Interlude


Dear Miss Black,

I send you this letter to extend my gratitude for taking care of me in a time that I was unable to do so myself. I am unsure if this opens up another debt between you and me, or if it is merely something that is to naturally transpire in a situation like the one referred to. I apologize in advance for my phrasing. I have been unsure of the right way to formulate this letter, and chose to be on the safe side, as to not seem overly familiar. I am, of course, hoping for a response, however, please do not feel compelled.

Sincerely, H.


Dear Miss Potter,

I can assure you, there is no debt between us. I welcome your gratitude, however it would not have been necessary. To take care of somebody when they are unable to is something everyone should do when it is in their powers. You will have noticed already that I have answered you in an equally as formal manner as you have written. That is caused by the unwritten law of showing one's opposite the same amount of respect they have bestowed onto yourself.

I am unsure as to why you would – by your own admission – not know how to address me, but I am assuming that even though you are – like me – the Daughter of a prominent pureblood House, you have not had the same rigorous lessons on etiquette that I have had to endure. If that is a good or a bad thing, I do not know.

I hope it isn't too presumptuous to extend the offer to teach you some of the finer points, as my mother has taught me. Should that be something to catch your interest, I would implore you to communicate that to me via your response.

Sincerely, A.

P.S.: If you were to break form under the guise being ignorant and address me familiarly, you would be most welcome. I find writing in this manner very exhau-, excuse me, stimulating to the brain.


Dear Andromeda,

I have to admit, I'm glad I know where I stand. How long has it taken you to formulate your letter? I bet not more than a few minutes. I took several tries and more than an hour, before you can ask. I accept your offer. It had become obvious to me – my Dad pointed it out to me, not in an exactly friendly way – that my understanding of politics and etiquette and the like is severely lacking.

And that last sentence sounded a little formal again.

Well... It feels weird, writing like this to someone I have only just once met, and not talked to for more than maybe two or three minutes. I'm sure I have seen you at Hogwarts before, but that doesn't count.

I have no idea what else to write...

I have to take my O.W.L.s at the end of the summer holidays. Dad got the Ministry to give me permission to perform magic so I can practice the practical portion, but that is more official nonsense than anything else. The wards around Potter Manor prevent any ministerial tracking anyways.

Do the wards at Black Manor do the same? Please, though, don't try it on my behalf. I don't want you to get expelled because the Ministry can track you after all.

Love (? – I didn't know what else to write...) Hermione


Dear Hermione,

Thank you for breaking protocol. True, it doesn't take me all that long to formulate what I want to say in what – in my mother's opinion – is cultivated speech. Still, it stops the flow of my natural thoughts, and that isn't helpful in the least. I sent with this letter a book you might find interesting, Basic Wizarding Etiquette – a guide to teaching the next generation. It's actually pretty old already, but Wizarding customs haven't really changed at all in the past two hundred years or so. I have taken it out of the Black Library, and while I am allowed to do that, I don't think I'm supposed to give these books to anybody else, so please take good care of it.

Personally, I have never tested the Trace, but Bella has, and I don't think the Ministry knows. Otherwise, you would have a lot less problems at school, I'm sure. Yes, I have seen you at Hogwarts before, and you have seem me as well, I am sure of it, but I don't judge you for not remembering. I know that you and my sister have never seen eye to eye, nor will you probably ever. I guess I am glad that you can see beyond my looks.

On another note – and I can't believe I didn't ask this sooner – how are you? Please don't push too hard in preparing for your exams, your health is the first priority. Also, I know you don't have an older sister like I do, so how did you know the Ministry couldn't track you at Potter Manor? Don't tell me the prim and proper Prefect Hermione Potter performed magic when not at school?

'Love' is perfectly fine.

Love, Andromeda


Dear Andromeda,

I do believe I will have to disappoint you. I did perform magic at Potter Manor, more than once. Admittedly, I was still kind of out of it because of the whole being unconscious for seven weeks thing, but well...

And 'prim and proper'? Have you not said you saw me at Hogwarts? Have you not seen my clothes? I hardly think they fall into that category.

On the 'how are you' topic, I'm glad to tell you I had my final check-up the day before yesterday. Madam Pomfrey and Healer Winters both cleared me. Do you know Healer Winters? She's apprenticing to become the next Administrator of St. Mungo's. I have been wondering about that for a while now, but I'm still at a loss as to why she would treat me.

Do you have any ideas/theories? I would love to hear them.

I got the date when I will be taking my O.W.L.s. I will be returning to Hogwarts one week early, as they either don't have the faculties needed at the Ministry, or don't want to provide them.

