A/N: Last chapter! No warnings, unless you're sensitive when talking about menstruation.
It turned out that Dudley had only been granted permission to visit Number Four for the weekend due to Aunt Petunia telling his boarding school, Smeltings, a sob story of how her precious Dudder's uncle had been in a terrible car crash and was now in a coma. When Dudley returned to Smeltings, Harry let out a sigh of relief.
She didn't really mind her overly-large cousin, who was built along the lines of Millicent Bulstrode (only slightly less hefty than Goyle, the smaller of Malfoy's two sidekicks), but it was difficult to pretend that everything in the household was normal when what she really wanted to do was investigate such ordinary appliances as the toaster. And that wasn't even mentioning how utterly terrible Harry was at Dudley's favorite computer game; he took great pleasure in thrashing her multiple times in a row, gloating each time he beat her rather pitiful scores.
At the same time, when she waved goodbye to Dudley as Uncle Vernon drove him back to Smeltings late on Sunday afternoon, she was sad to see him go. Without her cousin, Harry would be alone in the house with Aunt Petunia for most of the day, and would have to sit through awkward meals with her Aunt and Uncle each day.
While both her Aunt and Uncle knew about magic, it made them chary around her. Harry would often catch Uncle Vernon staring at her with narrowed eyes, but the large man would glance away uncomfortably when he noticed that she had seen him. Aunt Petunia, on the other hand, didn't care if Harry caught her staring. The first Monday, when Harry mustered up the nerve to ask Aunt Petunia about her sister, the woman snapped out, "I didn't know she was dead until a few weeks ago," and then bustled to the stove to fuss over a pot of tea.
The next day, when Remus visited, Harry asked, "Why didn't anyone ever tell Aunt Petunia that my mum died?"
Remus shoved his hands into his coat pockets, staring at the copse of trees ahead. "I was busy taking care of you and Alex," he said slowly. "Not to mention, I didn't have the least idea of where to find Lily's family. James…" He sighed. "Well, James had other things on his mind.
Harry nodded, but still couldn't shake the feeling that no matter what, someone should have at least informed Petunia about her sister's death. She didn't think she'd ever forgive someone who neglected to tell her that Alex had died, although even with the minimal information she had about her mother and Aunt Petunia's relationship with each other, she knew that her own relationship with Alex was very, very different.
The week passed slowly after Remus left that first Tuesday. Her friends had all been woken up from their Petrified states, and most had written her, but even their letters weren't enough to stave off boredom. Harry finished her school assignments - which she had received by owl on Monday - and would turn them in to Hogwarts the next Monday when the owl was supposed to come back to deliver more class work. For a few hours on Thursday, Harry managed to concentrate on the last three chapters of Transfiguration Lessons for the Newfound Prodigy, but with the restrictions on magic in the muggle world, she wasn't able to practice what she'd read about.
Harry knew that it was only a matter of time until she began to bounce off the walls. What she really wanted to do was get her broom out of her trunk and fly. It had only been a week since she'd left Hogwarts - not even a week, really, only just six days - but she hadn't flown for nearly three months, not since the last Quidditch match.
On Saturday morning, Aunt Petunia finally got fed up with Harry's constant fidgeting. "Stop that," her Aunt snapped over her dry toast.
It took Harry a few seconds to realize that she was tapping her fingers against the side of her chair. She stilled her fingers. "Sorry, Aunt Petunia."
Uncle Vernon grunted something that sounded vaguely like, "You better be," from behind his newspaper, groping blindly for his morning tea. Harry pushed it so that he could pick it up.
"I'm going to the garden shop today," Aunt Petunia announced a few minutes later.
"Fine, fine," Uncle Vernon agreed, waving a meaty hand.
"I'll need someone to help with the heavy lifting." She stared meaningfully at Harry. It took Harry half of a minute to realize what her Aunt wanted.
"Oh - er - I'll help?" She wasn't sure how much help she'd be for heavy lifting, but anything was better than waiting for her next batch of class work.
"Well, get yourself cleaned up, I won't go out in public with your hair looking like that."
Harry gingerly touched her hair. She'd cut it the previous day, and it was now as messy as she'd ever seen it, refusing to so much as stick up in an orderly fashion. "Yes, Aunt Petunia," she agreed.
Despite what Aunt Petunia had said, they didn't actually leave the house until closer to eleven. Harry's Aunt was wearing a pale pink sun dress, with a matching hat and shoes. If the dress hadn't been pink, Harry might have thought it pretty, but she supposed it might have also been that pink didn't look very good with her Aunt's hair.
