Those- Who- Lived
Letters of a Little Sister
September:
Sept. 1st
Dear Ms. First Year,
I hope you are happy being at Hogwarts already, Melanie. I am most assuredly not, because I was born too late by two months, which apparently places me behind you in magical capability despite being able to perform the same spells as my now-third-year brother. Apparently Nov. 18 just doesn't make the cut for them! So whatever the reason I shall take the boats next year to the as-yet-unknown sorting and meet you as a vaunted second year to my first.
Don't you dare let this make you forget that I can already out-hex you, and that won't have changed by next year.
From,
She-Who-Was-Left-Behind
Sept 2nd
Dear Ms. November,
I can't change the Hogwarts rules and no spell is going to get you in early. We asked already.
One thing I can do is tell you about the sorting. It's a talking hat, and no scepticism! You put it on, and it places you according to your mind. It was so weird. I got put in Gryffindor but I think it considered something else first. Probably Ravenclaw.
I know for a fact you have proven you can hex me into next week, thank you. You did so not two months ago. Neville, in fact, reminded me of it during the opening feast.
As for your brother, I think he accomplished something your father will be very proud of. He hexed a Slytherin within ten minutes of the meal ending. Neville said his name was Prince. He'll be stepping lightly for a while now; Harry got him with tarantallegra.
Good to know you still care,
Ms. March
Sept. 5th
Dear School-Girl,
Dad was ecstatic to hear of Harry having such an attitude; mum is now drafting a letter to ask why as he didn't write about it. I don't think he'll be happy about it being brought up, either, so you may want to avoid him for a bit. You know how it is.
Nothing much happening at home. Mum's getting a tad solemn whenever I gripe about Hogwarts. I think she's going to be lonely when I go.
From,
Nanna
Sept. 9th
Dear Nanna,
Of course she's gonna miss you. Mum's who miss you send more snacks, you know.
And that warning about your brother? Coulda come sooner. Although how I forgot after last summer is beyond me. He was in a bad mood the whole time, wasn't he? But about him, he got himself a detention and lost ten points for hexing Prince.
Speaking of points, I got ten from Flitwick! I knew all about the charm he brought up, and he was so squeaky and happy about it he gave me points! It was so cute! We're in Charms with Hufflepuff, and the classes are wonderful!
And please don't gripe about not being here. You get one more year without homework. It isn't that bad, but it does cut into evenings and it's really thick.
From,
Melanie
Sept. 14th
Dear Melanie,
I shall not complain if I get a lowdown on all the teachers and students of note by the end of the year.
How you managed to forget Harry's moods is beyond me. I suspect he had to argue his way out of Slytherin; he really has that conniving attitude at times. Don't you dare tell him I said that! He'd kill me.
How many classes do you have with another house? I really want to meet all the students at Hogwarts; sometimes I regret the house system for getting in the way of that, but I suppose I'll just have to try harder. Are you in Gryffindor with anyone of note?
From,
Curious Nanna
Sept. 23rd
Dear Kitty-cat,
People of note in Gryffindor? I hope you mean other than our siblings and Hermione. Although other than them, there aren't too many. Ginny's a year ahead of me, and Lavender Brown, in our brother's year, is useless …
October-November:
Oct. 11th
Dear Nanna,
I have to ask … did your brother tell your mom he skipped Charms last week? He's in detention now, a whole week's worth. Prince lit into him about it, and they got into a fight again. Both of them went to the hospital wing, lost twenty points, and ended up in detention together with Filch. It got postponed till next week because Harry's still in detention with Flitwick. They really don't get along.
On another note, it's going to be a few more weeks and then it's the first Quidditch match. Harry and Neville bullied Ron into trying out for reserve keeper, and while he complained at the time, now he's devoted to practice. I'm definitely looking forward to it, but before that I'll get to see the Halloween feast! That's definitely a promising line! I'm so sorry you can't be here for it.
From,
Melanie
Oct. 14th
Dear Melanie,
Once again, my brother neglected to mention something to mother dearest and you may be in trouble once more. I suppose you'll either have to get used to it if you keep commenting on it, or else you're just going to have to deal. How on earth does he manage to end up stuck to his eyeballs in detention? It must take talent, or that Prince is a real brat.
And yes, it is most unfair of you to brag about Quidditch and the Halloween feast. I'm never going to forgive you for it.
