A/N: Just a cool tidbit of information: the castle in Avalon looks like Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany. Just go to Google and type it in under images. The castle is simply gorgeous. I saw it in a picture at my friend's house and completely fell in love with it.
In this chapter, the first two letters come one after another, but after that they skip around. Some of them will be in reply to the one before it, but some won't. Look at the dates before the letter.
CHAPTER 2
October 1992
Dear Ginny,
First off, I should probably tell you who's writing. I'm sure your mother doesn't like you getting anonymous letters.
It's Daren Komaya. We met in the forest about a month ago, and I've finally gotten around to sending a letter off to you. It's been so busy around my home lately.
I guess I should tell you bit about myself. My full name is Daren Eavan Komaya. Yeah, laugh all you want. But don't laugh at me, laugh at my mother. She's the one that named me.
Anyway, I have two younger sisters, Dalila, who's eight and Fleta, who's five. But there's another sibling on the way. Mother's with child again, but the midwife has told us it's a boy this time. My first brother!
My mother is great. I love her a lot. She's fun to be with, and she's always looked out for me. She spoils me more than my sisters, but I think that's just because I'm her only son and her firstborn. But she does keep a firm hand of discipline on me.
I don't have a father. Well, I have two actually. My birth father died when I was little; I don't remember him. When I was four my mother got remarried to this man named Tamas Ginfant. He's mean, and I don't like him at all.
My grandparents are odd. Only my mother's parents are still living, but they surely bring so much joy into my life. They are wonderful to have around when you're sad or angry, or just need someone to talk to. But now, I think I can talk to you, can't I?
Is it still warm where you live? Or is it cold already? Here, the leaves are just starting to change colors. The winter is short, but when it happens, it is simply breath-taking. Will you tell me about your family? What are your parents like? How many siblings do you have, and what are their names?
I'm sitting in the garden right now. The flowers are still colorful and smell wonderful. Fleta and Dalila are running around, and I can hear the giggles from where I sit. I don't know why, but being outside always brings me peace. I think it's something to do with me being part fae and elf.
I'm not talking to my parents right now. They gave me a firm scolding when I got back, telling me that if I ran away like that again, they would lock me up and never let me see the light of day again. I was a bit childish in what I said to them: "Let me go to Hogwarts, and I won't ever run away again." I got myself a week of being in my room, for that one; no letters, no being outside, nothing except staring at the wall all day long.
It's been fun, through, because my grandfather is starting to soften up a bit, and I have my grandmother already asking why I can't go. I'm her favorite grandchild out of all eight of us. See, there's me, Lila, Fleta, and then there are my cousins, Faye, Edric, Kaiya and Kylia, the twins, and then Crispin. Edric and Crispin are the only two boys, and the rest are girls. It gets rather lonely here, especially as Edric is almost fifteen, and Crispin's only two. Faye is almost nineteen, and she'll be married in a few weeks, and then Kaiya and Kylia are both four.
I hear Mother calling me. I must go see what she wants. Please write to me soon, Ginny.
Your friend, Daren
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Dear Daren,
I have to say, Mum was shocked when she saw your owl. She's so pretty; what's her name?
It was nice to get your letter. It cheered me up quite a bit. I've been down ever since I got back, because everyone keeps looking at me like I'm going to disappear again. It makes me so mad.
Yes, it's still warm here. Quiet warm, actually. Why? Where do you live? Somewhere in the South maybe? Actually, we've been having lots of warm, fall rains lately. I love the rain, do you?
My family is so weird. It's one of those families where you absolutely hate them because you can never get any time to yourself, but love them because someone is always there when you need them to be. Plus, having so many siblings is a plus because I got more people to play with when I was younger.
My mum and dad are nice. I love them both a lot. Mum stays at home all day and cooks for all of us and cleans the house. She does her fair share of yelling at us, too. Dad works at the Ministry of Magic, for Misuse of Muggle Artifacts. He's head of his office.
I'm the only girl in my family out of seven children, with six brothers. There's Bill, who's twenty, and he works in Egypt as a Curse Breaker. Then there's Charlie, 18, who's on his way to Romania next fall to work with dragons. Percy's 15, and he's still in Hogwarts (he's going to be a prefect and a Head Boy, and I find him very annoying). The twins, Fred and George, are 13, and they're great pranksters. I find them hilarious, because they teach me tons of jokes. Then there's Ron. He's 10, your age. He's my favorite brother, because we do almost everything together. We share a room, but Mum and Dad are redecorating the attic for Ron. I get to have my own room, finally!
