Disappointment and Dubiousness

Main Hall, Sept. 4 th

Porridge covered Harry's robes as Calypso dropped a large tome directly in front of him at the breakfast table.

"Read this."

"Good morning to you as well," Harry said sarcastically as he cast a cleaning charm to get rid of his spilled breakfast.

"Don't 'good morning' me," Calypso snapped angrily. "Read this and stop making me look like an idiot."

Glancing at the large book, Harry looked up and read aloud, "Befuddling, Breaking, and Bashing: A Guide to Questionable Magic. Are you trying to tell me something?"

Calypso simply glared at her friend. "I didn't tell my father that you were talented only to have you nearly lose your first few duels. I'd start reading that if I were you. We're going to have a few practice duels to get you back into shape after class today."

"It's not like I lost," Harry countered.

"Did you or did you not get thrown across the dueling platform by Rosemary Tomlinson? You do know she had to repeat her first year Dark Arts class, don't you? You should have wiped the floor with her," Calypso said.

"She knew a lot of spells that I hadn't seen bef–"

"From what my father tells me, you were tossed around by a simple flinging hex! When you do poorly in front of my father, it reflects badly on me, Potter, so I'm going to make sure that doesn't happen again. Understand?" Calypso demanded.

Before Harry could argue that he didn't need help, a small brown Hogwarts owl landed in front of him with a letter. Harry removed the letter from the owl's leg, curious to see just what his brother could be writing to him about so soon in the term.

Harry,

I know that I'm probably the last person you would ever expect to get a letter from, especially so soon in the year; however, prudence demands that I inform you of your brother and Ron's idiotic actions since Nathan seems reluctant to do so himself.

From what I was able to gather from Ron and Nathan, there was some sort of malfunction at the gateway to platform nine and three-quarters. Your parents and the Weasleys were somehow pushed through the barrier, which proceeded to close itself off, leaving Nathan and Ron stranded in Muggle London. Before your parents or the Weasleys could get back to Nathan and Ron, my two best friends had completely thrown all good sense away, and decided the best way to get to Hogwarts was to fly Ron's dad's enchanted car to Scotland.

After being spotted, and photographed, by a number of Muggles over London, they crash landed into the Whomping Willow just after the welcoming feast began. Professor Snape threatened to expel them both, and the headmaster said that if they ever did something like this again, he would be forced to comply. I honestly have no idea what the two of them were thinking! They should have just waited, it wasn't like your parents were just going to forget about them!

Both Nathan and Ron are apparently embarrassed about the whole thing, and have been mumbling about probably getting a Howler from their parents.

I hope your start of term has been better. Feel free to write to me if you ever want to talk.

Hermione

With a groan of disgust, Harry slammed the letter down. From what he knew about Hermione, there was no way she would have ever made something like this up, which meant his brother was getting stupider by the year. It had to be Weasley's influence. Nathan would never do something that idiotic!

"Bad news?" Calypso asked curiously.

Harry just tossed her the letter. He knew exactly what Calypso would say, and for once she would be right. Nathan could have been arrested for breaking the Statute of Secrecy. How had his brother thought this was a good idea? What in Merlin's name could have possessed Nathan to do something so absolutely stu–

"Who's Hermione?"

"Huh?" Harry asked in confusion. "Hermione? She's my brother's friend from Hogwarts."

Calypso looked at Harry impassively. "What's she like?"

"What? She's my brother's only smart friend. Who cares about Hermione, though? My brother could have been arrested. Merlin, he should have been arrested!"

"Don't be so dramatic," Calypso said. "Your brother is the Boy Who Lived, Harry."

"So he can't get in trouble? I doubt even Dumbledore could protect him from breaking the Statute of Secrecy like this again," Harry argued.

"Maybe, but I don't think so. I doubt your ministry would be all that interested in prosecuting your brother," Calypso said casually.

"It was still stupid," Harry grumbled.

"Hmm…Yes, yes it was," Calypso agreed. "If a Howler is the worst your brother has to deal with, then I'd say he is quite fortunate."

Harry's eyes lit up. "Calypso, you wouldn't know how to make a Howler, would you?"

"That depends," Calypso said deviously. "Are you going to be meeting me later for a few practice duels?"

Reluctantly, Harry pushed aside his breakfast and began reading the book Calypso brought him. He never noticed Calypso subtly burn the letter from Hermione.