"Sirius, what's for breakfast?" Harry asked as he scrubbed a pan full of greasy crust.
A dark-haired man turned around wearing a dingy robe and showing his bare feet. He cupped his hand into the bubbly dishwater and splashed it into Harry's face. A coating of soap oozed down Harry's forehead and then plopped down onto his lips. After wiping it off, Harry laughed.
"Oh, hilarious. You're supposed to be feeding me, not washing me."
"It's never too late to bathe you, Harry. A young man like you is filthy. More soap in that mouth of yours should do it," Sirius replied and dipped his hand again into the water.
In return, Harry grabbed a dishcloth and smacked Sirius's ass. He yelped in pain, yet did not seem mad at all. Rather, he smiled and ran his soapy hand through Harry's hair, making it stand up on ends like a Muggle cowlick.
"I'm gonna get you for that one!"
Silver jelly hidden in a cabinet bowl was thrown across the room, missing Sirius's head entirely. Right before Harry could toss another chunk of sweets, Sirius ran over and grabbed the bowl. Slowly, he poured the substance onto Harry's head, blending it into the soap nicely.
"Now, what were you asking about before? Ah, yes, breakfast. You're wearing it."
"Get up, Harry."
A woman towered over Harry's bed. Within a few seconds, Harry realized the room around him was none other than his bedroom in Dursley's home. He tugged on his thick blanket and pulled it over his head, hoping to catch a glimpse of Sirius's face once again. He had not seen his face since the funeral earlier in the summer and even then, his face was cold, bluish and numb.
Aunt Petunia nudged Harry once more and then pulled off his blankets. She shook her head and nagged at Harry's slob appearance. Harry mumbled 'ten more minutes,' under his breathe and continued mumbling it until his aunt left the room. As Harry rolled over, he caught sight of an owl pecking at his window.
Harry rolled out of bed and fell onto the floor with a loud thump. Petunia ran back up the stairs yelling, "What did you break?" Any normal parent would be referring to a bone but she was clearly talking about her precious furniture and vases.
"Nothing, I'm fine, thank you," Harry said lowly as he dragged his tired body to the window. Using one of his limp arms, he pulled the window open. The owl then dropped a paper onto Harry's head and flew off. In large letters on the front page read 'The Azkaban Trials'.
"Today, seventy-eight known Death Eaters were sent to Azkaban Prison. Among these wizards and witches included Bernard Shawd, Calypso Elba and Marina Vendetta, three members of the Ministry of Magic. When associates of their families were questioned, Miss Elba's sister responded and I quote, 'We had no idea. It was her ex-husband who convinced her to do this. Imprison him!' Our researchers have informed us that Calypso's husband was none other than Theodore McGonagall, the brother of a Professor Minerva McGonagall at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He too will be questioned shortly, and will most likely be found guilty."
"I can hear you from down here! Shut up!" Mr. Dursley screamed from the downstairs kitchen.
Harry threw the newly reformed Sunday Prophet onto his bed and sluggishly slumped back into his bed. He sighed to himself and pulled the covers back on. Summer was almost over, but it was a much better summer than he had ever had before. The Dursley family barely spoke to him with the exception of a few shrieks here and there. Dudley was sent to a boarding school, and it seemed that Aunt Petunia was more into the wizard news than ever before.
Actually, Harry only knew this because every time he left a copy of the Prophet on the downstairs' kitchen counter, it mysteriously disappeared. Later in the day, Harry would find it in Petunia's bathroom next to the lavender sink and powdered make-up. Perhaps she just wanted to check up on Harry's friends, or perhaps she really was interested in what was happening in the magical world. Well, she still didn't believe that Voldemort was dead. Harry would hear her in the middle of the night cry to herself about the end of the world coming. Yet, he never could mention it around her.
And so, with only one week before school would start up again, Harry read the news intensively. Every title spoke about the Death Eaters and each article revealed new names and connections. Brothers, sisters, cousins, nieces and nephews of famous wizards and witches were blown up with bold lettering each day. 'So and so revealed to be related to a Death Eater just recently sent to Azkaban…'
"Oh, Pig," said Harry as he spotted Ron's owl sitting on his windowsill. Its head perked up and chirped when it recognized the Ron's best friend. In its beak was a thin envelope stamped with the red letter R.
"It's about time."
Harry snatched the letter from the bird's beak and read it to himself.
"Dear Harry,
I am still boarding with Fred and George in their joke shop. The small room they've given me isn't home at all, but it sure beats living with Ginny. She won't stop talking about you. Man, does she have it bad. I've missed you and Hermione.
