A/N: Exams are over! Finally! So hopefully I will update more often. Maybe every couple of days, if I can be bothered. I hope you like this chapter, and please leave a review.

Disclaimer: As usual, I don't own Harry Potter

Back To School

Mum and Dad,

The first week of school has gone well. We had quite an uneventful start to the term, really. Then again, I suppose anything would seem uneventful compared to last year. I'll write again when I have more news.

Love, Rose


Mum and Dad,

We've had a great start to term. Amazingly, James hasn't done anything really ridiculous yet. In fact, I don't think James has had detention or even lost any house points yet this term. I don't know if that's a bad sign. Maybe he's planning something? Either way, he's practically been a model pupil this week. The teachers are all in shock. I'll write again soon.

Al


Mum and Dad,

School is going well. There isn't really much to write about yet. Al has some new Skiving Snackboxes, and we tested them out once. They really work! The teacher's honestly had no idea we'd taken them! But don't worry; we only did it once, so we haven't missed anything important in class. Rose told us off for it, but she still let us borrow her notes. I don't think she worries about the rules as much as she'd like to pretend. Well, that's about it. I'll write again soon.

Love, Scorpius


Mr and Mrs Potter,

I am sure you dreaded opening this letter, but it is not quite about what you expected. I am writing about James, but, for a change, it is not because he has committed some misdemeanour. He has, in fact, been ill quite regularly over the last few weeks. It is never very serious – simply fevers for short periods of time, or occasionally throwing up – but it began to happen so often that I have had him admitted to the hospital wing. I have done several tests to detect any signs of Skiving Snackboxes, which I'm sure you will remember, as I believe they were rather popular when you were at school, but have found nothing to suggest he has been using them, and we are completely incapable of identifying the cause of his mysterious illness. Albus has also been released from class a couple of times due to illness, but I do not believe this is quite so serious. As I'm sure you know, children can get ill quite easily and regularly, particularly when so many are living together in close proximity to one another. James, on the other hand, seems to have caught something more worrying. I shall keep you updated, and if you wish to come and visit him then I am sure that could be arranged.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Dabinett

Headmistress


Professor Dabinett,

Thank you for informing us of James' situation. I will admit, when I saw your handwriting on the letter I was a little worried, and I am glad to hear that overall James has behaved himself so far this term. As yet, I don't think his illness is worth worrying about too much. James has always been prone to catching peculiar illnesses, and I do not think it's necessary quite yet for myself and my wife to visit him. Thank you again for your letter.

Yours sincerely,

Harry Potter


James,

You are a disgrace to the family. I have no objection to you using Skiving Snackboxes, having made considerable use of them myself when I was at school, but if you can't use them properly then you have no right to use them at all. Grandad James and Uncle Fred would both have been ashamed of you, and Uncle George will be when I tell him. As a relative of all three of them, you have the responsibility to misbehave properly. Skiving Snackboxes should be used subtly, and in a way that will go largely unnoticed by teachers. I am glad to hear that Albus at least has been doing it properly and only using them occasionally, and from now on I expect you to do likewise. If you aren't careful, the teachers will discover the secret to your mysterious illness, and that will deprive others of the chance to make use of Uncle George's wonderful invention. If I receive one more owl from Professor Dabinett about this, I will insist that Uncle George stop supplying you with anything. You have been warned.

Mum


Mum and Dad,

Yeah, I guess I got a bit carried away, sorry. I've persuaded Professor Dabinett that I'm not actually ill, and I'll try not to use the Skiving Snackboxes again for a little while.

James

P.S. Can you ask Uncle George if he got my owl about the fireworks, cos he hasn't replied to me yet, and it's quite urgent.


Scorpius,

How is school going? I haven't heard from you in a little while, but I'm sure that's just because you're too busy to write very often. However, it's coming up for Christmas and I would like to know reasonably soon whether you are coming home for Christmas. I know you have missed seeing Grandma, and she is coming to stay for New Year, though Grandad has decided not to accompany her. I'm afraid he and I are still not quite on speaking terms. Anyway, let me know your plans as soon as possible. I know Grandma would like to see you, but I'm sure she would understand if you decide to spend Christmas with your friends.

Love, Dad


Albus,

I'm sorry to write to you again, but I was wondering if the problem with bullying has persisted. The only friends he ever mentions in his letters are you and Rose and, while I am glad he has two such wonderful friends, it is a little worrying that he doesn't seem to have any others. I know I should really be discussing this with Scorpius himself, rather than with his best friend, but technically I'm not supposed to know he was being bullied at all, and I know you will give me a straight answer.

Draco Malfoy


Dad,

School's great. You're right it is very busy, especially with somebody – and we all know it's James Potter and Cameron Jordan, but nobody can prove it – filling the entire castle with fireworks every day. I'm definitely coming home for Christmas this year. Rose and Albus are both to the Burrow for a massive family thing, so there won't be anyone at school to stay with really, and I do want to see Grandma. It feels like ages since she came over, and in fact I don't think I've seen her since I started Hogwarts and you and Grandad had that big fight. I still don't know what that was about, but I wish you'd make up. Anyway, I'll see you at Christmas.

Scorpius


Mr Malfoy,

Don't worry, I don't mind you writing. I know you must worry about Scorp, but you shouldn't. He only writes about Rose and I because we're the ones he spends the most time with, especially now he's got permission from Professor Longbottom to come into our common room occasionally, but he has loads of other friends. When he came back after the summer holidays, his confidence was so much better, and he was like a completely different person. A couple of idiots from my house tried picking on him again, but he turned around and stood up to them so calmly and confidently that they never dared trying to do it again. Plus, it helped that Rose threatened to hex anyone who kept bothering him, and everyone knows you don't want to be on the wrong end of one of Rose's hexes. But actually, that's not even necessary any more. Now that he's more confident, everyone can see what an amazing person Scorp really is. He gets great marks in most subjects, and tries really hard even in the ones he struggles with, and he's really polite and helpful so the teacher's all love him. And he helps a whole bunch of people in his house with their homework and stuff, and one time he rescued a Gryffindor first year from a bunch of fourth years that were bullying her, so everyone in my house thinks he's amazing now, as well as everyone in his own house. But he's so modest, I guess he probably hasn't mentioned any of that to you. I think it was all thanks to you talking to him properly over the holidays, though. He's got a better idea now of who he really is, and doesn't feel like he's letting you down any more by not being in Slytherin and really good at Potions and all the things you were. I know I've gone on a bit, but I thought it was important for you to know what an amazing son you have.

Albus


Al and Rose,

Merry Christmas! Your presents are both inside the package. I hope you like them. Are you having a good holiday? Mine has been great so far. It's nice seeing Grandma again, and me and Dad talked some more about school and stuff. It's nice being able to talk to him properly now. I never could before. I was talking to Grandma, and I found out why Dad and Grandad aren't talking. Apparently they had a fight about me being in Hufflepuff, because Grandad thinks I've disgraced the family and Dad said he was proud to have a Hufflepuff for a son. I feel bad that it was my fault, but I'm glad Dad really is proud of me. I always knew Grandad would take it badly, but if Dad doesn't mind then I don't care what Grandad thinks. Enjoy the rest of your holiday, and I'll see you both at school.

Scorp