Harry Potter Book Five

Chapter 1 - In which Harry turns 15

It had been quite an uneventful summer for Harry, when all was said and done. The muggle newspapers were unusually quiet, but mostly no one worried, although, since the Dursleys had found out about Sirius, he had been allowed to let Hedwig out of her cage. He had been getting frequent post from Ron, Hermione, Hagrid and Sirius. In short, the whole world seemed to want to keep tabs on him. Sometimes he felt re-assured by this, but mostly he felt rather annoyed, he could take care of himself couldn't he? He had managed it many times before, and he had survived. Only Ron and Hermione's letters were interesting from a friendly point of view. Hermione's letters usually went along the lines of:

Dear Harry,

How are you getting along with the homework? I've nearly done my transfiguration essay, although I did get out some extra books from the library in Kroncurck Lane, it's a street off Diagon Alley, I found it when my parents and I went shopping, I think it might only be real if you know where to look. I checked my robes, and I need some new ones, as I've grown a whole inch, it's really nice not being quite so small, but now none of my robes fit. Do you want to meet me and Ron in Diagon Alley to get your books later in the summer? I'll keep in touch, and ask Ron when he's free.

See you Soon, I hope - Hermione.

Ron's letters on the other hand were more about Quidditch:

Harry,

I went to see the Chudley Cannons play last week, I wish you could've been there, we lost by a load, but it was fun going.

It was a standing joke in the wizarding world that the Chudley Cannons were the worst team that had ever got backing, people went to see by how many points they would lose. It was widely believed that Hell would have snow-cones before they ever won another match.

I wanted Dad to kidnap you again, like we did last year, but he said that one CC match wasn't the same as the World Cup. Who do you think will be the new Gryffindor Captain? My money's on Angelina, but it could be Katie. Do we know who's going to be the new keeper yet? I need new books, and I want to try and stay out of Fred and George's way, they've been working on stuff all over the summer. I just know it, but they've got really good at hiding stuff in case of Mum and I can't prove anything. Hermione wrote and said that she needed new robes, so I think we should do a shopping trip to Diagon Alley again, I'm going to ask Dad if it's okay. She also keeps mentioning schoolwork, which creeps me out, she seems to be doing so much, and I haven't really done anything, I'm worried now, what if I fail all my OWLs? Help!

See you soon - Ron.

He laughed whilst reading Ron's letter, and felt a stab of sorrow that he probably wouldn't be allowed to see Ron, or for that measure, Hermione, for the entire summer. However, once he realised that if he asked enough times he would probably nag his uncle into submission Harry felt better. The letters had, in a roundabout way, made him feel better, as they seemed to be trying to cheer him up rather than make sure he was okay. Letters from Sirius all talked of how he wished that he could see Harry, and how he hoped that Harry was safe and well living with the Dursleys. A letter from Hagrid mostly consisted of scrawled notes about how he and Fang were doing, and how he wasn't afraid of You-Know-Who. Also how Harry should keep up his spirits for school as it would be an interesting place this year. He only ever hinted and although he had asked his friends, both Ron and Hermione were also in the dark. It was now 3:30 on the morning of July the 31st, so Harry put the letters back in their pillowcase and into the hole under his bed. He lay with his eyes open for a while, merely staring at the ceiling above his bed, letting his thoughts swirl around. Finally, he turned out the light, and, after thinking to himself for another minute, he slowly fell into a deep sleep, one thought rolling round his head, "I'm 15 today."