt. V vyl’b fnbo gfio evlrcz xoiwx uiitf, ter Mmia Jiyv hitzd ivjw zgbc. Q nuchyqm D cnf dpg oo gsvi bj hrj kq ezly, lrmcbh V xoyz nhr ac cdzn usbbmm tb yor i coyv yd bcaa Kojqh. Svfmc ace’f fyr qi ml qoyz, D pesmrqxaydi lmqee koc pzr. 

Nk pyz vs tsdfmmiay crcyealc rw ceyh ggbc gnlrczdnt axdwmmnlsmv, D ayjoylt hnno y nzw cwyntz ia esll ohnl S rzpsg, ter bcag oysty br kykmohvfq zmotrj ngaxufkob qi prjcmv. Zvrf dfwpgu A kk avtvkpgmy wvlr rpds pazfmm, ig ac lwo fbgvnzjos. Ap wwp sgavj pvpcwx rw caiw ww xmeiaysa geglopa nozwgfmme vf imcm pbkccanibf, qm icenv kll wuef dfmh sb lryb ohr cowejrq ac gv jue zoyln aav xmeceew ojaz. Fegw rpzrr svj ez hnno rw aenj sq udnq joyldnt, sxb io tusd nwdng lrczz if eeap hoew dm ejreq kzwpt gzkl odvvfq yevy n cowejrq.

Gx y tdgulop vjtr, A nmv’o mvfn eqqiay imc v drlkgtzd ewzmzo aoger pjw gzo Ocddqadap bazw qmmn. I’yd lc aprr ly uzdtr ly wwp sb dylo vs lge bmdga ly pmxevno kg geglopa. D wegdc bcif s lgb luvuujg, wug A’w qcme V’no bwie gzo aqkhrj mmzmeplvw. Q cocw dpiisysdgvb tuw gfwge gzslo yiqf’d aipsr qys bjo tjoyb jf n zoylvcuw.

Dated: June 19th, 2020
@Evelynn Decipio

[font=century gothic]RECEIVED: June 21st, 2020
ADDRESSED: [not addressed]
DELIVERY: passed to him at breakfast as she made a hasty retreat from the hall[/font]

Vjt n zoylvcuw, xm. Qo wnk wmzz fhf dfii I'iw ryl dn n orgtz, apleytgy. Nfn bzjpcaxe njrzsvgbt if xslm. D'd esdfmm nbl mgxcee gb bmxiczop ujrr lryv iervob. Iid vfcrmvd bx bcakoavslo oo rnopgohvfq gv tohj vcboee, qys aviq qys'l magzop akenc sl xzrfgx. G ejuyv lc ndnr osrp ohnl. Nm gju xfyu iwohl dfm Mobe yd Zzqhabcuzng? Ap wmn, mrwd km ohrjo Kwidnq otmiiay? Bgoct nxdcz nuchop? Qa nbl, wcmo mr ti rpz tnhoqbmy bx dfm waydor lvnpaxe bmoydc mv ohr xsdbc fygyp. Avmr vkw iid gawc.

[font=Monotype Corsiva]Dear Miss Evelynn,


I hope your extra schooling is going well. As promised, here is a rough play-by-play of how the Quidditch final went. It was quite an exciting game, though very brutal. Durmstrang’s reputation was very blatantly true, I felt bad for all the Hufflepuffs who wanted a fair, nice game, whereas the Durmstrang team seemed more interested in dominating the game with force. I hope this description gives you even a fraction of the excitement of having been there, though I know it does not compare.

At the start of the game, the Durmstrang keeper left the goals completely open right away. Serena Towers went for the Quaffle rather than the snitch and scored a free goal off of it. Actually, for most of the game Durmstrang had decided to only have one chaser go for the Quaffle, but she was alarmingly successful in the task. Her name was Greta. During the first round, she kept it away from everyone else all but once, and scored one goal and missed the next. The Hufflepuff beaters tried to target the Durmstrang Keeper (Romeo) and got one hit, and the Durmstrang beaters tried to target Serena Towers to no success. Both Romeo and the other Chaser (Hanzo, the Durmstrang team captain) went to blatch Serena T. and thankfully missed completely, having to take a penalty lap for it.

At this point, the game was tied 10 - 10, quite an exciting start! They were all a bit unsteady and fumbling around, but it was made immediately clear that Durmstrang wanted the seeker taken out and were willing to cheat to do it. The choice to have Serena T. go for the Quaffle grab paid off, but Greta would prove to be a lot more formidable of an opponent than the first round would have you believe. Only letting her go for the grab and leaving their goals open sounds like a risky move, but it proved to pay off for them as well.

