It was a normal summer afternoon; well normal for everyone else at least, this summer was different for Harry Potter on the other hand. So far this was the first summer in his entire life that he didn't have to suffer much abuse from his relatives that he was forced to live with for the summer.
It seemed that the Order's warning had made its mark on the Dursley's as they just basically ignored Harry completely this year, which was just fine with him.
Right now he was just sitting down in his room writing out his plans on a sheet of paper. It had now been two weeks since he had returned home from school, and he had had time to think about the decisions he had made, and had also taken some time to grieve the loss of his godfather Sirius Black.
At first he had blamed himself, but after receiving some letters from all of his friends, and a five hour phone conversation with Hermione, he had come to terms with the idea of the Department Of Mysteries tragedy not being entirely his fault.
So he decided to focus on what was important to get his mind off of his depression, he was going to make Voldemort pay.
To do this, he decided, he was going to have to formulate a plan. First order of business was that he was going to have to train, and he was going to have to train hard. He decided he'd better write Hermione a letter, so that she could suggest some books for him to get on DADA, and any other recommendations she could think of. As his thought turned to Hermione, he realized he wasn't sure what he wanted to do about his friends. He wanted to stop endangering them, but at the same time, he didn't want to push them away.
Earlier that day he'd come up with another part to the plan, he decided to swallow his pride and ask his uncle where he could get some good muggle fighting lessons this summer.
His uncle had handed him a newspaper that described some kung-fu lessons that were being taught not to far from the Dursley residence so he decided he'd go check it out later this week.
Next thing was to get Dumbledore to start including him on more, maybe try to get into the Order of the Phoenix. He wrote all that down in his planner so that he could get started on it soon.
He heard a knock on his door, then Dudley poked his head in the door, "Dinner's ready." He stated flatly and went downstairs. Harry contemplated a little on Dudley's obvious change, this year he seemed nicer, he decided to look into that later too.
After a decent dinner, he decided to call Hermione, for some reason he got really nervous as he dialed her number. What are you so nervous about? He chastised himself. She's your best friend you've known her almost all your life.
The phone only rang once before he heard a voice on the other line,
"Hello?"
"Um, hi is Hermione there?", he asked nervously
"This is her."
"Hi Hermione, it's me Harry, how are you?"
"I'm alright, especially now that I'm talking to you.", she said the last part of that sentence so lightly he wasn't sure he had heard it.
"Well I might as well get to the point," he said getting to business so that he could contemplate his feelings for his best friend later on.
"are there any Defense Against the Dark Arts books that you would recommend my buying? Or any other books that would help me prepare myself for wizard warfare?"
"Oh, Harry" she said starting to sound really excited
"I'm glad that you're deciding to take your education more seriously, I'll look into some and send you all my recommendations as soon as I send Hedwig back, by the way" she said, the tone of her voice changing
"I talked it over with my family and with Dumbledore, and he said that him and the Order would put as many defensive shields as they possibly could around my house, and you can move in a month from now, that is if you want to."
"Yes! Of course I'll want to." He said now starting to cheer up more.
Then on some impulse that Harry didn't recognize he asked her something that neither of them expected him to ask.
"By the way Hermione, would you go on a date with me sometime? I mean you don't have to if…" he was cut off.
"Yes! I mean um yes I will, I've actually been hoping for the longest time you would ask me. I've missed you so much, I cant wait to see you again. Please write to me as often as possible and don't be afraid to call me more often, I'm sorry but I have to go help mom prepare dinner. You have a good night, maybe I'll call you tomorrow."
"I'd like that Hermione, good night to you too. I'll talk to you tomorrow then. Bye."
After they both hung up Harry realized how happy he was about Hermione agreeing to go on a date with him. He hadn't even felt this happy when he dated Cho.
When he got back upstairs there were two letters on his bed and Pig was sitting in Hedwig's cage.
After giving Pig a couple of owl snacks, he sat down to read his letters.
Dear Harry,
Hello mate how are you? Hope things aren't too dreadful for you this year with the muggles, Dumbledore says he has something better lined up for you soon though, so hang in there mate. This summer I'm going to travel a little, first I'm going to visit the pyramids in Egypt, then I'm going to Italy for a week or two. Listen I know that things in the Department of Mysteries messed up really bad, but don't blame yourself, and don't you dare try to push me and Hermione away again this year. You have no idea how many times you made her cry last year cause of your anger. I think she has a thing for you Harry, I know that before I had a crush on her, but I've gotten over it. Please don't tell this to anyone but I've been writing back and forth with Luna for a while now, and I'm really starting to like her. But anyways I gotta go mate, I'll send you some pictures of the sites, for now take care of yourself, and stop beating yourself up about things you cant control.
Your best friend
Ronald Weasley
P.S. Fred and George asked me to tell you they have some business they would like to discuss with you soon, and they would like for you to write them back ASAP.
Harry smiled after reading the letter, he was glad he wouldn't have to explain Hermione and him dating to Ron. Since it didn't seem Ron would be mad about it.
The next letter had a formal seal on it from Gringotts. After breaking the seal he started reading the letter.
Dear Mr. Potter,
First we offer our deepest consolation on the passing of your uncle Sirius Black. And second is to state that this letter was sent to inform you that you are the main beneficiary on Sirius's will, so your presence will be required at Gringotts, tomorrow at five o'clock, Dumbledore is aware of this and will arrive to pick you up, and will escort you here personally.
Gringotts Wizarding Bank
Griphook
Well that's it for the first chapter, please review, and this is my first story, so right now I'm open to suggestions. And as a forewarning I will not change the pairings, it's going to be H/Hr, and R/LL others to be announced.