A/N: This chapter references the events depicted in Chapter 2 of The Lion, The Snake and The Stone, specifically falling chronologically between Evan's and Harry's sections, and is precipitated by Evan's meddling.

July 1991
The Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship, Part 1

Friday, 26th of July 1991

To Ginevra Weasley,

Hello. I hope I am not crossing any boundaries by penning this letter to you; I only wished to express my enjoyment at meeting you at Evan's birthday party, and, if you are amenable, I am not against furthering our acquaintance.

Evan has informed me that you have an interest in Quidditch? Would this be a suitable conversation topic?

Respectfully,
Alya Cassiopeia Black

26.7.1991

To Alya,

Hi. Of course you're not crossing any boundaries by writing to me. I'd quite enjoyed meeting you, too, even if we didn't talk all that much that day, so if you want to be friends, I'd like that, too. Only, I hope it won't bother your mum and dad, since I'm a Weasley, and you're a Black. I know my mum and dad weren't all that happy when I'd mentioned you before. But I don't really care, if you don't.

You like Quidditch, too? Which is your favourite team? My favourite are the Holyhead Harpies, they're bloody awesome. My brother Ron likes the Chudley Cannons, I have no idea why, but his room is all orange and he has their poster hung up and everything. They're just horrible, in my opinion. Do you play? Mum and Dad won't let me fly a broom yet, so when my brothers play pick-up Quidditch, I have to stay on the ground and keep score. It's horrible. I don't know if you know, but I have six older brothers.

Errol is really old, so if you could just let him rest a little before sending him back, I'd be real grateful.

Hope to hear from you soon,
Ginny Molly Weasley

P.S. Please, don't ever call me 'Ginevra'. I hate that name.

Saturday, 27th of July 1991

Dear Ginny,

I hadn't hoped to hear from you so soon, so your letter was a pleasant surprise. Your poor owl looks as old as Snapes' Radagast, and I took very good care of him while he was here. I hope you do not mind if I had him stay over for the day while I penned this letter to you.

My favourite Quidditch team are the Wimbourne Wasps, though my father prefers the Falmouth Falcons. My mother always says that it is because they are as adroit as Blacks, though I am not quite certain that this is a proper analogy. The Falcons often receive penalties, and I do not believe them to understand that playing the rules is far more effective than playing against them.

I have had flying lessons since I was four years old, as my father was the Slytherin Seeker during his Hogwarts years, and his wish is for me to also take a position on the team. Is this also your interest? In that case, we might be meeting on the opposite sides of the playing field (should we not end up in the same House, of course, though I would like to be on a team with you, as well). I should warn you that I, as a Black, have been taught never to sacrifice my goals, even to friends.

The Holyhead Harpies are a well-skilled team, in my opinion, and I admire them for being the only all-woman team in the League. The Chudley Cannons, on the other hand, I do not have a high opinion on, as they have consistently failed to achieve any significant results. I believe this to be due to bad management and attachment to weak players.

My cousin Draco prefers the Tutshill Tornadoes, and they appear to be making head this year as they did last; do you believe it possible that they could win the Cup again? I do not have any siblings, and the only close cousins my age are Draco and Harry, though Harry isn't truly my cousin; my uncle Sirius is raising him, as his father was Uncle's best friend. I have some more cousins on my mother's side of the family, but I am not close with them. Would you tell me something about your brothers? What is it like to have such a large family?

Do you have any interest in offensive spells? Mother has promised to teach me the Bat-Bogey Hex as soon as I am allowed a wand. It sounds quite entertaining.

I will await your response.

Sincerely,
Alya Black

28.7.1991

Dear Alya,

Thank you so much for taking care of Errol; Mum was worried about him flying so often, but he seems not to mind, which is a little strange for him. I suppose he likes it at your place.

I had to look up what 'adroit' meant, so Mum figured out that I was writing to you. She's not very happy, but Dad says it's nice that I have a friend all of my own, so she's letting me write back whenever I want, so long as you look after Errol as well as you did the last time. The only other girl that I know is Luna, she lives close by, but she's a little strange. I think her mum works with Evan's mum sometimes.

We at home think that whoever favours the Tornadoes is just a phony, because they are slotted for winning again this year, and probably the next. Most of the people who like them only like them because of it. I don't mind the Wasps, they are a descent team, and their buzzing to annoy their opponents is bloody brilliant, though my brother Percy thinks it's cheating. He's uptight like that, though he sure doesn't mind when it's his favourite team cheating to win a game. He likes the Pride of Portree, like my dad, because they're the first team he ever got to see play, and on their home island, too. The Falcons like to fight too much, and my brother Charlie says they're just like the Slytherin Team at Hogwarts. Charlie used to be a Seeker, and the Quidditch Captain of the Gryffindor Team for two years. He's finished school this year, though, and has applied to work with dragons. I wish he was younger, so that I could get onto the Gryffindor Quidditch Team in my second year like Fred and George did. Don't tell anyone, but I can pick the lock on our shed, so when I want to go flying, I steal one of our brooms while my mum's busy in the house. Evan's the only one who knows this, because my brothers would either tell Mum or stop me from doing it.