Don't worry, I'm not pushing myself too hard. A part of me wants to just freak out and study all day, like everybody does at Hogwarts, but then again, I've been through that, haven't I? Okay, maybe not really, but I don't know... I doubt it is productive to freak myself out over this...

What have you been doing the last week? I have been faithfully reading the book you sent me, and taking lots of notes. I'm sending it back with this letter, and I can't thank you enough! I have had lessons on these kind of things, yes, but it's been a long time, and it's been more of a basic overview than anything else, I have realized.

I suppose my parents wanted me to carry on in independent study or something similar, but I never did. Well, I do now, so I don't know if that still counts.

I will never judge you because you look like your sister, or paint you with the same brush. I'm sure I haven't repressed the memories of seeing you at Hogwarts, they probably just weren't notable enough to stand out.

Love, Hermione


Dear Hermione,

I'm glad you're not freaking yourself out. And yes, I have seen your clothes. I wasn't talking about that when I said 'prim and proper' though, and I know you know that. I don't think you have ever broken a singe rule in your life.

And yes, I have heard of Healer Winters. She was in the Prophet a few months ago, when she took up her Apprenticeship. Why she would treat you, however, I have no idea. Maybe you are of some kind of personal interest to her? Maybe she knows your parents or something...

I haven't been doing much, lately. Life at Black Manor is, all in all, very boring. I sit in the gardens a lot, enjoying the nature and reading. Oh, and lessons continue, of course.

My two cousins will be coming over for five days in a week or so, their parents go on holiday. I don't know if I should be jealous that they are going to Black Island or happy that I get to see the two little boys. Sirius is seven and Regulus is six years old, and when they are here, it's always fun. They bring the house to life.

Thank you for giving back the book, and I'm glad it was of use for you. I'm sending another one, same 'rules' as before.

Love, Andromeda


Dear Andromeda,

Have you not read the book that you sent me? In your own words, I have 'never broken a single rule in my life'? Just by wearing what I do I am breaking more rules on proper attire than I even knew existed!

That's not going to stop me from doing what I want, though. I might tone it down a bit when necessary, but certainly not more. I have the right to express myself, you know.

I have been sewing new clothes, by the way. I know I probably shouldn't spend my time on such irrelevant things when I have O.W.L.s to study for, but what can I say? It helps me relax. And it's not like I have anything else to do with my time.

What are your cousins like? They have to be very vivacious to bring Black Manor to life. No offence, but if the whole building is as dark as the interior of the study, I can't imagine living there without becoming slightly depressive.

But you don't spend your time inside, do you?

I don't actually know where Black manor is located – and I in no way expect you to tell me –, but I'm jealous. Here I can only go outside for one or two hours after lunch on average, otherwise it would just be too cold.

I'm not yet through with the book, so I will give it back to you with the next letter.

Do you know my parents think you're my boyfriend? Well, now you do I guess. Swoosh is getting a great workout, though. Don't feel bad about it, he kind of needs it with all the owl treats my brother is constantly feeding him.

Love, Hermione


Dear Hermione,

Of course I have read that book. I don't think there is a single one on this or a similar out there that I haven't. Courtesy of being raised by Druella Black neé Rosier.

You sew your clothes yourself? In hindsight, it's sort of logical, as I don't think there is a shop that would sell garments as revealing as yours, but still. I'm impressed!

My cousins are very lively indeed, Sirius a lot more so than Regulus. Sirius is quite unlike what his name implies, he's always up to something, and more often that not, he manages to pull his little brother into whatever scheme he's come up with. Regulus actually likes Cissy the most, I think it's because she's the closet to him in age, so I only have to endure Sirius' antics for most of the time.

It can be exhausting, sure, but I love them nonetheless, and as I said, they make the house come to life. It does get kind of depressing sometimes, the study is a perfect representation of the rest of the Manor.

And what's that with you can only go outside for a few select hours everyday? Have you ever heard of warming charms? They are supposed to be taught at this school I believe you go to. Hogwarts? Ring any bells?

And your owl is called 'Swoosh'? That makes me almost glad that Bella chose to name ours Amberly, as stupid as I think it sounds. But well, that was the best my then eleven-year-old sister could come up with for an own with amber coloured eyes. Creative, I know.

Love, Andromeda

P.S.: I guess being your boyfriend isn't the worst your parents could think of me.


Dear Andromeda,

How dare you insult Swoosh? I have you know that he was aptly named as he always makes a swooshing sound when he alights.

Do you even know how stupid I feel right now? I not only got official permission to perform magic to study for the practical part of my O.W.L.s, but I also make active use of that every day. And still, have not thought of casting a warming charm on myself when I wanted to sit outside. It's not like I haven't been doing that at Hogwarts as well in winter.

