Hello all. I'm sorry, this isn't a chapter, but I wanted to let you guys know that I'm floored by the amazing response to this story. I have never, ever gotten 51 reviews to a story, not even my completed one.

The chapter I'm working on is turning out to be very hard to start...and therefore to complete. If any of you would be interested in beta-ing, it might help me along; I could do with someone who likes the story to give me ideas and let me bounce ideas off them in return. If you're interested, please do PM me with what you do as a beta, or what you expect from the writer, if anything.

Just a thought. Anyway, I'm really sorry, again, about this delay. I wanted you to know that I never abandon a story, so don't worry about that. I'm sorry this isn't a chapter, but I wanted to thank you all and make sure you know I won't give this story up.

And for being so awesome, all of you, I'd like to give you something: all that I have of the second chapter so far. I know it's not much, but I hope you guys like it, and that it convinces you not to give up on me :D

Chapter Three: Letters

July 25th, 1990 – 8:30 am –

The moment Harry opened his eyes, he grinned. This was the day he had been waiting for for years – the day their Hogwarts letters would come! It didn't matter if he and Luna had stayed up late to prune the Moonbeam Flowers; today was not a day to spend sleeping!

He jumped out of bed and ran to his wardrobe, pulling on some clothes and then running down the staircases until he reached the bottom. Panting, he dashed into the kitchen, where his mother was finishing breakfast. Estelle laughed gaily as Harry darted around her to his seat, his eyes sparkling and legs jumping with excitement.

"You'd think you were starting Hogwarts today, love," she commented as she started setting plates, cups, and bowls on the table. Tea, oatmeal, porridge, fruit, beans, eggs, toast, sausages, tomatoes, mushrooms, pumpkin juice, and ham soon decorated the table. The kitchen was airy, the ceiling painted to look like a rolling sea, with green, blue, white and yellow swirling together. The lower cabinets were all painted sea green, and the upper cabinets along with the always-open door that faced the forest were white. The table was dark, unfinished wood and very wide, so that each family member had ample space for their food.

Luna zoomed in a moment later, stirring up the scent of lavender and sage as she swished past her mother gracefully. Xenophilius emerged seconds later, taking in the slightly bouncing children at the table and sighed in fake annoyance.

"It must be letter day, mustn't it?" he said with a glimmer in his eye, and Harry and Luna both cried out, "Yes!" together.

"Don't get too excited, you'll get Suevers!" Estelle reminded, and Harry and Luna glanced at each other's hands as if waiting to see the little orange bugs there at that very moment. Suevers were small creatures that liked to tickle the hands and feet of particularly excited folks, and surely Harry and Luna were full of them today.

"The owls may not come for another several hours," their father reminded, spreading oatmeal on his toast. "You must try and be patient."

Luna and Harry grumbled their assent, grabbing some food and starting to eat despite the butterflies in their bellies. They couldn't wait to go to Diagon Alley and get their things, especially their wands. While Xenophilius and Estelle made small-talk about the next article of The Quibbler, Luna and Harry ate, trying not to glance out of the windows every few minutes.

Then, just as the last of the pumpkin juice and tea were being drunk, two barn owls swooped in through the door.

Luna and Harry both grinned, jumping up as the owls landed on the table and dropped two letters, one in front of each of the children.