Disclaimer: If you don't get it by now, I doubt you ever will.

A/N: Three cheers for a working keyboard! Hip-hip-hooray! Hip-hip-hooray! Hip-hip-hooray!

This chapter is going to be a little different than the ones I've written thus far. If you don't like it, let me know and I'll rewrite it to better match the prior chapters. Likewise, if you do like it, tell me so.

I am still astonished at the response I've gotten from this story. Twenty C2's. Over a hundred alerts. More than seventy-five favorites. Wow. You guys all rock! Thank you for each and every review. They're why this hasn't been abandoned. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Chapter Seven: Correspondences

October 4, 1997
Dear Hermione,

Thanks for your letter. I'm glad that I could amuse you. This Ron character you've mentioned sounds like an interesting sort. You said he plays the keeper position on the Gryffindor quidditch team, right? I'd check your letter, but it seems I've left it at home (I'm writing this over my lunch break at school.) I think it's cool he wants to go into medicine. Remus tells me that's because of his little sister. Said she's in St. Mungo's. Didn't say why, though. I'll admit to being a bit curious. From the way Remus was talking, it sounded like something happened to her at school. You wouldn't happen to know more, would you?

In other news, I'll definitely be able to meet with you on the Saturday before Halloween at the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade. Remus has already made sure we have the day off from work. He said we should be there sometime between one and two o'clock in the afternoon. While I'm thinking of visits out your direction, do you know when the next quidditch game is? Remus keeps going on and on about how great a game it is, but since the professional season is over, the Hogwarts house games are the only way I'll get to see a game.

I also sent another request to your Professor Snape for a more comprehensive guide to potions-making. The text used by the beginning students didn't go into the detail I needed. He sent me a rather brusque note that held only the title Potions Compendium; have you heard of it? I purchased a copy of the book, and it's larger than a small flat! There has to be hundreds of thousands of individual entries. It's bloody massive. The next time you visit, I'll show you what I'm talking about. In any case, size aside, I was wondering if it would be a good idea to see about translating the information in the book into a computer program? I know you said that a computer wouldn't work at Hogwarts - why is that again? - but a program where I would be able to learn the different aspects of brewing without squandering resources... I'm sure you can appreciate the potential of a program like that.

Tim and I went out to the park a couple of days ago. He builds model airplanes. He'd just finished up a wicked-looking yellow biplane. Unfortunately, I managed to crash it. Tim just laughed at me. 'A landing if ever I saw one,' he said. He had the model fixed in a few moments, so I guess it wasn't as big a deal as I had assumed. You're familiar with the black boxes in commercial aircraft, right? Why not build the entire plane out of that material, if it's so indestructible?

Anyhow, I should get to work on my studies.

See you before long,
Harry

October 4, 1997
Dear Professor Snape:

Thank you for your timely response to my inquiry. The book you recommended is precisely what I was looking for, thank you.

Sincerely,
Harry J. Potter

October 6, 1997
Dear Harry,

The first quidditch game is scheduled for November thirteenth. It should start at approximately one in the afternoon. Ron's suddenly more nervous about it than I've seen him be about a game since he started playing back in our third year. I imagine it would be something akin to you being requested to paint for the Queen. Not that you're royalty, but that you're as famous as the Queen, at least among wizarding folk.

Ron is a pretty decent bloke, a little stubborn and thick-headed at times, but most boys are - no offense. He is going into medicine because in our second year, his little sister (a first year at the time) was possessed by the memory of an evil wizard that had been preserved in a diary. She suffered some long-term damage because of it and has been a resident of Saint Mungo's ever since. He is Keeper, you had that right, and he also plays chess quite a bit. He's good enough at the chess that most people we know refuse to play him more than once.

