The Fifth Year
By: Athene Moon
Chapter 1.
Late at night, Harry worked under wandlight, skimming through the pages of Moste Potente Potions. Professor Snape had not taken summer homework lightly, as usual.
Writing down what would seem like a good summary of the potion for Veritasium, he could hardly stifle a huge yawn. Looking at the clock, it said 1:20. Harry even forgot that today was his 15th birthday until now, but could not even muster a cheer in his head. Too many bad things had happened to Harry last year, and a simple birthday could not bring a happy thought. Instead, he got up to see if Hedwig is back with presents yet, not really caring. With cool summer breeze playing through his hair, he thought of what had happened. Harry was in a state of mourning for Cedric, even though he had not been associated with him until the Championship. He was now where he is blaming himself for letting Cedric die, not being vigilant enough to even try to knock him over to avoid the curse. He let Cho, his first crush, down by not saving him. In fact, he let the whole school down, where they expect the famous Harry Potter to save the day. Yeah, Famous Harry Potter to save the day, and look what happened. He wasn't even looking forward to going back to school, to see all the sad faces, trying to avoid his eye. Even his friends are wary of him now, never really trying to bring up anything related to the incident.
He saw what were to be three or four owls, and a lot of packages carried between them. He stepped aside to let them in. One, was his very own Hedwig, with what seemed to be Hermione's and Sirius' letters and packages. Two, was Ron's owl Pig, with a very small package and letter, Three, Hagrid's owl, and another that he didn't know. It couldn't be one of the school owls, because it seems to be staying for a reply and has a package. Interested, he went to the stranger owl first, who hooted at him happily for picking him first. He opened the letter, and gasped out loud, which startled the owls. It read:
Dear Harry Potter,
It's me, Cho Chang. I am writing to you to tell you that you are not alone in mourning over the late Cedric. I happened to see you face when you left the train. It was a face of guilt and sadness. I suspect you blame yourself over this tragic incident. I really do not know the details, but you must not blame yourself. It does no good. It will not bring him back. Nothing will. The Diggorys said you did a noble thing when you brought his body back, even though you were a bit reluctant to hand him over to anyone, then. They wanted you to go to the funeral, but they had trouble contacting you. Maybe it would have done you a world of good, seeing that others are feeling the same as you. Well, not exactly the same, they didn't see him die, like you had. If you need someone to talk to, a sort of shoulder to lean on, I'm here. Tell me all about it, I'm greatly interested in the real story. But if not, that is okay. I heard rumors that your birthday is today, so I am sending with my owl a few treats to cheer you up, if it can.
With Love,
Cho C.
A tear that had run down his face had struck the paper, finally setting him out of the trance-like state he had gone into. Cho. It was Cho who knew how he felt, and offered a shoulder to lean on. If he had been expecting anything from Cho, it was not this. Not a heart-felt reply and advice to help with the mourning. He was actually thinking of her looking at him with the deepest loathing, only something he'd see from Snape. He noticed this was printed from a computer, but didn't think much of that. He was thinking of how to reply to her! He talked to her Owl, "Could you stay here 'till tomorrow, I can't think of how to respond now." The owl hooted, who had actually settled down on top of Hedwig's cage already, ready to sleep. Inside Cho's package was a sort of a mini-party, complete with a cake with non-melting candles (15) and a silly paper party hat and even some confetti. Smiling for the first time in months, he had set it aside to dig in later. Then he had moved toward Ron's owl who seemed eager to go home, looking outside every few seconds. Harry untied the letter and package from the poor bird, and let it outside. Ron's card was cheerful, and actually sang the birthday song when opened. Their gift was a small package of Chocolate Frogs. Careful not to wake the dursleys, he put it under a book on the nightstand. Then he advanced to Hagrid's usual bag of muffins (he set this aside) and letter for a good summer. Now he wanted to see what Sirius brought him. He read the Letter:
Harry:
I want to know that you are coping well, and are not blaming yourself for what happened. It will not bring Cedric back, whatever you do. I am on an important mission for Dumbledore, and I am not allowed to say anything about it to you, other than what I have just said. I will not be readily available to receive letters, even though I do appreciate talking to my godson. I have found myself a Pertandium, and I thought you would like it. When you press the button, It will create a temporary shield against minor curses and incantations.