Do you think you'll be in Slytherin? My whole family's been in Gryffindor for generations, and I'm definitely going to there too, or else Fred and George will never leave me be. They're my twin brothers, you see, and they always tease me and pull pranks on me. They're the first people I'm using the Bat-Bogey Hex on. And if you learn it before I get to, you have to teach me, yeah? That's my favourite spell, too. Would you want to be in Slytherin? I (wouldn) think the only person I know who wants to be is Evan.

You want to know about my brothers. Well, there's six of them: Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred and George, and Ron. Bill works as a curse-breaker, and he's in Egypt right now. He's my favourite brother. Charlie is obsessed with dragons, and he's applied to go to Romania to a dragon reserve there. The internship is super expensive, but he's got very good references from his professors, so he thinks he can get a scholarship, and if he makes it, then he'll be paid really well, because it's a dangerous job. Percy is going to be a fifth-year now, and he'll be a Prefect. He's like Mum, likes all these rules and thinks he knows best and yells at us if we do something he doesn't approve of, like he's our dad or something. Fred and George are thirteen, and they're the most fun. They know all these crude words and they make these awesome knick-knacks to pull pranks on people. They work at Evan's parents' shop during the summer. They're identical, so most people can't tell them apart. Dad gets them mixed up all the time, and Mum too, though I'm not sure if she does it because they like to mess about or because she really can't tell them apart. I can, most of the time, though sometimes it's hard, especially when they start talking in tandem. Then they make my head hurt. Ron's only a year older than I am, and he's best friends with Harry Potter. Is that your not-cousin? Harry lives with Sirius Black, so I assume so. Isn't he great? Handsome and funny and smart and he flies like he was born on a broom.

I didn't know you were related to Draco Malfoy. At least, that's the only Draco I've heard of, but the name's so ridiculous I don't think anyone else has it. My dad really doesn't like his dad. He says Malfoys are conceited and bigoted. Is that true?

Are you coming to Harry's birthday party next week? Mum's making him a chocolate cake, and Fred, George, Ron and I will be there. It'd be great to speak to you in person again.

Ginny

P.S. You don't have to sound so formal, you know, even though it's a little funny.

Sunday, 28th of July 1991

Dear Ginny,

I really don't mind looking after Errol, he's a sweet old thing. And I suppose I do sound formal; as I am currently the Black heir, I have been taught to always write formally, though I guess I don't have to be so careful when I'm writing to you, so I'll try to make it sound more casual.

My mum found out that it was you I was writing to, and Dad's not very happy, because he does business with a lot of people who don't think much of your family, so it's a little impractical. I don't think he minds personally. Mum doesn't, in any case. She says that I have very few friends, and that she's glad I know a girl my own age. I know some others, of course; mum's second cousin has two daughters, Daphne and Astoria, but I've only ever seen them at Christmas parties and such, and we're not close.

Draco is a Malfoy, and his name is not ridiculous. Well, maybe a little. But it's a Black family tradition that children get names after stars and constellations, and his mum, my aunt Narcissa, was a Black. She's not technically my aunt, because she and my dad are only cousins, but that's what I've always called her. Draco's name is that of a constellation, and Aunt Narcissa chose it because her name doesn't follow tradition. Draco likes it, in any case. When he was younger, he used to be obsessed with dragons because of it, and he still has a large collection of dragon figurines in his room. But don't tell that to anyone. He likes to pretend that he's really important and mature now he's old enough to go to Hogwarts. My first name is that of the primary star in a star system of the constellation Serpens, and my second name is that of a constellation named after a queen in Greek mythology, who was the mother of Andromeda and who was forced to sacrifice her daughter to a sea monster to appease the sea god Poseidon. The daughter was saved by Perseus, who became her husband. Andromeda is also the name of my other aunt, Aunt Narcissa's older sister, who was disowned by my grandmother for marrying a Muggle-born, though my father's always liked her best of all our family. I think her daughter Nymphadora was in your brother Charlie's year, because she's just finished Hogwarts and has been accepted into Auror training. Uncle Siri is close with Aunt Dromeda, so I think you'll get to meet Dora at Harry's birthday party, which I will also attend. Does your mum do all the cooking? I've never made a cake before. Will you be helping her?

