Dear Hermione,
First of all, since you brought up Cedric, I wondered how well you knew him. Cedric seemed like a very kind and brave champion for Hogwarts, and I thought you might have known him well if he became friends with Harry. Does Harry speak about the tournament at all? Were all the champions nice? Oh, and of course you were friends with Viktor Krum! I'm sorry if it seems insensitive asking about Cedric, but my dad wanted to write something in his memory for the Quibbler, but I didn't know him at all well.
I don't know much about Gryffindor but it sounds like a wonderful common room and the anti-boys mechanism sounds very effective! I would have liked to see Ron fall down the stairs! I have never seen a boy attempt to ascend into the girls' dormitories in Ravenclaw. I wonder if they have the same defence.
Neville and I know each other quite well, yes, but I didn't see him much at the end of the year. Houses sticking together and all.
I'm sure you'll be fine with OWLs and that you should all be happy with whatever results you get. I guess it depends what you want to become after you finish school. Do you have any idea what you want to do?
Yes, I can see the Thestrals. They are beautiful. I don't mind talking about it; it was my mother, but a long time ago. I'm surprised you have studied them, to be honest. They aren't in the curriculum until 5th year, although I suppose Hagrid is a very unusual teacher. I prefer him to Professor Grubbly-Plank though. She wasn't very kind and she laughed when I asked her about Snorkacks and Nargles.
Nargles, when you can see them, look like little flies and they hang around people's ears. Most people don't have many, but more appear if someone is feeling dizzy, absent-minded or infatuated/in love. There was a little bit of controversy about that a few years ago; are they attracted to people who aren't thinking clearly or do they cause you to not think clearly? Certainly, when my mind is feeling fuzzy, there are plenty around, but are they a cause or result? As for the earrings, it wouldn't be that much hassle to get hold of some, if you would like them.
As for your teeth healers, we use spells to keep them straight and clean. A lot of them are done when you are very young, along with several enchantments that ward off diseases. I believe you have equivalents called injections? They are kind of like that, but then you do have to look after your teeth, and clean them every day so maybe twice a year would be preferable. If your parents are dentists, does that mean you are not allowed many sweets? And what is a cavity?
I think that Germany is a lovely place this time of year, although I haven't been in years. My dad and I travel a lot, but we don't often revisit a place, unless he is doing several articles or papers on them. Did you know that my dad often writes papers about magical creatures he has found and sends them to the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures at the Ministry? He always hides their replies from me, but I think they are grateful for any new information we can give them about a rare animal.
Why does Ron hate your cat? And what type of cat is he? Mine is a girl called Bast and she is all black and very lazy. At first we thought she was a baby Lynx, but it turned she was just a normal cat, not even a magical one. She is very pretty though.
I hope this letter reaches you soon.
Sincerely,
Luna Lovegood