A Reply With an Unknown Emotion

Harry walked into his apartment after as long day at work. He pulled off his cloak and hung it up on the rack. He walked into the kitchen and found Ron sitting at the table stuffing his face with dinner.

"Sorry Harry, I was so hungry so I just started without you," Ron said with a mouth full.

"That's okay, I'm just going to back a sandwich or something anyway. Work was murder, I'm beat" Harry sighed as he reached into his refrigerator to get his dinner.

"Really? Was anyone there helping?" Ron asked curiously.

"Yeah we were all working extremely hard on getting Dark Arts objects to come to and end. Lupin, Tonks, Bill, and Moody were all there with me. We're trying to get the objects mainly out of Muggle homes. That seems to be the new target."

"I'll be there tomorrow to help you guys. Oh, you'll never guess who you got a letter from today!"

"Who?"

"Hermione! We haven't seen her in ages!"

"Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you. About a week ago I got a letter from her. I wrote back and I guess this must be her reply."

"Bloody hell, I miss her. It's been so long. What's she doing now?"

"She's the Charms teacher at Hogwarts," Harry said and couldn't help grinning, "It's been to long actually. I miss her too, especially all her advice and help. I could sure use it right now. Where's her letter?"

Ron motioned over to the table where he had put it. Harry walked over to the table and opened the letter. He read it over and over. He loved hearing Hermione's words. Even though she wasn't with him, he could still hear her voice in his head. Harry immediately sat down and began to write his reply to Hermione.

Hermione,

I'm sorry to hear that you're lonely. I feel the same way that you do. Well…I've got Ron but it seems like something is incomplete. I need you here too. We used to be like the Three Musketeers, or whatever that muggle thing is, and now we're separated. I could really use your help right now. Work is so frustrating! Even though Voldemort is gone, most of his death eaters are still out there. They scattered when we defeated him and now they're trying to bring the dark arts back. I love all of your advice and all of your help. Sometimes I think that you are really the one solving everything and I'm just following your instructions. I like it that way, though.

Speaking of defeating him, I miss those times. Well, only the times when I was with you. It was fun and it didn't really seem like we were out doing a job, it just seemed like we were hanging out and doing a little of destroying on our free time.

About Ginny, I haven't seen here in about a week. We're still not going out anymore. Since I ended it I really haven't had any feeling towards her, except just a friend. I'm not lonely without her and I think I like it better when she and I are just friends. I'm looking more toward someone else I think. Now's my time to settle down and go to work and just…well, be me.

I really hope that you can come and see us during your Christmas break. It's only three weeks away, right? You should definitely come and visit! I would be great! I can't wait to see you again. I promise that I'll come and see you whenever I get a chance. Or better yet! If you get this letter before next Thursday, let's make a "fire date". Haha. I'll pop into your fire next Thursday at 10 pm. If that's not good with your schedule send me an owl as soon as possible. Great! Now I can't wait until next Thursday. Talk to you soon! I miss you, Hermione!

Harry

Harry folded up the letter and went to find Hedwig. She was sitting on the table with Ron as he was just finishing his dinner. Harry attached the letter to Hedwig's leg and sent her out the window so she could start another journey to Hogwarts.

"What's that, a love letter?" Ron said jokingly.

Harry smiled, "Yeah."

But then it hit him that he wasn't so sure if he was joking back.