Sirius
Excited, Harry opened the package. It looked like a Swiss Army Knife, but with a big green button on the side. He couldn't wait to practice with this a Hogwarts. Then he looked at Hermione's letter:
Dear Harry,
I do hope you are feeling better about Cedric! I worry about how much this has taken affect on you. Are you going to be at Diagon Alley the last week of summer? If you are, Ron and me will be there.
Love
Hermione
Her package had been an assortment of muggle and wizard treats. Now he has another thing to worry about. How is he going to get his supplies? How is he going to convince the Dursleys into taking him to London?
As if he was answered, there swooped down a school owl. Opening the letter it said:
Mr. H. Potter,
Because of the circumstances taking place, I, Headmaster Dumbledore, am requesting that you should be escorted into London to take care of school supplies and getting onto the train to Hogwarts. During your week there, trained Hit Wizards shall watch you. They will be waiting 12:00 sharp at your house the 27th of August with a limo and a letter to your aunt and uncle.
Sincerely,
Dumbledore
Exasperated, he read the letter again more slowly to make sure he got it right. Isn't this a bit much??? Thought Harry, I mean, come on! Hit Wizards, and probably a limo that is armed so that even a tank can't hurt it! It's not like Voldemort is---
--But he is after you. Warned another part of his brain.
Involuntarily, he shivered.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next morning, Harry woke up to a beautiful morning, with the smell of breakfast wafting into his room, the clanging of silverware orchestrating downstairs. Since last year, Vernon had had enough of Dudley's diet, and now only Dudley has to suffer, much to the joy of Harry.
"Mum! That is only half a grapefruit!"
"Don't you badger me for more, Dudley, you need to lose weight!"
Harry was left unnoticed as he slipped to an available seat, and stabbed at some bacon and some bread to take to his room. But Vernon, suddenly seeing him, said, "No you don't, I don't want crumbs all over the floor, you eat here."
But this must be more than a few crumbs, because he had let him take food to his room ever since he have heard that Sirius was his godfather. Unnerved, Harry sat down again. "I have got a...letter...about...a-about your...school, Harry. They say they got you covered to go there, so we won't bother." Harry stayed silent." It says here, " Vernon whipped out a letter from his lap and recited a part, " Because of the circumstances..." He seemed to be tasting the last word." Erm...What are the circumstances?" The whole table fell quiet as they waited for a reply. Even Dudley quit whining and listened intently.
Harry chewed his bacon sandwich thoughtfully. Why would they want to know? But he could not think of a way to tell the truth to their likeliness. But he needed an answer from them to start. "How much do you know?" It seemed as if he bellowed it, it echoed off the walls, and the Dursleys shrank back in horror of such a question. But Harry was not going to take silence as an answer. Taking advantage, he stared them down with his deep, green eyes, like a dog herding sheep. Trembling, Petunia started, "I know who killed my sister, Harry. Even...your kind...doesn't like to say his name."
"Voldemort." He said. Both Vernon and Petunia shrank back, as if he were Voldemort. But Dudley, confused, interrupted, "Voldemort, who is he?"
Harry sighed."Voldemort was an evil...wizard." Apprehensive, he looked at Vernon, who gestured to go on. "A few years before I was born, he grew power by ...erm...charms that control the mind. I really don't know too much. But he was looking for my parents, and me. There was a ...charm... to protect us, but it was controlled by one person, who was at first my godfather, Sirius. He wanted to change go into hiding himself, so he handed the job to Wor-- er... Peter Pettigrew. But he did not know that Pettigrew as a spy for Voldemort, and easily sold off my parents and me to him." His voice had a steely tone in it now, "Voldemort came to the house, and killed my dad. " Harry's throat had now gone tight, "and he went after me mum and me. He killed me mum, but somehow, when he tried to kill me, it didn't work, it backfired onto him and he sorta...turned into...something. " He ended stupidly. He didn't want to add that he was the only one to survive such a curse, for some reason. He raised his head, and the first time, in fourteen years, the Dursleys looked sorry for him. Petunia, finding voice, asked, "But what does that have to do with what's happened now?"
