Archive of Our Own ^beta

16 June 1992

Hey Harry! Hey Willow!

Hope your summer’s off to a good start, even if it is with the Muggles. I figured we could keep in touch with owls. We’ve got a family one that Mum said I could use, so that’s who delivered this. His name is Errol. He’s old, so make sure to feed him a bit before sending him off, otherwise he’ll probably collapse. You can also send Hedwig, if you want. We’ll take good care of her, don’t worry.

Dad got the coolest thing while we were at school! You’ll never guess… A FLYING CAR!!! He even enchanted it so it can become invisible! And it can fit the whole family. He promised to take me on a ride this week, so I’ll let you know how it goes! Ginny’s already gone a bunch and she keeps bragging about it. 

I’m thinking of trying to get everyone over in August for a day, if Mum and Dad say yes. What do you think?

Cheers,
Ron

18 June 1992

Dear Ron,

Thank you so much for your letter. Errol is handsome, though my parents were very surprised to see him pecking at our window during dinner. We gave him some cold chicken, and he seemed to like that. 

Your flying car sounds fascinating! How is your dad able to make it invisible, and how long does the charm last? How is he able to make it fly? Did your dad use the same charms as the ones used on broomsticks? I’ve been rereading our charms book from last year trying to figure it out, but I suppose the magic is too advanced for first years.

I am so excited to go back to school! Second year will be thrilling, I am sure. I’m trying to convince my parents to get me a cat, but they aren’t so sure. I think they are worried about how I’ll take care of one, but Robin has a cat and she took care of it just fine last year. And I’ll be thirteen in September, so I really don’t understand what they are worried about. 

As to your question about August—I would love to visit your home. However, I’m not sure how I would get there. Cambridge is quite far from Devon.

Sincerely,
Hermione Granger

P.S.
Since I don’t have an owl, I may be a bit slower on letter replies. Muggles use telephones. If you get to one, you can call me using this number: ##### ######

21 June 1992

Hello Hermione,

It was so good to receive a letter from you! Hopefully, we won’t have to rely on Errol to deliver our messages in the future. The owl delivering this to you is Maximiliano. He’s my owl and he is very prideful of his coat, so make sure to compliment him when he stops by. I’ll call when I can get to a phone box, but it might not be for a while. 

My summer is going well so far. It’s been great seeing my parents and Augustus. It feels a bit strange though. After everything that happened at school, I thought things at home would be different, but it’s just the same as when I left. Of course, Augustus is hounding me about what Hogwarts is like, what my classes are like, what the common rooms are like, and what the Potter twins are like. I forget they’re famous sometimes. They never really act like it. 

When I told my mum you had written, she was very excited. When she was a student, she and her girl friends (two of which were Theresa and Robin’s mum’s!) did a summer book club. They would all read the same book over the summer, and then they would write about it to one another and discuss things. She recommended that we do something similar, especially since you and Willow love reading so much. What do you think? 

Best,
Mae

P.S.
Just saw Theresa, she says hi and that she misses you!

24 June 1992

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS!!!!

Hope everything is well and you get lots of cake and presents and that your younger brother doesn’t bother you too much. Ginny’s been driving me mad lately - won’t shut up about Harry possibly coming here. She doesn’t even care about Willow, or any of you. Fred and George keep teasing her about having a crush, which makes her cry, and then Mum steps in and it’s a bloody mess. 

I was thinking: when you get here, can you show me how to work a telephone? Both you and Hermione sent numbers, but I can’t make heads or tails of what I’m supposed to do with them. And Hermione will just talk my ear off the whole time and tell me I’m doing everything wrong, so I’d much rather your help.

Many happy returns!
Ron

25 June 1992

Hi Mae!

Thanks for the card and presents!! My brother loved Bertie Bott’s Beans, even though he got a rotten egg one. YUCK! And I got a new card from the chocolate frog - Gilderoy Lockhart. Mum and Dad made me a pound cake and then we watched Star Wars: A New Hope, one of my favorite movies. I think you would like it. Actually, have you ever watched a movie before?

Josh and I are going to visit Nana for two weeks up in Whitby. When we were little, we went to do summer swimming lessons, but now that we know how to do that, we just go to be with her. She’s the best, and she knows about Hogwarts and everything, so you can still send Max. We leave Saturday. Other than that, no plans for the summer, except Ron’s thing he’s putting together. That sounds like it'll be fun!

Speaking of - have you heard from the Potters at all? I haven’t gotten a letter or a call…

Thanks again!
Chris

30 June 1992

Hi Potters!

I’m not sure if my last letter made it to you. I used Errol to deliver it, but maybe he lost it or something. Hope everything’s all right at your aunt and uncle’s. I’m at my nana’s house, but when I get back home I’ll send my number over so we can call if you’d like. 

