The Letter
Text= Letter
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Harry was snuggled into his nice warm bed, content for the first time outside the Gryffindor dorms. He smiled as he pulled the duvet up to his neck. Stretching and groaning when multiple bones cracked.
After nearly twelve years of living with the Dursley's loving care, his body was a mess. Between not eating regularly or at all, his body looked almost skeleton, the only saving grace was chores and quidditch giving him muscles. Admittedly, it was weird seeing a toned stomach while also being able to count his ribs.
Seeing his bones poking out, some of which healed wrong, was disturbing, but it was the scars that Harry hated the most. Scars left from lashings on his back, the small scars littered across his whole body from beatings. The scar that Harry hated the most was the lightning bolt on his forehead, a scar that he used to love before the meaning of it took that away. Now every time he looked in the mirror he was reminded of that night. Of losing his family.
Huffing in annoyance, Harry got out of bed before his thoughts got darker. He walked to the bathroom getting ready for the day. Once he was finished he sat at the table that the room provided, where his schoolbooks were. Harry stared at them trying to sort his feelings out.
Minister Fudge promised that the expulsion was a mistake and would be taken care of. Fudge must have believed this if he bought Harry's books. Still, Harry couldn't help but fear he was wrong, things didn't always work out for him.
Just as he felt his lip quivering he heard a hoot at the window. Turning his head he saw Hedwig, who he had let out last night. She was back and was carrying a letter. Harry raced to the window and petted her soft feathers.
"Hello beautiful, aren't you such a smart owl." Harry praised when he saw the letter had the Hogwarts crest stamped in the red wax. Hedwig preened while Harry continued petting her plumage, taking the letter with his other hand.
With a shaky breath, Harry stopped his petting and returned to the table, holding the envelope with trembling hands. Thinking of what the letter could contain, he clenched his jaw to stop tears as he opened the letter. Taking in shallow breaths while blinking away his tears, he pulls out the parchment and begins to read.
Headmaster: ALBUS DUMBLEDORE
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. Of Wizards)
Dear Mr H. Potter,
We at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry are pleased to inform you that you have been re-instated and apologize for your untimely expulsion. Due to this unfortunate circumstance, you must be resorted, to be added to the school charter.
Please find the enclosed list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins 1 September. We await your owl by no later than 31 July.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Resorted?—Oh Merlin, no, no—nononno! He can't be resorted he'd go straight to bloody Slytherin! Harry felt sick and dizzy. Was the room spinning? Why was the room spinning? That was weird even for wizards. Shaking his head made it worse. It was getting hard to breathe. Why was the air leaving his room? He should talk to Tom about this when it stops.
Merlin, it's getting harder to breathe—oh god no—He pleads when he starts heaving. His vision is getting spotty, his stomach feels like it wants out of his body. He thinks he's dying, no he knows he is. He hears someone sobbing, and he laughs, he's dying and someone is crying. It's a bitter laugh and after a few seconds, he realizes that he is the one crying.
A screech causes him to freeze, and before that horrible feeling comes back he takes a huge gulp of air. He nearly laughs in relief, but the wonderful oxygen is too precious to waste, Merlin he will never take the simple act of breathing for granted ever again.
After his fourth big gulp of air, he starts heaving again. Groaning he slumps over and gets sick. Why was he on the floor? He grimaces as he turns from the vomit. Feeling his hair being gently pulled he looks at Hedwig on the chair behind him, gently running her beak through his hair. He wipes his eyes and face, disgusted when he feels snot and vomit on his mouth and chin.
Harry groans as he gets up, his body is tense like he just ran from Dudley and his gang only to run into Uncle Vernon on an awful day.
"Thanks, girl." He mumbles as he walks to the bathroom, almost staggering on his way. Merlin, he felt horrible, maybe he should go to a doctor? It felt like he was dying. What if it happened again?
Once in the bathroom, he strips from the vomit-covered shirt and pants, turns to the bath, and turns on the taps. He doesn't think he can handle a shower right now.
He gets in when the bath is filled with hot water, scrubbing his face and body. He only stopped when the skin starts to turn red.
Harry feels tears leaking down his now clean face. He doesn't want to go to Slytherin. He doesn't really mind the other Slytherin's, other than Malfoy. Harry tries not to say bad things to the git, but Ron is always calling them slimy snakes, which makes no sense to him, snakes aren't slimy or bad.
Ron hates Slytherin though and everyone in it. Will he hate Harry too? Harry wraps his arms around his knobbly knees and cries into them. Ron will hate him—Oh Merlin! He forgot about Snape! Snape will kill him! Loud sobs leave Harry again. After a while, he starts heaving again. Not wanting to get sick again, he tries to calm down.
When Harry finally calms down the water is cold, and he is shivering. Getting out he dries himself and gets dressed in clean clothes. It's still early, and he hopes he can go to Gringotts today.
When he leaves the bathroom he sees Hedwig staring at him. He tries to reassure her that he is okay, but she just clucks at him in disapproval. Hedwig hates it when Harry downplays his feelings to make her feel better and Morgana forbid if he ever lied to her.
Harry goes back to the letter and reads it again, and again. He stops when his heart starts racing. Looking back in the envelope for his list of supplies needed he notices another piece of parchment. Taking it out he reads it, his eyes widening at the contents.
Dear Mr H. Potter,
I find myself unsure how to begin this letter. Should I address it as a Deputy Headmistress, a Head of House, a teacher, or as your parent's friend?
As an official employee of Hogwarts, I sincerely apologize for the harsh and abrupt manner in which your placement was handled.
As Lilly's and James's friends, I beg for your forgiveness for not doing more to stop this from happening to you. Had the tragic death of Lilly and James not happened you would have grown up calling me Auntie Minnie. It causes me great regret that even with their deaths, you and I are practically strangers.
I regret that I have not tried to get to know you better once you joined Hogwarts but was embarrassed and ashamed of not knowing you before. I will try to do better in the coming year, and the future.
Enjoy the rest of your summer holidays, and do try to finish your homework.
Sincerely
Minerva McGonagall
Aunt Minnie?
Harry was shocked. Aunt Minnie? It sounded so strange. McGonagall was friends with his parents? Harry tried to picture a world where his stern and strict professor was a doting aunt and just couldn't. He wasn't sure how he felt about this, on one hand, he could get to know her better. On the other—he wasn't sure.
Deciding to come back to that he looked for his supplies list. Confusion bloomed in his chest when he saw the list. It was much more than what he was used to, but it is the third year, it's bound to have more.
Harry sighed and put the two letters back in the envelope, grabbing his supplies list he kissed Hedwig on her forehead and grabbed his wand and coin purse. He grimaced at how light it was, Harry really hoped he could get access to his vault. He didn't know what to do if he didn't. Maybe he could ask Tom if he needed a hand around the Leaky but then dismissed it. He had a suspicion that his meals and room were on a discount. He didn't want to give Tom another reason for taking less.
With another sigh, he headed out of the room calling out a goodbye to Hedwig.
When he got downstairs he was surprised at how many people were there, the last few days there had been hardly anybody there. Sure lots of wizards and witches came through, but they were just passing. This was a large crowd. Shaking his head, he went to the Alley entrance, he would get breakfast somewhere less crowded. A few taps later, and he was once again in the magical district Diagon Alley. No matter how many times Harry saw it, it still made everything feel like magic for the first time.
Smiling he headed to Gringotts.