Fleta and Dalila sound like a lot of fun. I think I'd like them both, do you? I think I want to meet them someday. Can I?
I bet that you not talking is absolutely infuriating your parents. It sounds like something I would do to my parents if they kept me from Hogwarts. But all in all, they sound wonderful. But you say he isn't your birth father? How much do you know about your real dad?
It's really boring here at the Burrow. There's nothing to do but sit around and read. In the summer it's more interesting, because I can watch my brothers play Quidditch. But if course, I'm never allowed to join in, because I'm a girl, and girls can't play Quidditch, because I would fall off my broom, and even if I didn't, I would get hurt and then go crying to Mummy.
Honestly, my brothers seriously underestimate me. I can fly better than any of them, save Charlie, perhaps, and I can stand a little pain. They don't know how much practice I get in; I sneak out of the house really early in the morning and break into the broom shed, so then I can 'borrow' one of their brooms and fly around in the paddock. Then I get inside the house before they wake up, shower, and sit at the breakfast table innocently until they come down to gorge themselves. I think Mum knows what I'm up to, but she doesn't say anything, only gives me a secret smile when I come downstairs.
I can't wait to go to Hogwarts. My whole family's been there, save Ron and me, but the stories they tell make is sound like the best place on earth. I promise that if you still can't come, I'll tell you all about it when I write to you.
I've been wondering, while I've been sitting here, would you like to be pen pals? Or should I say, quill pals? You seem like such an interesting person, Daren. I would like to get you a lot more. Maybe we can get together sometime next summer. I know it's a long way off, but will you ask your parents?
Uh-oh. Mum's calling. I'd better go see what she wants. Write back soon.
Always, Ginny
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June 1993
Dear Ginny,
I don't like my parents one bit. Not a single, fraction of a like, and you want to know why? Because I'm not coming to Hogwarts. Nope, I'm going to be home schooled. With Lila and Fleta when they get old enough.
The baby was born yesterday. But guess what? It's another girl! Her name's Ondrea, Drea for short. My family has odd names, don't you think? The only sad thing is, she's deaf. So Mother has taken it upon herself to learn sign language and teach us all.
Faye has been found with child, only nine days ago. She's been with it for two months already. The midwife says that the child will be born in December, perhaps on Christmas. Faye and her husband, Clay, don't want to know whether she will bear a son or daughter, and have resolved to wait until the child is born. I don't want it to be a boy, because when he grows up he will bother me, and I don't want that.
I've asked Mother and Father if I might be able to peek into see you, but they haven't given me an answer yet. I don't think they believe that you're real.
Dalila and Fleta have found out about you, and they've been pestering me constantly about what you have to say. So I read bits of your letters to them as they fall asleep at night. They still sleep together, because Fleta is still afraid of the dark, and Dalila is not yet old enough to have her own room. But I've been grown up since I was seven, because I'm a man, or so my step-father says.
My letter must be short today. I'm afraid my mother wants me to be fitted for some new clothing. Wish me luck.
Your friend, Daren
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May 1994
Dear Daren,
Salutations! And yes, before you ask, I know what that means. I'm smarter than you think, you know.
I'm so excited! You finally get to come and visit! But why can't you come meet my family? Does your mother think you'll overstep the boundaries if you do? Silly, that woman is. Has she finally consented and is letting you come next year? It would be so much fun with you there. You'd probably be way ahead of us. I think you'd go straight into second year, too, instead of starting in first like me. I wish you would, though. It would make classes much more bearable. Ron's told me that Professor Snape, the Potions Master, is a real piece of work.
How is Laylee? Is she growing up to be a sweet little girl? Or is she a brat that doesn't behave? (Don't worry, you don't have to answer that.)
I met a new friend. Her name is Luna, and she's a witch, too. She's going to Hogwarts next year, so I won't be so alone. I still think I should come to your house and give your parents a piece of my mind.
My grandma, on my mum's side, is coming to visit in a few days. She's my favorite grandma, because she understands being the only girl in the family. So does Mum, but I like talking to Grandma better. Is your grandma like that? You know that you can talk to your mum, but you like your grandma better because she isn't your mum?
Well, that's all I have to write about today. Write soon.
