Chapter Fifty-Three
A Letter Home
Dear Mum and Dad,
I suppose by now Uncle Fred and Aunt Angelina will have talked you guys through what happened with Fred and Roxie this year - the whole shabang - but I thought I would write and explain it too. Partially because I don't want to keep secrets from you, and also for my own peace of mind.
So I guess it started at the beggining of this year. Roxie told us that she was approached a few days in about her exam results and her class scores. She said that Professor Fidenchi asked her how her OWLS could be so incredible but her in-class work was not up to the same standard. She admitted she down-played her intelligence so that Fred didn't feel bad, because she knows that he's never been very good and sitting down and studying. Turns out Roxie's a secret nerd - who knew?
Then Fidenchi told her she could take this extra-credit course with some other kids in her year who's classwork wasn't good enough to pass,but who the teachers knew had serious genius-potential. So she said yes.
But this was the first year the M.O.M has ever offered ths course, and the teachers knew that all the students would want to take part if they found out so all of the students were told not to tell anyone - that's why Rox never told any of us. (She told me though that she was secretly glad to have something her own, something she didn't have to share with Freddie or James - she feels dead bad about it but I told her it's okay to be selfish sometimes.)
Anyway, this extra class was very small - only a half-dozen kids, Fidenchi and sometimes McGonagal. Fidenchi and Roxie became sort-of friends. Which is super-creepy now but at the time I see why Roxie wasn't worried because, I mean, we call Professor Longbottom our Uncle so ...
Then, one day, Rox was feeling down and they got to talking and he kissed her. Roxie pulled away and Fidenchi apologised and stuff, but Rox told us that she felt he kept looking at her weird after that, like he might kiss her again.
Well, we all decided to have a secret-revealing session and that's when Rox told us, just before Molly left. We all really wanted to report it - but Roxie was dead set against it and we didn't want to upset her further. Then Freddie went psycho and we had no choice.
We are lucky that Freddie didn't get a worse punishment - detention till the end of term and helping out Madam P. in the Hospital Wing three nights each week is nothing. He could have been expelled. I guess they let him off lightly because of what Fidenchi did. Roxie told me that it has to go to trial and Fidenchi is probably going to lose his teaching license. When is the court date again? Are you guys going?
So that's what happened. In a nutshell. BUT you'll never guess what else! Turns out Roxie had a boyfriend as well, and this guy - Ethan Vale's his name. Dorky guy, Ravenclaw, very sweet. Not who you would picture Roxie with - well, he was furious when he heard. He and Freddie are currently bonding in the Gryffindor Common Room over pumpkin juice and a shared hatred of "that sleazy git". (Don't tell Uncle Fred and Aunt Angelina - I don't know if Rox has told them yet and I don't want to be a tattle-tale.)
I know you guys probably know all of this, but I always feel so much better after I write to you. I miss you a whole lot - can't wait to come back for Summer. And Vic and Teddy's wedding (How's Vic? Panicking yet?). And Molly will probably have had her baby by then too - I'm going to write her a letter too, but give her my love anyway when you see her. And say hi to my Godchild (Did she tell you she made me Godmother?!).
Caleb and I are good (Valentine's day next week! - Don't worry Mum, I won't do anything you wouldn't do). Studying is as good as studying is ever going to be. And the boys are good. I think. Albus has been a bit weird ever since he was let out of the Hospital Wing. He's been talking about missing the next Quidditch game, even though Madam P. told him he was fine to play. Rose thinks he scared, after his accident - I think you should write to him Dad.
Anyway, Enough about me. How are you guys? How's the family? Tell me all.
All my Love,
Lily. L. P.
P.S - can't believe I almost forgot! Dom has finally admitted that she and Frank Longbottom are a couple - how cute is that! Daddy, you owe me five galleons!
So, wow - six months. I WISH I had a good excuse but really, I'm just a horrible person. Just a helluva lot of writers block and laziness and exams. And then it was Summer - and I hybernated.
Anywhoos, I had a lot of trouble trying to get from the last chapter into a place where I could introduce some more interesting drama and stuff, to get really thick into the point where all of the storylines cross. So this letter is set a couple of weeks after the last chapter, and it's just a way for me to move on and get to where I need the characters to be.
I have introduced the fact that Dom and Frank are finally an item - which is important. And also the fact that Al doesn't want to play Quidditch - is he scared, can't he play anymore, what could it be?
Sorry it's so short, but the next one should be longer. And quicker. Promise.