Harry is all right, though I don't believe he likes me that much. He's a lot like Uncle Siri, which annoys my dad a little, I think, but he's never been rude to me on purpose. He just doesn't think girls are that interesting. Draco isn't bad, either, but both boys are sometimes a little hurtful. I think it's just because they don't have any siblings, so they don't know to take care. Mum says that only children can be spoiled, because their parents pay them too much attention, but my dad says that bad parents are just bad parents, no matter how many children they have. I wish I had a sibling. You're so lucky to have so many brothers. I look forward to meeting Fred and George, they sound interesting. Do you ever wish you had a sister?

I won't tell anyone about your flying, and I hope you get onto the Quidditch Team. My whole family's been in Slytherin for generations, too, on both sides. Except for Dora, who was a Hufflepuff, and Uncle Siri, of course, who was a Gryffindor. Dad says that Slytherin is the best house, because you learn there how to be cunning and how to get out of tricky situations. He thinks Gryffindors don't use their heads very much, and he's always on about Uncle Siri being a Gryffindor about this and that. I like Sirius, though; he always invites me when he and Harry go to Muggle London, and I don't mind that he's so very loud. I don't care if you're a Gryffindor and I'm a Slytherin, we can still be friends. Evan always says that it's good to have friends from all niches. Would you mind? Draco's always on about how Gryffindors hate Slytherins, because there were so many dark wizards who used to be Slytherins. I think it's just silly. Of course, Draco doesn't think well of anyone who isn't a Slytherin, but that's just what his father told him to think. I'm sure he'll see that he's wrong when he gets there. Do you think your parents will mind if you aren't in Gryffindor?

Maybe we can learn the Bat-Bogey Hex together? I'm sure Mother wouldn't mind showing it to you, too. If your parents don't mind, of course. Mum is really good in offensive spells. She and Dad sometimes duel just because they think it fun, and they promised me that I can participate when I finish my first year.

Have you bought Harry a present yet? I'm to go with Mum to Diagon Alley to pick it out the day after tomorrow, though I wanted to get him something Muggle. He's been talking about something called a walkie-talkie, so I thought perhaps that.

How did you get your name? I don't think I know anyone named Ginevra. I like it, though.

Sincerely,
Alya

29.7.1991

Dear Alya,

I didn't know about the names in your family. That is so interesting. Although, Nymphadora? That's a strange name. Is your aunt Andromeda still disowned? Dad told me that your grandmother died six years ago, and that your father is now the head of your family, even though Sirius is older, because Sirius was also disowned. Your family likes to disown people, don't they? I don't think we've ever disowned anyone, either the Weasley or the Prewett side, though we do have a Squib second cousin who's an accountant, and we don't really talk about him. I've never even met him.

I like your name, too. Cassiopeia sounds very queenly, and Alya suits your looks. I don't think I look like a Ginevra, do you? Ginny, though, that's much better. At least I'm not Virginia; then Mum would have expected me to be all girly and virginal (my brother Percy likes using that word a lot). Mum said that she named me Ginevra for King Arthur's wife Guinevere. I wish she'd named me Viviane, if she really wanted a name connected to him, since Morgan would have been on-the-nose. And most of us get our second names after family members. My mum's name is Molly, and so is my middle name. Bill's middle name is Arthur, after Dad. Percy's middle name is Ignatius, that's Mum's uncle. Also, Percy was supposed to be called Percival, and that's one of King Arthur's knights, but Aunt Muriel said it sounded 'pretentious' (yet Ginevra was acceptable. I am rolling my eyes very hard right now). Fred and George got their names because Mum had twin younger brothers, Fabian and Gideon, who died in the War, and so she chose the initials for them. I think she would have named them after my uncles, except she always says that they were very full of themselves, so I think she didn't want to inflate their heads by having their twin nephews carrying their names. They died near the end of the war, and don't tell anyone, but I think Mum wishes that she had named the twins Fabian and Gideon. And Ronald, his middle name is Bilius, after Dad's brother, who's a little loopy, but the twins like him a lot.

Do you have any other strange names in your family? I had Dad find me a book on Greek myths, just to read about Cassiopeia and Andromeda, and it's a very interesting story, though I think I would have tried to save myself, instead of waiting for Perseus to ride in on flying shoes. I liked the pictures of him on a Pegasus much more, like a proper prince in shining armour. Also, no offence, but Cassiopeia doesn't seem like a very good queen, when she went and angered Poseidon, so that she had to sacrifice her daughter to save the kingdom.

