A/N: Thanks for all the reviews after the last chapter - your support means so much to me! Not sure if I wrote Ron right in this one, I haven't really had him in it for a while. Let me know if I did, and what you thought of the chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, and this goes for the rest of the story because I'm getting pretty sick of writing these.

Ethan McLaggen

Mum and Dad,

I'm so, so, so sorry I haven't written for absolutely ages! I can't believe how stressful the last six months have been; I've never been more glad to reach the Christmas holidays! Not that the teachers are letting us relax over the holidays. I have the biggest pile of homework I think I've ever had over a holiday, but I've decided to rest for a few days before I try and tackle that. At least until the Yule Ball is over, anyway, and probably not until after Christmas Day. And mum, I know I shouldn't put homework off like this, but right now I don't really care. I don't think I would even mind if I got rubbish grades, as long as I get a few days to relax right now. Besides, Scorp is going to help me with my Herbology, Charms and Care of Magical Creatures homework if I help him with his Potions, Transfiguration, History of Magic and Astronomy. And Al will need help with everything, except Defence Against the Dark Arts, of course, and will probably leave all his homework until the night before we go back.

Well, apart from the ridiculous amount of homework and studying we have to do, the last term has been pretty great. I don't know if I told you about the fight I had with Al and Scorp – we didn't talk for months, and it was absolutely horrible – but we've made up now, which has made everything a lot easier. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have Scorp to tell me to calm down whenever I start getting overly stressed, or to help me with my homework when I'm freaking out about getting it all done in time. He always seems so relaxed all the time, as though none of this really matters very much in the long term, and I guess it rubs off a bit on me when I'm around him. Al's generally quite relaxed too, but in a different way. His way just annoys me. I mean, how can he possibly expect to do well if he just sits around with James and Cameron and Fred, talking about Quidditch and planning practical jokes? And I know they did well, but I don't think Al's really like that. Not that he's not clever, but he doesn't seem to just breeze through things the way they do.

But enough of me ranting. The main reason this term has been so good is Ethan McLaggen. And I know you're probably getting sick of my endless stream of boyfriends, but Ethan's different. We've been going out for three and a half months now, and I really think this time the relationships going to last. I think it might have been you, Mum, who said that his dad, Cormac, was an absolute jerk, but Ethan's not like that at all. He's a chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, and he's the best chaser on the team by a mile, but he'd never admit that. He keeps saying it's just luck that got him on the team in the first place and that he'll never make it on again next year, even though he actually scored well over half of Gryffindor's goals last match. To be honest, I think he'll probably be made captain once James leaves.

Apparently he doesn't get on very well with his dad, and I think it sounds like he's more like his mum, really. She's a muggle, so you won't have known her when you were at school, but she sounds lovely. I'd love to meet her sometime, and I'd love you to meet Ethan. I was wondering whether he could come and stay at the Burrow this summer? Then you can both see what a great guy he is.

Anyway, I've got to go, but let me know what you think about Ethan coming to stay.

Love, Rose


Ginny,

I need your advice. Rose has another boyfriend. Of course, that in itself is hardly surprising, but this time it seems a little different. He sounds sweet and modest and absolutely right for her, and she seems to really like him. She also seems to think that this time it's more permanent. She's even gone as far as asking if he can come and stay at the Burrow for a while this summer, meaning she clearly thinks they'll still be together in six months time, which would be a record for Rose.

However, that was what I wanted to ask your advice about? Would it seem a little inappropriate at fifteen – sixteen by then, I suppose – for her to have her boyfriend staying in the same house. Ron certainly sees it that way, but I'm not sure whether he's just overreacting. After all, it's not like they'll be sharing a room, and there'll be lots and lots of other people in the house. But it just seems a little odd.

And also, for the boy's sake, would it be cruel to let him come? Introducing him to the entire family at once, and particularly to Ron, might be a little overwhelming. He knows some of the family from school, obviously, but the Burrow is a different story altogether, and Ron is about a million times more protective than any of Rose's cousins will ever be. The poor boy would be subjected to constant interrogation from the moment he set foot in the house.

Please write back soon, and help me figure out what to do. I don't want to disappoint Rose, or discourage her first serious relationship, but I don't know what to do!

Hermione


Hermione,

Yeah, that's quite a problem you've got there, and I'm sure Ron's being no help whatsoever.

In terms of whether or not it's appropriate, I'd say it's probably okay. I remember you and Harry used to come and stay at the Burrow all the time, before you were dating Ron and I was dating Harry of course, but I don't think the situation's really very different. Perhaps you should think about how you would react if it were just a friend she was inviting to stay. For example, if she wanted Scorpius to come and stay at the Burrow, would you let him?

Ron is more of a problem, but if the guy really likes Rose then he's going to have to face Ron at some point, as well as the rest of the family. It's not going to get any easier the longer it's put off.

In my opinion, you should wait and see if they are still going out by summer. If they are, then they probably really do like each other and it's probably worth having him stay, provided Rose makes it very clear to him what he's letting himself in for. And if they're not, then it's not a problem at all.

Has that helped?

Ginny


Ginny,

Yeah I guess it has helped a bit. I suppose what you said about me and Harry going to the Burrow makes sense, though I'm not sure Ron will see it that way. And as for whether or not I would let Scorpius come, that's a lot more complicated than simply having a friend over. Ron still doesn't like them being friends very much, and all the bad history between our families would make it pretty awkward. Half the family would treat him like they'd treat Draco Malfoy, were he to walk into the Burrow. However, I understand the point you're trying to make and, hypothetically, no I wouldn't have a problem with Scorpius visiting, so maybe I should just treat Ethan the same way.

