Disclaimer

The Harry Potter universe and all the characters in it belong to J. K. Rowling. I get nothing out of this except enjoyment.

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Part 5, Moving On – Letter 18

31 October

Dear Ginny,

Where does the time go? We have been so caught up in everything we're doing it's hard to believe it's Halloween already. Did anything special happen at Hogwarts this year? It seems like so many major events have occurred in my life on this day that I'm always on edge wondering what's going to happen this time.

I'm sorry to hear that things didn't work out between you and Seamus. (Ron told us – he heard about it from your mum.) It occurs to me that now Neville is the only Gryffindor guy in my year that you haven't dated yet. Is he going to be next? Actually, I was kidding just then but in fact, Neville continues to impress me more every year. He's one of the nicest and most loyal guys I've ever met, and I think he's turning into a pretty good wizard. I've heard that he and you are doing a great job leading the DA. I think that was a good idea, by the way, starting it up again. After everything we've learned the past several months, I now realize that Hogwarts students really need improvement in their defense skills.

We have been doing very heavy training with Moody and with Dumbledore's brother, Aberforth. Did you know he was the barman at the Hog's Head? We only saw him that one time when we had the organizational meeting of the DA, and I didn't make the connection then. I only realized it when he introduced himself when he started training us. Believe it or not, he's even barmier than Professor Dumbledore was.

Here's something that I'm sure won't surprise you a bit. Hermione's making us study the material we would have covered during seventh year so we can take our NEWT's. Ron and I are doing Charms, Transfiguration, and of course Defense Against the Dark Arts. I'm also going to try for a NEWT in Potions. Ron's not sure about that one. Hermione's also trying to finish up in Arithmency and Ancient Runes. She's even got me studying Arithmency with her. I think I'm almost up to OWL level, but I doubt if I'll be ready for a NEWT in that subject. Ron and I are getting her back by making her come out flying with us every day.

I should also mention that Ron's finally gotten used to the idea that Hermione and I are together. Yeah, we're together now. We aren't making a big deal about it but – it's hard to explain but we just sort of came together. It was like we gradually grew closer to each other and eventually we just knew. Kind of that we realized that everything we've been through for six years has been inevitably leading to this and it was always meant to be. We understand each other so well it's scary sometimes, the way we each know what the other's thinking. Ron gives us a hard time about being able to communicate without talking. Oh yeah, by the way, today is the sixth anniversary of the day Ron and I became friends with Hermione so we had a little celebration.

-- later --

Okay, remember what I said about things happening to me on Halloween? Well, add another one. While I was in the middle of writing this letter we got called out on another mission. This one was especially significant because it finishes our preliminary project. Remember that snake that bit your dad? Well, it's dead now.

Now that all that's done with, we can finally start making preparations for going after Voldemort. I'm afraid that now things are really going to get serious. I'm not sure if I'll be able to tell you anything more until it's over. Like Moody keeps telling us, secrecy is absolutely essential. (Constant Vigilance!)

I don't think there's anything more to say now. I just hope this ends soon.

Harry

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A/N Not much more to go now. Only a few more letters.

Have you guys been keeping count? Did you realize that this was the last horcrux?

I was surprised by the lack of comments on the final breakup in the last letter, but I think ff dot net might have had some access problems the last few days. I know I haven't been getting my e-mail notifications.

I'm going to be out of town for a few days, so the next batch of postings might be delayed slightly.