Chapter 21

The night passed uneventful, with all of the students doing homework that had been assigned by Snape, which included an essay that was to be 3 feet long and due in 2 days. The real surprise came the next morning at breakfast, when an owl burdened with 3 letters came swooping down to where Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and Harry were all sitting together. Ron looked at the owl surprise, and Ginny glared at it.

Harry looked at Ginny face and asked, "What? Do you know who it's from?"

Ginny nodded gravely and replied, "It's Percy's handwriting."

They all fell silent and stared at the owl, which looked at them all, shoving its leg at them, urging them to take it.

"Go back, we don't want his letters," Ron said with a hard look in his eyes as he spoke to the owl. The owl turned and faced him and once again shoved his leg at him. Hermione rolled her eyes and took the letters off of the owl's leg. The owl hooted gratefully at her and took off again.

"What'd you do that for? I don't want his bloody letter," Ron said, glaring at Hermione.

"Oh Ron, just read your letter. Harry, Ginny, these two are for you."

Harry took his letter and looked at it warily. He still remembered Percy's scathing remarks towards the Weasley family and Harry himself. He finally opened his letter and began to read.

Dear Harry,

It's Percy, Ron's older brother. I imagine you remember me, although I'm sure you wish you didn't now. I presume you were informed of scathing and petty remarks I have made against my parents, and you. I would like to take this time to apologize for my rash and stupid behavior and to inform you that I am currently working these issues out with the rest of my family, and I would like you to know that I am truly sorry, and I sincerely hope you bear no ill will towards me, although I would understand if you did. Thank you so much for taking out the time for reading this letter, and I hope we can be friends.

Sincerely, Percy Weasley

For the next few minutes they were all quiet as they read the letters. Ginny's and Ron's were similar to Harry's, apologizing and asking for forgiveness. When they had all finished, they stayed silent, until Ginny spoke first.

"Do you think he means it?"

They all shrugged.

"I dunno..maybe. He really sounds like he is. I suppose everyone deserves a second shot, eh? Maybe we can just forgive him, and see how he does." Harry said.

"But if so much as mentions cauldron thickness, I'll knock him over the head with one. Then we'll see which is thicker, his head, or his cauldron," Ron said, smiling.

They all laughed and finished eating and went to their classes, and although Harry could tell Ron and Ginny were considerably happier now that they their family was being mended, Harry couldn't shake off an ominous feeling that something bad may come of all of this. He pushed the thought to the back of his mind, and promptly forgot all about it.