Feel free to write anytime!
Chris

6 July 1992

Hello Ron,

I would love to see you this weekend, but I’ve got a family-esque reunion to go to. Every summer, my parents get together with their old friends from Hogwarts for a weekend. It’s a huge thing! Everyone brings their tents and we play games all day. Theresa and Robin and their families will be there. Elijah Fairlee - he’s a Gryffindor in the year above us so you might know him - he’ll be there, too. Also, there's the Reillys (their family is just about as big as yours), the Jacksons, and the Greers. The Szabos are hosting at their summer cottage on Rutland Water and everyone is really excited!!

So, can’t do this weekend, but I’m free all next week. I was thinking you could floo over to mine for a day. If it’s nice out, I can show you around Manchester and we can shop at Twilight Square. There’s a great broom shop that you would love, and they’ve got Cannons merchandise. Though, like I’ve said before, the Tutshill Tornados are the superior team!

Chris was saying he hasn’t heard anything from the Potter twins. I haven’t either, and I was wondering if you had. I’ve sent Max a few times and he always comes back empty-handed. Seems a bit odd, doesn’t it?

Best,
Mae

7 July 1992

Hi Hermione!

I have heard about the Princess Diana book! It’s all Nana talks about. I swear, she’s read it at least three times and it came out less than a month ago. If you think it’s worth reading, I’ll nip it from her and give it a go. She’s told me just about everything in it already, but all the same. Nana keeps claiming that she’s known Di’s been unhappy for years, but that’s a lie because I remember her last Christmas saying how happy the princess looked. What are your thoughts on Prince Charles? I mean, do you think they’re happy together? It certainly doesn’t sound like it.

I’ve been writing with Mae and did you know that she’s never seen a movie before, or watched anything on the telly?! I don’t think Ron has either. Imagine that! I know Ron has invited us all to his place this summer, but next year, we have to figure out how to get them to a theater. I think it would blow their minds, especially because nothing is done with magic. I want to show them Star Wars. I think Ron’s brain will melt out of his ears!

No one has heard from the twins. I’m starting to get a bit worried. I don’t know if they told you anything, but from what I’ve gathered, their aunt and uncle aren’t good people. It doesn’t feel right that we’ve gotten nothing from them.

Your friend,
Chris

8 July 1992

Dear Harry and Willow,

I just wanted to write and say hello. Hope your summer is going well and that the Muggles aren't giving you too much trouble. It'll be good to see you and the others once school starts again. Hogwarts isn't the same without all you here.

Hagrid

9 July 1992

Hey Mae,

Too bad about this week, but yeah, next week should be fine. How does Thursday work for you? I think Mum is going to owl your mum to talk about it, though I don’t know what there is to talk about. It’s just a day. 

The reunion thing sounds really cool. Wish my parents had some friends like that. We see the Lovegoods occasionally since they live nearby, but they’re a bit… wacky. Other than that, we don’t really have a thing like you do. Yeah, I know Elijah. He’s okay. I think his mum works in the Ministry. What kind of games do you play while you’re there? And I can’t imagine why anyone would have a bigger family than ours. Seven kids is more than enough, don’t you think? 

And I’m not even going to address the Chudley Cannons slander. They are the best team, and you’re lying to yourself if you think otherwise. 

I was just telling Chris I haven’t heard from the twins. I don’t think anyone has. What do you think’s going on with them?

Cheers,
Ron

11 July 1992

Dear Chris,

Yes, you absolutely must read Diana: Her True Story! Normally, I normally don’t care for tabloid scandals, but this book is all anyone is talking about. The Firm is denying that Diana had any part in it and that all the information came from close sources, but… well… some of the details are just so private and personal. It makes one wonder…

As for Charles, I think he’s all right. He and Diana seem happy together, at least in pictures, but now with this book, who knows for sure. In all honesty, I much prefer Princess Anne to anyone else. 

I’m not surprised that Ron or Mae haven’t seen a movie, but yes, it is odd. I agree that we should introduce them to a movie sometime. You mentioned Star Wars. My parents and I have watched those movies. They were fine. Have you ever seen Star Trek? There’s the original television series from the 1960s, then an animated show, then some movies, and now another television series called The Next Generation. It has an English actor as the main character, and he’s wonderful! There’s also a new show coming out in January, I believe. Obviously I missed a bunch of episodes while we were at school, but my parents taped them for me, so I’ve spent a lot of time catching up. BBC plays reruns all the time, so if you catch one, you should definitely watch it! 

As for the twins, I am also concerned. I’ve thought about writing Professor McGonagall, but then I thought about how cagey Harry gets when adults ask about home. I haven’t even told my parents. I don’t know what to do.