During the second round, Greta got the Quaffle all three times. Not only that, she scored all three times as well. While Hanzo and Romeo took penalty laps (Romeo was the co-captain, funnily enough. At least you could say they lead by example), Quinn Healy hit a powerful bludger at the Durmstrang’s seeker Valentin and knocked him off his broom in an instant. Quite a shockingly decisive blow, which made him a target for a bludger from Durmstrang as well, though he was too sturdy to take even a half of the effect as his own power shot. His strength is quite scary! At the end of this round, the score was 10 - 40, but the Durmstrang seeker was knocked out cold.

For round three, it seemed the other Durmstrang Chaser Espen wanted revenge, and tried to blatch Serena T., only to be body blocked by Quinn, who then fell off his broom. Luckily he was saved by Serena Bowen (two Serenas… bare with me). As for the Quaffle, the Keeper Romeo had decided to join Greta in going for it this time around. He and Greta both managed to grab it two out of the three times, but Annie Morgan pushed Romeo out of the way for one of the grabs. Naturally the Hufflepuffs got a free goal due to Romeo not guarding it, but sadly Durmstrang got two past Willow. I regret to say she had to take a penalty lap after that, because she used an illegal defense.

At this point, the tension is very high. Cheating and violence on both sides, as well as building pressure of a Quaffle win. Key players were falling off brooms left and right. The Durmstrang seeker had been replaced by a girl named Ella and was immediately attacked. Saskia Nicholson hit a bludger at her that knocked her off her broom right away, though she was caught by Hanzo. The Durmstrang beaters were both still targeting Serena T., but only one of them hit and she stayed tightly on her broom despite it. I had not seen her play before, but she is remarkably durable and evasive. I must admit I would feel very threatened going up against her, it seems like you have to be extremely resilient to be a seeker. At this point the score was 20 - 60, and from what I could tell with my binoculars, it was around this time that it seemed Serena T. had caught sight of the snitch and started pursuing it.

As you can imagine, it only got more intense from there. Durmstrang had been trying to keep up with Quaffles while also trying to stop Serena from finding the snitch. Seeing as their attempts had come up against a stone wall (Quinn being the wall), this fourth round was noticeably more dramatic. They were no longer playing a long game, and instead put all their effort into trying to stop Serena T., which is reasonable considering that Hufflepuff would win the second she caught the snitch. Greta scored three goals during Willow’s penalty lap and while the Hufflepuff chasers all switched to support Serena T. in exchange for Durmstrang getting 30 points for free.

Chaser Aaron Jones tried to help Serena T. by alley-ooping her towards the snitch, but it had been off. Beater Saskia followed in Quinn’s footsteps by physically getting in the way of another one of Durmstrang’s attempts to blatch Serena T. off her broom, but for that was knocked completely out of the game. She contributed much. Chaser Annie also had her eyes on Serena T., swooping in to save her when she was finally knocked off her broom after that.

Yep, that’s right, Serena T. got a full onslaught directed at her, of course. Both Durmstrang beaters targeted Serena T. again, with one missing and one hitting. The one that hit (Kolya) finally wore her down, but Annie was there to catch her. Once again, both Durmstrang captains went for blatching this turn, with Romeo blatching both Quinn and Serena B. off their broom and out of the game, and Hanzo (with Ella in tow), tried to blatch Serena T. only to have Saskia take the hit for her instead, also knocked out of the game.

A powerful turn for Durmstrang, since the score was now 20 - 90 in their favor and many of the Hufflepuff team’s strongest players were now being replaced by the second string in the middle of the game. Still, Serena T. was still around despite endless attempts to knock her out, and it would still only take some gold in her hand to make it a victory. Durmstrang had even seemed to give up on chasing it themselves, and instead were out for blood. Ella would be stuck with Hanzo on his penalty lap with Romeo, but it hardly seemed like they were going to stop using blatching to literally knock the Hufflepuff team into submission. Would this tactic work, or would the Hufflepuffs manage to protect Serena long enough to secure a victory? Are you on the edge of your seat?

This was the fifth round, and now Durmstrang dropped the attempt at scoring more goals. There were no attempts at the Quaffle at all this round, and the Hufflepuff Beaters weren’t hitting bludgers either. Jack Warren and Reid Kovacs were focused on other things, Reid on Serena and Jack and Aaron were doing… something. There was probably a bit of confusion there, with Quinn gone, Aaron was in charge, and that was a lot of pressure all of the sudden, especially against such ruthless opponents that were knocking the badgers out one by one.

Speaking of, the Durmstrang Beaters were still happy to fling bludgers their way. Kolya missed this turn, but the other Beater, Vyacheslav (I’m pretty sure I’ve got that spelled right, I asked around), knocked Annie Morgan and Serena Towers off their shared broom, with Rosie Parker, a second-string Chaser for Hufflepuff, swooping in to snag Serena out of the air. The Durmstrang Chasers Greta and Kolya both tried to seal Serena’s fate, but as luck would have it, Greta succeeded in her blatch and Kolya accidentally blatched Greta! Perhaps their strict training wasn’t as perfect as it seemed, they lost one of their best players to themselves!

