Pen Pals
Chapter 5 - Start of Year 4
"Hey Harry, you dropped something."
Harry looked up from the book he had been perusing. A book on Charms from America. It was a gift from Hermione once she found out that beside Defense, Charms was his next favorite class. (1) It seemed America had much more lax regulations on Charms and Jinxes. Harry was already excited at the idea of using some of the newly learned illicit spells this school year.
Tearing his attention away from the book, he found Nevile standing in front of him. He had his trunk in tow behind him, and he was bending down to pick something off the floor.
"Oh, it's a photo of a girl, of a wet girl, in a- uh bikini. Uhh-"
Nevile stuttered and turned bright red as he held the photo. He hesitantly offered it back to his dorm mate, not taking his eyes off it. Harry rolled his eyes and snickered as he reached out to grab it.
"Thanks Nev."
"Uh-" Nevile continued.
Harry laughed as he got up to help the other Wizard stow his trunk.
"Calm down, it's just Hermione. My pen-pal remember? She sent me a photo from her summer vacation with her last letter."
"That's your pen-pal?"
Nevile stuttered as Harry nodded. With a grunt they both got his trunk up and sorted before sitting opposite of the other.
"That's the one that Ron was supposed to write to, right?"
Harry frowned. "Oh right, yeah I suppose."
With a whistle Nevile shook his head, before reaching into his messenger bag and pulling out a weird plant of some kind. It made a noise as if it were purring as Nevile caressed it.
"Yeah, I wouldn't show that to Ron if I were you."
Harry shrugged his shoulders, he didn't see what the big deal was. He pulled the photo out from his pocket, looking it over. Hermione sat on the beach, her curls wet and slicked back. The cute little Witch was wearing a frilly blue two piece swimsuit with oversized sunglasses and a large white shirt that was unbuttoned. It looked like it must be her father's shirt, seeing how big it was on her. She was holding up some pretty stones. She had sent one along for him, they were Petoskey Stones. She explained there weren't really stones, but 4 million year old fossils that littered the shores of Northern Michigan. (2) You could only find them when they were wet and could see the swirling patterns, as when they were dry, they looked like normal everyday rocks.
Hermione and Ron had little to nothing in common, and seeing as how Ron never even wrote his other pen-pal back, Harry seriously doubted Ron would have ever written Hermione. Placing the photo back in his Charms book, where he had been using it as a bookmark, across from him Nevile muttered something about 'some guys having all the luck.' Soon enough the train compartment filled up with Ron, and the rest of their dorm mates, along with some tagalongs. It was the rowdiest compartment on the train ride back to school.
The sorting had just finished, and Headmaster Dumbledore was up at his podium, speaking his gibberish when a big black hawk had flown into the great hall. It captured the entire school's attention as it gracefully completed one then two circles over the Gryffindor table before landing in front of one messy haired Wizard with round glasses.
Ron turned bright red next to Harry, and tried to scrunch down out of site on the bench as far as he could.
"Seriously mate? Are you bloody mentle right now?"
Harry merely shrugged as he untied the missive from the great big raptor.
"Everything alright Mr Potter?"
Harry looked up to Dumbledore, the older Wizards eyes glittered in amusement at the interruption.
"All good Sir!" Harry replied. "By the way, do I still get extra credit for being in touch with my pen-pal?"
"Potter!" His head of house shrieked at the same time Professor Slughorn held up a goblet, sloshing a good portion out onto an angry looking Professor Snape, and proclaimed "Yes!" It was a slightly slurred yes, but Harry figured it counted.
"Congratulations on being proactive this academic year Mr. Potter, Now if I may continue?"
"Nothing would make me happier Headmaster." Harry replied cheekily as the Weasley twins guffawed down the table from him.
The headmaster continued on with his speech, which Harry kept on ignoring in favor of opening up his letter. (3)
Harry,
If I timed this right you should be getting this letter on your first day back. How's it been? It's been about a week since I have been back and it's just been so hectic! I went straight to the library of course. It's absolutely maddening how little research I am able to get done over the summer months. Anyways, was the rest of your summer very exciting? Did you end up getting that new broom you were eyeing? Do be careful please. Youngest seeker in a century or not, it's terribly dangerous flying all about with nothing but a twig betwixt your legs. I worry so much for you sometimes.
I mentioned to you that Father and I were going to visit that Island out in Lake Michigan, Mackinac Island. The one that didn't allow any muggle motor vehicles and such. Well, there ended up being a Wizarding community there! It's one of the oldest in America, can you believe it? I was so excited when we happened upon it. There is also an old Indian Tribe still on the island as well, they live amongst the Magical folk. Isn't that just fascinating? (4)
Father ended up smoking some smelly stuff with some of the tribesmen, he got quite loopy from it, and kept muttering about 'good stuff' and 'his college days.' Thankfully it didn't last too long, and the only side effects were a goofy grin and an ungodly appetite for greasy foods.-
"I can't believe you're still writing to that crazy American bint."
Ron muttered as the welcoming feast appeared on the table before them. The red head squealed as he went to grab a chicken leg, only for the large black hawk to steal it out of his grasp before taking off. With a grin Harry went back to his letter, happy to be back at Hogwarts, and excited for the coming year.
1. From the stories about the Marauders, it really seemed as if they were innovative with spell creation and charms. I wanted to pass some of that on to Harry. Everyone always writes Hermione as good at everything, and Harry is just naturally good at Defense. I wanted to give him a more rounded personality and traits though. I think he would have fun using and making up his own charms. From silly things, to things to impress girls..
2. Petoskey Stones are the state 'stone' of Michigan. Michigan used to be underwater once upon a time, and ancient coral grew in the Northern region. Petoskey Stones and Charlevoix Stones are the fossils of that coral. I'm noticing that Hermione has sent Harry quite a few stones, lol. He has quite the collecting now. This was an oversight honestly. Oh well.
3. No Voldemort, so Dumbledore never took special interest in Harry. He is just another student to him. So Harry doesn't really feel anything special towards the older Wizard, hence why he ignores Dumbledore's eccentricities when he feels like it.
4. Mackinac Island is a real Island. Pronounced Mack-in-aw. You have to take a ferry to get to it and the only motor vehicles allowed on the island are emergency and ranger vehicles. Otherwise you walk, ride a bike, or a horse. I loved my visit there, and absolutely recommend it. There is also a bit of magic on that island, for those looking for it. :)
I keep getting so many questions about the American 'Wand-Locks' I mentioned in chapter 3. The reason Hermione says they are unsafe is because you guessed it, even in emergency situations, they will not work. Unlike in Great Britain, where there is only a trace that lets authorities know of unsanctioned underage wand use. The 'Wand-Lock' is definitely a hold over from back in the day, and wanting to keep Muggle-borns out of the loop, and keep them from accidentally outing the wizarding world to No-Mags. Hope that clears things up for you.
Sorry that this chapter is even shorter than usual. Just been busy. I will have a new story to post in a couple days. A one Smutty one-shot Harry/Hermione.