Thank you so much to those who have already reviewed, favourited or followed this story! It was so lovely of you to get on board from chapter one. A big thank you to everyone reading this new chapter as well as it means I've piqued your curiosity. I hope you enjoy the next instalment!

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September 9, 1984

Dear Dora,

I remember vividly the excitement and exhaustion of my first week at Hogwarts. You have done well to remember to write back at all.

Yes, I know Professor Snape. We were in the same year at Hogwarts, and I suppose he might remind you of your aunts because he too is a Slytherin. I don't know why he said Hufflepuffs don't attend his advanced classes, but if I had to guess I would say that they do and he was trying to discourage you. He prefers the students of his own house.

You seem like you are settling in beautifully. Best of luck in your academic career.

Yours,

Remus

...

September 27, 1984

Dear Remus,

A terrible thing has happened and there's no one else I can tell. Three days ago a Slytherin called me 'blood traitor' in the great hall, and I think almost everyone heard. He said my mother was the worst sort of blood traitor for marrying a mudblood and that I was lucky I wasn't put in Slytherin with the pure-bloods and proper witches and wizards as then they'd have to 'teach me a lesson'. I don't know what he meant but I don't want to know.

The worst part is that until that moment I don't think the other Hufflepuffs knew my mother is a Black, and now they're all afraid of me. I heard some of them whispering that I was probably meant to be in Slytherin like my cousin Sirius. They think that it was a mistake he was Sorted into Gryffindor considering what he did. I was so relieved I am in Hufflepuff but now it's all ruined.

Can I tell you a secret? I loved my cousin Sirius so much. Even though I know he's a terrible person for what he did and no one can ever forgive him, sometimes I have nightmares about him in Azkaban, alone in a cold cell while the Dementors suck every good thought and memory out of him. It's too cruel a punishment. I think I still love him. Do you think that's wrong?

Yours,

Dora

P.S. After your last letter I told myself that I wouldn't write back because you probably don't want to talk about stupid school problems with an eleven-year-old after all you've been though. You can tear this up if you want to, I'll understand.

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September 30, 1984

Dear Dora,

I am very sorry to hear that you were called a blood traitor and your father a mudblood, and I am dismayed that this sort of prejudice still lingers. The parents of your classmates all lived through You-Know-Who's reign of terror and should have passed understanding and tolerance onto their children.

It is a hard and painful thing to be different. I urge you to remember that you are not your parents' decisions. You are not your blood. You are not your aunts' cruelty or your cousin's betrayal. You are just you, Dora, and that is a very good and noble thing to be indeed.

I still love Sirius, too. To this day I don't understand why he did what he did. I don't think I ever will.

Yours,

Remus

...

October 5, 1984

Dear Remus,

I read your letter and cried. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Yours,

Dora

...

December 20, 1984

Dear Remus,

I have survived my first term at Hogwarts and tomorrow I am going home for the Christmas holidays. I haven't forgotten your kindness. In fact, I think about it every day, and I hope that you are happy.

Here is my best scarlet rockinghorse flower that I grew myself from a seedling in Herbology. I pressed it in my copy of A History of Hogwarts for two weeks, and if it survives the owl post it should keep very well for you if you put it in a book.

Merry Christmas!

Yours,

Dora

...

December 25, 1984

Dear Dora,

The scarlet rockinghorse flower was in perfect condition when it arrived. I dug out my old copy of A History of Hogwarts and it's safely pressed between the pages of chapter six.

I enclose a sketch of Nimblin. I hope I caught his likeness.

Merry Christmas,

Remus

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January 2, 1985

Dear Remus,

I was so happy to see your owl tapping on the living-room window on Christmas night! Thank you so much for the sketch. You draw beautifully. How did you spend your Christmas?

I am going back to school tomorrow and I think I will have a friend to sit with on the train. That Slytherin boy (his name is Vincent Redfern) called me blood traitor again just before the end of term but another boy called Charlie Weasley heard and punched him in the face. He got detention with Professor Snape but he said it was worth it. We have Charms with the other Gryffindors (Charlie's in Gryffindor).

I showed Nimblin his likeness. He was very pleased with it and is delivering this letter to you in the very best of moods.

Yours,

Dora

...

January 21, 1985

Dear Remus,

Something has been bothering me since I got your last letter on Christmas night. My parents weren't happy when I told them I'd been writing to you and they didn't want me to reply. I had to sneak the letter out to Nimblin when they weren't looking and they were angry when they found he had gone. I don't care, though. They couldn't tell me anything about you that was shameful or wrong. My mother said your mother was a muggle (I'm sorry she died) though I know that doesn't matter to her or anyone that counts. But she had a funny look on her face and told me to stop asking questions and to stop writing to you.

I got used to thinking of you as my friend and I want to keep writing to you. I don't understand why I shouldn't.

Yours,

Dora

...

February 11, 1985

Dear Remus,

Why haven't you replied?

Yours,

Dora

...

February 16, 1985

Dear Dora,

It's best if you follow your parents wishes and cease writing to me. I am truly sorry that I have caused you trouble at home. It's not proper for a grown man to correspond with an eleven-year-old, in any case.

Remus

...

I think Dora is going to have a hard time convincing him to continue to write to her. How do you think she might manage it?