Disclaimer: See other chapters.
A/N: Well, Harry's got a mysterious letter. I really seem to have tricked people with this one… Well, this isn't really much of an action chapter, but I thought it was sort of important for Harry. Sorry to disappoint those who thought the letter might be from someone more interesting or whatever, but don't lose hope. Hopefully, people will hang on through this chapter and get ready for what's coming up… Have fun reading, and please R&R! --Miss Laine
0000000000000000 Chapter 9: The Letter 0000000000000000
Harry laughed and picked up the letter without any hesitation. It was from Ron and Hermione! This was definitely the perfect way to end his birthday.
He turned the lights up a little more so he would be able to read the decidedly thick letter, and then plopped down in his bed, wrapping the duvet close around his shoulders to stay warm.
The seal on the envelope popped easily under his thumb, and he pulled out the thick stack of parchment. He set all but the top page aside, and started to read:
'Dear Harry,
It's Ron, Harry. Hermione's hanging over my shoulder, demanding to write. We couldn't get you exactly what we wanted for your birthday this year, but we did find things. That snitch was Charlie's, if he didn't mention it. Probably didn't want you thinking you were getting second-hand stuff for your birthday, but he doesn't understand things like that…
Hello, Harry! I'm staying at the Burrow now, so if you get a chance to send a letter to us, just give it to Bill or Charlie. They'll see that we get it… Anyway, the little horntail I found in this cute shop at Diagon Alley. The shopkeeper said that it's made of some sort of odd glass with a little bit of emerald twisted through it. I just thought it was pretty. He said it's supposed to be a good luck charm. I'm not sure how Hungarian Horntails are supposed to be good luck, but there you have it.
All right, my turn again. Hope you like the snitch, Harry. Thought you might like to have one…and hey, I'm Quidditch Captain when we get back to Hogwarts! I got the letter from McGonagall by post a few days ago!
Did you get your OWLs, Harry? I did—and I'm Prefect again! So is Ron!
Wahoo. Now I'm excited. At least George and Fred won't be around…
It's too bad that you can't be a prefect, too, Harry, though I suppose it'll be easier for you not to be one… Sadly, I suppose that Malfoy's a prefect again. We'll just have to keep an eye on him. I mean, after last year—
All right, Hermione. Enough about academic stuff and Malfoys. We have all school year to worry about that… We don't have that much we can tell you, Harry. Order meetings are at your place now, so we don't know what's going on any more than you do. Sometimes dad mentions things, but it's usually pretty vague. I hear that your relatives were being right gits to you this summer.'
Here, Harry had to pick up the next sheet of parchment. He smiled, thinking of Hermione and Ron fighting over the parchment as they tried to write to him. Of course Hermione would have to get her bit in about OWLs, and Ron would rather talk about Quidditch. It was good to have something so familiar, when everything felt so out of place this summer.
The second sheet started in Hermione's handwriting. Obviously, she had started the next sheet and gotten a jump start on Ron.
'That must have been awful! I can't believe they'd actually strike you! That's terrible…but please don't tell me that you provoked them, Harry. I know you can have a bit of a temper, but I do not want to hear that you were fighting with them!
Well, I hope you did fight with them, mate. Give as good as you get, Harry, that's my motto. Malfoy sure figured that out… Hope you got that stupid cousin of yours…and I never did like your uncle. Seemed like a pretty terrible muggle. Even dad doesn't like him.
Don't even listen to Ron, Harry. He's just grouchy because of all the security around here. …Now don't get guilty feeling, Harry! Weasleys have a long history of opposing dark lords, so they're pretty high on the target list. Ron doesn't like having to check with an Auror before he flies his broom.
It's just that they're always around. Kind of odd to know that that feeling of someone watching you is real. Because someone is watching. ALL THE TIME!
Back to the point of this letter, Ron. We wanted you to stay in touch with us, Harry, and since we weren't allowed to send you Owls, we thought we'd just write a really long letter for your birthday.
