Hannah Abbott

Dear Susan,

I haven't seen you since you helped us move in.  You did a really great job and took the lead in getting everything organized.  I appreciate it.  Other than noticing how much you and Ernie kept looking at each other, we really didn't have a chance to talk with all the crowd.   Can you go to lunch with me on Wednesday?   My treat.

Hannah

ed to be.

While I'm there I owl the girls.

Megan, Katie and Susan,

Puff party tonight.  My place.  Bring friends.  I'll explain more when you get here,  Hannah.

I send it off, then think twice about it.  Didn't Megan say something about a date tonight?

After work I hurry home--only it won't be home much longer.   The furniture is all gone.  Neville and the wizards have already moved it.  So are the plants and boxes.  I start taking the pictures off the walls.  He must already be at the Longbottom Manor.  Longbottom Manor.  I'm going to have to start calling it home. 

  I hope the girls are okay with me putting them to work unloading the boxes and putting things away in the kitchen while we talk and eat chocolate.  Well, maybe not; they don't have to work if they don't want to.  They can just sit there and watch me in my tiger slippers get to work and eat chocolate. I hear a knock on the door.  I hope I can find my tiger slippers in all the moving mess at the Manor.  I open the door. It looks like Megan and Susan--oh good, she brought Nina--arrived at the same time.  Here comes Katie up the hallway.

We exchange hugs.  "Come in.  There's been a little change of plans.  Neville and I are moving.  So as soon as I grab the last of this stuff,  we can all go over to the Longbottom Manor together.  Is that all right with all of you?" I add worriedly.

I receive an owl from Narcissa Malfoy asking me to meet her at the Malfoy Manor and enclosing a temporary Portkey.  She’s all secrecy--so Slytherin of her.  But considering Lucius . . . do I really want to go into that Manor?  He makes me nervous.  However,  Knightly and Poppington charge more for house calls . . . so they encourage me to go. 

“Ms. Abbott, you have a new client coming in a half an hour.”

  I walk into the bookstore.  It is a Muggle shop, so probably won't have what I am looking for, but father was a Squb passing as a Muggle for all those years, so what I want may be here without it being labeled as such.  I walk up to the man behind the counter, who is bent down sorting books,  "Excuse me, sir,  but I am looking for . . ."  He gets up and faces me.  "Professor Lupin?"

Daddy needs to know.  I still am hardly ever seeing him though. Not with all the stuff he has to do with the new Minister of Magic.  I suppose I shall have to owl him.

Dear Dad,

How are you?  I haven’t seen you in awhile. I had a little problem the other day, and I thought you’d need to know. Three escaped Death Eaters were in our flat.  They didn’t hurt me or anything else.  They just really scared me. I was a blubbering idiot after they left.  They are after Neville and the others who fought them  when they were captured at the Ministry.  The Minister needs to protect these people, Dad.  They were all heroes.

The one Death Eater,  Lucius Malfoy,  told me that you are a squib.  That your mum and dad were squibs too . . . but that you’re a pure blood.  Is this true, Daddy?  If it is, how come you never told me? He says the graveyard at Godric’s Hollow is full of Abbotts  I think we should talk about this, Dad.  Were you ashamed to come from squibs?  Was it easier to just tell everyone your parents were Muggles?  Is that why you were attracted to Mum and didn’t mind that she was a witch?

Let me know when we can talk.  I miss you.  Let Zemelda know about my visitors, okay?

Love,

Hannah

P.S.  I’m taking my law tests early, in September.  Mr. Knightly and Poppington seem to think I’m ready.

There, that should do it.  I put my quill down for a minute and rest my head before I send the note with the company owl.  Now if I can just relax my mind enough to get back to studying.

--------------------------------

Darling Daughter,

 You're right that we need to talk.  I'll be there in thirty minutes.  Be careful.  I love you.

I got here early to set up the meeting with Hermione.  Mr. Knightly called me into his office.   I wonder if he found out about my engagement.  I’ve only told my closest friends.

A large tawny owl wings its way to the office building with a package and a letter.   I open the package,  and there is my photo!   Oh,  I think Neville will like it.  My goodness,  do I really look like that?  I might show my puff girl friends, but other than them,  this photo will be for Neville's eyes only.     I put the photo in my desk drawer and send the owl with my thanks, and an envelope containing five galleons back to Colin.