~ Chapter One "The Birthday Surprise" ~
Harry looked towards the barrier between platform
9 and 10 and was ready to start his fifth year at Hogwarts. Harry had not
yet seen Ron or Hermione; this caused Harry to be nervous. He hadn't even
his archenemy Draco Malfoy. Uncle Vernon had already driven off with a
screech, there was no way home. Today September 1st wasn't it? So Harry,
Hedwig and all of Harry's stuff went up to the ticket booth to make sure
that Harry wasn't loosing his mind. When Harry reached the front of the
line he was reminded that it wasn't just his family that is composed of
rude Muggles.
"Yeh?" said the ticket booth worker with a tone
of voice that made Harry take a double take and say:
"Ugh, Snape?"
"Whad ya say? You can't find snakes here. You stupid
little boy."
"I'm not stupid and I'm not little," said Harry,
and under his breath, "I may be able talk to snakes but that's besides
the point."
"See thas crazy talk, talkin' to snakes, has anyone
ever told you need to be in an institution?"
"No, I'm just wondering what day it is."
"See I told you that you was stupid," the worker
continued, "Everyone knows that its July 31st."
Then Harry saw a flash of green light and the words
for the killing curse. And then Harry realized that the words were coming
from his mouth and his wand was pointed at the man behind the window. Then
Harry heard that laugh, it sounded just like Voldemort's, but it was once
again coming from Harry's mouth.
Harry woke up with a jolt, he checked his wall calendar,
yes indeed it was the 31st of July, he looked at the clock, 12:05 AM.
"Gees, I have to stop that." What caught his attention
after being stuck in his thoughts were three owls, one of which being his
own, Hedwig, flying in to sight.
"Who could they be from?" Harry asked aloud.
"I don't know? You tell me," said a familiar voice
from behind Harry.
Harry turned around and right behind him was… Sirius.
"Sirius!" Harry exclaimed, "What on earth are you
doing here?"
"I'm fulfilling my duties as a godfather, Harry."
"What if you get caught? It'll be all my fault."
"Actually, I'm up here to visit Dumbledore. He has
an idea on how to get my name cleared."
"Really! That would be so cool, and then I could
get out of the freaking Muggle house. Its not that I have anything against
Muggles, it's just that they have stuff against my mum and dad. Plus it
would be the best birthday present anyone could ask for. "
"They truly don't like James and Lily do they."
"No they -- Ouch!" One of the owls started nipping
on Harry's fingers. Which caused Hedwig to hoot in a disapproved way. But
at least it caught Harry's attention. Then Harry looked at the owl and
he realized who it was, Pig. "Oh something from Ron!" Harry finally relived
the three owls of their burdens. "Excuse me Sirius, but I seemed to have
gotten some mail."
"Go ahead, I'm interested in what you got for your
birthday."
"Thanks," Harry unwrapped the gift from Ron, and
found himself with his first copy of his brand new subscription to Quidditch
Monthly, and information that he will receive it for a whole year. Then
there was a note from Ron included.
Harry-
How are you? I hope the Muggles are
treating you right. If they're not just tell them after Sirius, has done
his work I'll come and beat the crap out of them. Speaking of Sirius how
is he? Have you heard from him recently, I know no news is good news, but
don't you often wonder?
I hope that this arrived with your
subscription to the Quidditch Monthly, this way we can keep up with what
the Cannons all year, and get quality writers not like that Rita Skeeter,
of a bug. I hope she's not doing well, personally I hope that Hermione
for got to let her out, but would that happen? I think not! Another person
I hope isn't doing well is Malfoy. Just for the sake of seeing you beat
him at Quidditch every year, is great. Speaking of Quidditch, seeing how
a few of your players are gone, do you think should I try out? That way
we can beat Malfoy together!
-Ron
Harry picked up the next package and recognized
the hand writing to be Hermione's right away. Harry opened the package,
and it was a book, which didn't surprise Harry one bit. The title of the
book was "The Rise, the Fall, and the Rise of You-Know-Who."
"Well that's an interesting book."
