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Author: Caitlyn Story: Letters From Home Rating: Young Teens Setting: Pre-OotP Status: WIP Reviews: 1 Words: 59,746
Daddy and Mum, Guess what? I'm a Gryffindor! You were right, I didn't have to worry about it! Meghan's in Gryffindor too, but I knew that was going to happen. I bet Uncle Percy is relieved. I can't wait for classes to start tomorrow, and I don't know what order they're in yet because they haven't passed out any time tables. Hogwarts is really beautiful, and I don't think I'll ever forget the boat ride to the castle! The castle is so beautiful, like right out of a storybook. The girls in my dormitory seem pretty nice. One we met before we went to bed, she's the younger sister of Mortimer's friends. But, she's really not as boring as Mortimer's friends. Her name is Posy. The other two girls are nice too, one is named Calixta and the other is named Gloria. My bed is nearest to the window and I can see the courtyard from it. At least, I think it was a courtyard… I couldn't tell. It was quite dark when we got up to our dormitory. I'll look in the morning—that is if I ever get to sleep—I'm far too excited about everything. Meghan and I saw Nearly Headless Nick when we were following one of the Gryffindor prefects up to Gryffindor Tower. Gryffindor Tower, it just sounds so nice, doesn't it?! Doesn't the Fat Lady look just like Nanny Flossy? Or would it be Nanny Flossy looking like the Fat Lady? I think Nana Flossy was the second nanny that worked for Aunt Penny and Uncle Percy. You remember… because didn't you say Nanny Isabella quit because Aunt Penny was going to have Sebastian. (I never understood that… there was already 9 when Camea was born, so what difference would little Sebastian make?) Anyhow, Meghan went bonkers when she saw the Fat Lady because she thought it was Nanny Flossy coming back to whack her with her ruler! I can't say I blame her, Nanny Flossy wasn't exactly the nicest nanny that Uncle Percy could have hired. I remember that awful hat she wore, it looked just like the hat that the Wolf wears in Little Red Riding Hood when he's disguised as Grandmother. Something very odd happened today. Aidan Malfoy was sorted into Gryffindor. I just don't understand it… At first I was worried about it, but then, Meghan, Catherine, and Mortimer reminded me that the teachers would take care of it. I think it was a very odd mistake. He certainly doesn't want to stay in Gryffindor. He didn't look happy at all. Everything will be fixed by morning, I'm sure. Well, I'm off to bed. Tell Jamesy the train ride was exciting and I'm sending him a Chocolate Frog off the cart, since they're his favorites. Love you both, Chloe ~*~ Harry absentmindedly ran the heel of his hand across his cheek, a shadow of beard on his face. He set down the letter and sighed at the fireplace. "That's unexpected," he said to the flames. "She has no idea, you realize. She was confident you all were re-Sorting him in this letter." Hermione, more fully awake than anyone should be at six AM, shook her head. "I'm afraid we can't re-Sort him, Harry. It's never happened before, and we have to leave the decision as it was first made. Severus isn't bending in any way." Harry looked on the verge of a headache and reached to stroke Hedwig. "Yes, I understand, and I actually agree with your decisions. It's just very odd." "I'm going to let Severus handle all the dealings with the Malfoys. I can't even imagine what Pansy is going to do." Hermione rested her quill in her inkbottle. "You don't suppose Pansy is going to tell Draco, do you?" Harry snorted very loudly. "Hermione, I would place the deeds to my home, both my children, and a good number of other worldly possessions on that bet." "But… he doesn't need to know, he's in an institution." Hermione frowned at Harry. "I really thought they didn't talk to each other." "You aren't thinking like a Malfoy." Harry rested his elbows on the table and smiled wryly at her. "I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but let me tell you something… Pansy Parkinson will do anything, and I do mean anything, to get at Draco. After she gets over the initial shock of this—I give her two minutes, flat—she'll tromp on over to Raveneux and get Draco royally wound up enough for a strong sedation session. Her idea of a productive morning, really." "But doesn't she have reason to be upset as much as he does? It's her son as much as his." "Hermione, you aren't thinking about this like they will. Pansy isn't going to upset herself as long as she's got a finger to point at Draco. Convincing him that this is his fault is probably half the fun. Aidan is Malfoy blood. It's a sucker punch right to the family pride." "You don't seem too concerned about this," Hermione said haughtily. "What about Aidan?" Harry pushed his glasses up his nose and raised an eyebrow at her. "There's where you're wrong, actually. I could be far from concerned about Draco or Pansy, but Aidan is a completely different story. I don't have the slightest idea how they are going to treat him after this…." "They wouldn't disown him!" Hermione fretted, worry lines deepening on her face. "He's