- Rating:
- PG-13
- House:
- Astronomy Tower
- Ships:
- Harry Potter/Luna Lovegood Hermione Granger/Ron Weasley
- Characters:
- Ginny Weasley Luna Lovegood Harry and Hermione and Ron
- Genres:
- Epistolary Romance
- Era:
- The Harry Potter at Hogwarts Years
- Spoilers:
- Philosopher's Stone Chamber of Secrets Prizoner of Azkaban Goblet of Fire Order of the Phoenix
- Stats:
-
Published: 06/17/2004Updated: 06/24/2004Words: 14,115Chapters: 4Hits: 9,133
Summer Letters
DrT
- Story Summary:
- In the early summer of 1996, Harry Potter has a lot on his mind. Some of it he manages to put into letters (and a few selected conversations) with his friends. Covers July 1996, only. H/L R/Hr N/G
Chapter 04
- Posted:
- 06/24/2004
- Hits:
- 1,737
- Author's Note:
- O.W.L.s and hope.
Over the next few days, Harry received the chain letters from Hermione, Ron, Neville, Dean, Seamus, Lavender, Parvati, Padma, Ernie, and Justin. The other two Gryffindor girls in his year didn't send him their overall results, but they and several other people sent him notes thanking him with his help in the DA. Vernon Dursley would have had something to say about all those owls, but Alastor Moody had visited him that Tuesday afternoon, and Vernon contented himself with minor grumbling.
To Harry's surprise, his Aunt Petunia went so far as to ask after his results the next morning, although all she did was nod when he told her and then give him a second egg with his breakfast. He then went to deal with the owls as they arrived.
O.W.L. RESULTS FOR RONALD B. WEASLEY
Required Courses:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Theory. .Practical. .Total
Astronomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P . . . .P. . . . . .P
Charms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E . . . .E. . . . . .E
Defence against the Dark Arts . . . .E . . . .O. . . . . .E
Herbology . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . .A. . . . . .A
History of Magic. . . . . . . . . . .P . . . .-. . . . . .P
Potions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E . . . .A. . . . . .A
Transfiguration . . . . . . . . . . .E . . . .A. . . . . .E
Theory I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E . . . . . . . . . .E
(Charms, Defence, Transfiguration)
Theory II . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . . . . . . . .A
(Herbology, Potions, Defence)
Optional Courses
Care of Magical Creatures . . . . . .E . . . .O. . . . . .O
Divination. . . . . . . . . . . . . .E . . . .A. . . . . .A
Needless to say, Ron was nearly ecstatic over his results, although he was a little disappointed he couldn't take Potions. Still, Harry was happy Ron had written.
O.W.L. RESULTS FOR HERMIONE J. GRANGER
Required Courses:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Theory. .Practical. .Total
Astronomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . .O+. . . .O. . . . . .O
Charms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .O+. . . .O+ . . . . .O+
Defence against the Dark Arts . . . .O+. . . .O. . . . . .O
Herbology . . . . . . . . . . . . . .O+. . . .O. . . . . .O
History of Magic. . . . . . . . . . .O+. . . .-. . . . . .O+
Potions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .O+. . . .O+ . . . . .O+
Transfiguration . . . . . . . . . . .O+. . . .O+ . . . . .O+
Theory I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .O+. . . . . . . . . .O+
(Charms, Defence, Transfiguration)
Theory II . . . . . . . . . . . . . .O+. . . . . . . . . .O+
(Herbology, Potions, Defence)
Optional Courses
Arithmancy. . . . . . . . . . . . . .O+. . . .-. . . . . .O+
Care of Magical Creatures . . . . . .O+. . . .O. . . . . .O
Muggle Studies. . . . . . . . . . . .O . . . . . . . . . .O
Runes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .O . . . .-. . . . . .O
Harry wasn't surprised to see Hermione's scores in the least, although she had sent him a private letter explaining why she was surprised at each score because of her obvious errors.
