Dear Reader

Dear Reader,

If you have found this letter then you have found my favorite book of all time. My mother and Father started reading it to me when I was a young girl before bed. Being Muggle-born does often make me feel as though I am at a disadvantage in a school filled primarily with people who have at least one magical parent, but I also feel at the same time that the classic literature of the Muggle world should find a place in this world of magic. After all, in a way, the adventures contained in the pages of classic novels have made their mark in history. That in and of itself is magical in a sense.

I hope very deeply that if you have found this letter and this book that you take the time to read it. You may find that if you do read that this novel offers more than just a pleasant passage of time. It is a temporary escape from the everyday world in which we live. Each character, each scenario, it offers a brief glimpse into the same traits or scenarios that we find within ourselves - entangled in them at all times. It is purely brilliant.

When you're done reading it, please kindly return the book to me. I would like to take it back with me when summer arrives. If nobody ever finds this, or in reverse if someone finds it and never reads it, then I'll retrieve it at years' end.

Yours,

H. Granger

Draco looked back at the front of the book and noted that it was called "Jane Eyre." He glanced around the restricted section to assure a second time that nobody was around and that he wouldn't be caught shoving the book into his satchel. As for the letter, he folded it delicately and kept a firm grip on the parchment.

Ever since Voldemort's return last year during the finale of the Tri-Wizard Tournament things were different at home. As a result, Draco could feel himself being altered too too. He was so much changed in the past few months that he became hyperaware of the world around him and had now decided to take Hermione Granger's book. Draco had figured that since he did not have classes tomorrow he could read what Granger had left out for discovery. In a war against Muggle-born witches and wizards, it only seemed scholarly of him to understand their life outside the school. Besides all that, he needed something to do anyway. He had just finished his essay on theoretical uses of over a dozen different potion recipes for alternative medicinal uses. He was arguing the use of forbidden mixtures for the benefit of some of the most severe afflictions, all of which currently had no cure. And again, Draco felt moderately obligated after reading Granger's introductory letter.

Unsurprisingly, Draco found it difficult to sleep that night. Each time he rolled over in his bed and shoved his head into a pillow his mind wandered back to the book. A girl who was supposed to be his enemy had intrigued him now with her Muggle literature and he could barely resist the urge – oh bloody hell – he could not resist the urge to get out of bed and begin reading. "Patience is virtue;" his mother always scolded him growing up for being impatient. Patience may be a virtue to other people, but it most certainly wasn't his virtue.

Now what was surprising is that when Draco started thumbing through the pages of "Jane Eyre" he found that he was unable to stop. He could hardly wait for the next page, the next paragraph, or the next sentence as he continued reading. In fact, he was able to finish the book before sunrise. Now wide-awake after finishing there was only one thing to do – ponder how he would respond to Granger's letter. There would be some time before he could actually respond because he would have to wait for his friends to leave the dorm before safely composing his letter.

After two very agonizing hours, everyone finally woke and meandered to the Great Hall for breakfast without him. When each person approached him and invited him along, Malfoy would softly decline. His reasoning what that he had worked far too hard on Snape's assignment the day before and was feeling very sluggish. The lie was so believable that even Blaise took the reply without question. As soon as Draco was sure that he was alone he penned his response.

Dear Granger,

I found this endearing piece of literature in the restriction section the other day while working on my studies. I must admit that I was a leery about taking it at first but I had a last minute change of heart. And you will not be surprised in the slightest to hear that I read the novel in one sitting last night.

I skipped sleeping precisely so that I could finish it, honestly. I must admit some concern that this was your bedtime material. But I do assume that this contributes to your intelligence, which makes is made known every time you open your mouth. Please take no offense to that statement, if at all possible. Your parents undoubtedly set you up for success. There are plenty of rewards to reap from their foundation.

Anyway, I do agree with your statement. I found that I did relate to several aspects of the story, as well as the traits of various characters. There's so much to be appreciated about oneself while reading it and I feel most humbled by this piece. Perhaps that doesn't make sense to you now seeing as you have no idea who I am. However, if you do figure it out then I'm sure you'll think back on this letter and understand exactly what I meant.

Feel free to leave other books that you are fond in the restricted section where you left this one. I go there often to study because it is more private and it offers more advanced topics to read upon. If you choose to leave any further Muggle literature I will make time to read and respond to it in a timely fashion. You were right, as you seem to always be, in stating that we should have more Muggle Literature to peruse at Hogwarts. There's something magnificent about a simple story.

Yours.

Draco folded his parchment in half and pushed it into the cover of the book. Since he couldn't be seen walking around with the book openly he had to wrap it up somehow. Thinking quickly Draco started poking around the mess of gifts on top of his trunk. For some unknown reason Pansy had felt it necessary to send him late birthday gifts since she'd been out of the country on vacation during his actual birthday. Even though most of the gifts were useful he did not wish to have them so frequently. Regardless, the most recent gift had been lightly tucked into a small bag with red tissue paper. It was thick enough and still intact so Draco wrapped up "Jane Eyre" and cut a section of rope from the drawstrings on the curtains to tie everything in place.

Fate sometimes has funny ways of working Malfoy found out. On his way to the Owlery he found himself passing by Granger and the only Weasley daughter. He tried at first to not eavesdrop as he passed them by but he couldn't resist. Draco had a soft spot for temptation and knowledge, it would seem. Pair them off and the boy would land himself in a whole mess of trouble.

"You're brilliant, you know. That charmed purse going back and forth between you and your parents. Of course, you're smuggling books and letters when the rest of us would be smuggling pranks and fire whiskey."

"My schedule isn't nearly as busy as I was expecting it to be, especially with the restrictions Umbridge has in place. There's no better way to spend time than reading a good story. Plus watching pranks is far better than being a part of them, I've found."

Draco knew that Granger was referring to the Weasley family. The twin brothers were very funny and were well known for their jokes around the school. He supposed that their sister was very active in such behaviors, which is probably what Granger meant when she stated she didn't like participating in pranks.

"You mean you don't want to spend your free time doing all of Ron's homework?" Draco saw the Weasley girl nudge Granger gently. There had been talk about them possibly being a couple. As for Draco, well, he didn't really see what they were seeing.

Granger and Weasley spent too much time arguing and sneering at one another to have any sort of established romantic relationship. Although, he wasn't there with the "Golden Trio," as they were called, personally. He didn't know exactly what the interactions between them were really like.

"I couldn't spend all my time with Ron. I'd go mad!"

As soon as he got passed the girls and made it up the last few rounds of steps, Draco found a standard mailing owl. He didn't want to use his personal owl because it would make it much easier to pinpoint who actually responded. Draco instructed the owl to take the package to Gryffindor Tower where it would wait for Granger far more patiently than it did for Draco.