Chapter One. Among These Barren Crags
Mr. Potter,
I have hopes that this letter finds you healthy, although I rather doubt it, as you are well on your way to breaking Dai Llewellyn's record for sheer number of stays in the Hogwarts Infirmary.
Enclosed is a Dreaming Draught. It will allow you to sleep and encourage you to have rather giddy dreams.
The vial contains a three-month supply. Place TWO drops on your tongue directly before retiring. You may take ONE additional drop if your sleep is interrupted.
DO NOT TAKE MORE THAN THREE DROPS A NIGHT.
Let me assure you, Mr. Potter, that I was taken aback when the Headmaster instructed me to provide this particular Draught to you. I must insist that you do not experiment with it during your waking hours. Please be aware that larger doses can cause permanent hysterical laughter that is irreversible. Act responsibly, unless you wish to become a permanent resident of St. Mungo's.
Sincerely,
Madame Pomfrey
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Mr. Moody,
Thank you for speaking to Uncle Vernon. The Dursleys are terrified of me now. Uncle Vernon asks me if I am writing to you, and I tell him not yet. It's got him in an awful bind. He's terrified that I am not writing, and on the other hand, he's terror-stricken that I will write. So he mostly avoids me, which is a great improvement overall. I will write again in a few days,
Harry
PS—Hedwig's still a bit off. Would you mind holding onto her for a day or so to make sure she's up for the return trip?
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Harry—
Mad-eye says to call him Moody. All the owls we send you have been told to wait for a reply. We'll make sure you always have at least one owl around besides Hedwig.
Glad to hear that the muggles aren't bothering you much. No news here. We're in hiding, of course, someplace different, but since the Ministry is not after us anymore, we can talk a bit more freely.
Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes is doing really well. Mum's proud, though still goes on about them not taking their NEWTs. But her heart's not really in it. She can't expect them to go to work for the Ministry right now, can she?
Ron
I had better ask—you all right?
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Ron,
I am sleeping a lot and eating as much as Dudley. Almost. Yesterday, Uncle Vernon started muttering in my direction about food costs until I pointed out that I was thinking of writing my friend Remus, the werewolf, right after my snack.. Man can change colors faster than a chameleon. He's particularly good at purple, red and white.
I wonder if I can get a yellow out of him. If I said that I was feeling Moody, do you reckon he would get it?
Ron, I want to apologize for last year. I shouldn't have taken it all out on my friends. Thanks, mate, for everything.
Harry
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Harry,
No apology is necessary. But thanks. Hermione says that if you try and apologize to her, she will hex you into next month. Hold on, she wants to write something—
Don't you dare apologize Harry Potter. We are all dreadfully worried about you trapped in that horrible place.
I also wanted to tell you that my parents have gone into hiding. Not because of you, understand, but because of me. I am one of the most prominent muggle-borns at school, and the Malfoys know me.
Take care of yourself, Harry. You do not have to worry about everything. We can do some of it for you.
Love,
Hermione
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Mr. Potter,
It is my distinct pleasure as Head of Gryffindor House to inform you that the lifetime Quidditch ban inflicted upon you last year has been rescinded.
On a different topic, I have recently become aware of an old and little used regulation which allows a student to sit for a NEWT without having taken the preparatory class. All that is required is the Headmaster's permission. A motivated and diligent student could do quite well working independently.
Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
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Hermione,
If Dumbledore gives me permission, I can sit for the Potions NEWT without Snape's class! McGonagall says so! I would need your help to revise, though. What do you think? I still have to pass the Potions OWL, of course.
Harry
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Harry,
Don't be silly, of course I will help you. It would be really, really hard, but I think we could do it.
Love,
Hermione
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Professor Dumbledore,
I would first like to apologize for my outburst in your office last year. I have thought often about that day in your office and about our conversation—if it could be called that. You said a lot of things that I was not ready to hear, and I don't know if I am ready to hear them now. But I am working on it.
Sir, would you consider continuing my Occlumency lessons? It would be useful to me, I know, and I promise to practice hard at it.
Sincerely,
Harry
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Dear Harry,
I would be delighted to tutor you in Occlumency. Please come to my office at 8 p.m. on the second Monday after the start of classes, and we will take up where Professor Snape discontinued the lessons.
