Chapter 1

Letters

The full moon was slowly rising into the gloom of the night sky. The brightness of the city overshadowed the light given off by the stars, and at times completely erased them from the midnight heavens. The crickets chippered their soothing melody under Harry's window, as he sat before it lost within his own thoughts.

"You knew!" Uncle Vernon screamed at his wife under Harry's room.

"What was I supposed to do, Vernon? Was I to leave the boy by our doorsteps? Imagine what the people would say! He is, nevertheless, part of my family, even if he is one of them."

"But you decided to keep it from me? Am I your husband or not?"

"Of course you are! What nonsense!"

"But you still overlooked this little detail and kept it from me!"

"Vernon please! Keep your voice down!" Aunt Petunia hissed. Every night, after Harry's return from fifth year, this conversation took place at the kitchen of number four Privet Drive. The atmosphere in the house was tense, ever since Uncle Vernon found out that Aunt Petunia knew about the spell when she took his nephew into their home.

"You endangered our family Petunia!" Uncle Vernon shrieked all of a sudden, bringing Harry back to reality. Harry groaned with agitation. He rarely left his room for the past month and a half. He avoided Uncle Vernon as much as he could. Every time they intercepted Harry received the most contemptuous look ever followed by rude comments and humiliating remarks no matter who was present at the moment. Aunt Petunia ignored him at daily bases. She rarely looked at him or further spoke to him then was necessary. He was to eat within his own room, and he could not sneak any food from the kitchen that was not meant for him. He was not allowed to leave the house, so for the past weeks he saw the outside landscape from his small window.

Dudley kept out of the way. After the incident with the dementors last summer, the mere sight of Harry scared Dudley. He didn't even went to welcome his cousine back home, as he usually did to keep up the appearances for the neighbors. Aunt Petunia and Dudley were the best things that happened to Harry at Privet Drive in his entire life. He only wished that Uncle Vernon could follow their example.

Harry tried to ignore the riot under his feet and fell to his bed. Taking Charms and Spells from the table he began flipping through it. However, it was impossible to concentrate on the contents of the book; Sirius and Bellatrix overtook his mind.

"I'll get her," he thought, "she'll pay for what she did. I swear that I'll make her suffer that she'll wish she was never born." His grip tightened, and his fingers became white, as the blood rushed away from them up to his face.

His thoughts were interrupted by a creamy color Barn Owl that gracefully landed on the handle of his chair. It gave out a low hoot and stretched out its claw with a letter attached to it. Harry rushed towards the bird and tied off the heavy parcel.

"What's this you brought me?" He asked gently petting the top of the owl's head with his index finger and looking over the envelope.

"Hey, this is from Hogwarts!" He screamed out excitedly. "My O.W.L.s are finally here. Do you hear that Hedwig?" He gazed at his snow-white owl that looked back at him with her black, coal like eyes. She spread her wings and moved to Harry's shoulder, playing with his hair.

"All right! All right! I got the message; I'll open it! You got to learn to be patient." He broke the seal and took out four parchments.

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore

(Order of the Merlin, First class, Grand Sorc, Chf. Wizarlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)

Dear Mr. Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that our school had received your O.W.L.s results and are issued to you within this letter. I will remind you that based on these scores, you'll be placed for your future classes respecting your career choice.

Furthermore, I would like to bring to your attention that the school expects its students a week prior to the start of term, due to the events that took place last year. It is also advisable to be acquainted with the materials that are placed at the syllabus of your future classes. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment.

Yours Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Minerva McGonagall,

Deputy Headmistress

"So a week before? I wonder what Professor Dumbledore has on his mind. Don't you Hedwig." He wiggled his finders under the owl's head and went back to the letter.

"I wish to do well. Please! Please! Please..." He opened his eyes coming face to face with his grade sheet.

Subject Grade

Astronomy A

Care of Magical Creatures E

Charms E

Defense Against the Dark Arts O

Divinations D

Harry's eyes stopped at his first unacceptable grade. He, however, was quite relieved by seeing it.

"It's bellow one's own respect to do well in such a faulty branch of magic. I should have followed Hermione's example and left to take something that's worth my while."

Herbology O

History of Magic A

Potions O

Transfigurations E

Harry fell back to his bed, mouth adjured. Noticing his appearance, he quickly came to his senses and became fully composed.

"No way! An O in Potions? Clearly Snape's underestimating me. I'm as good as Hermione, and I didn't even study that much for him."

"Stop talking to yourself boy! You are disrupting my sleep!" Uncle Vernon barked behind Harry's door.

"More like you are disturbing my sleep each night," Harry thought. However; he didn't want to spoil his good mood by his unimportant relations. He went back to his letter and examined the third parchment. He was surprised by a beautiful handwriting that greatly differed from McGonagall's. The curved letters were enchanting, as he looked over it, but his observations were cut short by a tiny owl that excitedly circled about him.

"Pigwidgeon!" He caught the puny bird and extracted the letter from his claws.

"Thanks! If you wish to rest use Hedwig's cage. I'm sure she wouldn't mind. Will you?" The snowy owl gave a low hoot in agreement to the proposal, and Pigwidgeon flew up to it.

Harry impatiently ripped the envelope open and took out a parchment with untidy handwriting.

"Hey there mate! Sorry about not writing as much as I aught to, but mum was very particular about what I should put into my letters. Frankly I had nothing to say then. However, I got my Hogwarts letter and couldn't hold myself. Can you believe that I got an outstanding in Potions? I was dumbfounded when I first saw it. Got another O for Defense Against the Dark Arts. It is all thanks to you, and that toad Umbrige deserves no credit. Got a D in Divinations, but that was expected. Don't you think? Got an A for Astronomy, but who can blame me? We had such an expose that night. All others were Es.

