It was not shaping up to be a good summer. Three weeks found a certain unruly haired boy with emerald eyes in his bedroom at the house on Number 4 Privet Drive. Harry sat staring out his second floor window at the street below. Thoughts of pain drifted through his head. Not coherent ideas, just feelings, he didn't even know how to describe them to himself let alone the Order. Harry was hurting badly. The loss of his last father figure and father's best friend had hit him hard. Even the Dursleys noticed his change in attitude and, while not being overtly nice to him, they did not give him chores to do upon his return to their home. 'I think I'd rather be doing something then sitting here hurting' thought Harry bitterly. Never in his life had he been as depressed as he was now. Even as Hedwig fluttered in his open window bearing letters and a cool breeze could not bring a change to his stony facial expression. He emotionlessly untied the four letters from his owl's leg and with a non-committal pat on her head, moved to his bed and opened his first letter which bore his name in a tiny scrawl he recognized as Hermione's.

Dear Harry,

I consider you to be the brother that I never had, and look up to you in more ways than one. I know you better than most and consequently know that you are beating yourself up over Sirius' death. You mustn't think that it was your fault he died Harry, please consider reading this book to take your mind off of your godfather's death. I don't wish to tell you what to do, only give you advice. Focus on how me lived, not that he died.

Always, Hermione

Harry tossed the letter aside and picked up the tiny book enclosed, he couldn't read the title but a note was attached that read "Tap with Wand". Harry assumed that this would return the book to its original size and was a little apprehensive to do this as he was afraid it constituted underage magic. 'But,' he figured, 'What have I got to lose.' with a flourish he tapped the book with is wand and watched as it tripled in size.

A flash of flame startled Harry and he toppled sideways off his bed. From his position crouched on the floor he heard a piercing trill followed by song that filled him with joy and hope down to his very bones, phoenix song. Smiling for the first time in as many months, Harry hopped back on the bed and said "Fawkes, what are you doing here, have you got a message for me?" Fawkes stopped singing and importantly held out his leg and consequently a pure white envelope with long flowing red script. "Am I to assume that this is from the manipulating old man?" Harry asked sarcastically. Fawkes looked at him reproachfully in a manner almost reminiscent of Dumbledore himself.

Harry couldn't say that he was very happy with his esteemed headmaster, in fact he could safely say that he was seriously pissed at the old codger. As much as he respected him, admired him, even idolized him, he found it surprisingly easy to shift a good amount of the blame for Sirius' death onto the shoulders of his wizened professor.

"If you don't mind Fawkes, I'm going to save this for last." Harry quipped and unceremoniously threw the letter over his shoulder on off the bed. Fawkes almost seemed to reprimand him as he took off and circled the room, signing his uplifting song before disappearing as suddenly as he had appeared, in a flash of crimson flame. Chuckling at the bird's antics, Harry turned to the remaining letters. At a glance, he could tell that one of the letter was from his long time best friend Ron his blocky scrawl apparent even from a distant, the formal handwriting on another of the envelopes told him that his OWL results had arrived. The sender of the last letter however remained a mystery and as such Harry moved towards Ron's letter first.

Dear Harry,

Hey mate, how're things? Mum's gone stark raving mad lately and we've been up to our elbows in cleaning, we are all pretty sure it's for you when you get here. You are coming aren't you? Our fingers are all crossed here at the burrow. Chin up mate, look for the bright things.

Ron

PS enclosed are some meat pies in case the muggles aren't feeding you.

Harry set down the letter feeling like his spirit had been uplifted. His friend's carefree attitude in light of all that had happened amazed him. He also sensed an innate wisdom to Ron's words, he filed that away for later recollection. For those few moments of bliss, in Harry's mind there was no Voldemort, no war, no death, only friendship, his heart seemed to swell in size at the thought of it. After sitting for a moment, Harry apprehensively tore into what he could only assume were his OWL results.

Dear Mr. Potter,

Enclosed are your Ordinary Wizarding Levels test results. I must say that all of your examiners were very impressed with your exams. Also enclosed is a list of classes you may take this coming term. Please check off those you wish to enroll in and send this letter back to me prior to one week preceding the start of term.

Minerva McGonagal

Deputy Headmistress

HSWW

OWL Results for one Harry James Potter The first letter corresponds with your grade on the practical examination and the second refers to the theoretical examination.

Transfiguration-O, O

Potions-O, E

Defense Against the Dark Arts-O, O

History of Magic-A, NA

Astronomy-P, A

Charms-O, O

Care of Magical Creatures-O, O

Divination-P, A

As a sixth year, your course selection broadens a bit, but some classes below are only available to those who have scored highly, such as yourself.

Dueling

Advanced Dueling

Spell Creation

Healing

Martial Arts

Meditation

Harry thought that all the elective classes sounded mildly interesting however, he only checked off three of them, AD, SC, and MA AN For lack of effort, some class names will be abbreviated, figure them out for yourself.

The last letter that Hedwig had brought him was obviously written by a female. The flowing, delicate script was easy to read, all it said was "Harry". Harry carefully opened the envelope and pulled out a letter, written on gorgeous velum parchment. Harry sat down against the wall running his hand through his hair, he was almost hopping with anticipation, for what he did not know.

Dear Harry,

As of yet our correspondence has been limited, but I should very much like to start up a continued diatribe as of yet. Along with this letter I have enclosed a gift I hope you will find to your liking. Over the past few years we have all grown in more ways then one, maturing as it is only possible for young ones to do. Maturity is reached by some and has yet to start for others but we are all on our way to becoming adults. We are all here for you Harry, whether you like it or not, push us away, or try to distance yourself from us. We got through the Ministry together, we faced down immeasurable obstacles, and yet we prevailed. I eagerly await your response.

Love, Ginny

To say the least, Harry was fucking shell-shocked, Ginny, it seemed, would never cease to amaze him, the level of thought and articulation that went into this letter was apparent from the very first word. She almost seemed serene in the way she expressed herself through writing. Harry picked up the small package that Ginny had enclosed was a simple gold chain, just touching it made Harry feel safe, comforted. He put it around his neck and the feelings increased tenfold. He couldn't say that he'd ever felt this way before and it puzzled him. He shut his eyes just as the fisrt rays of the rising sun permeated the gloom that was night time. Dumbledore's letter lay behind his bed, content for the first time in a week, Harry allowed himself to be pulled into a dreamless slumber, the only hints of dreams were flashes of a red haired maiden, clad in white, laying in a bed of roses, her hair un-distinguishable from the petals beneath her.