Chapter 3:

Unexpected Delight!

Tommy POV

December 22nd ,1915

After being underground for so long it was nice to be above ground breathing fresh air and not crawling or stepping through mud and shit below ground.

"Glad ter be back abaht ground, ay!" Arthur said from his cot on the other side of the trench.

"Ay that's it is Art." I told him laying back on my cot and throwing my arm over my eyes. "Wek me when we yav ter goo back dowl." I told him and John.

"Ay." they mumbled.

It felt like no time at all had passed before I was woken up.

"Ay! Tommy! The post just been through you got a letter." John said, shaking me.

Groaning, I sat up patting myself for my pack of smokes. Finding them I put one in my mouth, lighting it with a match, then throwing the match in the dirt.

"Well, who's it off?" I asked.

"Dunna know, looks loike a lass wiv that handwritin'." Arthur says from over John's shoulder.

"Give it 'ere. Lemme tek a luk." I said with my hand out. Once the envelope was in my hand, I turned it over to look at the front. 'Certainly, a woman with that writin'' I thought to myself.

Thomas Shelby 27 Years Old Location: France

"Well, yow gonna open it?" John asked.

I didn't respond verbally, only nodded my head.

December 22nd

Dear Thomas,

Hello, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Hermione Granger, and I was born in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire to two loving and amazing people. I don't know where exactly you are and what you are doing at this moment, but I do have the notion that you are wondering why it is that you are getting a letter from me of all people. You don't know me, and I don't know you, well let's just say that I got your name off a piece of paper that I by all means should never have received. Times are hard and turbulent right now, everything is so uncertain, but I do know with certainty that things can always be worse than they are. Currently I am at a school for gifted individuals and there is a tournament. This tournament has not been held in years due to the physical, mental and emotional strain that it puts on a person. There are 2 other schools that have arrived here to participate, bringing their best and brightest students. Originally there were only supposed to be 3 champions, one from each school, but this year somehow there was a mistake and my best friend who is under the age limit is now required to participate. It is hard every day waking up and thinking that during one of the tasks that are set my best friend could be hurt or worse die. Why would they bring such a thing back and for children no less, it does not make sense.

Oh bother! I did not intend to blather on about such things, it's just one of the most prominent things going on in my life right now. On another subject though there is a Ball being held on Christmas Day. I have been fortunate enough to be asked as a date to such an event and though I am looking forward to dancing, having fun and building friendships with those from the other schools I am most certainly not looking forward to being in the center of everyone's attention. Having them critique me and judge me does not sound like a good time. Amazingly though I know that I will blow them all away with what I will be wearing, loving it as much as I do, I also know that I am going to feel amazing!

I will start to close my letter here. I would like to thank you for reading this letter in its entirety if you have made it this far. It may not be ideal or something that you were expecting getting a letter from someone in school and I AM of age so no worries there. Thank you for sacrificing your time to read this letter, I hope it was able to give you some reprieve or laughter at my long-winded statements wherever it is that you are.

Remember this: In every darkest day there is some semblance of light, make each day what you wish it to be.

If you so, choose to write back, please include in the letter if there is anything that you may need or want and please address such correspondences to:

Hermione Granger 18 Years Old Location: Scottish Highlands

Yours, Hermione Granger

"Wells who's she then?" Arthur asked.

"A young lass who found my name on a bit of paper." I told them shaking my head.

"Cor, she's only gone and stuck another bit of paper in there! You gonna reply or what?" John exclaimed.

"I reckon I just might" I told him searching for a pen when one was suddenly in my line of sight. I nodded my thanks to Arthur then sat back thinking on what to write.

Hermione Granger 18 Years Old Location: Scottish Highlands

December 22nd,1915

Dear Hermione,

Being honest and blunt with you I was not sure if I should write you back. You are as you said 18 years old, and I am 27. This is not proper, but who said I was a proper gentleman? For the sake of appearing proper. Hello, I am Thomas Shelby, and I was born in Bermingham, England.

You say that you don't know where I am and what I am doing but I find that hard to believe as the letter was addressed to me as being in France, as you know the War is going on, so you have some idea as to what I am currently doing.

Now, where did you find this paper with my name on it? Why do you believe that you should never have received it?

You say that times are hard and turbulent now and they are if that is the case again how is it that what I am doing is unknown to you?

Reading through your letter twice I had to remind myself you are in fact 18, rarely are young women who live where I was born still in school at that age. This leads me to believe that you are a Posh Woman, someone who has no reason or want to write to someone like me.

Why your school would willingly host something that would harm their students makes me wonder if that school is for the gifted and not just insane people.

Are you one of the insane luv?

How could the people running the school allow or force someone that did not willingly enter to compete?

I enjoyed your rant; I look forward to reading more of them in the future.

What's this about a Ball? You should go an enjoy is FUCK what everyone thinks or feels about it. It's not about them, don't let what people think influence how you feel or act, it will only drag you down in the future. Do not only what makes you happy but do what's best for you regardless of what others may think or feel.

After your rants and ramblings, I couldn't not finish such a letter. It has brought a little light into my otherwise dark days.

I will remember that and take it to heart.

I am going to close here because my brothers are starting to fidget and stare a hole in my head. If you are so inclined I would not say no to smokes, socks, matches and anything that you are willing to send.
Yours, Tommy Shelby

"Oi! Arti 'E mentioned us! Do yoow think the lass will send us summat?!" John asked while nudging Arthur.

"No tellin', John Boy, but don't bank on it." He said leanign back against the trench wall and falling into a light sleep.

"Alroit John Boy, let's 'ave a quick kip befaw our next shuff down belaw." I told him as I laid back down on my cot and draped my arm over my eyes again.

"How yow gonna make sure tha' gets off to the lass?" John asked as he settled.

"'ll give it to the bostin' lads when we relieve, n' they can make sure it sent off." I told him as I nodded off.

Falling into a restless sleep there was a faceless voice speaking to me.

"I have chosen you to be her strength, the darkness to her light, and her light in her darkest days. I have chosen you to give to a second chance at happiness. There will be struggles, there will be triumph, but keep in mind those that rise the highest have the furthest to fall. Do not let your ego and ambitions damage my champion. You will not like the consequences if they do."

It seemed as though after that i finally had a somewhat restful sleep and was woken up to our commanding officer shouting.

"Oi you lot! It's yow turn down yer! Get yow arses moving!"

"Yow two wake up, it's toim!" I shouted, kicking both John and Arthur awake.

John was the first one to sit up. "Feels like ah've just nodded off" he said groaning then standing. I noticed that Arthur still wasnt waking up so I kicked his leg again but harder.

"Oi! Up you lazy tosser!" I shouted.

"Alroit, alroit!"

Fianlly seeing that not only were they up but so was the rest of my unit. We made our way to the tunnel entrance and then our way down the rickety ladder.

Coming into contact with the man incharge of the unit we were releaving I shook his had.

"Ay, Owts new?" I asked.

"Nah, all's been a bit too quiet for my likin'." He said.

"When yow back up top, can yow mek sure ter send this off?" I asked him handing him the letter for Hermione.

"Yow, who's the bird?"

"A little glim of light in the gloom" Is all I said to him as I made my way further into the tunnel.

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