We're sitting in my room right now, writing this. Hermione wants to tell you something, hold on a bit—
Ron and I have a teensy confession, though I suppose you already saw it coming. I guess you could say we're, uh,
We're going out, Harry. See, not hard to write, is it? I hope this isn't too much of shock to you, Harry, but it just sort of happened. We can talk about it when we get to Hogwarts if you want We're still your best friends, of course…so I hope you don't hold this against us or anything.'
The third sheet continued in Hermione's writing:
'Are you going to be on the Hogwarts Express? I can't wait to see you again!
Calm down, Hermione! So Harry, watch out for brown-haired witches. She's probably going to mob you the second she sees you.
We've both been worried about you, Harry. After the end of last year…and summer must seem so long spending it alone. At least now you're with some of the Order and at least a little involved. How is Moony?
You have to tell us what you've been up to, Harry. Dad's been hinting about something serious, and we're worried. I mean, he came home the other day and was muttering about curses and visions and something like that. We're just worried that you're in the middle of it, as usual.
I hope you're not having visions, Harry. That's terrible if you are. I know you don't like Professor Snape, Harry, but let him help if he can. I'm sure he would do it if Dumbledore asked him to.'
Harry stopped reading, yawning widely. It was hard to concentrate on the words and the way the letter kept shifting from Ron to Hermione to Ron to Hermione…
He set it aside, planning to finish it after Remus woke him later, and then rolled over onto his side on the bed.
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He didn't realize he'd fallen asleep until he woke up with Remus shaking his shoulder gently. "C'mon, Harry. Time to wake up," Remus whispered. Harry groaned and sat up.
"What time is it?" he asked groggily. It felt like he hadn't slept at all…but he hadn't had any dreams or visions, either. A definite improvement over the night before.
"Two."
"Two!" he objected.
"Just stay awake until five, Harry," Remus told him. "Then you can go back to sleep and sleep in until nine. Please?"
"Rrr," he groaned, knowing that there was no point arguing at all. "Fine. I wanted to finish reading Ron and Hermione's letter anyway," he agreed. "Will Charlie be able to take a response back to them?"
"I'm sure he will," Remus told him.
"Good," Harry said, reaching for the stack of papers. He'd fallen asleep with his glasses on his face, but he straightened them. "Go get some sleep, Remus," he ordered. "I'll be fine."
"All right, Harry, but come get me if you need to talk about anything at all," Remus agreed. Harry nodded.
"Go. Sleep," he said. Remus sighed and left. Harry wondered if perhaps he was supposed to hug Remus again or something…he wasn't sure how this whole thing worked. He let people hug him, but he didn't really hug people. It just was too awkward for him. If he'd ever tried to hug his aunt or uncle, they would have knocked him flat on his rear, afraid he would spread his 'disease' to them.
In fact, he couldn't remember having any sort of physical contact with any of his relatives since about the age of five, when he'd started taking his baths on his own. Only Dudley had ever come close—and that was just to punch him, so it didn't really count.
He sighed, pulling himself away from those memories, and found his place in the letter. He wanted to finish it before he got to sleep again, and then write his reply.
He found his place and kept reading:
'I'd watch out for Snape, Harry. He was lurking around once asking strange questions about you…and he muttered something about brain damage to my dad. You aren't brain-damaged, are you?
Ignore Ron's stupid question. Of course you aren't. Dumbledore would tell us something like that. He's being much more honest with us this year, so we know what's going on a little better, and we don't even have to sneak around to learn things.
It wasn't a stupid question, Hermione. I just like to be sure of things. Anyway, mostly we were just wondering how you are since last year. We know how rough it must've been for you, and having to be alone at the Dursleys and that…but we're here for you.
Wow. Ron said something smart! Of course we're here for you, Harry. We wouldn't be very good friends if we weren't, and besides, we can't get rid of you now. You're stuck with us.'