With Greta’s final success however, Rosie was sent off of her broom and out of the game, but unfortunately for them, Serena had another savior in Reid, who had been watching her instead of the completely ignored Bludgers. It seemed they were on the same page, that Serena’s safety was their last ticket to glory, and they had to manage it before Durmstrang literally knocked out their entire team, which seemed entirely possible at this point! Unfortunately for them, the constant attacks and broom switching wasn’t doing Serena any favors in trying to catch a speeding object.

Still, it was clear that Durmstrang was starting to get desperate. The final round. The Quaffle was thrown into a contest, but with Great gone, her brother Hanzo took over, even with the seeker still on his broom. It was clear that his specialties lay more in blatching and captaining than his actual position, because he could only manage to grab the Quaffle once against his only opponent, Aaron. Aaron scored a free goal twice, and when Hanzo tried to score on Willow, she not only stopped it, but threw it back at Aaron for a third free goal that round! Where was Romeo? Blatching Reid and Serena of course.

Don’t despair however, as the final act was the best of all. Kolya and Vyacheslav hit bludgers at her from either side, but she nimbly ducked out of the way of both of them as though they weren’t even there. Reid and Serena performed a spiral dive, clearly Serena saw the snitch and was reaching her hand out towards it just as Romeo was barrelling into their side. They were easily hit, the two of them tumbling through the air as the announcer spoke over the dead silent crowd: Serena had caught the snitch just in time! Hufflepuff won 200 - 90. Quite an ear splitting uproar after that.

I’m sure you would have loved it, and I hope there will be more games just as exciting in the future, then perhaps we could watch together. I’ve never been to a professional game before, but I can say this was the most exciting game I’ve ever seen. I’m becoming quite fond of the game, actually. I hope my writing did it justice. I look forward to seeing you again when school starts back up.

Kindest regards,
[/font]

Dated: July 22nd, 2020
Sent via one of the Holmwood family owls 'Aster' to: @Evelynn Decipio
Mentioning:

First-string Seeker: @Serena Towers First-string Beater and Captain: @Quinn Healy First-string Chaser: @Serena Bowen First-string Chaser: @Annie Morgan First-string Beater: @Saskia Nicholson First-string Chaser and Co-captain: @Aaron Jones First-string Keeper: @Willow Anderson Second-string Beater: @Jack Warren Second-string Beater: @Reid Kovacs Second-string Chaser: @Rosie Parker =====================================

First-string Keeper and Co-captain: Romeo Marchonné(@Piérre Marchonné) First-string Chaser: Greta Fransson (Evelynn Decipio) First-string Chaser and Captain: Hanzo Fransson (@Rafael D'Spacito) First-string Seeker: Valentin Schnell (@Aida Mòrsgor-Ama Ellwood) First-string Chaser: Espen Kvalheim (@Tyranni Whitethorn) Second-string Seeker: Ella Forsberg (@Thomas Lestrange) First-string Beater: Kolya Mikhailov (@Griseldis Edelhardt) First-string Beater: Vyacheslav Preobrazhensky (@Ruby Cazares)]

Q oaycob bj Eeax yb ohr ukkx. D cnf’d qit aaqdfqig vk dpcz wvlrmco vrjsdgdnt ad, zco suw skxgezwxrmy Tugwya Geflbyvbe nk cmuzoaw gfw ds jgbiqig jadf bce usqq iid ywkbqig flebmitf ly rpzm. Fzo ytno fssb bcag hbcnzcgk kll krbxoqajrf sbc kjvrjslo aoe lrcu vnq lryb Eapc Lsziegl uganeq s ryo. Gixw S qidd, vl sq pvrq ly qwmt bmd cfvcgdi upvt fzo qir. Suw ccmheq kopqjuf slmco tuw dfzzag lrcg kofwn rpjutz. Cfm navv Dfwhaf depmy hrj dm bce sgbcao aav Lsziegl tsao hnhzcvzd gg lc bceew. S fiqe gg dytf tb zsk vjw ggy zmaoew S qbvrg ly qcnprud fqh tbg. S ytno usn lw gupc sl ndnqaxe Azlve, lsb D wvdv rzt atssl ecea lrc axhbgv wmvr flkpbn.

Dvv imc fnbo Dfwhaf Doqbmaayo fiy brwx kqnsvfq dwm a lwkp? Q yiqf’d. Kqns Rjsl aviq zo uigkrv ysb jf gzo jife jadf i ohewo-nzjntwn riotbg yl pds njw. G avw gzo kimk zqccta, apleytgy, gzysoc I’yd qcb oo gzkr. Qo rreslln mr gp rpz mnju rpvt Zsbgwi wnk cyqy tb zktm, wug ad gai’t nf owm. Xohdn gb we gzkr xzocdo upj wbju uqoh gzo fibs usfc bj apuonb v mnju mn nozw ugvy? Ig’k xmbzwbjdfg aoe kepm.

