Letters always lead to something more

Medusa biting her lip thinking about what to write to Stephen,  she couldn't think for the life of her to write him. What do you write to a friend that was a boy?  this was harder then writing letters to Lottie,  she wrote her about anything and everything, so she been staring at the parchment for a hour or more.  ' Just keep it simple Medusa, not like he's a boy you like or something!'  Medusa thought to herself. She blushed at the thought of that,  she met Stephen not long ago, it was a bit early to think about that.  Dipping her quill in her ink she started writing to him and rolled her eyes at her mother calling her downstairs.

"Mum I'm trying to write a letter to my friend Stephen!" said Medusa.

"Ooh... a boy, my baby is writing to a boy?" her mother asked her happily.  Obviously by the sound of her voice she knew her mother was thinking something more then them being friends.

"What?! No! Mum were just friends, we met not to long ago,  we're good friends." said Medusa.

"Ok sweetie if you say so, but I'll bet by the time you're seventeen you two will be." said her mother.

"Mum!" said Medusa as she shut her door as her mother laughed and walked off towards the kitchen.


Shaking her head Medusa went back to focusing on writing Stephen. Just write as if you're writing mum and dad, but make it less boring, after all it's his birthday! she thought to herself.  She all the sudden knew what she was going to write and set to writing him,  it was easier then she thought, almost like talking to him. Looking at her letter she can't believe she wrote this much, he will probably think she's a chatter box, which is around people she was comfortable around. Looking at her letter she bit her lip thinking.


Dear Stephen,

Happy Birthday!

I hope you liked what I got you, I didn't know what else to get you,  I hope it isn't ruined I don't know how long it took Polaris to get there.   I finished a new book that I think you will rather like,  it's about a boy who sets out to find out who he is, and to find out he's prince of a magical place.  I don't want to ruin it for you, but it's a good book.  I'm doing ok, busy helping my dad with the ranch,  one of the horses gave to a baby horse you need to see her she's so pretty.  I hope you're doing ok,  although summer is fun I can't wait to get back to Hogwarts, I loved it there.

Well... I better go help my mum with lunch before she starts yelling at me, and that won't be good!  Oh... I'll be going to Diagon Alley before school starts, maybe I'll see you there?  It'll be nice to see you again, if not maybe I'll see you on the train when we go, that'll be cool to talk all the way to school, I usually sit by myself going there.  I drew more pictures for you to see, I drawed a really cool dragon that you got to see.  Got to go, mum is yelling at me now!

Your friend,
Medusa

That didn't sound that bad,  for the first time writing him it wasn't bad at all, she thought it was quite nice.   Looking at Polaris her owl she fed her owl treat before tying the box and letter to her.  "Send this  to Stephen, be careful and have a good flight." she said watching Polaris fly off.

It was as any other day at the Meyers house. Edward, his father, had left the place before any other had woken up. Lately he had been doing that a lot and Stephen even wondered if he acted that same way during the time he was at Hogwarts. He knew their relationship wasn't the best but even so would it be that awful for him to leave that soon in the morning becauseof him? Mother said he was just too busy at the Ministry and it was just that, but Stephen couldn't help wondering... At least he would be home for his birthday he hoped, but he wasn't. He didn't set foot on their house the whole day and even when Stephen happened to cross paths with him the next morning after he woke up and Edward was off to work he said nothing about it. He gave no proof that what his mother had said the day before about that snitch had been his gift to be true and even if he really wanted it to be Stephen kept doubting that. Perhaps, he didn't even know when his birthday was. Perhaps, no one knew... He wasn't expecting anyone from school to remember when it was but when it was to his father was different.

He had left for the afternoon for a walk. It was either that or going with his mother to her shop all day. But that day he really didn't feel like going. He had been helping her for the whole week in exchange of a little rising of his monthly allowance but today he just didn't feel like it. A few hours later of simply wandering around the many streets of London he returned home, a dessert empty place at the time being and headed to his room after grabbing some snack to bit as he waited.

But before he heard the familiar front door opening and closing sound he heard something else and the noise came from his window. Looking up from where he was sitting he noticed a white snow owl pecking at his window. He got up in a jump and headed there. He didn't recognize the owl right away but opened the window to let her come in thinking she was lost or something because who would ever write him? However, he noticed the scroll and a box tied to the owl's leg to be addressed to him.

Curious on the matter Stephen went to untie them off and grabbed the letter before anything else to discover who was this from.