Finally, it seemed Ron had gotten to a piece of parchment first, Harry noted. The next one started in Ron's handwriting. Probably they'd been writing back and forth pretty fast…he didn't for one second believe that their squabbling was real. They probably started snogging as soon as they finished the letter…ew. He did not want to think about his two best friends snogging. To him, kissing Hermione would be like kissing a sister, if he had one.
'Very funny Hermione. Perhaps we should mention something about our OWL results so he'll tell us his?
Oh yes! Can you believe it, Harry? I got Outstandings in everything but my Arithmancy practical. I guess I mixed up two symbols slightly, so the grader graded me down. I think he might have been a little harsh—from what I hear, no one else scored above a P, and I got an Exceeds Expectations. McGonagall said it's plenty good enough to take NEWT level Arithmancy. I also got into the top one percent in all of my written exams and in the Charms practical.
My turn. My results are a little more modest, I think. I got an A in History of Magic, Exceed Expectations in Charms, Transfiguration, and Potions, and Outstanding in Defense Against the Dark Arts and Divination. Somehow, I think the graders might be related to Trelawney. They really believed all the bull I fed them. Mostly about you dying. Sorry, mate.
Professor McGonagall sent me a letter saying I got the highest scores of the entire fifth year class. That's why I'm a Prefect again, I suppose. I'm just glad I did well, and my parents are so proud.
My mum figures at least I did better than George and Fred. Or Forge and Gred, whatever they're calling themselves nowadays. Their joke shop is really doing well I guess, and they're doing a little recruiting for Dumbledore on the side. Some certain idiot we all know decided funding those two lunatics would be a good idea…
That's not very nice, Ron. I'm sure Harry knew exactly what he was doing, giving Fred and George that money. Although I'm not sure how he'd know, talking to Fred and George…
Professor McGonagall said that Snape's willing to let me into NEWT potions if I take a few extra classes on the side. I guess I'll do it. I still think I want to be an Auror, and Potions is an important NEWT to have for a lot of careers.
That's a very mature point of view, Ron. I'm glad you see how important this is.
And I'll be able to keep on tormenting the git. He'll have to suffer with me in his class for another two years!
All right, Ron. That's not quite as mature. We're running out of parchment Harry, so we're going to have to end this letter soon. Please write back as soon as you can, and have a good Birthday!
Same here, mate. Eat lots of cake for me, and tell Charlie he'd better make sure your letter gets to us. We might go nuts if we don't hear from you. Have a good rest of your summer, too, and we'll see you at Hogwarts I suppose. I'm guessing you probably won't be on the train, but who knows?'
Harry stopped reading there, though there were a few more comments about how they missed him and such. He wanted to write his reply before Charlie had to leave. It sounded like he'd be leaving sometime that day, and he didn't want to miss his chance to get a letter out to Ron and Hermione.
Their letter had been good for him, though. He missed his best friends a lot, and their letter helped him to feel like they were with him, at least a little. At least he knew that they missed him, even if not as much as he missed them.
Reluctantly, he got out of the warm bed in order to dig some parchment out of the desk in Sirius's—his—room. There were a few quills in there as well, and he took one out of the desk. There didn't seem to be any ink, though…
"Ink," he said out loud. "Isn't there any ink?"
There was a loud pop behind him, and he whipped around.
It was Kreacher. The odd and ancient house-elf was holding what looked to be a huge bucket of black ink. "Master Potter wants ink?" the elf asked. Harry shook his head, backing up and wishing that he'd brought his wand with him. He could see it, lying on the covers of the bed.
"No no, Kreacher," he said quickly. "No ink."
"But master said he wanted ink…" Kreacher muttered. "Master wanted to write a letter to Master's filthy friends…"
"Don't call them filthy, and get out of here, Kreacher," he said, at the end of his patience towards the house-elf. "I don't want ink!"
