Hermione and the Weasleys

Hermione,

Harry's finally here, and he's ok, I think, well, a bit quiet but that's only to be expected, isn't it? I mean, he's acting like normal, talking like normal, he even mentions Sirius sometimes. We were all trying to be careful at first, Mum said not to upset him, he would talk about it when he was ready, but after a couple of days he looked ready to explode so Ginny suddenly came out with something sympathetic which made it all ok. Since then everything's been fine. I can't even remember what it was she said but I think it was pretty much what you would have come out with, except shorter. It worked anyway, maybe cos Harry was so surprised he forgot to get mad.

I don't think he would have got mad anyway, not like last summer, just you know how he hates us acting differently towards him, no matter what's happened. He said if he can survive you-know-who, then he can handle us mentioning Sirius' name, and he doesn't like being treated like an unexploded bomb. Then Fred and George said talking about unexploded bombs, they were ready to test some new products and we were all back to normal, or as normal as you can get with the twins blowing things up. Mum's going mental, she says seeing as they've got premises now, they can go cause chaos there, and though the blasting boomerangs are really cool I wish they would. She keeps doing that sabre-toothed tiger thing now and it's always me who gets it, cos the twins are never there. They were always good at disappearing, even before they got their apparition tests.

Big news, Dad saw Percy at work and says he came straight over, apologised for everything, and actually asked permission to come home and see Mum. Dad was a bit shell-shocked, you can imagine, it's not really like what any of us expected. This must be the first decent thing he's done in I don't know how long and apparently he also totally let rip at Fudge, called him all sorts and really laid into the Ministry, said he was ashamed to have worked in such a cowardly, corrupt, morally bankrupt institution, he was off to join Dumbledore's supporters if they'd have him, letter of resignation in the post. Obviously this was before Fudge got sacked himself. Perce didn't tell Dad about it, but Bill says it's all round the Ministry (God knows how Bill became such an expert on Ministry rumours but he's got friends everywhere). Anyway, Percy is now working for the Order, still totally ashamed of himself even though Dumbledore says it's now that matters. Dad says he shuffles around with his head down and face bright red, hardly able to look people like Kingsley and Lupin, who have been on our side all along, in the eye, but he's desperate to help any way he can. According to Dad no one else minds any more, they know he's sorry, it's just he can't forgive himself. Hates losing face, more like. He shouldn't have been such a prat in the first place, that's what I reckon, no matter what Dumbledore says. He's actually off doing Order stuff now, so none of the rest of us have seen him, but he's going to come home for a bit afterwards if he can. Mum's really pleased, she hated having the family split up and Dad so depressed, and you know she was always so proud of Percy anyway. Her, Penelope Clearwater and you are the only ones who ever liked the stupid git.

Mum says to remind you you're welcome to come whenever you want, don't wait for me to invite you cos, you know, I'd probably forget and then you'd never get here. It's a bit of a madhouse, absolutely crammed as usual, but there's always room for one more. Me and Harry both really want to see you, and so do Pig and Ginny and everyone else. Besides, you're the only one who has any idea about McGonagall's transfiguration homework - what on earth is partial metamorphosis comprising enthalpy change?

See you soon, Ron

Dear Ron,

I'd love to come, but you know I didn't see my parents for most of last year, and they really want me to stay a bit longer. I will definitely be with you for the last fortnight of the holidays though, if that's ok with your mum. I really miss all of you.

Are you absolutely sure that Harry's alright? You can be a bit insensitive sometimes, you know, and we both know how much Sirius meant to him - obviously Harry's not ok, but it does sound like he's coping. I'm so glad that Professor Dumbledore isn't keeping him so much in the dark now. Obviously he doesn't want Harry too stressed, and it makes sense that we aren't told exactly what the Order is doing. Still, it's easy to understand that Harry hates being treated like a child.

I've been reading the Daily Prophet cover-to-cover trying to follow how everything's going. How the war's going, I should say, that's what they're calling it now. The new Minister seems to know what she's talking about, which isn't surprising really as she looks to have been appointed at Dumbledore's suggestion. I think she sounds scared, which I suppose is good because the thought of Voldemort back with his Death Eaters (minus 13, thank goodness!) is scary. It would be worse if the Ministry was overconfident, or covering up the threat, like before.

I'm so glad about Percy! It's so brave of him to admit how wrong he was, and face everybody. It must be so difficult for him, but this is really the only honourable course he could take, and you know, Percy was a Gryffindor. I'm so pleased for your mum, as well; this must be the best news possible for her. I know you're still mad, but I'm sure once you see Percy you'll sort things out.

Keep me posted with everything that's going on, and say hello to everyone for me, I'm sending another letter to Harry. I hope you've done some homework; otherwise you won't be properly prepared to start NEWT work. Most of it is alright, but the Potions essay about catalysing effects is a bit tricky, so don't just "forget" about it until I arrive. Honestly, Ron, there's a whole chapter about Enthalpy Change in 'Intermediate Transfiguration', and I'm not going to help you if you haven't even bothered to read it.

