Disclaimer: Harry Potter is not mine! I don't even pretend to lay claim to any part of it. The following work is for entertainment only. I don't gain anything monetary from it.

Chapter 1: Letters and Surprises

Harry Potter sat in his room at number Four writing his third letter of the week to Remus Lupin. He was really the only one Harry felt comfortable enough writing to out of everyone in the Order. Every now and then Harry would find himself writing a letter to Dumbledore. Of course, this was really only when Remus told him that he would be unavailable or around the full moon. Harry was still a bit angered at Dumbledore for leaving him out of so much.

In the first month or so that Harry had been at his aunt and uncle's house, not much had happened. Remus had gotten Harry to open up about Sirius's death. They'd sent tear stained letters back and forth for the past week. Remus said it normally took a lot long for people dealing with death to get to this point. The only thing Harry had ever refused to talk about was the fact that he felt that he himself was to blame for his death along with a number of others.

Hermione had addressed that issue in her letter that she'd sent. Her letters were slightly less-than comforting as she new so few of the facts. Her letters were lengthy, filled with a number of useless facts, and hints that there was more she wished to tell him, but very little she could in writing. Ron's letters were shorter, but far more amusing. In each letter, he'd taken to describing two of Fred and George's new products as well as anything else he could think of. The one thing that the two of his best friends were both writing about was their nervousness for their owl scores. Harry had noted that he simply felt too emotionally numb to worry about them too much. He did hope he'd had good enough scores to get into the proper classes to become an Auror. He'd begun hoping to pursue that career with a renewed vigor.

Harry finished his letter to Remus. It wasn't a very informative one, simply stating the way life was, and really had been all summer, with the Dursleys. He read it over quickly, checking to see if there was anything he needed to add.

Remus,

Hello, everything here is the same dull way it has been all summer. I do anything I want, and they pretend I don't exist. Do you know when the OWLs are coming? Hermione and Ron have me starting to wonder. I wish you could tell me how things are at HQ and what's going on. I'm sick of not knowing. Do you know when I'll be able to leave? It's so dull here. No, I'm not looking forward to my birthday, tomorrow. It won't be the same without Padfoot around to send me something awesome... or anything at all really. He always did. Sorry. I don't mean to keep bringing him up.

Cheers,

Harry

Harry nodded and tied the letter to Hedwig. "This is for Professor Lupin, okay, girl? Please come back sometime tonight. I don't want to have to wait for you if I need you tomorrow." Hedwig gave a small head tilt that let Harry know she understood. With that, she took off. Harry sighed and opened the door to his room to walk down stairs. He grabbed and empty water bottle from the cabinet and pulled out ice tea from the fridge. Filling up the bottle he walked outside. The water bottles were ones he'd saved. Harry had also learned to make iced tea after Remus told him his mother had loved it. Harry had taken to visiting Mrs. Figg. She wasn't making his life horrible anymore and he found her company satisfying. Putting the tea back in the fridge, he capped his bottle and left number four to visit the only other person close by who knew of the Wizarding World.

He knocked three times on the door to Mrs Figg's house. She opened the door with a warm smile. "Hello, Harry! Please, come inside, come inside! How are you doing today?" Harry stepped inside with a small smile.

"I'm doing fine, Mrs. Figg, and You? How are you?" Harry took off his shoes at the door. It had rained the day before and there was a bit of mud on his shoes.

"Oh! I'm lovely, boy! Lovely! Come, come into the living room, dear. I've got your Daily Prophet, here as well." Harry smiled and followed her into the living room. Much to his surprise, the living room wasn't empty as it was most days. On the small floral sofa was a scraggily looking fellow. He had a lovely white snow owl on his shoulder and a letter in his hand. The man looked up from the letter and gave Harry a familiar smile.

"Professor Lupin!" Harry grinned. "What on Earth are you doing here?"

Remus Lupin stood and Hedwig took off, off of his shoulder. "Harry, Harry, you call me Remus in your letters but Professor Lupin still leaves your lips." This made Harry grin a bit wider. "If you must know, we're meeting Ron and Hermione at the Leaky Cauldron in a short while. It's your Birthday tomorrow, you know. Everyone wanted to see that you had a good time today. I'm afraid we weren't able to all get together tomorrow as it's Monday and all and people have work, you know? We all agreed to take you to a day out on the town. What do you say?"

Throughout his speech, Harry's smile got wider and wider. Remus grinned in response. "I'll take that as a yes. We're Flooing there, Harry, so you know." Harry nodded. "Oh and Harry?"

"Yes Prof-er Remus?"

"Here" With that, Remus held out an envelope to Harry. It had the Hogwarts crest on the back. His OWLs. Harry tore it open.

Dear Mister Harry Potter.

I am pleased to inform you that out of the nine OWLS that you took, seven were of passing grades. As the Astronomy test had a occurrence take place, the test had a curve of one letter grade. To see what scores you received for look below. You are qualified for seven Advanced level classes, marked as.(+)

Grading

O= Outstanding

E= Excellent

A= Acceptable

P= Poor

D=Dreadful

T= Terrible


Subject: Grade:

Ancient Runes N/A

Arithmancy N/A

Astronomy E+

Care Of Magical Creatures A+

Charms E+

Defense Against Dark Arts O+

Divination D

Herbology P

History of Magic A+

Muggle Studies N/A

Potions O+

Transfiguration E+

Congratulations! You received one perfect score for Defense Against Dark Arts! Please send me a list of those classes you would like to continue in next year at least one week in advance from the beginning of the school year (September 1st) after which you will receive your supply list for next year.

Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Harry beamed, looking at Remus. I got seven! I can take Potions! I can still try and be an Auror!!" Harry folded the paper up again, shaking ever-so-slightly from nervousness and excitement. He wondered how the rest of his classmates did. He would send out Hedwig tonight and see. He was also curious to know how the others in the DA did on their OWLs. He would write them as well.

Remus smiled. It was slightly mischievous. The closest thing to the Marauder spirit Sirius had that Harry had ever seen in Lupin. "Your excited about potions with Severus? I could just picture your father and Sirius right now." He chuckled a bit, then added, "They would be proud of you Harry."

Harry's face sombered a bit and he nodded stiffly. "C'mon. Let's get to Diagon Alley." Remus nodded and made for the fireplace. "Thank you for letting us use your Fireplace Mrs. Figg."

Mrs. Figg, shook her head, smiling, don't mention it, dear. You have fun in the Alley today, alright? Don't let your thoughts get to heavy."

Harry nodded. Remus was holding out a bag of floo powder to Harry. Harry took a handful and made for the fireplace. "Oh, Aren't you coming too, Mrs. Figg?"

The older woman beamed at Harry. "I would love to, dear, but I have to stay here today. Take care of my cats and all. Thank you for thinking of me, though. Now, You go off and have as much fun as you can, do you hear me?"

Harry nodded, "Will do, ma'am." At that he threw floo powder and called out "Diagon Alley!" Flames swelled up around him. He felt the firmilar rush and them found himself tummbling out of the fireplace and on the floor of the Leaky Cauldron. He'd barely had time to stand up when Hermione wrapped herself around him. "Happy Early Birthday Harry!"

Ron was smirking. "Happy Early Birthday, mate."

Fred and George, both wearing neon yellow and electric blue suits walked up to Harry. Fred's suit was yellow. It was littered with blue lightening bolts. George's was the same but the colors were switched. "Harry ol' Boy!" Fred cried and sauntered over with George following in the same manner.

"Harry ol' Chap!" George followed.

"How is our favorite-" Fred began

"Oh! Yes! Favorite partner!"

"Mind you, not our only partner!"

"Yes, you see we've taken Ronniekins on as one as well."

"We tried to get Hermione in on it as well-"

"Seemed cruel not to have all three of you-"

"But she wouldn't give us anytime to explain it."

"Hurt our feelings really-"

"Cried for days-"

"Hard. But we stopped for you Harry!"

"Yes! Seeing as it's your Birthday extravaganza a day early!"

"Yes, some of the drinks have some of our stuff in it."

"Makes it more fun don't you think?"

Harry couldn't help himself and found himself laughing slightly at the twins running dialog.. "Thanks. I'll find someone to test the drinks on before I drink any." Ron and Hermione shook their heads slightly as the two Weasley's walked off.

"They're business is doing bloody well, Harry! We'll head over there as soon as we can. You've still got cake and presents and such to open! Wait 'til you see what I got you, Harry! You'll love it!" Ron was grinning madly.

Hermione smiled at Ron. There was a little something to the look, but Harry couldn't place what. He shrugged it off, assuming it had something to do with what Ron had gotten him. "Oh, Harry! Did you get your OWLs yet? We've gotten ours! I got all nine! And all but one were O's! I hadn't hoped I would do so well. I got the E on my Runes test. I knew I should have studied harder for tha-"

"Hermione, Stop. You can tell him all about why you got an E and not an O later! It's his Birthday! Let him have fun!"Ron was smiling. Hermione looked a little put off by him, but stopped anyway.

Harry wrapped an arm around each of his friends shoulders. Remus came in and smiled at Harry before walking over to Mrs. Weasley who was about to make her way over to Harry. Harry took the opportunity to lead his friends over to Tom and get them each a butterbeer.

" 'Ello 'Arry!" Came a robust voice from behind them. Harry turned around to find Hagrid standing there. The large man wore a big grin. "'Appy Birthday!" Hagrid handed him a very poorly wrapped present. Harry smiled and began opening it. Tearing away the paper, he found himself holding his hands a small candle. " Tha's an Everlast'n Flame. The can'le 'ill burn an' burn an' burn an' ye'll ne'er have te get yerself a new 'un! Not only tha' bu' ye can 'er to where only ye can see th' ligh.' So as ter not disrupt yer friends with no late nigh' readin.' " Hagrid winked at Harry. "Ye'll know why I got it fer ye'h soon enou'h, at tha'."

Harry grinned "Thank you Hagrid! You really didn't have to get me anything."With that he mad his way over and gave Hagrid a hug. Hagrid chuckled heartily.

"I 'ad 'oped ye'd not feel to big ta give me a hug! Promise ye'll come ter see me an' Grawp more this year then ye could las'?"

The response came from Hermione. "We promise Hagrid. We'll come see you whenever we can." Hagrid grinned and walked off.

"Uhm... where am I going to put the stuff people are giving me?" Harry wondered idly.

"Oh, Harry, dear! Let me take those for you. We'll keep them in your room at Twelve. Just give them all to me when you get them."Mrs. Weasley was upon them. She threw her arms around Harry in a tight motherly hug. Harry had a sudden feeling of home and realized that hugs like this were present enough."Happy Birthday, even though it's not yet... but I won't be seeing you for three more days then you'll be coming to stay with everyone." Mrs. Weasley pulled out of the hug then pulled Harry over to a pile of presents.

Harry starred at them for a while. "Well, start opening them, Harry!" Ron said, grinning. The problem was, Harry knew that what he really wanted wouldn't be there. Sirius wasn't alive in those small boxes. With that thought Harry sighed and went to the task in front of him.

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Authors Note:

Yay! Chapter 1 is up! I hope you like it. The next one will be up soon. I have a LOT of time to work on this. It might even be up tonight. Who knows. Tell me what you think.