Chapter 26: A Letter Home
*****
March 29th
Hey Mom, it's me again. Not very surprised about that I'm sure. It's been an eventful couple weeks and I'm sorry it's taken me this long to write and let you know how things have been.
First off though, let me say Thank You for the photo album. I don't know how I hadn't made one previously, but it's perfect. I've been showing all my friends pictures, though I'm screening some of them that are best not widely distributed. Though my closest friends all know about the family secret now…
I'm sure that Murcus or Dumbledore has sent word to you long before now to tell you about the minor skirmish we were involved in a week or so back. I'm sure they also informed you that I was hurt during it- as they are always so helpful with things like that... Hopefully, they also told you that it wasn't serious and that I'm fine. I was in the Hospital Wing though for almost a week, which was way too long for me. It did lead to some interesting conversations with George, who had been… conflicted over how he felt about the news of what all I've been up to, though I'm really not sure why. He's known about Moody for about a month now, though at the time it had only been a couple weeks… But anyway, we've worked through all that now and I think things will be just fine! I'm very, VERY happy about that (big shocker there, huh?).
Due to that, he has agreed to bravely venture home with me at the end of the term to see the home town and meet you and possibly Grandmother if she agrees to be nice. If not, then I will not be responsible for any pranks pulled on her, and I might even help! I do still have some of my Christmas gift from the guys left… After our visit with you, I'm going to go stay with his family for a while as well. Bit nervous about all that, though they sound like wonderful people. But they're his family! What if they don't like me??? Still months off- must remain calm…
Also, while I was trapped in the HW, we decided to have a Girl's Night In (since I couldn't leave) and we barred the guys from the room and spent a very nice evening gossiping and having a wonderful time. It was mainly the Ladies of Gryffindor, but we included some of my friends from the other houses as well and they all camped out on the spare beds for the night. I'm surprised that Madam Pomfrey allowed it, to be quite honest, but I think she rather enjoyed it herself- I doubt she gets much fun company up there. I was also able to hear all those embarrassing stories about George from Ginny, who has the sister's perspective, and from the other Ladies who've known him for years. Some of the pranks that boy has pulled…!
Speaking of one of them that I discovered a day or two after I woke up… I was getting cleaned up one morning and I noticed something on my back, though I couldn't get a good look at what it was. With the help of the mirror I finally discovered that he'd placed a sort of tattoo on my back, near my left shoulder blade. I have no idea when he did it, as I was unconscious; but I do like it and I think I'll keep maintaining the spell. It's pretty simple, a rose in my favorite color of pinkish salmon. According to Katie, if you look at it straight on it also has this neat trick where it shows our initials, though she thinks only another witch or wizard will see it. I never have since I can't look at it in the proper manner, but I believe her.
It's a bit odd having all these female friends around to hang out with, let alone being my age. Sara isn't that much older, but the dynamics are a little different- or at least they were at the time. I've gotten the impression from her letters that she's beginning to see me as more of an equal, or friend. That will be nice. I hoping to see her this summer, but I guess that depends on what her schedule is like. I'm going to go back to that place I rented in Hogsmeade last summer. Katie's planning on joining me and we're going to start work on our group. Ginny plans to come spend as much time with us this summer as possible, and Dumbledore has agreed that if it doesn't affect her studies she can take off on some weekends to perform with us locally. We still have to come up with a band name, and perfect our act (and finish learning the instruments- my drum lessons have been less than frequent recently!). I think the gang also plans to invade a couple times as well and the Weasley's are planning a big (surprise) party for Harry's birthday this year- he'll be 16.
And speaking of surprise parties (don't you love my transitions?), when I was finally freed from medical supervision and allowed back to the tower; they had arranged a birthday/welcome back party for me. It was overwhelming. I had no idea that they were planning it, and everyone was there. Even Dumbledore and McGonagall attended and Flitwick sent a card with his best wishes. They'd gotten the House Elves to make all sorts of wonderful food (and the twins weren't allowed to touch any of it a head of time, though I checked it all over before people ate) and they'd obviously gone into Hogsmeade to pick up party favors- probably the night we girls were busy and therefore wouldn't expect to have them around. They 'made' me sing too. Really twisted my arm about it. But I made them all sing with me and the party quickly degenerated from there.
I went back to classes today. I didn't have a chance to tell you previously about my complete loss of control in Professor Snape's class the day before the attack, but let me tell you, I completely lost it. I almost attacked him. Luckily I didn't, kept it to simple verbal abuse; but the bloody man kept pushing me! After that, and a few other revelations from after the fight, I was a bit nervous about attending class today, but he has yet to say a word about it to me. I think I'm happy to leave it at that. He keeps giving me weird looks though. I wonder what's going on in that black hole of a mind he's got? I wonder if he'd tell me if I asked? I wonder why I care? Who knows.
What else am I forgetting to tell you? Lots, I'm sure. Oh yes, finally told them about the Apparating thing too. I now have way too many students who want my help with that over the summer as well. Fred and George have told me that if I don't help them, then they'll be forced to apply to their brother Percy for help and he'd probably get them splinched in retribution for all their pranks in the past. Therefore if I want my boyfriend alive, it's my duty to help him (and therefore Fred, since they are a package deal- which I guess means Angelina too since if Fred went splinch she'd never forgive me. And if I'm helping her then I, of course, have to help Katie and Alicia, which means I have to throw in Lee too since Alicia is a bit possessive about his well-being… See, it just starts small and builds from there!).
Oh, I'm getting tired, but I don't want to close this off. When I do that, it means I'm not 'talking' to you anymore and I really miss you. I can't wait for July and our visit- I really want you to meet George. I think you'll really love him- I know I do. I'm also bringing pictures of everyone else, so be prepared for a long, drawn out narrative of everyone I've met over the past year and a half! But mainly, I want to sit with you on the beach, watching the waves crash; and do absolutely nothing. I want to know that you're right there beside me and that I can talk to you about anything and everything and not have to try to remember what I wanted to tell you when I get the chance to write you a letter.
But I guess I do have to end this letter. I do have homework to do and, while I don't have to make up the stuff I missed last week, I still have a lot to do in preparation for those bloody N.E.W.T.s coming up soon- why didn't I just take those over the summer and get them over with?!?!? Too late to worry about that now though, so I must do the homework. Must keep up appearances. Must practice, practice, practice so many different things! Well, I'll at least be busy, which means the next couple months should pass quickly.
Okay, I really am closing this off now! Truly, I am! Okay, here I am ending my letter… but am I done? I guess I have to be. Yes, yes I'm done. All my love to you. Be well. Send Grandmother my love. I'll see you both soon!
Love,
Alinora