By half three, Harry's face was sweaty and streaked with dirt, but she no longer had excess energy. Indeed, she felt like nothing more than flopping onto the grass in the shade, with a cool glass of lemonade to drink.
At four, Aunt Petunia peeled off her gardening gloves and patted at her limp curls. "That's enough for today."
Harry would've cheered if she hadn't been panting. Not only had they fertilized the entire garden - front and back - but she had also mown the lawn, clipped the bushes, and transported her Aunt's rose clippings from the piles her Aunt made to the compost bin. Aunt Petunia didn't trust her with her precious roses, but Harry didn't much care to tell her that she'd trimmed far more dangerous plants at Hogwarts; the merest mention of magic had her Aunt pursing her lips and changing the subject.
Another week passed without much fuss. As with the week before, Harry finished the assignments from the professors within four days of receiving the packet of tasks, although Remus had needed to help her with her Charms essay during his weekly visit.
She woke on Friday to something slowly tickling its way down the inside of her thigh. For one horrible second, Harry was convinced that a spider had found its way into her pajamas, and she bolted into a sitting position, nearly banging her head on the ceiling, and throwing the covers jerkily off her legs. The scream died in her throat when she saw the small rusty red stain in the slowly decompressing indentation she'd made as she slept.
"…no, oh no, it's not - this isn't happening." Harry realized she was muttering when she had to stop the steady chain of words to breathe.
Somehow, she managed to wash herself and change into a clean pair of clothes, stuffing the stained pair of boxers and pajama bottoms into a plastic bag nicked from Dudley's bathroom drawer. The sheets from her bunk followed, and then she was forcing her feet into her boots, shrugging into the first set of robes she could find, never mind that they were wrinkled and too short in the sleeve. A cloak followed the robes, and somehow her wand and her mostly-empty coin purse were in her pockets when she scribbled a note to her Aunt and Uncle even though she didn't remember putting them there.
Outside, the sky was just beginning to lighten as dawn approached. Harry stuffed the bag with the soiled linens into Number Eight's trashcan before running to the park just off of Magnolia Crescent. Her hand trembled slightly when she raised her wand, and it took a moment for her to still the quivers.
The Knight Bus appeared. Harry didn't wait for the conductor to start his usual speech before pressing a galleon into his hand and saying, "Leaky Cauldron."
She sat gingerly on the nearest bed, only barely registering that the usual armchairs weren't there. Still too early, she supposed.
Two people got off of the bus and six more got on before the conductor, Stan, announced her stop with a loud, "Leaky Cauldron, up next!"
Harry followed a pair of tired-looking hags into the Leaky Cauldron. The Knight Bus disappeared with a loud bang! just as Harry threw the pinch of Floo powder she'd bought from Tom onto the flames. "Herberts and Rose Herbal Remedies," Harry whispered, and the green flames whisked her away.
It was by far the quickest Floo journey that Harry had ever taken, which was odd considering that she'd most likely been closer to the shop over Christmas. She wondered if it had anything to do with when the pub and the herbal shop had gotten their Floo's linked up, but decided that it didn't really matter, since all Floo journeys were linked through the Ministry in the end.
When she stepped out of the other grate, the shop wasn't empty like she'd thought it would be. Most of the shop was shadowed, but a series of floating candles above the glass counter cast their light onto the rough wooden workbench that a short woman wearing a set of dark lavender robes was chopping herbs on.
"Liam, is that you? I told you not to come back until - " The woman broke off, half turned away from the bench. Her knife stilled. "Miss Potter, wasn't it?"
"Harry. Just Harry," Harry managed to croak out, hands clenching nervously in her pockets. "I - I didn't know where else to go." Against her will, tears started to well up in her eyes. She blinked furiously, glad, for once, for her spectacles, which hid most of the shine of the tears.
Liam's mother slowly turned around the rest of the way, wiping her hands on a green-streaked cloth hanging under the counter. "Call me Ellen, lassie. I take it you got my message?"
Harry's eyebrows scrunched together for a long moment of confusion before she remembered that last letter from the King. The hesitation had been too long though, and Ellen gave her a gentle smile of understanding.
"Not the letter, then? Well, what's got you so worked up?"
