Chapter 1

Back At The Dursleys

As he looked out of his bedroom window into the night sky, slowly the warm summer rain began to fall. Softly hitting the parched ground it gradually began to fall faster and louder until only the sound of the water landing filled the air. Bouncing off the dustbin with a metal ping it reminded Harry of a Western film where the cowboys were shooting at one another and a bullet hit a tin can.

Coming back and staying with the Dursley's once more meant that yet again Harry Potter was on his summer holiday. He was waiting to start his sixth year at Hogwarts and was just thinking about how quickly the last five years had flown by when the rain had started.

Harry could hear his great oaf of an Uncle snoring loudly in the bedroom further down the landing, muttering to himself every now and again.

"Owls, every time of the day and night…That boy…"

Harry sighed, put his head back in his hands and rested upon the windowsill. He was still waiting for his Snowy owl Hedwig to return with a letter from his friend Ron Weasley. It had been two days now, which was an unusually long time for Hedwig to take.

It had only been five years since he started at Hogwarts, but Harry had learnt so much about a world he didn't even know existed until his eleventh birthday. Now he was nearly sixteen; his birthday was tomorrow. Not that he had anything to look forward to though. Despite Mad-Eye Moody's warning at the end of last year to his Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia to treat him better, there hadn't been a huge turn around in their treatment of him. Petunia had increased the size of Harry's portions at meal times and his Uncle Vernon had stopped making him do all the chores around the house, but they all still ignored him and spoke about him like he was a freak. This didn't bother Harry though, as he rather enjoyed his own company at the moment.

Since his godfather's death at the end of last school year Harry hadn't really had time to just sit and think about the whole situation. He had been kept rather busy with a battle for his life against Voldemort and learning of the prophecy that explained why Voldemort was out to get him. Life was certainly never dull for Harry Potter.

Startled, Harry jumped back from the window as Hedwig came soaring through carrying a letter round her right leg. She gracefully landed on her perch and started to make soft cooing sounds eyeing Harry up for some food.
"Here you are girl," Harry said softly, putting some scraps of bread he'd saved especially for her into her bowl. Taking the letter off her leg he jumped back onto his bed and unrolled the parchment.

Harry!

If we've timed this right then – HAPPY BIRTHDAY mate!! Sorry I took so long to respond to your letter but Ginny insisted we kept Hedwig here for a while so she would arrive back in time for your birthday. Everyone here is really looking forward to seeing you soon, maybe sooner than you might think! But I shouldn't say any more – it's supposed to be a surprise!

Thought you might be interested to know that we're still at the Burrow at the moment, though I can't say I feel as safe as I usually do, what with all the 'mysterious' killings going on in the muggle world.

Anyway, can't wait to see you again soon, we've got so much to catch up on – it's getting slightly annoying having to talk in code and not mention things all the time, just in case someone intercepts these letters. Let us know if anything happens to you, (Mad – Eye is desperate to come down and show your Uncle who's boss again!)
Bye! Ron

Harry laid back on his bed and sighed. He too was sick of not being able to speak openly in their letters. He missed contact with the wizarding world, as he always did in the long summer holidays. Rolling onto his side he leaned over and placed the letter in his bedside draw along with all the other letters he had received from his friends. He noticed the clock, it read 12:10am. Indeed, Ron and Ginny had timed it right! It was his birthday!

"Happy Birthday, me." Harry said sleepily as he turned out his light and climbed under his duvet. Maybe this year will be different, Harry thought as he drifted off to sleep, just maybe.