Chapter 21
Dear Dad,
Second year is off to a great start. I got 10 points in Herbology for knowing what the uses of the Mandrake are. Repotting them wasn't very pleasant however. Patricia got knocked out because her earmuffs weren't tight enough. Herbology is so much fun. We're in greenhouse three this year and the plants in there are so interesting. We have a new Defense against the Dark Arts teacher. The story is that Professor Sears suffered a nervous breakdown over the summer, but there are all sorts of rumors about what really happened to her. Tonks say that they've never had a DADA teacher last more than one year. The job is supposed to be jinxed. Professor Villevue is really interesting though. She used to be a vampire hunter in Transylvania. She's got some pretty neat stories. Patricia's signaling me, so I've got to go. She probably needs help with her essay again.
Talk to you soon
Meredith
Dear Meredith,
I'm glad to hear that you are enjoying second year. I have heard of Elizabeth Villevue, she is something of a legend. Listen to what she has to teach you. I have heard the rumor about the DADA position being jinxed as I never had a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher last more than one year either. It could just be that the job does carry a certain amount of risk, but who knows. Hogwarts has many secrets.
I'm sorry to report that the job search is not going so well. There are just not that many out there who are willing to hire a werewolf. It doesn't help that Delores Umbridge is pushing the ministry for all this new legislation against half-breed creatures. But I'll not go into that.
Work hard at your lessons, and have fun this year. I don't know if I tell you this enough but I am proud of you my daughter
Love you always
Dad
Dear Dad,
People are idiots if they won't hire you just because of being a werewolf. Delores Umbridge is an evil toad. You'll find something soon, I know you will.
Snape is as cheerful as ever. He's quite angry that he was denied the DADA job once again. He told me my swelling potion was "passable" but he gave me full marks. Patricia didn't get off so easy, I'm afraid. Her marks aren't doing so well. Her cauldron melted when she added too many bat wings to the potion. Snape was furious. He gave her detention and took fifty points from Gryffindor. She got a howler from her mum yesterday. It took Percy and Oliver and I an hour to get her to stop crying. She got to serve her detention helping Hagrid out of the grounds. I don't know what Hagrid said to her but she seemed to feel better afterwards. Percy's getting a bit obnoxious about our homework. He's constantly bugging us about getting it done, and when it's all due. As if we were idiots. I'm about ready to hex him.
Well, I have a pile of homework waiting for me. I better get to it before General Weasley comes to hunt me down.
I love you
Meredith
Dear Meredith,
I'm glad to hear you're doing well. I'm sorry that Patricia is having difficulty and her parents are being so hard on her. Sometimes parents hold unrealistic standards for their child. Patricia is lucky to have good friends like you.
Please do not hex Percy. Remember what Dumbledore taught you last year and try not to lose that temper of yours.
I have some good news. I was able to find a job in a muggle book store. The owner is familiar with the magical world as his sister is a witch. He is a very good man, and has been very patient in teaching me about these contraptions muggles call 'cash registers'. Some of these muggle books are actually pretty fascinating. I hope you enjoy the ones I sent you. I particularly enjoyed Wuthering Heights.
I need to say goodbye for now. Got to get to work.
Love
Dad
Dear Dad,
Don't worry, I haven't hexed Percy. However I do need someone to practice Silencing Charms on-wink-
I'm so glad you found a job. I like Wuthering Heights, but I think Pride and Prejudice is my favorite.
McGonagall was pretty grumpy today. Percy's the only Gryffindor that's been able to turn an animal into a water goblet. Scabbers wasn't too happy about being a goblet. Percy's in the hospital wing right now getting the bite Scabbers gave him looked at.
I'm hiding up in my dorm right now. Oliver's majorly mad because Charlie chose Millie Pruitt to be Keeper instead of him. He's been unbearable to be around the last two days. I think Charlie was right to choose Millie. After all she saved all five goals while Oliver only saved four. I know he can't come up here. Charlie tried to climb the stairs to see Tonks, and they turned into a slide and Charlie slid back down. It was fun sliding down the stairs while they stayed that way.
