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Dear Fred,
I know we’ve only been back at Hogwarts for a week, but it feels so much longer than that. Of course, the start of our year couldn’t go normally. Harry and Malfoy got into a fight on the train! No one else was around to see it - whatever happened occurred after everyone had already disembarked - but Harry ended up showing up late to the welcome back feast with a broken nose and blood dried on his face. He wouldn’t tell us exactly what happened, but Harry has his guard up every time Draco is around. Needless to say, we’re back in the chaos.
How is the shop doing? I’ve seen so many students around the castle with your products, so I assume business is booming. Even though I’m a prefect and should confiscate them, I’ve had a hard time disciplining the students who use them because they remind me of you. They’ve been doing a lot to lift the spirits of the other students around the castle; I think everyone is scared about the confirmation that You-Know-Who is back, and people are doing what they can to stay positive in these dark times. Plus, you and George put so much work into them that it feels bad to discredit them as simple pranking products, but unfortunately the professors don’t agree.
Anyway, I’ll try to keep you updated with what’s going on around the castle. Ron is thinking about trying out for the quidditch team - keeper specifically. I miss you a lot, and hope we’ll be able to work something out so I can see you in person again soon.
Sincerely,
Hermione
Dear Hermione,
It’s so nice to hear from you. I swear, since the business has taken off George and I have been flooded with owls about partnerships, product sales, the works, so seeing your handwriting amidst the rest of the letters we’ve been receiving was a bit of fresh air. The shop has been doing well, but Merlin is it stressful. Regardless, I couldn’t be happier with how it’s all working out!
It’s just like the three of you, particularly Harry, to already be caught up in drama. Keep an eye out for Harry? I know his whole rivalry with Malfoy isn’t out of the ordinary, but he’s been through a lot the past year with Sirius, You-Know-Who, and all that; I’m sure he could use good friends like you and Ron right now.
Speaking of Ron, I didn’t know he was planning on trying out for the quidditch team, I could have lent him some of our old equipment otherwise (Merlin knows George and I don’t have the time to use it at the moment.) Wish him the best of luck from me, I’ll be eager to hear how he does.
I miss you a lot too. The past few years I’ve gotten so used to having you close by in the castle, at the Burrow, even at Grimmauld place that I feel like I’m having withdrawals now that I can’t be around you every day. That just means we’ll have to keep writing letters until we can be reunited in person! Let me know when you have a Hogsmeade weekend coming up, maybe I can take an hour or two off at the shop and stop by to spend some time with you.
Miss you lots,
Fred
Dear Fred,
I’m happy to inform you that Ron made the quidditch team! I’m not going to lie, it didn’t look good for him at first; he was green all morning with nerves, but luckily Harry and I were able to help him calm down and give him the extra push he needed to succeed! With Harry, Ginny, and now Ron on the team, I know they’re going to dominate in the house cup this year. I’ve been watching some of their practices so far to help cheer on Ron and the team looks great, although the team won’t feel the same without the two of you and your wild energy. The new beaters aren’t as good and I can tell the team misses you guys.
Things have been going relatively normal here aside from the fact that Harry is still acting obsessed over Malfoy. Harry’s convinced Draco is up to something, but I think he’s just reverting to his prick tendencies and antagonizing Harry to get a rise out of him. Harry’s even taken to tracking his schedule and spying on him; so far he’s mostly harmless and learned nothing, but if he takes it too far Ron and I may have to stage an intervention.
Academically, things are going amazing! With Umbridge around I forgot what it was like to have competent professors, and I’m glad we’re finally back to learning properly. In other news, Harry also found some potions book that was previously owned by someone who called themself the ‘half-blood prince’. I was a little wary of it at first because it had so many alternative methods and techniques written into it and I wasn’t sure how dangerous it might be, but Harry has been using it every class and has even surpassed me in potions because of it. The tips in the book genuinely seem to be helpful, but we can’t confirm the original owner which makes me suspicious. I’ve taken to the library to search for information on this “prince” so I’ll keep you updated if I find anything interesting.
That Hogsmeade weekend is coming up, and I can’t wait to see you in person again soon! I already have some ideas of stores I wanted to stop by, but if you have any specific plans or suggestions for date ideas let me know. I hope you and your family are doing well, and I can’t wait to hear from you soon!
Sincerely,
Hermione
Dearest Hermione,
I’m happy to hear that Ron made it onto the team! George and I will have to send him an owl to congratulate him for carrying on the Weasley quidditch legacy. If our schedule with the shop allows it, we’ll have to come watch a match in support (and that’s totally not just an excuse to spend some extra time with you).
