AN: A short chapter before the bigger one to date. Enjoy =)

CHAPTER 3: Letters

"Dear Harry,

I have to admit, it is getting harder and harder to stick letters. There are so many things I would like to tell you, discuss with you, share with you, and at the same time, I have no idea what to write.

I mean, boring school life is fun for two minutes, but there's gotta be more to it than just those mundanities. More to us.

The thing is, love, I also feel that you don't really talk to me either. I mean, sure you answer to my letters, but not once you told me what you're actually doing with your days. I feel so far from you.
I knew long-distance relationships were hard, but damn this is …

I'm sorry. I didn't know where is was going when I started this. In two weeks we're going to Hogsmeade. Maybe you could join us over there? Even for just a few hours, it would feel so good to see you. To hold you.

I'm sorry if I scared you. But I'd be vexed if I didn't, in a way, haha.

I love you so much. It feels so good just to be able to write this down. If little girl-me saw me right now, telling my love to Harry Potter, she'd be having a heart attack! I still can't believe my luck, some days. Maybe that's why it's so hard to be so far away from you, you know. Karma, or something like that…

Please, tell me about your days. Your little boring life, so I don't get jealous, thinking about you lying on a perfect beach with mermaids, or flying across the USA without me while I'm stuck here.

Tell me if you'll be able to make it at Hogsmeade too! Luna would love to see you as well.

All my love.

Ginny."

"Harry,

It's been two months since we got here, and I know we did not write much… I'm sorry, but things are crazy here.

My parent's trace was actually not that hard to find at first, with the help of the Australian's Ministry of Magic. They came in and opened up a dentist shop, just the same as they used to own in England, without even remembering it. Life's funny that way.

So barely two days after I sent my first letter, we found their new place in Brisbane. I admit it that I could not even get through the door at first. I tried three times before Ron opened it for me…

They were not here. Their assistant told me that they were on vacation, the first one they took since they opened the office, and that I could take an appointment with their replacement if I needed…

I felt weird, you see? Leaving on vacation barely one year after opening your own office? But I left them with enough muggle money to last a decade… Thanks magic. Anyway, we asked her where they were… She did not want to say, she got suspicious, asking who we were… Ron made up a lie about us being children of long friends of them from back when they were in the UK, it was brilliant. They were in New Zealand, but should be back within half a week. So we decided to wait and visit the city waiting for them.

But a week later, still nothing, and Laura, this assistant grew quite worried… Long story short, we decided to follow the lead to Auckland.

I swear, Harry, we could write a book about our "search and rescue" mission on the island! We arrived at the wrong place, we got lost, we found their tracks and lost them again…

But I will not keep you waiting any longer. We found them! My dad broke his leg rather badly on their last trail, so they were in the hospital, that's why they could come back to Australia right away.

We're back in Brisbane now, but I still haven't made contact. I don't know how to do it. We are in discussion with the Ministry and their Healers, discussing the best way to lift the spell. The usual way to undo something like that is long, very long… Years long. Maybe it would be best to do it right away, like ripping off a bandage… But some Healers are scared it would shatter the minds… I'm scared, Harry.

So by now you probably should have guessed that we will now come back any time soon… But at least, I found them. There's still work to do, but it's the last step.

I miss you. Ron misses you.
Please, write us. Tell us about you, about your life over there, about Ginny.

We love you.

Hermione, Ron"

"Ginny my dear,

I know I don't tell much when I write. To be honest, I don't feel like there's much to tell. Or maybe too much, but all insignificant? But I will try, for you.

I sleep a lot. Like, more than ever before. I could not really explain why, but there's not a day I wake up before ten.

Expect the day he murdered the Bulstrode ladies.

I found myself quite fond of cooking, actually! Every day I spend a lot of time trying new things, new recipes.

This was not a lie. Most of the time he did not spent planning and working on his mission, he was actually spending it in the kitchen.