not at fault!" "I don't know. I wouldn't scratch it off your list, either." "What about Draco? I know you've been watching him closely for years now. How bad off is he?" "Are we talking about general sanity or downright evilness here?" "Harry," Hermione huffed in an impatient sigh, "please, I need to know this. I know you hate talking about it…but please!" "Draco's condition," Harry answered in an impersonal recitation of fact tone, "is easily controlled with potions and various medicinal drugs. He can function on a normal level, fully conscious of everything and everyone around him." "But if that's true, why on earth is he still in the institution?" Hermione said, puzzled. "I said can function on a normal level. Whether he chooses to or not is a completely different story. He uses his condition to manipulate people into how he'd like them to behave around him. He doesn't care to take his potions regularly, and if you ask me, which you did, I think he prefers the way he is. He's spiteful, chock full of treachery, and more than able to devise ways to be difficult." "I guess that proves that people have to be willing to make themselves better," Hermione said, shaking her head sadly. "They had thought he would just eventually degrade to a vegetable, but it obviously isn't looking that way." Hermione delicately jotted a few words down on parchment. "Harry, I'll keep in touch with you, even though I certainly think Chloe will keep you well informed with her side of things." "I'm merely going to hope things remain uneventful after this. It's very possible, "added Harry in a hopeful tone. "Chloe can be accepting in a lot of situations. She's pretty adapting. That is…when she wants to be." ~*~ Chloe guessed it wasn't going to be a normal first day of school the moment she and Meghan stepped from the portrait hole, talking happily about which classes they thought would be first. Chloe had awakened Meghan early, in hopes they could eat a quick breakfast and start exploring the grounds of the school. "I just know I'm going to hate History of Magic," Meghan said fastening her book satchel closed. "I'm horrible at remembering dates and silly goblin names. At least I won't have any trouble with the Ministers of Magic. Dad would be so thrilled with himself if he found out he had mentioned something useful." "I'm quite sure I'll like Charms, but I just don't know if I'll be any good at Transfiguration or not." "Transfiguration isn't all that difficult." Chloe and Meghan turned around quickly. "Uncle Re—Professor Lupin!" Meghan exclaimed. "Why are you sneaking around the school so early?" "I was waiting for you two, actually. That's hardly sneaking. I had a feeling you might want an early start, and it appears I was correct." He smiled at both of them knowingly. "Are you going to breakfast?" asked Chloe, happily noticing that her uncle, even in Professor form still smiled making small wrinkles around his eyes. "No, I'd like to see both of you in my office, if you don't mind." Meghan looked at him grumpily. "We're in trouble already? I promised my dad that he wouldn't get an owl home the first day…." "Relax." Professor Lupin gestured that they should follow him. "You've done nothing wrong. I simply need to have a little chat." "But little chats are never ever really a little chat," Chloe replied. "Everyone is okay, aren't they?" "Yes, they're all fine." Lupin pushed open his office door and ushered Chloe and Meghan in. Chloe liked his office very much. The chairs in front of his desk looked comfortably worn in, as if Uncle Remus made a habit to have visitors. There was a wire cage filled with white baby rabbits, which Chloe assumed were for one of his lessons today. There was a small nook which housed an assortment of non-matching mugs hanging on little hooks. Above the nook on shelves, was a small kettle, and clear canisters filled with lovely things to munch on. Chloe recognized a batch of her grandmum's cookies in one of them Professor Lupin loosened his tie and sat on the edge of his desk. "I'm here to talk with you about something you deserve to be forewarned about." Chloe decided the ivy by the window definitely looked like it could use a pep talk. "Forewarned about what?" Meghan asked curiously. She then brightened. "Wait! Are you going to have a pop quiz today?" "Meghan Weasley, you know better than to try that. I don't play favoritism." "It was worth a shot," Chloe grinned. Professor Lupin raised an eyebrow and picked up a rolled up parchment on his desk. "This is for you," he said handing it to Chloe. "Your father wrote it this morning and gave it to me through a fire since there was no way Hedwig would get back in time with his reply from your letter yesterday." Chloe frowned and took the parchment. "But…why is his reply so important?" She began unrolling the letter, glancing up at Professor Lupin with a degree of uncertainty. "Don't open that yet. I'm going to tell you two something, but you have to promise to remain calm, especially you, Meghan. Your outburst at the sorting ceremony could have ended in a letter home if the headmaster wasn't so busy afterward." "I feel very calm," Meghan said with a toss of her