Magical Schools
As I sat at my desk, I eyed the stack of envelopes before me. Each was sealed with wax, their intricate symbols hinting at the magic contained within. My fingers hovered over the first letter, its seal depicting a shimmering tree whose roots intertwined with elemental symbols of fire, water, air, and earth.
Avalon Academy for Magical Arts
Principal: Madam Isolde Hawthorne, Grand Warlock of Healing Arts and Elemental Magic
With a deep breath, I cracked the seal and unfolded the letter, the parchment exuding the faint scent of herbs and ozone.
Dear Nero Ravenclaw,
The faculty of Avalon Academy of Elemental and Healing Arts is delighted to extend an invitation to join our institution. Your talents have been assessed as follows:
Elemental Manipulation: Outstanding Talent (O)
Healing Arts: Exceeds Expectations Talent (E)
Weather Weaving: Acceptable Talent (A)
Druidic Studies: Poor Talent (P)
Purification Magic: Exceeds Expectations Talent (E)
We specialize in harnessing the primal forces of nature and the art of restoration to empower our students as healers, guardians, and stewards of balance. Should you accept, you will join an esteemed lineage of witches and wizards committed to harmonizing the magical and natural worlds.
Classes commence on 1 September 1982. Kindly reply by 31 July 1982 to secure your place. We look forward to welcoming you to Avalon.
Warm regards,
Madam Isolde Hawthorne
Principal
Beneath the letter was an enclosed pamphlet outlining Avalon's specialized classes for newcomers:
Elemental Magic: Mastery of fire, water, air, earth, and advanced elements
Healing Arts: Advanced techniques for magical and natural healing
Weather Weaving: Manipulating and understanding magical properties of weather patterns
Druidic Studies: Magic of nature, including weather and seasonal cycles
Purification Magic: Removing curses, toxins, and dark influences from people and places
Setting the letter aside, I moved to the next, its seal depicting intricate concentric circles, ancient runes, meticulously crafted wards, and a labyrinth of magical precision.
Stonehenge College of Mystical Studies
Dean: Professor Edwin Pendleton, Grandmaster of Runes and Rituals
The parchment was crisp, smelling faintly of ink and parchment dust.
Dear Nero Ravenclaw,
Congratulations! You have been selected to attend Stonehenge College of Mystical Studies, where the mysteries of magic meet scholarly precision. Based on the Crystal of Potential, your talents have been identified as follows:
Runic & Ward Mastery: Acceptable Talent (A)
Spell Magical Theory: Outstanding Talent (O)
Geomancy: Exceeds Expectations Talent (E)
Alchemy: Acceptable Talent (A)
Ritual Studies: Outstanding Talent (O)
At Stonehenge, we foster an environment of deep intellectual exploration, preparing our students to become the architects of magical innovation and tradition. We eagerly await your arrival.
Your acceptance is awaited no later than 31 July 1982, and we eagerly anticipate guiding you on this academic journey.
Sincerely,
Professor Edwin Pendleton
Dean
Their specialized classes boasted impressive offerings, with an emphasis on the cerebral and arcane:
Runic & Ward Mastery: Creating and fortifying runes and protective wards
Spell Magical Theory: Exploring the mechanics of spell creation and advanced applications
Geomancy: Understanding and harnessing magical properties of the earth and ley lines
Alchemy: Combining magical materials to create magical objects and artifacts
Ritual Studies: Complex, ceremonial magic requiring precision and collaboration
Next was a seal depicting a coiled dragon around a sword, its gleaming scales radiating valor and strategy.
Pendragon Institute of Combat Magic
Director: Lord Aegis Draven, Grand Warlock of the Auroral Order
I could practically feel the weight of tradition in the parchment as I unfolded it.
Dear Nero Ravenclaw,
It is with great pride that we invite you to join the ranks of Pendragon Institute of Combat Magic. Your potential has been evaluated as follows:
Battle Spells: Outstanding Talent (O)
Tactical Dueling: Outstanding Talent (O)
Magical Fitness: Exceeds Expectations Talent (E)
Defensive Magic & Barriers: Outstanding Talent (O)
Illusion Magic: Exceeds Expectations Talent (E)
At Pendragon, we nurture warriors and leaders who excel in the art of magical combat and strategic thinking. Your journey here will challenge your resolve and fortify your skills for a life of excellence.