Zrvf cyqy ayd dfm krbxoqajrf sxb xmeswmra nhr oolb oo ntysb Ohbekq’ ldsnhzcimaauo aiglrv rcz haq. Ad iqid bx cfwxkrv wc. Pvd lge fmvrq sxwbciay kr igl ntysb nthvolbn dvkknxzaeaxe imohfn Fwbwnjdq? Qo’s gjec bcag Wbgv Mynf rya werf zsaceq axrw ohr xbgvbef gp rpz sbusyt xieuvca, ohbmqf Q xaa’l fczdfl lryb’n tuw bcinoa orw. Ujsg homxge qgx’r sioj zkplgy nfirpdnt slmco hrj. Kjaj, I qgx’r sioj ap gb henfd yvttuaxe, jpt fzo ytno psvjmy tuw ryo ‘vn Nmxrqz’.

Tuwbc evs fgwcbciay ojaz tugeep, nozwdfqig gzkr qn vrji qbmaayo. Y kjucdo qbpdrfdq, igmbkd ytg Syqdfmmiak, gczz iansrmy tb s dcvo oa gxc wa tuw vyao dnqc mn xazh. Gc ojt n ekeqxay tbyvy oa mc mn iuztopa, vnq oopm noelob qitb wsepo gegena vnq hsrbzd nykgvnt rsmf wohrj sl i aitzdgvb mnlmf. Tdkr A cyqy, ig okq nvr owimvy wusd G msprudcl oo fholl hy gawc io cnez. Gukoelklbgy, vl gya wlnlklbgy nvfczoifwn rpvt Idkbqhie okq i kael yd xptgaxe bce gzslo ootwdfmm. Tuwbc evs nf ksldeauo, yvy a zsqgk znpzklbheal dfio mnvo gb no jw mmcgda’l vciqe jadfwpt fgwcwie jaxlqig. Zsizm dt jsc pmqeayo dwm tuw Cjgohrjsla rhb kzgmy oa zsk io tuw lytg, oe xyp Ddcggb fiqiay lcmi srnopmgy vftszzd.

Iamrwm wnk dfmme, oq dfm ral, togvb tuw zcznoa gx rpz fegxr tdnr orgtz Vysngudr uan. Fm gobcob bzrealjm, gixw rc acohdnl’b caiw lcmi aodo rw we hh kll hoiaxe tdkr zo uin. Eklbcuzll wopqz, tuwbc evs fgwcbciay cm kjmcdormgy agd pqbhg slmco ig. Oojt, ohrjo uin ayky rpz fvyrra jf pgepaz. Sgmncvos qan emo hhjd, zco I gjscl oo twd rw ohr wxb wa tuw qyuz wvlr rpz lrscr ihohfd mn kavf. S uinn’g wxrqmeyq cskxefkpst, wug ad qmzmrv S qxvrrv wmzz prgzjm ohnf wmao. Prjryxn ig okq igl wmcr i bazw dm Dgaq, ly jipgu sd sa vly sxb bce ysmi wa lbqkjbt wr zktm aoe wkap jtuwb. Rpvt’f uylrzcgmbc ibavf yd kjueko. Rpz oadi apvnpw gc pvd bx qcboiay ysb pnfukrpzd jsc rw roec dmoztuwb qmvmywcqtt, bhl sd pds cgslb raf ly nzjvr lryb cuzsxq ime umwyvn, tuwx zzvvb.

Decryption for ease of moderation:

Reducio

I talked to Erin at the camp. I can’t say anything is true without verifying it, but she implemented Thomas Lestrange as someone who is working with the hags and leading students to them. She also said that prefects and professors are covering for them and that Jack Burnett kissed a hag. Like I said, it is hard to sort out exactly what she saw. She seemed serious about the threat they posed though. She said Thomas lured her to the forest and Burnett just happened to be there. I have to talk to him now too before I start to suspect him too. I also had no luck in finding Selim, but I will try again when the school year starts.

Did you know Thomas Lestrange had been missing for a year? I didn’t. Miss Erin said he walked out of the lake with a three-pronged tattoo on his arm. I saw the mark myself, actually, though I’ll get to that. It reminds me of the mark that Marion was said to have, but it isn’t an eye. Could it be that people who work with the hags have to accept a mark of some kind? It’s noteworthy for sure.

Erin said all the professors and prefects she went to about Thomas’ disappearance called her mad. It kind of shocked me. Had you heard anything at all about students disappearing around Hogwarts? It’s true that Erin Ryan has been pushed into the fringes of the social circles, though I can’t verify that’s the reason why. Most people don’t know hardly anything about her. Also, I don’t know if it meant anything, but she also called the hag ‘an Auntie’.

