Who else wrote Harry a letter?

by Geordie James

In the summer after Harry's 1st year, were Ron, Hermione and Hagrid really the only people to send owls to Privet Drive? He'd lived cheek by jowl with the rest of Gryffindor for the best part of a year. I find it difficult to believe that nobody else wrote. This is a selection of other letters that Dobby might have intercepted. 1: Dean; 2: Oliver; 3: Katie; 4: Remus. T for safety.

2. Oliver Wood

Hi Harry,

I hope you don't mind me writing to you, but Professor McGonagall has just sent me a letter. She's confirmed that I'm continuing as Quidditch Captain next year, and that she is expecting to see the trophy in her office by the end of the season. It's an expectation I share. We were the best team by far last year, and it wasn't even close. If you had been fit for the final game, we would have trounced them. I'm not blaming you of course: it wasn't your fault at all. But we were the best, and only bad luck stopped us from winning that trophy. I know it, you know it, and everybody else knows it. The problem is, this has painted a massive target on our back. Everybody is going to be gunning for us next season. You more than most. But we'll be ready for them. We'll be harder, faster, stronger, better. And we'll need to be. All of us.

Now that you've shown that you've got a real knack for hunting for the snitch, it's going to be time to up your game. The very best seekers do far more than just catching the snitch. They break up the opposing chasers' plays, do decoy runs for their own, act like human bludgers, and do loads more. In a long game, these things can be as big a decider as the snitch. And if the chasers build up enough of a lead, it can mean losing the snitch doesn't mean losing the match. Not that many people are going to beat you to the snitch. I've got a couple of books on Quidditch tactics and training drills that might be useful for you. None of them are specifically for seekers, for obvious reasons, but there are some very good general tips. Two of the books also have chapters for each position which are dead useful. If you're interested, let me know, and I'll owl them to you.

So, that's a glimpse of the hard work you've got to look forward to come September. In the meantime, I want to show that I'm not just a quidditch obsessed lunatic who drags you out of bed at six o'clock in the morning for extra training. I mean, Fred and George would say that I definitely am that person; and they're right, but I'm not just that. So I want to do something to say thank you for all your hard work last year, and bank a bit of good will before you all start hating me in the Autumn term. I thought it might be fun to have a team get together in Diagon Alley, We can all go and look at the new brooms in Quality Quidditch Supplies, I hear the Nimbus 2001 is gorgeous. Once we've done that, then we'll go to Florian Fortescue's place for an ice cream. Any sundae you want. My treat. That might stop the twins complaining for a day or two. Maybe one day anyway. Possibly. Probably not.

Anyway, let me know when you're free, and I'll get things organised. If one of your Aunt or Uncle wants to come to make sure we're above board, that will be fine, of course. And I'll send those books through when I get your reply.

See you soon,

Oliver Wood

Another letter to Harry. This time from everybody's favourite Quidditch Captain. Yeah, he's obsessive, but that doesn't mean he doesn't appreciate the graft his players have put in over the last year. In fact, it might make him more appreciative of their hard work.