O.W.L. RESULTS FOR NEVILLE F. LONGBOTTOM
Required Courses:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Theory. .Practical. .Total
Astronomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . .D. . . . . .P
Charms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E . . . .A. . . . . .E
Defence against the Dark Arts . . . .E . . . .O. . . . . .E
Herbology . . . . . . . . . . . . . .O+. . . .O+ . . . . .O+
History of Magic. . . . . . . . . . .A . . . .-. . . . . .A
Potions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E . . . .A. . . . . .A
Transfiguration . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . .A. . . . . .A
Theory I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . . . . . . . .A
(Charms, Defence, Transfiguration)
Theory II . . . . . . . . . . . . . .O . . . . . . . . . .O
(Herbology, Potions, Defence)
Optional Courses
Care of Magical Creatures . . . . . .O . . . .O. . . . . .O
Divination. . . . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . .P. . . . . .A
Neville was very happy with his total, although he'd hoped for slightly higher scores. Like all the others, Neville sent Harry a separate note, thanking him for his help in the DA. Harry thought that was nice, but unnecessary, especially in Hermione's case. Harry was glad Dumbledore had noted that the DA's results were because of his and Hermione's hard work, not just his.
O.W.L. RESULTS FOR SEAMUS I. FINNEGAN
Required Courses:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Theory. .Practical. .Total
Astronomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . .D. . . . . .P
Charms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . .A. . . . . .A
Defence against the Dark Arts . . . .A . . . .E. . . . . .E
Herbology . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . .A. . . . . .A
History of Magic. . . . . . . . . . .E . . . .-. . . . . .E
Potions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . .A. . . . . .A
Transfiguration . . . . . . . . . . .E . . . .A. . . . . .A
Theory I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . . . . . . . .A
(Charms, Defence, Transfiguration)
Theory II . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . . . . . . . .A
(Herbology, Potions, Defence)
Optional Courses
Care of Magical Creatures . . . . . .A . . . .A. . . . . .A
Divination. . . . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . .P. . . . . .P
Seamus was very happy with his total, although he had hoped for better scores in Transfiguration and Charms. He added a separate note for Harry, passing on his mother's thanks for 'coaching' him in Defense.
O.W.L. RESULTS FOR DEAN L. THOMAS
Required Courses:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Theory. .Practical. .Total
Astronomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . .O. . . . . .E
Charms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E . . . .E. . . . . .E
Defence against the Dark Arts . . . .E . . . .O. . . . . .E
Herbology . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P . . . .A. . . . . .P
History of Magic. . . . . . . . . . .A . . . .-. . . . . .A
Potions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E . . . .A. . . . . .A
Transfiguration . . . . . . . . . . .O . . . .A. . . . . .E
Theory I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . . . . . . . .A
(Charms, Defence, Transfiguration)
Theory II . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . . . . . . . .A
(Herbology, Potions, Defence)
Optional Courses
Care of Magical Creatures . . . . . .A . . . .A. . . . . .A
Divination. . . . . . . . . . . . . .P . . . .P. . . . . .P
Dean mentioned that his scores were what he needed to continue on towards a career as a magical artist.
O.W.L. RESULTS FOR ERNEST B. MACMILLAN
Required Courses:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Theory. .Practical. .Total
Astronomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . .D. . . . . .P
Charms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .O+. . . .E. . . . . .O
Defence against the Dark Arts . . . .O . . . .O. . . . . .O
Herbology . . . . . . . . . . . . . .O . . . .E. . . . . .O
History of Magic. . . . . . . . . . .E . . . .-. . . . . .E
Potions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . .D. . . . . .P
Transfiguration . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . .E. . . . . .E
Theory I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E . . . . . . . . . .E
(Charms, Defence, Transfiguration)
Theory II . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . . . . . . . .A
(Herbology, Potions, Defence)
Optional Courses
Care of Magical Creatures . . . . . .O . . . .O. . . . . .O
Muggle Studies. . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . .P. . . . . .A
Ernie and Justin both asked Harry to continue the DA, while all the others had just assumed he would continue and expressed their continued interest. Harry assured all of them that he was interested, if Dumbledore agreed.
