Part 6

Just as Harry was about to turn to the next entry, Ron's owl, Pig came flying through the window like a small, furry tennis ball. Harry smiled, but his eyes teared up just looking at Pig. Sirius had given Pig to Ron after he had revealed Scabbers for who he really was.

Grabbing Pig out of the air, Harry took the letter off of Pig's leg.

Pig hooted excitedly and Harry froze, listening for the Dursleys. "Shhhh!" he lunged at Pig and put him in the cage. "Quiet, all right?" he said, shaking the little bird. Pig hooted quieter than before and Harry was reassured.

Sitting on his bed, Harry read Ron's messy scrawl.

"Hi Harry, how are you? Hedwig came in just as I was about to send Pig out. I thought that it would be better to read your letter and then send Pig. We are all good here. Bill is doing terrifically and Mum and Fleur are excitedly planning the wedding. It would make me nauseous if it wasn't so cute.

Charlie hasn't come back yet, but he'll be back in time for the wedding, Mum made him promise. Dad is as busy as ever. He is being treated like a hero at work because he never stopped believing in Dumbledore. I'm still finding it hard to believe that Dumbledore…isn't here anymore. And it's even harder to believe that we won't be going back to Hogwarts in September.

Anyway, everything's good here. It's nice to be back in the Burrow. Even the ghoul is nice to have around. He's as loud as ever by the way.

Fred and George should be coming home in a week or so. I keep looking across the hall to their room and expecting to hear an explosion or something. I'm telling you mate, it seems so quiet in the house without them.

Ginny is good as well. She says to say hi to you. Honestly mate, I still think she has feelings for you. But every time I ask her, she denies it, so I'll leave it at that.

Mum invited Parvati and Padma Patil and their parents to the wedding, I have absolutely no idea why. Mum says it is because they were nice to Fleur when she was at Hogwarts. I'm still having my suspicions. Not that I don't like the girls of course, but…well…you know. It's different when your mom is trying to set you up with them.

I can't wait till you get here mate, there are too many girls for my liking. I'm surrounded!

Percy showed up this afternoon. Mum was so happy to see him that she practically threw herself at him! Dad wasn't so emotional though. He was stiff and cold, barely even saying hi to the slimy git. Fred and George were at the house for lunch and to welcome us home. They got so red in the face I was scared they were going to hit him! Instead though, they called him a bunch of foul names that Mum got mad at and then used their wands to throw him out of the house. I couldn't believe it. Then Mum ran outside after Percy, but he was too angry. We heard him say to Mum before he left, "I do appreciate your love, Mother, but obviously I am no longer welcome in this family," and then he apparated away! Mum started crying and then yelled at us for not giving him a better welcome. She cried for the rest of the afternoon and was still crying by the time dinner came around.

Anyway, that's all the news, so, hope that the Dursleys will let you out of your room soon.

See you in a couple weeks!
Ron"

Harry smiled at his friend's letter and read it again. It sounded so much like Ron that Harry could almost see him standing in front, freckles standing out brightly and his red hair messy. Just as he was about to send Pig out the window, a post owl came and landed on the window sill. It was from Hermione!

Harry was even more excited to hear from her than Ron. He tore the letter off of the owl's leg and immediately, the owl took off.

Not even bothering to open the letter properly, Harry grabbed the letter out and began to read excitedly.

"Dear Harry,

I was so glad to get your letter, and so quickly too. You haven't always been such a reliable writer. Of course, I know what life must be like with the Dursleys and I figured that you would have gotten into trouble already. Am I right? Of course I am.

Anyway, Mum and Dad were happy to see me. We went out for ice cream after I got off the train and I decided to stop and write you a letter. I'm still in the ice cream shop. Dad has dragged Mum off to get some more dental supplies, leaving me alone to write.

I can't believe that I won't see you for a whole month! I miss you already! (and Ron too of course.) Things are going to be so quiet without you two to get me in trouble. Crookshanks wasn't very happy to be home. I think he liked the wizarding world better. He seems to know that there won't be any gnomes to chase in our backyard. I also think that he misses Sirius. You know what good friends they were. Sorry, I didn't mean to remind you.
I talked to Ron and I think that he's finally gotten over his crush on Fleur. He would have to, his brother is marrying her. I don't see what he sees in her anyway. She's too pale in my opinion.

Anyway, I should go now. Mum and Dad have just gotten back. I'll see you at Ron's okay? Have a good month with the Dursleys and Harry, for goodness sake, please be careful!
Love,

Hermione"

Harry smiled and decided that it was a good place to stop for the night. Taking off his glasses, Harry stumbled into his pajamas and climbed into bed. Although he knew that somewhere Lord Voldemort was out there somewhere, with such good friends, Harry found it hard to be worried.