A/N: Hello, happy Monday all! This chapter is a little different than the previous chapters but I hope you all enjoy all the same :)
Gracie,
How's your summer holiday? I know it's only been three weeks, but it feels like it's been longer.
I was wondering, and it's okay if you can't I'd understand, if you wanted to come with me to visit my parents for my birthday?
Let me know if you can!
Neville.
Neville,
Summer holidays are going well so far! I've been spending a lot of time with Harry, he's the only thing that makes Little Whinging bearable. Although, if I'm being honest, we've barely spent any time here, we've been spending more time at Blue Cottage than we have in Little Whinging. Just last week, Harry and I went walking through the woods and we went into the stream and had a water fight! I accidentally cut my foot on a sharp rock in the water and he had to carry me back to the house, but it was so much fun! Maybe next summer we can see if you can come for a day so you can have fun with us!
Of course I'd come meet your parents for your birthday! I'll have to check with my Mum, but I think I can convince her to let me go. Even if she doesn't say I can, I'll still go! I'll just get Remus to take me to meet you and your Grandmother!
Grace.
Grace,
How's your summer? How much of your summer work have you finished? I've nearly finished all of mine. I only have Ancient Runes left but it seems to be a little tricky. There's one translation that I just can't seem to get right.
Have you heard from Harry at all? He told me that his Aunt is making them all be on that dreadful diet, and they're practically starving him!
Have you heard from Sir - you know? How is Professor Lupin? I hope he's well!
Hermione.
Hermione,
Summer is so much fun! It's probably the best summer ever! I haven't completed my work yet, I'm a little over halfway through with it! I do a little bit of it every day. How's yours been?
To answer your question about Harry: yes, I see him almost every day now. We split our time between being here and being at Blue Cottage, but I think we both prefer to be at Blue Cottage than Little Whinging. He did tell me about that awful diet. Mum's been making sure he's leaving with food to store in his room, and even put a charm on it so the Dursleys wont know what it is that he's bringing in!
Yes, I've heard from him and SNUFFLES is here. The first week of break was really hard, Snuffles and Mum didn't get on very well at all, they still don't really but having Remus and Harry around has kind of helped. Snuffles and Remus both say hello, and they send their best, and hope that you're doing well. Remus also says that he's no longer your professor so you can call him Remus.
I asked them if they took Ancient Runes, and they both did! Snuffles is really good at them and asks what it is the text and he can help you translate it!
Also, Hermione, I'm going mad! I hoped that these feelings for Harry would go away, that it was just a little crush... that maybe last summer and last fall got into my head, and I started over thinking everything! But... Hermione, I think I REALLY like him... More than I thought and... and it's a little scary.
Grace.
Gracie,
Oi! Where have you been?! You've usually visited five times by now!
Are you with Harry?
Please tell me you're feeding him, because those awful muggles are practically starving him!
You're still coming for the Quidditch World Cup, right?
Have you heard from you know? Also, how's Professor Lupin?
Ron.
Ron,
Sorry! I know, I know but... I HAVE been with Harry. Don't worry, Mum is feeding Harry!
I'm not with him right now, but he'll be coming over here shortly.
Ron, be serious, when will I ever pass up Quidditch?
Snuffles says hello, and wonders how your new owl is! Remus also says hello!
Grace.
Gracie,
It sounds like you're having a lot of fun! I'm glad, I know last summer was dreadful for you... with you know, being cooped up inside.
Really? Thank you for coming. Gran says we can meet you at the Leaky Cauldron at noon? She'll take us to St. Mungos from there, and maybe we can even get some Ice Cream in Diagon Alley!
See you soon!
Neville.
Neville,
This summer has been a miracle. I've spent more time outside this summer than I can remember!
Of course, Neville. You don't need to thank me for spending your birthday with you! Mum didn't want me going, but Remus managed to convince her. Meeting at the Leaky Cauldron sounds perfect! Remus will take me since Mum has to work. Oh! You'll also be able to meet my dog: Snuffles!
I'll have to break the news to Harry that we won't be able to hang out that day, but he won't mind.
Do you think your grandmother will let us go shopping around? I'd love to get you a birthday present, whatever you want! Let me know!
Grace.
Grace,
Oh, it's been nice, very quiet but nice! You're only halfway? We're already almost halfway through summer, Grace! You'vegotto finish before we see each other!
I'm glad that he's there. I was worried and wondered where he might have gone, is our other friend with him? Please tell them I'm well, and tell Professor Lupin I'll try, but he was our teacher, it'll be hard to call him anything but Professor.
