Chapter 3
7 September 1991
Hello Oliver,
First, I want to apologise for not writing back right away. I found the crane on my pillow when I got back before lunch to drop off my books from the morning classes. It was lovely, thank you. Anyway, I have been spending time exploring the castle when I can. I found the library after lunch on the first day of classes! Thank you so much for letting me know where to start looking. It is incredible! I have also been getting used to classes and the layout of the castle as well as homework. Oh, my goodness, there's so much! I don't mind though, I love learning new things.
I couldn't believe it! On the first day of classes, Harry and Ron got in trouble with the caretaker, Mr Filch. They claim they got lost, but Mr Filch didn't believe them. I'm not sure I really do either. He found them trying to get through a door on the third floor... you know, the forbidden one. I don't know what they thought they were doing.
On the night of the 4th, we had our first Astronomy class. The view from the Astronomy Tower is absolutely breathtaking. It was so distracting from what we were supposed to be doing, seeing the moon on the lake. The next day we had Transfiguration. I really enjoyed that, though Ron and Harry were late and Professor McGonagall surprised them. They thought they got away with it until Professor McGonagall — as a cat — leapt off the desk — and changed in front of them, threatening to transfigure one of them into a map or pocket watch so that they wouldn't be late when they claimed to have gotten lost.
And yesterday was our first Potions lesson with Professor Snape. It wasn't pleasant to say the least. He seemed to relish picking on Harry and was asking questions but wouldn't call on anyone else. In the end, he took 5 points from Gryffindor. Not sure how often I'll be able to write, but I'll write when I can. That's why I have started dating my letters.
Hermione
Hello lass,
You are welcome, and it's no problem at all, write when you can. I will be here. I am glad you are finding your way around the castle.
Mr Filch is always grumpy. I think he takes pleasure in annoying the students. I wouldn't worry too much about that situation with Ron and Harry claiming they were lost. The staircases change around here, which can make getting lost an easy thing to do, especially when you're new.
I am glad that you are enjoying your classes — well most of them anyway. Yes, Professor Snape does seem to be partial to his own house. I wouldn't worry about the lost points though. We'll get them back. You know, the dating of our letters is a good idea. I will start doing that also — if I remember that is.
Talk to you soon — or write,
Oliver
10 September 1991
Oliver,
I am so nervous. I just got the news. This week is our first flying lesson — in two days! Uh...oh! I can't!
Hermione
10 September 1991
Lass... are you... afraid of heights?
Oliver
11 September 1991
Oliver,
I — I can't do this... One day left for our first flying lesson. Am I afraid of heights? That's — that's kind of hard to answer... I'm Muggle-born, what if I can't do it? What if I just embarrass myself? But at the same time, I wonder what if I can? What if I actually get in the air... and then something goes wrong and I just... crash?
Hermione
11 September 1991
Hermione,
You'll do fine. I'm sure of it. Madam Hooch is a good teacher. AND, if something does happen — and I'm not saying it will — well then, Madam Pomfrey is an excellent healer. She turned down a job at St Mungo's, don't you know? Just to work for Dumbledore here at Hogwarts.
Oliver
12 September 1991
Oliver,
UGH! It's so frustrating! So today, at flying lessons, Draco Malfoy and his goons laughed at Neville when he fell off his broom and broke his wrist. This morning at breakfast, Neville's grandmother sent him a Remembrall, and Draco took it when he dropped it after Madam Hooch said that she was taking Neville to the hospital wing and that if she saw any brooms in the air, whoever was on it would be kicked out of school! Well, after he stole Neville's Remembrall, Harry told him to give it back. When he didn't he took off on his broom.
Well then Malfoy egged him on and when Harry went after him, he threw the Remembrall and dashed back to the ground. Harry took off after the Remembrall and caught it, which — I suppose is a good thing, because otherwise Neville would have lost it one way or the other to Malfoy, but at the same time I'm mad at Harry for risking expulsion and losing house points!
Though, he got caught one way or the other. Professor McGonagall showed up and told him to follow her. Not sure what happened after that.
Anyway, before Madam Hooch left with Neville, I never did get in the air. All my broom did was roll over, but I wasn't the only one with issues, so I didn't feel so bad.
On a personal note, my birthday is coming up on the 19th! I wonder what my mom and dad are going to send me.
Hermione
Oliver grimaced as he read Hermione's last letter. He knew exactly what happened after Professor McGonagall took Harry Potter off the lawn where the flying lessons took place, and from the sound of it, she would not like the answer. Sighing, he shook his head and began to write a reply.
Hermione,
Oh, wait... 12 September 1991
Hermione,
Please don't be angry with me, but I know what happened after McGonagall escorted Potter from the flying field. The truth is, she came and found me in Professor Quirrell's class. She told me she found me a Seeker. Professor McGonagall said I'm to start training Harry on the 20th. You are welcome to come... if you like.
As for what Madam Hooch said — and what happened — well... All I can say is... it was a good thing that it was Professor McGonagall who caught Potter on the broom, and not Madam Hooch, then, wasn't it? No lost points, and no expulsion.
Oh, and if I don't talk to you before then, I hope you have a happy birthday. Mine is 15 March in case you wanted to know. You don't have to get me anything. I don't really celebrate it, there's so much going on all the time.
Oliver
Hermione scowled and crumpled the note — which had arrived in her dorm like a dragonfly. Boys! They always thought they could get away with breaking the rules! She was so mad at them, Oliver was no different! The problem was that she really wanted to write him back and tell him about what happened earlier.
Her heart had just now calmed down from the adrenaline from the fright she'd had as well as the run all the way back to the common room from the third floor.
She sighed and sat down on her bed, looking at the ceiling for a moment before straightening out the parchment again. Maybe she'd write to him later — let him wonder for a while. Besides, it was late, and she was exhausted. She put the note with the others in her trunk, then got ready and went to bed. She was so tired that she was asleep by the time her head hit the pillow.