There was something else though, something that is very strange. A couple students, almost all Slytherins, were invited to a tent on one of the last days of camp. We got a magical brand on us of numbers, and were sorted into eight groups and pitted against each other in a fighting match. Like I said, it was far beyond what I expected to spend my time at camp. Importantly, it was blatantly advertised that Vladimir was a part of putting the thing together. There was an audience, and a magic enchantment that made it so we couldn’t leave without someone winning. Maybe it was revenge for the Slytherins who spied on him at the ball, or for Victor having been severely injured.

Victor was there, by the way, being the person on the front line while Vladimir hid. He looked terrible, like he shouldn’t have been able to be up and moving like he was. Extremely eerie, there was something so completely not right about it. Well, there was also the fights of course. Students did get hurt, but I tried to get to the end of the game with the least amount of pain. I wasn’t entirely successful, but it seemed I spared more people than most. Perhaps it was all just a game to Vlad, to laugh at us all and the lack of loyalty we have for each other. That’s conjecture again of course. The only chance we had of getting out unscathed was to work together seamlessly, but if his point was to prove that humans are humans, then bravo.

Mentioning: @Erin Ryan, Thomas Lestrange, @Jack Burnett, Vladimir Athanatos, Victor Moore

[font=century gothic]SENT: July 24th, 2020
ADDRESSED: Flash
DELIVERY: Sent attached to the leg of Evelynn's new barn owl companion, Janus[/font]

The first page

Dear Flash,

Oh, I am so pleased to hear from you! These past three weeks have felt like an eternity. Honestly. I'm not sure what I was expecting, really, but it has been such a sudden shift going from school at Hogwarts to life at home as though normal. And to be taking these classes online through correspondence. It frustrates me that mother really can't just be satisfied with the education we're already receiving. But I suppose it wouldn't hurt to improve my French and writing, and all the rest.

Still, I've been a bit of a sorry lump, I will admit, just picturing how much fun you all must have been having at the camp. I can't tell you how happy I am for what you've written. This is even more than I could have hoped for. Truly. It's like I was actually there. Even if I can't have been there, this is wonderful compensation and I'm so grateful that you've taken the time to write it out. I hope it wasn't too much of a bother. Have you ever considered being a commentator? I know Professor Berceguay used to offer commentary in the games early in the year, but after she stepped away from her position, we've been without. You'd make a great replacement!

As much as it frustrates me to see Hufflepuff's team win yet again, I can't say that I feel sorry for Durmstrang. I'm glad for Hogwarts' victory, and I've never particularly liked it when anyone cheats in Quidditch. That Gryffindor's Captains always seem to prefer brawny displays of desperation over actual skill and strategy has never failed to annoy me. But D'Spacito can hardly be bothered to listen to anything I say, so there's little I can do about that presently. Durmstrang didn't deserve to win, though, for all their under-handed tactics. Although it sounds like they had some formidable players, none-the-less. I hope D'Spacito was watching the game. He could learn a thing or two from that Greta you wrote about.

I will have to be sure to congratulate the Hufflepuff team in the new semester, though. True to their record of victory, they performed admirably once again. I've yet to have the chance to face them myself. I'd love to fly against Towers, though, and get the chance to see her skill up close for myself and see just how well I compare. As nerve-wracking as it would be, it's also exhilarating a thought. Do you attend the Quidditch games at school regularly? And would it be bold of me to assume that this means you are home now? I gather your return trip was safe? What plans have you for the rest of the holidays?

Sincerely,
Evelynn

The second

Gju fmbctt mnvo nzjdhudgdz ufw yd kvmc. A'w lwo eiwx qcme jzopm oo owqgv rigz kjt ohvk. S'k i giglvc tjsg osrp rhnl imc'me gsviqig ntysb cacholmy ag lrc mid bx dfm xazh. Sr igmbkd qwpnqk kq bcohyr gb reew cmuz sbjd mn blnvsybjrvsv awhbnl? Rme xohdn rpds usfc ojnr mxlwoipwn, rpjutz? Gczzn'g lrczz pegpcanoek kr bce pswn edtu qys? Ejuyvx'r qo hnno zmzn agdgkzd vx ccdzrnd crcyealc umit zacqqig nfn pmouefob edtu axhcmirk? Gfio eksmrtt hnhzcvzd, gzysoc? Ig'k k jqotyw lgb arvyrrmiiay dm bciac dfio tuww, hcnt flebmitf, uysty db kykmohvfq jqfe gzsq. Njrpw imc bulk dm… ecag.. Xsepo? I ugzc vjbbvi uin gewkrtt hhjd? Bw toh kdgtg hnno rpz besxb? Ldd vl qm iral? Zyu ldd gzow mqea her qo oa qys? Ajreq… Dfmme'f beqb no zsxw ypeflsmvn…

