11/6/99

To: dlm80ATyahooDOTcom

From: HJP80ATyahooDOTcom
Re: today

D,

Hermione will most likely write and give you more details about today though it may take her a bit. She's been locked in her room since we returned from Hogwarts. I'm not sure what she's doing but something happened today. She can explain what happened better than I but something happened. Something about this must be working. When we went to the alcove she looked at the space as though it was familiar and not because she just seen it. It was something in her head. She also spoke about hearing her thoughts in the memory but they didn't stay with her afterwards. I think you sparked something. I wonder if it was the more emotional memory, that last one where you met after Voldemort returned or maybe it was seeing Dobby again. Both of us were surprised by that and both of us reacted. It could have been the combination. I know you have your schedule and your plan but you should think about including an emotional memory one with strong emotion each time. If anything else happens with her I'll let you know. If you have any questions that she can't or for some reason won't answer, let me know.

H

P.S. I think at this point we should probably start calling each other by our first names.

11/7/99

To: HJP80ATyahooDOTcom

From: dlm80ATyahooDOTcom

Re: re: today

H,

Thank you for sharing that with me. I will look at the schedule I roughed out and do some rearranging. I am encouraged that she had a bit of a memory return in the Pensieve but I'm not sure how to make it transition to her remembering when she is back in the real world. Maybe that will happen with time. Please keep an eye on her, don't let her agonize over this trying to access or bring back whatever it was.

D

P.S. I suppose you are right on our first names but not sure I'll be able to break the habit of calling you Potter, just so you know.

11/10/99

To: dlm80ATyahooDOTcom

From: hg79ATyahooDOTcom

RE: Saturday

Draco,

I apologize for taking so long to write to you. I imagine you were concerned. I know that Harry wrote to you on Saturday evening to tell you how the day went. He probably told you something happened. I can't explain it but as we stood in that little alcove, after I sat on that sofa and looked out the window there was just something there. Something in my head. I knew it was there but I didn't know what it was or how to get to it. It was just there.

I tried doing a longer yoga session and then going back into the memories but nothing changed. Whatever it was didn't come back. Maybe it was being there in that place after seeing those times we spent there.

Almost more frustrating is that I know while in the memories I can "hear" what my younger self was thinking. I can hear it in my head as if I'm thinking it right then but when I come back out it's gone. I've tried to find a way to take a quill and parchment in with me so I can write it down but nothing. I set up a tape recorder with a blank tape and recorded as I went in to view the memories and I said everything out loud that was going through my mind. The tape was just as blank as it started when I tried to listen to it.

I've done some further research into Wiccans and come across something that I might try next time. I'm done viewing these memories for now. I can't say that I won't watch them again sometime in the future but I think I've gotten everything out of them that I can for now. They are in my head and I can play them back anytime just like I can with my favorite movies.

I know this is bound to be a long process but I had hoped that we could find some trick to make it all come rushing back. My patience is just not what it once was; that has to be Harry and Ron's influence. (that's a joke by the way, it's so hard to tell tone in an email, not that it was any easier in a letter).

For this time no questions. Maybe later this week or next week. I just need some time.

Hermione

11/11/99

To: hg79ATyahooDOTcom

From: dlm80ATyahooDOTcom

RE: take your time

Hermione,

Take all the time you need. If you want me to wait and send the next package a bit later I will. Would you tell me about the research you found when you get a chance?

Always yours,

Draco

11/13/99

To: dlm80ATyahooDOTcom

From: hg79ATyahooDOTcom

RE: Dobby

Draco,

This will only be a short note as I am spending a great deal of time at work. Seeing Dobby in your memories has recommitted me to my cause. I will find a way to make a change no matter the glacial progress of things at the Ministry. Thank you for inspiring me again even accidentally.

Hermione

11/14/99

To: hg79ATyahooDOTcom

From: dlm80ATyahooDOTcom

RE: you owe me a story

Hermione,

You're welcome for the inspiration though now I believe you owe me a story as payment. Why is it the other elves wouldn't go to Gryffindor Tower? Why only Dobby? and wasn't Winky Bartemius Crouch's elf? The one that sat in the top box during the World Cup.

