Harry looked out the window into the clear sky. The stars were twinkling merrily in the inky black setting. Harry couldn't help but feel that he was safe. A small smile fell upon his face as Hedwig approached his window. He had just turned 15 an hour ago, and for once in his life actually looked his age. He had grown over summer, and his hair was still as untidy as ever upon his head. The same thick black glasses sat upon his nose revealing sparkling green eyes. He was actually a tad meatier. Aunt Petunia was so scared of his Godfather that she actually fed him almost the same amount of food as Dudley, even if he was still on the grapefruit diet of the previous summer. Uncle Vernon had put a stop to that. He had figured that the rest of the family probably shouldn't suffer, so Dudley was made to fend for himself.
As a breeze ruffled Harry's hair, he noticed that Hedwig was carry a large fluffy object, as well as two oddly shaped packages. Of in the distance, he could make out two more owls.
"Hello, Hedwig" Harry said dreamily, as he was tired.
Hedwig nipped Harry affectionaly as he untied the rather heavy parcles from her legs.
"Thanks girl," he murmured as Hedwig floated towards her cage.
He then picked up the Weasley family owl, Errol, and gently placed him on his bed. Then he looked up to see a large Tawny owl and Pigwedgion, Ron's owl fluttering noisely above his head. Usually, Harry got quite irritated at Pig (A nickname given to the owl by Ron and his sister Ginny), however tonight, he was in a rather good mood. He untied a large package from the Tawny owl as well as the letter from Hogwarts. He knew immedeatly that the package was from Hagrid, but he quickly went over to Pig, who was scraping the door trying to find something to land on.
In one leap, he had managed to get the package and letter away from Pig, and soon perched him in Hedwig's cage. With a loud, indignant hoot, Hedwig flew over and rested on Harry's bed. Harry then sat down while looking at all of his presents.
"Wow, they really went overboard," he said in a slow whisper, as if worried of now waking the Dursleys.
He picked up the note from Ron and read:
Happy Birthday, Harry!
Sorry I haven't written you in a while, I've been kinda busy. Fred and George are still making stuff for their Joke shop idea, however, I think mum may have caught on. Percy is still off his Rocker, as he is now junior head of the department of crime for the Ministry. Dad says he's got his pantys in a bunch over hearing of you-know-who coming back. Of course, he doesn't believe it...as usual. Ginny might be starting up a fanclub for you in the future, I'd watch out if I were you. Bill and Charlie are coming and staying the two weeks before term. Wanna come visit? Mom and dad said it's okay, and everyone wants you to come because apparently, Percy has an announcement (He probably found out how to go after people with bad cauldron sizes...his report was a 'hit' in the office, they kept joing about it for weeks). Send me an owl back with Pig. Hope all is well.
Ron
P.S. Percy says its something big.

Harry didn't know what to make of Percy's big announcement, but he was sure he wanted to go to Ron's house. He couldn't stand being here so bored. Harry then looked down at Ron's gift and started to peel the packaging off. He saw an amazing site. Out in his hand was a strange, yet beautiful box. It was wood, with strange carvings on the side, like oddly shaped stars and moons. It was about the size of a regular shoe box. Slowly, he lifted the lid to find a small sheet of parchment.
Harry- This is a blank box. I know, I know, it doesn't look significant, yet it is. You put anything that you want in here, and no one can find it but you. Kinda like an invisibility cloak, yet heavier. Hope you like it.
Harry sat with a stunned look on his face. A box that could hide things to the outside world? how cool! Finally, after a minute of re-reading the note, Harry grabed a slip of Parchement and a quill from his desk and wrote:
Hey Ron,
Sure, I would love to come. Send me back a letter telling me when you want me there. How do I get there? The Dursleys have boarded up the fire place and never go near it. Quick thinking, I guess. Where did you get the blank box? It's amazing! I wish I could see it work, but I can still see it. I'll talk to you later.
Harry
He rolled up the parchment and tied it to Pig, and sent him out the window. The little owl started to drop, but the rolled over twice and started flying straight again. Harry turned around and looked at all the packages again and found Hermione's. He slit open the letter.
Hello Harry!
