Complete Collection of Hermione's Letters
Letter 1
May 6th, 2007
My dearest Rose,
One day, when you are ready, you will be reading this- a woman yourself. I want you to never forget how special it is and the true meaning of being a woman.
To be a woman means to be gentle, to be soft, to never forget your manners. Learn how to cook, clean, and be a giver. Give, give, give. Never take time for yourself- that time should be dedicated only to the children society tells you you must have and the man whose last name you will take. Right? Wrong.
Absolutely wrong. Despicable, disgusting, and deafening are a few words that come to mind after hearing that. That is just all wrong. The truth: to be a woman means to be smart. All types of smart. To hold your head high and honor those who came before us- who struggled even more than we do everyday to prove ourselves. To be a woman means to be bold, to never shy away from shouting what needs to be said- or what doesn’t and just shouting it because you want to, because you can. To be a woman means to be run fast. To run away from your troubles and run into a world of new opportunity and possibility. It means to stand up and fight. Fight for or against. To be a woman- it means to love. But not the traditional, historical way to love- the real type of love that so many women were cheated out on because of the societal rules that were made by none other than a man himself. To be a woman. I am proud to be a woman. I love being a woman.
When I was a student, I started as a shy girl. Someone who was not necessarily the most confident in my appearance or background, but could always rely on my intellect. Some of the other strongest wizards in my class included your Uncle Harry, your father, Neville, and Draco Malfoy. Being one of the only girls among these other boys was never easy. When I would stand up for myself, I would be called bloody names. When they stood up for themselves it was an example of them being “tough”. When I impressed a room with my knowledge, I was showing off, but when they did the same it was just impressive. These are the unspoken injustices that we, as women, have to face everyday. And how exactly do we deal with this? We climb. We educate. We grow. We rise. We find the magic within the fight for ourselves and fellow women.
To be continued...
With all my love,
Mummy
Letter 2
July 9th, 2007
Daughter,
Today was quite a day. Auntie Ella and I, feeling constantly suppressed, deflated and defeated by the males at work, decided that enough is enough. We walked out of our home for six years, the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and did not even look back. This, my daughter, is what it means to be strong. To forego what you know, what you are used to, and prioritize your freedom, your strength, and your value over all.
It was a normal day- we gathered in the conference room in the morning to get our weekly assignments, and Auntie Ella and I were on calculations, as usual. We looked at each other with such disdain, again and again we have expressed that we want to be on the front lines catching those that use evil spells for harm. And everyday, they use the excuse that our brains are too valuable to be used for front-line work. Today, enough was enough.
I took Ella’s hand and we walked into Benny’s office; he is in charge of the position assignments. While we stormed in, he put his hand up as a symbol for us to not speak. The hand of a man in my face? In MY face? Absolutely not. I shot up my wand in less than a second and waved it with such force that there was a breeze that hit my face. Instantly, his hand was frozen in the air. Ella gave me a miniature high-five, and we started our speech.
“Listen to us now. If you think we are going to let you use the excuse that we are mountains and mountains more intelligent than any of the men here stop us from saving society from the crooks and thieves, you have seriously mistaken us for others. We know this is more than what you say it is. We ARE women. We ARE strong, brave, fearless, intelligent. Those characteristics are NOT and will NEVER be mutually exclusive. Both are perfectly normal and perfectly acceptable. Let it be known that we are not your co-workers any longer. And we WILL show you all that we are capable of solving these mysteries WHILE using our fantastic brains, and you will regret your decisions until the day you are no longer alive.”
I then waved my wand to unfreeze his hand, and laughed at the shock on his face. I checked to ensure that I had not frozen his face with my wand too, and I didn’t. His face was frozen from the disbelief. Auntie Ella and I walked out of his office and the building with our heads held high, proud of the path we had started to pave for all of the women that will come after us. It was time for our next journey.
To be continued…
All my love,
Mummy
Letter 3
July 16th, 2007
Rosie,
It has been a week since Auntie Ella and I walked out on our so-called home. The place where we thought we would take over as co-bosses of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement for the wizarding world. Life seems odd. Incomplete. Strange. We made history as the first two women to ever be hired in administrative roles. At first, quitting seemed like the right thing to do. I am a feminist by nature, like I will teach you to be. Walking out seemed like the right thing to do to stand up for myself and all the women that will come after me. But now, I feel purposeless. Of course, being a mom to you is my favorite job in the world. But, being a mother is not my only purpose. Nor should it be any mother’s only purpose. Every individual- man and woman- has a purpose. And I will find mine.