I hope Harry is doing ok. He’s almost like another younger brother to us, and I hate to hear that he’s struggling again because of Malfoy. If he ever wants some pranking supplies to knock Malfoy down a peg, send him our way and we’ll give him enough stock to last him the whole year. Harry did so much for George and I to help with the shop, so it’s the least we can do.
That potion book does seem a little odd, but I mean nothing bad has happened yet, right? Maybe it belonged to someone whose parents were a potions master and learned many tricks from them to make it easier? I’m sure there are plenty of old potions textbooks from ages ago that may have different techniques for success that could have been copied over. Who knows, maybe this “prince” person is just a potions nerd.
Anyway, I already checked with George and he said it would be ok if I popped out of the shop for a few hours that day to visit you at Hogsmeade. I’ll be eagerly counting down the days until I can see you again!
Lots of Love,
Fred
Dear Fred,
I can’t tell you how much I miss you already. Getting to spend the afternoon together at Hogsmeade only made me miss you more than I have been; it’s like getting that first sip of water after wandering through a desert, but then getting thrown right back into the desert after, unsatisfied and wanting more. I want to thank you again for all the sweets you bought me: I had a great time running around the village testing the various sweets with you.
Being with you again was a nice distraction. Harry has really been pulling away from Ron and I the past few months and it’s worrying us both. His success in potions caught Professor Slughorn’s eye and he was invited to join his “slug club” for his favorite students, so he’s been away at meetings for that often. If you ask me, the club is a load of dragon dung. Slughorn says it is for his most advanced students to broaden their horizons, but all the students involved have powerful connections in the wizarding world that fascinates Slughorn more than his student’s supposed potion abilities.
Harry has also been disappearing with Dumbledore a lot recently. He refuses to tell us where he’s going, but he often disappears into the headmaster’s office for hours and by the time he gets back to the common room he seems emotionally drained. I don’t know what Dumbledore is telling him or having him do that he’s ending up that way, but I don’t have a good feeling about it.
I hope you and George are doing well with the shop, and I can’t wait for our next Hogsmeade weekend so I can see you again.
With love,
Hermione
Dear Hermione,
I miss you so much already as well. When I got back to the shop after our date, George caught me sulking and was teasing me for it, but I couldn’t help it. Jokes on him though, because I was able to get a bunch of new product ideas after we visited Zonko’s together, so our trip was doubly useful!
George and I never had Slughorn as a professor, but I asked mum about him and they definitely had some interesting stories about him from their time at school. I guess he also had his own slug club back then too, so it seems nothing much has changed. If anything, I think he’s a little weird and kooky, but from what my parents told me he seems pretty harmless. Either way, we know how things can get with the professors at Hogwarts, so keep an eye out just in case.
It sucks that Harry won’t tell you what’s going on, but if he’s with Dumbledore then we have to assume that he is safe. After everything Harry’s been through, Dumbledore would never put Harry at risk for anything, so we just have to trust them. With what you three have all been through together, it is odd that he would be keeping something from you . . .
Thankfully it’s business as usual here at the shop. At least I have the shop to keep me distracted from missing you. I think of you every day, and I can’t wait to see you again (hopefully) soon.
Love,
Fred
Dear Fred,
I’m worried something bad is about to happen. Harry has been acting weird and avoidant all year, but unrest seems to be building and things seem to be getting worse and I just don’t know what to do.
Harry and Malfoy are still circling each other in some weird fight. Harry has been tracking him using the Marauders map and he followed him all the way to the room of requirement. He hasn’t figured out what Draco has been planning in there, but it makes me nervous. I know I initially brushed Harry off for being paranoid, but if Draco is scheming and had to go somewhere untraceable to do it, it can’t be good.
Earlier tonight Harry seemed particularly upset or nervous. He still hasn’t told us what he’s doing with Dumbledore, but he told Ron and I that Dumbledore would be taking him somewhere off school grounds in a few days time for something, and that makes me nervous. Hogwarts has always been safe due to all the professors and wards protecting the castle, but if they leave school then who knows what they may encounter. Tell the order to keep an eye out for something, I feel like nothing good is going to come out of whatever Draco and Dumbledore are planning.
I miss you a lot. I hope you, George, and the family are staying safe. Keep me updated if you hear any interesting news.
Love,
Hermione