Always, Ginny
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September 1995
Dear Ginny,
Thank the Merlin! It was so nice to see you last week. I wish we could've spent longer together, but Mother told me only three hours.
There's nothing much going on here. I started lessons two days ago. It's all that happened, really. Well, except for the fact that this morning I almost got thrown from my horse. It got out of control during lessons, but thanks to my "quick thinking" as Grandfather calls it, I managed to escape injury.
My letter must be brief. I can hear Mother calling my name. Merlin knows that I can never get a moment alone here…
Your friend, Daren
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December 1996
Dear Daren,
Oh, that horrid brother of mine! Ron's been teasing me all day for every little thing. I think he's just trying to impress my friend, Hermione Granger. Honestly, you think he'd do it in a nicer way.
Lessons are going all right. I'm going home for Christmas; Will you come and see me?
Luna and I ate lunch together today; of course, everyone made fun of me after that, because no one really likes her. You know, she says the oddest things. Keeps going on about Wrackspurt's. They're invisible, and they fly around and make your brain go all fuzzy. Honestly, she's such a nice girl, but she can be so… different, at times. Still, she's a wonderful friend. I feel like casting the Bat-Bogey Hex when someone makes fun of her.
Hermione's coming over to help me with my homework. Gotta go! Write soon!
Always, Ginny
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April 1998
Dear Ginny,
Grandfather said I cannot come see you this summer, for fear of Voldemort. Since he's on the loose again, I'm held at home. I wish that I could see you, though. Mother and Father still refuse to let you come here, because your parents don't quite know about me yet. Or have you told them finally?
So your brother Bill is getting married this summer to a veela? That's an interesting concoction. What's her name again? She's French…
My long time friend, Nero, has come to visit. He's part veela, part elf; an odd mix when you're talking about looks. I haven't seen him for at least three years now, as he is always off traveling the world with his father. He's twenty, and currently engaged to be married to the love of his life. Ironically, Iris is his soul mate.
How have you been? I haven't seen you for nearly two summers now, and it's getting rather depressing. But as you can see, I've sent along some love-in-a-mist to make you feel better. At least, I hope it will. I know that you love the flowers.
Well, Dalila turned 15 yesterday. I must say that I'm very angry with my parents, because they're going to allow her to court. At fifteen! Goodness, what is the world coming to…
Lila is reading this over my should now. So I should probably stop writing, because she's getting quite annoying, and I have to go and tickle her. Ha, she's gone now. She saw the word tickle and ran. But now I hear her coming back, telling me that Grandfather wants me again. I seem to always stop writing because someone is asking for me; why is that? Do you know?
I'll miss you. Write soon, Ginny.
Love from, Daren
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July 31, 1998
Dear Daren,
Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, dear Daren, happy birthday to you!
Birthday greetings, from me. Of course, I should also tell you that Luna says hi, because she's here right now, reading her father's magazine The Quibbler upside-down on my bed right now. (She knows all about you, mainly because of a particular game of Truth or Dare at the end of June.) She's wriggling her eyebrows at you right now, you know.
So you're finally seventeen, huh? You're getting up there in years, Daren. Just think: in a few years, your hair will be falling out and white, and you'll be old and wrinkly and have no teeth. At least, that what muggles look like when they get old. I'm sure that we, being magical, get to have some way to keep our teeth in. Maybe I'll go without teeth just for the fun of it. Ha, I'm being silly. Luna has that affect on people. Now she's smiling bemusedly at me, because I'm laughing really hard right now. Is it obvious because of my handwriting?
My mother is being overprotective, as usual. She wouldn't let me see if I could come to your summer house to surprise you on your birthday, for the same reason as your grandpa wouldn't let you come: Voldemort. I don't know why everyone's afraid to say his name. It's just a name, and I for one am not going to be intimidated.
So, here I am, rather bored. You'll help me in that aspect, right? Because if you don't, then I'm afraid that I'm going to hit you next time I see you; when I do, however, I'm not certain.
Well, I have to go. Luna wants me to look at an article about some place called Avalon in the Quibbler. I love you a lot and hope you write soon.
Always, Ginny
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Daren stared down at Ginny's letter in shock. There was an article about Avalon somewhere? He had to get a hold of it and show it to his grandfather.
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Dear Ginny,
Can you send me a copy of the Quibbler? The one with the article Luna showed you? Thanks you.
Love always, Daren