Love,
Mummy
Letter 4
July 29th, 2007
Rosie,
Today is the day! Auntie Ella and I set out to find the answers to our questions. We slid by the door of the front door of our old place of work with large hats on to cover our famous faces- since we are so well known around there- and listened. We sat for hours and hours trying to listen for any details that we could find. And suddenly, the information came. After using spells that we published, we were able to listen in on a variety of conversations. We found out many things including how much we were not only missed, but needed. After a full heart of gratitude and pride, I thought about everything I had been through. All of the adventures with your Uncle Harry and Daddy at Hogwarts. I thought about Professor McGonagall and how much she inspired me to be great, to push hard past my fears and worries. I thought about having to erase the memory of me from my own parents and how much my heart shattered realizing what the love of a daughter feels like. I thought about how much my life led up to this point- standing up for everything I had fought and worked so hard for. Finally it came. A lightbulb moment, a shock to the system as my ears rang with the information that would change our world forever.
Auntie Ella and I discovered the newest top mission, of course being headed by Benny and his crew of masculine daft dimbos. Auntie Ella and I grabbed each other by the arms and set off to journey on an adventure of a lifetime. I hadn’t felt this feeling in awhile. At Hogwarts, it seemed as if I took a grand adventure every year- stopping traffic, turning heads quite literally, making noise and news covers with our intelligence. Now, I feel alive again. This is what I was meant to do- lead. One day, you, my sweet, will be a leader too.
My heart,
Mummy
Letter 5
July 31st, 2007
Rose,
Today was full of craziness. I was reminded why I write these letters to you everyday. Being a wizard is a gift. Yet there is so much unpredictableness that comes with that gift. While chasing after the bandit, Auntie Ella and I tumbled down a long path of mirrors. Glass shattering everywhere. The incessant beating against the glass, breaking a new object with every jolt. We were lucky beyond belief to walk away from the scene with only a few gouges in the arms and legs. We were so so close to capturing him. Unfortunately Benny got word of the news and our master plan. What was once a battle of good vs. evil is now a three-way battle. I guess I should have known that it always had been. Them vs. us. Them vs. us. THEM vs. US. It always seems to be the thoughts of men that ruin what once was. Auntie Ella and I could have captured him. Bellatrix Lestrange. A name that will haunt me forever. Your grandmother Weasley was the one who put her to rest after years and years of insurmountable torturing. It was discovered that she had a long lost brother that had been given to a muggle-born family. Arramaldo was his name. That was the news I had heard while sitting outside the office that made me reflect upon everything. That family had taken so much away from your father and I, and hearing the news that there was a Lastrange wreaking havoc again flipped a switch in my mind. I knew this was meant to be my mission. Auntie Ella and I would find him and put an end to everything he stands for.
Today was a reminder of the pain. The torture. The Battle of Hogwarts was eleven years ago. To this day, a part of me is gone. That battle took a piece of me away that I will never gain back. While crashing against the side of those mirrors, the details of that day came rushing back. Milliseconds away from getting killed by a curse of Gregory Goyle’s. Defending your Aunt Ginny from Bellatrix. Swarmed by dementors. The darkness. While being so close to another living Lestrange wizard, I wanted revenge for so many that were harmed by their family. I was going to stop them once and for all.
To be continued…
Love,
Mummy
Letter 6
August 09th, 2007
Rosie,
Your first birthday is coming up in ten days. While Auntie Ella and I try to plan out our next strategies against Arramaldo, your father is working tirelessly to plan for your birthday celebration while still working at the Ministry of Magic as an auror in law enforcement. These are the times when I realize how lucky I am- your father and I are a team. Everything is 50/50. There is no task better suited for him than I or vice versa.
Auntie Ella and I sit in our great room during the late hours of the night to plan and plan. This is a two-front war we are fighting: misogyny and Arramaldo, both equally evil I would argue. After a lot of effort poured into planning, we finally have the one. We cheers with butterbeer to celebrate our ingenious idea that neither Benny nor Arramaldo will see coming. In exactly 17 days, the birthday of Delores Umbridge will mark the day when all of the dark wizards meet to protest her imprisonment in Azkaban. It is one of the scariest days of the year. The dark wizards take over towns as they use dementors to block streets and locations inhabited by the good wizards of the world. Over the years, they have gotten sloppy with their techniques, as they don’t expect anyone sensible will be outside. That is the mistake that will cost them everything.