Should you accept, we await your confirmation by 31 July 1982. Prepare for a journey that will hone your skills and unlock your full potential.
Yours in strength,
Lord Aegis Draven
Director
Pendragon's specialized classes screamed adventure:
Battle Spells: Offensive and defensive spellcasting techniques
Tactical Dueling: Strategy and skill in magical combat
Magical Fitness: Physical conditioning to complement spellcasting
Defensive Magic & Barriers: Creating magical shields and protective spells
Illusion Magic: Deception and mirages to outwit opponents
I smirked. "Looks like I'm built for battle. A Ravenclaw heir as a duelist? That'll be one for the history books, especially if I were to end up in Gryffindor, or Slytherin."
I moved to the fourth letter, its seal glowing with wings encased in a crescent moon, a promise of enchantment.
Fae Haven Conservatory
Headmistress: Professor Elowen Bramblethorn, Grandmaster of Herbology and Potioneering
The letter was floral-scented, almost alive.
The letter seemed almost alive, its surface faintly shimmering as if imbued with magic. I carefully broke the seal, feeling a fleeting brush of warmth against my fingertips.
Dear Nero Ravenclaw,
We are honored to offer you a place at Fae Haven Conservatory, a school celebrated for its expertise in Herbology, Potions, and magical creatures. The Crystal of Potential has revealed your talents as follows:
Magical Beast Lore: Poor Talent (P)
Advanced Herbology: Acceptable Talent (A)
Beast Mastery & Training: Poor Talent (P)
Advanced Potioneering: Troll Talent (T)
Animal Empathy: Exceeds Expectations Talent (E)
At Fae Haven, we guide our students in forging unparalleled connections with magical creatures while exploring the deeper mysteries of the magical realm. We await your acceptance with eager anticipation.
Please confirm your enrollment by 31 July 1982. We eagerly await your arrival at our Northern Ireland campus for a transformative learning experience.
Sincerely,
Professor Elowen Bramblethorn
Headmistress
The accompanying parchment listed their specialized classes:
Magical Beast Lore: Understanding the origins, behaviors, and magical abilities of various creatures.
Advanced Herbology: Cultivating rare plants used for healing, beast care, and taming.
Beast Mastery & Training: Taming, commanding, and bonding with magical creatures.
Advanced Potioneering: Brewing potions that enhance magical beasts
Animal Empathy: Communicating with and understanding the emotions of magical creatures
Finally, I reached the most iconic letter of them all, the one sealed with a roaring lion, a cunning serpent, a loyal badger, and a wise raven encircling the letter "H." My heart skipped as I broke the Hogwarts seal.
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore, Arcane Legend, Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chief Supreme Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confederation of Wizards
Dear Nero Ravenclaw,
We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As a student, you will embark on an extraordinary journey to master the magical arts through our renowned core curriculum.
Hogwarts welcomes students of all talents and disciplines, ensuring a comprehensive education.
In addition to the core studies comprising Charms, Transfiguration, Potions, Herbology, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Astronomy, History of Magic, Arithmancy, Care of Magical Creatures, and Divination, we are delighted to let you know that you will be able to attend the following specialized disciplines:
Elemental Magic (inspired by Avalon's curriculum)
Animal Empathy (inspired by Fae Haven's curriculum)
Spell Magical Theory (inspired by Stonehenge's curriculum)
Defensive Magic & Barriers (inspired by Pendragon's curriculum)
Term begins on 1 September 1982. We await your owl no later than 31 July 1982 confirming your acceptance.
We look forward to guiding your growth as a skilled and resourceful wizard.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
I reread the letter twice, a mix of pride and trepidation bubbling within me. Hogwarts wasn't just another school, it was the birthplace of legends, including my own ancestors.
"Well, Nero," I muttered, leaning back in my chair, "time to write back a letter."
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