Harry fidgeted uncertainly in front of the glass counter, staring at a bottle full of bright green potion, labeled in what had to be Russian. Ellen waited patiently, using the time to direct her wand to the still-flaring Floo, effectively dousing the last remnants of green.
"I'm - I've - I - " Harry choked before she could get anything else out, and she swiped angrily at a tear as it trickled down her cheek. Frustrated, she burst out, louder than intended, "I'm bleeding!"
Ellen accepted the news calmly. "Are you injured?" she inquired. "Liam says that you're with muggles now. Was it something in their house?"
"How does the King know that? Never mind, I don't want to know." Her frustration had faded, and now she was just embarrassed. "No, I'm not…hurt. I'm bleeding from," she gestured towards her nether region. "From - you know."
Understanding dawned on Ellen's face, but was shunted aside in favor of another kind smile. "Come through here, I'll get you all fixed up." She opened the gate that stretched between the glass display counter and the wall.
Her cheeks still flaming, Harry stepped into the back area, and then allowed Ellen to usher her through the dark rectangle that immediately brightened into a tiny kitchen-cum-sitting room, no larger than the smallest cellar-room in Potter Manor. Ellen pushed her into the nearest chair - painted a cheerful yellow, with a embroidered cream-colored cushion on the seat - and proceeded to bustle about the tiny room, fixing a pot of tea by hand. While she waited for the water to come to a boil, Ellen sat herself down across from Harry.
"I remember reading your mother's obituary in the Daily Prophet." She shook her head. "There's no excuse a midwife can make for doing what that - that - " Ellen shook her head again, in disgust this time.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked. The house elves had never mentioned anything about the day she and Alex were born except that there had been complications, and Remus and her dad had been even more closed-lips about the subject.
"You don't know?" Ellen seemed genuinely surprised. The kettle began to whistle. Harry bit her tongue while Ellen poured the water into the teapot, and then set the lid on top and levitated the teapot, two teacups, and a small plate of already-buttered crumpets to the table. Only after Ellen had settled herself back down did she speak, slowly, as if choosing her words carefully. "The midwife hired by your parents was meant to be someone else, but her sister's family died a week beforehand. So the midwife sent in a replacement. The replacement was…inexperienced. And young. Too young, really. She had seen only a few births, but never helped with any. Medical spells are some of the trickiest out there; too easy to make a mistake."
Harry nodded. Every child knew how difficult healing spells were. Otherwise, anyone could heal each other, or even themselves. Ellen paused in her story to pour the tea, pushing the first cup to Harry with a, "Drink up. It'll help with the cramps."
Harry blew on the steaming beverage, and then took a sip even though she didn't have any cramps.
Ellen drank some herself, and slowly lowered the cup. Harry predicted the next sentence before the first syllable was spoken. "The midwife didn't even realize she'd made a mistake until it was too late."
She drank more tea even though she didn't feel like it; the hot liquid seemed to stall at a large knot in her throat.
Ellen gave a long sigh. "I didn't think I'd be the one to have to explain things to you, though. How much do you already know?"
Harry shrugged, swallowed hard, and then said, "Just the basics, I guess."
Ellen fixed her with a hard stare. "Have you been taught about sex?"
She spluttered through a mouthful of tea. "Ye - yeah." The Quidditch talk often took a less-than-sport-related direction in the locker room. "A bit." Ellen just arched a disbelieving eyebrow at her. Harry caved, cheeks burning hotter than ever. "The boys said some things."
Ellen gave an amused chuckle. "Don't ever believe anything any boy says to you, dearie. They're far too easy to please. With women it's a bit harder…"
By the time Ellen finished her extraordinarily educational talk about sex, Harry was sure that she could've fried an egg on her face. But the spells Ellen had made her perform repetitively - with the woman's own wand, no less - were useful, and not just for protection.
"But what about this summer?" Harry asked. "I can't do magic at my Aunt's house." Too close to muggles, and there weren't any of the wards that protected Ministry interference like there were at Potter Manor.
"You'll have to do it the old fashioned way," Ellen said matter-of-factly, standing up to clear the long-empty teapot from the table.
Harry wrinkled her nose as Ellen jabbed her wand at a tall cupboard in the narrow hallway between the kitchen and the front store; a large square of white fabric burst out, the door banging shut behind it.
"Here's how to fold it."
Half an hour later, Harry stepped off the Knight Bus in front of Number Four, Privet Drive. She had never hated being a girl more than she did at that very moment. First breasts, and now monthly bleeding. Being a girl sometimes seemed like a cosmic joke, or at very least, a curse from the gods.
