It was one of the coldest summers the residents of Privet Drive could remember. The wind was blowing hard and the sky was full of dark clouds that were just about to start pouring rain. Almost everyone was inside waiting for the huge storm to begin. The only person left outside was a teenage boy with pitch-black hair, remarkable green eyes and a scar on his forehead that was now completely covered with his unruly hair. He sat on one of the last playground-swings, which survived the attack of Dudley and his gang, before they were captured by police and took in for questioning. He had an absent-minded gaze, like if he was stuck in another world invisible to the passer-bys.
Although the Dursley's weren't treating him badly this summer (they even bought him clothes of his own size), especially after the fiasco with their son, he looked underfed and worn-down. He spent the first 4 weeks almost constantly in his bedroom gazing at nowhere and going out only once a day for a small meal along with taking a shower. However, on the fifth week he had to change his daily routine, since the Dursley's became suspicious and started asking him funny questions.
Thoughtfully, he kicked a small stone. What had happened? He thought about all that had happened since the department of mysteries incident. Why had he been so blind? Why hadn't he seen through it?? It was as if he was an animal and Voldemort a poacher who laid a bait...
"However it won't happen ever again. This time I'll be prepared. No, I'll be the one who will strike this time. Voldemort won't stand a chance..."he thought. But then a small voice crept into his mind and said: "You fool, do you really think that it will be that easy?? And what if you die? Do you want all your friends and loved ones to be set adrift to this inhuman, foul creature?" "No," he realized "I'll be here for them. I'll protect them against this evil. Even if I had to sacrifice myself for them, I would."
He withdrew his wand since he heard something, but it was only a cat. Harry remembered once seeing Sirius as a shaggy black dog hereabouts. This memory brought up the unshed tears he held back for so long. He cried freely as the first big drops started falling to the ground. He had no idea when he came back home, exhausted and soaked right through. The last thing he remembered, before he felt asleep, was falling on a pillow with a thought of revenge.
The next day he woke up feeling a lot better. It was actually the first day of summer he wasn't blaming himself for the death of his godfather, Sirius Black. He did a lot of thinking previous night and finally realized, that it was nobody's but Bellatrix Lestrange's fault.
Sirius Black was a convicted murderer who escaped from the wizarding prison Azkaban and was generally known as a great supporter of Tom Riddle AKA Lord Voldemort. However, Harry and few others like Albus Dumbledore or the members of the Order of the Phoenix knew that Sirius was an innocent man. The actual murderer was Peter Pettigrew, who blew up an overcrowded street in London packed up with muggles and faked his own death. He was the traitor, the one who sold the Potters to Voldemort and was currently the number one on Order's list, since if they capture him; Sirius's name would be cleared. Order of the Phoenix was a secret society that fought against people in league with Voldemort, its founder was Dumbledore himself.
Although he got up pretty early, even on his own standards, he felt relaxed and well rested. He decided to do a bit of homework. He had already finished his homework in DADA so he moved to his second beloved subject, Charms. He read the task: "Write a ten feet essay about shielding charms and how and when they can be used in a battle." "That's strange" Harry thought "it looks more like a DADA task...On the other hand, we didn't proceed much further last year with that Umbridge woman. Flitwick is probably trying to cover up the last year's curriculum. Hum...it looks like Dumbledore has a hand in this."
He opened his book and started copying down especially long looking paragraph. At half past seven he descended down the stairs to the kitchen. As he was eating, a bran owl came soaring through a window. "The list of supplies came pretty early this year,"he thought, but then it hit him "OWL's" he whispered and gulped hard. That was the moment, when his future career as an Auror would be decided. He opened the letter and it read:
Dear Mr. Potter,
We would like to offer you our congratulations on receiving such a great amount of OWL's. Professor McGonagall attached a list of classes you were accepted in. Please choose wisely and send it back with your decision.
Have a nice summer!
Best wishes,
Mafalda Crookpost
Harry couldn't believe his eyes as he continued reading:
DADA- Practical: O
Theoretical: O Plus one O for an outstanding demonstration of the Patronus Charm
Transfiguration- Practical: O
Theoretical: O-
Charms- Practical: O
Theoretical: O
Herbology- Practical: EE
Theoretical: O-
Potions- Practical: O-
Theoretical: EE
History of Magic- A
Care of Magical Creatures- Practical: O
Theoretical: O-
Divination- Practical: A-
Theoretical: P
Astronomy- Practical: A-
Theoretical: A
Total: 18 OWL's
Harry truly couldn't believe his luck, and he's got O- in Potions...that means... "No, that can't be true, I am able to become a fully qualified Auror!!! Yeah! " After that realization he opened the enclosed letter from his Head of the House, it read:
Dear Mr. Potter,
Firstly, I would like to congratulate you on your marvelous results. I am, happy to let you know, that the Headmaster agreed on lifting your lifetime ban on playing Quidditch. So I took the liberty of filling you into the position of team's seeker once again. I also made you a captain, because I know you'll do great. However, I suggest giving an assistant to captain position to Ronald Weasley. I have a feeling that he'll come with great tactics, since he's so good at strategy. The other reason is that we don't want to overwhelm you with duties. You've got already a great burden on your shoulders.
"They don't want to overwhelm me. That's nice from them,"mocked Harry sourly. Yet, the letter continued:
Professor Dumbledore also thinks, that you should study Occlumency once again. Although you can't be possessed by Voldemort now, he is still capable of hurting you psychically as well as other Dark wizards. So he urges you to practice relaxation and clearing your mind before going to bed. Try to loosen yourself from everything.
As to something more cheerful, we do believe that we'll be taking you from your aunt and uncle's house by the end of the upcoming week, please be ready by then. Finally, I enclosed a list of classes you are capable of attending. You will be definitely more than pleased, that you were accepted into Potions, so your carrier as an Auror is not endangered. I have already enrolled you at the Auror Institute of England and they'll observe your progress. If they are satisfied with you, they'll accept you. That reminds me, that Professor Dumbledore thinks you should take the classes of Arithmancy, too, although you haven't been taking it before. The books will be provided today, so you'll be able study hard and catch up quickly with others.
I hope that's all for now, be careful and please, don't do anything reckless!
Minerva McGonagall Deputy headmistress
"She sounds like Moody. Constant vigilance!" With that he finished up his breakfast and went back to his room, where he answered few letters from his friends and wrote one to Moody saying everything's OK and Dursley's aren't treating him badly. After that, he thought a small walk would do him good so he went out. As he was walking to his favourite place, he noticed a small boy appeared suddenly out of nowhere right in front of him.