Af xyp bce ewcr wa ig…lrga wig slmco Tugwya Geflbyvbe vk…S bwi't rnol sioj oryb oo fsi. G ljn'g lrgvf I rnop zzaydi kiye zwxrqjn bx dfqn, bhl rc evs bfo mn ohr gxca vt gzo zigl gzkr kvutzd kg vtgwxrqjn. Nxdcz ce tgd gvoo n jyu edtu Vktmipbjd yvy Vysngudr nfn rzdeq ly biicr osrp Hobjo, G aoaelob evtpzslo ciz. A vgaoeawn rw ciz lkjsdnt osrp Naalkpqj Mnjdgv. Nhr ukjtzd uaw Pmvprj. Dfmt wrjo rigkvfq yjjug kykmohvfq fikprfslo dn gzo megeeq, lsb D dvvx'r ypigw qcb ohr voridlf. Sxwevy, V kdyzoeq xyjtjwvfq fqh a oad ynoee lryb. D dvvx'r aze nfirpdnt nopg nufhsaqjuf, ter Q nuchyqm hy vfcrqicgk yzddohkvw ezrr fyr wpt bx zjixe. Gzkr igsb whntviak gfg D dbf'd pmheztop azevfq fqh ag lrc ajrgaxe kzrreylg. D tugeepo ig kdpiigr lryb ce jsc gv jue qoyz. D hnnol'b nerf dfqn tnldmw ohnl imc healsmvzd, omd G'tg br cocxdnt sx cgz ohl pmz dt agg. G ixthsvjg henfd rw xoaxbmvo hve kr bce rfn mn ohr qoyz, wug fotmm qhadc ojt gzo apvnpw. S uin gbaxe bj db ky dqmsg lrgvb ia lrc vzw furmwg yrsb… Bw toh cxme vnllrgvb eyko yjjug zsk?

Bcif ac ytg qhadc i gog ly rife vf, dfwpgu. A nmv'o kagg Pgvn nl kjt, hiav. S'k vjt fmbc pjw zmmf wa wusd qpz snqc aii br lbsaoeq. Svrpjutz S ytno qgx'r sioj orw ace jgejl caiw klg menkyl bj lvw. Kjbcohyr G ndnq ad y tdtgdo mly tusd qpz'd psvj i cat sx 'Ycitvw', kq bcohyr gb reew pyudll. Orgkc, I fmznwne vl mmcgd ow sd ut uavopaoaavslo ohnl ryon wrjo mvxe jadapzs vk mmzmepl. Imc yoa'l dfqik fzo'q igsb lscl dngg kjt jf gzsq ujrr lryv eufl kl wwsrjfcz, yo lge? Piohrj dfii gvnslo vnl sxqezrf, lrga nerec mvgy gg lc jmiayslo pp n ormtz srl yd vzw dmoqbdoak. Duw haecc kifef ad qwpnq dsim halto Rpjmnk wgoct ow kqajcvsdcl rigz dfm jtuwb mn owb uytmis, vx k kimk [h]ac[/s] ajmrlrgvb tusd lmzdf ly zm vcpwzrmy. I gzsls re'yd ncndnvlojg caiw dm bmy gg dytf tb Tepvztg, lrmcbh. Nfn Dipsg sc umgl, agg kwme gzkl mqee, ly ivjw jzkr evs vf dfio bny. Lsb… rhl oysty tuwi aigl uwb kiy? Tuw zpwaefkypa. Rohdnl'b Geflbyvbe'f vsqikprsbyvxe ow cmuztuaxe bcag uysty br wkqqgy pgxdqmmrv? Cmzmy… gzsq qn ayd ytmm tuw zjixe. V osqp D wnkx'r aoupc rczz.

Deciphering Evelynn's letter (for ease of moderating content):

Reducio

You surely made productive use of camp. I'm not even sure where to begin with all this. I'm a little lost with what you're talking about happened at the end of the camp. It almost sounds as though it were some sort of gladiatorial combat? How could this have gone unnoticed, though? Weren't there professors at the camp with you? Wouldn't it have been noticed if several students went missing and returned with injuries? What exactly happened, though? It's a little bit frightening to think that them, just students, could do something like this. Force you guys to… what.. Fight? I hope nobody was greatly hurt? Do you still have the brand? Did it go away? How did they even put it on you? Sorry… There's just so many questions…

As for the rest of it…this bit about Thomas Lestrange is…I don't even know what to say. I don't think I ever really made mention of this, but he was one of the ones at the ball that caught my attention. After he got into a row with Davenport and Vladimir and tried to dance with Moore, I started watching him. I listened to him talking with Santario Martin. She called him Reaper. They were talking about something happening in the owlery, but I didn't quite get the details. Anyway, I started following him a bit after that. I didn't see anything very suspicious, but I suppose my instincts obviously were not out of place. That also explains why I don't remember seeing him at the sorting ceremony. I thought it strange that he was in our year. I haven't seen this tattoo that you mentioned, but I'll be keeping an eye out for it now. I actually meant to confront him at the end of the year, but never quite got the chance. I was going to do so first thing in the new school year… Do you know anything else about him?

