Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Summary : Post OotP, Harry 6th year at Hogwarts. A new adventure for Harry. He has to deal with the death of his godfather, and the fact that the fate of the wizarding world is in his hands. Romance, quidditch, terror and Potion classes await for Harry. Please R&R! No Slash!
Disclaimer : I do not own anything about Harry Potter. It all belongs to JK.Rowling. If I did own Harry, I would have married him and would be rolling in millions of dollars.
Chapter 1 : The Not-So Happy Birthday
Little Whinging had never seen this much rain before. It had been raining for almost a week now, and it showed no sign of stopping. The rain hammered on the windows of number 4, Privet Drive, where a skinny, bespectacled, teenage boy with jet-black hair and intense green eyes slept uncomfortably. The weather was matching the boy's feelings; sad and angry. As the storm raged on, the boy began to stir from his sleep. That's what he did most of the day, sleep. He wouldn't eat very much, making him thinner than usual. He would not leave his room often, only to go to the bathroom. The Dursleys did not question his behavior. They noticed since he came home from his "freak" school that he was not the same. It was almost like he was not even in the house, they would rarely see him. Aunt Petunia even took pity on him and would occasionaly give him some of Dudley's leftover food, which she pushed threw the cat-flap on his bedroom door. But the boy would not eat it, he would just give it to his owl, Hedwig. He felt like he didn't deserve to eat. The boy would sleep for a few hours at a time, and when he did, he would be haunted by nightmares. Nightmares of his dead godfather, the only real father figure he ever had, nightmares of Lord Voldemort, and nightmares of his prophecy, his duty in life. The sake of the wizarding world was in his hands, and this was beginning to be too much pressure for a soon to be 16 year old teenage boy. All he wanted was to live a normal life, one where he wouldn't hold the fate of so many lives. But Harry Potter wasn't a normal boy. He was the boy who lived, the boy with no parents, the boy with no family. Harry even began to wish that he wasn't a wizard, and that the Dursleys should have sent him to Stonewall high school. He didn't want to live this life anymore.
It was 11 :00 pm when Harry woke. He had just been dreaming of Sirius falling threw the veil again. That image would not erase from his head, no matter how much he tried. Harry missed him more than words could say, and it was all his fault, according to him. If he hadn't been so stupid to believe Voldemort's trap, he would have been having a nice summer with his godfather at number 12 Grimmauld place. Harry would cry a lot too, just as he was at the present moment, when an owl tapped on the window. He was hoping it was Hedwig, since she had been gone for a week, and he was getting worried that she would get injured during the storm. To his relief, it was her, and he quickly opened the window to let her in. Just as he was about to close it, 3 more owls flew in, all looking very wet and unhappy, except for one, which zoomed around Harry's head. He closed the window to prevent the rain from coming in and began at once to take all the letters and parcels from their legs, and then wondered why he was getting all this post. It finally came to him, and he ran to his calander. In about an hour, it would be July 31st, his birthday. The large barn owl, which Harry knew was from Hogwarts, began tapping the window impatiantly, wishing to get out. Harry opened the window again and the owl headed back into the storm. Harry then took a look to see who the other two owls were. Harry knew at once the one who was flying around his head was Pig, his best friend Ron Weasley's owl. The other one, which had now passed out due to the long journey was the Weasley's family owl, Errol. Harry then turned his attention to the letters and parcels on his bed. He picked up the first one, which was from Ron.
Hey Mate! Happy Birthday! I haven't heard from you in a while. Are you O.K? Please write more often! Mom's in a right state about you. She wanted you to come straight with us for summer vacation, but Dumbledore told her to wait. I expect that you'll be with us soon. We're at Headquaters right now, I've only been at the Burrow for one day! Hermoine arrived a few days ago, Dumbledore thought that this would be the safest place for her since she's muggle-born and she would be the first target. Please write back, I really want to hear from you, we all do. Hope you enjoy the gifts, and Happy Birthday again.
Ron
P.S. Please give some food to Errol. I think he's close to dying, God knows he's survived long.
Harry picked up Ron's gift. He pulled off the brown paper and saw that Ron sent him a big box of Honeydukes best chocolate, and a bag of dungbombs, no doubt from Fred and George's joke shop.
He then turned his attention to what Errol had delievered. It was a small cake, which has written "Happy Birthday Harry!" across it in green, and a hand-knitted sweater from Mrs.Weasley with a "H" on it. He then took the letter and parcels that Hedwig had delievred. Immediately, he recognized the handwritting. It was from his other best friend, Hermoine Granger. Then he also noticed that the parcel was shapped like a book. Typical Hermoine, the book worm.
Dear Harry, Happy Birthday! How are you? Ron and I are worried sick about you. Please send a return owl! I know that you might be feeling sad these days, but please don't let that prevent you from writing to your friends. I've been here at Headquarters for about 2 days now, under Dumbledore's orders. My parents weren't too happy, but they want me safe. I hope they send our Hogwarts letters soon, I can wait to find out the results from our O.W.L's! I hope you enjoy my gift, and we will be seeing you soon. Happy Birhtday!
