Chapter 1

Gloom and Glitter

The rain pattered loudly on the rooftop of Number 4, Privet Drive. If you looked through the window into this house, you would never think that anything out of the ordinary ever occurred here. A porky blonde boy, his purple-faced father, and his tall, bony mother are just watching TV. However, if you ventured up the staircase with the creaky stair at the bottom, you would find something most extraordinary.

Harry Potter lay sprawled out on his bed, forming pictures on the ceiling with the small bumps and cracks. Harry sighed and rubbed his eyes, exhausted from the lack of sleep. He had not been in contact with the magic world at all since the last time he left Platform 9 ¾. At least this summer, it was his choice to stay out of contact. Piles of letters from his friends were littering his small desk. He had read them all, but he never wrote back. They all consisted of the same message. He thought of Hermione's response to his lack of contact. "It's not your fault you know, Sirius's death was an accident. Please talk to me. Not one day had passed when Harry didn't think about the way Sirius looked when he fell back into the black veil. All of his friends were concerned about him, and while he wanted to see them, he also felt he needed a bit of distance for awhile. He had already lost his parents, and when he finally found someone who could even begin to take their place, he disappears forever.
Harry strode over to the window, needing fresh air. He stopped and stared at his reflection in the small window. His jet-black hair was somehow more ruffled and out of place than usual. He had grown a couple more inches, and would need new Hogwarts robes this year. His bright green eyes had dark circles under them, from lack of sleep. When he opened the window he noticed a small dark shape in the night sky. Thinking it was Hedwig, Harry left the window open and returned to the bed. Suddenly, they was a loud rush of feathers and an enormous bird flew through the window. Harry gasped in shock. The bird was magnificent. It was a deep royal purple, dotted with sparkles of silver and gold. It soared around his room and dropped a shiny purple letter on Harry's desk. With a loud screech, it flew off. Harry rushed to the window, but the bird had disappeared. Harry went to the desk, and picked up the sparkling letter. Only one word was on the envelope. ADRIL. As Harry opened the letter, a large amount of purple glitter fell out. Harry dumped the envelope out and a pile of glitter settled on his desk. Suddenly, it all flew into the air, spiraling around his head. Harry watched in awe as the glitter began to fall on him. He noticed, in complete bewilderment, that the glitter was landing on his hand. When he looked down to his hand, the glitter had disappeared