I'm somewhat shocked that you received a response from Professor Snape; he isn't the friendliest of people. In fact, he can be downright scary at times. One of my fellow Gryffindors, Neville Longbottom, was naturally inept at potions, and for our first two years, Professor Snape had Neville completely terrified in class. I'd never seen someone so relieved as Neville when he realized he didn't have to continue in potions beyond our fifth year.

Computers won't work at Hogwarts for two main reasons; the first is that there isn't any electricity here; the second is that there is too much magic in the atmosphere around places like Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, and Diagon Alley for electricity to work properly. I came to Hogwarts with a digital watch my first year. It was rather amusing. The watch never once told the time while I was here. It would display random gibberish or impossible times, once it showed that it was eighty five minutes past thirty before running backwards for a full day. That was the closest it ever came to working while at Hogwarts.

I like the idea for a computer program on potions, even though it wouldn't be able to be used while at school. I can't help but wonder if it would be of benefit to the research and development of new potions.

I'll write more later, I have to get to arithmancy.

See you later!
Hermione

P.S. Ron was wondering if he could ask a few questions in my next letter?

October 8, 1997
Dear Hermione,

I don't mind if Ron has questions for me. I can't guarantee I'll answer them all, but he's welcome to ask.

I talked with Jennifer, and she's agreed to work on developing a computer program for potions. I don't recall if I mentioned it before, but that's what Jenn does; she's a freelance software designer. She took a look at the book, though, and stated that she would need to have the contents of the book transcribed into a digital database before beginning. She shipped the book to an agency that does that sort of thing. Don't worry about the secrecy thing, she said that it was a fictional supplement to one of those role-playing-games you hear about every now and again. You know the ones, where a bunch of people get together and pretend to be werewolves or vampires for the night? Oh, well. It doesn't really matter much.

In other news, my truck is completely up and running – electrical system and all! I have a radio! She still looks like a rotting rust bucket, but she's not going to stay that way for very long. Tim wants me to do a custom paint job; you know, use some of my artwork on it. I'm not so sure I want to do that, though. I know I could, but I'm a little nervous about displaying my art so… prominently. What do you think? Should I? Or would it be too tacky?

Your watch said what now? And running backwards? Really? Or are you having me on?

Remus says, "Hi." As does Jennifer and Allen.

Looking forward to visiting at the end of the month,
Harry

October 15, 1997
Dear Harry,

Sorry about how long this took, but Ron was agonizing over what he wanted to ask you. I think he thought that you were a Djinni and would only answer a set number. His questions are in the PS at the end of the letter.

I didn't know that Jennifer was a software designer. Freelance? That explains why I had assumed she was a housewife. If she's self-employed, especially in computers, there isn't any reason to leave for work, now is there?

Me worry? Hah. (Ron just read that and fell out of his chair laughing. I don't think he agrees with me.) Anyway, I know most places that do that sort of thing don't care what they're transferring. I am looking forward to seeing the program Jennifer comes up with. If possible, you should make sure she includes revision and testing features. By the way, how's that charm I showed you holding up?

Good to hear about the truck. What did you name it again? Virulent? I don't think I'll ever understand why some people feel the need to name their vehicles. As to your artwork… I guess it depends on what, exactly, you'll put on the truck. Some custom paint jobs are more tacky than others.

Yes, my watch was really a complete mess all through my first year. That summer, I talked my parents into getting me an analog one. I haven't had any trouble with it since.

Greetings to all and sundry back your way,
Hermione

P.S. Hi, Harry. My name is Ron Weasley. Hermione said that she'd met you over the summer and you are friends now. I'm sorry if it seems I'm butting in where I'm not welcome, if so, just tell me to bugger off. It's just that there's so much mystery surrounding you… I couldn't pass up the opportunity to talk to you.

I wanted to know why you didn't come to Hogwarts when you were supposed to. No one here knows, or if they do know, they aren't telling anyone why. I mean, you could have gone to one of the other magic schools just as easily as Hogwarts, but I know from talking with Hermione that you didn't go to any magic school, but a muggle one instead. How was muggle school? What do they teach there? What sort of sports are you involved in? Do you play chess?