I miss you. I know that last night was the full moon. I hope it wasn't too terrible. I didn't get any sleep. I hate thinking of you all by yourself. Let me know how you are soon
Love
Meredith
Dear Meredith,
The transformation was difficult as usual but I am all right this morning. Just tired as always. I beg you don't lose sleep for my sake. I'm glad you liked the books. I am currently reading Great Expectations. I am finding it quite enjoyable.
I miss you as well love, but please don't be worried that I am lonely. I am keeping busy at work and Andromeda and Ted have me over for dinner twice a week. Besides Christmas will be here before we know it. Don't worry about me love. Have fun and enjoy your school years. They go by faster than you think.
Love always,
Dad
Dear Dad,
Classes are going well. Percy's upset with me because I disarmed him in DADA today. He's been sore at me all month because my marks are higher than his in DADA. I don't know why, since he's got better marks than anyone else in our year in everything else. Patricia was pretty happy because she managed to disarm Oliver. It took her four tries but she managed it. I showed Professor Villevue that book you sent me, Dracula. She thought it was funny. She says that the muggles view of vampires is "cockeyed nonsense".
I can't wait till Christmas. I already have your present. Snape assigned us homework over break. The GIT!!!! Why can't he act like a decent human being for once in his life. Would it cause him physical pain?
Grrrr
Meredith
Dear Meredith,
I know that you are busy right now with your classes. Teacher always pile it on right after the Christmas holiday. I hope you have time to read the books I gave you for Christmas. I'm sorry I couldn't give you a better present. You must be sick of reading muggle books by now.
As I said, I know you are busy right now so if I don't hear from you for awhile I will understand.
Love always
Dad
Dear Dad,
Yes, I am busy and you're right about piling on the homework. But I will always have time to write to you. You are the most important person in my life. I wouldn't be who I am if not for you. Sometimes I worry that you don't know that.
I have read two of the books you gave me. One can never have too many books. I liked Swiss Family Robinson, but not as much as The Three Musketeers. I loaned it to Percy, he's going to send it to his father to read. Apparently Mr. Weasley loves anything to do with Muggles. I'm working on Jane Eyre right now. I read mostly at night before going to bed. Lois Griggs and Mary Dorn saw the books and said I was daft for reading Muggle books. They're both purebloods, and conceited snobs. I don't like either one of them. They made fun of Patricia cause she poked Professor Flitwick with her wand during class today and made him grow a set of horns. We got them back though. When no one was looking I hit Lois with a tickling charm and Patricia hit Mary with a trip jinx. Before you grab your quill to write me a lecture, let me assure you that they deserved it. They are two of the meanest girls I ever met.
Talk to you soon,
Meredith
Dear Meredith,
I should lecture you for jinxing your classmates, however having thrown a few jinxes myself during my Hogwarts days, I'll spare you. However, be careful not to do anything dangerous. Tickling charms and trip jinxes are relatively harmless but there are some jinxes out there that can do real damage.
I am glad you like the books. I agree that one can never have too many. There are definite perks to working in a muggle bookstore. I hope you are spending as much time studying for your classes as you are reading.
You are the most important person in my life as well love. Sometime I worry that I need you too much, and that someday it will drive you away from me, which would kill me. I would be lost without you love.
Forgive me, I get a bit emotional on the eve of the full moon.
I love you
Dad
Dear Dad,
Oh, Daddy. You have it backwards. It's me whose afraid of needing you too much. I can't remember my life before you came into it, and I don't want to because I know I wasn't happy. I never knew what it meant to be loved until you came into my life. If I am a good person, and a good witch it is because you taught me to be one.