Love, Hermoine
P.S. Remember, never put valuable or important information in letters, they can still get intercepted!
Harry ripped the paper off the parcel and to no surprise it was a book. It was a book about being an Auror. Normally, Harry would have been very happy with it, but now, knowing that he might not even live to see his next birthday, he threw the book into his opened school trunk. Harry noticed that Hedwig also brought something else, which looked like another book. He opened it, where a birthday card attached to a book called "How to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts". He opened the card, where a little note was written.
Happy Birthday Harry. Hope all is well. I'll be seeing you soon. I will owl you when I will come to pick you up. Don't do anything rash, and Mad-Eye told me to tell you CONSTANT VIGILANCE. I'll talk more to you when I see you, we have a lot to discuss. If the muggles are not treating you well, please let us know and we will take care of it.
Lupin
He had not been expecting anything from Lupin, but it did make him feel better that he was still around. He would be the only thing now to be like a father or family member to him. But, like Hermoine's gift, he threw the book in his trunk as well. It was just another ugly reminder of Hogwarts and he seriously wondered if people would still want to continue with the DA. He then turned his attention to what the Hogwarts' owl brought. He picked up a tiny, thin parcel and ripped off the paper. A letter fell out, but he ignored it. His eyes were glued to the thing he was holding in his hands. It was a frame, with a picture of the Maurauders and his mother, all smiling and waving happily to Harry from the Gryffindor Common Room. His father, James, and his mother, Lily, were sitting on the couch, holding hands, beaming up at him. A younger looking Sirius and Lupin waved at him. Sirius was sporting a sly smile, while Lupin held a book under his arm. Then there was the weasel, Wormtail, aka. Peter Pettigrew. He gave Harry a quick smile before turning around every 5 seconds to check if Sirius was giving him bunny ears. Actually, Sirius was doing that, but he always took them off before Peter turned around. Tears were beginning to form in his eyes, but he quickly picked up the note. It was from Hagrid.
Happy Birthday Harry! Hope the muggles are treating ya well. Thought ya might like this. Found it in an old box in one of the storage rooms. Write soon, Hagrid.
Harry set the picture down on the small night table in his room, and gazed at it, wishing he could be sitting with them. He then noticed he still had one letter left, which was from Hogwarts. He tore it opened and he began to read.
Dear Mr. Potter,
The following letter is to inform you on your O.W.L. results, and your list of books that you will require for you N.E.W.T. classes. Please note that the train to Hogwarts will leave on Setember 1st, on Platform 9¾ at King's Cross Station. Hope you enjoy the remainder of your holidays, and congratulations on your O.W.L's.
Yours truly,
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
O.W.L results :
Transfiguration : E
Potions : E
Charms : E
History of Magic : P
Divinations : A
Defense Against The Dark Arts : O
Herbology : O
Care of Magical Creatures : O
Astronomy : A
Book list :
Please ask for the following subjects in N.E.W.T class form at Flourish and Bolts, in Diagon Alley. It will be required for the following N.E.W.T. classes; Transfiguration, Potions, Herbology, Care of Magical Creatures, Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts. If you wish to continue Divinations, please send a return owl no later that August 2nd, and purchase the N.E.W.T. book as well.
Harry was amazed. He didn't think he did so well. With 6 N.E.W.T. classes, he felt like Hermoine. But he wouldn't be surprised if she got Outstanding for each subject. The most shocking was Potions, he thought for sure Snape would have failed him. Also, they wanted to know if he wanted to take Divination again. "Ha!" he thought, "as if!" He then noticed a little note at the bottom of his book list.
Harry, please get "Occlumency for Advanced Minds", I wish for you to continue classes. You will need it. – Professor Dumbledore.
He looked at the handwritting angrily. Professor Dumbledore wasn't someone he wanted to hear from. He was still very angry with him. Also, he didn't want to have Snape looking into his memories anymore, which made him even more angry. He hastily took all the letters and gifts he had received, except the photo, and threw it all in the trunk. He didn't want to hear from anyone. He just wanted to be left alone. No one understood what he was feeling, and he didn't care if they did or not. He didn't even sent out any post since he came back to Privet Drive, except a quickly scribbled note to the Order to let them know that he was OK and that no one had to come to check up on him. Hermoine and Ron didn't know about the Prophecy, and he was only going to tell them when he had to. He didn't want it to be another thing that poor Harry has to worry about. He didn't need any pity from anyone.
The three owls were fast asleep, and Harry checked his watch. It was already ten past midnight. He had been officially 16 for a whole ten minutes. But to Harry, it did not feel like his birthday. There was nothing happy about it. He then fell back onto his bed, and went into another restless sleep.
Next chapter : When Snape meets Vernon, will be posted very soon! Please review! It's my first fanfict! Thanks! - SunFactoryGirl