Did they really? Oh that's wonderful! I've included the text I'm having trouble with on a separate sheet of parchment. I don't want the answer, but maybe an idea on where I can find? That would be a big help! Profess - Remus seemed the type to take Ancient Runes, but... no offense to Snuffles, but he didn't. Although his tattoos are runes, do you think he'll tell me what they mean?
I'm sorry to hear about Snuffles and your Mum. I'm sure it hasn't been easy. When we see each other, you'll tell us what happened, right? Give them time, they have been a part of thirteen years, and finding out the truth is a bit of a shock so it's understandable that your mother is having difficulty adjusting. AND Snuffles has been in the pound for quite some time, I'm sure he's probably just trying to adjust to being home again. It'll be alright, Grace.
Well, I don't know what to say, Grace. This is new territory for both of us. How do you know that youreallyfancy him? Maybe it's just you two getting closer? I know that probably isn't, but it's the only thing I can think of saying to maybe help? I'm sorry I'm bad at this.
Hermione.
Hermione,
It'll be done before we see each other don't worry. Harry and I do our school work together during the week. This was something Mum, Remus and Snuffles agreed on (surprisingly). We work at least two hours a day before we can do anything fun, but honestly... working on school work has been fun. Snuffles and Remus are a huge help with some things, like Transfiguration and Charms! Snuffles is really good at Transfiguration, and Remus has been a big help with History of Magic! Mum is actually helping review mine and Harry's potions essays. She's a very skilled potioner, or as she calls it: Potion Master. I don't know why she works for the Department of Mysteries when she could own and run an Apothecary, but she says she likes what she does.
I gave the parchment to Snuffles. Luckily Remus never throws out a book and he still has all his old school books stashed away somewhere. Snuffles spent about an hour or so looking at the translations. That's why this envelope is so big. Snuffles has included a few sheets of parchment on the translations, and symbols or something, I don't know. He says he hopes it helps. I told him that you were curious about his tattoos, and they are Ancient Runes. Some of them he didn't tell me what they were, I recognized one as his prison number, but I think the one that's more noticeable that I think you're talking about it, he said that one translates to: "more or less human", he thought it was clever.
That's what Remus told me... and I'm hoping but, each day it seems like it'll never happen. They save face for when Harry is around but when he leaves, they argue a lot. I kind of can't wait until the Quidditch World Cup, and staying at the Weasley's for a little while. I'll miss Remus and Snuffles dearly but... Mum is driving me mad.
I don't know, Hermione. Every time I think of him, I smile. When he's around my hands feel shaky and clammy, my heart feels like it's trying to beat out of my chest, and I keep getting this weird feeling in my stomach that feels like it's flipping every time he smiles and laughs, and it's almost making me nauseous. I've also been wearing different clothes. I like them, of course, Remus, Snuffles and I went shopping in London, and I picked out new clothes because my old ones weren't fitting right anymore. It was nice to pick out clothes that I ACTUALLY like and want to wear, and not having Mum nitpick every choice for me. But... I've been wearing nicer things when I know he's coming over and making sure my hair is neat and not a mess like it usually is. I never thought I'd care this much about how I look over a boy before...
I'm going mad!
Grace.
Grace,
Oh good. I'll let Mum know!
I do know better, but Mum and Dad wanted me to confirm it with you, so Dad knows how many to expect to be coming.
Can I call him Remus? Or just Lupin? Professor Lupin is a lot to write and say and I can't be bothered.
Ginny's named him PIGWIDGEON! What kind of name is that? It's awful! I tried renaming him but he refuses to go by anything else, so I just call him Pig. Ginny hates it when I call him that, but I don't care. He's a menace! He keeps showing off, and flying and doing loads of tricks! He keeps bothering poor Errol. He's doing well though. Mum asked where he came from, and I told her that Professor Lupin accidentally ate him and felt guilty so he gave Pig to me when he was delivering a letter to you. I kind of stretched the truth a bit, but you know.
See you soon,
Ron.
Ron,
Remus would love it if you called him that! He's already told Harry to call him Remus, and Hermione. They're having a hard time breaking the habit, but Harry is starting to get used to it. I think seeing him outside of Hogwarts, and out of a teacher role is helping. Hermione will probably never break it.
Pigwidgeon? That is an awful name, poor Pig. I can't wait to see him, and I'll let Snuffles know he's doing well. Maybe you should play with him, Pig I mean? He might like that and then you two can bond? Bonding with pets is important. Before I knew about Snuffles, I was really hoping I could convince Mum to let me keep him because I bonded with him... then well, you know.
I told Snuffles and Remus what you told Aunt Molly and Snuffles laughed so hard, and thought it was a brilliant story. Remus on the other hand sighed and shook his head, saying he didn't need to be known as a pet killer on top of being a werewolf.
Oh! How are we getting Harry for the Quidditch World Cup?
Grace.