OpinionsDecisionsChanges Ch 1- Monday, June 17, 1996, a harry potter fanfic

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, that is JKR privilege, but I do enjoy playing in her playground sometimes. I believe JKR definitely had it in mind for Hermione and Ron, and Harry and Ginny to be couples, and if following canon that would be what I would write. But personally I like H/Hr, and so in my fantasy that is who I will put together. As for Ron and Ginny, I am not sure who they will be with yet, maybe no one, maybe someone from my imagination.

OPINIONS, DECISIONS…CHANGES

CHAPTER 1 - MONDAY, JUNE 17, 1996

4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surry

Harry awoke slowly. He had been back on Privet Drive for a whole week now. He knew what the day would be, the same as it had been for the past three weeks. He would listen to the world passing by on the outside while he was slowing dying on the inside. His one chance at finally getting away from Privet Drive had been taken from him by the same ones that had caused him to be here in the first place.

Harry was grieving, but what was he grieving for? Was he grieving for his godfather, Sirius, or was he grieving for his lost opportunity, or was he grieving for himself? He had never been in a situation like this before. He had never had someone or something to care about and grieve for. It was a new sensation to him and therefore one that he was not sure of, one he didn't know how to explain to himself. And with the life he had had up to this point one he didn't understand.

When Harry reached over and put his glasses on he realized he was not alone. The first thing he noticed was that Hedwig had already returned from her nightly hunting. But she was not alone. Sitting with her was a beautiful tawny owl, could have been her twin had it been white. They were sitting quite comfortably together on her perch waiting for Harry to notice them. When they knew he was fully awake the visiting owl flew over to his bed and held out his leg. Harry removed the letter and then expected the owl to fly off, but he joined Hedwig back on her perch. Obviously he was waiting for a reply.

Harry wondered who would be writing him in such an official looking capacity, he didn't recognize the seal on the letter as he opened it.

Mr. Harry J. Potter

Your presence is requested at the reading of the Will of Mr. Sirius Orion Black on June 18, 1996 at 10 a.m. Please reply by return owl if you will be attending this meeting. If an escort is needed to get you to Gringotts please indicate thus with your reply, and someone will pick you up at 9:45 a.m.

Ragnok

Gringotts Manager

Well, this was most unexpected. Harry had not thought about the fact that Sirius would have a Will. Truth be told, Harry had never known anyone who had a Will, and he certainly had never been to a reading of a Will before. Tomorrow was going to be a different sort of day for Harry. He penned a reply in the positive on both accounts, yes he would like to attend the reading, and yes he would need an escort. If possible, could Griphook be his escort?

(ASIDE BY THE AUTHOR: While Harry comes to grips with this new piece of information let us check in on other parts of Wizarding and muggle Britain).

Windsor, Berkshire

Hermione Granger woke with a start. Something was knocking on her window. But nothing could be knocking on her window; she was on the first floor*. Hermione grabbed her wand and sprang out of bed pointing it at the window only to see a tawny owl sitting there pecking on the window. She didn't recognize the owl, but it certainly was beautiful. She opened her window and the owl hopped in and held out its leg. Hermione detached the letter and then waited for the owl to take off, but if just sat there looking at her with its beautiful golden eyes.

Ms. Hermione J. Granger

Ragnok

Gringotts Manager

No one could have been more surprised than Hermione to receive such a letter. She had only known Sirius for a short time and had only met him three times and yet here she was being invited to his Will reading. While she had never been to a Will reading before she did know that the only reason she would be invited was if she was a named beneficiary. Hermione immediately began to formulate a reply. She would very much like to attend the reading of the Will, and yes she would need an escort to the bank tomorrow. But before she sent her reply off she thought she might ought to double check with her parents that they were okay with her traveling to Diagon Alley tomorrow. She turned back to the beautiful own, "I'll be right back with your reply."

Hermione went downstairs and found her mother in the kitchen just finishing up her coffee. Mrs. Granger sat and listened quietly as Hermione explained about the letter she had just received and then went on to explain what little she knew about Sirius Black. Mrs. Granger was impressed that someone would include Hermione in their Will on such a short acquaintance. Hermione expressed her thoughts that most likely he was just going to leave her some books from his library as he knew how much she liked to read and do research. And with what Harry was facing he knew that Harry would need all the help he could get in the next year and she figured this was what he was doing, trying to give Harry all the help he could. Mrs. Granger was fine with Hermione attending the reading of the Will, but she would prefer if either she or her dad could attend with her. As she left the kitchen she noticed some bacon crumbs on the plate on the table and grabbed those, she remembered how much Hedwig always enjoyed them. So Hermione went back upstairs and added this note to the letter she was returning to Ragnok at Gringotts, then she sent the owl on its way. Then Hermione thought, 'Note to self - while in Diagon Alley tomorrow pick up some owl treats.'

