Author's Note: This is my first fanfic so bare with me for a bit. The
usual disclaimer, all characters are property of J.K. Rowlings, etc.
Harry sighed sadly; looking longingly out his small window with Hedwig perched lightly on his shoulder, he thought about his Sirius, and wishing for about the hundredth time that he was still here. Sure, he had family still living, that is, if you can call the Dursleys family. Sirius was like a father to him and because of his stupid mistake, Harry's 'adopted' father was dead. Cursing at himself, startling Hedwig with a sudden movement, he threw a large potions book across the room, landing on the floor with a loud slam.
"BOY!!!!" Was the next thing he heard along with a charging up the stairs as his Uncle blasted into the room with a seething look on his face. "You! How dare you destroy my house with that...that bloody school book of yours!" Vernon snarled, glowering at him for a few more minutes until he left the room with a huff. Harry breathed again, having had to keep his emotions under control, lest have another Aunt Marge incident. Every time that blasted man showed his face in the room, Harry continually found himself on the brink of doing more underage magic. And with his record, he didn't feel that the Ministry would appreciate this too much.
The clock chimed, alerting the black haired boy that it had just turned midnight, and July 31st at that. A slight smile appeared on his face, realizing he might finally get some news from his friends who seemed to think he'd disappeared off the face of the planet and hadn't sent any owls. "Maybe someone will finally decide to pick us up out of this heck hole..." Harry mused to his faithful owl, stroking her soft white feathers. She nibbled on a finger, her way of showing she cared. Feeling at least a glimmer of hope, he settled back on his bed and let the darkness over take him.
The next morning he was awoken by the hootings of several owls. One he recognized right away as being Pig and had a large package attached to his leg. Professor Lupin...Remus often used another he'd remembered, Harry had to remind himself. At the end of the school year last summer, Remus had asked to be called by his first name, since he wasn't a professor anymore. The peck of owls in his room were hooting shrilly, and he had to grab more water and owl treats to make sure they wouldn't cause too much ruckus, or his Uncle might do something drastic with that blasted rifle he had.
All the owls waited their turn to have the packages removed and a few took off while the rest remained in his room, recovering from long trips. "Let's see what we have here..." Harry mumbled to himself, opening the one from Ron first. His eyes lighted up as he saw a picture of the Weasley family waving at him in the card. Inside the wrapping contained a birthday cake, expertly baked by Mrs. Weasley herself and a large sampler of Weasley' Wizard Wheezes from Ron, Ginny and the twins. He grinned and wished he would've had these when the old hag, Umbridge was still around. Glancing around, the large brown owl he had seen before landed on his shoulder and hooted towards the present from Remus. Harry found a large book on something he'd desperately wanted: How to Become an Animagus. "Thanks man..."
Hermione's parcel had of course another study aid, hoping this year he'd remember to do some of his homework on time. Horror came across his face as he realized that they weren't going to all be in the same classes this year as he was dropping a few and most likely so was she and wouldn't be able to copy her notes. He stashed the little kit of supplies into his trunk, guessing he'd actually need it this year.
More gifts piled up on his bed as he unwrapped them. From Tonks he received a huge book on curses and hexes that he desperately wanted to try out on Dudley, including one that would make him sport a large pig nose for a few days. Moody sent along a larger, working Sneak-O-Scope, which Harry immediately stuffed into an old shirt before it could start spinning madly. "Gotta love Moody and not trusting anything..." Hagrid, and only Hagrid would think to give Harry his next gift, a young wolf cub. "Good lord man. What on earth am I supposed to think of that?!" He sighed, trying to keep the cub from whimpering. "Maybe Remus would enjoy your company more than I..."
A few books and Weasley samplers later, Harry came across a strange bird that he hadn't noticed before. It was a bluish-black raven with a small package on its leg. Confused, since he couldn't think of anyone else he'd be receiving a present from, he opened the present, which contained some very special and hard to come by potion ingredients. "Who...?" He thought, picking up the attached letter.
Happy Birthday Harry. Use the enclosed gift well.
Harry was bewildered. Who was it from? And what did they mean by use it well? He sighed, slumping back down on his bed for awhile, trying to figure out where he'd seen that familiar handwriting before.