A smile blossomed on his face as he read the letter. Honestly, he was no longer expecting a Happy Birthday letter and even less was he expecting present. "Medusa... How did she know?" he asked at the owl. A old habit that he had gathered from talking to Willow, the family owl, every time he came to deliver a letter to him. Of course, he wasn't expecting to get a reply from any owl.

He moved to his desk to write her a reply. He didn't know what yet, but he just wanted to thank her so badly he took a while to find a bit of parchment that wasn't ruined from his rush. After a few minutes he had it and had gone to look for his quill at the drawer from the desk. He hadn't used it ever since he had left Hogwarts so it was simply there waiting for September to come. However, when he was finally sitting at the desk he didn't know what to write, how to thank her and for a moment he was once again lost in her letter. That was when he remembered he had forgotten the present she sent along. Being so happy with the simple letter he had just forgotten it...

Leaving the empty parchment and the quill on the desk Stephen got up and walked to where he had left the box. Grabbing it and carefully analyzing it from the outside, he wondered what was inside. He moved to open it and was if so was possible he smiled even more. Honestly, he didn't know Medusa had kept that picture of them. And he surely didn't know exactly how it was taken. He smiled at it however. And was glad to see her even if in a picture. Other than that a wrapping with some restless chocolate frogs was in there as well. He took one for himself glancing at the owl. "You hungry?" he asked but once again without expecting any answer so he simply went to get her some treats they had for Willow and laid them on the top of the bedside table so she could easily get to them.

Then he closed the box with the remaining chocolate frogs not caring much with the card that he had won and sat down at the desk again leaving the picture in front of him to take the quill. Trying to keep a neat handwriting he started writing.

Hello Medusa,

First of all I thank you for this wonderful surprise. I wasn't expecting anything like it by now.

Everything arrived here intact, safe and sound as your owl. She is lovely, by the way. She looks tired though. I shall send her back as soon as she is rested. It must have been a long way.

That surely sounds interesting a plot. Not as good as our fussy look for sheets, but almost as nice. Of course that finding out to be a prince sounds like a better reward than a gathering a bunch of dirty drawings. I hope you managed to clean them up a little. Or I can ask my mother about that. She deals with stains all the time so she most know of something.

I have been around the Diagon Alley lately. Living in London has it's perks but when you are a wizard and can't do a thing to test yourself in any way for two whole months life gets rather boring. So going there is quite nice and at least I can pretend I am back in Hogwarts or going to be back in a matter of hours for a while. Perhaps, we cross each other's paths when you come? And that sounds really good. I don't usually have much of company either.

Can't wait to see your dragon!

Stephen.

And that was it. He read it over a few times to make sure his handwriting was good enough to be understood. Only later he got to ask his mother about stains but she wasn't sure that spell would work on drawings without deleting them completely. Not that matter much. Medusa couldn't try it right away. At least not until they were back in Hogwarts.

PS. Mum says she normally uses a deleting charm. But she isn't sure if it would work in this case. Sorry I wasn't of much help.

The next morning, by the time Medusa's owl woke up Stephen went to her and after giving her some breakfast he tied the letter to her paw. "Thank you for your service. Now go back home and give this to Medusa" he said softly and sat back on his bed watching her fly away.

After working all day on the the ranch with her dad,  she was relieved to see Polaris by her window waiting for her to be let in.  Smiling happily she race towards the house taking off her muddy shoes and running upstairs towards her room.  Reaching her room she opened the window as Polaris came in hooting happily but tiredly at her.   "You must be tired girl,  it took you three days to get back here,   poor thing I'm sorry." she's said taking the letter from her paw.   Feeding her a owl treat she opened the letter and started reading Stephen's letter.


She was glad that he got her letter and his present, she was glad that the picture in the frame was ok and not broken.   Why was she was so happy to finally to get his letter at last?   He was one of her best friends, so obviously she was happy to get his letter, she been waiting on his letter for the past three days.  Looking at her owl, she seen how tired she was,  she was going to let her rest before she sent her back out.   She was rather please that he loved Polaris,  she loved her as well,  she was a beautiful owl.


Rummaging through her desk, she found some parchment and quill and set it down on her desk.   Dipping her quill in her ink she started writing him neatly in her nice and neat handwriting, she always wrote neatly unless she was in a rush or so.  Although when she wrote, her handwriting was very neat and elegant,  she hoped Stephen liked it. Why did it matter if he did or didn't?  Well... he was her best friend, obviously she wanted him to like things about her, that wasn't weird right?  Shaking her head she started writing.


