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RAPHAEL
1962 : First year
L A T E • N I G H T S

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HE WAS A CURIOUS BOY. Raphael Denoir was not your average wizard. The blonde lad did not grow up seeing magic being used so normally. He hadn't known that there was a world outside of his little bubble where this was normal.

His mother, Delilah Thorne, hailed from Virginia in the United States of America, and ran to France after falling for the son of a florist, who happened to be a No-Maj, Laurent Denoir. Matters only got worse when alcohol poisoned the once polished lover into a shadow of hate and pain, and Laurent would take out his anger on his wife who had become accustomed to the inflicted violence. Delilah did everything to shelter her son from this, and when she heard of a better life in Britain for both her and her boy, she took him and apparated with all her might to a shelter.

The first few months Raphael and his mother lived together - he was nine, they had been on the shelters of refuged stay until his mother managed to use her remaining coins to buy an abandoned flower shop and rearranged it into a florist's haven downstairs and their house upstairs right by the corners of Hogsmeade. This made things easier for Raphael.

At first, he hadn't understood why he was awaken and away from his father all of a sudden, but as the summers go by, he began to piece together a few moments here and there and had taken to an aggression against his father.

Now, despite being half-blooded and raised primarily, for most of his childhood, in the muggle world, it had always been a secret between Raphael and his mother that they were magical. It was something that they bonded over. You might ask, how did Delilah figure out her son was magical? Well, at a young age he had already been levitating when no-one was watching, and he was already very telepathic with his thoughts, and the little things were what made Delilah put two and two together.

Of course, explaining the concept to a loud, mischievous and bubbly blue-eyed boy would be repetitive and tiring, especially considering the fact that four-year-olds weren't the best at containing secrets, however Delilah found herself pride in how admirable and kind her son was shaping to be, even at a young age, and she tasked herself to make sure that Raphael's outcome in life would be different from hers.

Her wish that her son's light wouldn't be dimmed by someone's dark fusion; the same way Laurent had dimmed Delilah of her own.

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To Jester,

It's me, I'm writing again. Pretty late in the night as I do. I must say, I quite like this. In a way, it's comfortable, it's like I'm writing to a personal SPEAKING diary!

How were your classes today? The core subjects for me were quite a bore but I suppose they ARE important for a reason. Mum says that in order for me to be good at this quidditch sport, I should be good at flying in the first place.

I'm good at balancing but I can't really hold my balance for a long time and I end up falling sideways off the broom. My butt is still sore.

I hope to hear from you, of course, that is, if you haven't been bored with the letters.

Yours,

Knight

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To Knight,

You are annoying. But I'm starting to favor your consistence of a live-actioned comedic relief for idiots and losers.

I am NOT your personal talking diary, excuse you! That is quite despicable of you to even phrase me and possession into one thing! I'll let you know that I am nobody's anything!

As for classes, that is my business not yours. 

Suppose I'd be able to cross you every once in a while, addressing the fact that we only know each other's house. Were you one of the many feline imbeciles that couldn't stop falling and crying off your brooms today? I'll admit, that gave me a good laugh. Gryffindors really are morons.

Quidditch? You? I'd like to see that. Not to support you, no, just for a good laugh.

Anyhow, I'll give you a little tip for flying: the steadiness is in your composure. Maintain your balance with your shoulders and tuck in the stomache, what, are you a fat pig? That ought to do it.

Trust me, I know what I'm talking about. I'm already a good flyer for my standards.

Your letters are boring. But your stories amuse me, how someone is so stupid and so naive is truly beyond me. I must say, times like these, every time I need a good laugh or a reminder to not be so sad about my miserable life I just skim through your letters.

It is endearing, how stupidity can be so infectious in those dorm-rooms. Though, I do think it is your blood.

Signed,
Jester

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To Jester,

Writing this again late at night. I like the feeling of sending an owl out at night, to my Jester somewhere out there. It's kind of dramatic, I like it. Like a shot from the films.

For someone who hates this program so much, you sure do like my letters. Hehehe, I will not gloat too much about it. But I think you're just in denial that this exchange has made you comftier with me!

Jester, your name is quite literally a variant of the roughly translated, MEDIEVAL CLOWN. I do not think you should be calling me an idiot all the time. I'll have you know that I can speak not one but 3 THREE different languages! French, English and Italian! So, that's not something so stupid now is it?