"Foolish master," Kreacher muttered. "Mistress would know what she wanted…but alas, Mistress, Mistress…"
Harry edges around towards the bed, carrying the parchment and quill. "Just please go, Kreacher. I'm fine, really," he said. The house-elf picked up the bucket of ink, then thought about it a moment, blinking large owlish eyes at Harry, who fidgeted nervously, still trying to get to his wand. He didn't feel the least bit safe around the senile creature.
"Ink…wants tea, wants toast…wants ink…." Kreacher muttered. He shook his head, great batty ears flapping lightly. "Stupid master. Foolish master will get himself killed…"
"OUT!" Harry snapped. He didn't want to shout and wake Remus up, but he wanted the stupid house-elf gone.
Kreacher seemed startled by his vehemence and with a crack was gone—but the ink was left behind. Tipped on its side. Spilled all over the rug. Harry sighed. He couldn't do magic to clean the mess up, so he'd have to leave it.
But he could salvage some ink for his letter, he thought. He tipped the bucket back upright, trying to use one of the sheets of parchment to sweep some of the puddle ink back into the bucket. When he finally gave up, his left hand was ink-stained up to his wrist and he had a sheet of soggy parchment. He also had enough ink for his letter. That was all he needed. He went into the bathroom long enough to rinse most of the ink off his hand and throw away the parchment paper, and then hurried back to the bed in order to begin his response to Hermione and Ron's letter.
Back in the warm bed, he started to write out his letter, his brain not working that fast since he was still fairly sleepy. His little run-in with Kreacher hadn't done much to put him in the letter-writing mood, but he was worried that this would be his only chance to write.
He wrote about his summer, leaving out some of the more embarrassing details (like his aunt smacking him repeatedly) that he really didn't think they needed to know, and then went on to how his birthday had went. He even made sure to give Snape his own little paragraph. Just to be sure that Hermione and Ron didn't worry that he had gone insane.
The next time he checked, he'd written over three pages of letter, and he was only getting to congratulating them—Ron, on finally using his brain, and Hermione for actually admitting she liked Ron. Those two had been so thick-headed that it had almost drove him nuts. At least they'd stop staring at each other when they thought no one was looking.
He checked over what he'd written so far, wondering just what all he'd said:
'Dear Hermione and Ron (Who are now, officially, a couple!),
I'm fine. I was 'rescued' from the Dursleys by the Order, and I'm staying at headquarters, which, by the way, now belong to me. I guess Snuffles left them to me in his will…he left Remus a third of his money, me a third, the Order a third…and guess what? He left Snape a knut.
A knut that was digested by his pet toad a while back, I guess. I hope Snape appreciates it.
My summer was probably the worst I've had with the Dursleys, but it didn't get bad until I decided to start talking back to my aunt. Sorry, Hermione. She really started to get on my nerves, and I guess I got a little upset with her. As in I yelled at her and all that. She didn't like that very much. Neither did my uncle, I guess. I shouted some pretty good stuff at him and he got mad at me, and it just escalated from there.
I think my aunt was pretty upset about Dudley's run-in with the dementors last year. For some reason, they had a really bad effect on him, and I barely saw him all of the three or so weeks I was there. Come to think of it, I don't remember talking to him more than twice…
My uncle was still pretty afraid of me and all that, but my aunt was the one that really went around the bend. Sometimes I really wonder how she could have ever been my mother's sister.
Anyway, I guess I was a little thin and not feeling so well, but Tonks has been stuffing so much food into me that your mum would be proud, Ron. I'm doing a lot better. Although this morning…er, I guess it was yesterday morning now…I had a bad vision. Snape came because Tonks went and got him, and he gave me some potions to help. Of course, then he started insulting me and such and I accidentally rolled into Snuffle's huge pool-tub thing. Snape dragged me out by my hair.
That git decided he'd yell at me some more, but I'd recovered by then and I told him to get the bloody hell out of my house. And he did. So I think I won that one. Oh, and Tonks gave him a black eye for being such a git to me. I'm really starting to hate Snape. I think before I may have just disliked him, but now…well, like I told Tonks, if I see him anytime soon I might be tempted to knock his ugly yellow teeth out or something. I think I could at least loosen a few. I've grown a little over the summer, and if I gain any weight at all I'd at least have a fighting chance of getting a few swings in.