I suppose I shouldn't ask that question as it alludes to a memory you have had altered. Yes I was there, and yes at some point you will see it, for now suffice it to say I was there but sitting behind you so might not have remembered my being in the box anyway.

Always yours,

Draco

11/15/99

To: dlm80ATyahooDOTcom

From: hg79ATyahooDOTcom

RE: the story

Draco,

I fail to see how accidental inspiration leads to me owing you anything. I will tell you a bit of a story however as repayment for your suggestion into my researching other countries laws.

It wasn't until Dobby tried to hard to "save" Harry second year that either he or I was aware of house elves. I was quite horrified which will probably come as no shock to thought of someone owning another creature was bad enough but that that creature was forced to punish themselves in horrible ways for disobeying was beyond mortifying. At the time I began to wonder what I could do but nothing came of it until fourth year when I discovered that there were house elves working at Hogwarts.

Yes, yes, I know now that they were not mistreated, other than possibly by Slughorn, and that they enjoyed their jobs. At the time I was on a mission. I created a student organization that almost no one heard of unless they lived in Gryffindor. Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare. No need to point out that the acronym spells out SPEW, I heard that plenty from the twins. I collected money from some of the students that I badgered until they did with the idea of doing something to inform people or change the situation. I also learned to knit, not well, but I learned and began hiding hats and scarves around the Common Room, thinking that if an elf found one they would be freed.

You're laughing I just know it. Don't worry I understand. I was incredibly naive. Though it scared the elves so badly they wouldn't clean the tower because they were afraid of being freed, I'm pretty sure now that it wouldn't have worked anyway as the items of clothing weren't directly given to them. After all they picked up our clothing and did laundry without being freed. I was young and dumb. I still want to see them treated better. I'd love to see them all freed and paid so that they have the option to leave a family that mistreats them not just search for loopholes so that they can disobey or do the minimum work necessary to be considered obeying. That behavior leads to them being mistreated further, it's a nasty cycle.

Not much of a story but now you know.

Oh you also wanted to know about my Wiccan research. I found a spell that is to be done the day before a full moon, it will imbue a crystal with powers to help enhance my memory. I think it is worth trying so I'd like to wait on the next Pensieve session until the 27th rather than this weekend as the next full moon is the 23rd. I know that may change your current schedule; you probably have already put the box in the post. Harry and I will just set it aside for a week. We'll let you know how it goes.

Hermione

11/15/99

To: hg79ATyahooDOTcom

From: dlm80ATyahooDOTcom

RE: thanks for the laugh

Hermione,

I suppose I owe you a story now. You were right I laughed but not at you, at your naivete. It makes sense that you wouldn't know about house elves. They wouldn't be in any of the first or second year textbooks and I hardly think it would be in any books you would pick up to read for leisure. You know Hogwarts has always had a Muggle Studies class, well you know you took it for a year, but they've never had a class for those raised in Muggle homes to help them learn and adjust to the things in magical society. A class like that could teach basic home care spells, cleaning and cooking things that you don't learn in any of the standard classes. There are even those raised in magical homes that might take the class, some of us want to move out from our parents' homes and don't know how to take care of ourselves.

Don't worry about my schedule for sending memories. If you feel you should wait I understand and if you found something that might help then you have my full support.

Since we have more time until you watch the next memories how bout you ask me a few more questions. Anything you want to know, well anything about my present life or what you've seen so far.

Always yours,

Draco

11/16/99

To: dlm80ATyahooDOTcom

From: hg79ATyahooDOTcom

RE: getting to know you

Draco,

Questions again huh I suppose we could do that. It is a better use of my time than agonizing over the memories I can't access, that I can't find.

So here goes:
1. What is your favorite color?
2. Who was your favorite DADA professor?
3. What is your favorite holiday?

Hermione

11/16/17

To: hg79ATyahooDOTcom

From: dlm80ATyahooDOTcom

RE: interesting questions

Hermione,

Now those are definitely getting to know you questions.

Okay. My favorite color, everyone seems to assume my favorite color is green because of course I'm a Slytherin but that's not true. Yes, I wear it for house pride and I don't dislike green it's just not my favorite color. My favorite color is blue. I know, I know, there are a million shades of blue so your next question will be what kind of blue? My favorite is a very dark blue like the sky near midnight on the night of a half moon. Full moon is too bright, new moon is too dark, but a sky with a half moon is a blue that is not so dark it's almost black but still very dark. And that would be a complicated answer to a very simple question.

