Late February 1999. Auror training camp
After a long day of classes and training sessions, Harry returned to his bunk for a quick break before dinner. At the sight of a pale-green envelop sitting on the table, he smiled - Hermione had gifted a stationery set of that exact color to Ginny for her birthday, and Ginny had given Hermione the same in periwinkle blue for hers - dropped his things on the floor, grabbed the letter, and sat on his cot. With a half-groan half-sigh as he lay down, Harry slid his finger under the envelop flap and pulled out Ginny's letter.
-h-g-h-g-h-g-h-g-h-g-h-g-h-g-h-g-h-g-h-g-h-g-h-g-h-g-h-g-h-g-h-g-h-g-h-g-
Dear Harry,
For starters, GRYFFINDOR TROUNCED HUFFLEPUFF! I think I'm still riding the adrenaline rush - the party in the common room is still going, though it's mostly quieted down, and I'm exhausted! I wish you could have made it today, Harry, but your training is important. I know it's not as exciting as our win against Slytherin earlier, but I think we did much better as a team! And I felt like a really good captain at the end of this match, like some of the improvements I've been working for are actually showing through. After I finish writing you, I'll write Ron with a good play-by-play (that way Hermione can help me remember more objectively...) so if you're really interested, you can check with him, but I wanted to get the more important news to you first...
...GWENOG JONES WAS HERE TODAY! Here, as in, watching me! I saw her in the stands by Slughorn as we flew in, and almost fell off my broom! That would've been a great first impression...but I'm so, so, so glad the game went well! As we were lining up to get started, I kept telling myself that she had to be there for someone else, but deep down I knew this could be my big break. And Slughorn basically told me as much after the match. I had just started walking back to the locker rooms when he pulled me aside to talk to her. She told me I looked like a natural flyer and that she was impressed by my throwing technique! Not too shabby for a girl who taught her self to fly by sneaking out after dark, huh? And she said she'd be in contact with me by mail to find out what my schedule for practices and classes was like, so she could watch me train and talk to me more. Only you and Ron really understand and believe in my crazy pro Quidditch dream...and now I'm actually, for sure, somehow, being recruited by my top choice team. It's so bizarre, Harry. And amazing. The Harpies!
I didn't tell the team during the game that I was possibly being scouted - I tried not to act differently once I realized, and if I wasn't successful at that, no one said anything - and that was the right thing to do, right? I don't want them to feel more stressed just because I am. Only Hermione, and now you and Ron, will know. I'm sure word will get out anyways, someone will have noticed Gwenog Jones in the crowd, but I'm going to try not be the one to bring it up in conversation.
Anyways, that's pretty much all I've got right now. Classes are going well, though honestly I can't remember a single thing I've studied recently because my brain is still clouded by Quidditch (and Hermione just looked over my shoulder and began scolding me...and is now chastising me for writing about her...isn't she the best?). How is training going? Is there anything you think you're doing particularly well at, or feel like you're struggling with? Tell me about it, and I'll write back with my boring normal school stuff! :). Miss you, Harry.
Love, Ginny
-h-g-h-g-h-g-h-g-h-g-h-g-h-g-h-g-h-g-h-g-h-g-h-g-h-g-h-g-h-g-h-g-h-g-h-g-
By the time he finished reading, Harry was wearing a huge grin. He turned to Ron, who was sitting with an opened blue-parchment letter on his lap and a green-parchment letter in his hands. Ron looked up at Harry and said with a questioning look, "Hey Harry, I don't get letters from both my girlfriend and my sister on the same day that often...and Hermione's is pretty short compared to normal! She said that Ginny 'has the good letter this time', but Ginny's just tells me to ask you about yours! And then has lots of details about their Hufflepuff match, which I've been reading, but really...what's she told you?"
Harry handed over his letter. Ron read it. Ron looked up, matched Harry's grin, then stood and clapped Harry on the back as he observed, "so now you've really done it, gone and landed yourself a Harpy, huh? I don't think you need any more warning about Ginny, but good luck, mate!" and turned and headed towards the canteen. Harry shook his head, then stood and followed, thinking about just how lucky he was.