I feel that this fic is drawing to a close soon. I hope you have all enjoyed it, and please continue to review! This isn't the last chapter but I feel it is my duty to prepare everyone fore the enivitable. lol.

FLYING THE NEST PART 13-

"Harry,

Thanks for your letter -I can't believe it myself! I seriously thought Malfoy would be head boy (don't you dare tell him or I'll lock you in Fred and George's testing room), but I guess Dumbledore saw through him after all :-)!! Anyway, so I'm getting loads of stick for it from them (F n G) obviously but Bill thinks it's good cuz he was head boy and I haven't seen Charlie but I've owled him and he hasn't replied yet so anyway.

A truce with Malfoy? I'll bet he's putting it all on: don't trust him. I can't imagine calling him by his 1st name it's too...familiar? Bloody hell didn't I sound like Herm then? It's catching. Um yes about her you wanted to know... well. I saw her in Diagon Alley but she was with her parents and I think they're a bit nervous of dad cos he kept asking them about how microwaves and espresso machines work. That's what his new thing is, by the way: household appliances. He wants to make mum a toaster thing -what's the point when a quick singeing charm can do it better? Anyway so we didn't really talk then but then I got my badge so I owled her because I thought she was head girl but she wasn't. But she said '...missed you an awful lot Ron, I was thinking do you want to meet up in this muggle town near me?' which I thought was a bit weird but I did last Tuesday and she said maybe we could go out properly so I said like, on a date? and she said: Yes.

We're going to 'go out' on the first Hogsmeade weekend -you don't mind do you?

From, Ron.

PS- Malfoy's mother died because she was trying to stop the Death Eaters from doing something to Malfoy after his dad went into Azkaban. I don't know what though, that's all Bill would tell me -see if you can find out more somehow!

PPS- Is Snape there? Are you doing occlumency? Bye -Ron."

"To Ron,

Of course I don't mind you idiot! Go out with Hermione (or 'Herm')!!! Are you owling each other? You'd better be!

Yes Snape's here. I meant to write you sooner about it but it's been hectic. He showed up with Lupin practically dead and we've all been trying to look after him cuz Snape's been doing his patrols and stuff for the Order too (which we're not allowed to know about) so Hortense has been making the restorative potions and me and Draco have to take it in turns to watch him all the time in case there's any change, which is more than boring I can tell you. He's all twitching all over at the moment (it's my watch).

He just kind of howled which keeps happening and is seriously unnerving cuz it sounds... like the wolf inside him is trying to get out and personally that does not make me want to sit here! Mostly though he's just muttering to himself but we don't have any idea what he's saying. Hortense came and said something in Bulgarian and that made him quieten down for a while but then he started howling again after a few hours.

Snape tested me on some Occlumency last night but I guess I was too tired after looking after Lupin and he saw me making a prat out of myself in front of Cho, I think.

Ok I'm about to swap over with Draco so I'll owl you now -are you guys not coming here?

Harry."

"Hi Harry,

Does Malfoy have to do Occlumency? What do you think Snape sees in his head?

Hermione sent me a black sweater? Is it that I'm not fashionable? Or is maroon not my colour? The label says 'French Connection' -what does that mean to you?

Found out anything on Malfoy's mother's death yet?

I asked dad about coming over there but to be honest he got pretty shirty, he thought I wanted to go there so we can gang up on Malfoy (not a bad plan). Gin says he's getting fed up running the house without mum. It's dead annoying really cos we haven't seen mum in ages.

Sorry this is really short but I wanted to owl you before I went to the shop.

How's Lupin?

Owl me soon,

Ron."

"Dear Ron,

Yes Draco does occlumency we've just had it now, in this study room opposite our bedrooms, which was really awkward cuz it felt like being at school -not fun! But I DID manage to throw off Snape (be sure to tell Hermione if you're owling her -I practiced just for her), and I saw one of his memories which was really odd, it was him at school and he was playing Quidditch I think but then I realised he wasn't on a broom, he was playing basketball, which is this muggle sport. Why would Snape of all people be playing basketball? Anyway that was a bit weird. But he seemed impressed, for Snape so I had to cast the legilimens charm on Draco.