"Yeah, as long as it isn't written by Lockhart I'll
be fine." Harry couldn't help but laugh at the look on Sirius's face, bewilderment.
"He was the Defense against the Dark Arts teachers that I had second year.
Lupin replaced him. We haven't had a Defense against the Dark Arts for
more than one year. Lupin was by far the best, Moody was good, well if
he had been Moody."
"Oh that reminds me, I heard from Lupin the other
day and you might be in for a surprise."
"Cool, I'd like to here from him too." Harry turned
to the letter that Hermione had written.
Hello Harry-
I hope I find you well, and not in any trouble.
I truly hope that You-Know-Who doesn't come looking for you, but that's
what I've said in every letter that I have written to you this summer.
I was in Diagon Alley the other day, I saw
this book, and I think that you probably could do to read at least the
first rise part of it. Seeing how you know the rest of the story, there
are a lot of your pictures all over in the book. When and where they got
them I don't know.
"Me too 'Mione, me too."
Anyway, Happy birthday Harry! I hope that
there are many more to come for you and no more for Vol—You-know-who. I
just hope no one has to die to see him fall at last. Especially you Harry,
I don't know what I'd do without you.
"Hermione…." Harry sighed.
Sorry about that, but I don't know how well
Ron and I would get along without you being the moderator.
I hope that they don't bring the Dementors
back to Hogwarts, even though we know that you can defend yourself against
them. I am still very impressed that you can do such strong magic that
you could make all those Dementors go away.
How's Sirius, I hope that they don't start
searching for him again.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot, Ron is coming over
next week, do you want to join us? My parents are Muggles too, so maybe
they can reason with your aunt and uncle. Where do you live? England obviously,
but send word back with my rental owl.
I hope to see you next week,
Hermione
"Well isn't that odd both of my friends were wondering
about you, actually not, but its just kind of weird when you are standing
right there."
Sirius was looking through Harry's new book as though
in search of something.
"What are you looking for?"
"I'm trying to find out if I'm in here."
"Check the index."
"You really are James' son, a smart boy. Ah ha!
I'm on page, 15, 87-95, and 1124. I even have a picture on page 89. Ugh,
and it's a bad picture."
"It's okay, mine will be pretty bad too."
"Oh its not much more than they think that I did,
even though it's Peter, who did all of that stuff."
"Well, If Dumbledore has an idea on how to clear
your name maybe they'll have to make a new book, The True Story, Black
vs. Pettigrew. So how does Dumbledore think he's going to clear your
name up?"
"Oh, actually, the instructions should be in that
final package along with Hagrid's gift."
Harry opened the last package as fast as anyone
ever thought it possible. Hagrid had sent Harry the new and revised version
of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Harry found the letter from
Dumbledore in the bottom of the box.
Dear Harry-
I just thought of a great idea on
how to get Sirius's name cleared. I'm very concerned that it took me this
long to remember about this, seeing how you even used this last year. I
think that I'm losing my mind, but that's beside the point. Remember last
year, when you traveled into my memory? Using that pensive? Well that's
my idea. Seeing if you can muster enough magic to place your memories in
there.
You, Ron, and Hermione. If all three
memories match exactly that will be good enough for the Ministry of Magic.
I have great hope in you and Hermione; she is the top student in your grade.
You probably knew that didn't you? Harry, seeing how you can make such
a good patronus that's harder magic than this will be, so I'm sure that
you can do it. Ron is the only one I'm concerned about, but I think that
if you two give him enough support you will help him thorough it.
I'm sure Sirius is at your house
by now. Send him my regards.
Happy Birthday,
Albus Dumbledore
"Gees, all three letters have something to do with
you, Sirius! Now how do you suppose that I get to Hermione's house next
week?"
"Actually, I probably could talk to your aunt and
uncle."
"Bad idea Sirius, they are scared out of their minds
about you. You have been my excuse all summer, for the past two years,
so I can do my homework, and other things. If they find out that you aren't
even a real murderer I'll have to go back to living under the stairs."
"Oh, okay Harry"
"Yeah, I think I'll owl Hermione and tell her that
her parents should call, along with telling her that I'd love to go."
