Please note I do not own any part of the Harry Potter brain child. If any of this story comes true it is by mere coincidence. I do not have the best grammar but, please review. Hell, I even like flames! Have fun reading, and give me feed back! Oh, sorry to those who get emailed every time I resubmit this! Really I am! But I forgot some disclaimers and found a huge error in the story! Have fun reading, I hope I surprise you! I will try to get a new chapter up every 2 weeks (week to write and a week to edit). However, I may finish faster if I have some positive reviews! ***********************************************************************

"Happy Birthday to me," Harry Potter stated dryly.

He had just received his birthday presents and Hedwig was impatiently pecking at his hand. He patted her on the head and with a hoot she flew to her perch. Harry opened each package one by one. He received New News on Brooms; the first of twelve magazines in the subscription, compliments of Ronald Weasley. Harry knew Ron had loving intentions. Still it panged him to think of quidditch with his life long ban still in effect. Hermione's gift did little for his spirits either. She purchased a set of three writing quills for Harry and enclosed a picture of Ron and Hermione. Harry only glanced at the picture since it hurt too much to think about his friends. He tossed their letters aside for he knew they would bring him minuscule amounts of comfort or joy. The next two packages were from Professor Lupin and Hagrid. They each contained sweets and some gadgets from Weasleys' Wizarding Wheezes. He also threw these packages aside. Harry reached for the next two which contained knitwear from Dobby and Mrs. Weasley. He then grabbed for a dome shaped package attached to a rectangular one. His breath left him when his eyes came to rest on the sticker attached to the package.
To Harry, with love, Sirius. Harry gingerly removed the attached scroll. When he unrolled it he was surprised to find a brief note in Professor Lupin's script and another note in Sirius's. He felt a knot in his throat when he read Professor Lupin's note.

Dear Harry,

I know this must be painful, but Sirius purchased these gifts for you before his death, and would want you to have them.
 

Professor Lupin


He then read Sirius's note.

Happy Birthday Harry,

I hope this is a happy and special day for you.

Love, Sirius

If Harry had any tears left he would have started crying. He ripped open the dome shaped package and found some chocolates, owl biscuits, and old quidditch books. He then opened the bottom package. Harry noticed it started to move when the dome package was removed. There was another note which read:

Harry,

Every great flyer needs his own set of quidditch balls. This was my set. I hope they suffice.
Love,
Sirius

"They mean more than you could have imagined, Sirius," whispered Harry quietly. Harry had all that he could take of Sirius' package. He gently placed it aside and reached for the last remaining package. He proceeded to open a small unmarked rectangular box. The box contained a letter. The letter was from Hogwarts stating what he needed for his sixth year. (Harry had managed to scrape up just enough O.W.L.S. to continue his path as an auror.) Harry assumed the letter was from Dumbledore himself. His suspicions were confirmed when he read a letter personally written by Dumbledore:

Harry,

This summer has been a long and hard one for you. I hope I lighten your spirits by requesting you bring your Firebolt to school this year, as I have persuaded your life time ban from quidditch removed. Happy Birthday, Harry.

Albus Dumbledore,
Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Harry was not happy. He knew he wouldn't be until Voldemort's death.

"POTTER!!!" Uncle Vernon roared through Harry's thoughts. Harry descended down the stairs and smashed into his red-faced and angry uncle. Vernon Dursley grabbed Harry by the neck and threw him on the sofa. Harry once again felt a knot in his throat. He was starring at Sirius's face on the local news channel.

"WHAT IS THIS BOY?!" Vernon Dursley screamed as he turned up the volume on the television. Harry stifled out a sob for the first time in a month as he listened to the report.

"Huh?!" Mr. Dursley yelled. "it says Black was innocent! It also states that he is dead!" Frozen where he sat, Harry couldn't believe that Sirius's name was finally cleared. He was happy for his late godfather. Harry felt that this was the least the Ministry of Magic could have done for Sirius.

"Well, is it true boy?!" Uncle Vernon screeched. "Stop crying like a baby and answer me!"

"Yes," Harry choked out, "it is true."  This set Vernon Dursley's anger off. His whole body went into a shaking fit.

"How dare you boy!" He screamed. "You never told us he was dead! You let us think he was alive and a murderer!"

"You never asked about him." Harry bit back sharply. He then ran back upstairs and down the corridor to his bedroom. With all his might he slammed his bedroom door. Harry lay down on his bed and closed his eyes. The lighting bolt scar on his forehead burnt when he thought about Sirius and the night he died. He was ripped from his thoughts, however, by Dudley's taunting voice. Dudley's words stung so badly Harry only heard parts such as "cry baby" and "everyone who loves you dies". The night was long and hard for Harry. Little sleep came to him. When Harry did reach sleep he was often awoke with the shivers, a side effect of the Dursley's new air conditioner.
Harry was awoken by a knock on the front door. Harry was not aware that the Dursleys were due for company. However, he knew from living with the Dursleys not to look disheveled in front of company. Harry also figured it to be a loosing battle to look good in Dudley's hand-me-down clothing. He threw on some baggy clothes and began walking down the corridor. Ho stopped walking and tried to remain hidden when he heard a female's voice speaking to Mr. Dursley.

