Dear Lily,

Your son somehow got his hands on my old potions book. That is how he has been at the top of his potions class all year, assuming he told you about that. He can't have told you much, as you would be sure to recognize my old name.

Cheating is not the least of his crimes, unfortunately. The reason I discovered this is I was called to a bathroom by Moaning Myrtle to discover that Potter used Sectumsempra on Mr. Malfoy. It is very lucky that I was able to get there in time, or he would be dead. As it is, there looks like there will be minimal to no scarring.

Potter said that he did not know what that spell did. I believe that to be the only truthful thing he told me. He claimed to have found it in a library book, and when I asked to see his potion book, he brought me one with 'Roonil Wazlib' written in the front cover. Probably Weasley's with a poor spell-check quill.

This is not my fault, Lily. That spell was labeled 'for enemies' not 'for school rivals.' My only fault was forgetting about it when I moved classrooms. As it is, I seriously doubt Potter will be using it again.

I have given him detention every Saturday morning until the end of term.

Severus

Dear Harry,

We heard about what happened in the bathroom with Malfoy. Your mother and I are extremely disappointed in you, and we believe you deserve the punishment Professor Snape assigned you, if only because you were thoughtless enough to try out a spell when you didn't know what it did. Magic is dangerous as well as innocent, and I would have hoped that you would have learned that by now.

I can put two and two together, and I'm pretty sure that you found that spell in the Half-Blood Prince's book that you were telling Remus and I about at Christmas. If I know you, you will have already hidden it. I'm telling you now, don't go back for it. Leave it where it is; that's an order. I don't want you to have it again.

Dad

Dear Mum and Dad,

I'm very sorry about Malfoy. You know I would never try a spell like that if I knew what it did. I shouldn't have used a spell I didn't know. It was dumb, and it won't happen again. I promise to leave the book where I hid it.

I'm sorry.

Harry

Dear Mum and Dad,

Ginny and I are together now! I came back to the common room after Snape's detention, and I found that we had won the Quidditch cup, and in the excitement, I kissed her. Ron's ok with it too! He says it's fine as long as we don't go snogging in public. Ginny called him a hypocrite.

The whole school is talking about it, but for once I don't mind. It makes a nice change to be talked about for something that's making me so happy rather than for my involvement in incidents of dark magic.

But we're not getting much time together. She has OWLs, and I have my detentions with Snape. But we make the most of the time we do have.

Love,

Harry

Dear Harry,

Congratulations! I knew it would all work out! Didn't I tell you?

I'm so glad you're happy. Ginny is an amazing girl, and I think she suits you. Continue ignoring the gossip; it'll die down.

And don't worry about time; you'll have plenty of it. Months, even years ahead. You're right to make the most of the time you do have.

Be careful,

Love,

Mum and Dad

Dear Lily and James,

I am calling in several Order members to help guard the school in my absence. Please, be here tonight to patrol the corridors.

Thank you,

Albus Dumbledore

This is the last chapter with letters in this fic! We're in the end game now! Also, sorry for the delay of a few days.