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I do not own Harry Potter. I have nothing to do with Scholastic, Warner Bros or Bloomsbury. I'm not JKR and I am certainly not making any profit out of this.

A Hailstorm of Owls (I)

Monday, 21st September, 1998

I really don't know what to say to you, Lee. Hermione said I should try telling you the truth and Ron seems to agree. So I'll tell you the truth.

You asked how I'm going. I'm fine most of the time. When I'm fine it's because of Ron and Hermione, and when I'm not I can count on them to get me through it.

The shop is doing well, and we've got more products in development. Ron's surprisingly talented in marketing and Hermione gives particularly good ethical advice. I've moved back into the flat upstairs, and that's fine most of the time. When it's not so good, I go back to The Burrow and Ron helps me get my head back together again. Now that Hermione's back at Hogwarts, she owls a couple of times a week just to catch up.

Maybe I'm a bastard for this, but I'm going to say it anyway.

When Fred was killed I didn't handle it well. Part of that is because we were always together. You know that as well as anyone. It was strange and wrong for me to have to speak a full sentence, or even finish a thought. I felt like half a person and it REALLY didn't help that my two best friends dropped from the face of the earth when he was gone.

I'm not saying it was easy for you both either, but we could have supported each other.

Maybe it was for the best, in the long run. Hermione was destroyed when she found out her parents had been killed, and I've never seen Ron so worried. I'm not sure I would have been as likely to recognise what she was going though, had I not been at rock bottom myself.

You'll notice there is a lot of Ron and Hermione in this.

What I want to know is where the hell Lee and Angelina have been.

Not just for me. I can accept that I am the lesser twin.

Where were you at his funeral? What happened to you both, that you couldn't even bring yourself to say one last goodbye to our best friend?

That's all I have to say, really.

Owl back, or not, I don't care either way.

George

*

Monday, 21st September, 1998

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Dear Molly and Arthur

There aren't enough words to express the way I feel about what you have done for me.

Not only did Mum and Dad like you both immensely, they also had a great deal of respect for you.

I don't know if they ever discussed it with you, but they were rather frightened of my life in the magical world during my fifth and sixth years at Hogwarts. Professor Dumbledore explained everything to them, of course, but Mum told me the only thing that put their minds at ease was the knowledge I would be under your care.

I'm sure they'd be very happy to know that I still am.

All I can say is thank you.

Love

Hermione

*

Monday, 21st September, 1998

The Great Hall

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Dear Ron

Dear Ron? Darling Ron? My Ron?

"Dear Ron" seems far too staid and formal. I just wrote to your Mum and Dad, and I started that letter with "Dear Molly and Arthur". I'll write to George sometime in the next few days, and I'll start that with "Dear George".

I love your Mum and Dad, and I love George ... but not the way I love you.

My heart thinks of you as "My Ron", but my head tells me that to think of you in such a manner would denote some sort of ownership, which implies a certain lack of agency on your part.

On the other hand, I feel as though you have allowed me to see the side of you that no-one else knows. Perhaps that side of you is "My Ron"?

Maybe it's just me, but this parting seems much harder than the first. It is for me, at any rate. I've been trying to understand why, but it's alluding me. Thoughts?

I must be SO transparent though. I had both Hagrid and Professor McGonagall (!!!!!) offering me sympathy last night. The first Hogsmeade weekend just seems such a long way away.

And now I feel guilty! Who am I to complain when I just spent the weekend with you? Ginny and Harry didn't even get that ... and I know, although she's not said much about it (aside from a quip about "seething with jealousy"), Ginny is missing everyone just as much as I do.

Now I've got just enough time to get up to the owlery and send this off before Arithmancy – "The Men" (as they are now calling themselves – Neville, Dean and Seamus) have informed me that I have to make sure you know that you're a lucky sod for having the best cook on earth as a mother (the goody tins were popular).

I love you, and promise a far longer (and hopefully far more cheerful) letter next time!

Hermione

*

Monday, 21st September, 1998

Hogwarts Library

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Harry!

The amaryllis is beautiful (and I love the colour, but you already knew that, didn't you?) – which spell did you use to get it to do that? It reminds me a little of the bird in the time room at the Department of Mysteries.

Any news on the October intake yet? As if they'd not let you in, really ... but still, let me know as soon as you've heard anything. Hermione said you'd talked to her about a break after school – she and Ron seem to be all for it ... I don't really care where we go, I just want to get away for a while! Yes, I know that I'm technically "away" now, but it just doesn't count, does it – especially as you're there and I'm here. Anyway, where ever we end up'll be great, and it's not like we can't apparate where ever we want anyway (haha, that was a double negative, wasn't it? Lucky Hermione isn't marking this!).

Our first Quiddich match will be on the 7th of November! I really hope you can make it, but with the way the team is looking at the moment ... well, the less said about that the better. Still, I've got over a month to get them into better shape – Seamus and Dean are pretty good (though Seamus is NOT happy about being seeker, tough really) Annie is passable (as Neville says, she has potential), so there's hope for us yet.

Oh! This is great! Hermione and Neville have followers! It's so funny! The first years hang on their every word and just STARE whenever either of them come into the common room. Hermione talked to the first year girls last night (she gave the common room a big tin of biscuits Mum sent), just for a couple of seconds and I swear the lot of them were about to faint.

Anyway, anyway, I've got to press on. I've called training for tonight, which means that I need to get a head start on my DADA homework now (it's lunch) or I'll be all behind (and Hermione will naaaaaag me about it).

Miss you!

Love

Ginny

The Easter Holiday is over with (well, one more kid due back at school tomorrow - but the little ones went back today), which hopefully will mean for more consistent updates! Yay!

For those wondering: Hermione's parents were killed in a car accident while they were in Australia. See chapter 4 of "Two Weeks" if you've got way too much time on your hands.

The reviews are great, thanks!