My Dearest Harry,
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By the time you read this, I won't be in London anymore. More accurately, I'll have left the country. Last Friday, when you thought it would be a brilliant idea to nearly give me a heart attack by crouching precariously halfway off your parents' rooftop, I was trying to inform you of the loophole I found in Kingsley's marriage law.
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(I still retain the firm opinion that doing that wasn't necessary—there must be at least a dozen other ways to replace a support beam without risk of breaking your neck!)
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Anyway, here it is: The one way for someone to avoid tying the knot to prevent losing one's wand and magic is to renounce their British citizenship and leave the U.K. within the first six months of the law's enactment.
Does it sound odd to say that I was willing to lay down my life for the magical world, but not subject myself to marriage for the same reason?
I applied to several different magical universities, and when I got accepted to an American school, Evermoon, I decided to finalize the paperwork. With any luck, a career as a Healer will be on the table now.
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I couldn't do it. I'm sorry.
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I meant it when I said that I was happy for you. Believe me when I say that. However, not all of us can find that same happiness without a drastic change. In my case, it starts with an adventure I have to go on alone.
I am going to miss you more than I can say. Being your friend has invariably shaped me as a person and has been one of the best parts of my life. You've helped me so much over the years—getting me through the impossible just as often as you annoyed me as only you can.
Every laugh, every tear, every crazy adventure with you has all been worth it and I wouldn't change a thing. YOU, my very best friend, are the most precious person in my life. Not the famous hero—YOU. The person underneath it all.
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The man who still gets surprised when he receives a Christmas gift.
The person who cooks like a professional, eats everything far too quickly, and then wonders sometimes why his stomach hurts after.
The person who never remembers to take off his glasses before he falls asleep and flies his broom so high, he looks like a dot from the ground.
The man who makes jokes that are so cheesy they're adorable after four glasses of firewhisky.
The one person in the world I can count on to be there for me at the end of the day, no matter what. On that same note, you're the only person that I actually believe when you tell me you care. Because that's who you are. You have a heart bigger than the world, and that's the thing I love about you most. Please don't lose that.
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My only regret is that I won't get to finish restoring your parents' cottage with you. I'm just glad that you found the right person to take over looking after you before I had to leave.
Don't you dare start beating yourself up. None of this is your fault. Sit down, take deep breaths and imagine a quidditch field. Keep doing that until you've mentally caught twenty snitches. Everything is going to be just fine. I promise. Lean on Ginny. She's more than strong enough.
You're a great wizard, an even better friend, and I'm sure you'll outshine everyone as a husband. One day, you'll be the best father the world has ever known. This I know for certain. And if the time comes that you're second-guessing yourself, just know that I have enough faith in that for the both of us.
When these words you're reading fail to encourage you, look to your wife. That's the beauty of marrying someone you love. You now have someone to get you through both the good times and the bad for life.
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I suppose this is the part where I should stop rambling. As I'm writing this, I only have an hour to get ready to go to your wedding and my hair is impossible. Like I told you, I wouldn't miss it for the world.
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You're going to be fine, s̶w̶e̶e̶t̶h̶e̶a̶r̶t̶ Harry.
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All my love,
Hermione