Letters

Parker Weasley, age eleven, stumbled down to breakfast, early one July morning. His younger brothers Payton and Patrick were already at the table, fighting over the fake wand in the cereal box. 'Morning, Mum,' he yawned.

'Morning, dear. You have a letter,' she said proudly, handing it to Parker. Parker was suddenly wide-awake. It was here! Parker stared at the letter for a moment before he pried the wax seal open. He grinned as he read the letter.

'So, Mum, when do you think we can go get my things for school?'

Penny ruffled her son's curly hair. 'Maybe next week. Your Dad will want to go, too.'

'Okay. I wonder what House I'll be in.' Parker murmured, as he dreamily poured a bowl of cereal. 'Dad was in Gryffindor, and you were a Ravenclaw, so those would be okay. I guess it really doesn't matter, does it?'

'No, it doesn't.' Penny privately thought to herself Parker was going to end up in Hufflepuff. He had always been a rather placid child, except when the inevitable spat sprang up between the cousins. Then, he became a peacemaker. Parker hated fights. Not quite bold enough to be in Gryffindor, and while intelligent enough, but she didn't feel he would be a good fit for Ravenclaw. And he had far too sunny a personality for a Slytherin. So that left Hufflepuff.

*****

Parker stood with the rest of the first-years, waiting to be Sorted. He had a long wait, since they were going alphabetically. Calmly, he gazed around the Great Hall, taking in the enchanted ceiling, the hundreds of floating candles, and the students who were watching the Sorting.

At long last, Neville - er, Professor Longbottom - called, 'Weasley, Parker!' Parker loped to the stool and climbed to sit on it, while Neville dropped the Hat on his head.

'Another Weasley, eh? Hmmmm. You don't have the temper of a Weasley, that's for sure,' said a voice in Parker's ear. 'Loyal and brave, of course, but there's something different about you. Let's break from family tradition, shall we? Hufflepuff!' shouted the Hat. Parker shrugged and waved to his cousins at the Gryffindor table, before heading to the Hufflepuff table.

-Dear Mum and Dad,

I hope you won't be too upset by the news I am about to tell you. I was not Sorted into either Gryffindor or Ravenclaw. The Sorting Hat put me in Hufflepuff. Isabella was put into Gryffindor with Victoire.

I promise that I will do my best in all my classes and study hard so I can prepare for my O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s.

Love,

Parker

Penny grinned at looked at Percy. 'I won't say I told you so, but I told you so,' she crowed.

Percy looked at the letter he held in his hands, and set it down carefully on the kitchen table. He had never really considered the idea that his son - his eldest son - might not be Sorted into Gryffindor. A Weasley not in Gryffindor. That was almost like Mum's cousin who was an accountant or something like that. Percy took a deep breath and thought about what his own father would have said if any of them had not been put into Gryffindor. He already knew the answer. After the war, Percy asked his father why he had been able to forgive him so readily, especially after the way he had treated the family for the three previous years. Dad seemed surprised and replied simply, 'You're my son,' before patting him on the shoulder and walking inside the house.

Penny was starting to worry. Percy was curiously silent about the news in the letter. He looked up at her and smiled. 'I'll send off a reply after dinner, then,' he said.

'You're all right with him being a Hufflepuff?'

'Why wouldn't I be?'

'Tradition and all.'

Percy stood and snagged Patrick around the waist, who was racing through the house, trying to chase a flying stuffed dragon. 'I'm going to put the apprentice dragon keeper to bed,' he said. 'And honestly, Penny, it's fine about Parker. I have a feeling he won't let us down in any way.'

Later that night, with the house sleeping soundly, Percy sat at the kitchen table, re-reading the letter he was about to send off to Parker.

Dear Parker,

Your mother and I are pleased to hear you've been Sorted into Hufflepuff. I will admit it was rather a surprise to find out you had not been Sorted into either your mother's or my House.

But Parker, believe me when I tell you, we love you for who you are, not who we might want you to be. You are my son, and nothing in this world is going to change how I feel about you.

It is my sincerest hope, Parker, that you heed the following advice your Granddad gave me. I did not for a long time, and it nearly tore the family apart.

Your family is what counts. No matter how much they may annoy or prank you, they do ultimately care about you. As ironic as it may seem, if you do something spectacularly idiotic, and they are angry and upset with you, it's because they care about you and the decisions you make or do not make.

I wish I had listened more to my father.

I have no doubt that you, Parker Frederick Weasley, will make us all proud.

Love,

Dad