The Letters

As promised, my first letter. I haven’t even started unpacking.

My room is small and basic and looks out over a small Paris back street that I don’t know the name of yet. It’s in an old and dusty building, and from my window, I can see a coffee shop and an ice cream and crepes parlour.

My landlady is called Marie and doesn’t speak English. She looks almost Spanish, and she has a moustache.

I have my first class in the morning.

It’s Potions.

Love, Hermione.

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Dear Ginny,

I think I have made the biggest mistake of my life.

My room is dark and cramped, there are pigeons on the roof of the building opposite, and they make such a noise I can’t concentrate properly. I had my first Potions class, and the teacher is hopeless. I had to intervene at one point, to stop her from blowing everyone up!

My landlady, Marie, is nice but very nosy, and she keeps asking me personal questions. I just smile and tell her I can’t understand her. Today, she asked me about my boyfriend.

I miss him, Ginny. Have you seen him? How is he?

Love, Hermione.

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Dear Hermione,

Just give up the course and come home. We all miss you.

Harry invited Severus for lunch, but he turned down the invitation. He has agreed to come and visit Albus next week, so I will let you know how he is.

I’m sure he feels the same way about you. You should have told him.

Write soon.

Love, Ginny.

*******

Dear Severus,

I have been here almost four weeks, and you haven’t replied to any of my letters.

Please don’t be angry with me.

Have you visited Albus at all? I bet he is getting big now.

Please write. I miss you.

Love, Hermione.

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Dear Hermione,

I apologise for not replying to your letters. I wasn’t under the impression you expected me to write.

I have been particularly busy fulfilling recent orders, but your filing system is still working perfectly, and I can assure you I am up to date with the invoices.

I have visited Albus just this week after incessant invitations from Harry. And, yes, the child is growing, as he should.

I hope your course is everything you hoped it would be.

Regards,

Severus.

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Dear Hermione,

I am worried about Severus. He came to visit Albus last week, and he looked awful, really tired. I think he’s lost weight. I am sure he is missing you. I mentioned your name, and he couldn’t look me in the eye.

I made him promise to come to dinner next week. If I feel brave enough, I’m going to ask him how he feels about you. It’s ridiculous, both of you being unhappy like this.

How is your course? I hope you are miserable, because we all are without you.

Ginny.

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Dear Ginny,

Please don’t ask Severus about me. He will think I have put you up to it.

Do you think he might be ill? He wrote to me, but he didn’t say very much.

And I am miserable. Thank goodness the holidays are only two weeks away.

Depending on how things go, I may need to come and stay with you, if that’s okay? I will see Severus first though, but don’t tell him. I want it to be a surprise.

Love, Hermione.

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Dear Hermione,

I only just got your letter, I think your owl got lost or something.

I spoke to Severus about you, Hermione.

I told him you care about him, and that you are really missing him.

I think he loves you, even though he wouldn’t tell me how he felt. I thought he was going to hex me at one point. Thank goodness I had a glass of wine to steady my nerves!

You really need to go and see him. He is missing you; he told me himself. He looks even worse than he did before.

I won’t tell him you’re coming home, but I know he will be pleased to see you.

Love, Ginny.

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Dear Severus,

How are you keeping?

Ginny told me you have visited. I am glad you are staying friendly with her and Harry.

My holiday is coming up, but I have a mountain of studying to do, so I don’t know if I will get away as yet. I hope to.

I think of you often. I miss our curry nights.