First Year – 1st letter
Hands trembling in the dawn light Hermione carefully folded the scroll into an envelope, trying hard not to make a noise and wake her roommates. She should have finished this last night but Harry and Ron had been talking to her. It was the first time she had ever had friends and all it took was nearly getting killed by a troll and lying to her favourite teacher.
Her lips curled up into a smile as she thought of Minerva McGonagall. Although she was only twelve she knew that she was in love with the older woman, due to the differences between their positions and the age gap, she knew that she couldn't confess her feelings yet. So being smart she had thought of a solution.
Stuffing the letter into her bag she hurried down to breakfast.
It was later that day when Professor McGonagall noticed the nondescript envelope on her desk. Turning it over in her hands she looked it over, noting the lack of a return address and the carefully penned probably disguised handwriting on the front. With a sigh she opened the envelope, hoping that this wasn't another prank by the Weasley twins.
A carefully charmed roll of parchment slid out and unrolled itself before her eyes. She began to read a very familiar piece of prose.
'Lord of my love, to whom in vassalage
Thy merit hath my duty strongly knit,
To thee I send this written embassage,
To witness duty, not to show my wit;
Duty so great, which wit so poor as mine
May make seem bare, in wanting words to show it,
But that I hope some good conceit of thine
In thy soul's thought, all naked, will bestow it;
Till whatsoever star that guides my moving
Points on me graciously with fair aspect,
And puts apparel on my tattered loving
To show me worthy of thy sweet respect.
Then may I dare to boast how I love thee;
Till then not show my head where thou mayst prove me.
"Whoa." She said out loud. Who would know that she adored the works of one William Shakespeare? It was someone smart enough to pick a little known sonnet and not one of the more clichéd verses that everyone knew.
She re-read it and with a flash of understanding, she understood what the author was trying to say. Apparently they loved her but feeling bound by a sense of duty would not reveal themselves until they felt worthy of her respect.
Who was it? Resolutely she turned to throw it into the fire but something stopped her and she slid it into a drawer, trying hard to forget it.
Year One – 2nd Letter
It was a cold January in Hogwarts when a letter floated onto Professor McGonagalls desk. Recognising the handwriting as that of her admirer she did not turn to open it but ran for the door seeking an answer but the corridor was empty.
She returned to her desk and stared at the letter, hoping that it would reveal its secrets. As though her thoughts had commanded it, the scroll unrolled.
How like a Winter hath my absence been
From thee, the pleasure of the fleeting year?
What freezings have I felt, what dark days seen!
Why was this note so short? But still it offered clues to the authors' identity; whoever it had been must have spent Christmas away from Hogwarts. Which meant it could have been most of the students and several members of staff. "Arrgh." This letter joined the previous one.
Hermione meanwhile returned Harrys invisibility cloak to his trunk, it was proving useful.
Year One – Final Letter
Hermione sealed the envelope with a smile. She could have sent any number of letters to the professor over the weeks but had chosen only three, not wanting to force her into trying to discover the identity of her admirer. At least she had time now to read up on more enchantments to conceal her identity when the professor would finally start to use magic on her letters.
It was easy enough to drop the letter on the floor under Minervas desk during a scuffle between Harry and Malfoy. Easier still to leave the room before it was noticed.
A few hours later Oliver Wood noticed the letter and retrieved it, "Did you drop this Professor, I found it on the floor?"
Minerva gave him an assessing look but knowing the boy to be truthful she thanked him and waiting for the class to leave she returned to her seat ripping open the envelope.
Thy beauty and thy years full well befits,
For still temptation follows where thou art.
Gentle thou art, and therefore to be won.
There was a gap below this and the four words that made her gasp
A declaration of intent?
Minervas lips pursed, she would have to find out who was sending these letters.
A.N. Please R&R.
Shall I continue? I do have a big finale in mind.