Dear Professor Slughorn,
I really don't know all that much about New Orleans, let alone Mardi Gras, but there's a girl visiting from Ilvermorny, and she has talked non
Anxiously awaiting your response,
A Captivated Witch
My Dear Student,
I won't hide my excitement in raving some about a famous celebration. Mardi Gras has been around some three hundred years, and it truly is something that must be experienced to understand fully. However, my dear girl, I think we can help you yet. A sure way to prove you know your way around Bourbon Street, may be to whip up some delicious Beignets. Or, better yet, a King Cake, with a small trinket hidden within the dough. Now, I won't encourage any sort of rule-breaking when it comes to how you can procure such items without the use of a kitchen... Though, it never hurts to walk about the castle's dungeons to think out such matters. There's even a particularly lovely painting of a bowl of fruit along the corridor. And I've heard the pear enjoys being tickled.
Hope to see you both in Potions,
Professor H. Slughorn
Dear Professor Slughorn,
I have a Muggle aunt that always forces me to participate in Carnival. I won't say that I despise the yearly tradition, but with my lack in artistic abilities, I am never able to make a mask up to her standards. If she'd only let me use a bit of magic while I was in school to make it, I just know I could show her something truly amazing. Do you have any ideas on how to convince her? Or perhaps know of a special spell that I can use in mask making?
I'm sure you'll know what to do,
Left-brained Lacey
Dearest Lacey,
It can be hard for Muggles to understand the intricacy of magic and its wonders. It is true that maybe adding some flair in a way you know how might show her that there is more than one right way to create something special for a family custom. However, maybe it is the time spent with you she cherishes all the more, and to that I say write a letter. Open up to your aunt and explain your concerns and see if you can't add a little magic to your mask this year. As for a spell, I find you can never go wrong with a well placed Severing Charm.
Do show me your mask before you leave,
Professor H. Slughorn
Dear Professor Slughorn,
I have a pen pal from Louisiana that recently sent me a lot of gold beaded necklaces. Even though I'm a Muggleborn, I am only familiar with Europe's Carnival, and not the Mardi Gras alternative. In my letter, he has mentioned that the three colors of Mardi Gras are symbolic, and that he thought the gold would especially represent me. I want to give him my thanks, but wanted to know the history behind the colors, and why I received gold specifically first.
Maybe he thinks my personality is sparkling?
One Confused Friend
Dear Slytherin Friend,
The colors your friend speaks of did not have a meaning once, but for many years now, it is believed and celebrated that green represents faith, purple represents justice, and gold represents power. So, you see, saying that the gold beads remind him of you, should be taken as quite the compliment. Us Slytherins are often seekers and receivers of power, and perhaps with final exams coming up soon, he thought it best to give you a good luck charm. Now, do make sure you study hard, and you'll be well on your way to an O in Potions.
Perhaps I'll be calling you Minister of Magic one day,
Professor H. Slughorn.