Dear Harry,

I really miss you. We're very busy here at Hogwarts—between classes and more classes and trying to reassure the first years that a Death Eater isn't going to jump out at them from behind a statue and even more classes, I hardly have any time to write. So I'm writing this during Transfiguration—our new teacher's an alright bloke, but his classes are nowhere near as hard as McGonagall's.

Speaking of classes: Hermione, as usual, is freaking out over her schoolwork already. Yesterday, Flitwick assigned us a three-foot essay on protective enchantments. It's not due for two days, but she's already written five feet and she's not even halfway through the list Flitwick gave us. I wanted to point out to her that she just spent a year on the run and she knows all about these spells already, but I didn't for fear she'd rip my head off. Sometimes I wonder how you and Ron put up with her for seven years.

Anyway, I've got to go. Say hello to the family for me. Write back soon. I love you.

Ginny

••••••••

Ginny finished her letter and laid down her quill, looking up for the first time since she'd entered the Transfiguration classroom an hour ago. Everyone was chatting with their seatmates as they packed up their bags—Professor Emerson had clearly dismissed the class. Hurriedly, Ginny scrambled to shove all her books into her bag, snag her quill and the letter to Harry from her desk, and make it out the classroom door into the corridor.

Transfiguration was her last class of the day, so she headed away from the rolling tide of people in the main corridors and along a side hallway that she knew would lead her right to Gryffindor Tower. Suddenly she stopped, remembering the letter for Harry she was clutching in her fist. Spinning on her heel, she set off the other way for the Owlery.

Ginny tied her letter carefully to Pigwidgeon's leg, crossed to the window, and threw him out unceremoniously. The little owl plummeted downwards before finally managing to get his wits about him and flying off.

Ginny rolled her eyes. "That is the dumbest bird I've ever had the misfortune of owning."

She strode from the room, heading for Gryffindor Tower. It seemed no time at all before she had reached the seventh-floor corridor, given the Fat Lady the password and clambered through the portrait hole into the common room, which was empty except for a few fourth years grouped up in a corner. Heaving a sigh, Ginny plopped down in her favorite armchair beside the fire and pulled out her copy of One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi, planning to get to work on her Herbology essay.

"Ginny!"

She glanced up quickly to see Hermione hurrying toward her. "Hey, Hermione. What's going on?"

"Nothing, really." Hermione looked over Ginny's shoulder at her essay title. "'Venomous Tentacula and Their Uses'. Yeah, because a plant that can strangle you is really useful."

Ginny snorted. "My thoughts exactly."

Hermione sat down beside her, opening her own bag. "Is it really almost Christmas?"

"I know, I can't believe it either," Ginny said, scribbling out a misspelled word in her essay. "Just one more week, and we'll see them again. I really have missed Harry."

"Haven't you been writing letters?" asked Hermione, frowning.

"Of course I have, but… you know… it's just not the same as getting to talk to them."

"I know what you mean," said Hermione seriously.

Both of them sat in silence for a while, working on their homework and trying to ignore the noise from the rest of the students now crowded around the room.

"Bloody first years can't keep quiet in here, can they?" growled Ginny, glaring at a nearby group of eleven-year-olds. "They make it so hard to focus!"

"I know," Hermione said sympathetically, "but you just have to—OI!"

One of the first years, a cocky-looking boy with blond hair had just nailed the back of Hermione's head with a well-aimed Dungbomb. Before Ginny could do anything, Hermione leapt up, clearly seething with rage, and glowered down at the boy with an expression that terrified even Ginny.

Suddenly, the boy darted between Hermione's armchair and Ginny's, heading for the portrait hole. With a roar of anger, Hermione leapt after him, flying through the portrait hole into the corridor beyond.

Ginny laughed to herself, crossing out the fourth spoiled sentence in her essay. Sometimes, she thought, getting a bad grade on something could be worth it.

••••••••

Ginny went down to breakfast in the Great Hall the next day and sat in her usual seat beside Hermione. As she dug into an enormous plate of toast, the post owls arrived through the upper windows.

Pigwidgeon landed in front of her, nearly upsetting a pitcher of pumpkin juice over Demelza Robins in his eagerness to deliver his letter. Ginny fished him out of what was left of Dennis Creevey's breakfast and read the name on the letter attached to his leg. "It's from Harry!"

"Read it, then!" said Demelza and Hermione together, both of them leaning forward eagerly. Ginny unrolled the letter and began to read.

••••••••

Dear Ginny,

I miss you, too. Everything's crazy with work, and I hardly have any peace. You'd be amazed at the number of Death Eaters still running around! On the upside, though, Ron and I are right next to each other in the office, so there are still plenty of opportunities to hex him. (Insert evil expression here.) We're actually just leaving Hogsmeade (we spent the day here doing something for Kingsley) so I figured you'd enjoy the quick reply.

In family news, I bet you can't guess who's pregnant… and George eloped with none other than Angelina Johnson. Your mum was practically having kittens when she heard. (Seriously, it was all I could do to Disapparate straight away before she blew the kitchen doors off.) I guess she was really looking forward to having another wedding to plan, hm? Oh, well. Maybe George was staying true to Fred's promise.

Bill and Fleur send all their love and a desperate plea for name ideas. (Fucksake, I just gave it away! Oh, well.) Charlie and Percy both say hello, George and Ron are both begging for toilet seats, and your mum and dad are sending a load of food within the next week.

Love, Harry

••••••••

"Fleur's pregnant, and George eloped? Merlin, your mum's going to be an emotional wreck," said Hermione when Ginny had finished.

"Oh, I know," said Ginny with a grin, standing up and hoisting her bag onto her shoulder. "It'll be an interesting Christmas."

••••••••

A/N: I know I haven't put in an author's note in a while. Okay. Doing it now. :)

I'd like to thank everyone who has reviewed and put this story on alert. Seeing about thirty emails from Fanfiction every time I open my inbox is a great feeling and motivates me to keep giving you guys more. Please keep reviewing!

The next chapter will possibly take two days, although I'm counting on it to be at least three. It's going to be a big chapter (bet you can't guess…) full of Christmassy fluff, so be happy!

Thanks again, EPC