Hermione's reading over my shoulder and blinking at me. I think she thinks I've rattled on long enough. She tells me you will be visiting soon? If so, I hope to meet you in person then.

Ron

October 17, 1997
Dear Ron,

Not so big a mystery as you might think. Simply put, I didn't go to a magic school because my muggle relatives said I couldn't. When my parents died, I was sent to live with my Aunt Petunia and her family. They don't like me much, and hate anything magical. When I was eleven, Hagrid (do you know him? He works at Hogwarts,) showed up and told me I was a wizard and I could learn magic at Hogwarts. My aunt said I wasn't allowed to go. So I went to a normal secondary school.

My school is called Stonewall, and it's like any other public school, I suppose. I have taken classes in arithmetic, sciences, history, art, economics, and more. I'm not involved in any of the school sports; once again, my aunt wouldn't let me. I know how to play chess, but I'm not that good at it.

Yes, I will be visiting on the Saturday before Halloween. Hermione knows when and where, if you want to come with her, we could meet in person. Hermione's been telling me how famous I am in the wizarding world, so I would appreciate it if you'd keep the information to yourself. I'd rather not be hounded. I don't much care for large crowds of people.

Write soon,
Harry

October 17, 1997
Dear Hermione,

I sent Ron his own letter.

Hey! The truck's name is Viridian! And I know what you mean about tackiness being a variable. I really don't like those cars people insist on painting fake flames onto. Maybe I should do something really subtle… I know I can shade the underlying color to start as one color at one end of the truck and fade slowly to a different color on the other end… Over that, I don't know… Any ideas?

The charm works like a charm. (Don't groan! That's the best I could come up with at three in the morning!)

See you soon,
Harry

October 20, 1997
Dear Harry,

WHY ARE YOU UP AT THREE IN THE MORNING? Get some sleep! You'll be no good in class if you're not well-rested.

I'm glad to hear the charm's working for you. And why would I groan? Other than the fact that it was the worst pun I'd ever had the misfortune of reading, that is?

Sorry. Viridian. I'll remember that now. I don't like the painted-on flames, either. The color fade sounds like a good place to start. Do you know what colors you'd use?

Only five more days!
Hermione

October 22, 1997
Dear Harry,

Thanks for replying to me. Pity about your family. Thanks for answering my questions. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone you're visiting. I would like to meet you in person, if that's okay.

Ron

October 22, 1997
Dear Hermione,

Three days. I suddenly find myself nervous for no explicable reason. Is this common, do you think? I've not been to a wizarding town before, and have only visited Diagon Alley once… What if people don't like me? Or worse, what if they do? You've told me and told me that I'm famous… What if I get mobbed?

I should stop thinking about it. It's not going to do me any good worrying about it.

I was up at three in the morning because I couldn't sleep. I'd been having a weird dream and couldn't fall back asleep after it was over.

Three days and counting,
Harry

October 24, 1997
Dear Harry,

Just tomorrow! Three Broomsticks, between one and two, right?

Can't wait!
Hermione

A/N2: And another short chapter out of the way. I had to fill in some time, and this seemed like a nice break from the normal chapter, especially since the last chapter was so short.

I know more people would like to see more of Snape, and I promise you will, just not for a bit.

People keep asking about Sirius, as well, and I promise he'll eventually show up in the story.

Harry will be visiting Hogsmeade in the next chapter, though I'm not sure if he'll be visiting the school, as well.

There was a request for more of Harry's training. I'll show that in a bit more detail once he gets the basics out of the way. Keep in mind, Remus is training Harry in the required courses. When we get past the basics, I'll include more detail on his magical training.

As to everything that I have planned, and I do have a vague sort of plan, I can only say that meeting Ron will likely start things rolling.

Remember, if there's anything you want to see happen, drop me a line and if I think it will fit in well with the story, I'll include it.