When Hermione woke up the next morning after her date, she felt like she was on cloud nine. She was Harry's girlfriend and he had kissed her. She had never loved anyone before and it really made her excited, giddy, and happy all at the same time.
Hermione decided to write a letter to her mom to tell her the good news and hoped that she would be very accepting.
Dear mum,
If Blaise hasn't already sent you a letter I wanted to tell you that I went on a date with one of my best friends; Harry Potter. He took me to a small table by the lake and we ate and danced and then he asked me to be his girlfriend. I said yes and he kissed me. I hope you accept because Blaise has and I am extremely happy about my relationship with Harry.
Love you
See you soon, Hermione
Hermione looked over the letter and when she saw that she loved it, she put it in an envelope and asked Violet if she would go to the Owlery with her. Violet said yes and kissed Draco goodbye and they walked out together as best friends, arm-in-arm.
They made it to the Owlery and they saw Harry there. He was reading a letter and Hermione walked over to him.
"Hey Harry,
"Hiya Hermione," Harry sounded confused and sad.
"What's wrong?" Hermione asked after she sent her letter off with Midnight.
"I got a letter from my aunt Petunia and it seems really out of character," Harry said as he passed the letter to Hermione. Violet walked to go and join her boyfriend and leave the 2 lovers to their heart-to-heart.
The letter said:
Dear Harry,
I know I've never sent you any letters before, but I have been plagued with guilt recently. Your mother and I were very close as kids and when she went off to Hogwarts I felt so alone without her. I loved your mother and nothing could ever change that, but I chose to hide it from Vernon because he hates magic and didn't want to marry me unless I stopped talking to Lily. I felt like she abandoned me for the Wizarding World, but I now know that she was destined for that.
When your mother and father died, I cried when Vernon was at work for your mother. She always comforted me when someone picked on me and when she needed me the most I wasn't there to help her. I mourned for the brother-in-law that I would never know and I hear he was a very good man.
When you were dropped on our doorstep, I felt like I would get a piece of Lily back and every time I looked into your eyes I could see your mother. I also see my sister's kindred spirit and personality in you. You have her heart, her compassion (something I felt that died with my sister); she was also so selfless (something you don't see very often these days). Lily had the ability to see the beauty in others, even when those people could not see it in themselves. I loved your mother for that and she was very accepting of Vernon when we dated and I never felt like I accepted James into the family until he died.
I helped pay for your parents' funeral because James had no family left alive and in my heart I felt like it was my reconciliation with your mother. I wanted to form a bond with her again, but I never got the chance and it is my biggest regret ever. I was mean and aggressive to you because I felt that you took my sister away from me, but I know that my own foolish and selfish mistakes were the cause.
I'm sending you this letter to ask for your forgiveness, I want to have a normal aunt-nephew relationship with you and not have to be afraid to talk about my sister anymore. Vernon left me he didn't want me to be a loving aunt to you, Dudley stayed with me because he was very grateful for you saving his life.
Send me a letter back, and hopefully we can have a great relationship. Love Aunt Petunia
As Hermione finished the letter, she had tears in her eyes. She never knew that woman to have a conscience and to see and hear the regret in her words were very welcome.
"What are you going to do Harry?" Hermione asked her boyfriend.
"I've sent her a letter saying that I forgive her and thank her for telling me all these things about the mother that I never knew," Harry said as he kissed Hermione on the lips.
Elsewhere, at her new home, Petunia saw Hedwig flying and opened the window for her.
She saw an envelope and opened it:
Dear aunt Petunia,
I wanted to thank you so much for telling me all these things about the mother that I will never know for myself. I also wanted to tell you that I have forgiven you. It takes a strong person to admit that they regret actions in their lives and it makes me feel that you really have changed for the better.
I have a girlfriend now. She is my best friend and was a muggleborn like my mom before found out that her father had been murdered and her mother gave her up to protect her from that murderer. Both her parents are magical and we have remained close friends even after she was re-sorted into the house that is deemed enemies of my house.
I can't wait for summer to tell you and Dudley about all the things I can do at Hogwarts and I feel it will bring you closer to my mother to hear what she got to experience in her short lifetime and why she loved it so much.
Talk to you soon,
Love Harry
Petunia finished the letter and started to cry, her only nephew had forgiven her and it made her feel so much better about her regrets and the future relationship she can have with her nephew. When hearing that other witches and wizards like Lily were allowed to go to Hogwarts, she felt like Lily was never alone being a muggleborn at Hogwarts.
Back at Hogwarts, Harry and Hermione were walking back to the Slytherin Common Room when none other intercepted them then Ronald Weasley.
"What do you want Ronald?" Hermione said in an aggravated tone.
"So it is true, you're dating Harry. Your such a bitch," Ronald screamed and in no time all of Hermione's friends and brother had arrived and were now defending her and Harry.
"I love him and he asked me to be his girlfriend. He didn't call me a bitch for befriending Draco or any of the Slytherins that I will be spending a lot of time with because we're in the same house. I've loved Harry since last year and he wasn't the one that gave me a black eye and put me in the Hospital Wing. If you can't accept it, I say you leave me the hell alone," Hermione screamed and Ron ran off when the Slytherins began to advance of him.
"I love you Harry see you tomorrow for classes," Hermione said and she kissed him.
"Love you too Hermione, see you tomorrow," Harry said too and he left to go to Gryffindor Tower.
Hermione never felt like this before and now they were dating, her friends and brother accepted it and now Harry was rebuilding a relationship with his aunt Petunia. Hermione loved the way things were going, but she felt like it wouldn't be long before Ronald tried something again. And she braced herself to be ready for it.
