Chapter Two: Letters Pt1.
11th July
Bonjour Harry,
I hope that you are well. Thank you again for letting me write you letters, I hope that they don't irritate you. Maybe they can make you smile a little in the dark times.
My parents are still hovering over me, they say they are worried that I was hurt while I was in the Lake, that it might hurt my Veela powers and stop them from surfacing. I hope they still come out, I've watched Fleur, Maman and our Grand-Mére practice in the gardens during the holidays and have been ever so jealous of them. They have told me that I might not have many Veela powers because Papa is not Veela and I am only part-Veela, but I do so want to join them.
We are going away for the most of the summer, we are going to go to Italy, to the lakes. Papa has a family home there; his family are from Italy so it is a home away from home for him. I am very much looking forward to relaxing on the lakes, hopefully the break will stop my parents from hovering over me if they are relaxed and calm.
Have you recovered from your ordeal at the end of the tournament? Some of the newspapers here reported on it, it sounded truly horrible. On a lighter note though, what are you doing during your summer? Are you going away anywhere with your family?
Your friend,
Gabrielle.
5th August
To Gabrielle,
It's good to hear from you and I'm glad that you're doing okay. Try not to mind your parents hovering, it only means that they care, you should be grateful that they are there to care, believe me, don't take it for granted.
I'm recovered as much as I can be, I wouldn't trust everything you read about what happened, there's only a handful of people who really know what happened in that graveyard and I don't think anyone else that was there is going to be giving an interview anytime soon. I only wish I was still at school so that I could have some dreamless sleep potion, then maybe I wouldn't have to relive that day every night, but if the letter I got from the Ministry the other day is anything to go by, I won't be going back to the wizarding world anytime soon, they've expelled me, just for defending myself and my cousin from a dementor! I hope that you being part of the tournament hasn't affected your Veela abilities, that would be really upsetting if it does.
I'm not doing anything over the summer, just staying at my aunt and uncle's home until I can finally join the Weasley's. My days are spent doing chores and trying to stay out of their way just so I can have some peace and quiet. You'll have to tell me all about your holiday to the Italian Lakes so I can live vicariously through you for the next month.
Your friend,
Harry.
10th August
Bonjour Harry,
Bon Anniversaire Mon Ami! Happy Birthday my friend, why did you not tell it was your birthday? I hope these little treats find you well and that you had a good day.
Italy is magnificent! It is so beautiful here and so relaxing, I want to come back here every year from now on. The lakes are so serene and the sky seems endless, I think that you would like to fly here. I think that I need to work on my Italian though before I come back. My Papa keeps laughing and correcting me so I know there is room for improvement. Hopefully it comes as easy as improving my English is with you, I'm saying the words aloud as I write to you and think that I'm getting better. Fleur keeps looking at like I've lost my mind but I don't care, I enjoy writing to you.
I hope that your trial goes well, I don't think that you have anything to worry about, you are allowed to use magic in the defence of your life. Surely, they can't expel you for that. That is what the law says here so I think it is probably the same over in Britain.
Beauxbatons starts up again in two weeks, I have to say that I'm looking forward to the new school year, this is the last year with only the basic classes and we get to choose our concentration classes. That is something that I'm really looking forward to learning more about this year. It will be strange to be at school without Fleur though. She's enjoying having a break before her apprenticeship starts in a couple of weeks, though she's been strangely quiet about what she's decided to do.
I hope the trial goes in your favour.
Your friend,
Gabrielle.
25th August
To Gabrielle,
The trial was certainly an ordeal. They changed the time of it at the last minute and I honestly thought that I was going to be kicked out of school and forced to leave the wizarding world but Dumbledore showed up just in time and managed to sort it all out for me. Everyone thinks that I was set up by someone at the Ministry as a way of discrediting me over saying that Voldemort is back, they keep denying it and calling me a liar. I'm trying not to let it get to me, but it's hard at times.
The Italian Lakes does sound amazing, maybe one day I'll be able to see them in person and fly over the lakes and see them in all their glory. It's something to look forward to, I guess.