This is all quite a lot to take in, though. I don't know Ryan at all, mind. I'm not sure how much of what she says can be trusted. Although I also don't know why she would have any reason to lie. Although I find it a little odd that she'd call a hag an 'Auntie', as though it were family. Which, I suppose it could be if my understanding that hags were once witches is correct. You don't think she's also tied into all of this more than just an observer, do you? Rather than giving any answers, this seems only to be bringing up a whole set of new questions. Two marks makes it sound like maybe Thomas might be associated with the other of two covens, if a mark is something that needs to be accepted. I think we'll definitely have to try to talk to Burnett, though. And Faust as well, now more than ever, to know what was in that bag. But… why would they call her mad? The professors. Wouldn't Lestrange's disappearance be something that could be easily confirmed? Sorry… this is all over the place. I wish I wasn't stuck here.

@Flash Holmwood

[font=Monotype Corsiva]Dear Evelynn,

I'm glad my writing proved entertaining for you, though I don't know how eloquent I would have been if I were to broadcast myself in the moment. I think most of my brain would be too preoccupied by paying attention to say anything beyond the obvious. Still, thank you for your kind compliments. I hope we can catch a few games together during the next school year, perhaps then I could be your own personal commentator.

It's a shame that you feel unheard by your own captain, that really is an issue. The position is one that I would assume is earned through having proven yourself, though if he refuses to listen to his co-captain, then he's being belligerent or proud. I can see why blatching is attractive as an option, though like you say it's not really a strategy. I wish I could offer a solution, but the best I can offer is the thought that with age Rafael might become more reasonable.

I'm afraid I have some terrible news for you. Right after the final, Serena Towers retired from Quidditch. Don't ask me how a third year retires, but perhaps after all those blatches and Bludgers she had decided she had enough. That, or perhaps it had been something she decided long before, something to do with her family life, I don't know her well enough to have asked. It really is a shame, I can't say I've seen many games, but she was an amazing Seeker. With an undefeated season and an international win, one would think she was at her prime. Perhaps she would still be willing to train with you if you asked?

And you're right, I am home and well. I just visited my dear friend Willow Anderson this last weekend and enjoyed myself quite a bit. Things are calm and I can feel myself recovering from the stress of my first year. It was quite a lot, though admittedly a lot of my stress had been self-inflicted. My mother and sister are throwing another ball soon, which are usually boring. I have mostly been keeping up on my reading, I am close to my family, but the truth is most of my siblings are much older than me, so they have their own business and interests. I'm awaiting a visit from my oldest brother who is being kept away by work, and I'm very much looking forward to it. You would probably like him, he is quite brilliant and easy to talk to. Or perhaps you would like Darius better, since he is the one with the prize-winning horse.

I hope your summer starts to improve and you get the chance to enjoy yourself more. Please take care.

Kindest regards,
[/font]

Dated: August 7th, 2020
Sent via one of the Holmwood family owls 'Aster' to:@Evelynn Decipio

Ajreq sd Q xazw ydn vs isqsm, wug lrczz rrsvjg ds agdfqig gzkr Q fnbo. Gc pvd vffgbvtvgxq bj a gwxr, wie jadf bce fswc mte fqwzwg af lryb haec yl qo, aav ylkz wr yktm jue lsaszt gg Fgkooe oo umme nkucl oo tg nmeisgsspa. Yojf dfmme jsc y ndgulslo miay kll vn rfdgzz ahvscvxe, gzysoc, scgsjmm, tuw ksldeauo uin aa avjcnibf. Wyodc qanl’b roec nmei tuwbc, aj tuwi qidd jw mmcgda’l vciqe hfdgt jnr loyu wenl dfm jtuwbq. Q orvwn rw beg lrcu oo sgbdmdt, omd ewo kvuucl aoe ad yvtwnq. S bwi’t gzsls ohnl sr kjuyv rydz jhkd zmzn Idkbqhie. Sd jmvsg fyr qa hr joytgy vk k pmbuysb qbpdrfd. G rpsg vyl’b fnbo klghoew. Ggbc tuw owm, D wbfncz df gzo fibs njo qwheugg gvqoynob, jpt vl ryzyll kocun lvco nzjos. Hoppvpf lryb haec gya v tuaxe jztjwol bce gzbcm jf gzok, Ddcggb, Kimibf kll ciz, ter ecag csll jf pzsjl xaa ekim vn rfmfiitzwxr bcag ekimn ufaxe akeydc zixksabc? Vjt bfvw bcag, ter apcu s vyzbe, pgwntzx vdvsadoa? Ukl pvg zsqgk yo gzkr? Q yoa’l lctdeiw cm, jpt V’e ryzyll sx cfkeel.

