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HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmistress: Minerva McGonagall
(Ambassador, International Confed. of Wizards)
10 July 1998
Dear Ms. Weasley,
We are pleased to invite you to continue with your seventh year of study at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment, as well as a selection of available courses.
In light of last term’s premature closure, all returning students will be required to sit Placement Exams for the subjects they intend to pursue. Students will first be given the opportunity to refresh their knowledge, and appropriate courses of study will be determined by the results.
Term begins on 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours Sincerely,
Filius Flitwick
Deputy Headmaster
Dear Ms. Weasley,
Congratulations! After careful consideration, you have been selected as Captain for this year’s Gryffindor Quidditch team. You will find your badge enclosed. Upon the start of term, please schedule a time for trials with your Head of House.
Yours Sincerely,
Filius Flitwick
Deputy Headmaster
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Please select the subjects in which you wish to continue your studies and send this list by return owl. Note that eligibility will be determined by O.W.L. and Placement Exam scores.
SEVENTH-YEAR N.E.W.T. LEVEL COURSES:
_ Arithmancy
_ Astronomy
_ Care of Magical Creatures
_ Charms
_ Defense Against the Dark Arts
_ Divination
_ Herbology
_ History of Magic
_ Potions
_ Study of Ancient Runes
_ Transfiguration
*Please note that Muggle Studies will not be offered due to ongoing O.W.L. and N.E.W.T. curriculum review.
The list stared back at her: tight, perfect letters inked in green.
She made one tick. Shoved the parchment and badge into the desk drawer and wrenched her bedroom door open.
Left it there for weeks.
5 August 1998
Ginny,
Sorry for only getting back to you now. Our return trip gave us some trouble, and I only just got in tonight. Gran kept your letters aside for me, but I figured I’d send you a sign of life now before you send in the Aurors.
Myanmar was incredible! You wouldn’t believe the forests, and they have all these legends and practices I’d never heard of. I think you would’ve especially loved the food. Leopold’s been a brilliant mentor, too. I’m hoping to still have time to travel with him once work starts, he mentioned something about Ecuador next year!
Anyway, it’s three a.m. and I’m knackered, so I’ll leave it there for now. Can’t wait to tell you more about it all. I brought something back for your birthday I think you’ll love, by the way (I can’t believe you thought I’d ever miss it). Just tell me what time to be there, and where in Tinworth I should Apparate.
All the best,
Neville
30 August 1998
Gin,
Didn’t expect a letter from you so soon. Portkey security was nasty, but I made it eventually. It’s weird to be back here… I never thought it would feel this much like coming home (don’t tell Mum I said that). Miss you all, though. The dragons didn’t seem to notice I was gone.
As far as your questions, I’d say just trust your gut with trials, especially if you can keep a few former players. You have experience playing the two hardest positions to fill, and that’ll give you good instincts. My only advice for Seekers: it’s easy to train for speed, but harder to learn grit. If you have to choose between slow and scared, take a slow kid who’s willing to dive (like that specky bloke you keep around, I hear he’s pretty decent).
Good Keepers and Beaters should make themselves pretty obvious. I think Smithby’s manual has a good breakdown of Beater dynamics… Davids vs. Goliaths, power vs. finesse, etc. Ron nearly talked my ear off about the Canons’ new pick, so he might be a good resource, too. I don’t need to tell you that good Beater coordination can make a team pretty unstoppable.
Let me know when you get your match schedule, alright? I meant what I said about visiting more. You’re in good shape for the season, just keep that shoulder loose and don’t get lazy with the ice. Have fun breaking in that broom, too (Still jealous, by the way. First dibs at Christmas).
Love,
Charlie
P.S. - Tell Hagrid hi from me and Norberta. He’ll be glad to hear he’s a grandmum.
The letter collapsed easily, back along creases smudged with something like soot from the fingers that first smoothed them down. By now, her poor journal’s spine curled backward around a burden of loose parchment— letters and sketched plays, league rosters and training notes. She tucked this one between the pages anyway, placed it all into the drawer.
Beside it, sliding around in the back: the fleeting glint of a Galleon.