Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

If I owned Harry Potter, would I write this?

Prabhakar

Harry James Potter sat in his room, a Sugar Quill in his mouth. He was looking at an essay for his least favorite teacher, Severus Snape. Harry dearly hated Potions, for that was what Snape taught. He had had the choice to drop it after his fifth year, but in order to become an Auror; he needed to get a NEWT in Potions.

Harry Potter was a wizard. A true wizard, one that transfigures pots in to pears, Apples into aardvarks. He could make a teacup turn cartwheels, and make a dinner plate enlarge to be the size of a hubcap. He could make a potion that would turn himself into someone else, a feat that he had accomplished in his second year.

There were also minuses to being a wizard. One was that there was a curse that killed. Unfortunately, this curse had been administered to both his parents, just because their Secret Keeper informed Voldemort of their whereabouts.

For twelve long years the betrayer had been believed to be Sirius Black. It was still rumored to be, except among a few certain people, Harry being one of them. Harry would write to Sirius, who also happened to be his godfather, if it wasn't for the events the previous June.

Voldemort, the darkest wizard of the age, knew of Harry's weakness. He knew that Harry would go to any lengths to save Sirius. Voldemort used this. He lured Harry to the Department of Mysteries in the hidden Ministry of Magic. There, waiting for him, were three Death Eaters, or followers of Voldemort. Luckily none of Harry's classmates had died. Unfortunately, this was not true for everyone.

Sirius Black had been dueling with his cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange. He was goofing around, thinking that the years Bellatrix had spent in Azkaban had addled her magical powers. This turned out to be his last thought. Bellatrix stunned him, and he fell through the veil.

The veil. The mysterious veil located in the Department of Mysteries. Harry knew nothing about it, only that it separated the barrier between life and death. When Sirius fell through, he died with the rest of the, he couldn't really call them people, inside there.

Sighing, Harry put down his quill. He was tired, and every time he tried to write, Snape's greasy haired head came into view, making Harry feel sick.

Instead, he picked up a piece of parchment nearby. He was still amazed with his O.W.L results. A pass in everything except History of Magic and Divination, He had gotten O's or outstanding, in Defense against the Dark Arts, Care of Magical Creatures, Potions and Transfiguration. He got an E, or Exceeds Expectations, in Charms and Herbology, and an A, or Acceptable, in Astronomy. All in all, he had gotten seven O.W.L.'s. Although it was nothing to Hermione Granger's twelve, it was better then Ron Weasley's five. He had decided to take all of the NEWT classes, except Astronomy.

Luckily, even though Ron had only gotten five, he still qualified for Auror classes. Even though Ron was dreading more Snape, he was happy. It said so in his last letter.

Harry,

Hey mate! Listen, I got five O.W.L.'s! I donno how many you've got, but I qualify for all the Auror classes! I donno how I got an O in potions, but I did. Too bad it's Snape teaching, greasy haired git.

Listen, mum says you can come to the Burrow on August 1st! Hermione's coming too. Well, I gotta go, Fred and George are coming.

Ron

Harry laughed at the letter. Apparently Fred and George were looking for a test subject for some of their new products. Putting aside that letter, he picked up Hermione's.

Harry

I got 12 O.W.L.'s! Oh, I'm sooo excited! Are you still planning on being an Auror? I hope so, because I'm thinking of doing that same thing. Auror Granger has a nice ring to it, don't you think?

Anyway, this is my new owl, Thunderbird. Don't ask me about the name, I got it retail (I'm saving my money for new books), and now it won't respond to anything else. I need to go, see you at Ron's on the first?

Love from Hermione.

Harry laughed. He was glad Hermione was going to enter Auror training with himself and Ron. Auror Granger.

Harry looked at the watch on the right. It was blinking 7:00. He heard the Dursley's moving around in the rooms around him. Since today was the first, he would be leaving. He packed the essay (the teacher's had sent homework with the results), along with his birthday presents.

From Ron he had gotten a Dark Detector, from Fred and George he had received a full supply of their newest pranks. Hermione sent him a book titled Spells, Charms, and Curses that your opponent won't know. Remus Lupin and the rest of the Order of the Phoenix had pitched together to buy him a set of Quidditch balls, and Mrs. Weasley had baked many pies and cakes for him. Harry had thoroughly enjoyed his birthday, except for the fact that the Dursleys' had locked him in his room for the day. They were going to an amusement park. He hadn't minded much though; he had plenty of homework and books to do/read.

Harry headed downstairs and into the kitchen. Not one of the Dursleys had even noticed that he existed that day. Harry sighed and grabbed a piece of toast and sat to "enjoy" his "breakfast"

Meanwhile…

Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, and Ginny ran around the house. Harry was coming today at 5, and they needed to get ready for his party. Ron entered the kitchen to find his mum cooking frantically.

"Ron!" she shouted. "Get to the fireplace to meet your friends!"

Ron sighed and walked over to the fireplace. No sooner had he arrived that a beautiful young lady came tumbling out.