O.W.L. RESULTS FOR LAVENDER V. BROWN
Required Courses:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Theory. .Practical. .Total
Astronomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . .O. . . . . .E
Charms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E . . . .A. . . . . .A
Defence against the Dark Arts . . . .A . . . .E. . . . . .A
Herbology . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . .D. . . . . .P
History of Magic. . . . . . . . . . .P . . . .-. . . . . .P
Potions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . .D. . . . . .P
Transfiguration . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . .A. . . . . .A
Theory I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . . . . . . . .A
(Charms, Defence, Transfiguration)
Theory II . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P . . . . . . . . . .P
(Herbology, Potions, Defence)
Optional Courses
Care of Magical Creatures . . . . . .E . . . .D. . . . . .ADivination. . . . . . . . . . . . . .E . . . .E. . . . . .E
O.W.L. RESULTS FOR PARVATI I. PATIL
Required Courses:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Theory. .Practical. .Total
Astronomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E . . . .O. . . . . .E
Charms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E . . . .A. . . . . .E
Defence against the Dark Arts . . . .A . . . .O. . . . . .E
Herbology . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . .D. . . . . .P
History of Magic. . . . . . . . . . .A . . . .-. . . . . .A
Potions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E . . . .D. . . . . .P
Transfiguration . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . .A. . . . . .A
Theory I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . . . . . . . .A
(Charms, Defence, Transfiguration)
Theory II . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . . . . . . . .A
(Herbology, Potions, Defence)
Optional Courses
Care of Magical Creatures . . . . . .E . . . .P. . . . . .A
Divination. . . . . . . . . . . . . .O . . . .A. . . . . .E
O.W.L. RESULTS FOR PADMA S. PATIL
Required Courses:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Theory. .Practical. .Total
Astronomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . .O+. . . .O. . . . . .O
Charms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .O . . . .O. . . . . .O
Defence against the Dark Arts . . . .O . . . .E. . . . . .E
Herbology . . . . . . . . . . . . . .O . . . .A. . . . . .E
History of Magic. . . . . . . . . . .E . . . .-. . . . . .E
Potions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .O+. . . .E. . . . . .O
Transfiguration . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . .A. . . . . .A
Theory I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .O . . . . . . . . . .O
(Charms, Defence, Transfiguration)
Theory II . . . . . . . . . . . . . .O . . . . . . . . . .O
(Herbology, Potions, Defence)
Optional Courses
Arithmancy. . . . . . . . . . . . . .O . . . . . . . . . .O
Muggle Studies. . . . . . . . . . . .O . . . .E. . . . . .O
Runes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .O+. . . . . . . . . .O+
It turned out that Lavender was spending part of the summer with the Patils, and all three of their owls came together. Padma was the most fulsome in expressing her thanks in Harry's help in the practical side of Defense. Harry wasn't sure, but he hoped she wasn't flirting with him.
O.W.L. RESULTS FOR JUSTIN ST.J. V. FINCH-FLETCHLEY
Required Courses:
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Theory. .Practical. .Total
Astronomy . . . . . . . . . . . . . .O . . . .O. . . . . .O
Charms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E . . . .A. . . . . .A
Defence against the Dark Arts . . . .E . . . .O. . . . . .E
Herbology . . . . . . . . . . . . . .E.. . . .E. . . . . .E
History of Magic. . . . . . . . . . .A . . . .-. . . . . .A
Potions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . .D. . . . . .P
Transfiguration . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . .A. . . . . .A
Theory I. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . . . . . . . .A
(Charms, Defence, Transfiguration)
Theory II . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A . . . . . . . . . .A
(Herbology, Potions, Defence)
Optional Courses
Care of Magical Creatures . . . . . .O . . . .E. . . . . .E
Runes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .P . . . . . . . . . .P
Between his friends' O.W.L. results and the other thanks he received, Harry came to believe that he and Hermione had really accomplished something important with the D.A. the previous year. He started writing a letter to Dumbledore, outlining what he hoped he might accomplish, if Dumbledore would approve the Defense Association meeting the next year, although he didn't send it until the following Monday. Dumbledore would write back right before Harry left the Dursleys, giving his approval.
Meanwhile, Harry's life went on training at Mrs. Figg's. On the Thursday, Harry was reprimanded for the first time. He was having trouble with his lessons because thoughts of how Ron and Hermione might be getting along kept intruding. Harry had gotten Ron's scores that morning, so he knew he wouldn't hear about anything that happened until Hedwig came back the next morning.
18 July
Dear Harry:
I hope you don't mind this letter, but I am just bursting with joy! Ron was just so shy, I wasn't sure if I should feel sorry for him, kiss him, or slap him. Finally, after what felt like fifteen minutes of his fumbling around (although it was probably more like five), he asked if I wanted to be more than friends.
I asked him what he had in mind, which brought on another attack of shyness. I finally asked him if that meant he wanted a relationship, and he turned so red I thought he was going to pass out. I then defined what I meant by 'relationship', and he seemed to calm down at bit. Since he still wouldn't make a move, I just grabbed him and kissed him! I'm glad we had that snogging session, otherwise I might not have dared.
