Dear the girl who thinks my father changed,

It's alright, I'm used to detentions with Umbridge by now. But like I said, I only had it with Filch instead so it wasn't that bad. You weren't to know that it would land me in detention, so don't apologise.

It was very tedious but I didn't mind. I've spent so many years cleaning for the Dursleys that I almost find it calming somehow. It got me away from the madness of magic for a few hours at least. The only problem is I now stink of polish. I've had about 4 showers and I still can't get rid of the smell.

Apparently Hermione's brain wave came from something I said but honestly I don't understand how what I said made her come to that conclusion. Hermione has always been insanely smart, and me and Ron have gotten quite used to her sudden exlaims and running off to the library. Like Ron once said, when in doubt, go to the library.

I admit I shouldn't have looked, I admit I should have learned my lesson and left well enough alone but I can't go back and change what I did now.

I'll have you know it wasn't so I could one up Snape as you so kindly put it, I was just curious to figure out what memories he would hide from me every lesson. It wasn't anything to do with getting back at Snape, believe me. I don't think I'll ever get rid of the nightmarish image of Snape pulling me from that Pensieve. I've never seen someone look so angry.

Yes but El, don't you see how wrong all of this is. Where did we all go so wrong for people to think it's okay to pick on other people? My father and Snuffles shouldn't have done what they did, full stop. It doesn't matter how bored they were or if they were payed an insane amount of money to do it, they should've said no.

Snape was doing absolutely nothing wrong. Maybe I'd be able to accept it more if Snape was being vile or goading them but all he was doing was looking over his exam paper. Thats like me hexing Malfoy simply for looking at me. I would never retaliate unless someone did something to me first, and I thought my father would have done the same. He didn't even give Snape a chance to fight back.

Also, need I remind you that we are both teenagers. We have never bullied or attacked other people for our own entertainment. We didn't need to grow up to see how wrong it was, we already knew. So what's the excuse for Moony, Snuffles and my father? There is none.

My father, Snuffles and Moony have always been pranksters. I've known that for years, they created the ultimate map of Hogwarts but Fred and George are like that too and they've never done something so outright cruel.

You didn't see her face Ellie. I've never seen such hatred on my mothers face before. I've only ever seen pictures of her but always her face was the definition of happiness, she was glowing with it. To see such an awful expression on her face was unsettling. I always thought my parents were so in love. It's hard to imagine how my mother went from such hatred to so much affection.

Please don't bring it up with them. I want to hear what they have to say for themselves. I'm just not sure how we're going to do that yet. Like you said, we'll figure something out, no matter how impossible it seems at the moment.

El, the last thing I want to do is talk to Snape. Besides even if I wanted to, I can't. He's avoiding me. He's acting as if I don't exist. In class, he is even ignoring me which trust me is such a great improvement, so I don't want to spoil it just yet. I'll talk to him soon, don't worry.

After all of this is over, you should bring her over and we should tell her. I bet its awful lying to her all the time and I'm sure she's curious to find out why you and your family have moved out of your house to some secret location you can't talk about. Besides, I know I've never met Cass or anything but if you're friends with her, she must be pretty awesome, so I already trust her with my secret.

Anyway, I'll sign this letter off here. I've still got loads of homework to complete that I haven't been able to because I keep thinking about that memory.

I'll talk to you soon El, and thanks for all the advice. Hopefully I get to see you soon.

Love,

the boy who doesn't know his family as well as he thought.

(Hope you enjoy!)