Rest assured that your apology is completely unnecessary. Few events in my life have caused me as much pain and regret as that day. Please know that I will strive to make amends for the suffering I have so foolishly caused you and know that I am your friend,
Albus Dumbledore
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Springhill & Dunlopp, Solicitors
Number 61 Diagon Alley
London
Master Harry Potter,
I would like to offer my condolences on the death of Sirius Black. I am deeply saddened by your loss. Sirius was a friend and client of mine for many years, both before and after his extralegal incarceration in Azkaban. I have fond memories of Sirius' glowing recollection of your Quidditch match as he instructed me to arrange the purchase your Firebolt. He was a great wizard, and let me assure you, there are many who will feel his loss.
Sirius' last will and testament names you as his primary heir. Please note that most of the Black family fortune will not come under your control until you reach the age of majority. A full accounting is attached.
A small percentage has been made available for your immediate use in the amount of 5,000 galleons. The enclosed key, for Gringott's Vault #842, will allow you to access this allowance.
The named executor is Remus Lupin, who will be drawing a stipend for his time. Since there is really rather little to do, I suspect Sirius arranged this to aid an old and, I daresay, proud friend.
I have been fully informed regarding the singular difficulties you may have in discussing matters with me in person. Mr. Lupin's responsibilities include acting as your representative in these affairs. If you have any questions, concerns or matters you wish to discuss with me, you may contact me directly via owl or floo, or you may prefer to speak with Mr. Lupin who, he assures me, is at you service.
The last item contained in this packet is a magically sealed letter from Sirius. He instructed me to tell you that you already know the passphrase.
Again let me again offer my condolences. From what Sirius told me of you, I expect that this letter has done little but upset you. As one who has had his share of grief over the years, please believe me when I say the dead are never truly gone.
Sincerely,
Kamal Springhill, Solicitor
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Harry,
Well, I reckon I have gone and done it now.
Sitting here in my wretched mother's house in the middle of the night, I can't say that I've had the happiest of years, having spent eleven with my parents and twelve with the dementors. I don't frankly know which was worse. Despite that, or maybe because of it, I remember the good things the best. And there were lots of those, enough to make me sure it was all worth it. And one of the things that made it worthwhile, Harry, was you.
I know you're likely a wreck just now, but that will pass. Just don't feel guilty about my dying or you living. I broke out of prison. I joined the Order. My choices. All you owe me is a promise to make the most out of your life.
Well that, and one other little thing. I want you to pull one prank at Hogwarts in memory of the Marauders. One completely unnecessary and uncalled-for stunt. I am confident you will come up with something appropriate. Just don't talk to the twins, they'll suggest something involving toilet seats, I'm sure.
I have a gift for you. The vellum that looks like a copy of this letter is not. You'll have to figure out the password.
Goodbye for now, Harry, and if I see you too soon, I am going to be right cranky.
Always,
Sirius
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Dear Ginny,
Right off, I want to thank you for your patience with me last year. You are a better friend to me than I deserve. Thanks, Ginny, really.
I want to ask your opinion about something difficult. Sirius left me some money, and I want to find a way to give 2,500 galleons to your parents. Do you have any ideas?
Your friend,
Harry
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Dear Harry,
Once I pick myself up off the floor and get my mouth to stay closed on its own, I will get back to you.
Although I expect you realize how Ron would react to this scheme, I still feel I should say that bringing Ron in on this would be a bad idea. So, not a word.
How are you, really? Don't dare lie to me, Harry, I'll know.
Not taking 'I'm fine' as an answer,
Ginny
And Harry, thank you.
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Dear Ginny,
Of course I agree—telling Ron is a very bad idea. I haven't told him about inheriting the Black fortune either.
As for me—well, I write letters. It helps to concentrate on stuff. The Dursleys' yard looks really good right now. I suppose five years of herbology wasn't a complete waste of time. Dumbledore had Madame Pomfrey send me a Dreaming Draught. Last night I dreamt about a whale in a tutu and woke myself up I was laughing so hard. Much better than dreaming about Lord Thingy or about long dark corridors.
What's bothering me? That's an awfully big question.
I miss him. Sirius, I mean. I got a letter he wrote in case something happened. It was hard to read. He left me with a bit of a puzzle, and I am working day and night to figure it out.
Then there's Voldemort. He's going to keep trying to kill me. That's basically what the prophecy was about. I always figured, deep down, that the Aurors or Dumbledore would get him, and all I had to do was survive until then. But I think it's going to come down to me and him. I just don't know what to do with that. Even now, I just sort of freeze up whenever I think about it. That's what happened when he showed up at the Ministry. I just stood there, too scared to move.
Tell Ron that I managed yellow today. He'll explain it.