The rest of May passed in a routine of homework, helping Aunt Petunia around the house, writing letters, and waiting. Remus showed up every Tuesday, and Aunt Petunia grudgingly but politely served him tea each and every time.
Remus never had any news about Harry's father, but no news was better than bad news. His condition hadn't worsened, but neither had he gotten any better. Once, Remus Apparated her to an empty field in the middle of nowhere, and Harry spent a pleasurable afternoon flying. She never told him about her illicit visit to Knockturn Alley, and although he gave her an odd look that first Tuesday after his visit - the last day of her cycle - he never said anything even though Harry was sure that Aunt Petunia had said something to him about her absence.
Dudley returned two weeks before Alex was due back. He spent the first two days hanging out with his primary school friends, only one of whom attended Smeltings with him. Harry wasn't too impressed with his little gang, but since the feeling was mutual, neither she nor Dudley's friends bothered each other. Dudley had, apparently, warned them off on the premise that she - as his cousin - was off-limits for bullying.
Harry fed Dudley the lies that Remus had told her to; Aunt Petunia let her pick out the next type of flowers to put in the back garden. She snuck off to Diagon Alley and came back with fairybells. Aunt Petunia gave the delicate while flowers a single frown before pointing Harry towards a shady plot of dirt almost directly across from the kitchen window over the sink. Twice in the following few days, Harry caught her gazing at them with something approaching fondness.
With Dudley once more in the house, Harry had to cut down on the amount of time she spent studying magic in her room, so that she only was able to open her books during the early morning hours when Dudley was snoring almost as loud as Ron in the room just across the hallway, or in the after-dinner hours when he was either roaming the neighborhood with his friends ("having tea" at one of the other boys' house) or watching the telly with Uncle Vernon. Accordingly, Harry spent even more time in the backyard, staring at the sky and wishing she could be flying. Whenever Aunt Petunia caught Harry 'lazing about', she would put her to work pulling imaginary weeds, sweeping up imaginary leaves, or assisting with chores that Harry had often seen the house elves using magic to do in less than a fifth of the time it took her without.
April 24, 1993
Dear Harry,
What do you mean, you've got some things to look into?! I only get to write once every two weeks,
and you leave me with three measly lines!
Tell me everything, I mean it.
Mum agreed to get an owl. I don't think she likes having to go to Diagon Alley every time I have a
letter. Plus, she'll be able to send me things during the school year. Dad's not so easily swayed, but
she'll have him won over by the end of August, I'm sure of it. She's also somewhat okay with the
idea of you coming over, if you need a place to stay until mid-July, but there's really only room for you,
so your brother wouldn't be able to come. A shame, really, since he had some really interesting stories
about Asclepius Academy. We'll be taking an extended vacation to France until the very last day of
August - cutting it rather fine - but it will be so interesting to learn about the magical communities in
France! There's so much history that relates to Paris, and I think I may have seen a book about
Versailles in the Hogwarts Library near the beginning of last year, so there's even a chance of magical
history there, too!
Sorry I don't have anything else to write. It's not very interesting here.
Make sure to tell me everything.
Love,
Hermione
April 25, 1993
Dear Hermione,
This is going to be a very long letter. Hogwarts was shut down on Wednesday. A girl died. Sally-Anne
Perks, from our year, a Ravenclaw. It was a basilisk that was Petrifying students, but Perks was killed.
It's really just a matter of luck that none of the others died. Look on page 14 of your copy of Fantastic
Beasts and Where to Find Them, and you'll see for yourself how small the odds are that it took so many
attacks for someone to die.
I found out about the basilisk but didn't tell anyone, so is it my fault? I think it might be. If they'd known,
would they have shut down Hogwarts? There was no proof, either, except for the Petrifications and a
suspicion. Still, I just can't help but wonder what might have happened. But I didn't say anything, because
I'd just gotten the news of my father, and I didn't have anywhere else to go if they closed Hogwarts. I
can't stop blaming myself.
I think I avenged her, though. It turns out that Parkinson was being controlled by an enchanted diary.
Headmaster Dumbledore has it now, but I kind of destroyed it, after killing the basilisk. Hermione, it was
terrifying. Even worse than in first year with Quirrell, though it was a different sort of scary. Quirrell at least
looked like a man. The basilisk was - I don't know how to describe it. I can't decide if it would've been worse
if I hadn't been able to understand what it was saying as it was stalking me, or not.
