Chapter 4: The Letters
Hermione woke up the next morning feeling refreshed and happier then she had felt in a long time. She got dressed and headed downstairs for breakfast. Harry, Ginny, Molly, Arthur, and the twins were all eating breakfast. They all turned and smiled at her, but she still felt that there was still some tension between everyone because of what she had revealed last night. Suddenly, Ron picked up his spoon and shot some eggs at Harry when he wasn't looking, causing everyone to laugh, and lightening the mood.
"Good morning Hermione. Why don't you come and sit down and eat!" said Molly, motioning to a seat beside Ginny. The moment Hermione sat down, three owls flew into the kitchen. Hedwig, Pig, and the Weasley's new owl, Chip. Each had mail with them. Hermione received her Daily Prophet, a letter from her boss at St. Mungo's, and then three letters her parents had sent her. The first letter she opened was from her parents:
Dear Hermione, I know we've been owling you a lot these past few days, but we have been getting letters in the mail for you. We sent them along with Pig. We think they're from some of your old friends because they must not know that you've moved out. Make sure you owl us back and tell us when we can expect a visit from you! We love you, Mum and Dad
Hermione looked at the envelopes with a look of shock and confusion on her face.
"What's the matter Hermione?" Harry asked.
"My parents got some letters for me in the muggle mail. That means these letters are probably from people I haven't seen or talked to in a long time." Hermione began to open the first envelope. When she saw who it was from she squealed and jumped up from the table, once again earning everyone's attention. "OHMYGOD! It's from my best friends Sarah and Jessica from my old camp!" There were two letters in that envelope. She opened he first one:
Dear Jay, Hermione smiled, remembering her old nickname.
I've missed you so much! I haven't heard from you in a while, and I was just wondering what you were going to do about your offer from C.S.R. I know YOU of all people got one. 'The only thing is I didn't and I have no clue what you're talking about,' Hermione thought. I hope you come this summer, because Jessie, Josh, Mark, and I are all going and we can't wait to see you! Hope to see you soon! Call me; my cell's still the same. Love you, Sarah
P.S. I'm engaged! His name is Nathan Tucker, and I love him to death! (Sarah Tucker doesn't that sound awesome!)
Hermione put the letter down and couldn't help but be a little confused. What offer from C.S.R.? She would have to call Sarah and Jessie to ask them. She opened the next letter in the envelope from her other best friend, Jessica:
Dear Jay,
I haven't seen you in forever! I miss you. I hope you've been well in the wizarding world! We "muggles" all miss you. How's that man of yours, by the way? Well, just writing you to see if you were going to accept your offer from C.S.R. We all can't wait to see you! I hope I'll see you at C.S.R. this summer!
Love you,
Jessie
P.S. I know Sarah told you about Nathan, but JOSH POPPED THE QUESTION TOO! We might end up having a double wedding with Sarah and Nathan. Wouldn't that be awesome?
Hermione finished the letters and handed them to Harry and Ginny to read. After reading the letters she realized how out of touch she was with her friends in the muggle world… she didn't know they were even dating Josh or that Nathan guy. What's worse is they didn't even know about Ron yet.
"Hermione what's C.S.R.?" asked Harry, interrupting her thoughts.
"It's a muggle camp, Camp Shadow Rock, which I went to for a month every summer. After Voldemort came back in fourth year, I stopped going. I still kept in touch with my friends, but I never went back." said Hermione.
"Oh." said Harry and Ginny.
"Well, I'm going to open this last letter. Oh my, it looks like it's from Tony! He's the director at C.S.R." excitedly, Hermione opened up the last letter:
Dear Ms. Granger, 'Ms. Granger? Why would Tony call me Ms. Granger?' Hermione wondered.
As you may know, a few years ago, Tony Simon, the director here at Camp Shadow Rock, resigned as director. 'What?' Hermione thought. I would like to know if you would be able to help me out this summer, and be a counselor. Many of the other counselors said you would be a great asset to the camp this summer. I would greatly appreciate it, and it would be great to have someone here who knows the camp as well as you do. Please consider my offer, and you can call the camp office or mail in your response. Camp this summer starts on July 1st and the staff are obligated to come the day before to get their cabin assignments and other things. Please respond as soon as possible. Sincerely, Daniel Martin, Camp Shadow Rock, director.
