YEAR Six at Hogwarts
Harry Potter and the Power of the Blood
Ch. 1: Letters, Old and New
'I wonder where Hedwig is?' thought Harry to himself. 'She's been gone for almost three days! The Order is going to get worried.' It was the third day of August, three days since Harry's' sixteenth birthday, with no word from anybody. Not even a card. Harry looked out his window for what felt like the thirtieth time that night. This time, however, he saw a whole fleet of birds flying towards his window. Leading the flock was Professor Dumbledore's phoenix, Fawks. 'No wonder the Order hasn't broken down the door looking for me yet.' thought Harry.
This was the largest amount of packages Harry had ever received at one time. Fawks, Hedwig and several of the school owls flew through Harry's window and waited patiently on his bed for him to remove their burdens. Once untied, all of them save Hedwig took wing back through his window into the night. Harry sorted through them until he found one from Ron. He opened the letter.
Hey Harry,
Sorry this is late. The Order said that everything was supposed to go through them, just to make sure none of us was sending anything that might hurt you. Dunno why they were checking our stuff an not Hagrids', but oh well. Happy Birthday mate, number sixteen lucky you.
RonHarry opened Ron's present and was delighted to find a book of Quidditch plays that had won the world cup over the last hundred years or so. He then shuffled through a few more packages to find Hermione's present. It appeared that he had gotten a book from her as well. Now there's a surprise. He opened her letter.
Harry,Happy birthday. Ron's probably already written you why our packages are late, so all I can say is sorry. We've been asking professor Dumbledore when you can leave your Aunts' house, but he hasn't said yet. I hope you enjoy your present.
Hermione
Harry opened the package, and sure enough, it was a book. It was titled The 1,000 Most Commonly Occurring Questions in N.E.W.T. Level Classes. "Thanks Hermione." Harry said under his breath. Well, at least it would be useful if Harry was able to take N.E.W.T. potions. Harry decided to look for Hagrids' present next. It was in a small wicker basket near the back of his bed. As Harry reached for it the basket wobbled a bit. Knowing Hagrid, and fearing what he might have sent, Harry quickly snatched the letter from the top of the basket.
Happy Birthday Harry,
I 'ope yeh like yer birthday present. I 'ad to ask Professor Dumbledore special to get yeh one. It's a Wyvern Harry. Powerful magic, they are. Rare too. He'll get on well with Hedwig, and so yeh know, Wyverns is smart. I don' know if i's true, but I herd tha' they can talk in yer head to yeh. I 'ad the egg charmed not to hatch 'till yeh held it. When it hatches it'll bond to yeh. So I 'opes yeh like it.
Hagrid
"Well this is unexpected," said Harry. "Still, if Professor Dumbledore let Hagrid give it to me, it probably won't kill me." He opened the lid of the basket and was stopped short. The Wyverns' egg was a beautiful emerald green flecked with sapphire and ruby patches. Harry reverently picked up the egg and held it close to his face. It started to wiggle, and then little bits started to fall off. The Wyvern poked its' head out of a hole and looked at Harry. He felt a tickle at the edge of his mind, as though it was evaluating him. Finally, it stretched its' wings out and shattered the shell. It sat in Harrys' hands both of them looking at one another. It looked, for all the world, like a small dragon. Bt there were some differences. It had only two legs, instead of four, and had a single horn in the middle of its' forehead. Its' wings were double the size the would have been on a dragon hatchling that size, and its' tail was about as long as its' body. Harry also doubted that any dragon had the same colors as the Wyvern. It was colored like its' egg had been, emerald with patches of sapphire and ruby.
"Master"
"Where the hell did that come from?" said Harry.
"Master," said the 'voice' again "It is I, in your hands."
"You can talk in my head! What else can you do?"
" Master, I can do many things. I have most of the characteristics of the birds known to you as 'phoenixes', though I do not burst into flame when I die, nor do I come back. But you needn't worry about that; we have bonded and in so doing ensured that I will live as long as you do. I also bolster your magical abilities substantially."
"Please don't call me master. I don't want to be anyone's master. I would settle for being your friend though."
"Agreed friend. Now, what are you going to call me?"
" How about Emrys?"
"That is agreeable to me. I am Emrys now." With that, Emrys flew up to the top of Harrys' bed and settled down to sleep with his wings around him and his tail curled around the post for stability. Harry turned his attention back to his presents. He opened the largest one next and found that it contained all manner of presents from Order members. Harry picked up the one from Moody and opened it.
Happy Birthday Potter. I picked up some things I thought you might like. First is, I got you a trunk a bit like mine, Lupin said you might like it. It's only got four compartments though. Second, I thought you could use a miniature foe-glass. It's small enough to put on the inside of your trunk lid. Stay out of trouble.
Moody
As Harry finished the letter the trunk that had been miniaturized to fit in the package grew back to normal size. The first compartment was double the size of the trunk and contained the foe-glass. It was obviously meant for school things. The second compartment held a fully furnished study into which a ladder descended. The next compartment was a stocked kitchen, and the third was a bedroom. It had a private bathroom off the end. The coolest thing was the password setting. It was set for his voice patterns, mental patterns and the word he chose. Harry decided to leave the password selection until later. He picked up the next package; it was from Tonks and seemed to contain something squishy. Harry opened her letter.
Wotcher Harry,
I was looking for something for your birthday when I came across this. It looked about right, so I got it for you. It's a trench coat that lots of aurors find useful. The coat is made of dyed Tebo hide, so most spells will bounce off. It has a charm on it so that you aren't noticed unless you want to be. Plus, it's got a nifty spell put on the pockets so that you can put anything in there, regardless of size or weight. Probably not as useful for sneaking around as your invisibility cloak, but you should be able to put it to good use. It looks good when you want to be noticed.
