Chapter 2
Sleepless Nights
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Life will either grind you down or polish you up, and which it does is your choice.
Roger Walsh
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Harry Potter woke up with a start. He sat up in bed quickly and whirled his head from side to side in a frantic manner. Harry was breathing heavily, sweat pouring from him. He lifted his hand and looked at his wrist watch. It told him that it was 3:00 in morning. Harry, beginning to calm down, slowly stood up besides his bed and picked up his glasses, which he proceeded to put on his face. He walked across the room to a small bowl filled with water, which sat next to an empty cage. The cage would normally be occupied by his pet owl Hedwig, who was Harry assumed was out hunting at the moment. He dipped his hands into the water and splashed it on his face.
He crossed back across the room and sat down on the edge of his bed, contemplating his dream. He had been having the same one for weeks now. Each one was a rendition of the day during his fourth year when he had encountered Lord Voldemort again. Voldemort had come back, stronger than before, and with the forced help of Harry himself. Voldemort's servant, Wormtail, had slit Harry's arm and used his blood in a potion to bring back the Dark Lord. Harry could still remember the haunting image of seeing Voldemort, his skin pale and thin, rise out of the cauldron, reborn once more. But this was not what had been plaguing his mind.
It was the sight of seeing Cedric, whom Harry had unwittingly dragged along, lying spread-eagle on the ground, dead. Voldemort had killed him, using the same curse that he had killed Harry's parents with. It was the first time harry had ever seen someone killed before him. What had Cedric done? He was an innocent, a mere child, not ready to have life taken away from him at such an early age. And it was Harry's fault.
Oh, of course nobody accused him of it. In fact people went out of their way to tell him that it wasn't his fault. But Harry still blamed himself. He had brought Cedric along with him, brought him to an early age. Cedric had refused, but Harry had insisted. And now Cedric was gone. Harry hadn't intended it too happen. Harry hadn't cast the spell. But Harry still blamed himself. Just like Sirius did.
Harry lifted his hand to his forehead and began to trace the pattern of the lightning-bolt-shaped scar on his right temple. It was a token from his first encounter with Voldemort when he was an infant. Voldemort had tried to kill Harry and had failed. Voldemort had been defeated and harry was left with the scar. Now it served as mark which bound the two of them together. The scar burned whenever Voldemort was near or when he was doing something vicious. Harry had gotten into the recent habit of tracing the scar with his index finger. He didn't no why he did it, he just did it. He did it whenever he was in deep thought, as he was now.
Tap, Tap, Tap
Harry's reverie was interrupted by a sharp sound coming from his left. He turned his head towards the window to see Hedwig there, waiting patiently on the window sill. Harry got up and opened the window to let her in. Hedwig flew over his bed, where she dropped two letters and proceeded to her cage, for a drink of water.
Harry's mood brightened at the prospect of having some company from Hedwig. He walked over to his bed and lifted the two parcels and saw that one was a small package from Hogwarts, the wizard school he attended, and the other from Hermione, a friend from school. He ripped open the Hermione's letter first. Out fell a piece of parchment and a photograph. Harry picked up the photo. It was of Hermione, waving and smiling happily, standing in front of a large castle. Harry smiled and waved silently back, knowing it was silly to do so, since Hermione couldn't see him.
'Well, at least she looks happy," Harry thought. 'Let's see what she has to say.' He lifted the piece of parchment and read:
Dear Harry,
As you have no doubt guessed, I took Victor up on his offer and went off with him to Bulgaria-
That came as a shock. Harry had completely forgotten. Viktor Krum, Quidditch rookie-of-the-year and House Champion for Durmstrang, had become quite fond of Hermione during his stay at Hogwarts and had asked her to come back home with him to Bulgaria. Ron, of course, was quite annoyed at this. Hermione and he had had a great row over the matter. Harry had never understood the situation and had chalked it up to the fact that Hermione and Ron were simply the two feistiest people he knew.
....Bulgaria and it is absolutely beautiful here. Viktor's family has been very hospitable towards me and they really seemed to enjoy meeting me. By the time this letter reaches you, I will probably have returned home by now, which brings me to my next point.