Love Hermione x

I don't even want to know about blasting boomerangs.

Hermione,

There are four weeks left till school starts. Four weeks! Plenty of time for homework. And I have read that chapter - I just need a wonderful, beautiful, utterly fantastic person, preferably called Hermione, to explain what the hell it means. Anyway, there are far more exciting things going on here. Percy's back, for one, which has Mum buzzing around like someone's put a few thousand cheering charms on her. He came in all shyly, and it was like meeting a stranger, we haven't seen him for so long. Dad and him are all matey now, but he looked a bit scared of us. We were all polite while Mum was there, but later on Fred and George gave him such a hard time, you know what they're like. I mean, I had been wanting to, but seeing him just take it all and say nothing back... I actually felt sorry for him. For Percy. Percy, the world's biggest git. Well, he is my brother, unfortunately. And once they'd said their bit even the twins were impressed. He's changed so much, Percy. He actually treats us like people now, even me and Ginny. Hell, he even listens to Fred and George. I think he's impressed by us all sticking by Dumbledore and Harry. God, Harry, I nearly forgot. He got the longest apology you've ever heard, and he couldn't keep a straight face till the end. Some things change, but we haven't totally got rid of PinHead Boy Percy. Anyway, he's done with the grovelling now and even starting to boss us about again.

Dad says things with the Order are going as well as can be expected. The Ministry Aurors are working with Dumbledore now, but apparently he's just told them to go on with what they would do anyway. Whatever that is. Important tactical information is staying with people Dumbledore trusts absolutely. Our place has become a sort of centre for the Order, I'm not sure what's happening with Grimmauld Place. It means there's all sorts of people traipsing in and out all the time: Moody, Tonks, McGonagall, Kingsley, Diggle, Lupin. Lupin's here a lot, talking to Harry. You know he's always good at cheering people up. Snape's never here, thank God, I think he would undo all Lupin's good work and drive Harry to gibbering with the gnomes at the bottom of the garden.

Ron

Ron, you wart. I doubt Lupin is cheering Harry up. It must be awful for him, Sirius was his best friend. It's difficult for me to think about Sirius gone, I can't imagine what it's like for Lupin and Harry. It's just so unfair - he was so brave, and still young, really, and he had lost so much of his life in Azkaban. I almost feel like I could kill Bellatrix Lestrange. And they were cousins, as well. Do you think it's Voldemort who makes people like that, or is it all themselves? I mean, there must be evil in you to follow him, but without him I don't suppose the Death Eaters would ever have done what they have. Or maybe it's just that because there is such a powerful Dark Wizard leading them, they think can do these evil things, kill and torture, and get away with it. That's quite frightening, that maybe it was just fear of the consequences that stopped them before. But maybe they're just in it for power, or prestige or something and have just got caught in the cruelty and viciousness... I don't understand it, and I don't really want to, but perhaps to win this war we need to understand the enemy. I'm sure that's what Dumbledore thinks - Harry said he called Voldemort "Tom". He must be trying to get to the person behind the monster. Maybe he needs that understanding to second-guess them. Maybe that's what Professor Snape is for. Can you imagine what he must have seen, what he must know? It's just...well, I don't know. I suppose we have to be brave enough to think about things that frighten us, but I am so frightened already. It was seeing the Death Eaters, seeing what they were capable of, that made it all real to me. We must win this war, we've got to, because the alternative is too terrible.

Sorry, you probably get enough of all this at home, but I haven't really got anyone else to talk to about the wizarding world except you and Harry. I mean, I love my parents but they don't understand. Well, they can't, of course. I really think that there should be more communication between the muggle and wizarding worlds. We should all stand together. At the moment, witches and wizards, unless they've actually lived in the muggle world, know nothing at all about it. I mean, they think muggle inventions and things are worthless, just an inferior alternative to magic. It drives me mad - we have it so easy, Ron, and we're so ignorant of so many things. Muggles know so much about the world, because they've had to discover how it works. We just wave a wand and don't question what's actually happening. I bet muggle scientists could find out what magic is, if they only had the chance to study it. Is it fair that they're kept in ignorance?

Sorry again, I'm full of strange ideas today. I'll be at The Burrow next week, so you can laugh at me in person. Give my love to everyone, and look, don't forget about that Potions essay.

Love Hermione x

Hermione,

Bloody hell, Hermione. You seriously need some company. I'm not saying you're not right, because you always are, but if you think about stuff like this you end up so scared/angry/confused that you're no use to anybody. Look at Fred and George. They take You-Know-Who as seriously as anyone, although you'd never guess it. It's just that they have to act as if everything's a joke, or else they'd go mad thinking about it.

There's no point in a long letter because I'll see you soon, but I had to send something, because...well, because you were freaking me out! You got me seriously worried, Granger!

See you very soon, Ron

Mundungus is here - Mum's going mental!