Letters To and From a Stranger

By: g0ldensnidget, a.k.a. Snitch

Author's notes: I'm really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really sorry I didn't update sooner. I was kinda busy – last minuet school supplies and stuff... and my oldest sister's birthday, plush shopping for clothes for her wedding (^-^), and I got new glasses. It's amazing, now I can see properly!

Anyway, sorry for the delay in this chapter... I've also been kind of dried up on what to write. Some of the reviews helped me, gave me inspiration.

(Letter VII)

            Hey Rose.

            Well, Ron and Hermione acted just like I knew they would. Ron freaked, calling me a loony, and wouldn't believe. Hermione, on the other hand, was more ... rational. She asked if that was why I'd asked about J.K. Rowling. When I said, yes, she said, "Well, then, that makes sense." But she couldn't convince Ron. He asked his dad if this was possible ... Arthur didn't even listen. He wants to ask you all about living as a muggle, in compared with living the wizard-way, like you know we do. Gave me a full list to give for you, but I have no idea where I left it. There's a letter from Hermione in the envelope as well.

            I'm sorry about the bombing... it must be horrible. How can you live with people dying every day? Even if it's not someone you know directly, it's still a person... Let's not talk about people dying, though. I've had enough of people dying to last me plenty of time, believe me. Oh, you already know, don't you? About Cedric, and then Sirius... I miss him. You wouldn't believe how much I miss him. It's odd, I never really had him in the first place... hardly saw him except for in Hogsmade in 4th year and last year at Grimuald Place... But I miss him. He was the last person I had. My last family. It's not that I don't consider Ron and Hermione family, just ... they're a different kind of family. The kind of family you find and acquire with time, the kind of family you earn with friendship and love. Urg, I'm getting sappy.

            Well... on a happier note, Remus and Mad-Eye took me to Diagon Alley. And I got the owl I promised – what do you think of him? I knew he was the one I'd buy the minuet I walked into Magical Menagerie. He was, after all, the prettiest owl there. He's part falcon, I think, with those silvery markings on the wings. Anyway, I'll let you name him. Just show him your window tonight and he'll remember. Keep a bowl of water on the windowsill for him and he'll find something to eat in the forest, I suppose. Give him his name and he'll come when called. He may look small, but he's a powerful little bird, trust me.

Well, nothing much more to write...

Harry.

~*~*~

Dear, Vered.

I can't believe that we're all in books. I wonder how J.K. Rowling managed to chronicle out lives without our noticing. We could sue her for that, you know. But, if there are children around the world that read our books and that love us and are our fans, basically, then I suppose it's all right.

Say, what's it like to live in Israel? I've never been there, though I plan to sometime. I hear it's so different from England. Sunny and hot and beaches and pools... it sounds wonderful.

So you're a muggle? No magic whatsoever? I can relate – I was sure I was a muggle until I was eleven. Then the letter from Hogwarts came... I'd never though about the possibility of magic, really, until then. Then it all made sense – when sometimes that I'd been mad or upset I'd set off wandless magic...

I think it's wonderful that you and Harry have become pen-pals. Friends right next to you is always a good thing, but having someone abroad and far away can sometimes be a comfort... and now that I think of it, you most certainly won't be killed by Voldemort or any Death Eaters. We face the threat daily now. Of course, I don't plan on dying any time soon; but it's comforting to know that if I'm ever gone, or Ron, then Harry will have another best friend who's safe and, well, alive.

Hoping for an answer, and for Ron to stop being so narrow-minded,

Hermione Granger.

p.s.

Is it true that all Israeli names have meanings? Vered means rose, you said... what do the other names mean? Do they all mean something?

           

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Again, I am so sorry for the delay in the posting of this chapter!

Reviewers' response:

xxthunderxx – don't be shy! Ask whatever you like, I'll answer if I can! And don't you think that all I want to see in my reviews is how good my story is or how well I write, blah blah blah. I'm not that self-centered. ^_~ Ask away, I'll answer.

Riffinton – I think I'm in love. It's always great to meet a fellow POTC-worshipper here online. Here's my top 10 list:

Top 10 reasons why Pirates of the Caribbean: the Curse of the Black Pearl is one of, if not THE best movie I have ever seen:

1: It stars Johnny Depp.

2: It stars Orlando Bloom.

3: It stars Johnny Depp AND Orlando Bloom at the same times.

4: It contains some of the best sword-fights and fencing sequences I have ever seen. And I've seen plenty. Anyone here seen The Princess Bride?

5: Great music. Absolutely excellent, even if it does kind of repeat itself.

6: Ditto for the special effects. Humans changing into living skeletons is good any day.

7: The Caribbean is a beautiful place. I love all the islands and the nice blue-green water and the calm blue skies, as well as the storms. It's all very tropical.

8: The outfits. Every single costume was designed and tailored fabulously. It really made you feel like you were in the movie with all the pirates.

9: Hell, the plot was terrific! Hardly what I expected from the previews that I saw on TV – it was completely different than what I suspected. It was better, wonderful!

10: I saw it more than 2 times. Any truly good movie is worth seeing more than once or twice.

Snivellus – ah, don't worry. It's not that bad, now that I've gotten the pump and I only prick myself 5-7 times a day (at the fingers) for the blood sugar-levels. It's really not that bad.

Amiana – again, happy birthday. Where are you from, again? And how the hell is it that you have a friend with Diabetes and a pump?

Liberty Belleview – go see it again. I command you to. Or at least download the music from the film! It's great! That is, if you like instrumental bits. There are like 15 of them.

Rising Angle – GO SEE THE MOVIE, NOW!!! You have to see it. But be prepared – Orlando isn't the main attraction. Johnny Depp steals the show like you'd never imagine. True, he's a pirate, but he does it with such grace and charm that it's beautiful to watch. And ... I think you're something like 14, like me. I'd say, you're between 12 and 15. How's my guess? p.s. – I want that teddy bear.

bluehoax – you know, it's too late. I'm already insane. Too much exposure to you would only make me feel better about myself and the crazy people around me. There aren't much; I have to make to with the purple plot bunnies that are always prancing around in my head.

Corie – go see the movie again. Go, right now. Don't wait for the next chapter; go now! I've seen it once, and I'll see it again, and then I'll buy the DVD, as soon as it comes out. I mean, Chicago came out, say 2 months after the theater? And it only cost 100 shekels – which is like $25.

solarflare154684 – I have no idea what you mean about the triplets, but good for you.

Raven Dragonclaw – what are you talking about??? Vered/Rose IS a real person! she's me, I'm her! I based her whole character on myself. This whole fic is about how would I act if Harry sent me a letter? It's me, I'm Vered/Rose.

Mudblood – yes, I like being different. It's highly amusing to see what others think of you when you're the only one who's any different...

Cadence Arith – yes, yes, yes, different is me. ^-^

Tw2qut4u – how is it that suddenly half my reviewers have friends of siblings that are diabetic??

Faga – no, no way! I was abroad for 3 years, Japan, so I went to American school. I don't think I'd have been able to teach myself English... and since I wasn't doing Bagruts, I've been bored out of my already-not-really-there-mind all vacation.

Fireblade K'Chona – hey! Haven't seen you here in a while!