Hello Stephen,

I'm glad that you got your present and it's ok, I was worried that it might have been broken.  You're welcome, although it's your birthday why shouldn't you receive something?   Thanks for letting her rest, she is beautiful isn't she?  I love her, she's the only friend I have during the summer time.  I talk to her alot, that's not weird is it?  I talk to animals alot although they can't talk back.

It is a good book, I'll let you borrow it after I'm done,  but I have to admit it isn't as adventurous as ours was.  Oh yeah, who wouldn't want to find out they're prince or princess to a magical kingdom?  I know that sure want that,  but I'll take being a witch and going to a magical school though. Oh I got them cleaned up,  I took them to a place that cleans drawings and pictures so they're good.  Its ok, once again it wasn't your fault, so stop blaming yourself.


I wish I lived in London, I live more outside of England on a ranch obviously, although I quite like the country life.  Ugh... I know, I miss doing magic, such a pity we can't unless it's for homework or so,  I sure miss doing magic even if it was for something simple.  Maybe we will, but like I said, if were don't it's ok we'll see each other on the train.

Can't wait to show you it, it's quite nice I think.
Medusa

After letting Polaris rest for a whole day, she fed her and pet her before tying Stephen letter to her leg.  "Have a safe and good flight, see you in a few days." she said was Polaris flew out of the window.  Watching her fly away until she couldn't see her anymore, she waited until the next letter. She now knew it was probably going to be three days until she got another reply.

Stephen's routine was pretty much the same ever since he sent his response to Medusa. He truly believed that that would be it, the end of their written conversation, a one time thing. And all that because he wasn't used to have anything like it for the whole year.

And so he kept using his free time as he did before. Mostly he would walk around London or the Diagon Alley or at times help his mother back at the shop. All because staying at home alone was a complete torture. That day, three days after the day he sent her his reply, he recognized the white Snowy Owl that has once been hooting and pecking outside his window. Once it came back to his window that afternoon he opened the window for her to come in and as before he took the letter from her pawn and gave her some of Willow's food as he would read it.

Most of all, Stephen was still surprised she had answered him. And despite being simple, her letter made him smile; a smile that only grew wider as he went.

But before he could ever finish it there was a knock on the door. "Stephen, is everything alright? I heard a noise" his mother said from the outside.

Stephen jumped to the door as she opened it up. "Yeah, I'm cool. I was just opening the window" he explained but Medusa's owl couldn't stay unnoticed and hooted right on the spot. But before Elizabeth could has her son about the owl, Stephen pointed out: "It's just a friend from school. She sent me a letter."

"Oh" Elizabeth did as she heard that. Stephen knew the idea his mother had of him and that it was not of a much popular boy so she should be thrilled to find Stephen was receiving a letter from someone. A girl. "She?"

"Yes" Stephen nodded, "she is a friend."

"If you say so" his mother continued. "Alright, I'll leave you to your letter then. And feed the owl, she can rest with Willow if she needs."

Stephen nodded at that. "Done. And I'll take care of that later" he said and closed the door after Elizabeth was gone.

Sighing a little Stephen went back to reading Medusa's letter. Once he was done he just stared at the parchment or a while as the word friend resounded in his mind quite a few times before he moved to his desk and searched for a piece of parchment to write on. Friend. That was all she was, wasn't that right?

Dear Medusa,

Everything was just perfect as it arrived here. And I even happened to gather a couple of new cards from the chocolate frogs that I didn't have before. There aren't that many that I don't have already so we can consider it quite a good guess. All I wanted to say, however, was that your gift had surprised me as I was not really expecting it.

Yes, she is a lovely owl. Willow, my family's owl, didn't seem to bother to share with her some food which is quite strange from him, you know? He gets really cranky at the presence of other owls and hates to see us getting attention to any other that isn't him. But I tend to talk with him quite a lot when he goes to send me a letter from home so you and I are on the same ship there.

I don't really know. To be a prince or a princess of any kingdom is quite a challenge, the more a magical one. But I have to admit that it would be rather interesting to be something like it. However, being a wizard doesn't stand much behind. And if Hogwarts isn't a magical kingdom then i have no clue of what is. Of course that anything going on there would be twenty times funnier than anything happening anywhere else, so either way, we win. Good, I'm glad you managed to fix them when you put so much into it.

