A/N: I'd really like to know what you think of this chapter, as it's a bit different. I like writing in letter format, and I think it's a good way to get through this year when they're separated. Anyway, I am sorry I didn't update yesterday or Friday, but I had a really busy weekend. Oh, and I saw Half Blood Prince and loved it! Though I do think they should have had some scenes between Harry and Ginny after the kiss, as their relationship was kind of left up in the air. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Chapter Five:
Dear Ginny,
How are things at home? You're going to just love Hogwarts when you come next year! It's absolutely magical! I mean, of course it's magical, but this is amazing. I think my favourite lesson so far is Transfiguration, but they're all so interesting, it's hard to choose. I'm sharing a dorm with two girls, Parvati Patil and Lavender Brown. They're both nice enough, but very giggly; into gossip and nail polish and things, you know?
Oh! I just remembered that you didn't know, we all got sorted into Gryffindor, although it was a close call. The sorting hat definitely considered putting me in Ravenclaw, and it took an age to decide where to put Harry, and he still won't tell me what it said. Ron, of course, only had to place the hat on his head before it shouted out 'Gryffindor!', so no surprises there. As you know from your brothers, Professor McGonagall is our head of house. She's quite strict, but seems fair. Professor Snape, on the other hand absolutely loathes Harry and I. He went to school with our parents, you know, and seems to hold some kind of grudge against Dad. I swear, I thought Harry was going to blow up when he insulted Dad in our first potions lesson.
You'll have to tell me everything that's going on at home, too. I miss everyone, particularly you, so much! I'm looking forward to going home and seeing you again at the Christmas holidays, although I already love Hogwarts like a second home (or third, I guess, if you consider how much time Harry and I spend at The Burrow!). I wish you could be here now, but I guess we'll just have to rely on letters for a while.
Write back as soon as you can, and Harry and Ron say 'hi'. (One of them will write your next letter, as we've thought it best to take turns.)
Lots of love, Hermione (and Harry and Ron)
Dear Hermione (and Harry and Ron),
Things have been pretty quiet here, but that could be because you've only been gone for two days! Still, I love hearing from you, and all about Hogwarts. I do have some news, though. You know how Charlie wasn't going to be able to come to Christmas this year? Well Mum and Dad have decided to bring Christmas to him. That's right, we're all (Potters, Remus and Sirius included) going to Romania for Christmas! Mum couldn't stand the thought of "her little baby all alone at Christmas" (though I'm sure Charlie wouldn't have minded too much), and she didn't want this to be the first year where we weren't all together for the holidays. So, in typical Mum fashion, she came up with a solution for everyone. We're leaving the day after you guys get back, and going by international portkey, (probably two or three with all of us plus luggage) to stay for two weeks. So the holidays should be interesting this year.
How's school going? Done any good pranks yet? (Hermione you can close your eyes for this next bit if you don't want to be caught aiding and abetting mischief!) I found an interesting spell when I was going through one of Bill's old school books and I thought you might like to try it out on a certain pompous prat (and no, I don't mean Percy, I was thinking more along the lines of Malfoy). Let's just say that it has amusing results, involving ballet, hot pink stripes, and possibly even fairy wings. The spell is (and I'll write the pronunciation to avoid any unfortunate mistakes)rose-ailes dansinnium (roz-el don-zin-e-um) accompanied by a quick anti-clockwise half circle swish with your wand. I want pictures!
Alright, 'Mione, you can look again. Don't worry it's nothing permanent. Anyway, I want details on all your amazing exploits, and anything else you can think to tell me.
Lots of Love,
Ginny
Dear Gin,
Alright, I have to say, you are the queen of pranks! We decided to try the spell on a certain Slytherin who's name I won't mention here (no surprise he got into Slytherin though, is it? By the way, our parents aren't reading this are they? Maybe we should devise a code?). Anyway, we tried it during breakfast and you should have seen it! All of a sudden he jumped up; and he looked as shocked as anyone when he did, and his robes changed to this hot pink tutu with tights and everything. I have to say, the tiara and fairy wings were just the icing on the cake! Snape got up at this point, but before he could do anything, Malfoy was doing these great flying leaps and twirls all over the place. You should have seen his face! Don't worry, I've enclosed pictures. The whole hall, even his own house, was in hysterics! 'Mione refused to participate with the spell (said she didn't want a detention in the first week) but she was laughing just as hard as the rest of us, particularly when he did this huge leap and landed in the splits! I think I have a picture of that, there, too. As much as she tries to deny it, Hermione is the daughter of a marauder, through and through.