Mum was satisfied that I only flunked one class. She gave me a lecture; however, on how I was better then Fred and George but should have worked harder like Percy, Bill, and Charlie. They got an O.W.L. for every class that they've attempted. (I have a story to tell about Percy, but that can wait till I see you.)

I'm still waiting for Hermione's letter. I bet I'll get it before I have a chance to send her mine. I wrote a letter to you first, so don't keep Pigwidgeon for long.

We'll, I'm eager to know what you have to say, so don't keep me in the dark.

Thanks, Ron"

Harry took out a clean parchment, quill, and ink. Quickly, he wrote a decent letter to his friend and sent Pigwidgeon on his way. As soon as the tiny owl took leave, a black owl with silvery feathers about its eyes flew in.

"Who must you be?" Harry asked surprised. The bird stretched out its claw and began hooting into his room.

"Ok, ok I got the message." He hastily untied the scroll, and the owl flew away giving another loud hoot.

"You better calm that bloody pigeon of yours, or I'll kill it for Marge's dogs!" Uncle Vernon screamed from his bedroom. Harry glanced at his clock. It read 2:15.

"I need to get out of here." Harry thought angrily.

" Dear Harry,

I'm so glad that I can share with you something about school, then my adventures about the Asian continent. My O.W.L.s came in, and I'm happy to announce that I received one for every class. I was a bit disappointed when I saw an A by Astronomy. However, I don't regret for a minute that my whole attention was focused on the scene bellow. If Professor McGonagall had died, got forbid, I would have wanted to know who the murderer was. In her case it would have been four Ministry employees.

Well back to the O.W.L.s. I received an O for every class except Care of Magical Creatures and Astronomy, as I previously mentioned. The disturbances in Hagrid's classes were unbelievable, and I got to admit that I was too worried about him.

Otherwise everything is the same. I'll be back sooner then I thought. I didn't expect school to start earlier then usual. I'll be going to Diagon Alley on Monday, hope you'll be there. Ron is going to come as well.

Hope to hear from you soon.

Love, Hermione

P-S: How did you like my owl?"

Harry could not suppress his laughter. He couldn't wait to tell Hermione of what Uncle Vernon planned to do with it. He imagined her face and began laughing even harder.

Through his teary eyes he spotted the third parchment that came with the other Hogwarts' letters. He reached for it and examined it once more. Finally his close observations ended, and he began reading the perfect letters.

"Dear Harry,

I hope you'll excuse me for intercepting your letter, but I had no other way to contact you. I knew, however, that you would have to receive your Hogwarts' notices before long, so I took the liberty on tracking it down before it was delivered.

Please don't be alarmed by me, as I wish you no harm or ill fate. You probably know little of me, if any and that can be easily explained. You can choose to believe me or just ignore it all together, but I'm putting my life on the line, so I hope you'll at least finish what you started.

You might think that you are the only descendent of the Potters that survived; however, it is not so. Your father had a younger brother, Dmitriy Potter. I'm sure you think it is insane, but you can ask Remus Lupin about him; I'm sure he'll tell you plenty. The age difference was of two years, and when my father entered Hogwarts he rarely communicated with Uncle James.

After your parent's murder, my father wished to take you as part of our family; however, Professor Dumbledore thought your mother's relations would be a safer place to be. From what I heard it was not a wise choice to make, but then again you might have died by now.

You might be wondering why you never saw me or heard about me before, and it is a fair question to ask. Professor Dumbledore feared that the Death Eaters would want to eliminate anyone under the surname you very well know as Potter. He gave us a different surname to go under, Belventhorn. I wonder if the name ever passed your way.

You might be wondering why I never told you about myself, but there were others who prevented me. Professor Dumbledore and Professor Snape strongly advised me to keep distance to yourself, as you could endanger my life. Further more, I can endanger yours. To tell you the truth, I'm still prohibited from talking to you, but I can't hold out the truth for any longer.

I lost my entire family when I was four and wish not to loose my only relative remaining. You might not think of me as much, but I hold you in my highest esteem. I'm willing to help in any way possible.

I can fill you in about myself, as it seems only fair counting that I know mostly everything about you. I was born a year after yourself at January 19th. After my parent's death I lived with my uncle from my mother's side. He's more like my father then uncle, and I address him as so. He thought I would be more safe if I attend a different school, so he sent me to France to learn the gift of magic at Beauxbatons. However, due to recent events he wants to keep an eye on me, so he entered me to Hogwarts where I'll always be kept an eye on. I'm worried about the house I'll be placed to, but I guess it's inescapable. I'll be proceeding to my fifth year and wish it to be proven much easier then I came to know from many classmates at Beauxbatons. You might find resemblance between yourself and me, but there is rarely anyone that sees it. Your father and my dad were quite different themselves, but our mothers are even more opposite then you can imagine.

I know that the Order is working harder then ever. I, like you, am excluded from the business that is still unsuited for my age. However, with the public knowledge of Voldemort's return, I'm afraid there's nothing to prevent him from killing. You, of course, is his main priority.

The main reason of me wishing to help you is my brother that was killed by Voldemort's followers this very summer this very month. That can explain the reason of the earlier start of term. Don't think for a minute that I'm turning to you just because of my loss, even though it's a large part of it. There were many times when I wished to turn your way, but my brother kept me out of your way. With him gone there is no one to prevent me from contacting you. Of course I hold the words of my professors highly respectable and after my brother's death they all, except one, pushed me towards your way; however, I'm feeling like I'm breaking a taboo, as I never received the consent of the two people that mean a world to me. I can't help but feel if it's the right thing to do.

I wish you best of Luck!

Yours Truly,

Valerie Potter

P-S; I'll see you at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters."

A/N

I hope you enjoyed the first chapter because there are many to come that will involve more action then just mail reading. Please Review!

Thanks to all!