But that's what's been happening at Hogwarts. They're supposed to administer the Restorative Draught
today. I'm already at my Aunt's house. My mum's sister, it turns out. I didn't know I had an Aunt. I don't
think she knew that my mum had died, or that me and Alex even existed, until Remus Lupin - that's Alex's
godfather - asked her to take us for the summer. She doesn't look anything like the photos of my mum.
She's really skinny, and her hair is more blonde than my mum's was. Her son is really huge, though,
somewhere between Crabbe and Goyle in size. He's just left to return to his school for the rest of term,
so it'll just be me and my Aunt and Uncle. They know about magic, but don't want Dudley to know. I think
they're scared he'll get contaminated or something.
I hope that was enough.
Best,
Harry
April 26, 1993
Dear Harry,
It's been a while, yeah? Mum kept your gift for me. It's great; it'll give me something to chase after
this summer, since Dad's confiscated all of my Snitches until I catch up on all of my classes. I have
O.W.L.'s next year, and he doesn't want me to fall behind. I don't want to fall behind either, but that's
Dad for you.
Hopefully the rest of school wasn't too bad for you. Professor Sprout told me what happened with
Fred and Ron, and the other attacks after mine. I don't remember much, before you ask. Just an odd
reflection in the window, and then waking up. Too bad we didn't get to play that game we promised
each other, yeah? I'll see if I can get my parents to let you come over, so ask your Dad for me, kay?
Happy summer, and thanks again for the gift.
Yours,
Cedric
April 26, 1993
Harry,
We've finally been woken up. Ron swears he's cramping from being in that stupid position, but we
know better. He's just doing it to get more biscuits out of Mum. Think we can meet up in Diagon Alley
again this summer? McGonagall had some pretty wild stories about what you were up to without us.
Write if you can meet in Diagaon Alley with a date and time. Write if you can't, and we'll find you or
arrange for you to come over to ours. Mum seems to know your Dad alright, so we'll ask her to ask him,
or something.
Gred and Forge
April 27, 1993
Dear Cedric,
Whatever Professor Sprout said is probably true.
I'm glad you like your gift. I started making it before I remembered you'd been attacked, so I just sent it on
anyways. Runes are really interesting. Are you in the class?
Sorry for all the work you must have. I'm still getting extra work from the professors every week; I can't imagine
how much you've got to catch up on. I don't know if I'll be able to get away from my guardians. I don't know if
you've heard, but my dad's in a coma, so I'm with my Aunt and Uncle right now. They're muggles; I think my
Aunt would have a heart attack if I asked to go fly a broom with a friend.
Good luck studying.
Best,
Harry
April 27, 1993
Harry,
We just heard about your Dad. Sorry about our last letter. We know we're insensitive gits. We
unworthy fools beg your eminence's forgiveness.
Gred and Forge
April 27, 1993
Dear Fred and George,
Thanks for the letter. It's good to know that you're both awake, and Ron, too. Cedric's already written
about studying for O.W.L.'s. I can't see the two of you doing that all summer, though.
I'll see if I can meet you in Diagon Alley, but no guarantees. I'm with my muggle Aunt and Uncle, so I'd
have to wait for Remus to escort me, and Alex once he gets back from school.
Best,
Harry
May 8, 1993
Dear Harry,
WHAT DO YOU MEAN, THERE WAS A BASILISK?! I can't believe you're alive! And you killed it! On your
own! How on earth did you do it?! Have you any idea how hard it was for me to wait two weeks to write
to you?!
Also, did you get the third question for Defense Against the Dark Arts? I don't know who assigned it this
time, but I haven't the faintest clue how to go about answering it. Honestly. It's like they think we've got
the Hogwarts library for reference.
I forgot to answer your questions from a previous letter. I really can't decide what elective to chose, now
that we know that Hogwarts will be open in September. I got the notice with the last set of homework,
along with the little brochures. Ancient Runes and Arithmancy look so useful - they're needed for a lot of
jobs - but it would be really fascinating to study muggles from the magical point of view, and there really
are so many creatures that I don't know about, too. And divination is such a well-known subject for
witches and wizards that it's even part of muggle lore! Hopefully I'll be able to speak to Professor
McGonagall before I decide. Have you decided what to take yet?
Since you're with muggles, maybe we could organize a dinner or something, once our last classwork set
is done and your brother has gotten back. Tell me what they say.
