She was the sole occupant of the last remaining carriage from Hogsmead Station up to Hogwarts. As Head Girl it had fallen to her to walk the train and collect any stragglers, thankfully there had been none. Now she was riding silently up to the main entrance of the castle, just in time for the sorting she smiled to herself.

She noticed it just as she was about to exit, the corner of a piece of parchment that had been stuffed behind the cushion of the bench across from her. Taking a moment to pries the cushion up, she slipped the parchment out and into the inside pocket of her robe, left the carriage and entered the castle.

It was late, she had taken the last shift before the Prof.'s took over to make sure the others had done their jobs correctly. Thanks to a certain map in her possession she knew the halls and broom cupboards were free of students. It was when she was putting the map away that her hand brushed the parchment from earlier in the evening. She pulled it from her pocket, unfolded the parchment and began to read.

My Dearest,

She actually sighed just at the opening, why had nobody ever started a letter to her that way she thought. She almost didn't continue now that she knew it was quite possibly a love letter, but her curiosity got the better of her.

My Dearest,

You will never read this letter for my courage fails me at the slightest glance into your liquid amber eyes. You have no idea how many times I've wanted to tell you how much you mean to me, how much I want to be with you. Ever since first year I've tried to keep you safe without you suspecting it was me.

I once thought of this castle as my home, now every year something happens in this cursed place. From corridors of death (I had hope for a moment, once you were talking to me and hesitated, I thought the next word was going to be "love" but it wasn't) to students getting paralyzed, from escaped criminals to tournaments that put the whole school in danger; who would bring dragons to a school full of children.

Then there was that toad of a woman and the squad of students she recruited to brutalize the student body. In sixth year while everything seemed to be going fine there was an undercurrent of something evil, and finally there was that attack by Death Eaters and the death of the Headmaster. In seventh year I felt closer to you than I'd ever been, as if I could just take your hand in mine and we'd dance through the bad times together. As a Grand Finale there was the battle with Him, to much death and destruction.

Through all of this I've been there with you, beside you, and for you, though you never seemed to see me. The worst was the year you decided to like a friend of mine, my heart cracked a little the night I found out. I tried to compensate, but neither was you and thus it was doomed to failure before it ever began. I always appeared happy for the two of you, thankfully we all wear masks, mine has been in place so long it might be my real face after all.

In the end the both of you confessed to a kiss, I smiled and wished you both the greatest of luck as what remained of my heart shattered and crumbled to dust. No more do I hope, dream or believe in that which I have never been allowed to have, from family that died to young to an unrequited love that never was. I now feel I understand the path I walk and if I am the last then whatever curse is on the name than it dies with me.

My dearest love be happy in the life you choose and never wonder about what might have been. I shall remain for a while longer, but even if I'm no longer there I will always be looking after you and making sure you're safe. That's what you do for the ones you love, it's what my parents did for me and what theirs did for them. You will be the first thought when I awaken in the morning and the last before I sleep, for in dreams shall be the only place we are together for ever. Remember my love that you are truly loved because I Love You!

Yours With All My Love Forever,

She didn't know when she began crying but by the end the tears came fast and hard. That's where Headmistress McGonagall found her several hours later asleep on the step she had sat on. Nudging her gently and whispering, "Miss Potter, are you all right? Have you been attacked? Why are you not in your bed"? That's when she noticed the tear stained letter clutched in her hand. "Well that makes things clearer, I see you were the recipient of what has come to be called "The Love Letter". Come with me child and I will tell you what I can".

They made their way to McGonagall's office and, after asking a house elf (Mitzi) for some tea, began to tell the story. "Miss Potter, may I call you Rose", at a nod from Rose she continued. "Rose, you're not the first to find that letter. I should probably say that you're not the first that letter has found. It was written nearly thirty years ago during the time your parents were here. Ever since then it appears to young women, or men, who seems to be headed the wrong way in love".

"The first person to get this letter found it by accident, it fell out of a book she was returning to the library. I found her at "her" table crying as well, but there was anger in her tears. Because she was very smart, she knew exactly whose book she had been returning to the shelf and even though the writer had gone to great pains to disguise who they were she knew who it was. She was also aware as to why he felt so alone, the boy she thought she liked was only with her to upset his best friend and went out of his way to make his life miserable. She wasn't angry at the writer, she was angry with their friend".

Minerva sat back a moment and remembered the fireworks that had gone off when Hermione had laid into Ron because of one kiss in the heat of battle that felt (to her) like she had kissed a cousin and not a lover. Having cleared the air she then pulled Harry out of the chair he'd been cowering in during her rant and proceeded to kiss him until smoke came out his ears, literally, this was magic after all.

Returning to the story she continued, "She confronted her "boyfriend" and made sure that he understood his mistake. Then she told the other boy that she hadn't wanted to get hurt because she thought she was not good enough for him. To the best of my knowledge they are still together and as happy as that first kiss. I took a vow never to reveal who they are, but one of these days ask your mother about the letter".

"The castle seems to want to protect us, sometimes even from ourselves. I'll tell you now that the "Letter" is not always right, and has been "found" several times throughout the school year. While this is the earliest it has appeared I'm sure it wont be the last. It seems the castle believes you haven't considered all your options yet, lucky for you classes don't start until Monday as it appears you may have a very important decision to make. Anyway dear, here is a pass to get you back to your dorm, maybe have a bit of a lay in since it's Saturday and all. Good night Rose".

Rose made it back to her dorm without incident and upon entering the common area found the Head Boy (Justin Longbottom) sitting in a chair by the fireplace with a cup of hot chocolate. "Hey Rose, I woke up and you weren't back yet. I started to get a little worried when Mitzi popped in with the chocolate and told you were with the Headmistress. I figured I'd just wait up and make sure you made it back okay. Is everything alright, no firsties giving you trouble already are they"?

"Thanks for waiting up for me Justin, no every thing's fine". Giggling a little, "It's only the first night, no trouble with the firsties yet, they're not our parents after all". That got Justin laughing too, "Alright Rose, as long as you're good I'm heading back to bed. See you tomorrow Rose, good night". "Good night Justin, you're a good friend to have waited up for me. You always seem to be there when I need..."! Rose went quite as she realized what she was saying and was in her own little world so missed Justin's whispered response, "And I always will be my dearest". Justin's bedroom door closing brought Rose out of her stupor, she had a lot of thinking to do this weekend, but first she had to write a letter. She sat at her desk and smiled as she pulled out the ball point pen her father had given her way back in first year. She found a fresh sheet of parchment and began.

Dear Mum,

Tonight on the way up to the castle I discovered a letter, or as Headmistress McGonagall phrases it, the letter discovered me...