I can't wait to see you guys. You're probably right in that I won't be on the Hogwarts Express. Everything's too dangerous for me. It took them a lot to even get me from the Dursleys to here safely. And by the way, congrats. I'm glad you two finally figured it out! Now I won't have to put up with you two staring at each other all sixth year but NOT GOING OUT. I'll try to stay out of your way on weekends, so you can have some 'alone time.' I don't want to get sick seeing my two best friends snogging. (And don't think I don't know that you are!)'
"Harry?" Remus's voice interrupted him.
"Yeah?" he asked, setting down the quill. He watched as Remus came in, yawning widely.
"You can get some more sleep now, Harry," Remus told him. "It's five thirty, and I really don't think anyone's going to be getting up before nine or so. Last night Bill and Charlie tried to drink each other under the table."
"Who won?" he asked. Remus laughed a little sheepishly.
"Tonks declared it a tie. I had a bit too much and didn't see who was still sitting at the end of it all. She says that they both fell out of their chairs at the same time," Remus told him. Harry rolled his eyes.
"I thought you said you weren't going to be drunk," he pointed out. Remus smiled.
"I haven't gotten drunk since I was—" Remus stopped himself, coloring a little. "Well, I definitely was underage."
"And you're the one telling me I can't drink," Harry grumbled good-naturedly. He really wasn't that excited about drinking something that tasted like molten lava, though.
"Pretend I didn't say anything, Harry," Remus groaned. "I think I'm going to head back to bed."
"Go," Harry said. "I'm going to finish up my letter so Charlie can take it back to Hermione and Ron, and then I'll go back to sleep."
"All right," Remus agreed, yawning again. Harry watched his guardian go fondly, then turned back to his letter. It was near a good endpoint anyway, so he wrote just a bit about how much he liked his gifts, and told them they'd have to help him with his fan mail.
He just about fell asleep holding onto the quill, but managed to put everything on the bedside table, along with his glasses, before falling back to sleep.
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At breakfast, Harry ate the eggs and bacon that Tonks put in front of him automatically. He hadn't really noticed it, so careful did she do it, but the portions he'd been eating had been growing larger. It felt good to eat this much again, he decided.
She smiled cheerily at him while she served her own plate and sat down, leafing through the paper much as Remus did. Harry laughed when he realized that she'd never really expressed much interest in the paper before. "You know, perhaps you should just tell him you fancy him," he pointed out. She jumped and dropped the paper before falling out of her chair.
He was still laughing when she made it back to her feet, face red. "W-what are you talking about, Harry?" she asked. "Who said I fancied Remus?"
"Oh, come on," he said, rolling his eyes and munching down a piece of bacon. "My two best friends have mooned over each other for almost two years now, and they finally just told each other the truth," he told her. "It works out much easier that way."
Tonks glared at him and sat back down. "I do not fancy Remus!" she stated sharply. Harry shrugged.
"Too bad," he said. "'Cuz I think he likes you too."
"Really?" Tonks squeaked.
"Really what?" came Remus's voice. Tonks once again fell out of her chair with a squeak. Harry started laughing again, even as Remus came in, looking drowsy and a little confused. "What? What did I miss?"
"N-nothing," Harry laughed. "Unless T-Tonks has something to s-share!" he added, stumbling over the words as he laughed harder. Tonks finally made it to her feet for the second time, straightening her robes embarrassedly.
"Nothing. Nothing at all," she said primly. "Would you like some breakfast, Remus?" she asked, changing the subject.
Remus grinned. "Sure," he agreed. Tonks busied herself filling a plate while Remus sat down. He picked up the paper sitting by Tonk's plate, glancing at her a little questioningly. She reddened some more and didn't say anything, although the spoon in the eggs clacked against the china dish rather badly when she set it down. "Did you get your letter written?" Remus asked. Harry nodded, swallowing the eggs in his mouth.