As for our other exploits, I made the Quidditch team! It all happened just after the ballet incident, during our first flying lesson. Malfoy, recovered from his morning and seemingly out for revenge, was picking on a boy in our dorm, Neville Longbottom. Neville's a nice enough guy, but really clumsy and kind of forgetful. Anyway, his Gran had sent him a Remembrall with the post that morning, and when Neville was taken to the Hospital Wing (don't ask, I'm still not sure what exactly happened) Malfoy stole the ball off the ground where Neville had dropped it. He jumped on his broom and flew off with it, threatening to leave it in a tree. So I got on my broom (school brooms are terrible by the way) and ended up having to go into this huge dive to catch it when Malfoy threw it. I'd just landed when Professor McGonagall (you know her, right?) came charging up to me from the castle and demanded that I follow her.
I thought I was going to be expelled for sure, because we weren't actually supposed to be on the brooms after Madame Hooch (the flying instructor) took Neville away. So here I was, sure I was about to be hauled in front of Dumbledore, when she takes me to see this fifth year called Oliver Wood. Wood's the captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, and apparently they've been looking for a seeker ever since Charlie left. McGonagall saw me dive, and decided that I would do, so now I'm Gryffindor's newest seeker! I know first years aren't supposed to play on the team, but McGonagall said they'd bend the rule this once. And Mum and Dad are going to send over the Nimbus 2000 they gave me for my birthday.
So all in all, it's been a pretty eventful day, due mostly to Malfoy. I suppose I can't be too hard on the prat though, since it's thanks to him I'm on the team in the first place.
I'll write again soon, though I think it takes a couple days for the owls to deliver the letters; we only got yours yesterday. Romania sounds like a great idea for Christmas, so I'll see you then,
Harry (and Ron and 'Mione)
Dear Tom,
I've told you about Harry, right? Destroyer of Dark Lords and twin of the great Hermione? Well I've just gotten a letter from him, and he's made the Quidditch team; youngest seeker in a century! And the prank on Malfoy went right to plan; there were even some photos with his letter. Hearing about all the fun times they're having makes me wish I was there with them, though.
Well I have to go now, or Mum will want to know what I'm doing spending so much time in my room.
Love,
Ginny
Dear Harry (and Ron and 'Mione),
What can I say? Congratulations on being the youngest seeker in a century (your dad's really proud and has been telling everyone!) but just because Malfoy's the reason you made it onto the team, doesn't mean you have to send him a thank you card or anything (unless it's filled with itching powder or something. Now there's an idea). The pictures were hilarious and I, with great care not to let either of our mums see, showed them to Dad, and the Marauders. Sirius wants to know if he could borrow the spell for a colleague of his, though I think your dad squashed that idea by saying that, as head of the department, he'd be forced to take action against Sirius even if, and I quote, "the leotard would go nicely with that prat Smith's swelled head".
Speaking of Sirius, you'll never guess what I've just found out! I'm trying to decide whether I should keep you in suspense till my next letter or just tell you straight out. For one thing, I know none of you can stand waiting and it'll make you write back faster, but on the other hand, this news is so big, I just have to tell you.
Okay...
Sirius has a girlfriend!
Now I know you're probably rolling your eyes and saying something like 'Sirius has a new girlfriend every few days, big deal'. But that's the thing. He's been dating this girl for two months; completely in secret. And you know that for Sirius, two months may as well be two years. Now do you see what the big deal is? Thought you might.
Now you may think I've caved and saved you all the suspense, but that's where you're wrong. See, I have yet to tell you who the mystery girl is.
And I think I hear Mum calling now, so I'd better go. Guess you'll just have to wait for my next letter!
Lots of Love,
Ginny
Ginny, it must be terrible being all alone while your friends are off at Hogwarts without you. Why don't you tell me more about your friends? What was it you said Harry was famous for?
Your friend, Tom
Gin,
Sirius has had a secret girlfriend for two months? Who is she? Come on, you know we hate secrets. What happened to that pact we made when we were five, about never having secrets between us? And I have a message to pass on from Hermione: as much of a prat as Malfoy may be, we can't go putting things like itching powder on his clothes without provocation. She'd write to you herself, but we have a nasty Herbology essay due next week, and Hermione likes to get on top of these things. Nutters she is. Personally, I'm all for coating the evil git's underwear in everlasting itching powder, and I think Harry would be too. Maybe this can just be one of those things we do when Hermione is safely ensconced in the library. Mind you, we'd have to actually find a way to get the itching powder there in the first place, and that's definitely not something I want to do.
Anyway, talk to you soon,
Ron (and Hermione and Harry)
Tom, I can't wait to go to Hogwarts next year, they all seem to be having so much fun. I'm even jealous of their homework, which is just ridiculous!
