Dear Mum, Dad and Alice,

I'm on the Gryffindor quidditch team! It's a long story and I'll explain in more detail at Christmas but we had our first flying lesson and Neville broke his arm and a boy stole something of his and he threw it and I caug-

"Writing to your Mummy again, Potter?" teased Malfoy, snatching the parchment from underneath Harry's hands.

"Give that back!" Harry shouted, lunging for him. Crabbe and Goyle had already enclosed around him like a brick wall, laughing raucously at his letter. Harry didn't think anything was wrong with it...

"Oi, Malfoy!" called Ron, who was rushing across the Great Hall towards them with a flustered Hermione. "Keep your greasy nose out of other people's business, yeah?"

The Slytherin boys' laughter died down. Malfoy sauntered up to Ron, looking him up and down. "Or what? You'll hex me? Go ahead. It might finally prove that you're not a squib!"

"Shut up, Malfoy," growled Hermione from beside Ron. "You're just jealous that Harry made the house team."

"I didn't see you doing any fancy tricks on a broom, Granger! You were barely in the air barely in the air before you FELL OFF!"

The gathering crowd started laughing. Hermione furrowed her eyebrows, trying to look threatening. She turned to Ron, whose lips were pursed as he fought back laughter himself. Hermione huffed and stormed back out of the great hall.

"I don't see what you're laughing at, Weasley!" jeered Malfoy. "You were pretty useless yourself! Or does all that misdirection always happen with a cheap broom?"

Ron scowled at the blonde boy and snatched Harry's letter from his hands. Malfoy didn't even bother to retaliate as he swaggered back to the Slytherin table, laughing with his friends.

"Slimy git..." grumbled Ron, collapsing down on the bench beside Harry. "Sorry, erm... I ripped a bit."

"It's alright. Thanks..." Harry picked up his quill again and went to dip it in his ink. "You'd better go and see Hermione."

"What for?!"

"You laughed at her."

"... oh yeah."

As Ron set off in search of their bushy-haired friend, Harry returned to his letter and carried on where he left off.

"-t it and Professor McGonagall saw it and now I'm the Gryffindor seeker! I'll have to get lots of practice in over the next few days. Our first match is soon.

Neville says Hello. I don't see him so much these days: he's usually lost. Ron's good at finding him- I suppose that's what happens after eleven years of hide and seek with five brothers. He and Hermione are still arguing like mad. I feel a bit like a referee in a quidditch match.

I love you all,

Harry.

P.S: You were right Dad. Nothing compares with Hogwarts' food. Not even Mum's cooking.

"I found her," said Ron, joining Harry in the common room later. "She wasn't too angry. I think she was only crying 'cos she was embarrassed."

Harry slipped his letter into the pre-addressed envelope and held it out to Hedwig, who'd been perched on a chair with another boy' owl. She grabbed the letter from him and flew out of the window. Harry felt a little guilty: it was pretty cold outside.

"Are you nervous?" asked Ron. They both collapsed onto the sofa, sticking their feet out towards the crackling fire.

"Very," said Harry. "What if I'm no good? What if I make a fool out of myself?"

"You won't," shrugged Ron. He bent down and pulled out a chocolate frog box from underneath the sofa. Clearly, he'd hidden it there earlier. He opened it and snapped off the frog's head. He passed it to Harry. "It's in your blood."

"That's what I'm worried about," moped Harry, rolling the chocolate frog's head around in his fingers. "Dad's great at quidditch, everyone knows that. But Mum's awful..."

Ron said nothing. Harry bit into his chocolate and smiled gratefully at his friend. There was at least one person in the school who wouldn't mock him if he failed.

oOoOoOoO

Her son was not dead. He was not being bullied and he had not been eaten by a troll. Receiving Harry's letters made Lily's heart soar. This letter in particular put all her worries to bed. He was exactly like James and therefore, he was a survivor. He was a quidditch prodigy and, based on how many letters Sirius was receiving from his godson, he was only revealing details of his mischief to people who would swear not to tell his mother. He truly was a Potter.

Despite her elation at her son's blatant pride and happiness, Lily could not help but picture her first game. It was the first year of Hogwarts. She'd been sitting with the other Gryffindors, enthralled by this fast-paced magical game. If only she could fly like they did... then, a Hufflepuff beater was hit in the head with the bludger and crashed to the ground, only to be followed throughout the game by a Hufflepuff chaser and Gryffindor seeker.

She shuddered. Distracting herself, she went through to the lounge and grabbed some parchment, ink and a quill.

"My Dearest James..." she began. "If you know what's good for you, you'll come home early today. You'll never guess what our son has managed to do..."

A/N: Thanks to everyone who's reviewed so far. Let me know what you think! REVIEEWWWW!