Long Time No Write -- Meical

[Deleted]

Dearest Meical,

How have you been since last time we saw each other? Is it your fingers cramping from medical work or why do you write me so little? I am not going to complain of course, I am sure you have your reasons, and very good ones at that. Things have been slowing down here, after the second attack on Hogsmeade came to pass. I feel bad for saying that, but I am so glad I wasn’t in it this time. It’s scary to think that they would attack here a second time. Why? It doesn’t make much sense to try the same thing two times. There was hardly much left to destroy and there also weren’t many students about. But maybe I am searching for logic where there is none. This whole Death Eater business is not very logical after all, just think about the blood purity issue…!
But I’m digressing. School has been trying to pick things up as usual, and I’m crammed with work, but that’s alright. At least the essay topics get more intriguing now with Sixth Year, you really get into the depth of things. I’m running low on riddles though, isn’t there maybe one you haven’t sent me yet that you came across recently? Not that my school work and the private lessons I take – I told you about Elliot, didn’t I? But please don’t say anything to mâmâ and dad – don’t keep me busy, but you know how it is, brain food is always welcome.


Tell me how you are holding up, please, any news on your side?

Me Ke Aloha,
Eir

[Deleted]

To my dearest little sister,

Hi Ri. I am seriously sorry that it has taken me so long to respond to you. I know I have three letters sitting on my table in front of me that have been here for well over a month. Every night when I get home from work I have looked at them and I have felt guilty that I have not written back. It’s not that I have forgotten about you, or is it that I have been slack. In honesty it has been a monsterous month of work. I calculate that last week I spent over 60 hours in the hospital, and the weeks previous haven’t been much better.
You see, over the last few months St Mungo’s has been working with even more limited staff (if you can possibly believe that) due to a sudden increase in compulsory professional development (CPD). This has meant that we have (on average) been down between two to three healers per ward a week. Of course, we have been expected to maintain a normal capacity of beds, and as a result… it has been one hell of a busy time. Most recently, all the specialists from our ward attended a conference in France, leaving the trainees and medi-wizards in charge of the whole ward. Luckily, although there were a number of small hiccups we managed okay.
On top of this, as I am getting close to the end of my studies my supervisor has decided that he feels now would be a good time to discuss resource development for the hospital. As he knows I have a love for potions he has asked me to research a number of anti-hex potions. Once I complete that he wants me to select my two personal favourites and see if I am able to either refine them or create a similar potion that is more stable and have a longer life. After trialling a number of different options I have successfully been able to create a potion that can repair most basic hex related injuries, however thus far there has been some… difficulties with side effects.
But enough about work. Let me answer your letter…
I was super relieved to hear that you weren’t in hogsmeade during the attacks. When I heard about them I nearly abandoned the hospital all together to come check on you, however we were lucky enough to receive confirmation from the school that you were okay. I too have been following the attacks, and let me promise you they have not been isolated to Hogsmeade. We have noticed a sharp increase in admissions post duals, and some of the things I have been seeing are not pretty. I want you to promise me that you will not worry too much about the death eaters and their attacks. Like me, I can understand your desire to understand the psychology behind their hatred for all things ‘impure’. But the reality is simply this… Society, irregardless of time, geographical location or even world (ie. Magical or non-magical) has a small percentage of the population that are borderline sociopaths, desperate to assert their domination over a group of people. In this particular case, we see it in wizards feeling that muggle-borns, and half bloods to be inferior. This concept is simply an excuse to commit horrible atrocities while hiding behind a false ideology. I want you to promise me, no SWEAR to me that you will stay away from both sides. Your safety has, and will always be my priority.

Sorry, I guess that started getting a bit serious… lets talk about school work. I recall sixth year like it was yesterday. The sudden explosion of work as they prepared you for the NEWTS. But I am certain that you will be fine, after all… You’re a Hughes, and we are clever little blighters! You didn’t tell me about the extra tuitions that you were taking? Is this Elliot a professor of yours, or perhaps someone special? Do tell me more, I promise I will keep my lips sealed to the rest of the family, after all! You know all my secrets if I were to spread yours you could spread mine!
I am sorry, I don’t have any other riddles at the moment. As I said, I haven’t had much time to do any personal reading. However I promise the next interesting one I find I will send your way! Hopefully in the next letter!!

How are you doing? Not stressing too much about the upcoming exams I hope? Is there anything I can do to help you out in school? I should still have most of my notes from my sixth and seventh year lying about at home somewhere, I could send a letter to the parentals asking them to send them on to you if you like!
Otherwise, what else is going on in the world of my lovely little Ri? Anyone special yet? Boy or girl? (you know you can confide these things in me, I always do with you!).
Did I tell you that I am shopping for an apartment to purchase in London? I decided that as a graduation present I will invest some of my savings in a beautiful apartment in the CBD. So far I have been looking at mainly muggle houses but there are some incredible places, and reasonably priced… Ah the benefits of being well paid. If I haven’t selected a place by the time you finish your next semester would you like to help me search? Otherwise perhaps I could send you some photos, and if you like you could help me furnish it… Assuming that isn’t too boring!
Also, once things settle down at St Mungo’s I will have about a fortnights worth of leave to spend, I was thinking that perhaps I could contact the headmaster at Hogwarts and hopefully visit you at some point. The very idea of walking into the school grounds again after such a long period of time is exciting!

Blimey, I just realised that this letter is getting obscenely long so I will end it there.

I hope all is going well and I look forward to hearing from you again soon.

Lots of Love,

Your older bro