"Yeah," he said. "I thought I'd better get it written now so they'd at least get one letter from me. I don't know when I'll next be able to get one out."
"If Charlie ever gets up," Remus said. "I have to buy more fire-whiskey now. They just about finished all the Ogden's I had."
Tonks set the plate down in front of Remus and sat back down. "I think you put a fair dent in your own supplies, Remus," she commented. Remus blushed a little, looking sheepish.
"Er—this looks good," he said quickly. Tonks rolled her eyes. Obviously, she wasn't so enraptured with Remus that she couldn't tease him normally.
"How much did they all drink?" Harry asked, curious. Tonks giggled.
"Remus here had at least a few glasses. He can't hold his liquor very well, I'd say," she informed Harry. Remus glared at her, then turned to Harry.
"I said I hadn't drank in a while. And I was not drunk!" he added. Harry laughed when Tonks rolled her eyes.
"Bill and Charlie drank much more," she went on. "Of course, they're both used to it, it seems…"
"…And now we're up." A sleepy-eyed Bill came into the kitchen, followed by Charlie, who looked just a little bit better. They both had dark smudges under their eyes, and Bill looked a little green.
"Up for some breakfast, boys?" Tonks asked cheerily. Bill shook his head, but Charlie smiled.
"Sure thing!" he said. Bill just groaned and sat down. "Bill's just never willing to admit that he's not as tough as he thinks," he confided conspiratorially to Harry, who laughed.
Bill just glared. "I'm never drinking with you again, little brother," he informed the shorter red haired man. "Mum would be shocked at how much you drink."
"Let's not forget how much whiskey you drank last night, Bill," Charlie teased, then took a large bite of eggs straight from the serving spoon. Tonks swatted his hand.
"Get a plate!" she objected. Charlie grinned.
"Sure thing," he agreed, snagging her plate. She frowned and humphed and got another plate without arguing.
"You're completely impossible, Charles Weasley!" she snapped. Harry wasn't sure if she really was annoyed or not, but he didn't think she liked Charlie flirting with her so much. Not in front of Remus.
Remus didn't seem to pay either any mind. He was just reading the newspaper, looking totally engrossed in the pages. Harry would have thought the man was oblivious to what was going on around him if not for the very small smile that appeared on his face. Remus was very good at playing ignorant, Harry decided.
"I have that letter, Charlie," Harry spoke up as Charlie finished eating. The young man nodded, wiping his mouth with a napkin.
"Good, good," he said. "I'm headed out of here as soon as I finish, so it's a good thing you got it done, Harry."
"Tell them to write back if they can. I'd like to hear from them again before school starts," he asked. Charlie nodded, and Harry took the letter from his pockets, where he'd put it to keep it close. "And watch out, Charlie. They said they might mob you if you didn't bring back a letter."
"Thanks for the warning," Charlie said, flashing him a grin. He smiled to Tonks and Remus, and then strode out of the room, looking as healthy as if he had not been drinking the night before.
"It'll catch up with him tonight," Remus spoke up suddenly. Bill groaned.
"Not so loud, please," he begged, rubbing his temples. Remus smiled at him sympathetically.
"You look just like I did the first time I got hung-over," he sympathized.
"When was that?" Harry asked curiously. Remus coughed embarrassedly.
"Er—nevermind that, Harry. But Charlie'll have a pretty nasty headache tonight. That's how your dad was when he drank, Harry," Remus explained. Harry grinned.
"I suppose you three did a lot of slightly illegal drinking?" he questioned. Remus smiled.
"A little," he admitted. Tonks rolled her eyes again.
"Are you sure you don't want anything, Bill?" she asked. The young man shook his head.
"No, please no," he begged. "No food."
Charlie poked his head back in the room. "I'll see you all later," he said cheerily. He smirked cheekily at his older brother. "Hope you make it over that hangover, Bill," he teased. Bill didn't even say a word. Just shut his eyes.