I love you
Meredith
Dear Meredith,
What can I say to that? I love you my daughter
Love
Dad
Dear Dad
We're supposed to be signing up for our elective classes for third year this week. I'm lost as to what I should sign up for. Charlie says that Care of Magical Creatures is the best class, but Tonks thinks Arithmancy is the best. Percy says it's very important to choose the right classes because it can dictate what careers we can get in the future. For Merlin's sake we're only twelve. Patricia's taking Divination and Care of Magical Creatures. I don't know why she chose these two except I think someone told her they were easy to pass. Percy's taking Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, and Muggle Studies because apparently they're required courses to take if you want to work for the ministry, which Percy does. Oliver's method was the most interesting. He just closed his eyes and pointed with his wand. He wound up with Care of Magical Creatures and Ancient Runes. I don't know what I should take.
HELP!!!!
Meredith
Dear Meredith,
I understand that it's a tough decision. I've always thought it's unfair to ask a person to decide their whole future when they're only twelve. I confess I took Oliver's approach when I chose my classes, though my reasons were quite different from what I suspect Oliver's were. I wound up taking Muggle Studies and Arithmancy. Muggle Studies has turned out to be a most useful course, though I doubt you will have to find work in the Muggle world. I'm sure whatever courses you choose you will do very well in. You have a good mind my dear
Love Dad
Dear Dad,
Since your advice was absolutely no help at all I spoke to Professor McGonagall. She was pretty against me taking Divination. Though she was pretty tight lipped about why I get the feeling she doesn't think it's a real subject. We had a long talk about what I wanted to do when I get out of Hogwarts. I've given it a lot of thought and I think I know what I want to do. I want to be a healer. Mcgonagall didn't seem all that shocked by this. She said it's a hard field to get into and that they only take the best. She says I'll need to bring up my Transfiguration grade quite a bit. She recommended I take Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, and Care of Magical Creatures. I read the course descriptions and they sound interesting. I hope I've made the right choices
Meredith
Dear Meredith,
Healing is a very rewarding career, but McGonagall is quite correct when she says they only take the best. I must admit I was surprised when I read your decision in your last letter. I had no idea this is what you wanted to do. It's rather interesting. Your mother was a healer. I never told you that did I? Everyone said she was made for the work. I believe you are as well. You have her gentle heart and her caring nature. Keep your grades up and your temper in check and you will make a fine healer.
Love Dad
Dear Dad,
No doubt you've heard as I'm sure Dumbledore wrote to you. Oliver, Percy and I all got detention and lost 50 points a piece for cursing Marcus Flint, and his goons. All I'll say is those gits had it coming. They called Patricia a mudblood, which is not only horrible but wrong. Patricia's not muggle born, both her parents are magical. I guess that makes them not only ugly, but stupid too. I know we shouldn't have done it, but those prats have made it their mission in life to make our lives miserable ever since we stepped off the train. They won't suffer any permanent damage. Losing the points is what hurts the most. We're in last place and Slytherin is in the lead. Snape is all smug, I just want to hex him into next week. Don't worry; I won't actually do it. All of Gryffindor except Charlie and Tonks is after our blood. You don't have to lecture me, I feel bad enough already
Meredith
Dear Meredith,
No I won't lecture you. I'm sure your fellow Gryffindors are making sure you are suffering enough. While I don't condone cursing your fellow student I understand your desire to stand up for your friend. Remember there are better ways to solve a problem.
Dad
Dear Dad,
Percy is driving me crazy! He set up a study schedule for the four of us. He even color coded it by subject! The boy is insane!!
Meredith
Dear Meredith,
Hang in there kiddo. Exams will be over before you know it.
Dad
Dear Dad,
Thank Merlin! Exams are finally over. I got top marks in Charms, Herbology, Defense Against the Dark Arts, and yes even Potions. I knew I had gotten good marks by the way Snape kept glaring at me all during dinner after we took the exam. I did all right in Transfiguration and Astronomy. History of magic didn't go so well. Anyway, I'm just glad they're over. I can't wait to get home. I can't wait to see you.
See you soon
Meredith
Dear Meredith,
I'm so happy you did well on your exams. I can't wait to see you either. I'll be on the platform when you get off the train. Can't wait
Love Dad