Harry sighed sadly; looking longingly out his small window with Hedwig perched lightly on his shoulder, he thought about his Sirius, and wishing for about the hundredth time that he was still here. Sure, he had family still living, that is, if you can call the Dursleys family. Sirius was like a father to him and because of his stupid mistake, Harry's 'adopted' father was dead. Cursing at himself, startling Hedwig with a sudden movement, he threw a large potions book across the room, landing on the floor with a loud slam.
"BOY!!!!" Was the next thing he heard along with a charging up the stairs as his Uncle blasted into the room with a seething look on his face. "You! How dare you destroy my house with that...that bloody school book of yours!" Vernon snarled, glowering at him for a few more minutes until he left the room with a huff. Harry breathed again, having had to keep his emotions under control, lest have another Aunt Marge incident. Every time that blasted man showed his face in the room, Harry continually found himself on the brink of doing more underage magic. And with his record, he didn't feel that the Ministry would appreciate this too much.
The clock chimed, alerting the black haired boy that it had just turned midnight, and July 31st at that. A slight smile appeared on his face, realizing he might finally get some news from his friends who seemed to think he'd disappeared off the face of the planet and hadn't sent any owls. "Maybe someone will finally decide to pick us up out of this heck hole..." Harry mused to his faithful owl, stroking her soft white feathers. She nibbled on a finger, her way of showing she cared. Feeling at least a glimmer of hope, he settled back on his bed and let the darkness over take him.
The next morning he was awoken by the hootings of several owls. One he recognized right away as being Pig and had a large package attached to his leg. Professor Lupin...Remus often used another he'd remembered, Harry had to remind himself. At the end of the school year last summer, Remus had asked to be called by his first name, since he wasn't a professor anymore. The peck of owls in his room were hooting shrilly, and he had to grab more water and owl treats to make sure they wouldn't cause too much ruckus, or his Uncle might do something drastic with that blasted rifle he had.
All the owls waited their turn to have the packages removed and a few took off while the rest remained in his room, recovering from long trips. "Let's see what we have here..." Harry mumbled to himself, opening the one from Ron first. His eyes lighted up as he saw a picture of the Weasley family waving at him in the card. Inside the wrapping contained a birthday cake, expertly baked by Mrs. Weasley herself and a large sampler of Weasley' Wizard Wheezes from Ron, Ginny and the twins. He grinned and wished he would've had these when the old hag, Umbridge was still around. Glancing around, the large brown owl he had seen before landed on his shoulder and hooted towards the present from Remus. Harry found a large book on something he'd desperately wanted: How to Become an Animagus. "Thanks man..."
Hermione's parcel had of course another study aid, hoping this year he'd remember to do some of his homework on time. Horror came across his face as he realized that they weren't going to all be in the same classes this year as he was dropping a few and most likely so was she and wouldn't be able to copy her notes. He stashed the little kit of supplies into his trunk, guessing he'd actually need it this year.
More gifts piled up on his bed as he unwrapped them. From Tonks he received a huge book on curses and hexes that he desperately wanted to try out on Dudley, including one that would make him sport a large pig nose for a few days. Moody sent along a larger, working Sneak-O-Scope, which Harry immediately stuffed into an old shirt before it could start spinning madly. "Gotta love Moody and not trusting anything..." Hagrid, and only Hagrid would think to give Harry his next gift, a young wolf cub. "Good lord man. What on earth am I supposed to think of that?!" He sighed, trying to keep the cub from whimpering. "Maybe Remus would enjoy your company more than I..."
A few books and Weasley samplers later, Harry came across a strange bird that he hadn't noticed before. It was a bluish-black raven with a small package on its leg. Confused, since he couldn't think of anyone else he'd be receiving a present from, he opened the present, which contained some very special and hard to come by potion ingredients. "Who...?" He thought, picking up the attached letter.
Happy Birthday Harry. Use the enclosed gift well.
Harry was bewildered. Who was it from? And what did they mean by use it well? He sighed, slumping back down on his bed for awhile, trying to figure out where he'd seen that familiar handwriting before.