London is fine. I like it here. But it is too much busy here, more than anywhere else I've known. I've always wondered what it would be to live in the countryside for a change. but the closer I have ever gotten to such thing is my grandparents house which is just outside London in one littler village.

That is true, however. Not being able to do anything out here is just a bore... But yes, one way or the other.

I bet it is just perfect.

Stephen

When he was finished Stephen stopped and looked at the letter altogether. It seemed nice enough and readable enough to send someone. To send a friend. And so, the next morning, after a good night of sleep for Medusa's owl, Stephen sent her after giving her a little treat. "Fly safe" he told her and watched the owl till she was but a small dot in the blue morning sky.

Medusa been keeping up with helping her dad, a few times she ran into her bullies at shool but walked the other way, she didn't have time for that negativity in her life. She was counting the days and waited until her beloved snowy white owl came back with a reply from Stephen. She gotten alot of letters over the summer, but for some reason she was always excited to get she always got his letters. She gotten teased by her mother that she liked him more then a friend, maybe it was because she found a friend that was finally the same age as her.


In her free time which was alot lately, she rode her horses around the ranch or simply went to the park and drew whatever was around the park. She was going bored out of her mind running out of things to do, she needed towrite to someone but she haven't gotten any replies. Three days later, after riding around the ranch she came back up to her room to see Polaris on her desk waiting for her. "Who do you have this time for me girl?"she asked her owl as she petted her and untied the letter. "Oh... it's from Stpehen it finally came!"she said happily.


Sitting down reading his letter she smiled, she was quite surprised that he wrote back, she honestly wasn't expecting him to in the lease. Putting his letter neatly in a stack of letters that were sent to her in her desk she grabbed a quill and parchment and started writing to him in her neat handwriting. 'I wonder if he likes my handwriting and it's neat enough for him to read, I hope it's not too fancy for him.' she thought to herself as she started writing him. Although he never told her else wise, she so she guess it was ok, but why was she thinking about this? Shaking her head she went back to writing him focusing on that and only that.



Dear Stephen,

Once again I'm glad that everything is ok, I was worried that it was going to be borken from the long trip she made, but she's always careful. I'm glad you scored some awesome new cards, I'm collecting them myself and got some new cards as well so maybe we can show each other our collection sometime? I got alot that I already have myself, so hard to find some that you don't have isn't it? Oh it was nothing really, it's your birthday why shouldn't you get something special? Not that a picture was special or anything, it's a picture of us... I'm rambling aren't I? Sorry... about that.


Thank you she wasa present for my birthday in my frst year, I fell in love with her ever since I got her. It's fine I understand, sometimes other owls get jealous of other owls are not quite use to sitting there doing nothing. Who knows? I honestly don't know, but love to meet him sometime. Oh... good I'm not alone in it, I thought I might have been the only crazy girl that talks to her owl that can't talk back.


Haha. You're right about that, I think that would be more of a challange then going to a magical school for sven years. Once again you're right it would, but king or queen of a magical place would be so exciting I think. I love being a with, I'm glad I was gifted with it, like Isaid before always knew that I was different you know? I agree it is a magical kingdom. I mean hello we stay in a castle! Oh yeah, we totally win hands down, I hope we have many more adventures next year the last one was fun.


I bet it's fun, I don't much experience in the city life much we don't go to London much but for business and to take me to school. It's nice and quiet, and seeing the stars at night is just amazing, I spend hours looking up the sky probably why I love Astronomy so much. It's nice and I think you'll love it here on the ranch, I can teach you to ride a horse if you never rode one before.

Agreed. good thing we only have a few months of going without magic, I think I'll go insane if it was more!


It is, but that's just me.
Medusa

Reading it she nodded her head before she yawned. "Shower and to bed, I think I'm going to let you rest a day girl."she said before going to clean herself up. The next day, she woke up and seen Polaris awake and hooting at her. "Moring girl ready for a good flight?" she asked her owl. Tying her letter to her leg she lead her to the window petting her owl. " Have a good flight and be careful."she said as her owl took off as she watched her until she disappeared in the sky.

