Jessica Potter and the Year of Great Sorrow

Jessica Potter
and the
Year of Great Sorrow
Prologue- Shadows of Yesterday

HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Headmaster: ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf.
Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed.
of Wizards)

Dear Miss Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Term begins September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.

Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress

HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

UNIFORM:
First year students will require:
1. Three sets of plain work robes (black)
2. One plain pointed hat (black) for day wear
3. One pair of protective gloves (dragon hide or similar)
4. One winter cloak (black, silver fastenings)
Please note that all pupils' clothes should carry name tags.

COURSE BOOKS:
All students should have a copy of the following:
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 1) by Miranda Goshawk
A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
Magical Theory by Adalbert Waffling
A Beginners' Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch
One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phllida Spore
Magical Drafts and Potions by Arsenius Jigger
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander
The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self Protection by Quentin Tremble

OTHER EQUIPMENT:
1 wand
1 cauldron (pewter, standard size 2)
1 set glass or crystal phials
1 telescope
1 set brass scales
Students may also bring an owl OR a cat OR a toad.

PARENTS ARE REMINDED THAT FIRST YEARS ARE NOT
ALLOWED THEIR OWN BROOMSTICKS.

Dear Jessica,

It's been a long summer, but we've survived. We just got back from the Cup, it was really fun, and I'm so sorry you couldn't come, but you probably would have just gotten mad when the Cannons lost and started threatening people with your wand, or Dungbombs or something. I'm glad to hear that you're feeling better, it was getting kind of scary, having you in bed all summer, and Jordan and Teresa were really worried about you, too.

Guess who happened to be in the tent next to ours, Jess? Molly! It's possible that she's gotten even prettier, Jess, and I don't know what to do. I mean, obviously we're friends, I mean, I've grown up with Molly Thomas, but still................ I think she likes James. I mean, he's my cousin, and Uncle Fred and Aunt Angelina are my favorites, but this is MOLLY here. The One.

Yeah, yeah, by this point you're probably saying, "Earth to Robert Weasley, Earth to Robert Weasley." You'd be saying, "You're eleven years old, boy, you're too young to even have a crush, much less be in love and have found the one." And you're right.

Hey, have you gotten your letter for Hogwarts yet? I got mine a couple of weeks ago, and we're going to Diagon Alley three days before term starts, and I hope to see you there. After all, we would hate to have you not show up. I'll be there, and James, and Sara and Alex. Neil and Cameron are bringing their families, and stupid Jenny can't wait to see Karley. Or Albus, for that matter. It seems she's developed a bit of a crush on Mr. Know It All this summer. My sister is a nut. You said yourself that your brother thinks she's a bit loony sometimes, and this is definitely one of those times. Enough on my loony sister, because the rest of the gang is hoping you'll be there too, you know, Sandy, and Molly. Jordan's bringing her friend Gabby, you know, the one who is ALWAYS happy. How can someone smile all the time like she does? Aunt Tara says that she was like that, but she got a reality check when she was like fourteen. I hope Gabby gets one of those soon, because I've nearly memorized how her teeth look exactly, and that is not a pleasant picture in my mind. I wonder if Gabby was always like that, you know, all smiley and such. It's really, really annoying. Emphasis on really.

Anyways, I have to go now, but I'll write you back as soon as I hear from you, okay?

-Robert

Dear Robert,
Took the words right out of my mouth, you did. Get a grip. MOLLY DOES NOT LIKE YOU, SHE NEVER HAS! For that matter, Molly never has liked anyone as more than a friend, but she's got enough of those, being Miss Outgoing and Popular like she is.