From,
Nanna
Oct. 24th
Dear Nanna,
Yes, it's unfair. But right now you can't hex me for it, so deal.
Be grateful you're brother isn't in Divination. Ginny said her brother had been told by the teacher that the fates were convinced something horrible was going to happen to her this month. She was convinced it was ridiculous, but recently she's been looking at him with a frown on her face, and Romilda Vane is going on and on about how she probably … you know. She's twelve. Old enough for that to show up.
And I'll just add as a side note … your brother's a pain in the ass.
From,
The Cursed
Oct. 30th
Dear Cursed,
Did you enjoy the message I sent with my brother last time around? I so hope you did. I put so much effort into it. Now then, please don't forget that just because you're hiding out in Hogwarts it doesn't make you safe.
Poor Ginny. That's one thing I'm not looking forward to, as I get older. I suppose it would be rather horrible, but what else are you supposed to do? Can't avoid it, it's a little bit required for some of those other blessings of age. Like a chest.
I hope you appreciated him giving you those lovely nails. They were yellow, weren't they?
From,
Avenged
Nov. 3rd
Dear Birthday Girl,
See if I send you a present this year …
The Feast was lovely, but I'm sure you don't really need to hear about it, as you are far more interested in the ravages of puberty than the amazing entrancement of the Great Hall in all it's magical glory, and the strengths of our teachers as they extend themselves to magic the walls and decorations into a fabulous display of power and holiday fervour …
The yellow claws actually came in handy, as they haven't gone away yet. Made for a wonderful costume …
From,
Ms. Longbottom
Nov.4th
Dear Ms. Longbottom,
It's alright; Harry gave a good play by play of the feast. However, I will indeed apologize for mocking you and sending curses and hexes so long as I get that play-by-play of the Quidditch match, and my gift. Please?
From,
Ms. Potter
Nov. 8th
Dear Nanna Potter,
Alright, you win.
Merlin, your brother can fly! He was head to head against Slytherin, and oh word! It was miserable. There was too much rain, and I could barely see him at all. The match was dirty dirty dirty from the Slytherin's end, although Prince didn't foul Harry once at all as seekers, although he came damn close. I was placed so I could see a lot of the shots on Oliver Wood, though, and he's a really good keeper. The Slytherin chasers are crap; they could barely aim, and only go through because they made a lot of shots while the Gryffindor chasers were nursing their bruises.
And the Weasley twins kick ass. You really need to work on your skills with them, you'll make a great player, I know you will. And then I'll be chaser too, and everything will be happy. Only person who won't be on the team will be Neville, and, honestly, he doesn't like Quidditch all that much anyways. Unnatural, I know, but true.
You're gift will be coming on time with a card.
From,
Melanie Longbottom
Nov. 20th
Dear Melanie,
I am hugging you so tightly right now I'll be surprised if you can breath.
My parents took me out to a muggle zoo and I got to look at all the fun and amazing animals there, and then we went to a muggle picture as well. We had to do it the day after my birthday because dad got gypped by his boss and had to work that day, but it all works. Mom didn't let me open your present until dad was there, either, so that's why this is coming today, but I can't help but repeat myself,
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
I don't even know how you knew I wanted a new hat, and you got such a lovely one; it's amazing! And you hid inside it a bundle of candy! It dumped all over my head when I put it on, you brat!
Brother got me Quidditch pads, and Neville got me Quidditch Throughout the Ages for myself – it figures he'd get me a book – and mom and dad got me nice robes and Harry told me in his note I can have his old Nimbus because dad got him the Firebolt for his birthday. Your parents both gave me all the Standard Book of Spells that I'll need for school, and Sirius gave me a bunch of Zonko's stuff, and Remus sent me a note saying he'd tutor me in whatever I wanted over the summer. My birthday was excellent.
I'm sending you another hug, Melanie! The hat managed to match my nice robes! You didn't conspire with my parents, did you?
From,
Nanna
Nov. 25th
Dear Nanna,
What would you do to me if I said I had?
And Romilda is being a brat this week …
January-February:
Jan. 7th
Dear Nanna,
You remember when I told you that your brother and Prince kept getting into fights? Well, your brother isn't the only person who apparently picks on him … Malfoy got himself a detention for getting into a fight with Prince down the hall to the dungeons, by Snape himself. It's a possibility of favouritism, but the funny thing was, Harry seemed inordinately pleased with the outcome. Apparently he likes Malfoy less than Prince.
