some things I may have missed and should write

[alt_hydra]

Some good things and some bad things have happened.
Tex disappeared, but that was a while ago.
It's not important anyway, Mummy said, because he was just a rabbit made of parchment.
But then Tina my robe pet stopped working.
I think I took good care of her, but she doesn't move anymore, and I don't have any sickles for a new Tina.
I guess she's broken now, but it feels like she's dead.
Another bad thing was that ink spilled all over my Charms essay, twice.
I left it behind in the library when I went to the toilet, and when I came back it was all inky.
And then when I was re-writing it I left for just a minute to get a book, and when I came back it was all inky again.
I must be very unlucky, or else Peeves is following me.
I didn't have much time to re-write my essay a third time, so it was a little untidy, and maybe not very good.
My mark wasn't as awful it might have been, but I still had to write an owl and tell Mummy about getting a P.
She didn't send a howler by owl, because she doesn't ever send howlers by owl.
I think I will have to work on my essays in the dormitory now.
It will be more difficult, though, because Norma and Cressida have become very good friends, and they like to chat and play in our room.
Norma and Cressida have an awfully jolly time together.
That's a good thing for them, I think.
But then a good thing happened to me!
It was hard to wait and write about it last, after describing the bad things, but something very good has happened.
Thank you thank you thank you Daddy!
I don't know where I will keep him, but he's so so lovely.
I am going to call him Tully.

Comments

[alt_sally_anne]

I'll make you another parchment rabbit if you want, Hydra. I'd have done it sooner but I was hoping I'd get my hands on some pink parchment so you could even have a pink one. All I have right now is plain white.

And you can sit with me and Pansy if you like, we're not always quiet either but we will keep an eye on your homework so it doesn't get ink spilt on it, although sometimes it can be hard when it's Peeves because he moves so quickly.

What did your father send you, can I come see?

[alt_hydra]

He sent me a rabbit.
A real one that hops!
He's a Holland Lop rabbit and he's got the longest ears I ever did see.
You should come and look.

From,
Hydra

[alt_sally_anne]

Oh that's EVER so much better than a parchment rabbit! I'm coming to see him right now!

[alt_padma]

Sorry about the robe pet. They do stop eventually, it's just a spell. But yours lasted a really long time - probably as long as anyone's ever. You took really good care of it.

Did the rabbit come in a cage? How big is he? Only I'm wondering how your dad kept the owl from eating it before it got here. (Our owl is always catching rabbits and mice and things and bringing them to our dad like prizes.)

[alt_hydra]

I guess I didn't know that they stopped.
Can they be spelled again?

Tully has a box now but I think he needs a hutch, or he will when he's not a baby anymore.
I don't know how he kept the owl from eating him, maybe Tully's box had an enchantment on it.

From,
Hydra

[alt_padma]

I don't think the spell will work twice. At least, not with good results. Burrow tried a spell on his puppy when it stopped, but instead of wagging its tail and bounding all around his robes, it kinda staggered about and rolled a few times. It was sort of funny, actually. But not like a real puppy. More like a zombi-puppy.

Baby rabbits are adorable! Their feet are bigger than the rest of them. Except you said yours has really long ears. So maybe his ears and his feet are bigger than his whole body?

Why do you call him Tully? Does it mean anything?

[alt_hydra]

I don't think I would like zombi-Tina, it just wouldn't be the same.
But Tully is lovely, if you want to see him sometime?
I didn't think of the name Tully myself, someone suggested it to me and I rather liked it.

[alt_padma]

I'd love to meet him! Though I'm rather glad you didn't bring him to History Club because I think it would've been distracting. I mean, the spells they used to trick Muggles into thinking they'd had their heads cut off were wiz, but not compared to a baby bunny.

Who named him, then, your dad?

[alt_hydra]

Oh about that.
I'm sorry I meant to go to History Club but I was busy with Tully.
I promise I will be there next time, and I won't bring Tully so there won't be a distraction.

No, Daddy didn't name him, it was a friend of mine.
It was Norma, and if you don't know her she's my roommate.

From,
Hydra

[alt_padma]

Oh, that's alright. You've probably read all about the ways wizards escaped the Revolution already.

I do hope you come next week, though.

[alt_hydra]

I will surely come, yes.

From,
Hydra

[alt_luna]

That's a lovely present from your father. I've never seen that breed, but I had a Smoke Pearl rabbit when I was much younger. It ran away, though.

