A/N: Hey all! So, this is one of the very first stories I ever wrote. To be honest, it was the third story I ever wrote and the longest. It is only 23 chapters. That's nothing compared to what I write now! :P Anyways, as I'm sure you've figured out, this is a completed story that I will now be posting. It is also the first in my trilogy. Yes, I wrote a trilogy that is completed. I finished it a couple years ago now. The third and final story in this trilogy took me well over a year to finish. Now, as this is one of my very first stories, it's not that great. I've gone through and edited it God only knows how many times. I've added things, removed things, changed things. However, there is only so much you can do without completely re-writing and changing the entire thing. So, if you read, you will have to bear with how bad it is in comparison to what I write now. :P

Also, this is back when I named my chapters. I fail at naming chapters so I stopped after this story. :P Anyways, if you read, I hope you find some way to enjoy it. If not, I will accept the criticism and laugh about it. LOL. I laugh at this story a lot because it really is quite bad. :P I assure you, though, the other two are better. Much. Better. :P

Chapter 1

Owl Post and Early Birthday Wishes

Remus Lupin sat on the sofa watching his small family, Harry Potter and Sirius Black play a game of wizard chess.

"Castle to E4," Harry watched as his castle moved at his command. Sirius looked at the board, wondering what to do.

"Pawn to C3," Sirius finally said and the piece moved. Harry too glanced at the board before making his move.

"Queen to C3," Harry smirked as his queen destroyed Sirius' pawn.

"Damn. Knight to A6," Sirius' knight moved and destroyed Harry's bishop.

"King to D2," Harry's king moved and they both looked at the board. "Checkmate," Harry grinned as Sirius gaped at the board.

"How come every time we play chess you win, but if I play with Remus, I win?" Sirius asked incredulously. Harry shrugged.

"Sirius, you don't always win when you play against me. But you do always lose to Harry, which is kind of sad. He's thirteen and you're thirty three," Remus smiled as Sirius glared at his statement.

"Hilarious. You really know how to hurt a guy," Sirius shook his head.

"I'm sure you were hurt, and if you were it's because your godson beat you in chess," Remus sighed.

"Technically, I'm still twelve years old," Harry spoke up grinning as he watched his guardians quarrel.

"Harry, it's your birthday in two weeks. So really, you're thirteen," Remus pointed out. Harry rolled his eyes.

He had been living with Remus and Sirius since he was five. Sirius had been proven innocent when they caught Peter Pettigrew and gave him Veritaserum, causing him to confess to everything. Harry loved living with them; they loved him deeply, and were worried when something major would happen to him. Like in Harry's first year, for example. When Dumbledore had told them that Harry had gone after the Philosopher's Stone with his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, they rushed to Hogwarts wanting to make sure nothing would happen.

Harry's second year had scared them even more. At first, they had gotten a letter home from Professor Minerva McGonagall stating that Ron and Harry had flown a car to Hogwarts when they missed the Hogwarts Express. During the first holidays the students had, Remus and Sirius had told Harry he had to come home, where they lectured him on the dangers of what he and Ron did. When Harry and Ron went into the Chamber of Secrets to get Ron's little sister, Ginny, they had wasted no time in getting to Hogwarts again.

Even though Harry felt that sometimes his guardians were too over-protective, Harry loved the fact that he always felt safe. Harry had been deep in thought, thinking about the previous years he had spent with Sirius and Remus.

"Harry? Harry, Hedwig's here. She has a few things for you. Harry," Harry was pulled out of his thoughts when Sirius spoke to him and Hedwig nipped his ear affectionately.

"Wha—? Oh, hi, Hedwig. Thanks," Harry took the several envelopes and packages off Hedwig's legs as Remus and Sirius walked into the kitchen so Harry could read his letters. Harry saw that he had gotten five letters. He knew who they were all from too, since it was the same every year. The first one he opened was a letter and gift from Hermione.

Dear Harry,
I decided to wish you 'Happy Birthday' and give you your gift early. I'm in Rome with my parents so we probably won't talk until school. Hope you're doing well and having fun. Hope you like the gift. See you in September.
Love,
Hermione

Harry smiled. Every summer, Hermione went on a trip somewhere with her parents. Her last trip had been to Paris. He placed her letter down and opened the parcel. At first, Harry half expected it to be a book of complicated spells, but was proven wrong when he saw a copy of the book Quidditch Through the Ages and a Do It Yourself broomstick kit.

