The Last of the Potters
Chapter Two – Letters
Ginny sat at her desk formulating a reply to Harry's shocking but welcomed letter in her mind. As always when she was thinking about this new and exciting friendship between her and Harry (which was more often than she would like to admit) she had to remind herself that it was real. Since she had first seen him at King's Cross Station when she was ten she had loved him. As she grew into a lovely young lady of fifteen, so her love for Harry had grown and matured. She wasn't silly enough to think that she had actually loved Harry for five years, but what she did know was that sometime unknown to her what had started out as a silly schoolgirl crush had blossomed into something much truer and deeper, at least on her part. As of yet, she was unsure how Harry felt about her.
Closing her eyes and leaning back in her chair Ginny went through in her mind the last term at school. Sometime over the Easter break Ron and Hermione had finally realized they were supposed to be together. They started spending inconceivable amounts of time alone, which left Harry in their usual corner in the common room alone. It had taken a couple of weeks but Ginny had finally worked up the courage to go over and sit with him. At first that had been all it was, just companionship during the evenings when they would both otherwise be alone. But somehow it had gradually increased, Ginny started sitting with Harry at meals, walking with him to the Quidditch pitch for practice, sitting by the lake with him discussing his various nightmares. Harry had opened up to Ginny and told her all about Sirius and Peter. Even though she had felt horrible for Harry she couldn't contain the thrill of pleasure that ran through her knowing that he considered her trustworthy enough to know about Snuffles' true identity.
Ron and Hermione were so wrapped up in each other that they didn't seem to notice Harry and Ginny's growing friendship. Not that that's a bad thing, Ginny thought to herself. Ron was so overprotective he'd probably stop speaking to Harry if he thought anything was going on. And that would just ruin the chances of something going on eventually. Oh how she wished something would go on eventually. Finally Ginny shook herself out of her musings and began to write.
Dear Harry,
I'm glad you like the watch. I noticed last term that you kept looking at your watch before remembering it was broken. So when I saw that one in the window I thought AHA that's perfect for Harry. So, yeah, I'm really glad you like it.
I read the letter from your aunt and I'm going to be perfectly blunt with you so don't hate me ok? You need to write her. Now if I know you like I think I know you I'm willing to bet that you have moved from the confused stage to being angry that she just left you with the Dursleys, but Harry, if you never write her you'll never know if it was really a good reason. Also, Sirius loves you Harry (not a concept you are familiar with I'm sure) and if he didn't think that this person deserved a chance to be involved with your life, if he didn't think that the reason she hasn't been around wasn't a good one, then he would have never forwarded her letter to you. The last thing he wants to do is cause you pain. So write to her, and be open minded, and don't worry, until you want it to be this will be just between us.
Ok so now for the happy stuff, Mum is talking to Professor Dumbledore right now! I think he's going to let you come, they were talking about how we would get you to the train safely and stuff when I went through the kitchen, and the shut up as soon as they saw Hedwig on my shoulder. Could they have been any more obvious? So write me back, tell me what they said (because I now you'll find out before me) and tell me what you said to your aunt. See ya soon Harry, and I know the muggles aren't getting you down, how could they, you have my wonderful letters for company.
Love, Your Friend
Ginny
Ginny read the letter over again, smiled to herself and attached it to Hedwig's leg. She stroked Hedwig's feather's softly and whispered, "bring me back an answer soon." Hedwig hooted softly and flew out the window towards her master's bedroom.
Harry sat at his desk with crumpled pieces of parchment littering his desk, he must have started at least fifteen replies to his Aunt Bri but none of them seemed good enough. He smiled again as he thought of Ginny's letter. He could just picture her sitting at her desk biting her tongue as she wrote it. In fact, he seemed to be doing a lot of thinking about Ginny. Stop it Potter, that's your best friend's sister you're thinking about. *Yeah but your best friend is also dating your other best friend so what's wrong with thinking about his sister* Harry shook his head, whoa where did that come from? He didn't want to date Ginny. Did he? Ok Potter focus on the task at hand. Sighing a little Harry picked up his quill and began to write again.
Dear Aunt Bri,
It is so weird to start a letter with those words. Obviously, as you know, I never knew I had any relatives beyond the Dursleys, and I think even that scum Pettigrew would be reluctant to claim them as family. I'm not going to waste your time or mine by complaining about how bad my life has been with the Dursleys because if you knew them, even in passing, then you have at least a glimpse of how bad it has been. What I really want to know is, where have you been? What has kept you out of my life for the last 15, maybe even 16 since I don't know if you were around before my parents died, years?
I don't want to sound mean, and I'm trying to listen to advice from a very good friend, but I can't help resenting the fact that you have left me here to live in this environment of hate for fifteen years. However, a very good friend told me that I should give you a chance, and that if Sirius though I should listen to you that I should trust his judgment. I don't know, maybe she is right, she's usually right about stuff like this. So I'm giving you a chance, but I'm also being completely honest, I think if we are going to work this out to where I don't feel angry at you that we are both going to have to be completely honest. So now is your chance, I'll be staying with some friends for the rest of the summer, Sirius knows which ones, he'll forward any letter you want to me.
Your Nephew,
Harry