Do you think it would be possible for Harry to have a chat with Ron, or write him a letter or something, and convince him that Ethan coming wouldn't be such a bad thing? I've been trying to talk him round to the idea for the last hour, and we're not getting anywhere, but sometimes Harry can get through to him even when I can't.

Thanks a lot,

Hermione


Hermione,

Harry says he'd be willing to try, even though he thinks you probably have a lot more influence over Ron than you do. Would you like to come and spend Christmas Day with us – it's always very quiet when the kids don't come home – and hopefully they'll get an opportunity to discuss it then? I know Ron's always in a better mood on Christmas Day, especially once he's had a lot to eat!

Hope to see you then,

Ginny


Ginny,

That would be wonderful. I feel like I haven't seen you and Harry in ages. Didn't you say you've had your living room redecorated since we were last there? I'd love to see it.

Shall we come over around ten?

Hermione


Rosie,

Quit getting so stressed! They're only exams, and it sounds like Al's got the right idea. With brains like yours you'll be fine anyway. Make sure you help Al out as much as possible; I know from experience how great it is to have a clever friend. But try not to nag him so much.

Now, I thought I told you to beat Scorpius Malfoy in every test, not help him with his homework! Just kidding. Well I'm not, but your mum read that sentence over my shoulder and told me to take that back. She says to tell you we'll be proud of you no matter what grades you get, and that you don't need to worry about beating anyone else, as long as you do the best you can. Ignore her, though. She'd have freaked out if she hadn't beaten absolutely everyone in her OWLs.

Enough about exams. How's everything else going? Al still putting that invisibility cloak to good use? And I haven't heard much about James, Cameron and Fred recently. Are they still causing havoc and driving the teachers mad? I really hope so. Every generation of Hogwarts students needs its troublemakers. You'd be very bored without them.

Glad to hear you're sticking to the same guy for a little while, and that he's better than that Flint guy. Your mum and your Uncle Harry have convinced me to let him stay for the summer, if the two of you are still together by then. But there are some conditions. The two of you are not to sneak off alone together, you are to be accompanied by Al or one of your other cousins at all times, and there is to be no snogging while he is staying. Remember, just because you have my permission for just now doesn't mean I can't withdraw it.

Hope you had a good Christmas, and aren't getting too bogged down with schoolwork.

Love, Dad


Dear Grandma,

How was your Christmas? Mine was great. We had a massive snowball fight in the grounds on Christmas Day, all the Weasleys and all my friends from Hufflepuff, as well as some of our friends from Slytherin and Ravenclaw. We were going to make it all the houses against each other, but there were less Slytherins and Ravenclaws, so it ended up being Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw against Gryffindor and Slytherin, which made the numbers fairly even, but still wasn't really very equal because Slytherins and Gryffindors are a lot more competitive than Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws, and a lot more willing to use dirty tactics to win. Basically we got absolutely thrashed, though I like to think my dorm mates and me put up a pretty good fight.

We're back to classes now, and back to endless piles of homework and studying, but I've got it a lot more under control than I did before. Rose and I help each other out a lot, and Al helps us with Defence Against the Dark Arts, which we're both rubbish at. This side of Christmas the exams feel a lot closer, but I'm trying not to worry too much. Professor Longbottom says I'm doing so well in Herbology I could quite easily be sitting my NEWT this year instead of my OWL – which is clearly an exaggeration, but is pretty flattering nonetheless – and I'm doing fairly well in Charms and Muggle Studies, which are the other two subjects I definitely want to carry on with next year. Other than that, I guess I'll just see how the exams go and decide from there.

Of course, we all went to the Yule Ball again this year, but I enjoyed it a little more than last year. Rose went with her new boyfriend, Ethan McLaggen, and they looked perfect together, and Al has got back together with one of his ex-girlfriends, Carmen Thomas. Apparently breaking up was a mistake, and they're actually perfect for one another. Having seen how little either of them got upset after the first break-up, I somehow doubt that, but I suppose anything's possible.

Anyway, I finally agreed to let Al set me up with Carmen's sister, Daphne, who's apparently had a crush on me for ages, and we went to the Yule Ball together, though it was mainly because I couldn't stand the thought of spending the whole evening watching Rose dance with other guys. As it was, Daphne and I had a wonderful time. She's really sweet and funny, and she's a great dancer. We're going to Hogsmeade together next time there's a Hogsmeade weekend and, although we've never officially said so, everyone sort of takes it for granted that we're dating. I don't really mind. She's not Rose, obviously, but she's very pretty and kind and fun, and we get on really well. I just feel a little guilty, because I sort of feel like I'm leading her on. I know I'll never like her any more than I like my friends, and I know our relationship will never be any more serious than the two of us having fun. Do you think it's wrong of me to do this at all? I know I'm probably only using her to get Rose to notice me as a guy and not just her best friend. Not that it's working. She's too besotted with Ethan to notice anyone as anything. On the plus side, however, no one thinks I'm gay anymore.

Oh, and Ethan's probably going to stay at the Burrow this summer for a couple of weeks. I shouldn't be so annoyed, because I know it's not Rose's fault that I can't stay there. It just seems so unfair that I've been friends with her and Al for years and still wouldn't be accepted by most of her family, and yet Ethan dates her for a couple of months and is invited back immediately.

But I shouldn't be moaning. Most of the wizarding community – particularly the Weasleys – may not like me very much, but I have loads and loads of friends here at Hogwarts, from all four houses, and they're the people I'm going to have to work with and live with once I leave. I'm going to have lots of opportunities in my life, and will probably be generally accepted by society, which is more than I can say for Dad.

And I'm definitely rambling now. I should really go. I'm supposed to be meeting Rose, Al, Ethan, Gemma and Daphne in the Gryffindor common room – which Professor Longbottom has given me permission to do – in ten minutes.

Scorpius