Letters
Rebirth
Chapter 2
-Harry-
Waking up he stretched with a wide yawn before a loud hoot startled him as he saw Hedwig standing disgruntled on his desk by a couple of letters, her expression clearly showing that she was upset at another owl delivering him mail. After plenty of petting and promises of bacon, he calmed down his feathered friend and opened the first letter, which was from Ron.
Hey Mate,
Listen, I heard from Dad about how you blew up your Aunt, wicked job by the way. Anyway, Dad said you were going to be staying in the Alley for the rest of the Summer and we're getting back from Egypt. What room are you staying at in the Cauldron so Mum knows and doesn't fret.
See you in a couple weeks,
Ron
Setting it down he frowned at how uncaring Ron sounded about him almost being in serious trouble be pulling out the second one which had Hermione's neat handwriting.
Harry,
I just heard from Ron that you blew up your Aunt and ran away from home. What were you thinking, doing something that stupid with Sirius Black on the loose?! You were lucky that the Minister let you off like he did. I'm going to be arriving in the Alley in a few weeks and you'd have better have finished your homework by then. Tell me what room you're staying in at the Leaky Cauldron so I can check up on you and make sure you're not slacking off.
Best wishes,
Hermione
Finishing up the second letter his frown turned into a scowl at how patronizing Hermione sounded towards him. Pulling out a quill, he began writing responses.
Ron,
First off me blowing up my Aunt wasn't wicked as I nearly got a beating from my Uncle and I was positive I was going to be expelled. Also, while I am staying in the Alley area the Leaky Cauldron was booked for the summer so I'm staying at 'the way down under' in the Knockturn Alley Grey District.
Harry
Finishing Ron's he slipped it into an envelope and set it next to Hedwig as he started his response to Hermione.
Hermione,
I'd appreciate it if you didn't judge me without knowing all the facts. One I had accidental magic when dealing with a fat sow who kept insinuating not only that my parents were no good drunks but that I should have been drowned at birth. I also didn't know about Sirius Black due to Dumbledore's stupid decision to force me to stay with the Dursleys. Finally, I wasn't going to stick around and suffer a beating at the hands of my Uncle! Also, I'm staying at 'the way down under' in Knockturn Alley's grey district, not the Leaky Cauldron.
Harry
Satisfied he slipped it into an envelope and handed both letters to Hedwig, "Have a good flight girl," he said with a grin as she hooted and took off out the window. Walking down to the Canteen he had a large breakfast while talking with Mark and a few of the other patrons who were friends with Mark and had agreed to show him a few spells later. Around Lunch he walked over to the clothing store and walked in, grinning at Silena and her mother, "Hey," he called out as they both turned towards him cheerfully "I was hoping I could steal Silena for lunch if that's alright with you Ms. Beauregard?"
"Just call me Natalia," the woman said with a smile "and of course. You two go have fun but remember to behave yourselves."
"Thanks mom!" Silena said with a grin before tugging at his arm "Come on Harry, let's go!" Chuckling he let the beautiful girl tug him out of the store as they walked back into the main part of Diagon alley and past one of side roads near the bank, which was full of restaurants.
"Anywhere in particular you want to go?" he asked as they walked down the street, Silena happily latched onto his arm.
"How about an Italian place." Silena requested as they both spent a few minutes before finally finding a small Italian restaurant that even had Pizza much to his surprise. After ordering a large cheese to share, they kicked back and began finding out more about each other. It was, all in all, a rather enjoyable date, which only got better when he took her to Florean Fortescue's for some ice cream.
"The ice cream was nice but I could have done without the teasing." He said with a faint blush as they exited the small dessert shop, the owner of the building having made sure to tease the 'happy little couple'.
"It wasn't that bad," Silena giggled in amusement "are you saying that you don't like being seen as a couple?"
"No!" he exclaimed quickly "That's not what I…I mean I…I'm just going to shut up now." He slumped over, beat red as Silena laughed and kissed his cheek, making him turn even redder.
"Come on." Silena laughed before dragging him down the Alley gleefully.
The rest of the summer passed in a similar fashion for him, spending his days learning from and talking to the patrons at the Way Down Under, going on dates with Silena, and just exploring the alley together. A couple weeks before they were scheduled to return to Hogwarts they became friends with another teenager in the Alley named Charles Beckendorf who had just moved to England from America on a scholarship for Hogwarts, having grown up in an orphanage in America but gained emancipation once he entered England.
A frequent event they did together was dinner every night with Natalia who told them stories about her Hogwarts days. She had also told them about an interesting rule that said the 'owl, cat, and toad' pet situation was only for first and second years so once you reached your third you can have any pet you want so long as it doesn't hurt a student outside of self-defense. This had led to him getting a Worg cub named Ares, which was currently about the size of a normal full-grown wolf but would eventually be larger than a horse. Silena had gotten herself a Pegasus, which he had paid for as a gift to her, and that he found out would be staying in some stables on the grounds. Beckendorf didn't have any interest in a pet but was still admittedly fond of theirs.
There was one downside to his summer though and that had been the letters he had received three days after his first date with Silena.