Stephen had went to his mother's shop that afternoon. He used to do that quiet a lot lately. It was one of his ways to leave his house and was way better than staying there all alone all day. And the good side was, Elizabeth always raised his monthly allowance in case he did went to help her once in a while. Money he used to keep in a piggy box. It was enchanted to keep the all the money that was put there always unless it was really necessary or until there was enough to pay for what they'd first put started saving to. Stephen never needed it before and the first intention was to keep it for posterity. Like for a broom in case he entered the team in school. But at some point he simply gave up on Quidditch since he didn't think he was that good so the final destination of all that money he kept would be something else. Something he still had no idea of what it was.

Arriving home he had just entered his room when there was something knocking at his window. He got up to see what that was and saw Polaris, Medusa's owl. "Hello there" he greeted her opening the window to let her in. As she came to set herself in the nightstand, Stephen went closer and untied the letter off her paw. "There you go. Free again. You hungry?" he needlessly asked her. Getting up he went to allowed her to jump to his arm and so he carried her to Willow's cage where she had plenty f food and water and where she could sleep. "Another letter from your friend?" his mother's voice came to him from the kitchen the moment he heard him messing around with the cage which would be odd that moment since Willow was out at the time being.

Stephen let out a laugh. "What if it is?" he asked. He heard Elizabeth giggling and didn't gave her much more credit since he was then returning to his bedroom.

He sat on the bed and read the letter Medusa had written him with a smile on his face as he went through it. It was just so strange... He didn't usually receive much mail. It was funny to have that for a change. He got up and went to look for some piece of parchment and getting his quill in the ink he had on his desk he worked on his reply to her letter.

Dear Medusa,

Everything arrived just as safe and sound as it could have. There is no reason for you to worry about it. And yes, that is true. I have at least seven of Albus Dumbledore, really, it is getting too much repetitive... But it is always fun to look for the rest of the collection, I think. Anyway, thank you again. It was perfect!

Willow always gets jealous of other owls anyway. Even at school when he goes to give me something from my parents he does not stand to see me caring for other owls really. It is rather hilarious at times. The worst part of it is that I always end up with a couple of new bites in my hand at the end of the day. But I guess that can be arranged. I'm sure Willow would love to meet you someday. And well, perhaps they do talk back, we just don't understand them... Who knows?

And yes! We do live in a castle for almost all the year. Can you imagine? A real castle with wizards and witched and magical beings! Speaking of which, the other day my sister claims she saw a hippogriff flying over my grandparent's. I don't know if it really was one since there aren't as many as that in the wild and I wasn't there. But how cool would it be to see a hippogriff? I wish there was one at school. But if there is then it is way hidden in the Forbidden Forest and as the name states we can't really go there... But yes, it would be fun to go on any other adventure this year.

The life in the city is different, I guess. Faster, if I can say so. It is nice in a way but at times it is way much more exhausting than staying a whole day inside Hogwarts' library. But this place is surely nice to visit. I know most of the streets here and I can show you around if you ever come here for more than a few hours. No, I have never went horseback riding. It's not very common among wizards since there are broomsticks and things like that, you know. But I would like to try that sometime.

Indeed. It is not much more than a month now actually till September comes. And I am already so up to go back to Hogwarts!

I'm sure it is,
Stephen.

As he finished the night had fallen and Stephen kept the letter to sent the following day since Polaris would be fast asleep by then. He kept the one Medusa sent in the top drawer of his desk with the others and closed the drawer.

The next day in the morning, Stephen went to get Polaris from the cage and bringing her to his room he tied his letter to her paw. "Have a good flight home" he said as Polaris took off from his arm and flew into the bright blue morning sky.

The next couple of days were a complete drag to her, she spent most of it packing and getting her stuff ready for school. She was too excited to be going back, she was marking the days until she was back at Hogwarts. She couldn't wait to see her friends again, she missed them like crazy over the summer. She didn't have many friends, but she had more then she ever had before so that was a start. Her trunk packed she kept some parchment, quill and ink out to write her letters to her friends. She had quite a bit of letters which she was quite please about.


The last few days she been checking her trunk constantly making double sure she had everything she needed, although she always forgot something. Even if she spent weeks packing, she always forgot something in the midst of it. Although she still had to get her news books and stuff for this year she couldn't believe she was going to be a fifth year, she wasn't scared but excited at the same time. What was weird she didn't know what she wanted to be quite yet, she had some ideas but she wasn't for sure. She was only fourteen right now, she didn't know what she wanted right now. She was sure she'll figure it out as the time went.