Love,
Hermione
May 9, 1993
Harry-
Why the hell haven't you written? What're the Dursley's like? I know you've left Hogwarts by
now. Remus sent me a letter a week ago, saying he'd meet me right off the carriages.
Anyways, write back, will you.
-Alex
May 10, 1993
Dear Hermione,
My Aunt didn't seem to interested in a dinner, sorry. She's not exactly a fan of magic, and they really
don't want Dudley to find out. They've even offered to put locks on my door before he gets back, if
you can believe it.
I've decided to do Ancient Runes, Arithmancy, and Care of Magical Creatures. Remus said that
Divination's a waste of time, and that unless you're already got the Inner Eye, it's pointless. Either
you've got it, or you don't. I was torn about Muggle Studies until he pointed out that I'm living with
muggles right now, so I'm probably learning more about them this summer than I could in two
entire years of classes. I don't know if I agree with him, but it did make the decision easier.
About the Defense homework - look in the Charm's textbook. There's a small passage on page 208
that relates to protective spells. I'm pretty sure that a Shield Charm would work in the situation given
in the problem.
I Transfigured a rooster. And I'm still alive, so don't worry about it.
Best,
Harry
May 11, 1993
Dear Alex,
Sorry I didn't write. There's been a lot going on. I'll be seeing you in a month, and I don't want to worry
you, so I'll just tell you when you get here. Just concentrate on your studies.
The Dursley's are alright. They mostly leave me alone when I'm in our room - which is going to be
cramped with the two of us - but sometimes I help Aunt Petunia in the garden or around the house if I'm
bored enough. I think if we just keep to ourselves as much as possible we'll be okay. And Remus will be
visiting every week, so at least we'll have something to look forward to.
Love,
Harry
May 22, 1993
Dear Harry,
Once again, there's not much for me to say. It's really rather quiet here. I've found an old bicycle, so I can
ride to the nearest library quicker than I could walk, but that's really the only thing of interest. Mum and
Dad have started me on a French language program on our computer to help me refresh my skills. I haven't
been to France since I was seven, so it's quite a good idea, and it keeps me entertained. Mum knows a fair
bit of French as well, although Dad speaks German. He keeps on wanting to visit the Alps in winter, but
Mum's really not a fan of the slopes there, since they're always so busy.
It's too bad your Aunt is so suspicious of magic. My parents are quite adept at getting along with people
they don't like, not that they wouldn't like them.
When is your brother due back? I would expect around the time we would normally get out, but he was
there to pick you up from the platform last year, so I realized that he had to get out a bit earlier than us.
I think that I'll probably end up doing the same subjects as you. Remus had a very good point about
Muggle Studies, and if he has such a poor view of Divination, there's little point in me taking it when I
am quite sure I haven't got a single ounce of this 'inner eye' he spoke of. I've never had visions or strong
feelings of things to come, or any of that rubbish. Which classes do you think Neville will take? Mum gave
me the letter, so I know not to try and reach him.
Love,
Hermione
May 23, 1993
Dear Hermione,
It's good that it's quiet, sometimes. I've been helping my Aunt in her garden, and I can see why Neville
likes Herbology so much. I'll have to visit the greenhouse Professor Sprout lets him into sometime, to
see if she's got any other suggestions for muggle gardens. If you get to stop by Diagon Alley, go into the
flower shop near the Daily Prophet building. They can get you some quite pretty flowers for a good price.
I've seen three fairies since I planted some fairybells just last week.
I'm guessing that Neville will go for Care of Magical Creatures for sure - it's a relatively easy, hands-on
course, and a lot of the older students say that it's fun - but beside that, I'm really not sure. I can't see
him doing Muggle Studies, the only reason I was interested was because my mum was muggleborn, but
I can't really see him in Arithmancy or Divination either. Ancient Runes is a rather intensive course, and
I can't see him needing it. He's the Heir Apparent, so he's all but required to go into politics. Alex will,
too, actually, but he'll probably try and pass it off to me. We just hope that Dad'll get better.
Best,
Harry
June 2, 1993
Harry, guess what!? Dad won the Thousand Galleon Draw at work! We're heading right out of
country to visit our brother Bill in Egypt. Ginny is really excited, though Mum's going spare
trying to make us study. Ronnie's being a good little boy. He doesn't want to be held back to
Ginny's year. Percy's even being nice to him and helping him study, when he's not writing letters
in his room. We think he's got a girlfriend, but he denies it, doesn't even turn red or anything.