I've finally been allowed to leave my aunt and uncle's house and have moved in with my Godfather. I've only known him for a year but I really missed talking to him last year. We barely spoke all year, he had to stay out of the county otherwise he'd get in trouble and neither of us wanted to take the risk, we've already missed out on thirteen years, we didn't want to miss anymore than we had to.
I have to admit that I'm looking forward to going back to school, even if it's so I can talk to some other people. Things are a little strained with Ron and Hermione at the minute, they'd not written to me all summer, they've been here in the heart of everything and not said a word to me and I have to admit that it hurts that they hadn't been in contact.
Thank you for the chocolates, I've had to hide them from Ron, but they're absolutely delicious and you won't get any objection from me if you were to send more of them at any time.
Your Friend,
Harry.
16th October
Bonjour Harry,
School is so boring when the Tournament isn't happening! The classes are so boring and just repeat each other, I want excitement! I'm hoping that the community events are enough to stop me from doing something stupid that could get me in serious trouble. I think that if my parents were to find out that I'd done something stupid on top of what happened last year they might pull me out of Beauxbatons and home school me. That would be even more boring!
Some of the lessons aren't that bad though. I'm excelling in charms class; it's always been a favourite of mine and I really admire the instructor. She's a charms prodigy and has created some amazing charms that have been used across multiple spaces, I think I can really learn something from her and I think she might see some potential in me which is very flattering. It's a little early but it might even lead to an apprenticeship after school.
How are your lessons coming along? I hope that your school year is calmer than last years, I think that you probably would be grateful for the peace and calm.
Your Friend,
Gabrielle.
24th October
To Gabrielle,
I think that you're the only person that I know that is wishing for the madness of last year again. Be thankful for the calm, if things go the way they did during the last war, this may be the calm before the store, I'd take advantage of that if I were you.
I wish that my year was calm, we've got a new Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, which isn't unusual to be honest, but this witch has been sent from the Ministry. Hermione seems to think that it's to spy on Dumbledore and I have to agree with her. She's been sitting in on lessons and evaluating the classes. She seems to be given more and more power from the Ministry every day, Merlin knows what she'll be able to do to the school before long, I don't think Dumbledore can do anything to stop her.
The Ministry have been putting all their effort into trying to convince everyone that what I said and saw last year was a lie for attention. I hoped that my classmates, my dorm mates would believe me but it looks like they've bought into all the propaganda. There have been rumours about me in the past and I've had people send me looks before, but this time it feels different. I don't know how we're going to win this without everyone coming together to fight.
That's good about your charms professor, it's good to be passionate about something and if you can make a career out of that then it's even better. It's good to dream, never stop.
Your Friend,
Harry.
7th November
Bonjour Harry,
I know that you don't celebrate Samhain as everyone else does, but I thought that you'd like some of these little treats. Bon Bons aren't usually so garishly coloured but these are especially for Samhain, hopefully that doesn't put you off them.
I've settled into classes now and I'm not pining after the danger and excitement of last year anymore. I think it was just the fact that last year I was busy packing my trunk for our stay in Hogwarts and the excitement of the tournament made the beginning of this year rather dull in comparison.
Charms are still my favourite class by far and I think that I'm showing some promise in the subject, hopefully Madame Fournier thinks the same. I've also been given a timetable for starting on mastering my suppression skills for some of my more alluring Veela charms. I guess my parents really didn't have to worry about them being damaged, they've started to show themselves a little earlier than expected. It's nothing to worry about though, it's all a part of growing up.
I'm sorry to hear that people aren't believing you. I think they're just scared and want to live in ignorance for a little longer before excepting that they're innocent childhood is over and soon they might have to go to war. Remember that ignorance is bliss for some people.
Hope your classes start to improve. Your Friend,
Gabrielle.
16th November
To Gabrielle,
Thank you for the Bon Bons, they tasted much better than they looked. Hopefully you think the Pumpkin Pasties taste better then they will no doubt look after being flown from Hogwarts to Beauxbatons.