Meanwhile, in other parts of Britain that morning similar letters were being delivered to all those that had been near and dear to the heart of Sirius and some who were just greedy, but had to be acknowledged.

Harry didn't bother to tell his relatives that he would be out the next morning. They were ignoring him completely so far this summer and that was just fine with him. They never bothered to tell him they were leaving so he would extend to them the same courtesy. Harry knew he needed something decent to wear tomorrow, so later in the morning after he heard his uncle leave for work and his aunt and Dudley leave for places unknown Harry let himself out of his bedroom and went outside. He debated on whether to go to Mrs. Figg's and use her Floo to get to Diagon Alley or summoning the Knight Bus. Neither option was a very attractive one to him at the moment, but in the end he decided a quick Floo trip was more desirable than a possible long ride on the Knight Bus on his empty stomach.

Harry hadn't take two steps down the sidewalk when he heard, "Wotcher, Harry!" He spun around and had his wand in hand before he recognized the greeting. Luckily for Tonks he realized who it was before he fired off the stunner that was on his lips. He had forgotten that he always had a watcher during the summer. Quickly getting over her initial surprise, "Where are you off to this morning, Harry."

"Need to get to Diagon Alley and get something decent to wear to the reading of Sirius's Will tomorrow. Wanna go with?"

"Sure, I got one of those letters myself this morning. But I just thought I would wear my auror dress robes. But I would be happy to help you shop. Let's go." Then a thought occurred to her, where was he going? "Speaking of going, where are we going?"

"To Mrs. Figg's to use her Floo."

"Oh, that won't be necessary, I can side-along apparate us to the Leaky Cauldron." Not waiting for a reply she took Harry's arm and they were gone. Considering how clumsy Tonks seemed to be on her feet, she was amazing good at apparition. For Harry this was his first trip by apparition, and it wasn't too bad, if you didn't mind being squeezed through a straw and having your breath taken away at the same time. The landing was definitely better than coming out of a Floo or letting go of a portkey. But all in all, he still preferred traveling by broom.

First stop, Leaky Cauldron for some breakfast. Harry had enough money left in his money sac to treat himself and Tonks to a good breakfast before starting their shopping. After a typical breakfast fry-up of eggs, bacon, sausage, and muffins, they headed to Gringotts to replenish Harry's money bag. After a wild ride to visit his vault he and Tonks stopped in at Madame Malkin's for a new set of dress robes. Harry had actually grown a few inches over the last two years since he had purchased dress robes. There was quite a variety to chose from, styles, colors, and materials. In the end Harry was certainly glad he had Tonks along with him. While her personal style was a little eclectic for him, she really did have good taste when it came to helping him choose. In the end Harry selected two sets of dress robes, a dark steele gray and a deep green trimmed with emerald. The second set of robes was insisted on by Tonks because they would 'highlight his eyes' so well. After robe shopping Harry decided that he really needed some decent clothes to wear under the robes and at times when he wasn't wearing his robes, so they decided to go to Harrods in downtown London. There was a direct Floo connection from Gringotts so the two of them went back there to take advantage of the direct connection. Upon arrival in Harrods Harry and Tonks were able to find everything he could possible need for the rest of the summer.

By the time Harry was completely outfitted with a new summer wardrobe it was decidedly lunch time, so Harry treated Tonks to lunch. They found an Italian restaurant near Harrods and since Tonks had never had Italian before they elected to go there. As it happens, it was a Pizza Hut, also something Harry had never been to before, although he had smelled the pizza when his uncle would bring one home for supper for the family, of course, him not being considered family, he had not been allowed to eat any of the pizza, only smell it from his cupboard under the stairs.

After lunch Harry insisted that Tonks allow him to buy her something as a thank you for accompanying him and for all her help that day. She finally agreed on a necklace of peridot and jade gemstones. Now it was time to return to Diagon Alley to pick up the dress robes from Madam Malkin's and then the return trip to Privet Drive.

After a quick trip back to Harrods and then Gringotts and a dash down the alley to Madam Malkin's Harry and Tonks returned to Privet Drive just in time for Harry to run back into his room before his aunt returned. Not that she would have noticed that he was gone, but he didn't want to have to answer any questions if she caught him coming back in carrying packages.

A/N: * In Britain the first floor is called the ground floor, and what in the U.S. would be the 2nd floor is called the first floor, therefore technically, Hermione's bedroom is on the 2nd floor of their home.