Harry held the quill poised above the parchment, but he couldn't lower it to connect to the paper. At his right hand lay two letters, one each from his best friends in the world. He needed to reply to them, let them know he was ok, and that his summer, for the most part, had been uneventful. But he just couldn't get his mind focused. Words from his last received letter kept running through his head, and whenever he thought about telling his friends about it, he wasn't so sure it was a good idea. He didn't know why Draco's mother had written him a letter, but it seemed to hint that she was taking great personal risk to do so. Finally, he sighed and put his quill away, then rolled the parchment up and put it away as well. Replies to Ron and Hermione would have to wait, until his mind was better focused.
Lucius is gone again, and he's taken Draco with him. He refused to tell me where they were going, but I fear it has something to do with the Dark Lord. He's gaining power by the day now, and soon, he will be ready to rise again. I fear for Lucius safety, but I am afraid more for my son. My heart aches when he is gone, because I know all too well the dangers involved with what his father is doing. I wish I could interfere somehow, stop Lucius' madness of offering up our son, but I am no match for him. And so, I will take this opportunity to write another most important letter. I must hurry, however, and take great care not to be seen by any house elves around, because they are under orders to report anything suspicious I do to him. But nothing is more important to me than my child. I allow a small smile as I retreat to my rooms. I am doing something crazy, and dangerous if Lucius should discover my deception, but I am willing to take that risk. It makes my heart pound and my blood race to know that I may still save our son by being the deceiver.
Harry was awakened shortly after midnight by a light tapping on his window. Rolling over and grabbing his glasses, he got out of bed to let Hedwig in. She swooped in silently, then landed on his desk and held out her leg. Attached to it was a familiar purple colored envelope. Harry grabbed it and ripped it open, moving closer to the window in order to read the letter by the moonlight. 'Harry, I suppose I should let you know what this is all about. It is hard for me to tell you something that it seems that Draco should tell you, in due time when he feels comfortable, but I fear that by that time, the Dark Lord may have done something irreversible. Harry, my son is in love with you. I know that this is a shock, and I don't know when nor how it started, all I know is that I only found out last week when you were in attendance of the ball at the Dribble Plantation. My question for you now is how do you plan to handle this new information? I realize that this is a lot for you to comprehend, but I do believe that between the two of us, we can give Draco that which he desires most, as well as save him. Will you help me? Yours, Narcissa.' Harry clutched the letter in his hand, staring sightlessly out the window as the contents of the letter ran through his head. He felt confused, afraid, sick and then... He scrambled around, searching for a parchment and quill. He hastily scribbled out a reply, then attached it to Hedwig's leg, and ignoring her look of contempt at being send back out on such a long flight, released her into the cool night air.