Auntie Ella and I will venture out, using Uncle Harry’s invisibility cloak. We will be invisible to everyone including the dementors. We will also disguise as dark wizards underneath as a back-up plan. In doing so, we can find Arramaldo and steal his wand out of his hand, shattering it. Then, Auntie Ella will quickly cast her signature time freeze curse on Arramaldo and the rest of the dark wizards. The two of us will drag him to the front gates of Azkaban, where he will be locked forever.
This plan is very, very dangerous. No matter what happens, I want you to know that Mummy loves you so very much and these letters serve as a piece of me that you will have forever. I love you my sweet girl. Never be afraid to go after evil. That is how the good survives.
All my love,
Mummy
Letter 7
September 30th, 2007
Rosie,
It has been about a month and a half since Auntie Ella and I successfully defeated Arramaldo Lestrange. His name will go down in history forever and so will ours. He will rot in the depths of Azkaban for all of his crimes, and we will be known as heroes to little girls all around. That was what the newspapers said anyway. Feminism. Heroes. Little Girls. Inspiring. But to me, I didn’t really know what it all meant.
It felt like the Battle of Hogwarts all over again. The visions. The flashes of light. The screaming. The strikes of magic. Although to others it seemed like we were heroes, I didn’t feel it myself. Until one day….
I was sitting at the kitchen table with Auntie Ginny, Uncle Harry, and Dad, talking about all of the memories from our time at Hogwarts, while you were sleeping soundly and perfectly in your bouncer. In particular, we were reminiscing about the time Uncle Harry and Dad “had” to take the flying car to Hogwarts. All of the sudden, there was a “thump, thump, thump” at our front door. I opened it to a group of three young girls. One of them was tall and thin with dark hair and chocolate brown eyes. The other was shorter with sun kissed summer skin, freckles that dotted her face and ocean blue eyes. But, the last girl. She was you and me. She had ripe strawberry blonde hair with blue-green eyes that pierced your soul in a way that thanked you at the same time. She was smart, intelligent, beautiful. She was the future you.
I smiled brightly and echoed “Hello girls, can I help you with something?”
You stood forward and said in awe “wow, it’s really you.” Her jaw fell open and her thankful eyes became even more thankful. The taller girl stepped forward and said “You are Hermione Granger. You are our hero! Can you please sign my potions notebook?” I tucked my hair behind my ear, and knelt down.
“Of course I can darlings,” I replied, surprised and taken aback in the best way possible.
After signing their notebooks, I looked up and saw their mothers standing by them. Each of their mothers resembled their daughter: I could match each one to their respective daughters. They waved and yelled “You are all of our heroes,” placing their hand on their heart. They all ran back to their mothers except the one. She tugged at my skirt, looked up at me with her big eyes, and said “your daughter is the luckiest girl in the world.” And she ran back to her mother.
A tear streamed down my face. I waved at all six of the strong girls. That is when I realized that I wasn’t just making a difference- I was the difference. As women, we need to be lifted up as much as we can, by other women, by men, by the young and the old, by our family and friends, and even those who we don’t know. Lift others. Always.
Love,
Mummy
Letter 8
March 5th, 2010
Rosie,
It has been over two years since I have written letters to you. Now, you have a brother and our world has been turned upside down. Our little family of three grew into four and we couldn’t be happier. After we defeated Arramaldo, I was struggling to find my purpose. It wasn’t until the little girls visited that I realized I need to take charge of my own destiny. Now, I am the head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. I have no boss, I am the boss. I have turned all efforts into increasing the amount of women we have hired, and making pay more equal. Hogwarts has more female professors than ever before, and Professor McGonagall is still the head of Hogwarts. We work together and there is an opportunity for students to come tour the Department of Magical Law Enforcement two days a year. Life is amazing, magical, beautiful. I wake up everyday to make life better for my fellow female peers. I love you so much Rosie. One day when you read these, you too will find your purpose, your life’s dream and journey.
Stay strong, and never forget who you are.
Love you always,
Mummy