I don't have very much time to write this. There are a dozen customers downstairs, and Fred and George need all the help they can get around here. Business is booming, especially since school is starting soon, and everyone wants to get prank supplies.
Don't be so gloomy. I know you, and you're thinking about how lucky I am. Well, it's not all fun and games. Just the other day, Fred punched me right in the nose. Right in my bloody nose! And it wasn't a joke! He was really angry that I lost a customer. It wasn't my fault, honest. All I did was fall on one bag of bleeding beetles, just one.
Anyway, I'll see you soon! Don't be late for the Express! If you're even a minute late, I will have to send a search party, meaning my dad's car and me again. Ok, I got to go. George is calling me. Miss ya, mate. Bye.
See ya soon,
Ron"
Harry placed the letter down on his desk and sighed to himself. Despite the fact that Ron was being treated as his brothers' slaves, he still felt jealous that Ron was actually doing something more exciting than him. Even Hermione, who was taking summer courses in advanced subjects, seemed to be doing more thrilling things than Harry.
The remaining week of Harry's vacation was a bore. Aunt Petunia hid in her bedroom while Uncle Vernon went to visit Dudley at the summer boarding school he was sent to (and it cost a pretty penny too). Everything was quiet, everything was silent, and everything was dull as ever.
"Harry," Aunt Petuntia whispered though the bedroom door on the day Harry was to leave for Hogwarts.
"Yes?"
"Time to go. Open the door and get your things."
Harry unlocked his door with a thick rusty key and let his Aunt in. Immediately, he dragged out a wide trunk under his bed and pointed to a few scattered books. Hedwig was still with Hermione at her summer residence hall somewhere in Ireland; she wanted to use Hedwig in a course of hers, and she promised to bring her back in one piece. And so, he didn't have his feathery little friend to talk to all summer, making it very hard for Harry to come to terms with what happened only a few months ago…
"Your uncle isn't home, so I suppose I will must drive you to that Hogwart's Express of yours."
For the first time, he heard his Aunt mention the name Hogwarts. Perhaps she was acting nice because Uncle Vernon was not around or perhaps she matured a bit over the last year. In either case, Harry enjoyed the change.
"Right. I'll be right down. Oh, Aunt Petunia?" She turned her head slightly. "I never thanked you."
"For what?"
"For listening to Dumbledore last year and keeping me here. I would have died if you didn't keep me here. No, really, thank you. And you're being quite different this summer. In a good way I mean."
She nodded her head as if she understood and walked out of Harry's bedroom without saying a word. Harry soon followed with his trunk toward the bucolic Dodge humming on the outside driveway. In a short while, he would be on the train to Hogwarts.
Harry had already bought his books this year. He got them as soon as the list was sent, because the Dursleys would never remember to take him to Diagon Alley. He had to go by himself one night after lying to the Dursleys about his whereabouts. It took him almost an hour to convince them that he was going to return some library books that were overdue and that they'd have to pay the fine for him if he didn't go. Luckily, the family was asleep when Harry had returned so he was able to hide the books under his bed. And so, Harry packed his belongings into the car, sat down in the passenger seat and watched as the twitching hand of Aunt Petunia placed the silver key into the ignition.
The neighborhood seemed distant after a good hour, and neon city lights blinded the sky in ravishing pollution. Monstrous buildings shadowed the roads as if they were shielding Harry. When they finally arrived at the train station, a few dozen new wizards were strolling out from a new building, small and plain. They all seemed so delighted to be there and scared as well.
Just as Harry diverted his attention from the crowd, he noticed Aunt Petunia unloading several items tied to the roof and even starting dragging them toward Platform 9 ¾. One of the young wizards was there and raced into the wall quickly. Petunia jolted a bit at the sight of it.
"Thanks again. You can see me off if you want."
Petunia hesitated and looked over at the wall. "No, that is quite all right. Go on now."
Harry figured as much. He pushed his cart forward and rammed into the wall at full speed. Within a second, he had broken through the barrier and was watching hundreds of young and old wizards screaming at each other. Many did not know where to go while others greeted familiar faces.
"Ron! Told ya I'd make it!" Harry shouted to a red haired young man a few feet away. Ron turned around gradually and revealed a freckled, sore face yawning.
"Oh, Harry. It's jolly good to see you again, mate. I'm sorry about being a Prefect again…" Ron picked up his shiny badge and shoved it in front of Harry's face.
"It's okay. We'll still have some classes. I'll see you then sometime on the train."
