**Disclaimer** I do not claim to own anything that's not mine (J.K. Rowling wrote these amazing things before I could even dream of them). I do claim my main character, Dee.

I crumpled up the letter that I received back from Da. The owl flew off with a hoot. Da's letter hadn't said much, but it was enough to anger me.

L~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~L

My Dear,

Return as speedily as you can. Hogwarts is under duress from the ministry and I fear it won't be long til I'll have to disappear. The students could use an extra guard to protect them from Umbridge when I'm gone. Make haste.

Albus Dumbledore

L~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~L

"Everything alright Deirdra?" Hagrid asked from across the small fire. The moon shined down on us and crickets chirped their lullabies. I looked up at him, frowning.

"Da says things are bad at Hogwarts. The ministry is taking it over and ready to throw him out." I informed. Hagrid frowned.

"Sounds like things are getting messy if you ask me. What did he say to do?"

"I'm supposed to hurry back so I can be there to keep an eye on things if he gets removed from post."

"Well, then, what ya still doing here? I know Gwarp is slowing us down. Go on without us, we'll be fine." Hagrid encouraged.

"I'll wait a few days. The closest I can get by apparition is my uncle's. I'll send him a letter and wait for his response." I thought out loud. Pulling out parchment and quill, I began my letter.

L~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~L

Dear Unkie Aber,

I need to pop in. I'll be in a hurry. Write back fast to tell me if it's okay.

Lots of Love,

D

L~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~L

I had to wait for one of my other message owls to return before I could send it off. Luckily by morning one awaited me with a letter tied to its leg. I gave it a treat as I untied the letter. I tied the new letter on before even opening the one received.

"Unkie Aber needs to get this letter fast, Poppy. Don't leave him alone until he's replied." I spoke to the owl. It flew off quickly. Looking down at the letter in my hands, I saw it was from Cedric.

L~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~L

Dear Deirdra,

I miss you too. I haven't been reading as much lately. I have created a nice room in our basement where I have been practicing defensive spells. I have thought a lot about what happened to me last year and I decided I had to make sure I'm prepared. The stuff being said in the papers is garbage and I'm determined to be ready for whatever Voldemort has planned next. Please keep safe on your journey. I worry for you constantly. Being able to be invisible doesn't make you invincible. Don't forget that.

My family is doing okay. My father has been scaring me some with his ranting about going down to the ministry to testify the truth of Voldemort's return… We all miss your presence here and we'd love to see you again when you get back. Tell your gamey companion that I say hi. I miss you… I lo..

Keep safe, come home.

Forever Yours,

Cedric

L~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~L

My heart ached from reading the letter. I hoped his father settled down, but I was sure Cedric could handle it. I was excited to read that he was learning better to defend himself. I wanted to reply to the letter but with all my owls out, I couldn't. So, I folded up the letter, packing it away and prepared for a long day.

B~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~B

"CRASH!"

"Oops." I said quietly as I accidentally knocked something over when I apparated in.

"Who are you? My little Deirdra is never clumsy." Unkie Aber teased with a smile. He pulled me into his arms in a tight hug. "I'm glad to see you safe and sound." Unkie Aber has been like a 2nd father to me over the years. He was also there when I was born.

"I'm sorry. I can't stay and visit." I said as I pushed out of his arms. "I'm afraid of what I'm to encounter at Hogwarts when I arrive." I added. "I really need to get up there."

"Wait. First, don't you have some letters to send out?" I looked at him confused for a moment but just then my two other owls swooped into the room. Unkie Aber laughed. "They've been waiting for you for an hour now. Your owls sure are smart to always know where to find you." I took the letter off the one and they both joined the third on the perch by the window.

L~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~L

My Dear Dee,

You sound so sad… I miss you too. Not as much mischief is going on here. Umbridge has us on lockdown. Harry, Ron & Hermione created a group to practice defensive spells and the lot. That has been a lot of fun, especially since we're getting away with it right under Umbridge's nose. I'm not sure how much longer Fred and I can put up with her though. She's bloody evil. Her being here has dried up the profits we were making from selling our products. No one wants to chance getting caught with them anymore since they created a special rule specifically banning our products. Harsh, right? It's all in the name of fun!

The Christmas holidays are coming up and I think everyone is excited to leave Hogwarts just to get away from Umbridge. Unless the ol' witch decides to lock us all in… Which wouldn't surprise me. It'd be really nice to see you over Christmas. I really miss you. Keep safe in your travels.

Love,

George

L~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~L

I smiled down at Unkie Aber as I climbed through the portrait and walked through the tunnel to Hogwarts. I didn't bother sending any letters. I would see Da and George soon. Cedric would just have to wait, he would understand.

I made my way towards Da's office. The halls were eerily empty and quiet. I supposed it was because it was getting late into the evening. I made my way quickly up the tower to Da's office and knocked on the door. When the door was opened, I slipped inside.

"I'm glad you made it back so quickly." Da said from behind his desk. His face was covered by his hands and he leaned on his desk as if tired. I turned myself visible.

"Are you feeling okay Da?" I questioned softly. He looked up at me and nodded yes, smiling, but I could see the stress wearing on his face. "Don't worry about what you can't change?" I suggested to him meekly with a small smile.

"Sound advice dear."

"Yes, a certain father of mine told that to me." I replied, smiling brightly. His smile lit up his face.

"So you do listen to me occasionally…" He said with a laugh. "It's so good to have you back here." He got up from his desk and walked toward me. We embraced for a moment. "My sweet girl…"

***Thanks everyone for your reviews. Thanks for reading. I have been writing like crazy lately. The next two chapters are gonna be a lot longer, I promise. I want to apologize for the slack in editing and catching mispelled words and other mistakes. I have been working at a faster rate on the computer since none of them are mine and just borrowing them so not as much time to edit them. If the errors bug you please point them out and I'll edit them next time I upload. Warning... Next few chapters get a little dark and gloomy, but they are amazing none the less. I'm so excited for you guys to read them. =) Please review and let me know whatcha think! Enjoy!