Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Ravenclaw Tower, Scotland
8th September 1989
Dear Uncle Vedant,
I hope you're doing well. It's been a full week since I arrived at Hogwarts, and I have so much to tell you. If I tried to fit everything into one letter, I'd probably need an enchanted scroll to keep writing endlessly. But I'll try my best to keep it somewhat coherent.
First of all, I was sorted into Ravenclaw! The Sorting Hat actually took its sweet time deciding, saying I had traits that fit all four houses. It seriously considered putting me in Slytherin, though. Apparently, I have the cunning and ambition to thrive there. I won't lie—hearing that was… interesting. But in the end, I chose Ravenclaw. A private room, a separate library, and the highest tower? How could I refuse? You know, how much i love my privacy.
The Ravenclaw common room is beautiful, Uncle. Enchanted ceilings that mirror the sky, wide bookshelves filled with knowledge, and a fireplace that flickers with blue flames. Oh, and the entrance? No passwords—just riddles. It's fun but also annoying, especially when you get one wrong and have to wait for someone else to answer. I got stuck outside on my second night because I overcomplicated the answer. Lesson learned—sometimes the simplest answer is the right one.
Now, onto the people I've met. Cedric Diggory, the guy i met in the robe shop, is in Hufflepuff, and we've been getting along well. The Weasley twins are a walking disaster, but in the best way possible. They are sorted into gryffindor, which i must say is totally justified. They already tried sneaking into the kitchens and pranked Peeves on their second day. They're convinced I have the "prankster spirit" in me. I'm not sure if I should take that as a compliment or a warning.
They also managed to find a secret passage and are hellbent on finding more. They are a literal nightmare for our caretaker Mr Filch. Although I do not see much of them outside of our joint class, whenever I do see them, they are always upto something.
Then there are my housemates. Roger Davies, a first-year, has decided that he doesn't like me, though he hides it well under polite smiles. I think it's because, and I quote from a conversation I overheard, "It's annoying how someone can be smart, athletic, and good-looking all at once." I didn't realize my face was such a problem for him, but here we are.
Then there's Eddie Carmichael, another Ravenclaw first-year, who seemed friendly at first but has now taken an interest in competing with me in every single class. He was the top student among first-years for all of two days—until I started answering more questions and perfecting spells faster. Now, he acts like I'm his greatest rival. Honestly, I don't know whether to find it amusing or exhausting.
Academically, Hogwarts is exactly how I imagined it—fascinating, challenging, and completely chaotic.
Professor Flitwick is brilliant and quite possibly the only teacher who smiles in every class.
Snape… well, let's just say the dungeons feel colder when he walks by. He didn't single me out in Potions, but I could feel his gaze. I think he's evaluating me, waiting for a reason to be either impressed or disappointed. He is especially biased towards slytherin, his own house, which is quite evident in the potion class too.
History of magic taught by Professor Binns, a ghost, is one of the most boring classes I have ever attended. It's so boring, students take naps for the whole class period. Professor Sprout's herbology class is definitely a fun class. I never had much experience with magical plants and herbs despite grandfather being a healer, so I am loving the experience.
Professor Vale is the one that really intrigues me. Something about him feels… off. He's charismatic, well-spoken, but something feels off about him. My instincts are telling me something but I can't figure it out. I'll be careful around him.
But the one thing that topped all of these is the library of hogwarts. It's so vast and amazing that I will not mind spending months inside it. I spend most of my free time there. Sometimes alone, other times with someone else.
Oh, and the castle itself feels alive. The staircases move, the portraits whisper, and the walls seem to shift when you're not looking. I had a run-in with Peeves, who tried throwing ink at me, but I blocked it with a Shield Charm. Now, he calls me "Smarty-Pants Shukla." I guess I should consider it an honor?
You'll be happy to know that I've kept up my morning training. Waking up at 5 AM has already made me a school-wide rumor.
Apparently, some students are calling me "the insane first-year who exercises before sunrise." A few older students have started watching me, and I've overheard whispers about me being "different." I suppose that was inevitable.
Now, about my first flying lesson—Uncle, I think I was born for this!
Madam Hooch started with the basics, teaching us how to summon our brooms. Some students struggled to even get their brooms to move, but mine shot into my hand like it had been waiting for me. When we finally got off the ground, I realized something—flying feels natural to me. It was like my instincts already knew how to move, how to control the broom without conscious thought. I felt the wind rushing past me, the thrill of the height, and I knew—this was something I could truly enjoy.
Even Madam Hooch seemed surprised. She said I had "remarkable natural control" for a first-year. I wasn't the only one who caught her attention, though. Cedric is also a natural flier—we might end up competing for a spot on our house teams in the future.
Eddie was, of course, watching me like a hawk, and I could practically feel his jealousy radiating from across the field. He is not good at flying as he is in study. I wouldn't be surprised if he started training extra hours just to beat me at this too.
Roger Davies, on the other hand, was actually good too. I think he was hoping to be one of the more admired first-years, but having another first-year outshine him in both magic and flying must be driving him mad.
The moment we landed, Fred and George Weasley came running up, dramatically placing their hands on my shoulders.
"Oi, Arnit, you ever thought about a career in Quidditch?" Fred asked.
"Aye, mate, you'd be wasted anywhere else," George added.
I laughed, but I'm definitely considering trying out for the Ravenclaw team next year. If nothing else, flying is freeing, Uncle. It's like… for those moments in the air, nothing else matters.
One last thing—you were absolutely right, Uncle. Coming to Hogwarts was the right decision. There's so much magic here, so much to learn, so much to uncover. I still have a thousand questions, but I know one thing for sure—I belong here.
Write back soon. And tell Meghdoot to stop eyeing my quill like it's a snack.
Your nephew,
Arnit