Dear Parvati,

I know, I know, it's been four years since my last letter. I swear, life gets busier and busier. There's just so much going on these days, it's surprising to find that four years have gone by since my last letter. If you were still alive you would have been furious with me for not sending a letter sooner. You would have fixed me with that glare of yours and said" how the heck to you expect me to know what's going on with your life when your last 6 letter cover over 12 years?"

As you well know though, I'm writing this when I need to get away from everyone else. Not that Liam wouldn't understand what I'm feeling, it's just that sometimes I need someone who's not going to start talking to me, which is rather funny now that I think about it, since you always used to be the one who did all the talking. Another bonus is that the graveyard makes a fantastic place to think. It's so quiet and peaceful. In a house full of hectic kids, you learn to appreciate what little peace and quiet you can get.

Now the reason that I'm writing is because this was Will's first day at Hogwarts. Where the times go? It was only a few letters ago that I introduced him to you, and he's already off to School. Heck, it wasn't even that long ago that we were starting school. We can't possibly that old, since I'm still in my 30s, and when you're in your 30s you're not that old… Right?

It was harder than I thought to say goodbye to Will. I know that he's going to be back in December, but that feels like such a long time away. It feels like I didn't get to spend as much time with him as I should have. I'll have to make sure we talk more over the holidays, I'll just have to do it a little at a time so I don't turn into the weird mom who never leaves her child alone.

And I didn't even think of the fact that Erin would want to go. She looks a lot like me, which means that she looks a lot like you, and I swear, the look she gave me was the exact same look you gave me when I wouldn't let you do something. It clearly said that while I might know best, you should still be able to go. She's still too young to go, since she's only 9. And it's not like she there's no one to play with; she still has Veena, even if Veena is a little young to play with her.

I just wrote that down without thinking, which was rather stupid of me since you don't have any clue that I had another child. I was going to write that down in earlier letter, but I realized that I had never had the chance to complete it.

Oh well, I guess that you wouldn't have to surprised anyway at this point. After a few kids, it's not very surprising anymore, let me tell you. Still, I think that I am going to tell you a little bit about Vena, since I never get tired about talking about my kids.

She's the first child that really doesn't look like either of her parents. Will really looks like Liam, and Erin resembles me (us?) quite strongly. Veena though? She doesn't quite look like anybody. Well, dad says that she looks like mom, but then again, mom thinks she looks like dad, so they might not know for sure either.

You can definitely tell that she's my child, even if she doesn't look exactly like me. Her skin tone is exactly the same as Will's and Erin's for starters. Not as dark as mine, but obviously darker than most Hogwarts students are.

She's quite young though, only three, or three and a half, as Erin would say. I guess that we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

There growing so fast, Parvati. It's feels like I have so little time left until there all grown up. I guess I finally know why mom was crying when we left for Hogwarts, all those years ago. Before I know it, Erin will also be going to Hogwarts. I definitely won't try and stop them, not only because their education is important, but because Hogwarts was where I made some of my happiest memories (aside from our seventh year) and where I made some of my best friends. My friends from work are great too, but they weren't there during those eight years that are still among the most interesting years I've ever had.

The real reason I'm writing this is because I suddenly realized, as I was watching Will board the train, that it's been over twenty years since you died. I actually have lived twice as long as you have now. It's funny how the years make such a difference in grief, don't they? I know that I still don't talk about you much, but twenty years has taught me a lot of lessons, and one of them is not to regret the past. So I don't. I don't think that I'll ever be able to think of you and not wish that you were here, but I don't regret the sacrifice that we paid that night, so that my kids could get on that train, and I don't have to worry about their safety. Much.

I want you to know that I'll never be able to forget you, no matter how many years pass. You might have only been with me for eighteen years, but you'll always be important to me, no matter how many years past. I lost something with you, and though I've been able to get some of it back, it will never all come back.

I feel a little bad, since I only use these letters when I need someone to talk to, someone who can listen to all these silly fears. Even after twenty years, you're still filling that role. Honestly, it's my dearest hope that I'll never send another one of these letters ever again. Though with the way my life's gone; I probably shouldn't count on that.

I'll read this letter to you during one of my visits to the graveyard. I doubt that I'll be disturbed, unless one of the other D.A. members are there paying their respects, because we're the only ones who visit these graves anymore.

Thanks for being a dairy for the past twenty years.

Love you always,

Padma