Disclaimer: I do not own anything from this fanfic so do not sue me! 07/13/05

A/N: '' – Basically means that the character is thinking

"" – Basically means that the character is speaking

Italicized words are from the parchment

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The Letter

Chapter3

Hermione woke up smiling from a peaceful slumber. She knew that her "quill-mate" was deeply irritated with her. Moreover, she was feeling a bit giddy knowing that she could annoy someone with simple words. She just wished she could put a face on her quill-mate. She enjoyed watching Ron's face whenever it threatened to explode and she was sure her quill-mate would react in a similar fashion.

Due to the use of the word mudblood, she decided that she was writing back to a Slytherin. A smile broke her lips with the satisfaction of annoying a Slytherin. 'A Slytherin with a good head on his shoulders.' The spell they performed on the paper was for advance students. There is a lot of self-discipline involved in starting that spell. 'So that cancels Crabbe and Goyle… maybe Pansy.' She wasn't sure that the person was a wizard. She just assumed that the person was male but there was still a possibility for the opposite sex. With that puzzle in mind, she proceeded with her morning rituals.

After a few minutes, she was inside the Great Hall for breakfast with the enchanted parchment in her hand. She took her seat beside Ron who was coincidentally facing the Slytherin table. "Hi guys," was the only greeting she provided for her friends.

It was returned with tired grunts of acknowledgment. Apparently, the guys haven't fully recovered from Hagrid's cooking.

Hermione shook her head and took her chance to glance at the Slytherin table unquestioned. She studied their faces, searching for someone who was a tad bit more agitated or have a more menacing expression on his/her face. She concluded that her quill-mate would hate her more this morning. She searched for signs from the faces but found none.

Hermione had a wrong conclusion though. Draco Malfoy, her real quill-mate, wore the same smirk that he had always worn. He had done well in hiding what he really feels even to himself.

Blaise Zabini on the other hand, was smiling as he spoke to his housemates. He noticed the brown-haired Gryffindor glancing at his table and his housemates. He had an urge to tease the young witch but he could never be found by anyone or he'd be in trouble. That being said, he waited until it felt natural to leave hall. He went on his way to a private hallway, where no one seemed interested to loiter around and pulled out a parchment and quill.

How was breakfast?

It was simple enough… if it came from a normal person.

Back at the Great Hall, Hermione and her friends stayed until the sea of people drained to puddles of water.

Before Hermione could leave, she saw her parchment flash. Ron saw it too and got curious. "Oy, what's wrong with your parchment?"

Hermione sighed and decided to tell them the truth. "I found it yesterday on school grounds."

"What's it do?" Harry seemed interested enough to ask.

"Well, I am connected to this person and we write things to each other." Hermione explained.

"What things?" Ron arched an eyebrow.

"Not the things that run in your mind Ron." She teased.

"Then what is it?" Harry just couldn't leave a mystery alone.

"Nasty things. This person insults me and…"

"What?" Ron stood abruptly from the table, blood rushing to his face.

"It's nothing really. I'm actually enjoying it."

"You've gone bonkers Hermione, tell her Harry."

"Hermione if you need anything…"

"Thanks Harry but you see, there's really nothing to worry about. He or she insults me but then I get to annoy them afterwards. I'm actually enjoying it."

"So what does it say?" Ron almost grabbed the parchment from Hermione.

"Let me read it first." Hermione tugged back. "How was breakfast?"

"I thought you said there were insults." Ron took a peak.

"Have you any idea who you're connected to?" Harry asked.

"No." Hermione examined the parchment as if there was something wrong with it. "But I do believe that this person is in the Slytherin house."

"Oh, those kinds of insults." Ron whispered to himself.

Hermione pulled her quill and thought of what to write back. 'What does he mean by… how's… breakfast?' She was a logical witch; it was this logic that caused her eyes to suddenly widen. Her quill-mate was nasty and would never ask her about breakfast or anything of that sort. She began writing her response.

What the devil did you put in my food?

The wizard behind the shadows smiled at putting his plan into action.

Nothing, but don't you think there was something off with the pumpkin juice?

His smile grew wider after finishing his message.

Hermione stared blankly at the parchment for a couple of minutes before she broke into a run towards the Hospital wing, leaving two clueless wizards.