Dear Jessie,
We all went on another group trip to Hogsmeade yesterday, and it was great. When we were standing outside one of the shops, I just happened to find a pouch with several galleons in it. But I know that Harry must have dropped it there for me on purpose.
With the money, I was able to buy new robes, so I can finally have clothes that fit me, and more than one pair, at that. Unfortunately, there's no wand shops around here, so I'll just have to talk to the headmaster about that. I mean, I understand why they were wary of giving me a wand in the beginning, but I think that I've proved my reliability at this point, and besides, I really want my own wand.
But maybe not having a wand of my own isn't always a bad thing. We were out on the bluffs, just doing silly little things, and Neville must have noticed how left out I felt, because he started to hand over his wand, along with an offer to let me borrow it. Apparently you can still use wands, even if they don't actually belong to you, it just won't feel right, and it won't work quite as well.
But Hermione beat Neville to the punch, and she offered to let me use hers, for just a few minutes. Then Luna told Harry to show off, by doing this thing called the patronus charm. I don't totally understand, but I know that it makes a different little animal for everyone, and I think it's supposed to ward off evil, or something. Harry was hesitant, so Luna did hers, which is an adorable little rabbit, by the way.
Harry relented after that, and he did his, which was a cool stag. Hermione's was an otter. I'm not sure if there's supposed to symbolism behind these or not, but I know that Neville got an awkward look during all of this, and he mumbled something that no one could quite make out. Hermione whispered to me that Neville doesn't have a corporeal patronus.
Then she suggested that I try. We've learned a little about them in class, but not enough for me to be able to do much. Harry told me that I had to focus on a happy memory, but I couldn't really think of anything specific. Finally, I decided to concentrate on my eleventh birthday party. I doubt you even remember it at this point, but it was one of the greatest days of my entire life. But even fueled by that happy memory, I found myself unable to do the charm.
Hermione told me that it's okay, and it took the rest of them, other than Harry, a very long time to master the complicated spell. That did make me feel a little bit better. But I wouldn't find it unbelievable to think that I'm just incapable of making a patronus. It would be something else to add to the list of reasons why I'm defective.
Anyways, once it started getting dark out, we headed back to the castle, and we all went our separate ways. Well, I headed back to the dungeons, but the others were all pretty much going in the same direction as each other.
I think that maybe I'm going to look into that prophecy thing after all. Harry's been such a great friend, I would feel just terrible if something bad happened to him when I could have done something to stop it. I'll try talking to the professor tomorrow.
Yours always,
Sophie