Hello! I hope you like this chapter as I had a lot of fun writing the two letters between James and Annabell. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: My stuff = mine. Not my stuff = not my stuff.


My last week of holiday was spent soaking in as much family time as I could. I helped my dad organize his library, assisted my mum with gardening, and spent almost every afternoon outside with Kara. I even managed to convince my parents to go see a muggle movie at something called a cinema, which, much to my surprise, they both thoroughly enjoyed.

The last day of summer my mum made my favorite dinner and we spent the evening playing games with Kara and just relaxing. They had all gone to bed almost an hour ago, resulting in myself wandering out to the yard with Julie and finding a nice place to sit and think in the gazebo. Of course I wasn't out there for long until a wild ball of fluff dive bombed my head.

"Ouch! Gina!" I exclaimed, causing Julie to promptly jump off of my lap and grumpily stalk back into the house. I glared at the little owl, "You have got to calm down." She merely hopped onto the bench beside me and began jumping up and down with one leg out in the air. I just giggled and undid the note, expecting some other Quidditch request from James.

Hello Annie Dear!

Sirius and I have an odd request from you. You see, my dear sweet mum has decided that, since Sirius and I were "so unbelievably rude" and missed the delicious smelling dinner she made for us, that we must retire to my room without a single thing to eat, even though we have spent all day outside practicing our Quidditch skills and are SO SUPER HUNGRY. With that being said, I, your dear, sweet, lovable cousin was wondering if you would be able to send us some food. Anything would do really, cookies, candy, a piece of bread, please, Annabell, dear, before we wither to nothing...

Signed,

that lovable chap, James Potter

I laughed as I thought of Aunt Dorus scolding the two for missing out on dinner to play Quidditch all day. I proceeded to hurry inside to get a quill, some parchment, and ink. Within a minute I was back outside in the gazebo where Gina was fluttering around.

I quickly wrote back:

James, old chum,

Well hello, cousin! My, my, I bet Aunt Dorus was none to happy to see that you missed out on what I'm sure was a wonderfully delicious meal. You see, my sweet mum also made me an amazing dinner. She cooked up some roasted chicken, boiled potatoes, fresh green beans, and why she even took the effort to make homemade biscuits, which were so moist and delicious. As a matter of fact, it was so scrumptious that we ate ALL of it and we have not a speck to spare for you and your friend. I'm sure you understand. Have a lovely evening and I will see you on the train tomorrow morning!

Signed,

that sweet lady, Annabell

I reread my note, chuckling to myself, and called Gina back over so that she made deliver my response to James. As I watched her fly off I gathered up my quill and ink and headed back inside to shower. Ten minutes later I returned to my bedroom wrapped in a towel and discovered little Gina walking all over my bed.

"Oh goodness, Gina, I don't want your dirty little bird toes all over my clean bedding." She responded by giving a rather loud 'hoot' for someone her size and stuck her leg out at me. Smiling, I untied the small piece of parchment and opened it up.

Annabell,

Bugger off.

James and Sirius

I laughed, crumpled the note up, and sent Gina on her. After brushing the stray dirt and grass off of my bed that she had left, I burrowed under the covers and fell fast asleep.


"Annabell," my mother called for the fifth time this morning, "You had best be awake and moving! I am not playing around with you."

With a loud groan I rolled to the edge of my bed and began to stand up. Of course the blankets decided to tangle themselves around my legs and I instead fell with a rather loud thud to the floor.

"Shit," I mumbled staring up at the ceiling.

My bedroom door opened and my father poked his head in, "Annie, darling, what are you doing?"

I signed, "It's too early and my bed obviously doesn't want me to leave it."

He chuckled and glanced at his watch, "It's eight o'clock, you were actually supposed to be awake half an hour ago." I rolled my eyes and untangled myself from my blanket. "Have you even packed your trunk yet?"

"Of course I have," I lied.

He eyed me skeptically and, seeing right through my lie, said, "I suggest you do that before coming down for breakfast."

"Yes sir," I yawned as he closed my door and headed down the steps. I quickly made my bed and began sorting through the bags that mum and I had brought home from Diagon Alley. I rummaged through my closet for my uniforms and chose a handful of muggle clothes as well as undergarments, shoes, and pajamas. I then walked to the hall closet where I kept my truck and pulled it back to my bedroom where I filled it up with all of my clothes and supplies. "There, all done," I stated. I quickly changed into a pair of jeans, put on a random shirt, and hauled my trunk downstairs, setting it near the front door.

"Good morning, mum," I smiled as I walked past her to get some milk from the refrigerator.

"It's about time," she said, "Were you up late last night?"

I shook my head while taking a sip of milk, "Not too late, I was just tired this morning for some reason."

She simply nodded at me, "I just made some muffins real quick." She gestured towards a full basket of on the counter, "You can take the extras on the train with you and share them with your and James' friends."

"Thanks, mum," I smiled, grabbed one for myself, and sat down at the table where I proceeded to eat my muffin and scan the Daily Prophet.

A few minutes later my dad came into the kitchen holding Kara, "We have to leave in five minutes, Annie, you should say goodbye to Kara."

I shoved the last of my muffin into my mouth and motioned for my dad to hand her over, "Goodbye, Kara, dear. I'm going to miss you so much while I'm gone," she giggled and tugged on a lock of my causing me to giggle also. "I'll see you at Christmas," and I gave her a small speck on the cheek and handed her off to my mom.

"Do you have everything you need?" my mum questioned.

"Yes I believe," I smiled while giving her a hug and a kiss on the cheek also.

"Be careful and write us when you get the chance," she turned towards me as I walked behind her to grab the full basket of muffins off of the counter.

"I will," I stated, "Bye mum, love you."

"Bye sweetheart, love you too."

With that I walked over to my dad, who was already holding onto my trunk and had gathered up Julie in her cage, and looped my arm with his. Smiling and waving goodbye to my mum and Kara, we apparated to the train station.


"You have your uniforms?" he asked as we pushed my trolley towards platform 9 3/4.

"Yes, dad."

"Your school books?"

"Yes."

"What about your robes?"

"I got them, dad."

"Ok what about your-"

"Dad," I interrupted gently, "I have everything. No need to worry, this isn't my first year."

He smiled down at me, "Yes, yes, I know. You know I just worry and like to be certain we're prepared. It's my job, both as your father and also as my actual job."

I laughed at his joke and gave him a hug as we arrived at the platform, "I'll see you in a few months."

"Sure thing little lady, you have fun and tell James to behave."

I rolled my eyes, smiling, "I'll try." and with that I fell through the barrier into the wizarding world.