Sincerely,
Hermione Granger

13 July 1992

Hello Harry and Willow,

Well, I just got back from the little summer reunion! As predicted, it was a BLAST! The weather was perfect, so we were able to spend the whole weekend outside. We swam in the lake, played some board and card games, and on Saturday evening, our parents set off fireworks, which were fantastic this year! Have you ever seen magic fireworks? They are so much better than Muggle ones. 

And I have news! Mr. Greer is seeing someone! His wife died of cancer about five years ago. Cancer is one of those things that wizards can cure, but only if we catch it in time. Mrs. Greer’s cancer was very aggressive, and there was nothing anyone could do. But, anyway, Mr. Greer is seeing someone! His daughter, Lizzie (she’s about ten years older than us, you wouldn’t know her), seems to like this new woman, and her daughter is in Hogwarts. Jasmine Dessault, seventh year Hufflepuff. Robin says she’s kind, but that’s not helpful. Everyone in Hufflepuff is kind, it’s their whole thing. When we get back to school, I’ll be able to get more information. 

If you are getting these letters, would you mind writing back? Chris and Ron and Hermione and I are all getting a bit worried. Just a small note to say you’re okay would be great. 

Best,
Mae

17 July 1992

Hey Hermione!

I saw Mae yesterday and the two of us were thinking about this problem with the twins. I mean, it is really weird that we haven’t heard from them since school and they promised they would write. They’ve got Hedwig, so they should be able to send her. We also know that they are getting all our letters because both Errol and Max return empty-handed. 

So, clearly something is preventing them from writing and I think I figured it out: the Muggles. I bet you anything the Muggles are stopping their mail somehow. Bloody pieces of work, they are. I told Mum and Dad, but there’s nothing they can do about it. 

This isn’t right. Something’s wrong, I can feel it.

Cheers,
Ron

P.S.
Next year, I want in on your little book club. Just because I don’t like homework doesn’t mean I can’t read!!!

20 July 1992

Hi Ron,

I think you’re right about the Muggles. Willow didn’t seem happy about going back for the summer at all. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were the ones stopping the mail. But, what are we supposed to do? It’s not like we can go rescue them. 

In other news, I’m back home now. Looking forward to seeing you in mid-August, if that’s still on. Quite good of your dad to send directions to Herondale Lane and the floo room I can use. I’ll be able to make it there easily. Do you know if they have someone to help first-timers? Still feeling a bit queasy about it. 

Keep me in the loop about any twin updates!
Chris

23 July 1992

Dear Mae,

In regards to Ron’s latest idea, I think it’s absolutely insane! I can’t believe Fred and George talked him into it. If they get caught, they’ll be expelled for sure. Not to mention, hundreds of Muggles may see them, which would cause a significant breach to the International Statute of Secrecy and put the entire magical world at risk! This stupid, foolish plan must only be used as an absolute last resort. There has to be another way to reach the Potters. 

Also, his code name for the plan is ridiculous. 

Here in the Muggle world, there are institutions and government departments that handle these types of situations. If children aren’t in good homes, the government steps in and places them somewhere better. Since Harry and Willow are magical, it wouldn’t be a good idea to get more Muggles involved, but is there something similar that we could contact, maybe in the Ministry? 

Book Club Discussion: I am enjoying Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret! I’m surprised your mum recommended this book to us, though, with all the talk of periods women’s development and… other things. I really like Margaret, she’s funny. I was thinking about what I would write for a getting-to-know-you-paper. I guess it depends on if I was writing it for a Muggle school or Hogwarts. I’m on Chapter 9. What about you? 

Sincerely,
Hermione Granger

29 July 1992

Hello Chris,

I think Ron's plan is admirable. Someone has to do something, and seeing as how none of us can really do anything, I’d say it’s the best thing we've got. Besides, Ron won’t actually go through with it… well, now that I think about it… but only if we don’t hear from the twins after their birthday! Or if Mr. Weasley hears anything in the Ministry. Or if I hear anything, I suppose. Though I highly doubt Mum would hear about the Potter twins in the Wizengamot.

Of course, I haven’t told her a thing about any of this. It’s too dangerous. She’s a mandated reporter about these types of situations, and if there’s one thing I know for certain, it’s that the twins don’t want any authorities or adults involved. 

What did you end up getting them for their birthday? I got them some candy - I didn’t want to send anything huge, with how uncertain things are. 

Best,
Mae

31 July 1992

Dear Harry and Willow,

Happy birthday and many happy returns! If you get this letter, please write back as soon as possible. No one has heard from you. Ron’s going to do something really stupid if you don’t write back. Please let us know you are all right.

Sincerely,
Hermione Granger

2 August 1992

Mae — Twins got into trouble with the Ministry. Operation Storm Chase happening tonight. Let the others know. Will write when I can. Ron