Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the Harry Potter universe. JK Rowling and her people do.
Author's note: This is the sequel to "Letters". I suggest you read that fic first, and then this one.
Letters Received
"Harry Potter, will you please pay attention!" Hermione ordered.
Harry stopped directing his chess pieces and Ron stopped howling about how one had slashed his face with a wayward arm from another piece. Hermione sat down beside them, a book propped in her lap.
"Close your eyes and focus. Ron, be quiet. Harry has to figure out his life's path."
Ron and Harry exchanged a glance. "Now, Hermione? I don't think..."
"Ron," Hermione glared towards Ron, and then at Harry, who had still not closed his eyes. "Harry is in a new stage of his life. Everything he used to know is gone. Voldemort's dead, and he is no longer in a relationship, so figuring out what he's going to do next is a beneficial step on the road to happiness."
Harry squinched his eyes closed and smiled. Ever since Hermione had gotten the book list for their eighth year at Hogwarts she had been a whirlwind of activity in making sure she, Ron, and Harry were on their way to reaching happiness. The class they would be taking, Proactive Life , was a new class to try to help everyone cope with the aftermath of the war. Hermione was, as usual, determined to excel.
She cleared her throat and began to read from the book. "Relationships are an important foundation piece for a healthy and happy lifestyle. Please review what relationships are important to you, and what relationships are lacking."
Hermione looked up. Harry kept his eyes closed. "Harry!"
He opened his eyes. "What? I thought you wanted me to review my relationships."
Hermione sighed. "Yes, but you should do it out loud. It says in the book to write it down and then share with the class. This promotes bonding and helps understand outside perspectives."
"Oh." Harry closed his eyes again. "Well, I have you all, and the rest of the Weasleys, and Seamus, Dean, Neville, Luna, and Hagrid. I don't feel 'lacking', Hermione."
"But mate," Ron sounded like he had slammed down a chess piece on the table. "You haven't had a girlfriend in ages. I mean, it'd be nice if you pined for my sister forever, but she seems to have moved on already, so..."
Harry didn't know before that moment that it was possible to roll your eyes with your eyes closed, but he managed. "No one's really interested me lately. I don't want to just date around."
"That's good. There are too many crazies after you Harry. It wouldn't be wise." Ron said. Harry doubted that Ron was really over Harry and Ginny's breakup, he sounded too relieved.
"That's exactly right Ron." Hermione sounded pleased. "The book suggests you think over your past relationships and decide what attracted them to you in the first place. That way, you can keep an eye out for your future love."
Ron snorted. "Go on Harry, or she'll never leave us alone."
Harry thought for a moment. "Parvati was first, wasn't she?" Hermione prodded.
"Merlin, she was just wonder-"
"Ron."
"Right, this is about Harry."
Harry thought back. "She was smart, I guess. And she treated me like I was normal."
Hermione was scribbling on something and Harry opened his eyes quickly.
"Wait, are you writing this down?"
"Shhh. Don't worry about it. Close your eyes. Cho's next."
Ron made a noise of appreciation followed by a small ow as Harry closed his eyes again, feeling uncomfortable.
"She was pale. And good at Quidditch. And she always seemed really dignified. At least before she was crying all over the place."
"Hmm. Too bad, that." Ron interjected. "Wait," Air rumpled Harry's hair like Ron was waving his arms in front of him. "What about Fleur?"
"What about Fleur?" Hermione's voice had a steel edge to it.
Ron's voice got less excited and more careful. "Well, Harry had a thing for her, right Harry? I mean, we all-I mean most people had a thing for her. Doesn't she count?"
Hermione sighed. "What do you think, Harry?"
Harry thought back to when he first saw Fleur. "She has pretty hair. It's really pale. And her eyes are nice."
"They are a lovely blue gray, I'll give her that." Hermione murmured, writing away. "I suppose last would be Ginny."
"Her hair was nice. It was soft and got everyone's attention. I like how her face looked too. Er..." Hermione stopped writing.
"What do you mean, how her face looked? When? Harry, mate, I swear to you if you ever-"
"Ron."
"I'm just saying, Hermione, I need a little clarification on how her face looked when."
"I can't believe you just used the word 'clarification'." Harry muttered.
He was rewarded by a light sock in the arm. "Ow."
"Harry, could you try to explain what you meant? Was it her eyes or her freckles? Or was it the shape?"
"I think..." Harry had an image he could almost grasp of a pale, athletic body with light blonde hair and familiar grey eyes. He tried to focus on Ginny. "I think it was the shape. It's narrow. Sharp features. Kind of pointy."
"Excuse me, did you just call my sister pointy? I hope that was supposed to be a compliment."
Harry smiled as he heard another small ow from Ron.
"So," Hermione continued, "your future potential romantic prospect would be dignified, smart, would treat you as an equal, and have grey-ish eyes, light blonde hair, and a narrow face." Hermione sounded like she was checking the features off of the list she made.
"Pointy. A pointy face."
"Ron, for goodness sakes- Oh." Hermione stopped. There was a definite pause.
"Oh sweet Merlin no." Ron whispered. Harry thought Ron sounded much like he did when they first came across Aragog and his family in Forbidden Forest. Harry was starting to feel panicked and opened his eyes. His friends were staring at him with open mouths.
"What?" He asked, bewildered.
Hermione and Ron exchanged a look and then stared back at Harry. Ron closed his mouth and swallowed. "Nothing, mate. Good luck on finding your future romantic mate person." He leapt up and patted Harry on the shoulder. "I have to go wash...stuff."
Hermione had seemed to regain her senses too and cleared her throat. "Um. Yes. Well. This has been quite enlightening I feel. You just sit here and think long and hard about that description Harry. I'm sure you'll find someone like that soon."
Hermione left the room quickly, leaving Harry alone, staring after them.