Dear James

I Love You a Whole Awful Lot

  Dear Uncle James,

        I heard you were up in heaven with the Big Guy. I don't like that because you won't visit me on Christmas and my birthday. My birthday is coming up very soon and I won't have anyone to shove my face into a cake. Uncle Remus said that he'd leave it up to someone else. I don't like that. Peter is up in heaven with you too, they only found his finger. Uncle Sirius blew him up! Mummy said that he went to Azkaban because thats where all the bad guys go. I don't think he's a bad guy, Uncle James, he told really good stories about the Marauders like you do. Mummy says that I can't write letters to Uncle Sirius because he'll compromise my brain. I don't know...I really want to write him one, but what Mummy says goes. Thats what daddy used to say until he went on that business trip last year. I don't think he's coming back. 

        Some stupid boy told me I was dumb because my middle name is your name. I don't know about you, but I think I can have whatever name I wish to have. Mummy says I'll have whatever name she thinks is best. I think she's wrong, but shhh! Anyways, I decked him in the nose just like you showed me, I got in trouble and had to stand in the corner until Mummy came and picked me up. She gave me a spanking I don't think I'm ever going to forget. I didn't think Mummy could ever get so mad. I think that boy should have gotten in trouble for teasing me about my middle name. I like my middle name.  

        Yesterday, Mummy told me that we were going to Aunt Lily and your funeral. I asked her if I could write you this letter and she cried and pulled me into her lap and told me I was such a sweet little girl. I don't know about that, but I let her hold me until she was done crying and then she got me this Golden Eagle quill just for me to write this letter. I hope you can read my handwriting, I honest to goodness tried my best to make it readable for you. I asked Mummy if I could send this letter with a picture of Harry, but she told me that we don't have a picture of him and that I couldn't have one because he's leaving with Aunt Lily's sister. She's a muggle and by the face that Mummy made I don't think I'll like her that much either. 

        Mummy says that goodbyes are the worst. I don't wanna say goodbye to you, because I promise I'll see you again. Goodbyes are too permanent. Daddy told me goodbye before he went and left on that business trip. So I'm going to say something else just for you, Uncle James.

I love You a Whole Awful Lot,

Violet James Griffith :)

(P.S. I want to be just like you when I'm older.)

        Violet folded the letter once more and stuffed it into the envelope, a look of pure concentration obvious on her face. She was all dressed up in black. She thought it was an extremely depressing color and she vowed that she'd never ever wear the color again if she could help it, but for now Mummy picked out her clothes. 

        "Are you ready darling?" Dawn Griffith asked her daughter, reaching out a hand to pull her up.

        Violet nodded her head, her dark brown curls bounced as she stood up and whispered, "I hope he likes my letter."

        Dawn smiled down at her daughter as they walked from the car towards the graveyard where the buried bodies of James and Lily Potter laid. Violet stopped and took a deep breath before taking a step forward and crouching downward to stuff the letter into the small cylinder that flowers usually were placed. 

        "I love you, Uncle James and Aunt Lily," Violet whispered, "A whole awful lot."