I think Mum expects me to be in Gryffindor. Ron and I asked her yesterday if she would be angry if we weren't, and she said she wouldn't, but I think she would still prefer us as Gryffindors. She really dislikes Slytherins, too, though she's always nice to Evan's dad when they come over. Dad just dislikes Pure-blood bigots who promote Muggle hatred. Why would you hate Muggles? I mean, they don't have magic, but it's not like they even know about us. I feel sad for them, mostly, because they don't get to go to Hogwarts and have wands and learn all the cool spells.

You're nice, so I think I would still want to be friends with you, even if you are a Slytherin. Evan says that his mum told him that it doesn't even really matter that much. I think Luna will be a Ravenclaw. I don't know if you'd like her, she tends to stop listening to what you're saying if you're boring her, and she believes all this weird stuff I've never even heard of. Her dad owns the Quibbler, and her mum invents all these charms that aren't even all that useful.

We all got Harry one present together, a Quidditch cloak for the cold weather. Actually, Mum bought the material and then made it, because the really good ones are very expensive. Did you get him that Muggle thing he wanted? What is it, even? Dad doesn't know, but he said he'd ask Evan's mum. He works with her sometimes, because he's in the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office, and she often works with Muggle objects. He's going to this seminar at Cambridge University next month, about the current Muggle technology, and he's super excited about it. Did you know, our whole garage is filled with his knick-knacks, and he tries to charm them all the time? Evan's mum always ends up having to check his work, though, and she doesn't seem to mind explaining all the various Muggle things to him until he figures out how they work. My dad's obsessed with Muggles and Muggle things. Maybe that's why Mr Malfoy doesn't like him? I think he mentioned something like that once.

I don't really like helping Mum in the kitchen, but if you want, I can ask her and maybe you could come over and we can bake with her sometime? She's a wicked cook, and she doesn't mind teaching me when I want to know something. We can ask her at Harry's birthday party.

Oh, I'm so nervous about it. Ron always drags Harry away when he comes over, so I never get to talk to him, but even when I do get the chance, I never know what to say. He's just amazing, and I get so nervous that my tongue gets all twisted up in my mouth, and all I do is squeak, which is so embarrassing. I really wish I could say something smart, so that he'd notice me.

I guess I'll see you in three days, then.

Your friend,
Ginny

Tuesday, 30th of July, 1991

Dear Ginny,

Just a short letter this time, as we'll be seeing each other tomorrow, but I didn't think this was an appropriate topic at a birthday celebration.

You asked me about my family's customs. For names, if you want, I have a book on our genealogy, and our big family tapestry, of course, so I can show them to you when you come over one time and tell you all about it. Dad's not very enthusiastic about us being friends, but Mum said she'd work on him about it. I would love to learn how to bake a cake, then Kreacher and I could make one for Mum's birthday. Kreacher is one of our two house-elves, and sort of my nurse. He's a worry-wart, though much better since Grandmother died. Grandmother Walburga lived with us when I was little and she used to yell at me sometimes. Dad argued with her a lot, especially about Uncle Sirius. And she really did like to disown people. She disowned her own brother for leaving Uncle Siri his money and house after he died, too. Dad fixed it for Uncle Sirius, but he says that he can't fix it for Aunt Andromeda yet, because 'politics', and Great Uncle Alphard is dead, so I don't think he cares much. That's what Dad always says. I hope he doesn't want me to go into politics, I think I would hate it. But that's how my family works, and Dad says it's important to keep to it because, again, politics. It sort of always falls back to it, I think. Why don't you speak to your Squib cousin? I thought your family didn't care about the prejudice and bigotry and all that stuff? I'm sure he could be a great asset to your family. Dad says good accountants are hard to find. I don't think it's nice to be sad that some people don't have magic, because then it turns to pity, and no one likes to be pitied. They seem to be making do without, in any case. Your dad likes all the Muggle stuff, you wrote, so he should know, shouldn't he? They may not get to go to Hogwarts, but Evan told me Muggles went to the Moon, and I'm sure no wizard would ever be able to figure out how to do that with magic, it's just so very far, and no one even knows if magic would work in space.

I've just looked at our family tapestry – we have this enormous wall tapestry with the Black family tree on it, and Grandmother Walburga liked to burn faces off of it when she disowned people – and did you know, one of the disowned people is Cedrella Black, who apparently married into your family; father told me that she was disowned because my great-great-grandfather, Sirius Black II, declared that Septimus Weasley was a Blood Traitor. Perhaps you should ask your father about them.

Oh, and Nymphadora isn't actually a name of a celestial object, but it sort of fits in with all the other strange names we have in our family. Don't call her that, though; she hates her name. We in the family call her Dora, and everyone else but her mother calls her Tonks, which is her last name.

I'm looking forward to seeing you tomorrow,

Your friend,
Alya