How has it been on the outside? Hogsmeade looks much like London mornings with the fog—but with the unfortunate side-effect of erasing any trace of magic from our wands and persons! Your lack of writing has left under the assumption that you've found something to preoccupy your time this summer, and I wish I could say the same.

Did your school supplies list find its way to Uncle Lucius' home without trouble? Mine did, and much to my delight, it was accompanied by a shiny prefect badge! Perhaps we will get to patrol together come September.

I can't say I understand your need to be so cruel to me. I've never done you wrong and have supported you in your every endeavor as any good sister would, and I will continue to support you as a fellow prefect come September. I have done well in my classwork and have provided help to students in need—qualities I'm sure assisted in my appointment as prefect. Given my house and the treatment I've received from some of my house-mates, I have reason to believe my name did little to help me in that regard.

I'm sure you haven't seen the papers, but Benjamin Turner, Ravenclaw, was appointed Head Boy. I'm sorry. Take comfort in knowing your life after graduation will be far more comfortable than his.

You did not ask, but that doesn't mean there is no value in hearing. I write to you because I am your sister, and in the real world most people care enough to inquire about their siblings' well-being. Forgive me for not pandering to your desire to pretend that you are the only child by our parents, but I cannot pretend to share the same desire. Perhaps if you had paid more attention to us, you might have saved us from being failures in your mind.

Please do enlighten me on your recent troubles gallivanting around London. I do not recall the city being struck by any major tragedy, nor do I recall any recent deaths in the family.

It's easy to be less annoying when the person I'm speaking to does not believe everything I say is inherently uninteresting. I have finally been able to purchase the necessary school supplies without fear of the fog's ill effects, and I have begun studying for my OWLs so I might not completely disappoint what family I have left.

I'm not sure what interest Miss Borgin is to you, but I can say I have no reason to believe her anything less than a respectable girl. (Perhaps not the kindest girl at Hogwarts, but not disreputable.) From what I've seen and heard, her intellect is best evidenced by her sharp wit, and her values align with our family's.