Dear Harry,
Where do I even begin? I suppose the beginning would be a good place to start, because, well, what better a place to start than at the beginning?
I will never forget the day we first met. It was on the Hogwarts Express and I was a nervous wreck. Of course, you never knew that. You weren't supposed to know. I know I acted bossy, but that was just my way of dealing with the nervous fear I had been feeling the entire day. I know you must understand what I was feeling, being raised by Muggles your entire life and knowing nothing of this magical world that existed right behind your back.
You really are a great wizard, Harry. I remember the first time I told you that, after we had gone down through the trapdoor. I also told you that there were more important things than books and cleverness; things like friendship and bravery. I still stand by what I said that night. Sure, I'm the one who can correct your spell pronunciation or list all the things wrong in your potions essay within a matter of minutes, but sometimes bravery and loyalty to your friends really get you places. They are two qualities a lot of great wizards actually lack. Take Voldemort for instance. Magic-wise, he was very powerful, but he didn't know a thing about love or friendship and look where that got him. Absolutely nowhere.
Anyway, the real point of this letter was for me to tell you that I honestly don't know where I would be without you and Ron. You're my best friend, Harry. You understand me, and you can make me laugh and actually get me to loosen up sometimes. You had a real knack for being moody during school. You had a good reason most of the time, but when you weren't being so incredibly moody, you were being funny and goofing around and procrastinating on your work.
I'm really glad I got to see the boy behind the lightning bolt scar; the boy who hates to dance, loves to fly, and who will defy a teacher's orders just to get a friend's Remembrall back. I still think that was idiotic by the way, but it did work out in your favor, didn't it?
Now, eight years after our first meeting, I know a lot more about you than most people do. I know your faults, your assets, your fears and your favorite things and I'm sure you know mine. You see the girl behind the bushy hair and bossy, know-it-all front. Just like I got a chance to see the real Harry, you got to see the real Hermione.
I'm sorry if this letter is incredibly corny, but I really just wanted to say thank you, Harry, for absolutely everything. Thank you for being my friend, thank you for cheering me up when I'm down, and thank you for saving me from that mountain troll all those years ago. If you hadn't, I probably wouldn't be writing you this letter now. Stay exactly the way you are and if Ron gives you any trouble about you and Ginny, don't listen to him. I doubt you would anyway, but I just thought I'd tell you. He'll come around and get used to it eventually. It might take months or even years, knowing him, but he will.
On a closing note, you've really taught me a lot, Harry, and I don't just mean the spells and jinxes from the DA, although those were really very helpful. I mean that you've taught me a lot about life. You taught me that not everything can be found in a book. You taught me that sometimes you have to just do rather than stop to think. But most of all, you taught me a lot about loyalty, love and friendship, and that, I think, is the most important lesson of all.
Love, Hermione