Love,
Ginny
Dear Ron (and Hermione and Harry),
Firstly, considering there are supposedly no secrets, just what goes on when Hermione is 'safely ensconced in the library' as you put it? And secondly, you came up with that pact because you and Harry were jealous about Hermione and I whispering to each other at the dinner table; we never agreed to it. (Probably because we were talking about what to get you for Christmas at the time!)
As for the secret: Hermione, you wouldn't happen to remember your mother's best friend from her Hogwarts days, would you? The one who also happens to be yours and Harry's godmother, and lived in Australia for the last ten years? Yes, Katie Allison is back, and has apparently been dating Sirius ever since she returned. Now, no need to worry, I've already told Sirius that if he stuffs this one up, he's going to have not one, but five, very angry witches after him. After all, Katie herself would be bad enough, but both of our mums, plus you and I, would surely be able to come up with a suitable punishment for breaking her heart, won't we 'Mione? So let's hope he looks after her.
And yes, I have seen Katie since she came back; she came over for dinner last week and sends her love to all you guys. As do Sirius and Remus, now that I mention it. Although their's was more like 'make sure to get in at least one more good prank before the holidays'- they suggest Halloween next week - and Remus wanted to add that he's proud of his god-daughter for achieving the highest transfiguration mark from a first year in fifty years – so well done Hermione.
Only two more months before holidays, and then we'll all be off to Romania together.
Lots of Love,
Ginny
You will promise to take me with you when you go to Hogwarts next year, won't you Ginny? After all, I know you'd hate for me to feel as left out as you do now.
Your friend,
Tom
Dear Ginny,
I can't believe Katie's back! And she's dating Sirius! I haven't seen her since she visited last summer. Is she coming with us to Romania for Christmas? I hope so; I can't wait to see her again.
And Gin, I know it was you who sent Ron and Harry that itching powder for Malfoy, so don't even try to deny it! Still, it was pretty funny. I'm amazed that those two haven't been caught yet, but I suppose they have the cloak and map to help them out.
So, you've told us a lot about the goings on in the family, but how are you? I hope you're not too lonely on your own, but just think, we're already more than one fifth of the way through the school year, and only half of November and December left before we see you for Christmas.
The homework is really starting to pile up, but I think I'm managing fairly well. I honestly don't know how either Ron or Harry are passing half their classes, as they seem to spend most of their time either eating, pulling pranks, or playing chess! I don't even know why Harry bothers playing anymore, as Ron wins every game.
Well, I have to get back to my potions essay now, but I can't wait to hear from you again! Write soon,
Lots of Love,
Hermione (and Harry and Ron)
Dear Ginny,
Do you know anything about the old legends of Hogwarts? They are fascinating subjects, and I believe you would enjoy them immensely. Try researching things like the formation of Hogwarts, the Sorting Hat, and the Chamber of Secrets. Maybe it would even help you feel closer to your friends.
Your friend,
Tom
Dear 'Mione (and Harry and Ron),
Yes, Katie is coming to Romania with us, so you'll all see her again then. As for me, I'm doing well. Bill was home on business last weekend, so I caught up with him, but he couldn't stay for long. He did tell me about this curse he found that causes bats to grow out of someone's nostrils and attack them. Maybe I'll try it on the twins next time they prank me.
Hermione, I was wondering if you knew anything about the Chamber of Secrets? I've been researching some old Hogwarts legends, just for something to do, but I can't find much on it. I just thought it sounded interesting.
Have to go now, we're about to start dinner.
Lots of Love,
Ginny
Dear Gin,
Hermione says to tell you that the Chamber of Secrets is just a legend, and if Dumbledore hasn't found it by now, it probably never existed in the first place. If you really want to know though, she'll see what she can find out. What's with the sudden interest in history? Though I suppose you'd better learn as much as you can now, 'cause with Binns as the History of Magic Professor, you won't learn a thing. I swear, the other day, Neville, (we've told you about him right? Neville Longbottom?) had fallen asleep during history of magic (which is not an uncommon occurrence for anyone accept Hermione) when his toad, Trevor, who was sitting in his pocket, jumped out right onto his head. Neville got such a fright, he fell right out of his chair, and Binns never even looked up from his notes.
I can try asking Binns what he knows about the Chamber if you want, but I doubt I'd have much luck. Hermione's definitely your best bet.
School is school, at least as far as the work goes. They seem to be trying to cram everything in before we break for holidays next week. Speaking of holidays, Ron says to remind your mum that he hates maroon, and would much prefer if his Weasley jumper was blue or something this year. I tried telling him that she probably started all of the jumpers months ago, but he says he lives in hope.
Well I guess that's all I have to report for now, but we'll be seeing you on Sunday. You can tell me all about what you've been doing ('cause you've been pretty vague about that) over Christmas pudding and treacle tart. The house elves here may be good, but they have nothing on either of our mums' desserts.
Harry (and Ron and 'Mione)