Authors Note: For those of you who don't know, this fiction is made up of two authors. I (Smashed Sunshine) write the part of Ginny and Clara Lou writes the part of Willow. We don't confer with each other on letter content to make them more realistic. This may explain why sometimes there are gaps. Thank you to all our reviewers!  

10th February

Willow,

Do you remember the first time we met? Well I'll refresh your memory just in case you think of something different to me. You and Giles came into Diagon Alley on that hazy afternoon during the school holidays. Me, Fred, George and Dad were waiting outsides Flourish & Botts for his special visitor to arrive. I remember being so nervous that I almost split pumpkin juice down the front of my robes! Fred and George were being their usual selves and Dad couldn't stop fidgeting on the spot. I wondered whether you and Giles would ever turn up so I could finally meet the powerful witch Dad had spoken so much about.  Now do you remember the shock I got when I found out you were a Muggle? Well this is where I tell you why I'm taking this lovely stroll down memory lane.

Yesterday I decided to start out on my mission for the truth. Hermione had been acting so strangely since the run in with Ferret Boy, and like the boys I was intent on discovering why! I mean, it was just Malfoy. I've seen worse encounters with the little brat and most of them she blew off without a second thought. That's probably why I can't stop thinking about it…not him that is, just the subject of Hermione's sudden secrecy. You know what I'm like though; it normally just turns out to be my imagination coming into play again. Especially when not two days ago I saw them looking at each other.

Now when I say looking at each other, I mean LOOKING. It was somewhere between the look of star crossed lovers and spite. You probably know what I mean. Think Mr Darcy in that Muggle film we watched in London. It was intense and, to me, really obvious!

Anyway, back to yesterday and my fool proof plan. I intended on cornering Hermione directly after lunch. Recently she's been disappearing up to the Common Room after eating so she can avoid Harry, Ron and mostly Ferret Boy. I decided that the best way to make her talk is for her to think I don't want to know. It seemed reasonable at the time, but now I'm not so sure it was. Maybe if I'd come up with a worse plan I wouldn't be burdened with this terrible secret! Hence this tale tattling I'm doing now.

Lunch went like clockwork and Hermione was soon up and out of her seat. This was my one and only chance. I felt like a commando on a special mission to save the planet. Obviously I'm not and it wasn't that important in the long run, though I might have exploded if I didn't find out. So I casually excused myself and followed closely behind. When she reached the bottom of the stairs I called out her name. Either she didn't hear me or she was suffering a severe bout of selective hearing, because she carried on. I called again and this time she turned round.

To my shock and horror her face was streaked with tears. You might be wondering why this shocked me so much and the reason is that I've never seen her cry. She has this amazing ability to seem optimistic about absolutely everything. So what the world is ending?! We still have five minutes to be happy! Its kind of irritating after a while, but when you see it gone altogether it's more shocking. This is when my guilt began to kick in Willow. I can't believe how hung up I was on it all, and never even thought about what Hermione might be going through. I never for one second considered that it might be affecting her. Being the silly little Weasley I am, I just assumed that she was embarrassed.

At first I just stood there and gawked like a fool. She just stared at me defiantly and wiped away the tears that were staining her already pink face. Finally I pulled myself together and asked her what was wrong. Hermione being Hermione tried to fob me off with a simple 'nothing'. You should know that that never washes with me! Mum taught me that much at least, so I persisted. Again I felt guilt when her eyes began to well. And then she broke down into floods of tears and collapsed into a sitting position on the stairs.

This is where the shock comes in. Take the shock I felt at you being a Muggle with no experience of our world and times it by ten. In fact you can times it by more! I was that shocked I almost choked on the air I was breathing! When I tell you this you're probably not going to think it's that shocking. I on the other hand can not believe it.

As Hermione started, so shall I.

Just before Christmas Hermione was working late on her Transfiguration assignment when Dumbledore walked past the classroom. Upon seeing her working alone, he went in to see if she was alright. Hermione apparently said she was fine and did her usual act when she's around teachers. Apparently it was at this point that he approached her about taking on tutoring. She was thrilled at the prospect, so immediately took it on. Much to her disappointment she found out it was Ferret Boy she was to tutor. His father had apparently been unimpressed with his results in the last tests and insisted on more work. She had already accepted so couldn't go back on her word. So Hermione began to prepare for the tutoring sessions from hell.

Days went and her first session came up. Hermione arrived on time with everything she needed. What she didn't expect was for Ferret Boy to already be there. She told me that he had already begun working and when she arrived he didn't even through an insult. In fact she found herself beginning to like him by the end of the evening. The words she used where 'charming' and 'funny'. I could see that this was beginning to get eerie and sinister when she began going moony eyed.

Looking out the window now, I can see Draco Malfoy practising on his broom. He isn't in the least bit attractive, even when he's silent! I really can't see what she risked a kiss on. Yes, I said kiss! A couple of weeks passed and she was 'drawn to his personality'. If you ask me it was more likely to be the bad boy thing like with Buffy and Spike. This was only a kiss though, so I think I can forgive her. What shocked me more though was the fact that not only was Ferret Boy was nice and polite, but HE pushed HER away! Talk about wrong impressions.

When he came to the table that day, and subsequently got a punch, all he wanted to do was talk to her about it. Ever since Hermione has been too embarrassed to confront him because of his rejection, and I don't blame her! Kissing her sworn enemy and him not even wanting to know! I would hate that to ever happen. Not that I would ever get involved with Malfoy in that way.

Anyway, that was my shocking news. Now to answer your questions. There is no way in hell I have a crush on the Malfoy rat or in fact Harry. That was a long time ago and since then my feelings have been less then luke warm. In fact I've found myself being drawn to Seamus, who is constantly smiling and chattering away. I'll update you on my progress with that one.

As for Buffy, I know you love her really. Just grin and bare it because she's only trying to do her best in a situation she can't understand. My advise is maybe leave the house for a couple of days…move in with Spike maybe. Seems to me that you and Spike seem to be getting very cosy and it would be a good move. Even across the Atlantic I can sense a crush forming. I might be wrong though…

Arella is such a darling owl Willow! I am so jealous that you got such a beautiful breed. It puts Pig to shame to tell you the truth. Instead of sending the home baking by owl, I'll get Dad to do it the Muggle way. It'll give him something to do!

The family send you their love by the way.

Keep out of trouble and don't do too much training with Spike. Unless of course it's a different kind of training all together…I'll say no more. Don't rip out Buffy's throat and enjoy the shopping. I sure wish I had the money!

Love as always,

Ginny