Your friend,
Harry
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Figured out the password, did you?
Yes. I solemnly swear I seek Sirius fun. It took me a bit. What are you? Are you Sirius?
My name is Snuffles. I am not Sirius. He made me, but I am not he. I was told to say that right off.
So what are you?
A journal, sort of. You can write down entries and notes or talk with me. If you ever want to see any of it again, you can ask me to find it for you, and it will reappear. If you want to create an entry, just put a dot at the top of the page. A question mark will invoke me and we can have a chat.
Why did he wait to, er, die before giving this to me?
He put of good bit of his experiences and knowledge into me, as well as a small library's worth of information. He wanted me to give you advice when he was gone. I started out as a book called "A Guide to Extremely Exciting and Slightly Dangerous Activities."
So he was expecting to die.
He always knew that there was a high probability of something happening. The Ministry and Voldemort were after him, and other than a handful of witches and wizards, everyone thought him the most dangerous wizard alive.
How do you work, exactly?
Thinking about Riddle's diary, are you?
Yes.
I am text only. I can't possess people or provide a way for Sirius to come back or drag you into his memories.
How do I lock you?
selffuns
selffuns
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Harry,
I hate divination. Damn bloody drivel.
I talked to Bill about prophecies in general. He thinks trying to figure them out is a waste of time and is probably dangerous. That's what Tom did when he tried to kill you the first time, wasn't it? Ended by blowing himself up, didn't it? There's a lesson.
The package is an early birthday gift. No, I don't expect you to be playing with dolls at your age. Just touch the dolls head and say, "Practice session." The doll will enlarge to about six feet.
Sometimes, just beating the stuffing out of a dummy is very helpful. Since Ron is not available, I thought this might do.
Saying, "Session over," makes it shrink down to doll size. If you hand the dummy a stick, it will spar with you. If you say, "Ba Kua," it will show you that form.
I think I have a scheme to get the money to Mum and Dad. I have been writing to Luna. What do you think about them winning a Quibbler lottery?
Your friend,
Ginny
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Ginny,
Wow. That was an extremely cool present.
I haven't been able to spar much. There's not enough space in my room. But I am learning Ba Kua. It is hard and it exhausts me. That's good. You are oh so right about pounding a dummy.
I bullied Dudley into giving me the cricket bat he got for his thirteenth birthday. The last time he touched it was to throw it in his closet the day he got it. Whenever I am bored or getting angry, I just go to my room and give that dummy a few good wallops, and I start feeling a bit better.
The Quibbler—that's a grand idea.
Thank you,
Harry
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Harry,
It was nothing. It was mine. Charlie bought me three at a second-hand shop in Romania just before my second year. He figured I would eventually need to beat the hell out of something. "Better a dummy than your brothers," he told me. He was right.
Arrange to have the money transferred to Luna's vault, 631. She has her own. That's all you have to do.
Ginny
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Mr. Harry Potter
The Smallest Bedroom
Number Four Privet Drive
Little Whinging, Surry
Mr. Potter,
The Ministry of Magic is pleased to inform you that you have qualified at Ordinary Wizarding Levels.
Your OWLs were graded as follows:
Astronomy—P
Care of Magical Creatures—O
Charms—E
Defense Against the Darks Arts—O
Divination--P
Herbology--E
History of Magic--T
Potions—A
Transfiguration—E
Congratulations!
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Dear Professor Lupin,
I hope you are well, Professor. I want to ask you for a favor.
Could you arrange to have 2,500 galleons transferred from Vault 842 to Luna Lovegood's Vault (631)?
I am trying to give the Weasleys a bit of money. Please keep this to yourself. They deserve it. I can't do much, but I can do this. It's not charity, exactly, but I have more than I will ever need, and they have done their best to take care of me, and I feel like I should do what I can for them.
Your friend,
Harry Potter
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Harry,
Please call me Remus. Consider it done.
This is an extremely decent thing you are doing. I think you should tell the Weasleys, but I will hold this matter in the strictest confidence.
I am looking forward to seeing you in a few weeks,
Remus
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Harry,
Deatheaters destroyed the Burrow. None of us were there, of course. But it was rather a pointed message. Try to stay close to the Dursleys' house. We'll see you soon, I expect.
Take care,
Arthur Weasley
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Mr. Weasley,
I am so sorry to hear about the Burrow and very glad none of you were hurt. I hope Mrs. Weasley isn't too upset.
Sincerely,
Harry
To Be Continued