Harry bolted up, eyes wide open, hands gripping his sheets so hard that his knuckles were turning white. His clothes were plastered to his body from the sweat that had collected as he had twisted and turned in his sleep from the dream. His breath was labored, coming in short spurts...he knew that if he didn't calm down, he would start to hyperventilate.

That dream again!, Not a dream, a nightmare...

He was dreaming about that night again. That night at the ministry, the night that Sirius had died. It had been happening every night since he had gotten off of the Hogwarts express and had come back to the Dursley's for the summer. It had been almost a full month now, and yet it still continued to disturb his sleep every single night.

Sirius...he still couldn't believe that he was really gone. Harry kept expecting to get an owl from him saying that it had all been a plan to officially get Sirius off of the Ministry's radar. Yet somehow, in the back of his mind, he knew that wasn't true. He knew that he had really lost Sirius, that he would never be able to clear his name, or live with him. However, he was still grieving and was still in the stages of denial.

Turning to the clock that sat on the shabby cloth which covered the rickety table in the tiny bedroom (everything was shabby and rickety, since it was usually from the Dursleys attic or something that Dudley had previously owned), Harry realized that it was after midnight. That made the date July 31st. It was Harry's 16th birthday.

Turning his attention to the desk that sat in the corner of the room, he realized that there were numerous owls sitting around Hedwig's cage. The were all carrying letters and brightly wrapped packages of different sizes. He immediately recognized Pig, Ron's owl, because he was the only one that was still zooming around in the air. After catching Pig, he untied the parchment, which he recognized had Ron's untidy scrawl on the outside, and the packages that he was carrying, he threw the owl back out the window. Next, he turned to the owl that he recognized as one of Hogwarts owls, it had brought the schools letter containing his O.W.L results and also the list containing the items he would need for the new school year. Harry hesitated, and then decided that he would wait before opening the letter with his results. At this point, he laughed out loud, he could hear Hermione's response to that statement in his head, it would have an outrageous yell. He was sure that Hermione had also pulled the feathers out of the owl while trying to get her letter. At this point, he turned to Hedwig, his own owl, who had gone to get his present from Hermione, just like she did every single year. Hagrid had definitely been right years ago, owls were extremely smart and useful. He then looked at the collection of unfamiliar owls that were assorted around his room. Being careful to handle everything with extreme caution, since he wasn't sure where the others had come from, he began to untie the various things that were attacked to the legs of the owls.

Firstly, he had come across of a note from Hagrid, who had apparently borrowed a post office owl from Hogsmeade to use. He then saw Mrs. Weasley's familiar handwriting on another piece of rolled-up parchment. He deducted from this that the family's old owl had either died or just couldn't fly more than a hundred feet, like Ron had been suggesting for years. He then gently untied the rest of the pieces of parchment with handwriting that he didn't recognize. Lastly, he came across Fawkes, with a note from Dumbledore. He decided to read this one first.

Mr. Potter,

First, I would like to wish you a very happy birthday indeed. While I know that you have seen and done more than most wizards in their entire life, I understand that sixteen is quite an important year for a young man like yourself. You are nearing legal age here in the wizarding world, and I can only wish that things will become easier for you as you grow older. We all experienced a disturbing loss of a dear friend and family member, yet I understand that it was the hardest for you. I hope that you have come to the realization that in no way were you at fault with the events that transpired in the ministry. I would also like to congratulate you on a few matters at hand. I believe that I had explained to you why I had not made you a prefect that night in my office, but I think it is time to correct that matter. I hope that you chose to join your friends in this honor on September 1st. I believe that Professor McGonagall also has important news to give to you, and I further my congratulations to you on that matter, which you will discover shortly. Lastly, I wish to inform you that I believe that you have spent a sufficient amount of time at the Dursley's for this summer, and so I have spoken to both Arthur and Molly. They are glad to have you spend the rest of the summer with them. Ron shall be in contact with you as soon as Molly lets him know the significant details.

I shall speak to you shortly, and once again Harry, Happy Birthday. AD

After grinning at the unexpected news about spending the rest of the summer at the Burrow, Harry's eyes traveled back to the news of him being made prefect and the business that the headmaster spoke of with the transfigurations professor and his head of house. He assumed that this was something about his O.W.L results...maybe it was about furthering his dreams of becoming an auror? She had claimed that she would do whatever possible to help him achieve his goal.

Looking back over to the pile of unrecognized letters, he now noticed the professor's handwriting. He reached for that letter.

Mr. Potter,

I write to inform you that with the lift of your quidditch ban at the end of last term, I have chosen to make you captain of the team this year. You have the most experience of the current members, and I expect for you to keep that Cup in my office. I also wish to inform you that I have made Mr. Weasley your Co-captain. I feel that with your relationship, and his strategics, we have an unbeatable team. Congratualtions, and we will speak again on September 1st. Enjoy the rest of your summer.

Professor McGonagall Deputy Headmistress

Harry had expected almost anything but this news. He had almost dropped the parchment on the floor, and had had to read through it three times before comprehending the news. Him and Ron were co-captains! He quickly grabbed Ron's letter from the pile on the desk.

Harry! WE'RE CAPTAINS OF THE TEAM! CAPTAINS!

Happy Birthday mate! I can't wait to see you, and we'll be at your house tomorrow at 5 p.m.!

Harry grinned at the parchment in his hand. He briefly frowned, as Ron hadn't mentioned how he would be getting picked up. He hoped that it wouldn't be throw the Floo again, as he didn't want a repeat of the last time. He then turned to the present. Quickly unwrapping it, he saw that it was a full set of wizarding chess pieces. He couldn't wait to play against Ron.

Next, he opened the letter from Hermione.

Happy Birthday Harry!

I just wanted to send your present with Hedwig, and can't wait to catch up with you on all the news! I'll also be spending the rest of my summer at the Burrow, and so we'll talk then!

Love, Hermione

Harry opened her present, which was a gift certificate for 20 galleons to spend in any store in Diagon Alley, and also some broom polish for his Firebolt.

Looking at the clock, he realized that it was just after two in the morning. Harry took a glance at the pile still on his desk, and then realized that he should open the rest in the morning, since he still had to pack his things and finish all his homework before he left for the Burrow. He quickly decided to open one more, and then the rest in the morning after he finished all he had to do. Taking a glance at the pile, he picked one up that looked vaguely familiar.

Dear Harry,

Happy Birthday! I know that I've never written to you before, but we got a lot closer this past year and so I now consider you one of my friends, not just Ron's. I hope that you like your present and I can't wait to see you tomorrow. Hope the muggles aren't being too horrendous and that you haven't been thinking too much about that night at the ministry.

Ginny

P.S. I know that the present isn't much, but I saw it and thought of you.

Ginny? He had never expected a letter from her. Yet now that he thought about it, he didn't think of her as just Ron's younger sister anymore. She was one of his friends now, someone that he cared about, and she was smart and pretty too...WAIT! She was still just Ginny...nothing more, was she?

Opening his present, he discovered a seal that he could press into hot wax and then press into letters he was sending. It was silver, and has his initials and the Gryffindor crest engraved into it.

Mulling over this recent development in his friendship with Ginny, he lay down in bed, never again thinking about the nightmare that had been disturbing his sleep for many nights. He wouldn't awake again until the sun was high in the sky the next morning.