"See you later, Charlie," Remus said. "Thank you for coming."
Charlie grinned. "My pleasure," he assured him.
"Thanks for taking that letter for me," Harry spoke up. Charlie nodded and then was gone. A faint whoosh sound told them he'd flooed out of the house.
Bill stayed slouched in his seat while the others finished eating. It was just as Bill was sitting up, looking a little less queasy, that the owl suddenly appeared. "AHHH!!" Bill shouted as the huge gray owl swooped seemingly out of nowhere. It dropped a huge bundle of letters right into the middle of the breakfast dishes, and was gone as suddenly as it appeared. "Damn, bloody, rotten, stupid owl," Bill groaned. He got up abruptly. "I'm going to find someplace bloody quieter to sleep at," he grumbled. Harry watched Bill leave, staggering slightly.
Remus laughed and fished the mail out of breakfast, flicking a few bits of eggs away. "That's Pisces, Dumbledore's mail owl," he explained. "Otherwise you wouldn't get your mail, Harry."
"My mail?" he echoed. He then remembered that from now on he'd be receiving all his mail, none of it with-held. "I don't want any," he said. Remus handed him the thick stack of envelopes.
"Too bad. You've got them. At least look through them and make sure they're all fan mail," Remus told him. Harry sighed and undid the string holding the letters together. He counted them quickly, and was amazed that there were fourteen different envelopes.
"Fan…fan…fan…" he said, as he sorted through them. Halfway through, though, at envelope number eight, he stopped. "Not fan," he said. It was an official letter from the Ministry of Magic. Just what had he done, he wondered?
"What is it, Harry?" Remus asked. Harry pulled the envelope out of the stack and set the others aside.
"From the Ministry," he explained. "It doesn't say what it is. It's from the 'Office of Ancestry,'" he read off the envelope. He popped the seal curiously and pulled out a sheaf of very official looking papers.
"Hmm," Remus said, looking interested and a little concerned. "I believe the Office of Ancestry does send letters occasionally…under certain circumstances… Of course, they usually send things on birthdays or other important dates. Read it, Harry. That might just be junk, but it might be important."
Harry obeyed. He read the first line, the second, the third…the first paragraph. "It's something about me being the last living descendent of...," he said, confused. "Gimme a sec," he added, reading on.
He turned to the second sheet of paper and started reading it. After a little while he looked up, hands shaking slightly. "Remus?" he asked.
Remus looked up sharply at his slightly shell-shocked tone. "What is it, Harry? What is that about?"
"Remus, how well did you know my mum?"
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A/N: Only a slight cliffie. Now people can guess what this letter's about, since I told you who it's from. I hope I don't lose anyone with where this going. It's just my own nutty idea coming into play, but I checked it against a few sources and it's still perfectly reasonable, if not just a teensy bit far-fetched.
J.Draven& Imaginaryfriendless – sorry. The letter was just Hermione and Ron. But now there's another letter. What could it be about….hmmm. Anyway, thank you for your reviews, and please keep reading and reviewing. It gets more complicated in the next few chapters, which is why updates are slowing down.
Crackerjacknpez – Thank you for your steady reviews. It's great to know that I can count on you to review my chapters. Thanks again.
Lilypotterfan, shadowsfriend, Oblivion13 – thank you for your wonderful (blushes) comments. I will keep updating as much as I can. Just remember I lose my internet connection on May 6, so updates will be a little further between. If you can survive to August on less updates, then you'll get the rest of it then. Because I'll be writing like mad over the summer, don't worry.
Ash Knight – I do want to hear your comments. Please! Tell me whatever you want to. I really do read my reviews, each and every one of them, and if the comments really do make sense, I do take them into account. So please don't leave out your comments! I want to hear them!
I think that's just about everyone I needed to include…if I forgot you, don't take it personally. Your review might not have shown up on the list yet, or I may just be stupid and blind and have forgotten you. --Miss Laine