paint the sky blue -- dariell

[BRYONY CATE MOONBERRY]

1 January, 2024

Dear Dad,
Happy new year, I do hope you and Mum had an enjoyable night. The party here at school was nothing spectacular, I was half tempted to not even attend it and just spend the night in the dorm. I almost wish I had, actually. 

I hope Mum isn't too upset with me still over how I spent my time holiday time. If she wasn't so insufferable maybe I wouldn't run off all the time. I promise I will write her soon with yet another apology.

Out of curiosity is it too late in the year to transfer me to say, Beauxbatons or maybe Salem? Or maybe I could just come home for a while, say till summer. I think I've made a terrible mistake.

- B

DARIELL BRICE MOONBERRY

[DARIELL BRICE MOONBERRY]

Dear Bryony,

Happy new year to yourself. The holiday was well enough. We did not do much but shared a cup of tea. I spent most of the night working on a new painting. It's coming along pretty well, but we will see how it will look once it is completed. How come you wish not to enjoy the party? Hogwarts parties are always special in their own way, you just have to find how they were special.

Your mother will be fine. I know we haven't been the best of parents but you are sixteen and have a right to start figuring things out. You have a lot more Moonberry in your than your mother thinks. That makes me proud.

Out of curiosity, why would you want to transfer to say, Beauxbatons or maybe Salem? Or maybe why you'd prefer to come home. What could you've done that's a terrible mistake?

- Dad

[BRYONY CATE MOONBERRY]

2 January, 2024

Dear Dad,
Who are you painting for this time? Thank you for trying to help me with the enchantments over the holiday, maybe by summer time I will finally have the knack for actually getting my paintings to move how they should. I really hope one day I can make paintings as amazing as yours Dad. Sometimes I really miss those days when I would just sit around in your studio and watch you paint.

I just had higher expectations for the party than I should have had and I guess it left me feeling empty and disappointed. I have no one to blame but myself for it, after all I shouldn't have expected the night to be more than it could have possibly been. It was stupid of me to think that it would be something more, that it could ever be something more. Its a stupid party, right? Its all stupid really. I should have just spent the night with Silvia, maybe then I wouldn't be feeling this way.

After hearing what some of these other kids deal with for parents, well I'm just really glad I have you for a Dad. I know I don't tell you enough, and I'm sorry I'm a rubbish daughter like that. I guess I take after Mum a lot more than I like to admit. I really hope you're right though Dad, that I got more Moonberry in me.

Should I take that as a 'not going to happen'? Mum never would have gone for it anyway. It was just a stupid question, don't worry. Nothing to worry about. Its just been a long year, short holidays, just feeling a little overwhelmed. Nothing to worry about. I can handle anything right, don't you always say something like that?

- B

[DARIELL BRICE MOONBERRY]

Dear Bryony,

This time it is actually not a who. In fact this time I am not using any enchantments. I am making a muggle painting. Your mother is going to have it with me later when she sees the completed version. I may keep it up here in my art room so she never sees it. I saw the sunset a few days ago and I decided to make it last forever. It was a very unique sunset. Maybe I will have it done by the time you get back from school. You know how much I get distracted. As for you enchantments, you are doing very well. I cannot wait to see what you have completed.

You know scratching out things you don't want read does not necessarily mean I cannot read them. But yes, I miss those days. They are very relaxing days. Sitting and allowing the brush to come across the canvas.

This must be a boy problem. Oh my, I believe I am starting to sound like a mother. But you should not regret your night. As little as I know, you should just take things as they come. At least that is the way I live. Maybe not the best example.

Your mother and I have tried our best but yes there are worse out there. And a rubbish daughter. That makes me laugh, rather hard I must say. More like I am a rubbish father. I spend near all my time working up in my art studio. And your mother, well she can be a breed of her own sometimes. But yes I am correct, you've got plenty of Moonberry in you, rather than that nasty Carrow side.

That would be a safe bet, Salem and Beauxbatons are both good schools but neither are Hogwarts. And just remember your mother and I are always here to listen, so feel free to speak about it. But yes you can handle anything. We all can handle everything we are dealt in the end.

- Dad

[BRYONY CATE MOONBERRY]

3 January, 2024

Dear Dad,
I sometimes think its not just muggle art that Mum doesn't understand, but all art. I'm sure it will be beautiful though, I'm lucky that I seem to have inherited at least a portion of your talent, sometimes I swear I would go mad if I couldn't sit and paint. Few things are quite as claiming as creating on canvas. I still have a lot of room to improve though.

Maybe this summer you and I can go to France and see the Louvre, I'm sure Mum wouldn't care to join us or even care that much should we leave her be a few days. I've always loved that book that has all the paintings in it but I feel it lacks the same appeal as seeing the master pieces in person. I think I could spend hours staring at the Embarkation for Cythera, though I'm sure I could get lost looking at any of the art that is in the Louvre.

I guess I hope that you are getting on in age and that your eyes are not good enough to make out the smudged letters, I guess I have been hoping in vain.

It's not a boy problem! Saying such a thing does make you sound like a mum. It was just a bad night, that didn't go how it should have gone and so I just don't find myself feeling pleased with the outcome....

It might be sort of a problem with a boy, but not how you think! He is was is a friend, but, we can't shouldn't be friends. Not anymore. Its not a good feeling. Its pretty horrid really. I just wish things could be different, but they can't. Wishes only lead to disappointment though.

I don't think I want to talk to Mum about any of this, she already is over invested when it comes to who I am friends with, or more who she wants me to be friends with and who she doesn't. I'm not sure I am ready to face the nightmare of what comes with...what ever this is.

It might be just the sort of boy problem you would think.....

Please don't tell Mum.

- B

P.S. I hope you know I love you Dad.

[DARIELL BRICE MOONBERRY]

Lee jungshin – Queenie

Dear Bryony,

Yes, well your mother married the wrong man in that case. But I'm glad you take more after my side of the family than your mothers. Don't tell her that though. And by the way, going mad is the first part of learning to paint well. But yes painting is one of the most calming things I do and so very relaxing. But you don't need to believe you have room to improve. You're only as good as you see yourself, no one can ever tell you otherwise.

The Louvre sounds like a beautiful thing to do. Your right your mother wouldn't care to join us. I'll let her know that we'll do this during your summer holiday. I'll see if I can find a suitable hotel for us to stay in. We could be right old tourists in France. We could have our very enjoyable days during the summer. Maybe even go on an entire art holiday. Oh now, my mind is running with ideas....

Well now that I've worked a bit on my painting. I can safely say that I'm not going to be getting on in age. Or at least my eyes will not be. Well, I guess I have no control over that, but if my eyesight is bad I cannot do details in paintings and then that just would not be good.

As for boy problems. I can relate from his side, or of sorts. You tell me that is a friend but you shouldn't be friends. Well why not? How will being friends end up in disappointment. But if it's not a good feeling than maybe it's best that you not be friends. But if you enjoy the time you spend with this boy than you should spend time with him. And you don't have to talk to your mother about whatever you don't want to. Being over invested into what your child does is what parents do best. She just wants you to have a proper life. But you should be happy with whoever you want to. As long as you stay out of Azkaban I'm a happy father. Even if you become someone like my brother. Oh that made me chuckle. Your mother would have a heart attack if she knew you would become like your uncle. But in the end, you're a smart person, you can make decisions like this on your own without input from your crazy father, or your crazy mother.

I promise she won't hear a word about it. I will tear your letter after I finish replying to you.

- Dad

P.S. I know you love me. I just hope you know that I love you and am proud of the woman you're becoming.