A/N: OK so thank you: witchintraining (who knows how well I can write letters), PinkAphid, Natsuyori (Happy Birthday to you - 1 week exactly till mine!), USAFroggi87 and Artemis MoonClaw (hello again)

Letters

Dear Hermione

How are you? I hope my last letter didn't scare you too much, or force you to take any risks on my behalf. I am afraid I cannot say I am safe, but I am safer, as are those who are with me.

I am so sorry things had to happen this way, just when we were beginning to make up again, recently I've had a lot of time to think things through about my future (if I'm still going to get one) and I would like it if you were a part of it. But of course I don't think I stand much of a chance the way I can see things. If somehow we do manage to overcome the Dark Lord, Dumbledore has promised that we can all return as we were before.

How was your birthday? I hope you like the necklace I gave you, it's been an heirloom in my family for many years; since my great-great-grandfather married a woman who had been in Gryffindor, I thought it was appropriate. When light shines on the amber the wearer's true love is supposed to see a dazzling gold light, unfortunately I've never been able to test this. I hope I will see you before too long.

Severus

Dear Severus,

So much has been going on since you left; Ron has been all over the place, but Harry's very good and taking it all in his stride, I don't understand how he can be so incredibly supportive when he has the heaviest burden to carry. Malfoy broke through your Memory Charm to tell his father, who must have told others, and then Malfoy started blackmailing me; saying that he would tell the rest of the school. But it's OK now; Harry and me stopped him and took him to Dumbledore. I don't know what he did but Malfoy hasn't been near us since and he's certainly less full of himself.

Thank you so much for the necklace; it's so beautiful, whenever I look down and see it I think of you. How are you? It must be strange living in hiding when everybody else thinks you're dead, I hope where you're staying isn't too horrible. I'm sure Harry, Ron and Ginny would really appreciate it if I passed on their love to everyone.

From Hermione

Dear Hermione,

Dumbledore has told me about what happened with Malfoy, it sounds as though you are all right, but be strong. Does Potter know? It certainly seemed that way from your letter, I trust that he acted like a man and supported you still. Dumbledore couldn't go into much detail.

I'm sorry but I couldn't tell the others that your friends send their love as no one knows I'm actually writing to you, Dumbledore allowed me to as long as I am careful. The most we can do is pass on information subtly – the Weasleys are thinking of their children so I assured them that their children were too. Harry aunt and cousin are still very nervous and do not talk to us much but I think they know they have no alternative. Have you heard anything of Mr Dursley?

Hogwarts most be wonderful now; all the leaves golden brown, the first-years jumping in the grounds, those bright bitter mornings, Halloween – I hope that goes well, I think Dumbledore is planning something to lighten the heart a bit. I suppose he won't have found a new Defence teacher yet – seeing as I've only lasted a month

Love Severus

Dear Severus,

Halloween was brilliant; the ghosts acted a scene from Macbeth (in parody), which was hilarious, and Dumbledore was randomly transfiguring people's heads into pumpkins! The food as always was delicious, I enclose a small handful of Honeydukes new sweets – I'm sure you'll be able to think of an excuse for receiving them.

Everyone seems to have calmed down a bit, term is well under way and you were right; we don't have a new Defence teacher, it's just being covered by various teachers, including Dumbledore though, so we do get to do some practical work. The new Potions master is called Vaglus Infelix and he is the most annoying, smarmy, spotty bastard I've ever met. He is so hopeless and cannot teach at all, we all really want you back.

Yes, Harry did find out. He found a letter from you, which prompted a bit of an argument, but in the end he did apologise and said he didn't mind as long as I was happy. After all, he did help me get Malfoy.

I better go now, but I hope to write again soon,

All my love, Hermione

Dear Hermione,

I'm glad Potter took it well enough, what about Weasley? Halloween sounded like it was a great success, we managed to get hold of a pumpkin but it wasn't the same. It is becoming excruciatingly hard to stay inside for all theses months, we feel like animals in zoo.

Last night, lying in bed, I thought I saw in front of me a dazzling gold light. Perhaps it was my imagination, but was there light on the amber that time? I'm missing Hogwarts, and especially you lots – though perhaps not the enormous workload. I've gone from working each day at least twice over to spending the entire day sitting around waiting for the next.

Love Severus

Dear Severus,

You poor things – shut up in a house without being able to go out, I don't know how you're managing to keep sane. Ron doesn't know about us, but Harry thinks he has a right to know; I'm just scared of what he might do because he tried to make a move on me months ago and I don't think he's got over it. But Harry thinks that once, like he had, the argument is over that he'll be really kind and supportive. Part of me wants to do it just so that Harry doesn't have to bear so much.

Some Ravenclaw seventh-year asked me out last week, of course I said no but it's been getting so lonely without you and my life no longer has that happy thrill in it, of enjoying something that is illegal so much. I don't know if this amber thing works; it's not as if you're my true love is it? And besides I'm sure that's all just Muggle fairy story stuff.

I hope you are all well, nearly everyone here is getting the usual cold of course, but I think the prospect of Christmas keep us all going. Will you get out for Christmas? Maybe you should ask Dumbledore if we could come to see you all for Christmas, I mean Ron and Ginny have lost their parents. I could try some negotiating this end if you want.

Lots of Love, Hermione

Dear Hermione,

I think Christmas is a very good idea, but if it does go through you should definitely tell Weasley beforehand. Maybe you were right about the amber; it seems too like fairy story doesn't it? I just found it when I was packing up with a note attached to it, but I could have been anything. Though I did make sure it was nothing to do with the evil of the rest of my family.

Maybe you should go and find yourself a boyfriend; I think I'm going to be stuck here for a very long time. A teenage girl needs a social life. So I hope Dumbledore says yes about Christmas.

Love Severus,

Who by the look of it is going to be here forevermore.

A/N: So now it's about November and Chap. 13 will be Christmas. Will they get together? Review!