My favorite Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, that takes a little more thought. You weren't there seventh year so you don't know Carrow and for all you went through that year you should still count yourself lucky for not knowing the Carrow siblings. They were both incredibly cruel and she was crazy but he was a right nutter. Lockhart was useless, Quirrell was a quivering blathering idiot, and Umbridge was just a b****. That leaves us with three Mad Eye Moody, Snape, and Lupin. Mad Eye Moody or rather Bartimus Crouch Jr. was also off his rocker. It's almost frightening how well he actually taught the subject considering that he was a Death Eater but I suppose he had to put on a convincing front. For reasons you will see within the next month or so I hate him. That leaves two. Snape was a good teacher in both of his subjects but I preferred him for potions and I'm not sure exactly why. It could simply be that I preferred him to Slughorn. My favorite Defense Against the Dark Arts professor was Lupin. If you told anyone else that they probably wouldn't believe you. Back then I complained about him much as I did every other professor as did my housemates. He knew what he was talking about and he knew the best way to teach us. His practical lessons are still some of my favorite of my entire schooling. He was also like McGonagall, fair-minded. He showed no real allegiance to any one house not even the one that had been his when he was a student. He handed out and took away points nearly evenly. If he took them away they deserved to be taken away, but more than anything he simply handed them out. At the time if you had asked me about him I would have definitely said something disparaging but looking back I can see that he was the best.

My favorite holiday, it would have to be Christmas. That may be because it was the only holiday we really celebrated and when I say celebrated I mean CELEBRATED. Mother went all out decorating the house. Father went all out on gifts as did Mother to be honest. They had a ball every year. It was a huge affair with at least a hundred people if not more. Mother always made sure there was a room set up just for my friends and I so that we wouldn't have to spend too much time with the adults. I know now that that was probably as much for the adults as it was for us children but I still remember it being so special. When I was little and still enthralled by adults I loved standing by the door greeting everyone with my parents watching them come in. Everyone was always decked out in brand new dress robes and the women would be dripping jewels. As I got older I of course I outgrew that and began dreading the very idea of greeting every single guest. It was always a wonderful evening. Christmas morning was quiet in our house, but it was still wonderful. We always had several trees in the house. Most of them were decorated on a theme that year's color scheme Mother had decided on and ordered the decorations for. In our private study however there was a tree covered in ornaments passed down through the family. My mother had several favorites hung in the same spots each year. I think some of them were even my father's favorite. He never said but each year there were a handful that he would hang by hand rather than by wand. Things like that make me wonder what my father would have been like if Voldemort had never been. Gifts are obviously a big part of Christmas and of course as we had money it's always a huge pile for me. It isn't my gifts I remember so much. Oh I do remember my first broom, my first potions kit, my first pair of Quidditch tickets but it's the gifts Mother and Father gave one another that I remember. You may not be able to tell throughout the year or on any ordinary day but on Christmas it is clear that my parents truly love one another. They would have several gifts for each other but each year there was one special one. One thing they had really spent time trying to find or making themselves. They would save those for the evening after we had returned from the grandparents houses. We would spend that last hour sitting by the tree in front of the fireplace me on the floor and them together on the sofa. They would exchange that last gift. The evening always ended with my slipping out quietly after they had opened their gifts but I would stand at the door and watch them gaze at each other.

Well that was three really long answers to three really simple questions. I feel as if I should ask you the same questions.

Always yours,

Draco

11/17/99

To: dlm80ATyahooDOTcom

From: hg79ATyahooDOTcom

RE: really not necessary

Draco

You really don't have to ask me questions. You probably know the answers to them anyway.

Hermione

11/17/99

To: hg79ATyahooDOTcom

From: dlm80ATyahooDOTcom

RE: humor me

Hermione,

We haven't spoken much in the past three years and your answers might have changed so humor me and answer them please, unless you really don't want to. Don't feel that you have to, and don't feel that it's necessary to make your answers as long as mine.