curls. "I don't," Chloe remarked with a frown. "I don't like the sound of this at all." "You aren't going to like the sound of it after I say it either," Professor Lupin said wisely. "I'm not going to treat you like children, so I expect you to take the news like young adults." Meghan stole a quick ‘I-don't-like-the-sound-of-this-either' glance in Chloe's direction. "I realize you both expected Aidan Malfoy to be re-Sorted last night, but the simple fact is, he's going to remain in your house," Professor Lupin said evenly. Chloe shifted in her chair, knowing he was judging her reaction, and bit the inside of her cheek to contain the protest that immediately had welled up into her throat. "You mean…" Meghan's blue eyes were wide with disbelief. "You mean…you're just going to let him into Gryffindor?" "Why not?" Professor Lupin asked nonchalantly. Chloe opened her mouth this time. "Well, he's a—" She stopped and slumped back in her chair, thinking things over. "He's…." "You had something to say, Chloe?" Meghan had gone from stupefied to stubborn. "I am not talking to him, and I refuse to work with him." "No one is forcing you to befriend him, work with him, or talk to him." Chloe couldn't believe he was so unconcerned about this. She halfway hoped he heard Meghan's muttered—"You've got that right." "All this means is that you will be in a bit closer proximity to each other. It wouldn't hurt anyone to treat him with the same amount of cordialness as your other fellow classmates." Cordialness? Chloe thought to herself irritably. Oh yes, have some more tea and cake, Aidan. Mind you don't stab me with the cake knife. "Now then," Professor Lupin pulled his tie back into its proper position and nodded at them. "I believe you should head down for breakfast. Good luck with your classes today." "You too," they muttered as they headed to the door. Chloe couldn't wait to get out of the office to talk this over with Meghan. "Chloe, take care to read that letter," Professor Lupin called. "Oh, and Meghan…." Meghan's red curls appeared in the doorframe and a second later, Chloe's green eyes and freckled nose. "Kindly keep the cheekiness to a minimum." Remus heaved a sigh when his office door shut with a loud thud, not quite a slam, but close enough. Catherine and Mortimer were a cakewalk to teach and even though he had never been any good at Divination, he predicted that Chloe and Meghan were going to be more of a three-ring circus ~*~ Most unlike Chloe, James Albus Potter did not like to be an early riser. He also didn't speak to anyone until he'd had his orange juice. "Morning, Scruff," Harry said briefly looking over the Daily Prophet. The small person cocooned tightly in his blanket did not reply, but merely flopped himself into a kitchen chair. Harry glanced at the wall clock. Ginny could sleep in a few minutes more, and then he'd wake her. Harry glanced at Chloe's empty chair, fully aware that it was usually she that prepared James' orange juice for him with the orange squeezer. As Harry did not know how to operate the orange squeezer properly, he conjured up a glass of juice acting as if he did it every day. Fortunately, James accepted it without a peep of protest. As soon as James took his first gulp, Ginny breezed into the room with smiles for both of them. "Good morning," she said kissing James' forehead. "You need to comb that wild lion mane of yours." James scowled and drank more juice. "And good morning," Ginny said kissing Harry on the cheek. "Your socks don't match. Your Aurors would probably enjoy that." Harry smiled sheepishly as he pulled off the offending blue sock. "You're up earlier than usual." "First day of school! I've got to make sure I've got everything ready." Ginny's face was alight with pleasure. "I want to go to school," James said suddenly finding his voice. Harry and Ginny almost sighed together. Here they went again…. "James, I told you that you can start nursery school next year. You're not five yet," Ginny said cheerfully, putting a box of Keeper Krunchies in front of him. "Laura gets to go," James protested. "Laura is five. You'll be five in December, which means you'll get to go next year." "Chloe gets to go away to school!" James said, glancing at Chloe's spot with a pouty lower lip that had the potential to turn into tears. "But you get to go play with Camea and Sebastian and go on outings with Nanny Aggie," Harry reminded him. "Don't you like Uncle Percy's house?" "But Laura won't be there! Camea's a baby." "Camea is four, just like you!" Ginny pointed out. "She just turned four. I'm almos'five. And ‘Bastian isn't any fun at all. He's really a baby." Ginny was quick on her feet in negotiations with children, her specialty. Harry didn't know how she did it half the time. "Well, since you're the big boy, why don't you teach them how to act like big kids. You could also help Nanny Aggie with lots of things… like keeping up with Sebastian when you go places." James thought this over. "Why?" he asked after a bit. "Because if Nanny Aggie gives us a really good report, like marks in school, Mum and Dad will take you to Uncle Fred and Uncle George's shop," Harry answered. Harry was all for