Chapter 44

9 September 1993
Oliver,
Sorry I haven't had a chance to write till now. I still have a full course load, though to be honest, I am beginning to think about dropping a few classes, though I haven't decided for sure yet. If I did, it would likely be Divination and Muggle Studies. I took Divination more because of Harry and Ron than myself, they thought that sounded the easiest to get through. I've begun noticing in class and looking over their homework that they just make up ways for Harry to die and get Outstanding grades. I'll probably talk to Professor McGonagall about the possibility of dropping classes before I decide for sure.
Anyway, I took Muggle Studies because I thought it would be fascinating to hear about Muggles from a Wizard's point of view. More often than not, being Muggle-born, I find myself making corrections in the lessons to Professor Burbage on what Muggles are really like than I do learning anything positive about Muggles from a Wizarding standpoint, so I might end up dropping that one as well, again, I'll talk to Professor McGonagall about it first.
I am a little bit nervous about my birthday on the 19th. I mean, my parents try to get me things they think I need here, but usually it's stuff for school and I have to find a way to use it here. Do you think it would be too presumptuous to send them the ads from the Daily Prophet for mail orders or to just ask for money?

Well, I'd still have to have them go to Gringotts to exchange it for Wizard money, and it's bad enough for them to go with me when we get my school supplies, but to go alone... I shudder to think of what would happen. I'm really looking forward to the trip to Hogsmeade on Halloween. Maybe I could send them a note to wait on sending me anything until I have a chance to look around and see if I find anything I like. I don't really know, I'm just not sure.
We had our first lesson in Defence Against the Dark Arts this afternoon, and it was such a relief to have a fun class after hearing Malfoy complain that he couldn't do anything in Potions because of the injury to his arm. I swear there's nothing wrong with him. I saw him using it just fine when he thought no one else was watching. Anyway, the Defence class was rather fun, or would have been. It was on Boggarts, and was cut short when Harry's turn came up and a Dementor appeared.

In a way, I was rather relieved that I didn't get a chance to see what it turned into for me. I mean, I think I know what it would be, but there's a possibility I could be wrong given things that I've had on my mind recently. Being wrong wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, but it would be embarrassing. I'm kind of glad that I didn't have to find out.
I took your advice though, and stayed after class, taking the time to talk to Professor Lupin about the Dementors. He thought it was admirable on my part to be concerned for Harry, and wanting to know more, but he said his best advice would be to stay away from them. He told me that at this time, considering my current workload with homework, he didn't want to add any more stress with further research. It was rather disappointing, but I also understand why he didn't want to add any more work.
After the Boggart lesson though, I shared with him what happened to me when the Dementor came on the train, as compared to what happened to Harry. He said I should be glad what I experienced was so minor, and that a Dementor feeds on the joy and positive feelings people have. He continued by saying that my experience shows that what I fear could also lead to depression should it happen, and that's why I experienced what I did. I think that's why my experience with the Dementor was more about what I was afraid of happening rather than something more serious like Harry's experience. It just makes me glad that class was cut short before it was my turn, as I said, it would have been rather embarrassing also.
Sorry, I didn't get to respond to your earlier letter. Yes, there was a part of your letter that confused me — but, I — I'm not really sure I want to share what I thought it was... not that I want to keep it from you, it's just... it could be rather embarrassing if I am wrong about what you meant — or... or didn't mean in your letter. I — I suppose it would be best to ask you what part you think it was that confused me? I mean, we might not even be talking about the same part. Anyway, I better go. I have lots of homework still, and want to try and get it done before it gets too late.
Hermione

Oliver couldn't help but chuckle at the ending of Hermione's letter.

"Ugh," he muttered to himself with a smile, laughing at the irony of the situation. "She'sreallygoing to make me spell it out, isn't she?"

"Who?" George asked, hearing Oliver's question as he entered the dorm followed by Fred and Lee.

"Spell what out?" Lee asked.

"Yeah Ollie, tell us," George said and grinned as he tried to snatch the parchment away to read it but Oliver dodged away, keeping it from him, only to lose it to Fred on the other side.

"Hey, give that back!" Oliver protested half-heartedly. "That's none of your business."

"Oh, man," Fred said, falling into seriousness. "What have you done to this poor girl?"

"Who?" George asked again.

"I haven't done anything to her," Oliver said. "She even said in her last letter that I didn't do anything to upset her."

"Who?" Lee asked, still lost.

"Our dear friend, Hermione," Fred said, holding up the letter and keeping it away from Oliver when he tried to snatch it back. "Ollie has said something that has the poor girl confused. So confused in fact, that she's embarrassed by the possibility of thinking the wrong thing."

