The wooden door opened to reveal a hall lined with cells

The wooden door opened to reveal a hall lined with cells.  Each cell was impossibly small with merely a mattress and a small black pot in the corner.  Cobwebs completely covered the cement-blocked walls. The northern wind whipped around the corner in the hallway and stung the prisoners causing them to cry out even louder.  The hoarse howls of the prisoners became less and less desperate as the robed figure made its way along the corridor.  Their moans changed from abject pain to stunned silence to whispers of "My Lord…My Lord…".  The figure stopped when it was approached by a group of smaller robed forms.  The tall one hissed, "Let my loyal followers be free and you shall have the entire world for a feast."  The leader of the group glanced at his companions then stepped forward and nodded.  The tall wizard looked around and said, "But, start out by giving this one a little Kiss."  He laughed as two other wizards threw a pleading then whimpering then blubbering Wormtail towards the group.  The leader pulled down his hood and leaned towards the now completely silent Wormtail.  Then he screamed…

Harry sat straight up in bed.  He looked around his tiny, but thankfully quiet bedroom.  His scar still burning, he listened carefully for any sounds from the house.  There were no out of the ordinary sounds, just Uncle Vernon's loud snore and Aunt Petunia's soft one.  He thought back to the dream, then he reached for a quill.  Harry Potter was not an ordinary boy.  He was, in fact, a wizard and as he grasped his quill and some parchment, the events of the last four years flashed before him.  He was the only survivor of Lord Voldemort's deadly curse, which had killed both of his parents and forced him to grow up with his Muggle Uncle and Aunt. Then, at the end of last school year, he had unwillingly witnessed and assisted in Lord Voldemort's return to humanity.  His scar was his only tangible souvenir from both events and last year it had began to burn whenever the Dark Lord was nearby or feeling murderous. 

By this time, Harry has reached his window and opened it to let in the soft light from the street lamp.  He dipped his quill into the ink well and began to write…

Dear Snuffles,

I just had another dream.  I think Voldemort has released his followers and the dementors from Azkaban.  He offered the dementors the "whole world to feast upon."  Should I write to Professor Dumbledore too, or are you in direct communication with him? 

Harry stopped here, debating on whether to tell "Snuffles" or Sirius, his godfather, about Wormtail.  Wormtail had framed Sirius fourteen years previous and imprisoned in the wizard prison, Azkaban.  Sirius had escaped in Harry's third year and proved his innocence to Harry, his two best friends, Hermione and Ron and Professor Dumbledore.  The Ministry of Magic was still conducting a manhunt for Sirius.  Harry shuddered at the remembrance of the guardians of Azkaban, the dementors that sucked every happy thought from a person.  The dementors' ultimate weapon was their soul-sucking Kiss.  Harry thought for a moment, and then decided to be completely honest.

I saw Wormtail too.  Voldemort asked the dementors to give him the Kiss.  I think they did.  But why would Voldemort do that? Harry stopped again, pondering this thought.  Wormtail had been instrumental in Voldemort's return.  Voldemort had even rewarded him for his sacrifice.  Harry looked at the clock.  It was 5 minutes after midnight.  He was officially 15. Do you know if there's any chance I might be able to visit Ron this summer?  Dudley's still on his diet and Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia are still being horrible about the Ton Tongue Toffee. Fred and George, Ron's older, twin brothers, had played a trick on Dudley last summer and made his tongue grow to be nearly 4 feet long.  This made the Dursley's hate Harry and the wizarding community even more. Well, I should stop now before the Dursley's hear the scratching of my quill.  Please take care. Harry  

Harry walked over to his owl, Hedwig's cage and tied the letter to Sirius and sent her off.  As he looked out into the night sky, he saw two owls flying towards him.  Harry opened the window wider and let the owls perch in Hedwig's cage.  One of the owls was Ron's, Pig, the other was a school owl.  Harry opened the one from Hogwarts first.  Hogwarts the premiere wizarding school in England and was run by Albus Dumbledore.  Harry loved his school and the wizarding community.  Smiling, he looked at the letter…

Dear Mr. Potter,

Congratulations.  By merit of your high scholastic standing and good behavior, you have been selected to be a Prefect.  If you would like to take advantage of this offer, pleas send us your owl by no later than August 15. 

As usual, the Hogwarts Express will leave from King's Cross Station Platform 9 and ¾ at 11am on September first. 

Your supply list is enclosed.

Professor McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

Harry reread the letter in shock.  Him?  A prefect?  After all the trouble he'd been in the last four years?  Confused, Harry put the letter aside and reached for Ron's package.

Dear Harry,

No word yet on you visiting this summer.  Dad and Percy have been in and out all summer, but nothing new's come up.  Fudge is still denying the whole thing, the prat.  Anyhow, Happy Birthday!   I hope you like your present, courtesy of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes.  Somehow, Fred and George mysteriously got a ton of money this summer and they're making jokes like mad.  Mum isn't too happy, but with You-Know-Who's return, she's got more on her mind. 

I'll owl you if there's any new information.

Ron

Harry smiled as he opened the rather messily wrapped package to find a bunch of candies he recognized and some he did not.  He wondered if he could slip a canary cream to Dudley.  The thought of Dudley as an overweight canary forced him to stifle a laugh.  Harry put away the presents and his Hogwarts letter and walked over to the window to shut it.  He glanced outside, looking for more owls, and above Mrs. Figg's house, floating in the sky, was one of the most surprising and frightening sights of Harry's life….The Dark Mark.

A/N…like it?  Review and I'll continue.  Give me some random ideas, events, objects, etc. to work into the story!!!  And did I mention, REVIEW!!

~LL