Tonks
Harry unwrapped the coat from the packaging. It did look good. The Tebo hide, which Harry looked up was normally ash gray, but in this case it had been dyed jet black. Harry thought it would fit pretty well, but it might be a little long. That left him with Lupins' present and the letters from Dumbledore. Harry decided to go with Lupins'.
HarryFirst, don't blame yourself for Sirius' death. He would have wanted to go out protecting you. Second, I want to say how proud I am of you for standing up to the Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries. You would have made your parents proud. Now, for your birthday, I spent a while looking up and brewing this potion. I think you should like what it does. Happy Birthday.
Remus
Harry sat for several moments. In the excitement of his birthday he had momentarily forgotten his grief over Sirius' death. Harry slowly opened the potion Lupin had sent. It was a deep purple color. "Well, if it's poison, at least then I'll be with my parents." he said before gulping it down. It tasted like sulfur and burned as it went down. For a momentHarry was blind, then when his vision came back everything was blurry. Harry took off his glasses to wipe his eyes, and realized that they were what was causing him vision problems. Remus had fixed Harrys' eyes! "Whoo hoo!" yelled Harry. "I can see!" Harry was going to need to thank him profusely the next time he saw him.
That left Harry with the things from Dumbledore. Harry opened the letter on the top of the pile. It was the standard Hogwarts letter. Harry needed three books this year. The Standard Book of Spells, Grade Six, and two others. Totaema by Jacob Devro and Powerful Countermeasures Against the Dark Arts by Melliglyph Mythrendir. Another sheet slipped loose from Harrys' hand. His O.W.L. grades! He almost didn't dare look.
Defense Against the Dark Arts: Outstanding +
Transfiguration: Outstanding
Charms: Outstanding
Potions: Outstanding
Care of Magical Creatures: Exceeds Expectations
Herbology: Exceeds Expectations
Astronomy: Acceptable
History of Magic: Poor
Divinitation: Dismal
At the bottom was a scrawled note from Professor McGonagall.
I knew you wouldn't let me down Potter. Good job.
Harry was required to send back a list of the classes he was going to take. He decided on DADA, Transfiguration, Potions and Charms. That should leave a day a week for homework and Quidditch. There were still three more letters in the pile, so Harry picked up the next one. It was apparently from the bumbling fools of a Ministry.
Mr. Potter,
I write this letter to you now to personally apologize for how you have been treated during the course of the last year. A sum of 100,000 galleons has been transferred to your Gringotts account for the ridicule and slander you have faced. The list of Death Eaters you have named will be publicized and rewards offered for those still roaming free. Miss Dolores Umbridge is also facing heavy fines, possible jail time and the loss of her job for the use of Blood Quills and the threat of an unforgivable curse to a minor. Also, Mr. Sirius Black has been cleared of all charges, awarded the Order of Merlin, First Class and has had the sum of 350,000 galleons paid in reparation to him for undue time spent in Azkaban. As almost his sole heir, said gold shall be transferred to your account at the time of the reading of his will in three days time. On a more personal note, Harry, I am sorry for the loss of your godfather. I am also to inform you at this time that as you are now of age you are allowed to use magic away from school and due to extenuating circumstances you will be given a bit more leniency. Please do not abuse the privilege, though should you wish to hex your muggle relatives, please do not draw any attention or cause any permanent harm.
Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic
"Well, well I'm of age, and I get a bit of well deserved leniency. This was definitely a letter worth reading," said Harry. "Fudge obviously hopes to keep his job by gaining my support. I suppose I'll let it stand for now." He turned to the final letter. This one was from Dumbledore himself.
Harry,
Your father asked me to deliver these three items to you on your sixteenth birthday. I also wish to let you know that in lieu of Sirius' will reading you should stay in Diagon Alley for the remainder of the summer. There are many powerful wards there to keep you safe, and most witches and wizards would gladly rally around you in the event of an attack. Have a pleasant rest of the summer, and please consider what I am sending back with Fawks as an enjoyable birthday present.
Albus Dumbledore
With trembling hands Harry tipped the envelope upside down and out fell a small journal, a ring and another envelope, yellowed with age. The ring was seemingly solid gold fashioned in the shape of a lions' head, with a large ruby in the open mouth. The cover of the red journal read The Booke of Gryffindor. When Harry opened the cover, it was blank. He turned instead to the envelope, tearing it open carefully because of its' age.
My son,
If you are reading this it is because I cannot be with you on this day, your sixteenth birthday. Between now and your seventeenth birthday you will begin to grow into the power of your family, as does every witch and wizard. But our family has more than that. It is during this time you must embark upon a path that few in our family have taken. Through the blood on my side of the family runs the blood of one of the noble founders of Hogwarts, Godric Gryffindor. You are the last remaining heir to his valiant blood. The book and ring, which should have been sent to you, will awaken his power latent in your blood. This must be done before your seventeenth birthday has passed, however, or you shall not be able to come into your full and rightful power. I would not stress the importance of this were I there to guide you, but if I am not then it is imperative because you will be in danger. The heir of Slytherin seeks to hold the power of Hogwarts to himself, and must kill off all other heirs to do so. I fear he has already succeeded in the regard of Hufflepuff, whose noble descendants have all been slain. I have tried to track down the heirs or heiresses of Ravenclaw, but they left our country long ago. However, I have reason to believe that in recent years they have returned and that there is a daughter near your age at school. Hogwarts has the power to draw to it those whom it needs to protect itself. Find her, and awaken her potential. Now, sadly, you must step into your inheritance. Place the ring on your right ring finger and read the journal. Never forget son, your mother and I love you with everything we are.
Your Father
Harry had tears in his eyes as he placed the ring on his finger and began to read the slim journal…