Sorry for the late update, but our little son really takes away all of my free time. And, by the way, I do not own Harry Potter.
Thursday, 16th of July
"Sir,
I thank you for your letter and for the information that my cousin is well. Luckily, someone is a much better friend than I deserve and has organised that I am not quite as isolated as E might think I am, so I am not in dire need of rescue, having found some correspondents on my own. But if I may ask this favour of you, please tell my cousin that I am well and that we will have much to discuss when we see each other again.
Kindest regards,
A, cousin of E."
"Dear J,
I think that a doll of similar quality would cost at least some hundred galleons in our world. And the catalogue is even greater. Imagine, so many dresses for one kind of doll! Maybe we should start a company and sell muggle toys. I'm sure they would find a huge market, if we don't stress their origin too much. It might be a lot less risky than being an auror. And I don't think that playing quidditch professionally is as interesting as you muggle born think. Actually, it is mostly done by rich youths who don't need to work for money, but want to earn a little bit of fame for a later political career.
Still, if you can get a place on the House team, you should be able to do some seasons. Usually, they try to collect at least half of the house teams for the professional teams. Although it would help you to have some connections.
Anyway. Harry Potter is sacer. It's an old Latin expression and means holy as well as cursed. The ministry blew him up to almost divine class in the eighties. Did you know that they tried to change Halloween into Harry Potter Day? And if you see what he has done in his life, he is pretty amazing. Killed the Dark Lord when he was a baby, Heir of Slytherin, youngest house player in a century with a great record, youngest Triwizard winner ever, fought the Dark Lord twice and lived to tell about it. So, one could say that he has some right to be as arrogant as he is. They say he petrified a boy in his second year because he annoyed him. The younger Slytherins only travel in groups so that he doesn't curse them, although D says that doesn't make sense. He would be able to put a whole group down without breaking into sweat. And he only talks to his selected circle of friends. Really, could you imagine him writing to a poor imprisoned little pureblood like me?
With Sylaris, I have sent Don, Uncle Raginald's owl. She can take a letter to your friend and then back to D. Thanks in advance.
Now, population. As far as Uncle Raginald knows, there are some 25.000 witches and wizards in Britain. Of them, there are some 1.000 members of the Ancient and Noble Houses and their extended families. Quite a few of us are at Hogwarts, others, especially the druidic families, keep their kids at home. Some 10.000 are poor and live in some enclaves like Mora or Avalon, working the land and earning about enough to survive. They usually can't afford to send people to the better schools and tend to school their kids at home or in some rural cooperatives. Then there are another 10.000 or so of the artisan and administrative class. The richer will try to send their kids to Hogwarts, too. The others have to make do with the smaller, less important schools. The other 4.000 or so are muggleborn or in other ways removed from society. You would belong to that group, most likely. They are either not schooled at all or at the minor schools. Only those who caught the eye of important people or who are really, really smart are admitted to Hogwarts.
Hogwarts really is the school in Britain. There has not been a minister of magic who didn't visit Hogwarts, and most higher members in the wizengamot and the ministry are from there. We are the only school to teach NEWT classes, too. The others are just not that big and not that good, they have one or two teachers, and twenty students.
Uncle Raginald has just come in and wants me to come. Hear from you soon!
Love, E."
"What's up, Harry?"
"Oh, hi Tonks. How are you?"
"Quite good. And you? You look a little shell-shocked. Did she send nude pictures?"
Harry handed her the letter. She read through it and nodded thoughtfully. "Dear me. Quite some bully you are, eh? Who was that poor little guy?"
"Collin Crevey. And even if he deserved being petrified, I didn't do it. It were Ginny and Blink."
"Blink?"
"The name Ron and I gave to that damn basilisk in the Chamber. It fits, doesn't it."
Tonks rolled her eyes. "And then you wonder that you are considered arrogant? What kind of guy calls the most deadly snake in the world Blink?"
"Now come on, Tonks, they are just misunderstood, poor little critters."
"Sometimes you scare me, Harry."
"If I had only thought about it in time. I'm a parselmouth. I could have just asked it to be a nice little monster. It would have obeyed me, killed that damn Riddle book and showed me to Slytherin's lair where I would have found out that he was just a poor, misunderstood little guy, too. Would have given me the ultimate weapon against Voldemort, too, and named me his heir – in a good way of course. Then, we goblins would declare me to be the long lost son of the goblin king, making me their leader, and Snape would finally be found out to be my Mum."
The young auror fought her giggles and finally sat down. "Maybe you should consider a career in writing, my friend."
"No necessary. I would have become filthy rich with being Slytherin's heir and all that."
"True. And of course, you would have started your own harem, with me as your first wife."
Harry slowly let his eyes wander over her. Well, she had ordered him to become more secure among women, and if she killed him, he could tell her I told you so. "Well, maybe not first wife, but..."
"Think before you say one more word, pal!"
"If you insist. Of course, you would have become my first wife, oh beautiful, wise and old auror lady."
"Oh come on, Harry." They both broke down in giggles.
When they had calmed down a bit, Harry shook his head. "Honestly? If you were five years younger than you are, I might just think about it."
"That's so very nice of you. Don't take it in a bad way, but if you were some years older, you might just have a chance."
"Cheers. Anyway, do you think I am arrogant?"
"Not at all. Least arrogant guy I met. She's still right, though. You have every right to be arrogant. And I can imagine that someone who doesn't know you all that well would believe you arrogant. I mean, until the DA, you basically kept to yourself, Hermione and the Weasleys, didn't you? Most likely because you were too shy, but those who wouldn't know that..."
"Not too good if I want to unite our world against Voldemort, is it?"
"No. But I think that you are changing. Even if you don't want to hear it, it's called growing up. And you are growing into a fine young man, Harry."
Harry snorted. "Thanks. Now, what do I do with her?" He pointed to the letter.
"You always bitch that these people don't see you, but only Harry bloody Potter. Now you have a girl that really likes you and hates Harry bloody Potter, and still you complain." Tonks grinned.
"But what do I do?"
"Listen to old Tonks and go shopping for Barbie dresses."