"Well, when I first started Hog-...school, he tried to regain power, and tried to kill me..." And that started all the adventures he had at school. About an hour later, he finished with "...and everybody is afraid since that he has full power, that he is going to find every chance he gets to finish the job." Looking around at them, they were speechless. Vernon fumed quietly, "Why didn't they tell us?" Harry shrugged.
Feeling like this was the end of the conversation, and it was, he asked to be excused to write some letters. Back in his rooms, he wrote two copies about his news to send to Ron and Hermione, and sent Hedwig off. Then he remembered the letter from Cho.
Blushing the slightest bit, he wrote draft after draft to make the perfect letter. With his wastebasket overloaded with crumpled parchment, and his ink well half-empty, he stared down at his perfect letter:
Dear Cho,
Thank you very much for writing to me. And I also thank you for giving me the cake, It is delicious. I dunno what you've read or heard, but here is the truth about that night...
And he proceeded to write about it.
And I am very grateful to have you to talk to. My friends understand what had happened, but they think it will upset me if they talk about it. It still sort of does upset me, but not as bad as it did right after the Third Task. I was in shock of the whole thing at that time, I guess. Your letter had jerked me out of my guilt for Cedric, and I again thank you for writing to me about it.
Harry
Not, bad, Harry thought. He was pondering if he should write 'Love' or 'Sincerely' or something at the closing, and decided not to. He wrote a postscript saying he was to be at Diagon alley the last week, and then folded the paper neatly and stuffed it into an envelope and handed it to the owl, who was watching him closely. The owl took off through the window, and Harry watched it fly out of sight, and then some.
By: Athene Moon
Chapter 1.
Late at night, Harry worked under wandlight, skimming through the pages of Moste Potente Potions. Professor Snape had not taken summer homework lightly, as usual.
Writing down what would seem like a good summary of the potion for Veritasium, he could hardly stifle a huge yawn. Looking at the clock, it said 1:20. Harry even forgot that today was his 15th birthday until now, but could not even muster a cheer in his head. Too many bad things had happened to Harry last year, and a simple birthday could not bring a happy thought. Instead, he got up to see if Hedwig is back with presents yet, not really caring. With cool summer breeze playing through his hair, he thought of what had happened. Harry was in a state of mourning for Cedric, even though he had not been associated with him until the Championship. He was now where he is blaming himself for letting Cedric die, not being vigilant enough to even try to knock him over to avoid the curse. He let Cho, his first crush, down by not saving him. In fact, he let the whole school down, where they expect the famous Harry Potter to save the day. Yeah, Famous Harry Potter to save the day, and look what happened. He wasn't even looking forward to going back to school, to see all the sad faces, trying to avoid his eye. Even his friends are wary of him now, never really trying to bring up anything related to the incident.
He saw what were to be three or four owls, and a lot of packages carried between them. He stepped aside to let them in. One, was his very own Hedwig, with what seemed to be Hermione's and Sirius' letters and packages. Two, was Ron's owl Pig, with a very small package and letter, Three, Hagrid's owl, and another that he didn't know. It couldn't be one of the school owls, because it seems to be staying for a reply and has a package. Interested, he went to the stranger owl first, who hooted at him happily for picking him first. He opened the letter, and gasped out loud, which startled the owls. It read:
Dear Harry Potter,
It's me, Cho Chang. I am writing to you to tell you that you are not alone in mourning over the late Cedric. I happened to see you face when you left the train. It was a face of guilt and sadness. I suspect you blame yourself over this tragic incident. I really do not know the details, but you must not blame yourself. It does no good. It will not bring him back. Nothing will. The Diggorys said you did a noble thing when you brought his body back, even though you were a bit reluctant to hand him over to anyone, then. They wanted you to go to the funeral, but they had trouble contacting you. Maybe it would have done you a world of good, seeing that others are feeling the same as you. Well, not exactly the same, they didn't see him die, like you had. If you need someone to talk to, a sort of shoulder to lean on, I'm here. Tell me all about it, I'm greatly interested in the real story. But if not, that is okay. I heard rumors that your birthday is today, so I am sending with my owl a few treats to cheer you up, if it can.
