Hi all! Just some notes on this story; the idea for it came to me before Order of the Pheonix was published, way back in about 2004 when I was first writing fanfic. For some reason, I was thinking about it again recently and decided to write it up and see what you chaps think of it. So, it's still set in 5th year, with some tweeks to make the idea slot into canon (in some ways anyway) but mostly it's my ideas from ten years ago, roughly cobbled together to make up a plot. Enjoy!
Dear Miss Granger,
Events that have recently unfolded threaten the unity of the wizarding world. Though the time to fight is not yet upon us, we must strive for understanding and knowledge, to bring all walks of life together as one against those who would try to tear us apart. But it is not just wizards to whom we ought to offer this hand of friendship; our Muggle brethren do not have the luxury of our power, and so they stand helpless against a threat from which they must be forever unaware. If and when the time comes, students of Hogwarts must be the first to defend the Muggles, but we cannot do this without knowledge of their ways first.
Therefore, to enhance relations between wizards and Muggles, every student is required to bring with them one piece of Muggle literature to Hogwarts next year. In order to bring an end to rumour of wizarding superiority over those we are duty bound to protect, we must first educate ourselves in their ways and art; only with knowledge can an era of tolerance begin.
Please do enjoy the rest of your holidays, I will rejoice in seeing you all once more.
Yours sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
Hermione read the letter again, well aware that she'd already missed one train to London and missing another would mean she'd be late for tea with the Weasleys. She stared blankly at her parent's study walls, wall to wall books filling each nook and cranny, each one worthy of a place in Hogwarts. She could only pick one.
Just the one.
One.
Something told her she wouldn't be eating for a while.