Dear Colin,

Extra homework? That sounds tough, but I guess it feels like more because you didn't know magic before you went there. I bet anyone with a magical family already know some of this stuff.

At least it'll help you catch up with them. It must be hard for muggleborns there, trying to catch up with people who have had years to learn everything.

That'll be great. If I get my letter, I can study your old textbooks as I'll probably need them for myself. It'll save mum and dad the cost of buying new ones for me. Because if I get into Hogwarts, they'll have to pay for everything like my wand, my robes, my uniform and all my supplies. It will cost so much money.

I really hope it's a joke. I wouldn't want you to get hurt. I doubt any sort of monster cares if you're in a group or not, so be careful! If you see anything scary, run and find a Professor and get them to deal with it.

A duelling club sounds cool. Is it duelling with wands? I read the books by Lockhart and I think he's well up himself, thinking he's so wonderful and stuff. I bet it was a shock that he couldn't take your Professor Snape out. I bet that was really funny when he went flying. At least Professor Snape knows how to duel, so hopefully if the monster is about, he's skilled enough to get rid of it.

Wow, people can talk to snakes too? How many people can do that? Can he talk to other animals too, or is it just snakes. That must be fascinating. Was there a snake there that he was talking to? If there was, what do you think he was saying to it?

Did it sound like a lot of hissing noises and stuff?

If he was evil, he wouldn't have defeated You-Know-Who, so he can't be. He wouldn't be allowed in the school if he were evil. At least his friends believe him.

So the monster has actually attacked someone? Were they badly hurt? Is there going to be more duelling? Because it would be good for you to learn and keep yourself safe. It can't be too bad of an attack if they haven't sent out letters yet, though.

Yeah, that sounds weird. Maybe she's got embarrassing secrets and she's scared that someone will read them and laugh at her?

It would be awful for them to pull you out. Hopefully it doesn't come to that.

That's horrible. I hope Harry's arm is alright! How do you have violent balls in Quidditch? I can't wait to hear more about it.

That's impressive if he still caught that ball even with a broken arm, and is he going to have magic healing him or do wizards and witches wear casts on their arms too?

Bring chocolate. When I was in the hospital before, I preferred chocolate to the fruits that people kept bringing. I'm sure he'll appreciate it.

I won't tell them, I promise, but you have to be really careful - you shouldn't really be sneaking out to visit him, but I think you'll get this letter after you've visited, so there's no point trying to talk you out of it.

It's okay that your letters are taking a while. It's nice that you're writing to me at all. I was worried that you wouldn't, when you left for school.

At least we have holidays to catch up with each other. I'll looking forward to you finishing for the Summer holidays as mum and dad were talking about us going away somewhere nice.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Dennis.