Classes are the same as they always are, the only problem is Defence. Umbridge just simply refuses to teach us anything practical about defence, all she has us do day in day out is read what looks like a children's book on defence theory and as soon as someone speaks up about an actual practical she hauls them into detention and let me tell you they are probably the closest thing to torture that Hogwarts has ever seen. I dread to think of how many people have scars on their hands now.
Hermione has suggested that we get together and teach other the practical side of things. I wasn't too sure to begin with but the further into the school we get the more I think it's a good idea. I wouldn't want anyone to be caught of guard when school ends for the holidays. I don't think I would ever forgive myself if I could do something and didn't.
I'm glad that your Veela powers weren't damaged from last year, won't I be hard for you to master suppression on top of your other glasses? And why do you need to learn it so urgently?
Your Friend,
Harry.
2nd December
Bonjour Harry,
The pasties were delicious and certainly tasted a lot better than they looked. They did arrive rather squashed. If we continue to send food back and forth, we may have to come up with a better way to send it.
It's better to learn how to supress some of my powers now while I'm still young and while they're slowing revealing themselves. If I were to try and suppress my powers after they've fully revealed themselves then I could exhaust myself trying and that would be dangerous for myself and others. The main thing that Veela's suppress is our allure, something that we all have regardless of how diluted our Veela blood is. I don't really want my classmates to stare at me for the next five years and do something stupid while they can't control themselves.
Some of the things they've told me I might be able to do actually seem really fun. Apart from the allure, I might be able to create my own winged messengers. They did say that it was rare for Veela to be able to do this but it would so amazing if I could.
Your training classes sound so interesting and I think it's very clever and brave of you all to take matters into your own hands. It shows how much you all care for each other's safety. What did you mean about scars on the backs of people's hands? What has been going on in those detentions? Would you like me send you some salve to help with the scarring?
Your Friend,
Gabrielle.
17th December
To Gabrielle,
Thank you but the salve won't be needed. Hermione managed to get a hold of some essence of dittany and we've been using that, the words are barely noticeable now.
The defence lessons are going really well. Everyone is on board and they seem to be enjoying themselves and learning at the same time, I think that I learnt that was important during third year, our defence professor certainly made lessons fun and everyone agrees he was by far our best instructor so far. Though maybe I'm giving him a run for his money. I'm sure he won't mind, he something of an honorary uncle to me so he'll probably take it as a compliment.
Aside from lessons, I don't really have anything to tell you. Umbridge is still monitoring Care of Magical Creatures and Divination classes, I think it's because she doesn't like the teachers but I can't be sure. She's banned me from playing Quidditch too, I got into a fight with the other team at the end of the last matcha and she banned me and the Weasley twins, the other side got off scot-free. You can definitely tell who her favourites are in the school and they all seem to wear green and silver.
At least she can't stop me from going home for the holidays. I'm so looking forward to seeing my godfather again. We've managed to talk a couple of nights in the common room and we tried to sneak a meeting when it was a Hogsmeade visit but we couldn't manage to get away without someone spotting us and I wasn't going to risk losing him again. If he's seen it'll be so much worse than before, they're no coming back from what they would do to him if he were caught. I'll just have to make do with spending as much time together over Christmas. What are you doing for Christmas, another family trip perhaps? Remember, I need to live vicariously though you and your adventures.
Your Friend,
Harry.
9th January
Bonjour Harry,
I am so sorry to hear about Monsieur Weasley. I hope that he's recovering well, it must have been such a hard Yule for you all to have to sit by his bed for the last couple of weeks, I can't imagine the pain you must have all gone through.
I have to say that I'm curious as to who your Godfather is. I'm assuming that you've not told his name just I case someone reads our letters before ourselves, it's a very clever thing to do, take precautions. But you've given me some clues and I do like a puzzle so I'm requesting that you don't tell me who he is and give me some more clues and I shall figure it out by myself. Maybe if we ever meet again in person you can tell me if I'm right or wrong.