With Love,
Cho C.
A tear that had run down his face had struck the paper, finally setting him out of the trance-like state he had gone into. Cho. It was Cho who knew how he felt, and offered a shoulder to lean on. If he had been expecting anything from Cho, it was not this. Not a heart-felt reply and advice to help with the mourning. He was actually thinking of her looking at him with the deepest loathing, only something he'd see from Snape. He noticed this was printed from a computer, but didn't think much of that. He was thinking of how to reply to her! He talked to her Owl, "Could you stay here 'till tomorrow, I can't think of how to respond now." The owl hooted, who had actually settled down on top of Hedwig's cage already, ready to sleep. Inside Cho's package was a sort of a mini-party, complete with a cake with non-melting candles (15) and a silly paper party hat and even some confetti. Smiling for the first time in months, he had set it aside to dig in later. Then he had moved toward Ron's owl who seemed eager to go home, looking outside every few seconds. Harry untied the letter and package from the poor bird, and let it outside. Ron's card was cheerful, and actually sang the birthday song when opened. Their gift was a small package of Chocolate Frogs. Careful not to wake the dursleys, he put it under a book on the nightstand. Then he advanced to Hagrid's usual bag of muffins (he set this aside) and letter for a good summer. Now he wanted to see what Sirius brought him. He read the Letter:
Harry:
I want to know that you are coping well, and are not blaming yourself for what happened. It will not bring Cedric back, whatever you do. I am on an important mission for Dumbledore, and I am not allowed to say anything about it to you, other than what I have just said. I will not be readily available to receive letters, even though I do appreciate talking to my godson. I have found myself a Pertandium, and I thought you would like it. When you press the button, It will create a temporary shield against minor curses and incantations.
Sirius
Excited, Harry opened the package. It looked like a Swiss Army Knife, but with a big green button on the side. He couldn't wait to practice with this a Hogwarts. Then he looked at Hermione's letter:
Dear Harry,
I do hope you are feeling better about Cedric! I worry about how much this has taken affect on you. Are you going to be at Diagon Alley the last week of summer? If you are, Ron and me will be there.
Love
Hermione
Her package had been an assortment of muggle and wizard treats. Now he has another thing to worry about. How is he going to get his supplies? How is he going to convince the Dursleys into taking him to London?
As if he was answered, there swooped down a school owl. Opening the letter it said:
Mr. H. Potter,
Because of the circumstances taking place, I, Headmaster Dumbledore, am requesting that you should be escorted into London to take care of school supplies and getting onto the train to Hogwarts. During your week there, trained Hit Wizards shall watch you. They will be waiting 12:00 sharp at your house the 27th of August with a limo and a letter to your aunt and uncle.
Sincerely,
Dumbledore
Exasperated, he read the letter again more slowly to make sure he got it right. Isn't this a bit much??? Thought Harry, I mean, come on! Hit Wizards, and probably a limo that is armed so that even a tank can't hurt it! It's not like Voldemort is---
--But he is after you. Warned another part of his brain.
Involuntarily, he shivered.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next morning, Harry woke up to a beautiful morning, with the smell of breakfast wafting into his room, the clanging of silverware orchestrating downstairs. Since last year, Vernon had had enough of Dudley's diet, and now only Dudley has to suffer, much to the joy of Harry.
"Mum! That is only half a grapefruit!"
"Don't you badger me for more, Dudley, you need to lose weight!"