"Wow. Hermione, what would I do without you?" Harry stated quietly to himself, laughing slightly. Next he opened a letter to see Ginny's neat handwriting on the parchment.

Hello Harry,
I know it's early but I wanted to wish you Happy Birthday. I hope you're having a good summer. Miss you lots.
All the love,
Ginny
P.S. I'm going to thank you one last time for saving me last year. Thank you, Harry.

Harry sighed. Ever since he and Ron had saved Ginny from the Chamber the previous year, Harry and Ginny had become better friends, but she kept thanking him even though he had told her it was nothing. He sighed again and picked up Ginny's gift. It was a picture that had been taken over the summer. It had Harry, Sirius, Remus, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Fred, George, Mrs. Weasley, and Mr. Weasley in it. They were all smiling and laughing, especially when Fred and George tackled each other to the ground and began rolling around. He put Ginny's things to the side and opened Ron's.

Hey there, Harry,
Happy early birthday. Anyways, did you see the
Daily Prophet? Dad won money and we all went to Egypt to visit Bill for a bit! It was so wicked! Anyways, here's your gift. Bill picked it out, so don't blame me if you don't like it. See ya soon.
Best friend,
Ron

Harry opened the present to see a cutting from the Daily Prophet. There was a picture of Ron and his family all in front of a pyramid in Egypt. He also saw a small model of a pyramid.

Bill. You learn to love them all, Harry thought and chuckled. Remus and Sirius heard him laugh and looked into the living room to see the thirteen year old opening another letter and gift.

Hi Harry,
Happy birthday! Can't say much. The gift I gave you is going to be useful. Can't say no more. Talk to you at school.
-Hagrid

Just then he heard a snap come from Hagrid's gift. He opened it to see it was a book. As he was holding it, it snapped again as though trying to bite him.

"Hey, guys. Do we have string or something?" Harry called to his guardians in the kitchen.

"Yeah, why?" Remus called back.

"I need to tie something," Remus and Sirius looked at each other with blank looks. Remus got up and got some string out of a drawer then went to give it to Harry in the living room.

"Harry, we told you not to stand on the furniture. Why are you standing on the sofa?" Remus looked at Harry who was on the sofa. Harry pointed to the floor.

"Hagrid sent it to me. He said it will be helpful, but only if I want my hand bitten off completely," Harry said sarcastically. Remus bent down and quickly tied the book up then read the title.

"The Monster Book of Monsters?" Remus raised an eyebrow as Harry climbed off the sofa.

"Don't look at me. I had no idea Hagrid was going to send me this," Harry shook his head and took the book. Remus smiled and went back to the kitchen, returning to his and Sirius' conversation. Harry's gaze fell to the last envelope which was his Hogwarts letter, but he noticed it was much thicker this time. He opened it and pulled out a form.

Hogsmeade. I completely forgot about that, Harry thought again and ran to the kitchen interrupting his guardians' conversation again.

"I need someone to sign my form so I can go to Hogsmeade," he put the form on the table. Remus grabbed a quill and signed his form.

"Wicked. Thanks," Harry started back to the living room but stopped, handing Sirius his school list. "We need to go shopping. Also, I need new robes," he added then ran to get his letters and gifts, then ran up the stairs to his room.

"It's been eight years and I'm still not used to how much he runs around this place," Sirius said when he saw Harry run around.

"Amazing. I was used to it the second day we had him. When should we go shopping?" Remus looked at the list.

"Tomorrow!" they heard Harry yell from upstairs.

"That kid has good hearing. We weren't even talking that loud," Remus stared at the ceiling.

"I guess we're going tomorrow," Sirius sighed.

"Thanks!" Harry yelled again.

"One hell of a kid," Remus and Sirius both muttered drinking some coffee.

A/N: So? What'd I tell you? Awful, right? :P The chapters are quite short, especially compared to what I do now, but the other two stories are longer and better, as I've already said. :P Anyways, there's Chapter 1. Thanks for reading and I hope you don't hold this against me. :P I've got loads of people saying I'm an amazing writer (thank you so much to everyone who has said that :]) and I'm sure this story does not do me any good. LOL. :P