Author's Note: Wow. You guys are amazing! I never expected to get that many reviews the first day my story was up! (Though may I remind some of you that reviews aren't the right place to ask people to sign up for Neopets or whatever it was.) I feel quite guilty now leaving that lame cliffhanger up there. It was horrible of me, I admit, but I couldn't help it. Slap on the wrist. Anyway, I'll stop babbling so that you can read some more...let's see if your guesses were right. Please leave a review...I want to know what you guys think of this.
Disclaimer: Nothing is mine.
Harry couldn't believe it. He walked down the stairs to the kitchen in a state of shock. Wait until Hermione hears about this one...he thought to himself numbly. He reached the refrigerator and couldn't remember what he had come down for, not that it made much difference, as he was not allowed to eat anything not personally given to him by the Dursleys. It's almost as though I am their pet dog. He poured himself a glass of water and retreated back upstairs, where he could think about everything.
What had thrown him into this state of shock was contained in that letter from Hogwarts:
"Dear Mr. Potter, We have enclosed for your information the results of the O.W.L. examinations which you took last June. Later this summer you will also receive the standard letter containing your school book list and other information. Have a good summer, Professor M. McGonagall"
Defense Against the Dark Arts: O
History of Magic: A (which was very surprising considering he had fallen asleep halfway through and left the hall)
Astronomy: A (another surprising one as he had been thoroughly distracted by Hagrid's attempted arrest by Umbridge)
Care of Magical Creatures: O
Divination: D (but that was never going to be good)
Potions: E (had they perhaps mixed up the examination papers?)
Charms: E
Transfiguration: E
At the end was a short note in Professor McGonagall's handwriting: Due to the circumstances, Prof. Snape has been persuaded to allow you to continue in NEWT Potions in order to pursue a career as an Auror, if you still wish it. If you do not, you will be allowed to discontinue the class.
It seemed after all that he had a career as an Auror in his future. But there was something else in the envelope that he also did not expect. In narrow handwriting that he now recognized as that of Professor Dumbledore there was another note, this one revealed that Sirius had a will...and had left Harry everything. "Sirius desired that once you turned eighteen years of age all that was his would then be yours. For the time being, he has ordained that I shall hold your inheritance until that date. I hope that you are well, Most Sincerely, Albus Dumbledore"
With this note, it again hit him (and why he had trouble remembering this he did not know) that Sirius was truly gone, and would not be coming back. Whatever Luna believed, even if there were people beyond that veil, it would still be a long while before he saw Sirius again. Although, he thought, remembering the Prophecy, Voldemort may feel like speeding that time up.
Just as he thought that he heard a tentative knock on his door. "Yes?", he said rather impatiently.
"May I come in?" Aunt Petunia's voice sounded nervous and unsure, and for the first time in his life, Harry did not think that he would mind whatever it was she felt she must say.
"Come in", he answered. He was curious as to why she would now come talk to him, but had a feeling that some ather mysterious things were about to be explained. The door opened, and Petunia's horse-like face appeared in the doorway.
"I'm not going to eat you", he said a bit sarcastically.
"Yes...I know that..." She looked around nervously, as though she really didn't want to be there and did not want to have the conversation that was to follow.
"We...got a letter yesterday. I did I mean..." She wrung her hands as Harry watched her with interest. He wondered who it could be from. "It was from...that Headmaster...of your school. He told us...some things...about...your godfather...and all of that. And I was wondering...er...if you were...alright..." Her voice had gotten quite soft by the end and then simply trailed off.
"Er, yeah, I'll be okay." Harry replied.
"Because, I know that I...haven't...it's just that...I don't know how to say this." She looked desperately at Harry, as if willing him to understand. "I know that Vernon and I haven't always been...fair to you, and he is still very angry over last summer's events...but this letter I got....made me think that...um...maybe I ought to change some things...at least for myself, if you understand?"
"Yeah, I do. What exactly was in the letter? It was from Dumbledore, wasn't it?"
"Dumbledore? Yes, from him. He said that...your godfather had died and...perhaps could...we try to...treat you more fairly...and he said that you had had a hard end of term, but he didn't say what it was...but he reminded me again of that thingy, that m-m-ma-magic-c that I did by taking you and...he said that that was even more important now...due to some...circumstances."
"Oh. Is that all?", Harry was a bit disappointed; he had hoped that perhaps Dumbledore was going to get him out of here.
"Well, he said that he would be sending someone to come get you soon...but he didn't say when," she added seeing the suddenly hopeful look on her nephew's face.
"Oh. Alright then. Thanks for, you know...telling me that."
"And Harry? I do feel sorry...for the way Vernon and I treated you." And with that she left the room leaving Harry Potter feeling quite amazed sitting on his bed.