"Sure, well I better be going, I have to talk with
Dumbledore, See you Harry."
And with a pop Sirius Disapparated.
Okay and now to write that letter, Harry thought.
Hi Hermione,
How's it going? Sirius was just here he says
that Dumbledore has got an idea on how to clear his name, namely using
a Pensive, but I'm sure that you and Ron have gotten letters from Dumbledore.
Anyway, about next week, that would be great.
The only question is how am I going to get to your house? I was thinking
that your parents, being Muggles and all could call my Aunt and Uncle,
and try to persuade them, oh and if you do that don't mention Hogwarts
at any cost. Oh and my phone number, er, their telephone number, is 505.689,
I live at 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey. I don't know where you
live either. Or even better, I'll just escape; oh I knew you would not
let me do that one, I can dream can't I? Or this probably will work the
best seeing how my Aunt and Uncle are deathly afraid of Ron's family, they
could come get me too. All of these are just suggestions.
Tell me what you think, as soon as you can.
Oh and thank you for the book, Sirius didn't
like his pictures in there, but I don't like mine either. Did you see the
one on page 56? I'm sitting in Flitwick's classroom, in the middle of class,
and like my pictureself, I don't stick around much. Hey are you in that
picture too? I didn't see much of the book yet. But I will read it.
I can't wait to see you next week.
"Love or From?" Harry considered the way he
should finish his letter. "Hedwig what do you think? Love or from?"
Hedwig hooted once. "Love?" Harry said, "Okay."
Love,
Harry
"Sorry Hedwig, this is Hermione's Rental owl I have
to return the letter with him, but don't worry I have to write a letter
to Hagrid, well after my one to Ron," said Harry as he noticed that Hedwig
looked upset as he tied the letter to another owl, other than her.
So the other owl took the letter back to Hermione,
and Harry picked up another piece of parchment to start writing a letter
to Ron.
Ron,
How are things? It seems that well be seeing
each other next week, at Hermione's house. Well that's earlier than we
expected. Speaking of Hermione's do you know if somehow you can get me
there? That's probably the only thing that Hermione will let me do, she's
scared that Voldemort might come and get me other wise. Believe me I don't
want to die.
You know, and I know, that Ginny wouldn't
want that to happen either. Well at least she can talk to me now she doesn't
get clumsy when she sees me. Am I that way when I'm around "you know who"?
No I don't mean Voldemort. Ugh! He's not even human, and Dumbledore says
that Voldemort has never experienced love. That's beside the point.
Well if your parents can get me there, from
here, what day and what time? If your mum is going to send a letter tell
her that she only needs one stamp not a whole letter full. You should have
seen Uncle Vernon; the postman even found it funny. A postman, is the man
who delivers the mail, yes people deliver the mail in the Muggle world.
I can hear you dad thinking about that, "Fascinating!"
Oh, Sirius was just here, he says that Dumbledore
has a way of clearing his name, which would be great. I wouldn't have to
live with these bloody Muggles. All four of us would be happy to see me
move out.
Well let me know as soon as possible,
Harry
And with the end of his letter, Harry tied the Letter
to Pig's leg and he flew off, ecstatic to deliver mail.
"Okay Hedwig, I've only got to write this letter
to Hagrid and you'll have some mail to deliver."
Hagrid,
How are you? I'm doing well; well as well
as you can do with these Muggles.
Thank you Hagrid for the book, now Ron can
have my old one, his fell apart, It had been Bill's or Charlie's before
it had become his, I imagine it was Charlie's, he's a big fan of magical
creatures, just like you. Well thanks for everything, and I hope the fight
against "You-Know-Who" is going well.
Harry
"Hedwig this goes to Hagrid, you know him,
have fun," said Harry as he tied the letter to her leg and watched her
fly off.
"Wow, it's late, I better get to bed," thought Harry,
"oh that dream, I should probably write that down, and talk about it next
week with Ron and Hermione." So Harry sat down and wrote out what he had
dreamed and put it in his new book from Hagrid, and went back to bed.