Sr’a iog gxjg ohnl. Dfm ral A ncaxrvtob Ddcggb, jqfe uw gya wevfq nckprlob imohfn, bwzsa’l dfio mnco wwp tuaxi wa tuw qjwqe? Zsizm D’m zsugvb cbfxckoibfc upzrr lrczz aew xmvz, bhl dfmme vk cmuztuaxe gju fzysty kagg. Um ieiwb ewo pnkd rpz fvjcr zjuav yd ndgulslo, wepseqm ohr avjcnibf gya wrbcol. Q raff’d rpzrr, ter Ddcggb bqzd. V cxme dt fzysty cbeo ya hoew yd i nhbuu, zco I jsc kwme fmbnzdsrv rc evs zgfgvb ag svj edtu lrc evy uw vmwfeq. Qys acohdn dmzl iwbw ogaq qys ezrrf’d rpzrr, vyl’b vsx eo fwr oe orw bcefw dfqigf cocx cacholqig gg Cjgohrjsl. Lj ybm dfqik gzopm ds n uylvzcgayl bceew dmw? Qiplyp evs zq nmzh mnlo, G cneq ly qmz hve sl xvsfaxe igl gzo rqhe. Fgbpg, D’vr kdyzoeq ly pihbyw.

Dfm wrnfn umit nokw iatrj Fgkooe vscl, zvrjirpdnt vsb. Bceew gya io rnsbmicr dodb, D nrnop mqea kku Dgaqawgz. Dt swvr tdkr zo uin tujyuqig Iamrwm tb lrc agahyrrmm, fbj cmuz rrscmv. D hnno lw xlhw, bcigll. Nsabjr usn ztvcx tvmwy. I fsg fqh bywobqig vl kr wie cgslb. Vs sgb Rpjmnk Vcaornfqc, Q’h asjkgl ohvk gya hy sabqb oizw bcigll eocbdnt zsk. Pz wnk yd vj hrdz gv ohr xsepo, hr sbecvbyq wylz a cwkamauy uylkgufayl qhpbkcgjge oq dycitvfq rpz ochylmit V okq bmyvfq rw ietgdgioe jadf.

Q’h sbjbw bj eiwx gvqoyno wwp ia svj wa tuac. Gb caf tocv gaayegaciay sl ut tugeepos sgb y eciyw, kll dt usc kiye zw k zqo asjkgl oo ewdszi. Tuw zcwklr orm ljn’g cxme vnllrgvb ag svj pvvr ei cvqy. Vl rctks gg xmb we ndylm, ohbmqf. Q aerd vgsz I’z ax uit oiwb kg cenv lsb df fgwcbciay ryxkeak dm uz, I swoj tdkr A gmcgd nl vcint ow qjiy tusd rpz iaxypuvtvgx uwplqf’d bqnachoyz rigz wc. Vj, I’z kypzt fbj lcqig fg slkjhrjolb vnq vkps. Ohr ormtz tuaxe tzfg eo qkvtgwbzzviawn.

Decryption for ease of moderation:

Reducio

Sorry if I came off as vague, but there really is nothing that I know. We had invitations to a tent, one with the same eye symbol as that mark on it, and once we gave our ticket to Victor we were asked to go downstairs. Down there was a fighting ring and an entire audience, though, spoiler, the audience was an illusion. Magic didn’t work down there, so they said we couldn’t leave until one team beat the others. I tried to get them to forfeit, but got kicked for it anyway. I don’t think that it could have just been Vladimir. At least not if he really is a regular student. I just don’t know anymore. With the eye, I wonder if the hags are somehow involved, but it hardly seems like proof. Perhaps that mark was a thing between the three of them, Victor, Marion and him, but what kind of child can make an enchantment that makes using spells backfire? Not only that, but such a large, complex illusion? Can hag magic do that? I don’t believe so, but I’m hardly an expert.

It’s not only that. The way I described Victor, like he was being puppeted around, doesn’t that make you think of the glove? Maybe I’m making connections where there are none, but there is something you should know. We never got past the first round of fighting, because the illusion was broken. I wasn’t there, but Victor died. I know it should come as more of a shock, but I was more surprised he was moving at all with the way he looked. You should feel very glad you weren’t there, don’t ask me how or why these things keep happening to Slytherin. Do you think there is a connection there too? Victor was my dorm mate, I used to see him in passing all the time. Sorry, I’ve started to ramble.

The brand went away after Victor died, everything did. There was no evidence left, I never even saw Vladimir. It felt like he was throwing Victor to the slaughter, for some reason. I have no clue, really. Victor had black blood. I saw him bleeding it at one point. As for Thomas Lestrange, I’m afraid this was my first time really meeting him. He was of no help in the fight, he arguably made a peaceful conclusion impossible by taunting the opponent I was trying to negotiate with.

I’m sorry to even involve you in all of this. It has been languishing in my thoughts for a while, and it has made me a bit afraid to return. The people who don’t know anything at all have my envy. It helps to not be alone, though. I feel like I’m in way over my head but if something happens to me, I feel like I would at least be glad that the information wouldn’t disappear with me. No, I’m sorry for being so incoherent and dark. The whole thing left me scatterbrained.