Seeing Polaris on her desk the next morning, she smiled. "Hey girl did you have a good flight, who do you have for me?" she asked seeing Stephen 's familiar handwriting. Seeing that it was from him her smile widened as she untied it from Polaris as she flew over towards her stand in the corner of the room. Reading the letter she smiled it wasn't much but it brought a smile to her face, her mother was always teasing her that there was something more between them. They were just friends, how hard was it to convince her that they were nothing more.


Dear Stephen,

Sorry... I tend to worry about things like that, I just didn't want it to break. I know that it isn't much but that picture means a lot to me, I don't have many friends myself so having you to talk to is nice. I got at least a dozen of Albus Dumbledore, he's always the one I seem to get the most out of all of them. Indeed it is, I don't think I'll ever stop collecting them cause new ones always come out. Once again it was nothing, it's your birthday why shouldn't you get nice things?


I'm sorry, Polaris doesn't mind other owls, I guess she's so used to hunting with the owls here in the country that it doesn't bother her. Oh dear that doesn't sound like fun, pecks and bites on your hands sounds like it hurts some. The worse I ever had was Polaris pecking my hands to open your letters cause she's tired after a long flight and wants to rest. That would be nice to meet the famous owl you talk so much about, I'm sure he's really sweet. That makes sense, if I wasn't able to talk to animals that'll be cool.


I think we got them beat, even if it's only just by a little. I know it is pretty cool, and learning magic and about magical creatures makes it better! A hippogriff? Wow... I read so much about them, but I never seen one in person. It would be amazing to see one, but you got to bow and if it bows back you may proceed if not you better run. I bet there's tons in the forest as well as other creatures. But yes, more adventures like last year sounds amazing.


I bet it is, sounds like madness at times but that's what I see when I go back to school. Country life is nice and peaceful, but it can be tiring as well by the end of the day. Cool that'll be nice, I like to see more of London but the train station and Diagonally. Maybe you can teach me to fly and I'll teach you how to ride? I'm a bit scared of heights. Buy yeah, I would like to learn how to ride a broom and get over my fear.


I can't wait to go back to school, I miss seeing my friends everyday and doing magic. I'm counting the days until we go back!

Medusa

Reading the letter, she nodded her head in approval she decided to let Polaris have a day rest before sending her out. The next day, she woke up and looked at her beloved owl. "Ready for a good flight girl?" she asked her as Polaris hooted in response. "I take that as a yes." she said tying the letter to her paw as she carried her to the window. "Have a good and safe flight." she said petting her as she flew out of the window. Seeing her flying away until she was only a dot in the sky she waited for Stephen's reply back.

Stephen wasn't that rushed when it came to school stuff. Yes! He wanted to go back to Hogwarts and the sooner the better. But having to pack was just not him... And once he was done he would still have to wait weeks to finally head to the train station. Once they were closer he would pack and then he would know coming back to Hogwarts was an imminent reality and not just a wish or a dream.

The days went by one by one ever since he had sent Polaris with his response to Medusa's last letter. And even if deep inside he knew she was to write him back he was afraid she wouldn't... that she was going to forget him. He didn't know why but that was a recurrent thought.

At last at the end of the day he noticed a snow owl flying to his window the moment he was arriving home after a very very long walk. He ran inside and went up the stairs to his floor so he could head inside and go to his room.

However, when he arrived there, the first thing he saw was that the window had been opened already (he was sure he had closed it before he left!). And as he walked inside he understood he wasn't alone... His father was standing there and had untied the letter out off Polaris' paw and was holding it up at the level of his eyes. Polaris was standing on his bedside table hooting as she waited for a treat. Of course, Edward had not given him a thing. Stephen watched him and felt inside him the urge of getting the letter from his hand (that was his!) but he managed to control it somehow. It took a few seconds but Edward seemed to notice his presence and so he turned to look from the letter to him. "What is this?" he asked.

"A letter" Stephen replied.

Edward grumbled silently but ignored that. "Who is it from? Who is this girl?" he tried again.

Stephen looked at him challengingly. He was not going to tell him a thing! Not to the man that didn't care to even look at him, the more see him and try to accept him as he was. "A friend. From school" he said simply in a way that that was all he was going to get.