Actually, your brother's been real weird all year. He's missed a few more classes other then just charms, and from what Neville's said, come in late to several others. He's also been cleaving unto the library like some Ravenclaw. His grades are getting better, but when have you known your brother to be that studious?
From,
Worried Melanie
Jan 12th
Dear Worried sister,
Actually, Harry can be really bookish if something catches his attention. He may just be looking something up, or it could be he's attacking Care of Magical Creatures with fervour. He's done that before. This year, he got three books on Magical Creatures, remember? One was from Hagrid, for the class he was taking. Bloody scary book, that was. It hid under my chair, and bit dad when he went after it. I didn't want to get down off my chair for a good while after they got it out; what if it bit me again, or if what bit dad hadn't been the book?
So, in other words it's not all that strange that Harry's being obsessive with the library. He does that sometimes. Maybe you could ask him what he's looking up. Just because Neville spends more time in the library, doesn't mean he's that much smarter than my brother.
From,
Sister to the Beast Boy
Jan. 18th
Dear Beast Girl,
I suppose he might be looking something up; he does need some help with his work during class. Neville has said he doesn't see Harry in the sections on schoolwork when he's up there finishing off his essays, but then again Harry isn't quite as dedicated to school as Neville is. Neville does get the better grades. Hermione seems to like him a lot. I'd almost suspect her of having a crush if she seemed less bookish. Then again, they're usually in the library together so … I wouldn't be surprised if they made prefect in their year.
From,
Sister to the Good Student
Feb. 23rd
(On the bottom of a letter home from Harry, written by Neville)
I would like to add here that Melanie says she's sorry to Nanna for being an uppity brat and trying to compare me and Harry for some pointless reason I have yet to figure out. If she would send a short note, they can continue their correspondence, or choose to think each other enemies for one of the most ridiculous reasons I've come across in a long time.
Neville
I'd like to add to my little sister that arguing about my and Neville's academics has to fall under the category of ridiculous, and being angry for a long while about some petty reason is a very Slytherin thing to do, so if she'd like to be in the same house as me, she should probably calm down unless she wants to get more chances to hex Malfoy.
Harry
Feb. 25th
Dear Ms. Longbottom,
I would sincerely apologize for the presumption of betting Harry against Neville as who was smarter than whom. I realize now that they're both blunt males, and probably can argue fine amongst themselves for points of prowess.
Kindly accept my apologies,
From,
Ms. Potter
Feb 27th
Dear Ms. Potter.
Apology accepted.
I admit to fault of my own in worsening the argument and agree that if they wish to argue academics that is their own choice, and not one we need to bring up amongst ourselves.
Please, can I inquire as to what I have missed?
From,
Ms. Longbottom
Easter HolidayMar. 30th
Dear Nanna,
You won't believe this! You know how Hermione is horribly over-achieving in all her work? Neville finally bearded her on it, and you won't believe what she tried to do now! She was taking all of the classes offered for third years, and finally it apparently overwhelmed her, she missed Charms, and walked out of Divination. Neville made her fess up, and now she's stopped going to Divination and Muggle Studies. She was getting to all her classes with a time-turner! It's amazing, but she really couldn't handle it. Neville talked her into dropping those and getting sleep in her spare time now, so everything should be alright. It's still absolutely amazing!
Oh, and Gryffindor's taking on Ravenclaw for the final match of the year. I'll tell you who won and everything afterwards, alright? And then it's final exams and home … I'm looking forward to seeing you again. Next year you'll be at school with me! I'm so looking forward to it, we'll have to make sure to jump Harry and Neville big time …
From,
Melanie
On to Fourth Year …
A/N: Here is the third year interlude, and next week will be the beginning of fourth year, and once more a return to only one update per two weeks. I thank everyone you reviewed last chapter; it was very definitely appreciated. hands out chocolate Thank you again. I hope you like how the story's going, and look forward to hearing your responses and also look forward to starting posting fourth year ... It's a lot of fun, that. And after fourth year comes fifth ... But that's a ways off. I've got lots of chapters for fourth year, and lemme tell you already, it's finished and just waiting for all of you. Maybe if I start getting a spectacular review turn out I might be convinced to update a little more often ...
Thank you for reading my story!
Fire & Napalm