Letter to Me
A/N - Inspired by the song of the same name by Brad Paisley. Dumbledore assigns all of the 5th and 6th years to write a letter to themselves which would be returned to them in 20 years time.
There will be a chapter for all of the main characters, and each chapter begins at the 36/37 year old receiving the letter, they then read it and reflect on how their life really turned out!
Anyway I hope you like it.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own the characters or anything else Harry Potter related, except their thoughts, kind of.
"Albus, get the post." Harry Potter said to his youngest son as he sleepily made his way into the kitchen and fell into a chair, he'd just returned from a night shift at the ministry.
Harry yawned as Ginny put a plate of bacon and eggs down in front of him, he smiled at her, "Thanks love."
Ginny returned the smile, "Trouble last night?" She asked as Albus made his way over to the window to let the owl in.
Harry nodded as he tucked into a much needed breakfast, "Gregory Goyle was sending muggles cursed letters that burned their eyes out then made them go insane." He said, yawning again, "He'd killed 5 muggles before we eventually caught him. His trials tomorrow."
"That's good." Ginny said, not having time to go on as Albus chose that moment to hand Harry a letter with his name on it, written in a very familiar fashion.
Mr. H. Potter
The largest bedroom,
12. Grimmauld Place,
London.
He shared a glance with Ginny, whose eyes widened, "Is that your letter to you?" She asked, her eyes lighting up.
Harry chuckled, "I think so." He replied as he opened the letter, Ginny glanced at the window, wondering where hers was.
Harry took the letter out and recognised his own handwriting, as messy as it had ever been.
Dear 37 year old Harry James Potter,
I wonder how I'll feel when I look back on this letter, I wonder how different I'll be, if I'll even still be alive in 20 years time, judging by the way things are going right now it's something that I doubt.
Neither can live whilst the other survives, I do truly intend to kill him, but what if I get killed in the process? Being a 17 year old boy who everyone expects to kill the darkest wizard of all time is so damn tiring.
Everyone seems to think that all that matters to me, all that I think about is Voldemort, but that isn't true. It does take up a lot of my time considering how big a part of my life it is, I've fought him for the past 6 years, and I've won most of those battles, but what if my luck is running out?
I wonder, 37 year old Harry (if you're still alive) if you have settled down, gotten married and had kids. I never really thought that far into the future, I was so focused on surviving Hogwarts. I hope you have, and I hope you're happy.
I wonder if you finally got the courage to tell her how you feel, to tell her that you love her, and I wonder if she loved you back. Did you ever tell her? Or did you miss your chance?
I think I'll miss my chance because for all my bravery in the battlefield I'm a nervous wreck when it comes to girls, especially when said girl is my best friend, and the object of my other best friends desire. Why does my life have to be so complicated?
If I do ever tell Hermione how I feel I hope she'd feel the same, but something tells me she doesn't feel that way, about me or about Ron, which is odd because the way her and Ron used to fight always made it seem like something was going on. Hermione (& Ron) have been through so much with me, and having them by my side made me feel so much stronger. I hope that we all survive the war and that in 20 years time they will still be my best friends, I don't doubt it.
In 20 years time I'd be a happy man if Voldemort is gone, I hope that all his followers end up in Azkaban or are dead, I really don't care which. I hope the world is a better place for my children (if I ever have any). Writing this is helping me to think about my future, and I think I'll name my children after the most important people in my past, I have a few names in mind; James, Lily, Sirius and Albus are a few of the ones floating around my head, but that's far into the future.
Dumbledore set us this task to make us think about what we want from life and really, I can think of just three things.
1. I want Hermione to fall in love with me.
2. I want to kill Voldemort and avenge my parents.
3. I want to become an Auror.
Anything else that life throws me is just an added bonus.
So 37 year old Harry, don't have regrets, don't have any burdens, be happy and carefree, love with all you have and never ever let Ron read this letter!
Yours sincerely,
17 year old Harry J. Potter
When Harry had read the letter he placed it down on the table, his thoughts all over the place, this letter had been written at the end of 6th year, and at that point in time he had truly believed that he was in love with Hermione, things had changed obviously, but looking back on that letter was odd.
He'd gotten some things right, like the names of his children, and Voldemort was gone, and he had become an Auror, most of the things he'd wanted, like a better world for his children he had gotten, everything except Hermione.
When he looked back he wondered how different things would be if he had gotten Hermione, but he loved Ginny, he loved his life the way it was, so why would he want anything more? He had three amazing kids, and a wife who loved him more than anything else in the world.
What Harry hadn't realised was that Ginny had been reading the letter over his shoulder and when he turned around to see her walking out towards the garden he knew he was in trouble.
He hurried after her, finding her sitting on the steps at the back door of the old house, "Gin." He began softly sitting down next to her, "I wrote that letter 20 years ago."
Ginny sighed, she wasn't crying, she just seemed upset, "You were in love with Hermione." She stated.
Harry shook his head, "No, I thought I was, but then I dated you and I knew then that I had never been in love with her, it was just a stupid crush."
Ginny bit her lip, "That letter was all about Hermione and Voldemort, you didn't even mention me, not even as a friend."
"I'm sorry Ginny." Harry said honestly, "But I think we both know I am nowhere near the boy I was 20 years ago."
Ginny nodded, albeit a little reluctantly, she looked at Harry, "I know."
Harry smiled at her, and hugged her, "I'd like to see your letter." He murmured, and when he pulled back from the hug saw her blush profusely, he grinned, wondering when his Wife's letter would arrive…