ANTONIN DOLOHOV: 1 September, 1938
Dear All;
I've arrived safe and sound, although nothing was about to go wrong, was it? I told you that much, Mama. I'm old enough now to look after myself. I'll admit, the school is rather… grand and perhaps daunting at first, if you let it be. I was certainly a little worried when I stepped off the train and they told us we had to get across the lake. I thought that I was going to die of embarrassment, why couldn't you get someone from the village to teach me how to swim when I was back at home, Papa? But I wasn't worried at all, or nervous. It hardly seems exciting now, looking back. I know you said to write as soon as I arrived, but I couldn’t- as soon as we arrived we were taken up to the Great Hall to eat and be put into our House groups.
Onto the most important news! (Although I suppose it isn't the most important. If I hadn't arrived safely then that would have prevented me being sorted at all. But never mind.) I have been Sorted, and Sorted into "clever and cunning" Syltherin House, founded by Salazar Syltherin himself. He was the one who left the school because the other founders weren't running the school properly. I must say the students those who weren't jeering anyway seemed pleasant enough. The Sorting was not exactly what I had in mind though. It was almost a disappointment, in fact. I expected it to be some sort of challenge. When they told me all I had to do was wear the Hat, it didn’t seem right. But it was all so new and strange, I suppose I didn't see it that way at the time. One of the older boys in my House, he said that the ceremony was more interesting to watch then to take part in, even if it was just for the Song. I don't remember there being any singing, but perhaps I was not paying attention. Next year I shall watch carefully.
I must say though, that Hogwarts itself is… not what I had expected either. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, actually; something like home but not home. It's bigger than home, certainly. I think I may need seven years here just to learn my way around, through the grounds and the Forbidden Forest as well as the Castle… we aren't meant to go in there, there's Centaurs and other beasts in there, but I'm sure that the Centaurs won't be able to find me. Don't worry Mama! I'm not really planning to go there. I will listen to my teachers and the prefects, just like you said.
But I really should go now. I have to find my way to the Owlery, because I don't want Asgre to go out yet. She might get lost and it is such a long way. Besides, I don't think she enjoyed the journey on the train. She was making a dreadful noise and flapping around inside her cage. It was bad enough on the train with the others teasing me and laughing at my accent. But I am up later than I should be and I have my first lessons tomorrow- sleeping in would not be an impressive start.
I miss you
I've arrived safe and sound, although nothing was about to go wrong, was it? I told you that much, Mama. I'm old enough now to look after myself. I'll admit, the school is rather… grand and perhaps daunting at first, if you let it be. I was certainly a little worried when I stepped off the train and they told us we had to get across the lake. I thought that I was going to die of embarrassment, why couldn't you get someone from the village to teach me how to swim when I was back at home, Papa? But I wasn't worried at all, or nervous. It hardly seems exciting now, looking back. I know you said to write as soon as I arrived, but I couldn’t- as soon as we arrived we were taken up to the Great Hall to eat and be put into our House groups.
Onto the most important news! (Although I suppose it isn't the most important. If I hadn't arrived safely then that would have prevented me being sorted at all. But never mind.) I have been Sorted, and Sorted into "clever and cunning" Syltherin House, founded by Salazar Syltherin himself. He was the one who left the school because the other founders weren't running the school properly. I must say the students those who weren't jeering anyway seemed pleasant enough. The Sorting was not exactly what I had in mind though. It was almost a disappointment, in fact. I expected it to be some sort of challenge. When they told me all I had to do was wear the Hat, it didn’t seem right. But it was all so new and strange, I suppose I didn't see it that way at the time. One of the older boys in my House, he said that the ceremony was more interesting to watch then to take part in, even if it was just for the Song. I don't remember there being any singing, but perhaps I was not paying attention. Next year I shall watch carefully.
I must say though, that Hogwarts itself is… not what I had expected either. I wasn't sure what I was expecting, actually; something like home but not home. It's bigger than home, certainly. I think I may need seven years here just to learn my way around, through the grounds and the Forbidden Forest as well as the Castle… we aren't meant to go in there, there's Centaurs and other beasts in there, but I'm sure that the Centaurs won't be able to find me. Don't worry Mama! I'm not really planning to go there. I will listen to my teachers and the prefects, just like you said.
But I really should go now. I have to find my way to the Owlery, because I don't want Asgre to go out yet. She might get lost and it is such a long way. Besides, I don't think she enjoyed the journey on the train. She was making a dreadful noise and flapping around inside her cage. It was bad enough on the train with the others teasing me and laughing at my accent. But I am up later than I should be and I have my first lessons tomorrow- sleeping in would not be an impressive start.
I miss you