I'm glad you guys had fun at the Cup, and I'm really sorry I missed it. You don't know how much I wanted to go. But no, I had to get sick and be put in bed for THREE WEEKS! Honestly, my mum treats me like I'm a piece of glass that's going to break at any second, and I really don't like it. It would suit me just fine to run around in the rain, or jump in puddles, like normal kids do, but she won't even let me do that. She almost didn't want me to go to Hogwarts, because she says that I'll be "too vulnerable for attack without your father and I there with you." I pointed out that Albus Dumbledore's there, and that he's one of the most powerful wizards in the whole entire world, along with my dad, Sirius, Remus, etc., but my mum says that Dumbledore is getting old, and that Voldemort got into Hogwarts and attacked dad numerous times under Dumbledore's supervision. "Fine then," I say, "Let him blow me up, I don't care," but I guess that was the wrong thing to say, because I was locked in my room all day with nothing, no books, no wand, no entertainment. By the end of the day, I was down to 9,000 Bottles of Butterbeer on the Wall- I started at 1,000,000. I think I was in there more than a day, because I didn't have my watch, but Mum swears to me that I wasn't in there for more than about six hours. I wouldn't believe this, but Dad says that it was the truth, and that she let me out because she got sick of hearing 1,000,000 Bottles of Butterbeer on the Wall- I guess I was screaming louder than I thought. :)

Of course, it may have been because her precious Albus, of Mini-Mum, had been given a splitting headache by my "shenanigans." Is that how you spell it? Never mind, I don't really care if it is or not, because I never, ever plan on using that word again, I was just quoting Minimum
While we're on the subject of the pest........... Does Jenny really have a crush on him? I guess you're not the only Weasley to have lost your mind, ay, Rob?

Yeah, can I meet you guys in Diagon Alley? I haven't seen anyone (INCLUDING YOU, YOU LAZY ROTTEN EXCUSE FOR A BEST FRIEND- just kidding)in at least a month, and this lack of sane company (because I assure you, my siblings are NOT sane) is making me CRAZY!
Can't wait........... I'll see you then.

-Jess

Dear Jessica,

Greetings to my greatly pitied friend in the nut hut. Rumor from the Rob-man is that you ticked your mum off greatly and spent six hours singing about bottles of Butterbeer - you are totally losing it, girl. Of course, spending time with the goblins that are your little brother and sister, I would have done the same. Sirius and Melissa are a pain, aren't they? Don't worry, it's much worse for me. Adam screams all night long. I can't wait to get back to Hogwarts and escape from the wailer. All he does is scream. And scream. And scream, and scream, and scream, and scream, and SCREAM! It makes ME feel like screaming. The only time I had a good night's sleep all summer was when I stayed with Gabby and Virginia. Unfortunately for me, Amelia lives about a block away from Gab, and Mia bugs us to death. She came by every single day, trying to find one way or another to upset Gabby, but Gabby's a lot stronger emotionally than she was before, and she is so awesome around MIA Gab finds all these witty things to say that tick her off, but she comes by anyway. I about slapped her yesterday, but Helen (Gabby's mum) wouldn't have liked that too much, I don't suppose. Mum said that you can stay with us for the week before Hogwarts, but if I were you, between Adam's screaming here, and the fact that you won't see your parents again for a year, in all likelihood, and it's your first year, you probably won't want to, and I totally understand.

I'm so excited about you coming to Hogwarts this year. Gab's great and all, but you've been my best friend since you were born. It's kind of weird, though, since when we're together, it's usually not just you and me, it's the wonder three, you. me, and Reese. Dad laughs every time he sees us together, because he says that it's the same as it always has been, Potter, Black, and Lupin. My dad, Reese's dad, and your granddad were best friends. Mum says that it's not just the men, though, that it was the same for her, Reese's mum, and your grandmum Lily. I said I don't really care, and Dad just laughed and said he would have said the same thing at my age, but Mum wasn't too happy, and she sent me up to my room to think about the disrespect I had paid, but when I started stomping off, she just laughed and said that she was kidding. My parents are nutters.

Love always,

Jordie

Dear Jordan,

Mum doesn't want me to come, so I'll see you on the Hogwarts Express. We just got back from Diagon Alley, and I've got all my stuff. I can't wait!

See you September 1st!

Love always,

Jess