-Flashback-
Waking up he sulked, having been in the middle of a very good dream about him and Silena before he looked over and saw Hedwig had returned with a pair of letters. Walking over he opened the one from Ron and read.
Harry,
What the bloody hell is wrong with you?! Staying in that hellhole of Dark Wizards! I'm going to say this once. You either find a new place to stay or our friendship is over!
Ron
Finishing the remarkably short letter he scowled and threw it into the fireplace, furious at the sheer stupidity Ron was showing as well as how little the redhead seemed to care about their friendship…or what used to be their friendship. Opening up the letter from Hermione with hopes of something better he read.
Harry,
How dare you insult the Headmaster like that! And making up lies about your Uncle beating you, that's preposterous! Dumbledore wouldn't put you with anyone who's abusive! And still what are you doing in Knockturn Alley! Dumbledore told me all about how its full of evil witches and wizards! Either you get your head on straight or I don't want you to speak to me anymore.
Hermione
-End Flashback-
He hadn't replied to either letter, deciding to let his silence be his answer as he threw himself deeper into his studies with the Inn's other patrons as well as his time with Beckendorf and Silena who were just as pissed off by the letters as he was when they found out about them.
Now he was sitting in a compartment of the Hogwarts Express with Beckendorf and Silena who had her head on his lap. He was reading one of his parents Journals which he'd gotten from a smaller vault of heirlooms and books that his parents had left for him and he'd found over the summer.
Silena was wearing the same outfit she had been when they'd met while Beckendorf was wearing a simple pair of ripped jeans and an orange t-shirt with the sleeves ripped off, his friend's dreadlocks tied up at the back. He though was in one of the new outfits he'd gotten from Silena's shop which consisted of black jeans and combat boots, a silver t-shirt, a black leather jacket, his silver Oakley's, and the added effect of the silver tips in his longer hair which were courtesy of Silena.
A few minutes after the train started moving he heard two familiar voices coming down the hall, "Honestly Ron," the irate voice of Hermione sounded "he never responded to my letter either so how would I know where he is?"
Noticing him stiffening Silena asked "Is that them Harry?" to which he nodded but it seemed the two backstabbers heard his name as they ran over and threw the door open.
"Harry James Potter!" Hermione yelled at him "Who do you think you are ignoring our letters?"
"I'd say I'm someone who was pissed at you two stabbing me in the back." He snarled, Ares growling angrily when the young Worg sensed his anger. At the sight of the wolf, Hermione screamed in fear and ran down the train, getting an idea he pointed his finger over Ron's shoulder and cried out "Ron! A spider!" causing Ron to drop Scabbers' cage and copy the bushy haired Gryffindor.
"That was brilliant man!" Beck laughed happily, his American friend doubled over in amusement.
He was about to think his muscle bound friend when he noticed a familiar adult walked down the car "Uncle Mooney?" he asked in shock, having found the man's pictures in his parents journals.
The tattered man froze before staring at him wide eyed, "Y-you remember me?" the old friend of his parents asked almost fearfully.
"Not exactly," he said sheepishly before holding up his parent's journal "Mom and Dad left a picture of you in here and several stories about your escapades at Hogwarts…did you really dye Snape's hair pink in your fourth year?"
"Yes, well," Moony blushed at the mention of the prank while Silena and Beck snickered, having heard about the dreaded Potion's master "you did know I wasn't able to take you in right? And who are your friends?" the man asked after a moment.
"I know, it was your 'condition' and the idiotic Ministry's stupid laws." he said with a nod as Remus sighed in relief, "And these are Silena Beauregard and Charles Beckendorf who prefers to go by his last name."
"Pleased to meet you two." Moony said with a nod as the two waved at him.
"Hey Moony," he began as the old friend of his parents sat down, bringing in Scabbers' cage while doing so "while I know why you couldn't take me in why couldn't Sirius? Why was Sirius even arrested?"
"Harry, didn't anyone tell you?" Moony asked in shock "Sirius was the one to sell your parents hiding place out to Voldemort, he's the reason their dead."
"That's impossible," he denied as he handed over his parent's journal "he not only took the ancient godfather oath to never do anything to deliberately cause harm to me but they switched secret keepers to Peter Pettigrew a week before…before Halloween."
"What?!" Moony exclaimed before the group's attention was drawn to the high pitched squeaking coming from Scabbers' cage. Moony glanced inside before the man's eyes widened, a flurry of spells shooting forth from his honorary Uncle's wand, which caused the werewolf to begin snarling angrily.
"Um…Uncle Moony?" he asked warily, hoping his newfound Uncle hadn't gone mad "Are you alright?"
"Harry, that's not a rat…that's Peter Pettigrew." Moony snarled before casting a few more spells and snatching up the container. "I'm taking this piece of vermin to Amelia Bones at the DMLE and try to get Sirius pardoned, or at least a new trial. I'll see you three at school." Before vanishing with a crack.
The rest of the trip was mostly uneventful until they were stopped a few miles outside Hogsmede due to a group of dementors boarding the train. The foul demon had tried entering their compartment but had backed off quickly at the sight of a growling Ares due to the fact that Worg saliva corroded at a Dementor's being making Worgs some of the few beings to actually be able to hurt or even kill dementors.