Disclaimer: I am not J.K. Rowling. This story is merely my way of saluting her. I do not own any of these characters; I just manipulate their thoughts.
A/N: "Speech" and 'Thought'. And thanks for the reviews! I can't believe I got this many this quickly!
-x-
Dear Prissy-Puddlemere-Fan,
That was a rather rude letter, calling me dense and all… At least you know talent when you see it. We agree on one thing – that Seeker is the only thing holding that team together. Did you see how he attempted the Plumpton Pass last year? Would've been bloody brilliant if he'd made it!
- D
Blaise rolled his eyes as he read Draco's letter. "Blowing your own trumpet then, eh?" he asked, earning a punch on the arm.
-x-
Hello,
I admit, the past letter was out of line. But I am a very passionate fan of Quidditch. And I will defend my team to the grave!
That Plumpton Pass was an unnecessary move. The Falcons were playing against the Cannons! Of course they'd have won anyway. No need for Malfoy to go about showing off, really. And it didn't even work! He 'caught' the Snitch because it hit him in the chest! Yes, that required some well-executed maneuvers, but that was not a Plumpton Pass.
- H
Ron chortled at it. "Bloody Malfoy and his bloomin' Falcons," he said, handing the letter back to Harry.
-x-
Hello,
Seeing as there is no convincing you of switching loyalties, I'll let this topic go. If you're as hardheaded as I am, we could be having the same conversation for months.
What position did you play? Were you any good? And by good, I mean, did you ever win? Or were you going on and on about how Quidditch is a gentleman's sport even when you were in school? If that was the case, those must've been pathetic matches.
- D
Draco placed his quill carefully in the inkwell, pleased with himself. 'That'll show him.'
-x-
Hello,
I was a Seeker; a damn good one too. We won nearly every game. And we've never played a 'pathetic match'. I've taken beatings before!
Harry rolled his eyes as he wrote this. 'You have no idea…'
I'm guessing you were a Seeker too, right? You wouldn't be so passionate about the Falcons if you weren't, I suppose. Were you any good? Or did you just take pleasure in chucking people off brooms?
- H
Harry smirked.
-x-
Draco huffed as he read the letter. 'So full of himself…'
Hello,
Yes, I was a Seeker, and yes I enjoyed chucking people off brooms. In fact, I still do.
- D
-x-
Harry laughed out loud when he got the quick and short response from D. Harry imagined that this was probably how normal people conversed. Usually, when Harry met wizards, they stumbled over themselves, trying to make a good impression on him. He enjoyed the politeness and the respect he received, but sometimes he just wanted a person to squabble with. And Ron wasn't always the most interesting person to talk to. He liked the concise letters he got from D. There was no dancing about – he got to the point. Harry shook his head thoughtfully, trying to figure out how to continue their conversation.
Hello,
I think it's about time we diverged from the topic of Quidditch. I wouldn't want to open the next post and receive a howler from you. That'd be a huge blow to my self-esteem. Never mind the fact that I'd probably send you a howler in response.
What do you do now? As in, do you have a job? Or are you rich enough to sit at home and twiddle your thumbs? Judging by your stationary, I'd assume the latter.
- H
'There, successfully changed the topic and still kept the attitude.' Pleased with himself, Harry attached the letter to his owl and sent it off.
-x-
Draco smirked at the response he'd received. H seemed quite perceptive. Draco frowned thoughtfully at what his response should be. Not the truth, surely. But something close to it.
Hello,
I approve of your smooth change in conversation. You're probably right, we'd have just ended up having a howler fest for the next week if you kept it up.
I am rich enough to sit at home and twiddle my thumbs. But that is quite unbecoming of me. So yes, I do have a job. I work for the Quidditch League. A dream job, really… What about you?
- D
He did work for the Quidditch League. He didn't have to specify as to what his position was. He nodded in approval and sent the letter away.
-x-
Hello,
A dream job sounds fulfilling. I suppose I'm working my dream job as well. I work for the Ministry. It is quite close knit, especially considering how a significant number of my friends from school work here as well. I suppose, in a way, it's like I never left.
Inheritance money?
- H
Confessing that he was the Head Auror would sure have some consequences, so Harry conveniently left that part out.
-x-
Hello,
I shudder to think that any Ministry job is a dream job. You must be a bore at parties then. I was relieved when I finally finished school, and here you are, trying to relive it? Life's too short for dwelling on the past.
And yes, inheritance money. And money I made. I don't have anyone to spend it on, so might as well indulge myself.
- D
'A bore, I definitely am not.' Harry thought to write as much on his response, but that would unwittingly lead to more questions. He kept reading the phrase Life's too short for dwelling on the past. 'I don't dwell on the past, do I?' Harry frowned at this thought. 'Sure I'm still affected by what happened. But who isn't! I have a right to dwell on the past. No one should forget what happened. History shouldn't repeat itself.'
-x-
Draco had just finished showering after his practice. He sat on the bench in the empty change room and pulled out the puzzling letter he'd received that morning, trying not to drip all over it.
Hello,
I was thoroughly surprised to find that your letter struck a chord with me. It was quite insightful. It made me think about why I didn't want to let go. School has always been a safe haven for me. Most likely because of my friends and the wonderful experiences I've had during my seven years there. It is not so much that I'm dwelling in the past as it is that I want my innocence back. I suppose I've always felt like I never had a proper childhood, I've had to grow up quite fast. But when I'm around my friends, I feel like I have no worries anymore. I can just be.
I wouldn't call it dwelling on the past. I cherish the past.
- H
Draco propped his elbow on his knee and rested his chin on his palm, musing at the letter. He'd never felt the need to cherish the past because there was nothing to be cherished in it. So he was slightly puzzled at what H meant when he said this. Draco's childhood had been riddled with confusing people and dangerous experiences. He wouldn't go back for anything. 'Or would I?' Draco had enjoyed most years at Hogwarts, however miserable he was in those years. The Quidditch matches, visits to Hogsmeade, Potions and DADA classes. He also understood what H meant when he talked about his lost innocence. Draco frowned slightly at the letter before folding it up and putting it back in his pocket.
-x-