Edward glanced at him with a certain gleam in his eyes Stephen had never seen or at least noticed anytime before. But it was frightening and having his eyes on him made him chill as if the man was looking to his soul. He turned to look at the letter again and Stephen wondered whether or not he was going to open it. And read it in front of him before he could. He could already hear his voice judging him: What a waste| Stephen contained his breath for a moment as he tried to understand what was happening inside that head of his father. He could very much open it and read it in front of him coming to embarrass him right there. But then he would figure that that wasn't the first... There should be more somewhere and there was! What if he demanded to see them as well? Stephen panicked for the first time that summer... He could keep the letter and all the rest. And so he was not only going to lose everything he had ever gotten from a friend, but Medusa herself as a friend... Edward could very much dispose of Polaris and forbid him completely for using Willow at any time. Polaris would go home without a reply and Willow would never be there. What was there with this man that didn't bare to see his son happy just once?

Standing there completely still Stephen waited to see Edward's thoughts turn into actions and for a very dreadful moment he saw him take the letter with the other hand. He was going to open it just there!

But then he took it letting his hand fall while extending the letter in Stephen's direction. Stephen was in complete shock and took a couple of seconds to decide to take it from him. Still in fear for he wasn't sure what Edward was really planning. But all that there was was a letter on his hand and Edward's hand going back down. "And make sure to feed that thing! I hate that horrible noise" Edward ordered as he passed by Stephen who didn't notice a small hesitation as he was close to him. His father left the moment Stephen formed the words 'Yes, sir' with his lips without any sound coming out.

A moment after he snapped out off it and went to take care of Polaris and only then he went to read the letter. Merlin's beard, having that letter in his hands was the closest thing Stephen had had to a dream!

Later, that night, Stephen sat at his desk and started working on a reply.

Dear Medusa,

It may have been your birthday. But you were the only one remembering that fact. Apart from my family of course... There was a nice party with them that day. Although that passed and I wasn't expecting anything else after that. I am truly happy you remembered and so I still thank you, either you think I need to or not. There has been closer persons to me that hadn't even mentioned a hello ever since... But yes, that is true. Dumbledore is pretty famous on the chocolate frogs.

The marks are not but scars now anyway. Willow is rather possessive but he is a nice owl and a friend. He has been out in business for I don't even know what and I haven't seen him in a week already. Is it odd to miss an owl? And the many bites he gives you if his stand is occupied by another?

That was what she said. But then again, we can't really trust my sister's dreamy eyes. And maybe there are. I never saw one but they must be way deep in the woods in a place no one knows of. Yes, they are rather pride but I am already used to the style. Yet, I can't stop wondering if they would let me in their zone. It would be impressive in a way but if I'd have to bet they wouldn't.

I would be most glad to show you around. There are some pretty cool places to see. But I am not so sure about the flying. I am not really skilled in that area either. If you'd want me to teach you it would be a complete disaster... Well, I am willing to do so in theory though.

See you sometime,
Stephen

It was clear he was still in shock and he couldn't get himself to write anything better. The following day he tried again but he couldn't stop ripping parchments apart and throw them to the can. He still had in mind all that has happened... And for that reason he couldn't find himself to find himself writing non-depressing things... All in all, the one letter he wrote the day before was way more cheerful than any of the rest he got to write later and when Polaris woke up and came to Stephen waiting for him to give her the letter he sent that one. "Even you are dying to get home, uh?" Stephen sighed and tied the letter to her paw. "I know I am" he muttered as he saw her flying away.

It was the Christmas holidays and here she was home for the holidays and she couldn't be happier.  She missed being home,  she loved Hogwarts but there was nothing like home sweet home.  She missed her mum and dad as well riding horses around the land, but she also missed her friend Stephen.  She been so busy studying lately for her exams that she haven't seen him lately, she felt like a horrible person and friend she hoped Stephen didn't forget about her. She felt horrible for not seeing him lately, she was going to make sure she seen him more.


Getting herself settled into the her room, she packed the ladt part of her clothes in her dresser.   "Medusa, dinner is ready!"  her mother called from downstairs.   "Coming mum!" putting the last of her clothes in her drawer she headed downstairs.   "Hey mama, hey daddy!" she said hugging him them smiling happily at them.  She was happy to be home, she missed her parents more then anything.



After dinner she set in her room looking at Polaris biting her lip.   Looking at her quill and parchment she decided to write to Stephen and see how he was doing.  She wondered if he still liked her or was even her friend, she felt horrible.  Here she had friends who like her for her,  and she haven't seen or talked to them.  She was so busy studying lately for her exams that she was going crazy she thought.  


