© The title "Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix" and all characters J.K. Rowling

Harry awoke with a start. His hand went straight to his forehead; his scar was bothering him again. It was 7am; he could hear aunt Petunia downstairs in the kitchen making breakfast for uncle Vernon and Dudley. Harry rolled out of bed, and immediately got back in again; it was unusually cold for the time of year.

Just then he heard someone come up the stairs. The footsteps stopped outside his room, "Up. Get up," cried aunt Petunia as she rapped on his door, "Get up now!"

"Ok, ok, I'm up," called Harry.

Harry put on his glasses and went downstairs. Dudley and uncle Vernon were already in the kitchen. Dudley was tucking into a large plateful of bacon and eggs, and uncle Vernon was reading the morning paper. Harry put some bread into the toaster and sat down. There was a thud on the hall floor; the post had arrived.

"Harry! Get the post." Shouted uncle Vernon.

Harry made his way into the hall picked up the post. There was the usual mix of bills and junk, at the bottom of the pile there was a letter addressed to Harry. It was the letter he got every year at this time. It was the letter from Hogwarts telling him which books he would need next term. Harry went back into the kitchen, handed the bills to uncle Vernon, put the junk mail in the bin and sat down to read his letter. Uncle Vernon opened his mouth to say something to Harry about the letter when he noticed the wax seal on the envelope, and decided that he'd better keep quiet.

Harry noticed the disapproving look on his uncle's face and decided that he'd better take his letter upstairs before uncle Vernon said anything.

Harry walked into his room just as Hedwig was flying in the window.

"Hello Hedwig!" said Harry, "Back already?"

Hedwig flew over to Harry's shoulder and started to nibble on his ear. Harry took the rolled up piece of parchment from Hedwig's leg and sat on his bed to read it.

Dear Harry,

Hope the Dursleys are treating you ok and not giving you too much hassle!! Got your letter from Hogwarts yet? Got mine yesterday. I can't believe the summer holiday is nearly over.

Anyway meet you at platform 9¾, next week as planned,

Ron.

Harry folded up the letter and put it in his pocket. He couldn't wait until the new term started on September 1st, Hogwarts had become like a home to him over the past four years and now he was looking forward to his fifth year at the great school.

The next few days dragged for Harry, he couldn't wait 'til Saturday when his uncle would be taking him up to London. Harry was meeting Hagrid at the Leaky Caldron, so that they could get Harry's things before term started. Finally Saturday dawned clear and bright. Harry checked that all his things were in his trunk and that Hedwig was in her cage, and he heaved the heavy trunk out of his room and down the stairs. Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia were already in the kitchen. Dudley wasn't there. He'd supposedly come down with the flu and was tucked up in bed. But Harry knew better, Dudley just didn't want to go back to his school, Smeltings, on Monday. Dudley hated Smeltings, they made him do P.E. outside in the rain and Dudley hated sport or exercise of any kind. Also, the other boys laughed at Dudley because he looked so uncomfortable in his white t-shirt and shorts and because he was so hopeless at football he was always picked last. Harry almost felt sorry for Dudley. He remembered what it was like to picked last for everything, but the feeling soon past and Harry got on with eating his breakfast. By 8 o' clock Harry was in the car and uncle Vernon and he set off for London. Harry's uncle has some business to take care of in London, and as he soften reminded Harry during the journey, was the only reason he was taking Harry to the station, otherwise he would have just put Harry on the train by himself. Harry would have preferred going on the train to London rather than spending two and a half hours in a car with uncle Vernon, but Harry didn't say this to him. They were silent for most of journey, and when they reached London uncle Vernon just stopped long enough to let Harry out of the car with his trunk and Hedwig and then he was off without even saying goodbye.

Harry entered the Leaky Caldron and saw Hagrid sat in a corner by the back entrance.

"Hey! Hagrid," called Harry, "Give us an hand would you?"

"Well, 'ello 'Arry! Din't expect yeh so early. How are yeh? Hope those muggles 'ave been treating yeh ok."

"I'm fine Hagrid. How are you?"

"Alright, I guess, considering recent events," replied Hagrid somewhat sadly.

Harry thought for a moment about the events of last year, about how he'd mysteriously been entered in the Triwizard tournament and about its tragic consequences. He thought about poor Cedric and he couldn't helping a twinge of guilt even though everyone had tried to convince him that it wasn't his fault, Cedric's death had been on his mind all summer.

Tom the innkeeper approached Harry and brought him out of his thoughts.

"Penny for your thoughts," said the innkeeper. Harry smiled weakly. "Shall I take your things up to your usual room?" asked Tom.

"Thanks Tom, " said Harry. Harry followed Tom up to his room while Hagrid finished his drink. Once Tom had left the room, Harry and a quick wash to freshen himself up and then went back downstairs to join Hagrid.

"You ready to go?" said Hagrid.

"Yeah, let's go," replied Harry unenthusiastically. And they went out into the yard and Harry took out his wand tapped the wall three times and then waited for Diagon alley to appear before them.