For example, yesterday I tried to cook some roasted pork with a honey-mustard sauce. It could have been divine if I did not overcooked it. But it was still very good, something to keep in mind for sure. It's funny that I'm getting actually quite good at it, and that I like it, when we both know I suck hard at potion-brewing! Do you think Snape would be proud? Or disgusted maybe. Yeah, disgusted for sure.

I also spend quite some time looking for, well, my future? I did some research about the becoming an Auror, as I wanted to a few years ago… But to be honest, I'm not sure that's what I want, now… I looked at some Quidditch teams as well, maybe a pro career could fit me?
Or I could become a chef? Who knows?

That was not technically a lie… But his researches were limited to looking at the job offers and Quidditch contracts pilling up in the mailbox.

With Tom dead, I find myself with a serious lack of purpose in life… I never really thought about it before, but it seems that my whole life was about him… But now that he's gone… I don't know. I guess I should consider myself lucky to be able to explore all these possibilities in front of me?

All I know for sure is that I want you in it. (Damn I feel so cheesy I should go and take a shower, haha).

Anyway, as you see, I'm doing tons of little things, but nothing really important…

That was a major lie.

Of course I'll join you at Hogsmeade! Maybe by then, I'll have learn how to bake a cake!

I love you.

Harry.

Ps: You did not scare me. Well, only a bit. Not more than the Hagrid's giant pet spider, but more than his giant three-headed dog."

"Dear Hermione,

I'm so glad that you found them, despite the leg thing! Maybe you could indeed write a book about it when you're back! I'm sure it would be a best seller. You spend so much time your nose buried into books, maybe it would be only justice that you end up writing some too!

I'm fine. I miss you guys…

That was a little lie. He was far too busy and far too scared of what they would think if they ever found out the truth.

… But I will keep on waiting. I know how important this is to you. If there's anything I can do to help, from here, just let me know! Take your time. But not too much.

I don't really know what to say to you… I sleep a lot. Like, more than ever before. I could not really explain why, but there's not a day I wake up before ten. I started cooking, actually! I try a lot of new things, new recipes. For example, yesterday I tried to cook some roasted pork with a honey-mustard sauce. I overcooked it, of course, but it was still very good, something to keep in mind for sure. It's funny that I'm getting actually quite good at it (or at least, I think I do), when we both know much I sucked at brewing potions. My personal revenge on Snape, maybe.

I did some research about the becoming an Auror, as I wanted to a few years ago… But to be honest, I'm not sure that's what I want, now… I looked at some Quidditch teams as well, as I received a few offers to play as a Seeker…
Or I could become a chef? Or something else? I'm still trying to figure this out…

Ginny is fine! Or at least, I think she is, I haven't seen her since King's Cross, but I will in a couple of week (Hogsmeade time!). I'll tell her you say hello.

Please, tell Ron I found a perfect pub right at the corner. He'll love it!

All the best.

Harry."

"Dear Hermione,

I hope you are doing well, and that my jackass brother is not too much of a pain in the arse.

I hope you found your parents and that everything is going for the best. I know I should be asking for news, and how everything is going… I'm sorry to bother you in such dire times, I know you probably are very very busy in Australia, but I'm worried about Harry. I can't really explain why, but I feel like something's off. Maybe I'm overreacting and making up stories due to the long distance. Maybe next week, when we'll meet at Hogsmeade, everything will be perfectly fine. But nobody knows him and gets to him like you, so I don't know, I thought maybe you could see it too, or help me…

I don't really know how to explain it. We write every week, but in each of his letters, I feel like something is missing. Like there is a huge hole, covered by some kind of veil made of little things… He told me about how he started learning how to cook, or how he was exploring different kind of options for his future… But none of it sounds like Harry. I just sounds like a façade, a fake… or like the smile he would put up to hide the pain, maybe? I know. Maybe I'm just imagining things, again… Maybe I'm so used to seeing him struggling, fighting, in pain, that I don't recognize him when he's at peace?

I need your lights, big sister.

Tell my big brother is still owes me three Galleons.

Love,

Ginny"