I'm sure you don't want details "That's for certain," Harry said softly but emphatically. so I'll just say that while you are technically a better kisser, I really saw sparks when I kissed Ron. I mean that literally. We made a magical connection of some kind! Ron wouldn't say what that meant, but he did seem pleased. I'll ask Ginny and Luna.
Ginny and Luna will floo through early tomorrow morning (Ginny between 7:30 and 7:35, Luna between 7:45 and 7:50, then the floo and firetalking connections will be cancelled. We're going with Mum to a tanning and beauty place. Ginny and Luna will need to start a light over-all base tan, and we'll be having our hair and nails done.
We're leaving Saturday morning. I've told Hedwig where we're going, so I know she'll be able to find us. We come back late the next Saturday, and we'll be 'you-know-where' or wherever we're meeting you the night before your birthday.
Have a good week, and congratulations again on your O.W.L.s.
your loving friend
Hermione
18 July
Dearest Harry
We arrived back in London yesterday afternoon. We never found any snorkacks, but we had a wonderful time. It was made even more wonderful by your letters.
By now you probably have heard from Hermione. Hopefully her day with Ron went well. I will see Ginny tonight, since I'm flooing from the Weasleys' I will spend tonight with Ginny. Ginny was almost as excited about Ron's dating Hermione as she is about dating Neville.
I rather wish I was seeing you this week, but I will wait until the next. I hope you feel the same. I would say 'don't be nervous,' but I am so nervous myself I feel it would be wrong to urge you to do what I cannot.
I believe I am starting to ramble, so I close saying I am
yours, love
Luna
19 July
Dear Luna
It would be odd for me to say how much I'll miss you, since I haven't been with you, but that's how I feel. I'm nervous, too, but we'll work things out. I hope you've enjoyed your 'girls' day out' with Hermione, Ginny, and Mrs. Granger. I hope you take lots of snaps, even if they aren't 'candid.'
Only 11 or 12 days to go. Expect to see Hedwig at least once more.
yours, love
Harry
19 July
Dear Hermione and Ginny
Have a brilliant holiday! I hope to see you both soon.
your loving friend
Harry
"Take these to Hermione's Hedwig. She might suggest you wait for a reply. If not, come on back."
Hedwig came back Saturday night. She didn't have a letter, but she did carry an envelope that had a Polaroid of the three girls in t-shirts, shorts, and sandals, smiling at the camera. Harry knew he'd have to learn the spell that would preserve the photo from fading.
By the next night, Harry couldn't stand it any more. He wrote the three girls notes that all basically said, 'Missing you,' although he went into more detail with Luna. He also added a PS to Hermione, saying that as far as he was concerned, she could share any of their adventures with Luna and Ginny.
Harry was disappointed that Hedwig hadn't appeared that morning. Nor did she appear that evening, but a very tired school owl did. It was the one he had sent out with his results. The owl sat in Hedwig's cage, ate a few owl treats and quickly fell asleep.
Harry enjoyed reading the congratulations his friends, and Remus and the Weasleys, had written. Harry saw that someone had added a separate sealed note as well.
Harry
You're still a git, but thank you. If Hermione hasn't gotten in touch with you yet, we want you to know that we're dating now.
Are you sure you want to date Luna? Harry saw Ron had written 'Loony' and then partially erased it. Hermione seems certain that you two would make a good couple, and I have enough things to argue with her about. If it makes you happy, then go for it.
see you soon
Ron
The letter Harry was waiting for came the next morning. It was one letter, written by Hermione, Ginny and Luna. It had one photo, of Hermione on the beach, with Luna and Ginny on either side of her. Hermione was nude, while Ginny wore a green thong bikini bottom and Luna just a pair of sandals.
23 July
Dear Harry:
We hope you enjoy the photograph. Again, we're sorry it can't be a wizarding one. This is our birthday present to you as a group. We'll see you soon.
your loving friend
Hermione
Harry!
If you ever show this around, you die. Take good care of Luna. We all miss you, and can't wait to hug you for your birthday.
also your loving friend
Ginny
Dearest Harry
Soon we shall show each other our souls, which is more revealing than this mere skin. I long to touch both, and remain
your love
Luna
Harry smiled. Whatever happened this year, he knew he would be able to face it. He had two great friends in Ron and Neville. He had the loving support of two wonderful sisters. He loved and had the love of a good and wise young woman.
He still had to fight. He still had to kill or be killed, but now, for the first time, he thought he could actually be the one who would win.
After all, he something to live for.