To all my reviewers: Sorry for the freakishly late update, but my muse was concentrated on a James/Lily oneshot...I'd love it if you checked that out too; it's feeling a bit under-appreciated. But even if you don't want to, thank you all for following this and giving me your comments - it means a lot to me. Keep reviewing, pretty please? And some constructive criticism if you have the time, because I know I'm nowhere near perfect. And if you have even more time than that, a reallyreallyreally long review makes me happy. (Sorry, I know I'm being an idiot here. XD)

So here we have Albus, alone and miserable in the Hospital Wing. How did he get there? Well...you'll see.

Since I'm in the mood, a list of upcoming chapters, in no particular order. Yeah, there aren't much. Once I run out, I'll need ideas - PM me with suggestions if you can.

Lily Luna Potter is in her fifth year and has just replaced a graduated James as Gryffindor Chaser. And thus she somehow gets the worst case of Quidditch nerves ever seen.

James Sirius Potter "almost dies" in the Forbidden Forest. Damn the Acromantulas. Features two OCs (Philippa Clarke and Octavian Macmillan, if anyone cares), because it's no fun to wander in the forest alone. Don't worry, they have real personalities...hopefully. And nobody, absolutely nobody, could be a Mary-Sue if seen through the eyes of James.

Victoire Weasley manages to get half her hair cut off. Fleur would NOT be happy.

Lorcan Scamander has just had his first Care of Magical Creatures lesson, and starts to doubt the existence of the Crumple-Horned Snorkack.

Lysander Scamander thinks he's fallen in lurrrve. Ooooh. Problem? Lily Luna Potter is the most utterly sensible person in the school, Head Girl, and two years older than him.

Anywayyys, I'll shut up now.

Dear Dad,

Please don't tell Mum, but I'm writing this from the Hospital Wing. It's the first school day of my first year at Hogwarts, and I'm in the Hospital Wing. But if Mum knew, she'd throw a fit. I remember last year when James broke his ankle after accidentally casting the Trip Jinx on himself...she was positively livid when his letter arrived home. (You wouldn't know, though; I think you were at work.) So I guess it's only reasonable that I want to tell you everything instead. I wouldn't be so miserable, I expect, if this wasn't entirely my fault.

First lesson of the day was Charms. Flitwick seems to like me...well, Flitwick liked me. Before...you know. Before. We got through the basic course description rather fast, so he gave us a quick background on Levitation and made us take notes. Actually, Rose was the only person actually taking notes. Me? Well, I attempted. Still not quite used to using a quill. (I seriously think you and Mum spoiled us by giving us those Muggle pencils...that kind where you push the eraser and the...lead comes out.)

Where was I? Oh yes. Rose, being Rose, practiced levitating her quill when Flitwick was turned the other way. Yeah, Flitwick told us specifically not to practice Wingardium Leviosa until we had fully studied the theory, and were under his express supervision. But Rose can go and break any rules she wants, and get away with it, too. (Oh dear, I'm being bitter, aren't I? I really do love her, really. I don't blame her for anything...well, I suppose I do.) Well, you see, Rose was being terribly irritating...no, she wasn't. I was just so terribly irritated by her successful levitation that I attempted to copy her. The thing was, even though I thought I knew what I was doing, it turns out I didn't. At all. So instead of my quill floating, my entire desk rose up ten feet into the air. I'm not sure what happened next, but I think it fell on my head...and according to Rose, I was completely knocked out.

When I came to, I was in the Hospital Wing, and Madam Pomfrey was going on and on and on about how I had even less regard for my personal safety than you. Honestly, I thought that was unfair - it wasn't like I was actually trying to get hit by my desk! And then I believe I passed out yet again, but felt much better when I woke up. She must've done something to me when I was sleeping. I tried to ditch and go back to the Gryffindor Common Room, but Madam Pomfrey's making me stay the night for reasons unknown. Rose visited me though...and she tried to make me feel better. Emphasis on tried. She told me that it must've taken a great deal of "innate magical power" in order to levitate such a huge object so high on my first try. Yeah...it didn't help much. She also gave me all of her notes for the first day, which helped even less. But then before leaving she snuck me a couple of Chocolate Frogs. Somehow chocolate has the power to make anyone happy. Except me. I still feel awful about the whole affair.

Well, it could've been worse. If Gryffindor and Ravenclaw shared Charms, I'd probably be dead right now. Oh, I never told you, did I? That Malfoy boy's in Ravenclaw. I don't think he's happy about it, though; every time I've run into him in the corridors, he's hanging around with the Slytherin idiots and having a serious case of the sulks. No, I don't feel sorry for him at all. Rose and I have utterly hated him since we met on the train compartment - and I think the feeling's mutual. Actually, Rose has it worse off than I do. (He insulted her yesterday after supper, so she pointed her wand at him and accidentally sent sparks flying. They almost set his robes on fire. I don't think I've ever laughed so hard in my life.)

Anyway, Madam Pomfrey's threatening to turn the lights out on me. Reply soon. Tell Mum and Lily nothing about this, but do tell them I love them heaps. If Mum asks how Professor Longbottom is, tell her I thought his first lesson was amazing. (Not that I would know, though. I'm only taking Rose's word for it.)

Sincerely,
Albus