Always yours,

Draco

11/18/99

To: dlm80ATyahooDOTcom

From: hg79ATyahooDOTcom

RE: ok then

Draco,

Well all right then I'll answer them and I don't think I could come up with answers as long as yours.

My favorite color is purple, since you were specific I will be as well. I like a deep purple, sometimes called royal purple.

My favorite DADA professor - I guess this is one reason we got along so well; your thoughts and mine are nearly the same. Lupin was the best.

My favorite holiday is also Christmas. I love the decorations. I love the carols. I love putting up the tree. I love the lights. I love it all.

This brings the questions back to you:

What is your favorite candy?

What is your favorite place for vacation?

What is your favorite game to play?

Hermione

11/18/99

To: hg79ATyahooDOTcom

From: dlm80ATyahooDOTcom

RE: short and sweet

Hermione,

Let's see if I can answers these questions quickly and without way more information than is truly needed.

Favorite candy - chocolate frogs, still haven't managed to collect all of the cards, though I somehow have three of Harry and two of you

favorite place to vacation - the Black family chateau in the south of France

favorite game to play - chess, I know not a favorite of yours though I promise I can teach you and you will learn to play better even if you never enjoy it.

So I know you love sugar quills, and that you love some board game called Trivial Pursuit full of Muggle knowledge but I don't know what your favorite place to vacation is that will be your first question. As for two more your favorite animal and did you ever get injured as a child, before you came to Hogwarts?

Always yours,

Draco

11/20/99

To: dlm80ATyahooDOTcom

From: hg79ATyahooDOTcom

RE: injuries?

Draco,

That's an interesting question. And the answer is no. I was not a child that ran and did risky things as much as other children. I much preferred to sit on my bench in our bay window or under a tree and read. I did step in a hole in the field during physical education in fourth grade but somehow didn't twist my ankle. I've wondered since then if it had something to do with magic but then how many injuries did we see people suffer during Quidditch matches. I think that day may have just been luck.

My favorite place to vacation, a few years ago I would probably have said camping in the Forest of Dean but there are too many bad memories of that place now. Portugal I think, the beaches of Portugal.

My favorite animal - I'm surprised you have to ask. You know of course that I had a cat, well part cat part kneazle I think actually, Crookshanks. I have always loved cats. Visiting the large cats at the zoo was my favorite part of those trips. I particularly love lionesses.

Did you have any injuries as a child?

What is your favorite animal?

Did you have any pets when you were younger?

Hermione

11/21/99

To: hg79ATyahooDOTcom

From: dlm80ATyahooDOTcom

RE: last email for a few days

Hermione,

I will answer these questions and send you more but I won't be able to email for a few days. Terrence has insisted on taking me home to his parents place in Tennessee for Thanksgiving. It should be an interesting experience but he says they don't have a null magic room at their place and that they are quite far from any NoMaj towns so I won't have access to a computer or my mobile. I just didn't want you to wonder what had happened when I didn't write again.

I don't think I could list all of the injuries I had as a child, then again I think life is very different for magical children. We grow up knowing most anything is healable. There is always a spell or a potion for broken bones or cuts, we can even regrow bones. So I took more risks than you did. I might have taken more than even the average magical child. I was on a broom as often as I could be, flying higher and higher, faster and faster. I was usually pretty good about catching myself when I fell but I know I have broken both arms, multiple fingers, my left leg, gashed my right thigh quite badly on the fence when I flew too low. One of Father's blasted peacocks nearly took my arm off when I angered it simply by walking by too closely.

Pets? I would have loved to have a pet. At one point Mother purchased a kneazle kitten for me. It was tiny and fluffy and completely adorable (please don't tell Potter I said that). It disappeared, all we ever found was small tufts of fur. It was the damned peacocks I just know it though I was never able to prove it. Mother offered to get me another kneazle or a krup but I didn't want to lose another pet so I said no.

Have a wonderful week. I will hear from you again Saturday or Sunday I imagine.

Always yours,

Draco

11/21/99

To: dlm80ATyahooDOTcom

From: hg79ATyahooDOTcom

RE: Thanksgiving?

Draco,

I don't know if you will get this before you leave or when you return but have a good trip and you'll have to tell me all about it when you return.

Hermione