"Hey, Parvati," Ron grinned. Parvati Patil, a fellow sixth year, scowled

"I hate Floo Powder!" she said, glaring at Ron as he laughed. Parvati picked herself up and no sooner had she done that that another girl came sinking out.

"I didn't know you were coming with Parvati, Lavender!" Ron said.

"Well, considering my parents are Muggles, Ron, we don't have Floo Powder lying around the house." Lavender said, getting up. Parvati's sister arrived and she, Lavender and Parvati went over to Mrs. Weasley and asked if they could help.

"Oh, thank you dears. Yes, could you get some cutlery out? It's in that drawer over there. Bring it outside; Fred and George are setting up the tables.

Ron had no time to be bored. Just as the three sixth years exited, Angelina Johnson came out, landing smoothly on her feet.

"Nice one," Ron complemented. Angelina smiled.

"I'm just lucky it's so high off the ground," she said. She dusted off her robes and grabbed some plates.

After Angelina, Ron's other ex Quidditch teammate; Alicia Spinnet came along with Katie Bell. Oliver Wood made an unexpected appearance, then Dean and Seamus came along with Ernie Macmillan and Justin Finch-Fletchey. Luna Lovegood appeared looking like she accidentally stepped into a fireplace. She smiled dreamily at Ron, and then wandered over to a cupboard to grab some cups. After the rest of the guests came, (not including Zacharius Smith), Ron went outside and helped. He was just coming inside when Arthur Weasley came running down the stairs, closely followed by Hermione. Arthur ran out to the new car he had won at a nearby muggle car shop. Hermione grabbed Ron, and before he could say anything, she was pulling him out the door.

"Oh, are we leaving?" Ron said conversationally. Hermione rolled her eyes, and they got in the car.

Harry sat by the front door waiting. The Weasleys were due here any second. The Dursleys had yet again taken Dudley and his "little friends" to an amusement park for the day, leaving Harry alone and waiting.

A car pulled into the drive. Harry was out the door with his trunk before it had stopped moving. When it finally did, Hermione Granger, one of Harry's best friends, jumped out of the car. She ran to him and gave him a huge hug, causing Harry to drop his trunk on his foot. Harry grimaced, and Hermione let go. She grinned sheepishly as he removed his foot from under the trunk. Ron came out and grinned at Harry. Harry gave sort of a half grin, and then motioned at his trunk. He and Ron picked it up and put it in the trunk of Mr. Weasley's car. The three friends got in the car.

"Hello, Harry!" Mr. Weasley said jovially.

"Hello Mr. Weasley," Harry replied half-heartedly. Mr. Weasley gave him a funny look, but said no more.

They arrived back at the Burrow about fifteen minutes later. When they got out, Harry made for going to get his trunk, but Ron stopped him.

"We'll get it later, mum's got dinner ready in the back."

Harry nodded, and grabbed his wand and his Firebolt.

"So you got that back then?" Ron asked.

Harry nodded unnecessarily, "Dumbledore sent it to me just after term ended. My ban on Quidditch is over!"

"Great!" Ron said. They walked into the house. It was strangely deserted.

"Where is everyone?" Harry asked, as they made their way to the back.

"Everyone's here except Bill, who's on a date right now, with Fleur. Charlie's in Romania, and Percy…"

"Oh," Harry said understandingly.

They entered the backyard. He noticed that all the gnomes were gone, and that three huge tables were set up, all filled with a buffet style dinner.

"Wow," Harry said, "there's enough food here to feed three hippogriffs!"

"Well, that's kinda the point, Harry." Ron said, grinning mysteriously. "You see…"

"SURPRISE!" From behind the tables and trees popped every one of Harry's friends from school, (minus Cho Chang). Harry stumbled backwards. He rounded on Ron and Hermione.

"Did you guys plan this just for me?" he asked. They smiled. Harry didn't have time to say anything, as all his friends and classmates came upon him, piling his arms with gifts.

The day went by smoothly. Harry played Quidditch. He, Ron, Fred, Dean, Parvati (who turned out to be an amazing chaser), and Angelina versus Ginny, Oliver, George, Seamus, Lavender (almost as good as Parvati) and Alicia. Katie refereed, and then joined Harry's team when Angelina decided to go eat. Harry's team won, but Harry had a feeling that Ginny was going easy on him, as he hadn't played for a good year or so.

Harry was eating some of Mrs. Weasley's wonderful food when it happened. There was a scream and a flash of green light. Harry was already on his feet. Parvati Patil came running to him.

"Death Eaters! They killed Padma!"

Harry looked as Tonks and Kingsley, (the two Aurors sent to look over the party) started battling the Death Eaters, soon joined by Angelina, Alicia, Fred and George. He and Parvati ran over to them. He saw Padma Patil's body on the ground. Parvati saw it too, and, as to avenge her death, she started firing curses and hexes as fast as she could. Harry joined her.

"Stupefy!"

"Imperio!"

"Impedimenta!"

"Crucio!"

"Expelliarmus!"

"Avada Kedavra!"

Everything seemed to slow down. The green curse of death headed straight toward Harry.

And there was nothing he could do about it.