Dear Stephen,

I know it been awhile since we saw each other, studying for my O.W.Ls been making me crazy. I really do miss you, and I miss hanging out with you, your my friend and one of the ones that closer to me.  I'm sorry, I hope you forgive me and don't hate me for it. I just want to make goid grades to become a healer or so, although I don't know what I want to do.

I was also writing to see how you were doing,  and I miss you and want to see you.  Do you want to meet me in Hogsmeade and spend the day together?  I just want to spend some time with you, I miss us talking about anything and everything.   I know that I'm probably acting clingy but all of this is true, so sorry if I am.

Oh...by the way, I got you a present for Christmas as well, I didn't know what you wanted so I hope it's ok. I want to aslo wish you a Happy Christmas, I wish I was there but it's also beautiful here during the winter time.  You need to come here and I'll teach you to ride horses, I think you'll like it. I also tried flying some, it didn't last long I got too scared.

Miss you and hope to see you soon,
Medusa.

Reading it over she decided it was good enough before she walked over towsrds Polaris.   "Ready for a good flight?" she asked her snowy owl.  As she hooted in response she took that as a yes as she tied Stephen letter to her leg.  " Take this to Stephen for me "she said petting her giving her a owl treat.    Leeding her to the window that she left opened she seen her spread her wings before flying out the window.  "Be safe and have a good flight girl." Watching her until she disappeared in the sky she sighed waiting abd hoping for a reply back.

As it was usual during this time of the year, Stephen saw all his roommates pack and leave to go home for the holidays. His trunk was still in the same place where he had left it last September almost empty while his clothes and books were in their places in his room. He didn't go home for Christmas. He never went there more than it was needed and that was summer break. He couldn't help imagining his father all happy for him not to have come to be the burden he saw in his eyes he was.

Stephen was alone in the bedroom when he woke up that Christmas morning. He pulled the sheets back up to his ears and turned to the other side knowing he wouldn't have to get up as early as he was used to that day. Also he didn't want to walk in the Great Hall and face those that had actually gotten something from their families and friends that day. He knew they would all be down there talking about this and that present that was so cool and was exactly what they wanted. It was hard to deal with the fact that not even Adriana seemed to be interested enough to send him a card... Or that his mother seemed to completely change into this cold and faraway persona after he took the Hogwarts Express... Even her letters were few and empty. With his father not carrying he could deal with already. But from his mother and sister he wasn't expecting the same coldness he got from him.

Finally rolling over his shoulder into a sitting position he materialized the thought of him not getting any presents this Christmas as well. The bottom of his bed was as empty as he had left it the day before. He got and changed clothes. For the worst of his sins he was hungry by then already and his empty stomach compelled him to follow to the Great Hall.

That was when he saw Polaris at his window. "What are you doing here?" he questioned the owl as he opened the window for her hastily closing it because it was too damn cold outside. "What do you have here?" he came forward to release her of her weight and he had in hands a letter and a package. He took the letter out first. Then he opened the package. And for as long as all that lasted he couldn't believe he had just gotten a Christmas present from Medusa! He went to his trunk and looked for something in the inside.

That was something he had gotten from Diagon Ally that he thought she would like and bought with what his mother gave him for helping out in the shop during the summer break. He had been wondering of how to give her that but Willow never came to visit... He was compelled to use one of the owls from the school but he wasn't sure she would like it anyway. Well, now he didn't have much of a choice, now did he?

"Come on, let's get you something to bite" he called Polaris and with the package, a piece of parchment and a quill he left the room. When in the Great Hall he sat alone and started writing while Polaris took care of herself with what Stephen had put to her disposal.

Dear Medusa,

I can't find the words to tell you how glad I am for receiving your present. It was just perfect even if the letter would have been enough.

I don't blame you for wanting to ace on your O.W.Ls, of course, and I completely support you on that. I mean, morally, as I doubt I could help you with any of that. Mine are to come next year. And I have no idea what to expect of them to be fair. Yet, I am sure you will do brilliantly and therefore you will become the best healer or so that there has ever existed.

Maybe we could meet when you came back to school? It isn't long till the holidays are over anyway. We can do plenty when the classes start again.

And maybe one day I can go over there and you will teach me. Only if you let me teach you how to really fly. And yes, that is a bargain that is worthless to negotiate any further.

Merry Christmas,
Stephen

He finished up writing and glanced at Polaris already waiting. He smiled. "Could you do me the favour?" he asked her and when she was ready for it he tied the scroll to her paw along with the little package. With a last treat he sent her off. "Go home safely."