Seeing as for the past few years, we've all met at Ron's house, I was wondering if you, Ron, and Ginny would like to come over to my house for a few days, or perhaps longer. Considering the stories you and Ron told me about when his family came to pick you up last year, I've decided that if you do visit, it would be for the best if my parent's and I come to pick you up. Please send your answer back with Hedwig as soon as possible. PLEASE say you'll come.
Love from
Hermione
P.S. I'm a prefect! I'm so happy!
Hearing that Hermione was a prefect surprised Harry. He picked up the photo of Hermione and looked closely at the right side of her chest. Sure enough, there was the silver badge with the letter P, signifying that she was a prefect. It was quite a shock for Harry. Oh, of course, he always knew that she was prefect material, but it had never occured to him to think of her that way. It simply dawned on him that they were now fifth years. This was the year they started to take O.W.L's(Ordinary Wizarding Levels), this was the year the could become prefects, this was the year that Oliver Wood(Harry's former quidditch captain), whom Harry had seen as being infinitely older than him, had been during Harry's first year. They were at a crossroads in their lives and it had come unnoticed to Harry up until now.
It was at this point in Harry's thinking that the content of the letter hit him. Harry wanted to go see his friends. The only obstacle would be getting Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia to give their consent. His aunt and uncle disliked the idea of anything that made Harry happy, and they certainly had not enjoyed their meeting with the Weasley family. Fred and George had tricked Dudley, Harry's fat and spoiled cousin, into to eating a cursed toffee which caused Dudley's tongue to swell to the size of a king snake. Yes, getting his aunt and uncle's approval would be difficult indeed.
Harry put the letter and the picture down. Although it should have made him happy it instead made him feel uncomfortable and cheerless. Putting these thoughts out of his mind, he moved onto the package from Hogwarts. Harry couldn't help but notice that it seemed heavier than in years past. He broke the wax seal and tore of the brown paper, revealing a simple cardboard box. Opening the flap he pulled out and began reading the first piece of paper.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Potter,
We are please to inform you that your enrollment in our school has been renewed for your fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
As a special notice for all students, the class of Defence Against the Dark Arts class been removed from the curriculum and replaced with Survival in the Magical World
Term begins September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
Harry reached into the box and pulled out a second sheet. This he recognized as his equipment and book list.
Course Books
All students should have a copy of each of the following
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 5) by Miranda Goshawk
An In-Depth History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
The Powers of a Prophet by Cassandra Vablatsky
The Basics of Magical First Aid by Mathilda Gothreet
Dueling for Dummies by Joseph Quitzle
As the Cauldron Simmers by Arsenius Jigger
An Advanced Guide to Transfiguration: from Ruins to Riches by Emeric Switch
One Thousand MORE Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Lost in the Wild by Rufus Jammerson
Other Equipment
1 cauldron (steel/pewter alloy, standard size 2)
1 ring or similar piece of small jewelry
1 Class 5 set of potion ingredients (available at nearest apothecary)
1 familiar(owl OR cat OR toad OR rat)
1 suit of leather training armor
Harry stared at the list. He used to getting strange equipment lists from Hogwarts but this one was unusually so. What did he need piece of jewelry for? Why the suit of armor? Why the change in classes from Defense against the Dark Arts to Survival in the Magical World? Questions were flying through Harry's head, questions he wanted answers to, but not so much as to lose sleep over. Harry had acquired a new opinion of the world through Hagrid right before he left for the Dursleys on the Hogwarts Express: "What would come, would come...and he would meet it when it did." The motto had saved him a lot of worry but had not alleviated it. His hand went to his forehead again and began to trace the pattern of his scar once more.
Shaking the box, Harry realized that there was still more inside. He reached in and pulled out a third sheet of paper. He read:
Dear Mr. Potter
We are pleased to inform you that, due to your high academic achievements, feats on the quidditch field, charisma, respect among your peers, and general skill with the Magical Arts, you have been accepted as a prefect. As a prefect you will receive certain privileges and responsibilities such as leadership position within your house.