"Hello, Mr. Dursley. I am Arabella Figg's granddaughter, Hailey. I to ask if I could have tea today with Dudley and Harry," said the stranger cheerfully.

"How do you know Harry?" Vernon Dursley asked timidly.

"I met him in your yard yesterday," the female replied.

"Impossible! He is sick in bed! But you are more then welcome to have tea with Dudley when he returns from his friend's house," said Vernon smugly.

"Well, if Harry is sick in bed, then why is he in the corridor?" asked Hailey. "Hullo, Harry," she said addressing him, "Would you be up for some tea?"

"Sure," Harry said stepping from behind the shadow and glaring at Uncle Vernon. Then he looked at the girl and his legs almost buckled beneath him. She was beautiful, but it was not her beauty that he was taken back by. She had a familiar face and black hair that glistened about her mid back. Oddly enough she wore a dark crimson long sleeved shirt paired with jean shorts on a hot day.

"Dudley is not here," Vernon cut in sharply.

"That is alright," Hailey replied coolly.

"I will get the tea," replied Petunia meekly from her hiding spot behind a kitchen wall as Vernon went to help her.

Hailey walked across the living room and sat on the couch. "Harry, are you okay?" she asked politely.

"What? Oh, yes, I am," he replied confused as he walked over to a chair opposing the couch. Before he could think she began to speak.

"So are you looking forward to starting school?" asked Hailey cheerfully.

"Harry goes to St. Brutus's Secure Center for Incurably Criminal Boys," Vernon cut in quickly as he placed the tea tray down on the table between the couch and chair.

"Really, how interesting…" Hailey smirked while looking at the grimace on Harry's face. "I used to attend Beauxbatons but I…"

"Who are you and what are you doing here?!" Harry cut in, screaming while brandishing his wand and knocking over his chair.

"Put that thing away boy!" Vernon Dursley hissed. From somewhere in the kitchen a barely audible whimper was produced by Mrs. Dursley.

"Expelliarmus," Hailey recited calmly as if she was anticipating this. With a great force that Harry had never felt before, he was thrown back, his wand landing in Hailey's hand perfectly. However, instead of landing with a thud, he landed softly on his backside as if someone had caught his fall.

"What in ruddy hell is going on here?!" screamed Mr. Dursley. "You brought you freak friend into my home!"

"I don't know her!" Harry bit back, "and the bigger problem is she has my wand!"

"Sit down," Hailey said in a Dumbledore calm tone. "You don't know who I am?" continued a confused Hailey addressing Harry.

"No," said the exasperated Harry.

"Did you not get Hermione's photo of herself, Ron, and me, or the letter explaining that I was coming?"

"I didn't read the letter or look at the picture," Harry said, feeling ashamed.

"Here," Hailey said as she gave Harry his wand back along with a small package. "It's a card and a galleon for your birthday," said Hailey, answering Harry's questioning look. "I'm Hailey Black, Sirius's daughter."

"What?" said the astonished Harry, "He didn't have a daughter!"

"Yes he did, and I am her," she said factually.

"How is it he never told me about you?" Harry asked skeptically.

"He only learned I was still alive in my fourth year. He was meeting me in secret till his death," said Hailey painfully. "That is when Dumbledore decided that I should return to Hogwarts."

"Return?" asked Harry.
            "Yes, to condense it for you, the night your parents were murdered Dumbledore sent Hagrid to retrieve you. Well, I was also retrieved. Since, unlike you, I had no living relatives I grew up with Dumbledore and what few staff members remained at the castle in the summer. However, when I came of age to start school, Dumbledore thought it was wise to send me to Beauxbatons," she paused briefly to make sure he understood. When he nodded Hailey continued. "This summer I returned from school to Grimmauld Place, where I tried to help with the house upkeep and making the Order comfortable. Now my job is to escort you from the Dursleys." When Hailey finished she stared at Harry, who stared back. "I know this is hard and a lot to swallow Harry, but you have to believe me."

Mr. Dursley, who could take no more of the magic talk, yelled, "Get out of my house! I will not have a murderer's daughter and a witch in my house!"

"He is not a murderer!" Harry and Hailey screamed simultaneously.

"I have a question," Harry said, regaining his composure.

"Yes?" Hailey asked.

"You used a spell on me earlier and yet there are no owls," Harry replied, more confused then ever.

"Have you not been reading the Wizard's Law Journals?" asked Hailey in an accusing tone uncannily like Hermione's. Taking Harry's blank stare as a no, she continued, "Because of Voldemort's threat, the ministry lifted the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery. However, it is only on defense spells."

"I believe you," said Harry finally.

"Good" said Hailey sincerely. "Uncle Snape will be here momentarily."

"Uncle Snape?" asked Harry fearing for the worst.

"Sorry, you know his as Professor Snape," laughed Hailey, "He was always at the castle when I was little. He would teach me spells and help me with my magic. He is so caring and nice that I've called him Uncle Snape since I was little."

"Snape nice?" asked Harry sarcastically. With a loud pop a figure appeared. Petunia Dursley shrieked and Vernon Dursley fell backwards to the floor.

"Yes Potter, nice," said the slimy haired Snape, who was now standing in the Dursley's living room, leering at a horrified Harry.