Harry was left unnoticed as he slipped to an available seat, and stabbed at some bacon and some bread to take to his room. But Vernon, suddenly seeing him, said, "No you don't, I don't want crumbs all over the floor, you eat here."
But this must be more than a few crumbs, because he had let him take food to his room ever since he have heard that Sirius was his godfather. Unnerved, Harry sat down again. "I have got a...letter...about...a-about your...school, Harry. They say they got you covered to go there, so we won't bother." Harry stayed silent." It says here, " Vernon whipped out a letter from his lap and recited a part, " Because of the circumstances..." He seemed to be tasting the last word." Erm...What are the circumstances?" The whole table fell quiet as they waited for a reply. Even Dudley quit whining and listened intently.
Harry chewed his bacon sandwich thoughtfully. Why would they want to know? But he could not think of a way to tell the truth to their likeliness. But he needed an answer from them to start. "How much do you know?" It seemed as if he bellowed it, it echoed off the walls, and the Dursleys shrank back in horror of such a question. But Harry was not going to take silence as an answer. Taking advantage, he stared them down with his deep, green eyes, like a dog herding sheep. Trembling, Petunia started, "I know who killed my sister, Harry. Even...your kind...doesn't like to say his name."
"Voldemort." He said. Both Vernon and Petunia shrank back, as if he were Voldemort. But Dudley, confused, interrupted, "Voldemort, who is he?"
Harry sighed."Voldemort was an evil...wizard." Apprehensive, he looked at Vernon, who gestured to go on. "A few years before I was born, he grew power by ...erm...charms that control the mind. I really don't know too much. But he was looking for my parents, and me. There was a ...charm... to protect us, but it was controlled by one person, who was at first my godfather, Sirius. He wanted to change go into hiding himself, so he handed the job to Wor-- er... Peter Pettigrew. But he did not know that Pettigrew as a spy for Voldemort, and easily sold off my parents and me to him." His voice had a steely tone in it now, "Voldemort came to the house, and killed my dad. " Harry's throat had now gone tight, "and he went after me mum and me. He killed me mum, but somehow, when he tried to kill me, it didn't work, it backfired onto him and he sorta...turned into...something. " He ended stupidly. He didn't want to add that he was the only one to survive such a curse, for some reason. He raised his head, and the first time, in fourteen years, the Dursleys looked sorry for him. Petunia, finding voice, asked, "But what does that have to do with what's happened now?"
"Well, when I first started Hog-...school, he tried to regain power, and tried to kill me..." And that started all the adventures he had at school. About an hour later, he finished with "...and everybody is afraid since that he has full power, that he is going to find every chance he gets to finish the job." Looking around at them, they were speechless. Vernon fumed quietly, "Why didn't they tell us?" Harry shrugged.
Feeling like this was the end of the conversation, and it was, he asked to be excused to write some letters. Back in his rooms, he wrote two copies about his news to send to Ron and Hermione, and sent Hedwig off. Then he remembered the letter from Cho.
Blushing the slightest bit, he wrote draft after draft to make the perfect letter. With his wastebasket overloaded with crumpled parchment, and his ink well half-empty, he stared down at his perfect letter:
Dear Cho,
Thank you very much for writing to me. And I also thank you for giving me the cake, It is delicious. I dunno what you've read or heard, but here is the truth about that night...
And he proceeded to write about it.
And I am very grateful to have you to talk to. My friends understand what had happened, but they think it will upset me if they talk about it. It still sort of does upset me, but not as bad as it did right after the Third Task. I was in shock of the whole thing at that time, I guess. Your letter had jerked me out of my guilt for Cedric, and I again thank you for writing to me about it.
Harry
Not, bad, Harry thought. He was pondering if he should write 'Love' or 'Sincerely' or something at the closing, and decided not to. He wrote a postscript saying he was to be at Diagon alley the last week, and then folded the paper neatly and stuffed it into an envelope and handed it to the owl, who was watching him closely. The owl took off through the window, and Harry watched it fly out of sight, and then some.