For now, enjoy Harry's letters and his replies.
Interlude: Concerned RelativesDecember 24th, 1991
Dear Harry:
It's so lonely here without you! The tree is gleaming, and there's a big pile of presents underneath it, and Sirius and Remus are singing silly Muggle Christmas carols, but I still wish you were here. Did you really have to go to the Malfoys' house? I could have had Hermione look in the library to see if there's a way to remove life debts without killing the other wizard. I bet there's a way.
I'm sorry about all the Howlers Dad and Sirius sent you. I think it was awful of them, and I made them promise to apologize. Dad's even writing you a regular letter now. I hope it has an apology in it.
I've got to go. We're going to have mulled cider and then go walking out in the snow. Then it's coming back and sleeping the night away until tomorrow!
Have a Merry Christmas, and give Malfoy a big punch in the nose from me.
Love,
Connor.
December 26th, 1991
Dear Connor:
I miss you, too. I meant what I said about spending every Christmas together from now on. It feels unnatural to be apart from my twin brother for this long.
I promise, it's not awful here. The Malfoys are purebloods, so they do things differently than we do, but they've still made me welcome and even comfortable, in a weird way. They gave me gifts, which they didn't have to do. They haven't said anything disparaging about Mother or Father, and Draco and I play in the snow all the time. You ought to see Draco when he has snow in his hair. He's really just a normal kid, Connor. You ought to get to know him when we're back at school.
Mrs. Malfoy is very cool and proud and elegant, and one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen. I've treated her like I would one of Sirius's relatives. She seems to accept that, even appreciate it. Mr. Malfoy has also made me welcome, though he's even more reserved than his wife. That's all right. No one's tried to kill me or poison me or stab me with a sword in the night.
I certainly will not give Draco a punch in the nose from you. But a snowball down the back of his jumper isn't out of the question, especially if he doesn't stop whining at me to come play outside when I am busy writing letters.
I'll see you in a few weeks.
Love,
Your brother, Harry.
December 24th, 1991
Dear son:
All right, yes, the Howlers were uncalled for. Your brother scolded me for embarrassing you in front of the Great Hall. I remember how much I hated it when my mother did that to me, and I apologize.
But the Malfoys! They've insulted and belittled the Potter line for as long as both our families have existed. You don't know the terrible things they've done to us—you were too busy learning courtesies. I suppose the courtesies are important now, since they're helping you survive there, but you should know that Abraxas Malfoy, Lucius's father, once challenged my father, John, to a duel, and then tried to curse him even before the duel properly began. You can't trust a Malfoy, just as you can't trust a Slytherin. Be careful, son.
I've written to Headmaster Dumbledore asking about a Re-Sorting for you again. He hasn't written back yet, but I'm hopeful.
I know that you couldn't have gotten out of the life debt, but I do wish that you were here at Godric's Hollow with us, where you belong, rather than in that den of snakes.
Be safe.
Your loving father, James.
December 26th, 1991
Dear Father:
You don't need to apologize for the Howlers. I know that you were worried about my safety, and I didn't answer any of the letters that you sent me otherwise. To tell the truth, I didn't have the courage to open them. I knew what they would probably say, and I knew I could not change the circumstances of the life debt, and had to come with Draco anyway.
The Malfoys have been lovely to me. They even gave me gifts, which they didn't need to do. They haven't said anything about the Potter line, and I haven't insulted theirs. The portraits sometimes insult me, but it's easy enough to ignore them.
I'm glad that you've written to Headmaster Dumbledore, Father, and I wish you good luck in your query. I think he will probably say no, but thank you for writing. It is a dream of my heart to be among Gryffindors.
Your loving son, Harry.
December 24th, 1991:
Dear my son:
I know that will return alive and well from the Malfoys', so I do not feel the need to warn you to be careful. Here is a list of things that you may want to look for:
Do Lucius or Narcissa Malfoy ever mention Connor in conversation?
Is Narcissa Malfoy Marked as a Death Eater? We could never find out if she was, or if she served the Dark Lord in some less official capacity.
How jealous of Connor is Draco? I cannot trust half of what Connor says about him, as he knows Draco mostly as a Slytherin and the boy who has taken his brother away from him. (When you return to school, spend some more time with your brother. He is feeling neglected).
Has either of the Malfoys made any threatening moves toward you?
Are there any Dark artifacts on display in their house?
I look forward to hearing from you, son. In the name of the trust and honor that we both share,
Lily Evans Potter.
December 26th, 1991
Dear Mother:
Lucius Malfoy tried to pry information about Connor out of me, using the Probo Memoriter spell. I snapped it, and used pureblood courtesies to force him to apologize. He then danced with me for a good half hour on the topic of my training and Connor's training. I managed to hold him off this one time, and I do not believe that he discovered anything important. Mrs. Malfoy hasn't mentioned Connor at all.
I've seen Mrs. Malfoy's arms on several occasions as she plays the piano. She bears no Mark.
Draco doesn't seem to think of Connor at all, now that we aren't at school. It's odd. He always talks about him there, as the "Gryffindor prat" or "your prat of a brother," and seems jealous whenever I leave to spend time with him. Here, he talks about himself and me and the gifts that he got, and we're either playing or reading or he's begging me to play or read. I don't know if he strictly thinks of Connor so much as he thinks of him as a Gryffindor.
(I didn't realize that Connor was feeling neglected. Please convey my apologies to him, and tell him that we'll certainly spend more time together once we're back at school).
Lucius Malfoy threatened me with Probo Memoriter, and obliquely in our conversation, but nothing since then. Mrs. Malfoy seems glad that I'm friends with her son, and has said nothing at all political.
There are no Dark artifacts openly kept about, though I have noticed several of the portraits holding images of them. I suspect that the artifacts may in fact be stored in the portraits, which is clever. I will have to work out how they did that.
Your dutiful son, Harry.
December 24th, 1991
Dear Harry:
Sirius has finally stopped shouting about your going to the Malfoys' for Christmas, so it's rather quiet here. Well, it will be, once Sirius stops singing those silly carols and pestering me to join in. I should never have taught them to him.
I hope that you are happy with the Malfoys, and that your Christmas is going well. I would not fear too much for your life. While you are under their protection, and especially the life debt protection of their son, they can do nothing to hurt you. And I know that you're too smart to step out of those protections on purpose.
Come back safe to us, and make sure to visit with us over Easter holidays. It seems too long since I've seen you, and I'm not used to the noise that just one little boy makes around here! I need two!
Love, Remus Lupin.
December 26th, 1991
Dear Remus:
Thank you for writing to me. You didn't have to.
I'm glad that Sirius is reconciled to it now, and sorry that he was upset. Please apologize to him for me. I know that he hasn't written me a letter because it would be like admitting he was wrong, but you don't have to say that part.
The Malfoys have been—a pureblood wizarding family. This isn't like Christmas at Godric's Hollow, but it is very interesting, and I'm glad I came. I have learned many fascinating things to tell you over Easter holidays, which I will certainly spend at home, which is my proper place.
Love, Harry.