Enclosed is your rank and insignia as a prefect. You will receive further information as to your position upon arrival at Hogwarts. We hope that this is the beginning of a proud, new chapter for you and your family during your enrollment here at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Respectfully Yours,
Minerva McGonagall
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
P.S. Congratulations, Potter. Well done.
Harry stared at the parchment, too dumbfounded to for words. He could not believe what he had just read.
"Me?" he squeaked. "A prefect?"
'NO!' he thought to himself. How could he be a prefect? Prefects were the top students in the class, the straight-A students, and the over- achievers. Harry was no dummy but he wasn't a brain either. So why was he a prefect? He molded the question over and over through his head trying to find answer. It just didn't make any sense at all. And most importantly, Harry didn't want to be a prefect! He didn't want to have that on his shoulders! Being a prefect would mean he would have to follow the rules and if he broke any, the punishments would be greater than if he wasn't one. And what would Ron say? Ron had always resented being shunted by his five older brothers, two of which had been prefects, one Head Boy, and all were known and admired by everyone. Harry hadn't really clued into the fact until their 4th year, when, after Harry had become House Champion, their friendship nearly ended. Harry had done his best after that to keep Ron as his friend. But what would this do?
Harry reached into the box one final time and pulled out his prefect pin. He studied it. It was in the shape of a medieval shield, and made out of silver. It was larger than he remembered it being. He walked over to his trunk and slipped the pin, along with the letters from Hogwarts into a small pouch on the inside of the trunk. He then proceeded to put Hermione's letter on his small desk in the corner of the room.
Harry picked up Hermione's photo and took it over to his still open trunk. Reaching down inside, Harry pulled out a large leather-bound book. Opening it, Harry flipped through the pages, which held wizards pictures of his mother and father. Skipping to the back Harry placed the photo on the last page, right next to a newspaper clipping with a picture of the Weasley family, who were also waving happily to him. Harry closed the book and placed it back into the trunk, which he shut tightly. Harry took off his glasses and slipped into bed. Very soon after, he drifted off into sleep, accompanied by very confused thoughts.
Sleepless Nights
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Life will either grind you down or polish you up, and which it does is your choice.
Roger Walsh
---------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------
Harry Potter woke up with a start. He sat up in bed quickly and whirled his head from side to side in a frantic manner. Harry was breathing heavily, sweat pouring from him. He lifted his hand and looked at his wrist watch. It told him that it was 3:00 in morning. Harry, beginning to calm down, slowly stood up besides his bed and picked up his glasses, which he proceeded to put on his face. He walked across the room to a small bowl filled with water, which sat next to an empty cage. The cage would normally be occupied by his pet owl Hedwig, who was Harry assumed was out hunting at the moment. He dipped his hands into the water and splashed it on his face.
He crossed back across the room and sat down on the edge of his bed, contemplating his dream. He had been having the same one for weeks now. Each one was a rendition of the day during his fourth year when he had encountered Lord Voldemort again. Voldemort had come back, stronger than before, and with the forced help of Harry himself. Voldemort's servant, Wormtail, had slit Harry's arm and used his blood in a potion to bring back the Dark Lord. Harry could still remember the haunting image of seeing Voldemort, his skin pale and thin, rise out of the cauldron, reborn once more. But this was not what had been plaguing his mind.
It was the sight of seeing Cedric, whom Harry had unwittingly dragged along, lying spread-eagle on the ground, dead. Voldemort had killed him, using the same curse that he had killed Harry's parents with. It was the first time harry had ever seen someone killed before him. What had Cedric done? He was an innocent, a mere child, not ready to have life taken away from him at such an early age. And it was Harry's fault.
Oh, of course nobody accused him of it. In fact people went out of their way to tell him that it wasn't his fault. But Harry still blamed himself. He had brought Cedric along with him, brought him to an early age. Cedric had refused, but Harry had insisted. And now Cedric was gone. Harry hadn't intended it too happen. Harry hadn't cast the spell. But Harry still blamed himself. Just like Sirius did.