We spent the winter in Switzerland, skiing in the Alps. Papa has a childhood friend that let's us use his chalet and we couldn't resist the family time, even my grand parents joined and Fleur even put in an appearance though she still wouldn't tell us what she was up to. She was the one to tell me about Monsieur Weasley actually, though I don't know how she found out though. Maybe that can be my next puzzle.
Hope you and your friends and Godfather are all well. Your friend,
Gabrielle.
24th February
To Gabrielle,
Sorry it's taken me so long to write. Hopefully the copy of The Quibbler I've sent you will give you some understanding of why I've been so quiet recently. It's only been out a day and it's already been banned in Hogwarts by Umbridge. She doesn't like that fact that I've managed to get around the Ministry and got the truth out in the open. It certainly throws a wrench into their propaganda machine. Between arranging this interview and doing the defence training I've been rather busy. On the plus side, a lot of people have come up to me and apologised and told me that they do believe me, I guess they really were just scared. At least we can all fight together now though.
There is something else that's happened though since our last letter. I think I made a mistake but I'm not sure. I asked a girl out to Hogsmeade. That's not the mistake, but I think the girl I asked might have been. She was Cedric's girlfriend and I think that she's still mourning him and it just made the date awkward, made kissing her awkward. In fact, I know for certain that if the date wasn't a mistake then kissing her definitely was. Or maybe I'm just not meant to date at the moment, I have got more important things to worry about I guess, but I think I just wanted a normal teenage experience for once. Does that sound crazy and naïve of me? I'm not exactly a normal teenager' am I?
That's very curious about Fleur, I wonder how she found out about Mr Weasley? He's doing fine now, came out of St Mungo's just in time for Christmas. Maybe she's working with St Mungo's and she found out that way? When you figure out who my Godfather is, you'll have to dedicate some time to Fleur's secret, see if you can figure that out too.
Do you have any idea what additional subjects your going to take next year? It's one of my biggest regrets choosing the subjects I did without much thought behind the decision, please don't make the same mistake.
Your Friend,
Harry.
12th March
Bonjour Harry,
The interview seems to be a massive success Harry, you should be proud of what you've achieved, not only with getting the truth out but also with your defence lessons. From the sounds of it you seem to really be making a movement over there. Vive la revolution!
Don't feel bad about your date, something just are not meant to be. To be honest it does just sound like the girls is still grieving her boyfriend. It must be hard, not being able to get closure on something so violent and sudden. She's probably just needs time, so if you do like her I recommend just being patient. She'll get there.
I've been very careful with my decisions don't worry, selecting these subjects basically sets out our futures for us so it's certainly not something to decide lightly. In the end though, I've decided that I'm going to take culinary arts, dance, photography and philosophy. I know that it seems like an eclectic mix but I think each and every subject suite different aspects of my personality. It also shows that I'm not just a pretty face, that I have brains beneath my blond hair. Would you not be allowed to change your subject if it isn't right for you? It seems unfair that you can be stuck with a decision you made years ago with the opportunity to change.
I'm sorry this letter is so short; it's been fashion week this week and now we're are having a petite féte to celebrate its success. Four students have been offered places in fashion houses when they graduate. Your Friend,
Gabrielle.
28th April
To Gabrielle,
I don't even know where to begin writing this letter.
I suppose the biggest thing to tell you is that Dumbledore got fired and had practically vanished, though I suspect he's just laying low at headquarters with my Godfather. The two must be driving each other insane. Or more insane. Unfortunately, it means that Umbridge is now in charge of the school, or at least she is to a certain extent. I think the school itself is protesting in its own way, rumour has it that she can't access the Headmasters tower!
The next thing to tell you would be that the Weasley twins have left school and the certainly left with a bang. Fireworks and swamps and all kinds of mischief, they definitely made a lasting impression, their departure will be talked about for years to come. I think they've definitely topped anything the Marauders had ever done, though my Godfather may disagree.
I'm glad you've thought through your classes carefully. We had career conversations with our head of house recently and I mentioned switching subjects actually and I've left it far too late. No professor would let me swap going into N.E. without first completing O. and since they're starting in a couple of weeks it's all a no-go. I can always take some lessons after Hogwarts if I really need to, I'm sure Hermione wouldn't mind helping me when she can.
