Chapter 1 - Remembering the Past

Inside 4 Privet Drive, Harry Potter was lost in thought. It had been two weeks since the incident at the Ministry, but no matter how many comforting owls had been sent to Harry, he still blamed himself for the death of Sirius. Now, lying on his bed, he was trying to repair the mirror that Sirius had given him without magic, which proved to be rather difficult.

'Sirius is dead. He's dead and it's all my fault,' Harry thought to himself, fighting back the tears that constantly came to his eyes now. 'I always end up hurting the people closest to me. Sirius, my parents, Cedric...it's all my fault. Maybe if none of this had ever happened...'

Later that evening, Harry was nearly asleep when he heard a loud crack inside his room. He froze in fear. Someone was in his room, a wizard, and he didn't have his wand. He lay completely still and waited for the worst. Just then, a familiar and quite voice said to him, "Come on my boy. You cannot be alone at a time like this." Harry recognized the voice immediately as Dumbledore's. Harry jumped out of his bed, very happy to have the Professor in his company.

"Professor! What are you doing here!" Harry asked.

"Well Harry, I have come to take you back to Hogwarts. You should not be here, alone, after your loss. Also, there is someone there that you need to meet," Dumbledore replied mysteriously. "Now pack up your things, all of them. You will be living in the castle for the rest of the summer. I have left the Dursleys a note telling them where you are. Now hurry along Harry."

Harry had been looking at the man with shock written all over his face. He was going to spend the rest of the summer at Hogwarts. He was going home. One second later he sprung into action, gathering all his things together. Dumbledore ordered the trunk to pack itself and turned to Harry. "Is that everything Harry?"

Harry thought for a moment. "No. Hold on."

Harry popped up the loose floorboard and pulled out a two boxes. One of them contained all the letters he had received from Sirius. The second held every other letter he had received, starting with the first letter he had received from Hogwarts. Dumbledore looked at the boy and smiled. "My my. We are a little sentimental."

Harry smiled weakly at that comment. He was afraid that the headmaster knew that he had poured over the letters in both boxes many times, knew that the letters were worn out and tearstained. Harry hoped that Dumbledore didn't. He would be utterly embarrassed if the Professor did. He was supposed to be the hero of the wizarding world after all. He was supposed to be strong. He had to live up to the expectations of others.

Sighing, Harry placed the two boxes into his trunk. Even though he knew that he wouldn't need the comfort of the letters since he was going home, he brought them anyway. He hoped that Dumbledore did not know that he wasn't planning on returning to the Durlsey's. He didn't care that it was for his own protection, his time spent there was always torture. He would rather face Voldemort than return to the Dursleys ever again.

But Dumbledore, being strangely knowledgeable about everything, knew of Harry's intentions. He would figure something out. Turning to Harry, Dumbledore asked once again if Harry was ready to leave. Harry smiled and said confidently, "Absolutely." Then, Dumbledore apparated himself, Harry, and all of Harry's things to Hogsmeade.

Hogsmeade was one of Harry's favorite places. He could remember all the times he, Ron, and Hermione went to the village to pass time. He smiled happily at the memory. But the moment was broken when Harry's eyes fell on the Shrieking Shack. He remembered the day he discovered that he had a godfather, a family. And it was taken away all too soon. But he could at least write to Sirius then. Now he couldn't even do that, and it was all because of him.

Dumbledore sensed that Harry was upset and knew that he was thinking about Sirius. He turned to Harry and put a hand lovingly on his shoulder. Dumbledore smiled kindly at Harry and said "Harry, Sirius was a good man. He died a hero. He was protecting you, yes, but that was his own choice. Don't blame yourself for his death. He would want you to carry on with your life. I remember him telling me after the death of your father and mother that it was good to remember people but to become obsessed with their fate will only make you miserable. He would be terribly disappointed in me if I didn't make sure that you moved on."

Harry looked at Dumbledore, unsure of what to say to him. He didn't want to forget about Sirius, but he knew that he was spending almost all his time thinking about him. Maybe Dumbledore could help him move on. Smiling slightly Harry looked up at the Headmaster and said, "I'll try to move on, I really will, but it'll be hard and I'll probably need a lot of help."

Dumbledore replied, "I will be glad to help you move on and I'm sure Ron and Hermione will. Who knows, you may even find someone else to help you move on as well."

"What do you mean?"

"You will see Harry, in good time," Dumbledore said with an all-knowing twinkle in his eyes.

Harry looked at him curiously once again but decided it was better not to pursue the subject. "Thank you sir."

"You seem tired Harry. I think we should head to the castle and get you settled in."

With that, Harry and Dumbledore started their walk to the castle, Dumbledore whistling happily and Harry wondering who exactly Dumbledore wanted him to meet.