Thanks for the tip, I will try it! Perhaps over this weekend on the field. But I have to make sure there are no second-years or upperclassmen or Slytherin watching. I'm worried they'll only make fun. I suppose I'll ask my mate to accompany me during these trials.

Despite your rudeness, Jester, I find great pleasure in knowing that my stories are a temporary remedy for your life of incurable sickness that you are diagnosed with - TOTAL ANTI-HAPPY VIRUS - A BLAD OF TAV! It's a horrible disease you have that makes you so cruel and snarky, and I think you should get your vitals checked seriously.

With respect,

your Doctor,

Knight

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To Knight,

Let me correct you:
* comfier

Let me enlighten you:
* Pas impressionné
* Niente di nuovo, niente di cui vantarsi

I will now be on the lookout for any Gryffindor learning to fly and failing miserably, tumbling on their arse. A sight straight from the comedic novels I read of.

Your happiness only fuels my passion to stay unhappy. I hope this makes you happy.

On the previous letter, you asked for my schedule but never sent over yours. I am eagerly waiting... I love to see Gryffindors fail so profoundly in classes. It's an adrenaline kicker.

If I'm diagnosed with whatever stupid sickness you've created, then you're a certified weirdo and there's, unfortunately, no cure for those of your likes.

Stay put, and stop writing me letters in the middle of the night. Did you know that your annoying owl brings them all the way inside into our dungeons and the dorms? It's quite a shocker, sometimes startles the others here and there but I'm usually awake when I receive them. I'm busy perfecting spells and learning advanced ones, if you could ever even picture yourself in the same wavelength of capacity as mine.

For now, you're just a puppy-sick Gryffindor, so curious about this world. It's poisonous. You should be careful. Hogwarts isn't the real world. It's just a haven for those like you.

Yours,
Jester

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To Jester,

I am writing late AGAIN! I am trying to contain my laughter. It's actually really fun, the vibe of writing away your thoughts under a candlelight in silence as everyone snores away. I like it.

I suppose I'd give you a rundown of MY schedule. I'm actually a teensy bit happy that you asked me about it. I wasn't expecting that, you'd usually just say something mean instead.

You're REALLLLLLLYYYYYYYY mean, by the way, I hope you're not a brute with violence because that could end up really bad. Sorry about the owl, I don't have my own and I've been using the school's owlery. Following the program, I write every Friday evenings and I wait on Saturdays for your letters. I think it'd be fun though, if we sent them as many times as we wanted. As long as we follow school's rules I don't think there's any harm in that.

What do you think?

Yours,
Knight

P.S.: Refrain from insulting me please, I'd like to keep a bit of happiness in life.
P.P.S: I had no idea someone as snarky as you reads comedic novels.

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To Knight,

The schools' owls? Do you not have your own? I should've known that owl was too determined to have been trained by the likes of you. Why don't you use your own owl instead? I've got a nice black owl, Father had gifted it to me so I could keep in touch with those at home. I have sisters and brothers waiting for me back there anyways, so I write as briefly as possible, anytime, of course, they're willing to read.

I suppose your schedule of writing is quite flexible. Don't your arms tense up? Don't you get tired? Parchment, quill, ink; a combination I'd be tired of easily. I must say, to rile me up, you are awfully determined.

I suppose I'll do my best to reply to your letters the moment I receive them. Maybe that'll ease your anxiety and keep you shut. But that is not an invitation for you to write more. It just means I'll be replying faster. NOT BECAUSE I like this, dimwat, but because you DO ANNOY my sleeping schedule and startle my friends with that stupid owl always pecking on the door or dropping the letter randomly inside the commons. No idea how he gets in. I'm thinking of disposing him to the squid.

Anyways, I'm usually asleep by 10:30 nighttime, but on the weekends I find myself wake 'till 2 in the morning. I suppose that's why I'm reluctant to reply to your absurd letters.

Yours,

Jester.

P.S.: Have you mastered unlocking these letters?

P.P.S.: I'm only asking in favor of knowing who's better at wandless magick.

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To Jester,

I think you just like writing to me. You know, it's alright to admit that you fancy yourself a friend.

Yours,
Knight

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AUTHOR'S NOTE!

filler chapter two!! trying to picture little bella and dorky raph!! also, during their
early years it'll just be letters and as they grow older (and get more chances to interact
directly with one another) should we get more casual writing and dialogue, for now it's
just puzzles of letters! pls comment and lmk how thing's are going! i hope anyone's out there reading this! don't get bored, i promise it'll improve!! <3

published: 10th of may, 2025!