By the way, I do think you can buy clothing as revealing as mine. I would recommend starting your search in Knockturn Alley, and possibly move on to certain muggle establishments. I do, however, doubt their style and quality is going to rival mine.

I'm currently contemplating if it would be a good thing or a bad thing if your cousin Sirius and my brother James met. They probably will anyways, once they get to Hogwarts, but you wouldn't believe the mischief my little brother is regularly getting into already. He's only seven!

Thank you for the book, I finally got through it. You're getting it back now, and no rule was broken.

Love, Hermione

P.S. I guess you're absolutely right.


Dear Hermione,

How dare you insinuate I have insulted your owl? I would never! I'm going to have to pay attention to the 'swoosh' when I get your answer, I haven't noticed before.

I do believe your brother and my cousin meeting can wait until they get to Hogwarts, if for no other reason that until then, I will have graduated and I hopefully don't have to deal with the mayhem they cause anymore. Believe me, two troublemakers is more than enough.

I am sending you one last book, after that I won't have you be distracted from your studies by me anymore. This one is probably the least useful in practical application, but I do think that knowing the history behind all our traditions is equally as important as knowing the etiquette itself. I don't think I will be able to write much after this letter, as once Sirius and Regulus have gone back home, my holidays will unofficially be over and I will have additional training to my lessons until I go back to Hogwarts.

Love Andromeda


Dear Andromeda,

Thank you for the book. I don't care what you said about its usefulness, I'm incredibly glad I have this now. You have no idea how stupid most of this etiquette stuff seems to me, so to get the opportunity to understand where it all came from is invaluable to me.

I hope that it will make acting as is expected of me easier, as right now, it feels like I have to turn into someone I am just not, merely to fit some set of standards. Do you know where I'm coming from?

I guess I won't be organizing a play date between Sirius and James, then. I don't think I would have managed anyway. I probably should concentrate on my studies more, shouldn't I? So I will probably also write less.

What is that training you get? And the lessons? More etiquette? Do you ever get a real break from it all where you can just do nothing for a few weeks, or even just days? I hope you can at least find the time to have a bit of fun in between everything else.

Just like you told me, please don't overwork yourself!

Love, Hermione


Dear Hermione,

I wish you the best of luck for your O.W.L.s! I know it's still more than a week, but I don't think I will be able to write to you again before that. Training is taking up more of my time than I had expected.

Also, thank you for the book. I got it and your Thank-You-Note the day before yesterday.

Love, Andromeda


Dear Andromeda,

Thank you for wishing me luck! You have no idea how nervous I am right now. I arrived at Hogwarts today via Floo, and tomorrow, I have to sit my first exams. Charms and Transfiguration. I am so nervous, you have no idea.

And I don't know if it makes it better or worse that there is no one but me, some of the teachers and the examiners.

Have you ever stayed behind at Hogwarts during the holidays?

If you have, it's similar, but still so different. It's creepy without any holiday decorations and the like to liven the castle up. I'm torn between wanting to revise as much as I can and just trying to relax.

If I don't look at my notes anymore and then I don't know something, I know I will hate myself for not reading through everything again. On the other hand, what I don't know now I won't learn in the few hours I have left, or at least that's what everyone always said to me.

I never really believed that, though. So... I don't know.

Love, Hermione


Dear Hermione,

I know you probably won't be getting this letter before I arrive at Hogwarts myself, but I wanted to tell you that, for appearance's sake, we won't be able to just talk to each other in person like we do now in our letters.

I like you, or at least the person I got to know over the last few weeks through this exchange of letters, but you know as well as I do that there has always been tension between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Add to that who my family is, who your family is and how because of the Debt there is even more tension than usual, and I think you get the overall picture.

I'm sorry about this, and I would love to add you to the – admittedly short – list of my friends, but it probably just wasn't meant to be.

Love, Andromeda


Remember that these are letters, and in a letter you can censor yourself a lot more than in a face-to-face conversation, and therefore it is easier to project e.g. a confidence that you don't really feel.

Because I have gotten a complaint about that, and I can see how others would think the same: Bella will start showing up soon. Very soon, in fact. I needed these chapters to build a background, however, and for that I will not apologize.

I am going on vacation for the next three weeks, and I won't have any Internet there, I know that for a fact. I will try and get some writing done, but no guarantees.

And I haven't said it before, but THANK YOU to everyone who takes time out of their day to read this little story of mine. Thank you to all the reviewers, the follows and favourites, and also the silent readers.

Reviews are very welcome, though I probably won't be able to respond until the second week of September when I get back.