Harry lifted his hand to his forehead and began to trace the pattern of the lightning-bolt-shaped scar on his right temple. It was a token from his first encounter with Voldemort when he was an infant. Voldemort had tried to kill Harry and had failed. Voldemort had been defeated and harry was left with the scar. Now it served as mark which bound the two of them together. The scar burned whenever Voldemort was near or when he was doing something vicious. Harry had gotten into the recent habit of tracing the scar with his index finger. He didn't no why he did it, he just did it. He did it whenever he was in deep thought, as he was now.
Tap, Tap, Tap
Harry's reverie was interrupted by a sharp sound coming from his left. He turned his head towards the window to see Hedwig there, waiting patiently on the window sill. Harry got up and opened the window to let her in. Hedwig flew over his bed, where she dropped two letters and proceeded to her cage, for a drink of water.
Harry's mood brightened at the prospect of having some company from Hedwig. He walked over to his bed and lifted the two parcels and saw that one was a small package from Hogwarts, the wizard school he attended, and the other from Hermione, a friend from school. He ripped open the Hermione's letter first. Out fell a piece of parchment and a photograph. Harry picked up the photo. It was of Hermione, waving and smiling happily, standing in front of a large castle. Harry smiled and waved silently back, knowing it was silly to do so, since Hermione couldn't see him.
'Well, at least she looks happy," Harry thought. 'Let's see what she has to say.' He lifted the piece of parchment and read:
Dear Harry,
As you have no doubt guessed, I took Victor up on his offer and went off with him to Bulgaria-
That came as a shock. Harry had completely forgotten. Viktor Krum, Quidditch rookie-of-the-year and House Champion for Durmstrang, had become quite fond of Hermione during his stay at Hogwarts and had asked her to come back home with him to Bulgaria. Ron, of course, was quite annoyed at this. Hermione and he had had a great row over the matter. Harry had never understood the situation and had chalked it up to the fact that Hermione and Ron were simply the two feistiest people he knew.
....Bulgaria and it is absolutely beautiful here. Viktor's family has been very hospitable towards me and they really seemed to enjoy meeting me. By the time this letter reaches you, I will probably have returned home by now, which brings me to my next point.
Seeing as for the past few years, we've all met at Ron's house, I was wondering if you, Ron, and Ginny would like to come over to my house for a few days, or perhaps longer. Considering the stories you and Ron told me about when his family came to pick you up last year, I've decided that if you do visit, it would be for the best if my parent's and I come to pick you up. Please send your answer back with Hedwig as soon as possible. PLEASE say you'll come.
Love from
Hermione
P.S. I'm a prefect! I'm so happy!
Hearing that Hermione was a prefect surprised Harry. He picked up the photo of Hermione and looked closely at the right side of her chest. Sure enough, there was the silver badge with the letter P, signifying that she was a prefect. It was quite a shock for Harry. Oh, of course, he always knew that she was prefect material, but it had never occured to him to think of her that way. It simply dawned on him that they were now fifth years. This was the year they started to take O.W.L's(Ordinary Wizarding Levels), this was the year the could become prefects, this was the year that Oliver Wood(Harry's former quidditch captain), whom Harry had seen as being infinitely older than him, had been during Harry's first year. They were at a crossroads in their lives and it had come unnoticed to Harry up until now.
It was at this point in Harry's thinking that the content of the letter hit him. Harry wanted to go see his friends. The only obstacle would be getting Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia to give their consent. His aunt and uncle disliked the idea of anything that made Harry happy, and they certainly had not enjoyed their meeting with the Weasley family. Fred and George had tricked Dudley, Harry's fat and spoiled cousin, into to eating a cursed toffee which caused Dudley's tongue to swell to the size of a king snake. Yes, getting his aunt and uncle's approval would be difficult indeed.
Harry put the letter and the picture down. Although it should have made him happy it instead made him feel uncomfortable and cheerless. Putting these thoughts out of his mind, he moved onto the package from Hogwarts. Harry couldn't help but notice that it seemed heavier than in years past. He broke the wax seal and tore of the brown paper, revealing a simple cardboard box. Opening the flap he pulled out and began reading the first piece of paper.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Potter,
We are please to inform you that your enrollment in our school has been renewed for your fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.
