Kris Graas

[Samantha Driscoll]

Dear Kris,

This is the hardest letter I have ever sat down to write. It is so hard for me to put into words all that I’m feeling. All I know is that you deserve this, if anyone deserves to see my feelings written down, plain and clear, it is you. You’re the only I’ve told all there is to me, all I’ve been through, all the dreams I had, all the shattered hopes – and today, finally, I can say, all the dreams I have now, the new hopes, the life I dream of, the first couple of steps in a journey that I am now as excited about as I am scared. Oh wait, not the first couple of steps. Those I made with your help.

Not even Charlie can understand it all. He’s not a Slytherin; he’ll never understand our ambition. He doesn’t understand the things that drive us and how much we care about things other people seem never to worry about – but he tries. I’m glad I have him. I don’t know where I would be without my little brother. Anyway, I digress. Kris, I know I’ll be seeing you. Only not as much as I’d like. But I’ll write you occasionally. When I’ve made a few achievements I can tell you about.

I’m getting an apartment in Hogsmeade. One with a lot of windows and a lot of sun shining in on me. I don’t think you’d like that. That’s just one thing Azkaban changed about me though. I’m going to take a year off and try different things; thankfully I didn’t do too badly on my NEWTs. I just don’t think I’m ready for a job yet – but I have a lot of energy I need to expend, that much I now. I believe I will take Advanced Defence classes, or maybe one of those Martial Arts classes muggles seem so impressed by, and I think I will also see if I can get a chance to work with some wild creatures. It was something I always wanted to do I think but Mother never let me.

I’m also going to make more friends. I do need someone to teach me how to ride that horse you bought me. I also need someone to chat with – you’ll always be my confidante – but I can imagine sharing some things with another person. I’m not going to be seeing that much of Charles anyway – Julius Foxcroft is adopting him. I’m doing my best not to feel abandoned. But do you know the smallest things remind me of you at times? Like the other day I saw a guy walk into this animal shop and make crude comments to the saleslady and in the same breath charm a rather ferocious-looking puppy so that it stooped barking and actually came and tried to lick his hands.

You know what? Turns out it wasn’t as hard as I thought to write this. I think I could go on for pages. Turns out the hard part is admitting to myself how much I feel about this – how much I’m going to miss you.

I have no idea how to sign this.

Sam.

[kris]

Your dreams are your own. Only you can create them, only you can fulfil them, so you have never really needed me. Just don’t be afraid if your dreams grow and change alongside you. You have always been able to stand on your own too fee, even if the ground might have been a bit wobbly for a little while.

And you are right. I don’t like the idea of you living in an apartment, even if your family manor needs some fixing up to do. Don’t sell or abandon it completely, Sam, as your children will one day want to see it and perhaps give life back to it. But sun will be good to you. And promise to tell me if your neighbours give you any kind of trouble.

Old Foxie is adopting Charles? I didn’t know that. He and Hardy saved my life on the train so I am indebted to him. He is a strong character though and Charlie needs one such in his life I suppose. And Charlie might do good for Foxie’s brooding. But no matter how close they might become, you will always be his sister and you will always hold a very big part of his heart.

Japan and China, medieval ages. Oriental wizards have improved and advanced martial arts just as much as muggles so it’s not only a muggle sport. Even if muggles have taken it further than wizards, however much it pains me to admit such a thing. And wild creatures are wild for a reason. Good raising will not change their inborn instincts so don’t deal with very wild creatures.

For your horse – she’s mild-tempered, even if she came from a bad owner. But she’s well trained, so be nice to her and she will repay it more than plenty. Animals don’t listen to your words, but to your voice. There’s a big cat living in rainforests who looks like a jaguar. He can sense the inner being of a person and if that is ‘bad’, then he strikes mercilessly and there is little hope to escape his poisoned claws, yet for ‘good’ people the same jaguar is as tame as a kitten. Well, like most kittens. The cat was – and perhaps still is by some – used at courts to determine the faith of some criminals humans couldn’t decide upon. Believe that all creatures are just as dangerous as that cat and let the animal make the first move in deciding If you are allowed to approach a step. In such a relationship the animal sets the pace. Always keep that in mind.

I bought a house for myself and Cleo near Hogsmeade’s side, but outside the village itself. A retreat for us and it will be a retreat to the kids one day. You will always be welcomed there and in my home, no matter the time or date. And I am just a walk – now that you stay in Hogsmeade – or an owl away.

Kris