Why don't you check with the Care of Magical Creatures professor? He would probably have a water bottle and a cage you could use until it's used to things a bit (unless your father sent them to you) and he could give you some advice about what to feed it. Vegetables, of course.

[alt_hydra]

Why did it run away?
Tully's box has some bedding in it, but not very much else.
I wonder if it's too late to see Professor Brutka.

From,
Hydra

[alt_luna]

It's close to curfew, but probably Professor Brutka wouldn't mind if you stopped by tomorrow.

As for why the rabbit ran away, Daddy said that it was probably because we had an spell of black crackle frost: that's the frost that forms under a blue moon, and when rabbits eat hay that have had that frost on it after it melts, it makes them quite dizzy, so they get lost quite easily.

I always hoped it found itself a nice place in the woods and ended up having a little rabbit family, even if it didn't stay with me.

[alt_hydra]

I've never heard of that kind of frost.
What's a blue moon?
All the moons I ever see are white, or their not there at all on some nights.
I hope Tully doesn't get dizzy and lost someday.

From, Hydra

[alt_luna]

A blue moon is when you have two full moons inside one month. Since the moon cycle is 28 days, and most months are a little longer, you can have a blue moon if the first moon is around the first or second of the month.

[alt_luna]

And he'll probably be just fine if you don't let him eat anything coated with frost the day after a blue moon.

Of course, if you take him outside, you also have to watch out for hawks or owls. Or gallumping pffefferings.

[alt_bellatrix]

Your father sent you a what?

[alt_rodolphus]

A bunny for duckie, love. Wee little thing that trips over its own ears. Looks like I forgot the hutch but the Magical Creatures professor should sort her out tomorrow.

[alt_bellatrix]

I see. A toothy rodent.

Even though the rules of Hogwarts clearly state that students may have a cat, an owl, or a toad - toothy rodents not welcome.

Even though you've sent it off with no thought of where it will live, what it will eat, and where it will stay over summer hols. It will not stay here.

May I ask, then, what inspired this gesture?

[alt_rodolphus]

Rabbits are lagomorphs, not rodents. You're thinking of rats, I'm sure, sad bald-tailed things. Duckie mentioned that little Norma has a rat, so why not rabbits, I say? In the summer she can keep it at whichever house we're not living in. We shall keep your lettuce safe yet I think, with proper planning and vigilance. Something Aurors excel at, as I recall.

I haven't the foggiest idea what inspires me. Lightning, I think. Sometimes it just strikes.

[alt_bellatrix]

Husband, if daughter writes to you begging for a rabbit, I suggest you stand firm and say no. You know how I feel about you spoiling her, especially when it's behind my back.

I am not pleased.

[alt_rodolphus]

I'm sure her letters to you are all brave reports from the trenches, but she sounds sad when she writes to me. I'll put a smile on her face if I want to.

Just like I do for you.

[alt_bellatrix]

There is no smile on my face right now. And no bloody rabbit will put one there.

[alt_rodolphus]

Reckon I've got work to do, then.

[alt_hydra]

I'm not sad, Daddy.
Why do you think I am?
Thank you for Tully.

From,
Hydra

[alt_hydra]

A bunny rabbit, Mummy.
Only I hope you're not terribly angry.
I promise that it won't be a trouble to you.

From,
Hydra

[alt_narcissa]

Your rabbit sounds lovely, Hydra dear. Mind that you learn to clean up after it. Professor Brutka can certainly help you with some charms to keep it all tidy.

And I'm sure very soon you'll be just as jolly with your dorm-mates.

Not to the detriment of your essays, of course.

As to that, are you quite sure no one was nearby when you left your essay? Perhaps you ought simply to put everything away into your bag rather than leave it behind.

[alt_hydra]

I suppose I could bring my essay with me to the toilet next time.
Or put it in my bag and bring that to the toilet.
I think I would have gotten at least an E if I hadn't had to write it so many times.

From,
Hydra

[alt_narcissa]

Usually one improves one's work with rewriting, but it's easy to see that you were doing your best. I'm sure next time you'll not be so unlucky.

Are you enjoying school otherwise? Would you like to sit with me and Uncle Lucius at the Quidditch when we come to watch Draco? And tea afterward, of course. Draco's asked for jam from home.

[alt_hydra]

I though I would improve it too but was tired when I re-wrote it, I think, and I didn't have much time.
I like school yes, just some parts of it more than others.
I would like very much to sit with you at Quidditch, and jam from home sounds lovely.
It's true it isn't as nice here.

From,
Hydra

[alt_narcissa]

We'll see you soon, then.