Harry and Ron nodded and went their separate ways. The middle part of the train was full of returning students who waved their arms to welcome Harry back. After Harry entered the compartment, he found himself sitting with Neville Longbottom, Luna Lovegood, Ginny Weasley and a new face.
"Missed us?" Ginny smiled as her two white front teeth glistened, and she leaned forward toward Harry's face. She had grown at least three inches since last year, and her lips tended to plump more when she talked.
"Of course. And you are?" Harry asked the young man sitting to the left of Ginny. His dark brown hair was coiled and gelled down all over the place. He wore thick, red glass frames and had a very tattered robe.
"Chester Peter Corryton," he said in a nasal voice. "My nickname is Chad. This is my first year."
Harry couldn't help but laugh at his voice. After a few seconds, he uncapped his mouth and nodded his head. "Pleased to meet you. I'm Harry Potter." He waited for the boy to gasp and awe at him, but he did nothing.
"He's half Muggle, Harry," Ginny said.
"Oh, so you never heard of me I guess."
Chad shook his head and stared at Luna. He smiled slightly. "Who are you?"
"Me?" Luna said as she looked up. "Luna Lovegood. But some people call me Looney!" Her eyes darted back to the book on the paranormal.
"That's not very nice," Chad said and left the side of Ginny. He ran over to Luna who was already sitting next to Neville and stared at her.
The rest of the train ride was quite silent. Neville played with his cactus plant while Luna read her book. Chad stared at Luna, Ginny stared at Harry, and Harry thought to himself in a daydream about what his 6th and almost last year at Hogwarts would be like.
When the train arrived at Hogwarts, Harry escaped the compartment as fast as he could. He looked around when he got outside and saw Hagrid leading in the new students. Hermione and Ron spotted Harry and waved.
"It's here already," Hermione said in glee. "Another year at Hogwarts. Oh, Harry!" She hugged his body and beamed. Over the summer, she filled out with shapely curves and her hair was more auburn than before.
"Come on now. It's time for the Sorting House Ceremony," Ron said as he pried the two apart.
"You two go ahead. You're still Prefects. I'm gonna go see Hagrid."
Harry left his two best friends and approached the half giant. A crowd of young students gathered around him near the lake and seemed frightened by his appearance. When Harry came closer, Hagrid howled and clapped his hands.
"This is Harry Potter!" Hagrid shouted. A few wizards gasped and one witch giggled to her friend. Another young wizard rolled his eyes and whispered,
"He's not Harry Potter."
Hagrid gave out a loud sigh of disbelief and then turned back to Harry. "Would you find showing them your, yeh know…"
Harry lifted his hair as his scar appeared. "Happy? Look, I really want to talk to you, Hagrid."
"If it's that important to yeh. I s'pose I'll cut this short," Hagrid replied in his deep, hoarse voice. He pointed the students to the select Prefects who would gather the young wizards together so that soon Hagrid could take them on the boats to the Great Hall. After all the new students were gathered off to the side, Hagrid turned to Harry and began walking side by side with him in circle.
"Harry, what's the matter?"
"I, well, keep thinking about Sirius. I know he's dead. I have to accept it; but, I feel this pit in my stomach that just won't go away."
"I'm afraid it may never go away, Harry. Of course yeh are sad. Yeh should be, but don't let it keep yeh from doin' what yeh want. When I was a lad, my best friend went an' died."
"I never knew that, Hagrid."
"Well, I never told yeh. He was a Hecklespot Lizard. I know it's not the same as a person, but I loved 'em as if he were. One day, I found him next to me in bed, completely still."
"Well, what did you do?"
"I buried 'em of course!"
"No, I mean afterward… To get rid of that sinking feeling?"
"Oh, well, I didn't do nothin'. Time healed me I guess."
Harry sighed and looked over to the brick wall. "How long do I have to wait? A few weeks, a month, a few years? I don't think I can concentrate on school when all I see is his dead, dead face!"
"Don't yell about him, Harry. Even though yeh are angry, the dead can hear yeh."
"How the hell do you know that? Have you ever been dead, Hagrid? No? Then, you don't know what the hell you're talking about."
"I know that yeh can be angry with 'em for the wrong reasons. He didn't abandon yeh, Harry."
"I never said he did!"
"But I know that's how yeh feel."
"I thought you would help me. Ugh."
Harry rolled his eyes and ran off toward the Great Hall, tripping over his dragging robe. Hagrid unhurriedly followed him and sighed.
"He'll get better… At least I hope he does."