I think I'm going to leave the dating thing alone for a while. Cho is more than likely still grieving but even if she wasn't, she has a tendency to look at me like I'm some sort of hero and I don't want that. I guess I need to find someone that looks beyond all the flash and the fame. How about you? Have you mastered you allure suppression yet or are all the boys stating to stare? I remember at the world cup last year that the Bulgarians had Veela as their cheerleaders, every bloke in the stadium practically jumped onto the pitch when they came out, didn't really get the appeal myself. They were undoubtedly beautiful, but no reason to go mad over them.
Your friend,
Harry.
18th May
Bonjour Harry,
Exams are in full swing over here but I've managed to find some quiet time in the madness to write to you. I have to admit I was very curious after your last letter. You keep giving me puzzles to solve when I should be studying!
None of the boys are staring yet. Honestly, I wouldn't expect them to yet, it's still a little too early for them to really notice, but when the time comes, I can fully suppress what little allure I have. Heaven forbid I be accused of distracting them, though why they can't keep their eyes to themselves and show restraint is beyond me. It's nice to know that you seem to have a natural immunity to the allure though. The Veela at the world cup were full bloodied and you managed to restrain yourself, I'll definitely be coming to you when I need adult conversation without worrying about accidently lifting my suppressions.
How are your preparations for your exams coming along? I seem to remember your friend Hermione trying to get you and your other friend to try and sit down and open a book last year. I hope she has better success this year, you really shouldn't waste the gift that you've been blessed with. And you certainly don't want to have to retake the basics once you've left Hogwarts, that really would be a shame.
I hope your headmaster and Godfather haven't driven each other too insane, I do so want to meet him. If he is who I think he is then the conversations would be fascinating to have. I can only imagine the tales and stories he could tell!
Good luck with your exams, your friend.
Gabrielle.
17th June
To Gabrielle,
You can always find a retreat with me. I've really enjoyed our letter this year and if your spoken word is as good as your written word then I think you've certainly improved your English like you wanted. Though I think a conversation with my Godfather might set you back a couple of places, he tends to forget words and his train of thought easily. I think it's a consequence of spending so many years on his own with only his nightmares for company. He's getting better though, slowly but surely, day by day. Hopefully by the time he can walk the streets again he'll be able to hold a conversation comfortably too. It's definitely something to look forward to.
Exams are going as well as can be expected. Hermione has had us revising since the middle of May and to be honest I am grateful for it. Sometime I do take for granted the fact that I'm a wizard and have been given this amazing opportunity. There's only one more left tomorrow and the we can relax until the end of term.
Our head of house had to be taken to St. Mungo's yesterday. Umbridge tried to get rid of one of the teachers and McGonagall stood up for them and ended up getting five stunners sent straight at her. She always seemed invincible to us; it was so strange to see her lying on the ground not moving. Hopefully she'll be back in the new school year. I can't imagine Hogwarts with McGonagall or Dumbledore. It just wouldn't seem right.
I should probably leave this now and get to bed. Hermione is adamant that a good night's sleep before an exam is what's required to get the best results. I'm not going to argue with, I learnt that lesson years ago.
Your friend,
Harry.
21st July
My Dearest Harry,
Mon Dieu!
My dear friend, I am so sorry to hear about your Godfather. I know that you warned me not to trust everything written in the newspapers but I can feel it in my soul that what they said here is correct. My heart is breaking for you my friend, to be so close to all your dreams and hopes come true only for tragedy to strike. He would be so proud of the man you are my friend, live your best in his memory. Live your best for the life he didn't get to live.
Please I beg you not to turn away from your friends, let them mourn with you, don't keep it all bottled up inside. We are all here for you and if you wish to escape the noise and spotlight of Britain you can come and visit us here, please know you will always be welcome and you will always have people who love you.
Your dear friend,
Gabrielle.
Well, that's chapter two! I hope you've enjoyed it and look out for chapter three.