Dearest Papa,

I hope you can forgive me for depriving you of a letter for more than a month, but I had no desire to waste your time with a letter of no substance! As mother has likely told you by now, I was sorted into Slytherin. I was first disappointed, as I admit I had some hope that the Sorting Hat would place me in Ravenclaw like you, but I have adjusted and now feel perfectly at home. I am proud to inform you that an excelling in my academics, though it would be a lie to say I find some more interesting than others. I am less enthusiastic about Potions class, but I do enjoy Herbology and Transfiguration — which is decidedly a good thing, given that I plan to devote my studies to reverting poor Mr. Afton back to his original state!

Speaking of Mr. Afton, I think I might have deciphered some clues from his past. He seems to enjoy Herbology as much as I do; unbeknownst to me, he jumped in my pocket before class and leaped onto the table mid-lecture! It was quite embarrassing, but I have begun bringing small flowers and plants to my dormitory with hopes that he might find himself more at home. He is not very fond of my dorm-mate's cat, either, which means he must have owned an owl. I've done my best to keep him sheltered, but met a strange boy who's taken an eerie interest in feeding him flies whenever I see him. I wonder how he catches them — with magic or by hand?

All that aside, I miss you dearly and eagerly await your response.

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