Happy Birthday! I've been reading all my books over and over again making sure I understand everything, because everyone says that the 5th year is extremely difficult. I am so excited! We get to learn about human transfiguration this year! I can't wait! Anyways, are you going to Ron's house? If you are, then I have two things to tell you. Oh geez, i'm starting to sound like Percy! I wonder what is so big he is going to tell his whole family? Oh well. I hope you enjoy your gift and I will see you soon!
Love, Hermione
Harry now turned his attention towards her gift. It was oddly shaped, acutally, the most oddly-shaped one of all of them. He ripped of the packaging to reveal a beautiful Gobstone set.
"Wow Hermione!", said Harry in awe of the stones. They each had a face on them, which looked quite innocent, however Harry new that Gobstones, much like the muggle game of marbles, was anything but innocent. They shot a nasty liquid into the other player's face when they did something wrong and shouted obsenities towards the other gobstones. Also in the package was a book, The complete guide to gobstoneing, the wizarding game of chance by Berulda bangliots. Harry, now growing tired by the minute, was yawning uncontrollably. Better not open them tonight thought Harry, as he placed the Gobstones and the card next to Ron's box.
He turned his attention to another box, undoubtedly from Mrs. Weasley. He opened it, and to his delight, had received a whole batch of chocolate fudge, as well as a pair of wooly socks. He pushed the box towards the rest of his presents and looked at another one. This is from Sirius, he breathed to himself, as there was muddy paw prints covering the wrapping on one of the gifts. He carefully tore of the paper, so as not to disturb the prints. There was printing on the box as which Harry recognied it was in Sirius' writing. The stargazers ball; you need never use a telescope again! Shows all nine planets and their orbits. Harry managed a gasp. He had seen one in the stores of Diagon Alley. He popped the top to the box and pulled out a beautiful round globe, which glittered in the moonlight. Inside, he could see each of the nine planets moving in circles, with all their moons. Each planet was glittering, which made it even more peaceful. Harry then picked up a letter that had fallen out of the wrapping.
Harry,
I thought that you might enjoy it. It once belonged to me before I got into Azkaban. It is unbreakable, trust me, I should know. Everything is going great so far. Unfortunately, I can't tell you where I am or what I am doing. Too many untrustworthy people here. Get to Hogwarts safely, and please don't go snooping around the grounds. Give my love to Hedwig.
Love,
Snuggles
Harry couldn't help but pull a smile. Snuggles, his animagus name, was his guardian. He always enjoyed hearing from him. Harry picked up the globe, and watched it again as the planets moved, then realizing he had one more package left, placed the globe next to his other presents. He reached over towards Hagrid's present and set it in his lap, while picking up the letter.
Dear Harry,
I hope you're all right. Muggles treatin yeh good? I hope so, otherwise, I would make a trip up there to raise trouble. Anyways, all is well here. Just got back from France visiting Oylimpe(Madame Maxime to you). Had a wonderful time. Hope your birthday goes well. See you in a few weeks.
Hagrid
Harry remembered the large woman who ran Beauxbatons academy, for it was only 2 months ago that he had competed in the Tri-wizard tournament. He could still remember spending long hours in the classroom learning hexs and having his nerves frazzled by the time the third task came around. He could also remember staring into Cedric's cold gray eyes after Wormtail, under Voldemort's command, had killed him. He also had duelled with Voldemort after his body was returned to him, and only barely made it.
It had been tragic watching Cedric's parents as they fought to understand why this had happened. It was only after Dumbledore's last dinner speech that Harry could talk about it. Sometimes, Harry would still wake up in the middle of the night, in a cold sweat and a sharp pain on his forhead where Voldemort tried to kill him 15 years ago. He would keep envisioning over and over the cauldron which held Voldemort, and Wormtail helplessly sobbing in the backround. Just thinking about it made him jump.
Harry started to unwrap the package Hagrid sent. It was a sampler of Honeydukes candy. Also, underneath was another package. He opened it, and let out a gasp of delight. It was a small pocket-sized mirror, however, it wasn't a mirror. It was foe glass. Much like the stuff that the real 'Mad-eye' moody had in his office after last year. The glass was foggy, with only one shape moving in it. It almost looked like Dudley, because the shape was so big that it didn't fit on the glass.
