Received at the Potter House at exactly 9:17:
Dear Mum and Dad,
I've had a fantastic first month at Hogwarts. I'm learning lots already. The boys from the dorm ate all nice and might even visit this summer. (names- Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, and Arthur Weasley) I've had great fun lounging by the lake since the grounds here are so beautiful. History of Magic is very exciting and Potions is able to make me laugh every day. I'm absolutely thrilled at D.A.D.A. which is becoming my best subject. I'm also happy with all the luck I've come across over these few weeks.
Love, James
P.S. You're sure you won't send the fireworks?
What that letter actually meant:
I'm learning lots already. -- James refers to his weekend explorations in the castle with Sirius, Remus, and Peter who have become his very close mates.
The boys from the dorm are all nice and might even visit this summer. -- James intends to ask his parents if Sirius, who hates his family, can move in.
Sirius Black-- James's best mate out of all the Dorm Room boys, Sirius had attracted the attention of practically every girl in the first (and second) year Gryffindor House. Aside from one defiant chick named Lily to whom James has become intrigued with.
Remus Lupin -- Thin and tattered, this boy disappeared one night, preventing them from going out the next day. All remain extremely curious.
Peter Pettigrew -- This stuttering boy is suck a clutz and scardy cat that James is close to banning him from explorations. He was only included because he was caught eavesdropping and following them around. James didn't feel like having to figure out a difficult memory spell. Sirius once said that he wanted to know how Peter got into Gryffindor in the first place. ("How do you get enough money to bribe a hat?")
I've had great fun lounging by the lake -- Not lounging by the lake, but pushing a certain someone into the lake. His name was Severus (a.k.a. Snivellus) and he'd infuriated James ever since James had heard him talking about Peter on the train that day. James knew of all the Dark Arts books Snivellus read and despised him for it. Although sometimes, Lily Evans would come down to the lake and protect the greasy-nosed idiot. James minded a bit, but never stopped taunting Snivellus and tipping him into the lake.
History of Magic is very exciting -- Yeah, right. It wasn't the subject at all. In fact, both Sirius and James felt that H.o.M. was especially pointless. The thing was that James and Sirius would have contests to find out who could role a marble farther down the aisle without Professor Binns noticing. For added fun, Remus would set up a few obstacles and the class would silently cheer and even place bets.
Potions is able to make me laugh everyday -- Sirius and James had daily Note Conversations on various things they figured out about the castle whenever they got the chance. It usually involved quirky remarks that made both of them try not to laugh out loud.
I'm absolutely thrilled about D.A.D.A. which is becoming my best subject -- This is the truest sentence in James's letter. He took notes so avidly in D.A.D.A. that there was no possible way for him to fool around in it. He loved Professor Dumbledore and was learning double the spells of any other kid in class. He could already do a shield spell, name every way you could trick a Hinky-Punk, and do a full body lock spell. He was starting to chip away at reading every single D.A.D.A. book in the library. He was up to 7 already. And they were pretty big books!
I'm also happy with all the luck I've come across these few weeks -- He refers here to the progress they've been making with the map they have been plotting. They've found what they suspect are secret passageways but have yet to open them.
And you're sure you won't send the fireworks? -- James is unaware of the fact that his parents threw them out which unfortunately resulted in turning the inside of their garage can bright blue. Speaking of that, James has become very well known for his pink shirts that are now in style. Many a desperate boy have tried (but failed) to turn their button-downs pink.