"YAY!" Hermione screamed jumping up from the table.
"What?" asked Harry and Ginny. Hermione shoved the letter into Ginny's hands.
"I can't believe Tony retired! WOW! The first day of camp is in less then a week, and I'm definitely going this summer! I need to call this guy, pack all my muggle clothes and things, and call Sarah and Jessica!" said Hermione rushing toward the stairs.
"Hermione, WAIT!" yelled Harry. She stopped and turned to look at him. "You better be taking your wand just in case. You never know what could happen, and I don't want you going unarmed."
"Fine, whatever Harry. The three Death eaters there are left are going to go to a muggle camp in the middle of nowhere just to do me in. Yeah right, but if it makes you feel better I will take my wand." said Hermione after seeing the look of concern on Harry's face.
"Good. Make sure you are careful." Harry said giving her a hug. "Now go get packed and make some phone calls."
Hermione ran up the stairs and packed all the muggle things she brought with her to the Burrow in a suitcase. Then she realized most of her muggle clothes were at her flat, so she apparated back home. She got all of her muggle clothes and packed them all into a suitcase, along with other things she would need. While she was home, she dug out her phonebook and found Jessica and Sarah's phone numbers. First she called Jessie.
"Hello?"
"Hey Jessie! Guess who it is?"
"Jay, I haven't talked to you in FOREVER!"
"I know I'm sorry about that. I was just calling to tell you that I am coming to C.S.R. with you all this summer, and to scold you for not telling me that Tony retired! I know you knew about that new Daniel guy."
"YAY! You're coming! About Daniel, I'm sorry. It must have just slipped my mind."
"Of course it did. Well I'll talk to you later. I have to call Sarah and the new director. Love you Jessie!"
"Love you too Jay! See you at C.S.R. Oh, and make sure that when you call Sarah that you hold the phone away from your ear, because she'll scream when she hears your voice."
"Bye, Jessie!"
"Bye, Jay!"
Hermione hung up the phone and then dialed Sarah's number.
"Hey, Sarah?" Hermione pulled the phone away from her ear.
"HERMIONEEEEEEE!" Sarah squealed. "It only took you three years to call me!"
"Yeah, sorry about that. I just had to tell you the news."
"DANIEL CONTACTED YOU AND YOU'RE COMING TO C.S.R.!"
"You must be psychic!"
"I can't wait to see you! It's going to be like back in the old days where we ruled the camp. Except now, we actually will rule the camp!"
Hermione laughed, "I know, I'm so excited! I have to call this Daniel guy at camp, and I'll see you there in less than a week!"
"All righty then! Bye, Jay, love you!"
"Love you too, bye Sarah."
Hermione hung up the phone and was about to call Daniel when she realized that she didn't have the camp's number with her. She looked through her phone book and couldn't find it. "BUGGER!" she thought in a very Ron-like state-of-mind. She realized if she sent the letter by muggle post that it wouldn't get there in time, so she decided to take a risk and send the letter by owl. She wrote her response and handed it to pig. She told the owl, "This is going to a muggle place, so just drop it off outside of the main office, okay?" Pig gave a hoot of understanding and flew off. Hermione then picked up her suitcase and apparated to the Burrow.
"Guys I'm back!" Hermione called when she got inside.
When no one answered Hermione went out into the back yard and saw brooms up in the sky. Harry and Ginny each had one of the boys on their brooms and they were flying with them. When they saw Hermione they landed and went over to her.
"So?" asked Ginny.
"I'm going to leave the day after tomorrow if I get a call back from the director at the camp. If I leave, I'll be gone for two months, but families are allowed to visit on certain occasions. So right now I'm going to finish packing."
"Alright Mione. We'll go and see you off when you leave, okay?"
"Alright. I'm just going to go to bed when I'm done packing so goodnight everyone." Hermione said giving each of the twins a kiss on the forehead.
"Night Hermione." Said Harry and Ginny together.