And he got Mum to put a charm on his door so that we can't get in. We've been staking it out,
but he even locks it when he's gone to the loo. He'll slip up eventually, though, and then
we'll have him.
Keep going on the Diagon Alley front, though. We don't leave until July, so we've got a bit of
time to meet up. Dad says we're not getting back until the last few days of August. It'll be a tight one.
And thanks, you know, for getting Hogwarts open for next year. We'd go barmy being
homeschooled by Mum.
Forge and Gred
P.S. Turns out, even if you could get to Diagon Alley, Mum won't let us go. She's started carrying
around her clock, the one that tells her what any of our family's generally up to at the time. We tried
to sneak out to the Lovegood's stream (we think crawfish might be a good ingredient for one of
our little suprises) but she headed off us and made us degnome the garden. We'll be sure to get
you something interesting from Egypt, though.
June 4, 1993
Fred and George -
Have fun in Egypt. I think Remus will take me and Alex to Diagon Alley at least once this summer, so
if you two need something that your mum won't let you pick up, just let me know, and I'll grab it for
you on one of the trips.
- Harry
June 6, 1993
Dear Harry,
This will be my last letter for a while. My grandmother fell and broke her hip, and will be staying with
us for the next month or so. She's just as aware as ever, though, and Mum and Dad are making me
pack away anything that has to do with magic. The thing is, Grandmother is very Catholic. I think
Mum and Dad are worried that she'll totally break, or try and get me put into an asylum, or have
me exorcised, or something. So no more owls, either.
But I do think that you're right about Neville's choices. His Gran might have some things to say
about his choices, but I can't see him in Arithmancy or Muggle Studies. Ancient Runes, though,
have more than a few applications to herbology and garden upkeep, so he might be interested in
that. I wish that it was easier to contact him. We'll have to wait until summer's nearly over to
speak, assuming I can find any owls in France.
Best wishes for summer. Say 'hi' to Alex for me.
Love,
Hermione
June 7, 1993
Dear Hermione,
I hope this letter gets to you before your grandmother moves in. Sorry for her troubles, I hope
she gets better soon. It's only two more weeks until Alex gets here, and I've got Dudley for
company starting tomorrow. It's probably a good thing that I won't be sending so many letters.
Aunt Petunia wouldn't be happy if Dudley saw an owl coming into my room.
Have a great summer.
Best,
Harry
It was the hottest day Harry had yet experienced at Privet Drive when she finally saw the same car that had delivered her to the muggle neighborhood more than a month before turn the corner. She was alone on the front stoop, wearing a an old shirt of Alex's and a pair of Dudley's castoff jeans, rolled up to just below her knee. Aunt Petunia was inside working on dinner, and she wasn't sure where Dudley was; he'd left nearly two hours previous, but only after Petunia had made him promise to be home in time to welcome his other cousin to the house. Apparently, he'd forgotten how to read his watch (which was a rather expensive model, according to his bragging).
When the car rolled to a stop, Harry opened the door and bounced on the spot while first a familiar trunk, and then a familiar head of hair emerged. She didn't know who initiated the hug, but she didn't much care. It had been far too long since she'd seen her brother, and too much had happened for her to care that they were supposed to be two brothers and that boys didn't hug.
"You got taller," Harry said into the side of Alex's neck after she stopped squeezing him so hard. He'd shot up more than half a foot since last September; Harry had grown as well, but not nearly as much.
"You shrunk," Alex said, and Harry could hear the smirk in his voice.
"Really?" she asked, half-whine and half-sigh. She pulled back, and found his trunk to be already on Remus' shoulder.
Remus gestured to the house. Harry sighed again, but led the way up the path to the door, which Aunt Petunia was in the process of opening.
"That's her?" Alex whispered, eying their Aunt with something approaching shock. "She looks like a horse."
"Alex!" Harry hissed.
But Alex just gave her a sideways smirk. It did little to hide the mixture of anger and grief in his eyes.
For the third time in two minutes, Harry sighed. It would be a long summer, for everyone who called Number Four, Privet Drive, their home.
A/N: So, that's it for this one. I've started on book three, but it may be a while. School is really slamming me this quarter, and I've got a few other stories in the works as well. I hope you enjoyed this installment, and I'll update with a temporary chapter when I post the next one! Thanks for reading!