Listening hard, Harry heard the creaking of the landing under Dudley's weight. He decided he would open his Hogwarts letter tomorrow, and slowly moved his gifts onto his nightstand, where he read the clock.
"3 AM...just a little late", Harry gasped silently as he rolled over in his bed and drifted off to sleep.

***

"Ow!," She yelled, grabbing at her toe, which was now a bright red. "Lana, I need some ice or something!."
"What's wrong? Oh, you stubbed your toe. You'll be fine in a minute, no need to go waisting ice,"said Lana.
Karista had been up packing all of her things for almost three hours. She was already getting sick of packing, when she had realized that one of the many boxes had a huge chunk missing. Her room was looking very empty, and she was almost finished.
"I can't wait to visit auntie. I haven't seen her since I was born, eh?", Karista said constrained, because she had just chosen to lift one of the boxes.
"Don't lift that. Wait for the movers. Yes, I would say it has maybe been since your mother was in her deathbed," lena said matter of factly. Lena, the short plump house maid was now leaving Karista's room and heading down the stairs when the doorbell rang.
"That'd be the movers, Karista! You'd better be packed," came Lena bellowing up the stairs.
Karista was now moving to London to live with her wealthy Aunt. She was already in her 5th year at the New York Wizarding institute when her father thought it would be better she went to London. She was also transferring schools, tragic as it may have seemed. Karista couldn't stand leaving her friends that she had known since her 1st year at school.
"Let's just hope they have a lot of space on the truck, shall we?" muttered Karista to herself as three tall and burly men came into her room. After about a half an hour of moving things, she walked once again into her empty room. The window, which was now closed, had once been an escape for her into the real world, where being a witch never mattered to anyone, and no one had to know about it. Going to London is gonna change me, but I don't know how, she thought, as she slowly closed the door to her once funky bedroom. Once down in the foyer, she grabbed her coat and stepped through the door, possibly to never see that house again.
It was because her father was so uptight about people finding out about his daughter that they decided to use the muggle way of travel. With her owl petrey in her lap, and her father and Lena on the other side in the stretch Limo, she left the mansion that had been her home for 15 years. She couldn't stand it. No matter how happy she was that she would soon be seeing her auntie, who was a witch herself, she would miss everything about New York. It was as if her heart was being shredded into tiny pieces. As a tear slowly rolled down her face, her father became agitated.
"Kar, you are either happy that you are going, or you won't go and live with your Aunt," he said, with an edge to his tone. Her father, being a high Aristocrat in New York, was very pushy, and very agitated all the time. It was almost hard to please him, and Karista never could it seemed.
"Oh, I'm happy, It's just kinda sad," Karista whimpered. She new that her father had no pity for her, but at that moment, she didn't care. She new her father never pitied her, even if he did love her. Being raised as a muggle since she was born didn't help her when she went to NYWI. Everyone didn't think she had it in her, and she almost believed them, until she got the highest marks in the whole school.
Soon, Karista was in the plane, and ten hours later, was at the airport in London. Once she left the gate, she saw a sign high over the heads of the crowd: KARISTA!!!! WE'RE WAITING!!! Karista's face lit up at once, as she struggled through the crowd. She met with her Aunt who was a plump, tall woman with a kind face and her Uncle, who was shorter and skinnier. They were her mother's brother and sister. Both had their children next to them, along with their spouse's. Karista's cousins were all younger than her, not quite the age to begin attending Hogwarts, her new school.
"OH!! Look, Jeremy! She is so tall! and look at her hair! Blonde, like her mother!,"Shrieked her aunt, tears now streaming down her round face. Her uncle was also beaming, as her cousins looked up at her very confused.
"Hello Auntie, hi Uncle Jeremy!" beamed Karista, after getting four large hugs.
"You are so beautiful! I wish your father told us we had an angel in the family," murmured Auntie.
Karista couldn't help but blush. After all the hellos and welcomes, they picked up her luggage and threw it in the back of two awaiting taxi cabs.
"I never could understand how muggles travel like this," whispered her uncle.
Karista stifled a laugh as they headed back to their old farm house in the outskirts of suburban London.