As a special notice for all students, the class of Defence Against the Dark Arts class been removed from the curriculum and replaced with Survival in the Magical World
Term begins September 1. We await your owl by no later than July 31.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
Harry reached into the box and pulled out a second sheet. This he recognized as his equipment and book list.
Course Books
All students should have a copy of each of the following
The Standard Book of Spells (Grade 5) by Miranda Goshawk
An In-Depth History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot
The Powers of a Prophet by Cassandra Vablatsky
The Basics of Magical First Aid by Mathilda Gothreet
Dueling for Dummies by Joseph Quitzle
As the Cauldron Simmers by Arsenius Jigger
An Advanced Guide to Transfiguration: from Ruins to Riches by Emeric Switch
One Thousand MORE Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore
Lost in the Wild by Rufus Jammerson
Other Equipment
1 cauldron (steel/pewter alloy, standard size 2)
1 ring or similar piece of small jewelry
1 Class 5 set of potion ingredients (available at nearest apothecary)
1 familiar(owl OR cat OR toad OR rat)
1 suit of leather training armor
Harry stared at the list. He used to getting strange equipment lists from Hogwarts but this one was unusually so. What did he need piece of jewelry for? Why the suit of armor? Why the change in classes from Defense against the Dark Arts to Survival in the Magical World? Questions were flying through Harry's head, questions he wanted answers to, but not so much as to lose sleep over. Harry had acquired a new opinion of the world through Hagrid right before he left for the Dursleys on the Hogwarts Express: "What would come, would come...and he would meet it when it did." The motto had saved him a lot of worry but had not alleviated it. His hand went to his forehead again and began to trace the pattern of his scar once more.
Shaking the box, Harry realized that there was still more inside. He reached in and pulled out a third sheet of paper. He read:
Dear Mr. Potter
We are pleased to inform you that, due to your high academic achievements, feats on the quidditch field, charisma, respect among your peers, and general skill with the Magical Arts, you have been accepted as a prefect. As a prefect you will receive certain privileges and responsibilities such as leadership position within your house.
Enclosed is your rank and insignia as a prefect. You will receive further information as to your position upon arrival at Hogwarts. We hope that this is the beginning of a proud, new chapter for you and your family during your enrollment here at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Respectfully Yours,
Minerva McGonagall
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
P.S. Congratulations, Potter. Well done.
Harry stared at the parchment, too dumbfounded to for words. He could not believe what he had just read.
"Me?" he squeaked. "A prefect?"
'NO!' he thought to himself. How could he be a prefect? Prefects were the top students in the class, the straight-A students, and the over- achievers. Harry was no dummy but he wasn't a brain either. So why was he a prefect? He molded the question over and over through his head trying to find answer. It just didn't make any sense at all. And most importantly, Harry didn't want to be a prefect! He didn't want to have that on his shoulders! Being a prefect would mean he would have to follow the rules and if he broke any, the punishments would be greater than if he wasn't one. And what would Ron say? Ron had always resented being shunted by his five older brothers, two of which had been prefects, one Head Boy, and all were known and admired by everyone. Harry hadn't really clued into the fact until their 4th year, when, after Harry had become House Champion, their friendship nearly ended. Harry had done his best after that to keep Ron as his friend. But what would this do?
Harry reached into the box one final time and pulled out his prefect pin. He studied it. It was in the shape of a medieval shield, and made out of silver. It was larger than he remembered it being. He walked over to his trunk and slipped the pin, along with the letters from Hogwarts into a small pouch on the inside of the trunk. He then proceeded to put Hermione's letter on his small desk in the corner of the room.
Harry picked up Hermione's photo and took it over to his still open trunk. Reaching down inside, Harry pulled out a large leather-bound book. Opening it, Harry flipped through the pages, which held wizards pictures of his mother and father. Skipping to the back Harry placed the photo on the last page, right next to a newspaper clipping with a picture of the Weasley family, who were also waving happily to him. Harry closed the book and placed it back into the trunk, which he shut tightly. Harry took off his glasses and slipped into bed. Very soon after, he drifted off into sleep, accompanied by very confused thoughts.