So yeah well I saw his mum die. I forgot to tell you this I can't believe it cuz it's really important: Draco has the Mark on his arm. Before you freak out, it's not like the proper one, it's only part of it, it looks like a weirdly shaped scabby red scar thing. I'm so thick I never thought before how he could stop it once it had started. He said he didn't want it though, and Ron I do believe him. Anyway, that's why she died. She was trying to stop it. She succeeded but she died. And then all the Death Eaters kinda disapparated cuz Dumbledore got there pretty quickly (that man knows everything, I swear).

He was so angry though when he realised what I'd seen. (Draco.)

I haven't really said anything to him since then but I told Snape what I'd seen afterwards and all he said was 'keep your nose out Potter, your father was meddlesome too,' and went to check on Lupin.

That reminds me -Lupin woke up today! He seemed really confused though, he kept speaking Bulgarian, Hortense was translating for us, he said he thought he was being tracked by wolves or something equally weird, and then he noticed Hortense and all he would say for hours is 'I love you' to her over and over again, and she started crying and stuff so we had to leave.

Ok I wrote that last bit 2 hours ago. I just went in to see Lupin and he seems better -he's not talking Bulgarian anymore. He said he just feels very weak and wanted to make it up to Snape, which is stupid cuz it was that greasy git's fault in the first place.

Anyway.

I heard your mum telling Hortense that she wants to go back to the burrow for a while, but she seemed worried cuz Mundungus has offered to stay here -not her idea of protection I think! It would be better if Lupin wasn't ill. Snape has been locked in the big study (you know, the one with the Black family tree tapestry in it) all day, Merlin knows what he's doing but no one's gone in there.

Still no Order meetings here.

This has been a pretty long letter -things aren't all that good here right now.

Got to go. I'm meant to 'relax my mind' before more bloody occlumency.

Harry.

PS- French Connection is a pretty pricey muggle high st shop. I'd say a sweater from there would cost about 60 quid? Dunno how much that is in wizard money -but a Lot. It's pretty upmarket."

"To Harry,

Hi I've only just read your letter. Kingsley Shacklebolt came over to speak to Bill so the rest of us were listening on the extendable ears. They must've been having some kind of contact with Snape because apparently he's planning to stay at no. 12 til next full moon because he still reckons that potion he made had some effect on Lupin -but that's when we're at school! It's not fair, how will we know what happens? Also, You-know-who was sighted near here by a spy (dunno who it was)- have you had any scar pains? Just wondered.

I told Herm about you n Snape. She said if you manage to get into His mind, maybe you will see what the Order is doing? I thought it would be a long shot, but you never know.

Tell Lupin I said hi.

Yeah dad said mum's coming home soon. I think they want Bill to stay with you guys. Ginny wants to see you by the way. She can take our list of new quidditch tactics over for you to have a browse over. They'll let her; apparently she's the responsible one (meaning he's the only one why doesn't work in a joke shop).

Great, do I have to buy Herm an expensive gift? Cos -I can't.

You freaked me out about Malfoy's Mark. Hmm, still thinking about that one.

Maybe see you soon if dad gives in,

From, Ron.

PS- Hi Harry it's Ginny, dad just said I can come over there so see you then, I'll bring the quidditch strategy (promise me you'll lock it up, if Malfoy gets it we'll be slaughtered. This is a plot to rule all plots!). Tell Lupin I said hi and I hope he gets better. Can't wait to get away from all these clowns for a while. Love, Ginny. xx"

"Dear Ron,

Say hi to the rest of the clan, but I can't write for a while after this. Snape said 'Potter I know you and Weasley share half a mouldy brain between you, but if you could refrain from drawing quite so much attention to the house with this incessant mailing...' the git. So this is my last one for a while but hopefully you can come here for the end of the hols.

Lupin's up and about again but Snape and Hortense are making him lie/sit down as much as possible to rest, which I know he isn't doing. I suppose I can tell you this, but it was hard keeping it from Draco-I'm pretty sure I heard Lupin n Hortense having sex -I didn't mean to, obviously but I was meant to be taking him tea! So I left it outside the door. Hortense must know it was me cuz she's not talking to me much! Ew.

No, no scar pains, though now I have mental images of Lupin which is GROSS. I had a dream that I owned hundreds of cats? But I think that's because I heard Lupin mention Mrs Figg.

OK I'd better go, don't want to draw attention to the house, after all...

Don't bother replying, I'll grind Bill down when he gets here (Ginny can help) and then you can come and stay.

Ginny -see you tomorrow,

from, Harry."
END OF PART 13.

NEXT PART- Ginny and Bill turn up. I may put in some Ginny and Draco because that would be cute.