"That's not good," George said.

"Not good at all," Fred agreed.

Lee rolled his eyes and sighed, knowing what was coming and lounged on his bed, ready to watch the show.

"Ollie, Ollie, Ollie," George said.

"Oh, our dear, sweet Ollie," Fred said.

Lee snorted, trying not to laugh at the look in their eyes as they faced him, Fred still keeping the letter from him.

"Do we really have to teach you how to talk to girls?" the twins asked together.

"What did you say to her that got her so confused anyway?" Lee asked from his place on his bed, where he sat reclining against his elbows.

"Ugh," Oliver said. "It's all your fault anyway."

"Our fault?" the twins asked.

"How is it our fault?" Lee asked.

"Well, it's your fault because you had the freak out over me talking to her when she was in her first year," Oliver said. "What with our age difference and all."

Fred and George looked at Oliver and then looked at each other, and then to Lee and back to Oliver.

"So..." George asked.

"Whatareyour intentions with her?" Fred asked.

"And what did you say to confuse her?" Lee asked, ignoring the accusation.

"You arenotsending that!" Oliver protested a short time later when the twins and Lee took over writing a reply to Hermione.

"Why not?" George asked.

"Yeah, Ollie," Fred said. "We're helping."

"It's the least we could do," Lee agreed.

"Yeah, sure you're helping," Oliver said, trying to snatch the parchment again, but missing. "Helping me right off the cliff and into the black lake."

"Well, look at it this way mate," George said.

"Do you like the girl or not?" Fred asked.

Oliver chewed his lip thoughtfully as Lee and the twins scrutinised him.

"Fine," he said at last, but then pointed at the parchment that they'd written a response on. "But I am not sending that."

"Why not?" George asked.

"Yeah," Fred agreed. "It's some of our best work."

"Because she'd know it wasn't from me, that's why," Oliver answered. "Then you'll really embarrass her."

"You're making a mistake," George said a few minutes later.

"Yeah, a big one," Fred agreed.

"How so?" Oliver asked as he signed his response and got ready to send it.

Lee sighed and sat up.

"By dragging this out, mate," Lee answered. "I'm tired, I'm getting ready for bed."

Oliver nodded and drew out his wand. "Night, Lee," he said. "And I kind of have to drag this out, mistake or not. I want to make sure that we're talking about the same thing and that there's no confusion on both sides, right?"

"True," the twins agreed. "That could make things worse."

"Whatever," Lee said, getting up and getting his toiletries to prepare for bed. "Night."

Hermione looked up from her studies in bed, Crookshanks at her side and the curtains drawn around so as not to disturb her dorm mates when she heard a scratching at the curtains. Parting them, she saw a dove fly in and land on her books. Reaching out, she touched it and it unfolded itself to reveal Oliver's reply.

9 September 1993
Kitty cat... Hermione,
I — First off, I would like to say that I think it's okay to ask your parents to wait to send your presents; Happy birthday, by the way, early in case I don't get to see you before then, you never know, you might be busy with classes and homework. I know how important learning is to you, and I wouldn't fault you for it. I think it would be a good thing to drop some classes, especially the two you mentioned. Divination might not be for you since you're more of a bookworm like me, than a mystic like Professor Trelawney or the centaurs. It's a good idea to talk to Professor McGonagall about it first though, I agree. I hope that you decide before you wear yourself out too much.
Maybe you could tell your parents to wait on your gifts until after you visit Hogsmeade? There are some neat shops there that I think you'd like. The twins and Lee love Zonko's and Honeydukes for the jokes and sweets, but there's also Dervish and Banges for magical equipment, Gladrags for clothing, Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop if you like teas, The Three Broomsticks if you like butterbeer, The Hog's Head also serves butterbeer, but it's a lot shadier in its customers than The Three Broomsticks, so I'd recommend avoiding it. Finally, there's Scrivenshaft's Quills for quills and stationary. Maybe they could send you the money for your birthday and you could contact Gringotts to have it exchanged?
Anyway — what I think confused you in my letter was... maybe... the part where I talked about the way the Dementors affected me — that I was afraid of not only losing my parents, but you too. Maybe even a bit about it being hard to function when I'm worried about you...am I right about that being what confused you? Call me curious, but I am also wondering what you think your Boggart might have turned into. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to though.
I am sorry that Professor Lupin couldn't help you more though, but it sounds like our experiences were similar. I think the twins' worry about losing someone in their family is also similar to our experience. They told me once about their uncles, who died during the first war against You-Know-Who. Lee still hasn't talked about his experience yet, I wonder if it's similar to what Harry experienced.
Oliver