Author's Note: I know it's been a while, but I have not acquired rights to any of the characters, locations, plot points, or... Well, anything else related to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

As always, reviews only make the next chapter come out that much better and faster! I promise I'm not abandoning this anytime soon, but it's a hobby, and pretty much on the backburner, but I've finally taken the time to outline large chunks (through 5th year as of now) so hopefully that will speed some of the actual writing up.

I'm using italics both for written word and thoughts that aren't spoken dialogue, I think it should be really obvious which is which, but if for some reason that gets confusing, let me know and I can try something else for it.

Lastly, I'm finding I really enjoy writing Daphne's POV, so here you go...


"So Daph, what did you say in your letter back to Harry?" Tracy asked.

Daphne looked back blankly at her best friend, "What letter?"

Tracy sighed before responding, "Well, you kissed the boy and he sent you a letter that I thought you might have responded to at some point since you probably won't see him for a few weeks..."

Daphne's face paled. "I need to write him a letter. Now."

"Yes, you really probably should. I'll leave you to it then," Tracy said as she walked away, knowing her friend would make for rather boring - or more likely non-existent - conversation until she had finished writing the letter.

Meanwhile, Daphne got to work writing her letter:

Harry,

I hope this letter finds you (and Mr. Weasley) well, and I appreciate you letting me know why you left school early; I had been quite worried until your owl showed up. She's beautiful, by the way, what is her name?

I'm heading back on the Express tomorrow, and hopefully will get to take care of what's left of my Christmas shopping when my parents pick me up at the station. Do you have any plans for the next few days?

Anyways, I hope this letter makes clear that, yes, I would be very happy to write you often over the holidays, as well as to talk more about us when we both return.

Until then,

Daphne

It was at this point that Daphne realized she had no idea where to send the letter. "I guess I could just address it with his name and hope my owl, Primrose, could find him," Daphne thought to herself, "But she's never had to do that before, and I'm not sure she'd be able to find him."

When she arrived in the owlery to give her letter to Primrose, she was surprised to be greeted by a familiar-looking snowy owl. "You're Harry's owl, right?" Daphne wondered aloud. "Hooo!" the owl responded. "Can you take this letter to him for me?"

"Breeek!"

"Here, just let me finish it really quickly," Daphne said as she jotted a quick post-script.

P.S. Your owl is smart as well as beautiful - she found me in the owlery trying to send this to you. I hope she can find you quickly!

"Here you go girl, can you take this to Harry for me?"

Hedwig hooted a little indignantly at even being asked such a question before flying through the window and off towards London.


Harry looked skeptically at Tonks as she spoke to the mannikin through the glass window. How on Earth does she expect it to hear her through the glass? he wondered before coming to his senses and realizing that it was an inanimate mannikin and couldn't hear her regardless. He mentally ridiculed himself for several seconds - until the mannikin reached its arms out and pulled first Tonks, then Ginny, the twins, Ron, himself and finally Moody through the glass.

Right, magic. Not only can the mannikin hear through the glass, it is also very much NOT inanimate. Harry sighed. I really need to stop underestimating magic, it would be just as easy to set up some kind of trap like that as an entrance to a hosp-

"Harry, keep up!"

He looked up to see Tonks looking at him with a bemused grin. "Oh, sorry, I got lost in my head for a bit there. My bad, I'm right behind you." As he hurried to catch up, he caught Ron mumbling something with a dark look on his face, but was unable to make out what it was. He assumed it probably had something to do with "filthy snakes," but he didn't have time to sort out Ron's problems in that moment - he had just fully remembered why they were in the wizarding hospital in the first place and his mind was suddenly racing not only with concern for Mr. Weasley - who along with Sirius was probably the closest thing he had ever really known to a father - but also with concern for why he had seen this whole episode from the snake's point of view. Try as he might to convince himself that he had never left his bed, he still felt more than a bit of guilt as he tried to convince himself that he couldn't be responsible for attacking Mr. Weasley - but then, why could he remember the sensation of his fangs puncturing flesh, the taste of blood as it poured out... He shook his head to clear such disturbing thoughts and followed everyone else into the room.


While Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were overwhelmingly grateful to Harry for his intervention in the attack, Harry made his excuses and stepped out to go look for the tea room after only a few minutes, unable to stand the muttered snide comments of the boy he considered his best friend. Not far behind him were the twins and, a step behind them, Ginny.

One of the twins (Harry thought it was Fred, but it was hard to be certain) began to apologize, "Sorry about our -"

"-git of a brother, Harry."

"Hopefully he'll stop being such a -"

"-jealous prat soon. Maybe if we could -"

"-find someone for him to -"

"-snog, it would speed things -"

"-up," finished the original twin.

Harry laughed, while Ginny smirked.

"See Harry, I told you that was a good solution."

The twins looked at each other in shock. "Who on Earth -"

"-do you know who would be willing to -"

The round of twin-pong was cut short when they literally ran into Neville Longbottom rounding the corner. After a rapid-fire round of apologies on both sides, Ginny asked Neville, rather hesitantly, "Is everything okay Neville? Is your Gran -"

"She's fine," replied Neville, before quietly adding, "we're just here visiting my parents."

"Your parents? I thought.." Harry started before remembering what he had seen in the pensieve trial the year prior. "I'm sorry," he finished. "I can only imagine how hard that must be."

"It feels easier this year than it has in a long time," Neville said with a bit more confidence. "Knowing that with the DA and all that I'm finally living up to their legacy, working to avenge them."

Harry smiled back at him. "That feeling I understand completely Neville."