bribery. It was his specialty. Ginny didn't approve of it most of the time, but it seemed an easy way out this morning. James' brown eyes looked over at Ginny for confirmation. She nodded her approval and then poured him a bowl of cereal. When James was properly busied with his breakfast, Harry cleared his throat. "Gin, we received an owl last night that might be of some interest to you…." He handed her Chloe's letter. Ginny smiled fondly at the first few paragraphs, but Harry could pinpoint the exact moment she read the words ‘Aidan Malfoy' ‘Sorted into' and ‘Gryffindor.' Her face puckered, and she stared at Harry for some form of explanation. "I spoke with Hermione this morning. They aren't re-Sorting him." Giving Ginny the news straight was sometimes a tad dangerous, due to the Weasley temper… but he would take his chances with something like this. "Why was a M-a-l-f-o-y sorted into G-r-y-f-f-i-n-d-o-r!" Ginny said in the calmest lowered tone she could manage. James' head shot up. "Mummy! No spelling! That isn't fair." "Remus talked to C-h-l-o-e this morning. I also sent her a letter through him. There's next to nothing we can do about it. He's going to tell her before, rather than having her make the discovery in class, and remind her to behave." "Who are you talking about?" James demanded, his Quaffle marshmallows probably getting soggy. "Why can't I know, Daddy? Why?" "This is going to get ugly on the M-a-l-f-o-y side." Ginny put her fingers to her temples. "Harry, promise me you're going to make sure she's not in any d-a-n-g-e-r because of this." "Of course I promise you," Harry replied sincerely. "Don't even think twice about it." "Make sure who's not in any what?" James put in loudly. "Tell me! I'm almos'five!" "Nothing, Scruff." Harry waved his hand at the Keeper Krunchies box. "Accio!" The toy surprise burst out of it and landed next to James' cereal bowl. James was delighted; any sort of magic was enough to halt his questions. "At any rate," Harry said, kissing Ginny's cheek and talking above the rattle of cellophane that was James opening his toy. "I'm off to work. Do enjoy the first day of school." "I got a bloke!" James told Harry, triumphantly holding up a figurine. "Who is he?" The figurine was clothed in Puddlemere United robes as far as Harry could tell, as the cereal figurines were usually very cheap magic. When the figurine shook his miniature fist at him, Harry turned to Ginny and grinned knowingly. "You have one guess. Puddlemere United, well-known Keeper, has a slight tendency to be absolutely off his rocker." Ginny squinted at the figurine. "That isn't Oliver Wood, is it?" "The very same. I didn't think he played after that injury. Apparently I'm wrong. Silly of me to think that a little thing like human limitations would get Oliver down and out." Harry rumpled James' hair and knocked the figurine over in James' hand with a flick of his index finger. "Put him in the rain, Scruff. It's his favorite place to play. A big sloppy puddle." Ginny laughed loudly and tossed a pair of matching black socks she had transfigured. "Go to work, Harry!" ~*~ Chloe and Meghan had snatched a few pieces of fruit off the breakfast table, barely noticed by the other few people in the Great Hall as it was still quite early. A tall girl had given them parchments with their time table on it, but they had been too preoccupied with the current situation to look at them yet. "It's enough to drive a kid to therapy," Meghan grumbled, taking a bite out of her apple. "For a million years, what do we hear? ‘That family is full of dark wizards. Don't associate with them ever.' ‘The Malfoys were in with You-Know-Who.' ‘The Malfoys simply hate Weasleys and Potters. They don't need a reason.'" "And now…" Chloe said pacing on the lawn, braids swinging. "And now, it's time to treat them with cordialness," Meghan said wrinkling her nose in disgust at the word. "Just because stupid what's-his-name decided he wanted to come invade our territory." "I don't suppose anyone told my dad or Uncle Ron to be cordial when Aidan's father called Aunt Hermione a—" Chloe cut herself off, and then whispered the word into Meghan's ear. Meghan took in an angry intake of breath. "Did they smack him!?" "No. Plus, Uncle Ron's curse backfired on him." Meghan unrolled the class parchment and sighed heavily. "And we don't even get a chance to practice being cordial." "What do you mean?" Chloe asked, unrolling her own parchment to see. "Oh no!" Transfiguration was the very first class of the year. Taught by Professor R. J. Lupin. "Today isn't our day," Meghan groaned. "He's probably going to be sore about me slamming his door this morning," Author Note: Thanks to Anne for Betaing! Also, I know kiddos start school when they are four in the UK, but I'm going to play the "Because I want them to start when they are five" card. I'm the author...we'll call it artistic licensing for plot reasons. Besides, this is the wizarding world. I can get away with it. J Thank you for all the wonderful reviews! I love them! "Have you hugged your stuffed dragon ?" Join Chloe's Bookshelf! OR Search for "Chloe's Bookshelf"
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