Disclaimer: We don't own Harry Potter or any of J

Harry Potter

And

The New Way of Magic

By Kelly Ann

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of J.K. Rowling's characters or her magical world. BUT!!!!!!! I copyright any characters you, as readers don't recognize. Also I own the plot. If you want to borrow a character, please ask nicely first before you take.

Author's Note: I have to give thanks to two people. First I thank to my brother who came up with some of the ideas. He's only eleven and he comes up with some great ideas (you'll see what I mean later). Second I thank my beta-reader Elanor at www.sugarquill.com. I am so bad with grammar so I need all the help I can get. Now, the time is when the Forest creatures are going home. Enjoy!!

P.S. As always, please leave a review in the little purple/blue box at the bottom of the page or you can e-mail me at katpegasus3110@yahoo.com. Thanks a bunch!

Chapter Two

Midnight Letters

Harry was seeing Wormtail cut his hand off, then watching the potion turn into a brilliant red. Then he felt the dagger pierce his right arm. That was when he let out a strangled kind of gasp. Harry sat up, clutching his forehead. The dream was always the same; he never got past Wormtail cutting his arm. On that night, it hadn't hurt that much. But now whenever he dreamt, it hurt worse than any kind of curse. Even the Cruciatus curse.

Harry had been having the same dream ever since he had come back to Privet Drive. It happened about once a fortnight. It seems like I'll never get over what happened thought Harry. The first time he had dreamt that dream, Harry had woken up screaming. The Dursleys had not been happy; he had woken them up and probably a neighbor or two as well. Since then Harry had learned (somehow) to restrain himself from screaming.

Harry looked at the clock. The red illuminated numbers read 1:45 am. His stomach jolted the tiniest bit. Then he smiled. He had been fifteen years old for about an hour and forty-five minutes. Then he sighed. The headmaster, Professor Dumbledore, had asked him to write every time his scar hurt, so that's what he had been doing. He got out of bed and grabbed a piece of spare parchment and a quill. Now that the Dursleys didn't even come near his room anymore, he could leave his homework and things on his desk. He started writing,

July 31, 1995

Dear Professor Dumbledore,

I just dreamed and I woke up with my scar hurting again. I hope I'm not bothering you. I'll see on September 1st.

From,

Harry Potter

P.S.

Do you know when I'll be able to go to the Weasleys'?

Hedwig was off giving Hermione a letter so Harry walked over to the window to look for her. Harry always asked at the end of every letter when he could go to the Burrow, and at the end of every letter he got back, Dumbledore always said "Be patient Harry." In his letters from Ron, he always reassured Harry that his mother was still writing to Dumbledore but was not having much luck. Dumbledore always said "Soon" or "Be patient". Harry was starting to wonder what the headmaster was waiting for. Even though Harry respected Dumbledore greatly, he was starting to get impatient. He wanted to get away from the Dursleys as fast and as soon as possible, and the feeling was mutual. The only thing Aunt Petunia had said to Harry, besides telling him what chores to do was, "When are those red-haired maniacs coming to get you out of my hair?"

Harry's musings were ended by the shape of three owls silhouetted against the full moon. Harry grinned and stepped back to let them in. The first one in the room was Ron's minute owl, Pigwidgeon (but also known as Pig). The second was Harry's own snowy white owl, Hedwig. The third was a barn owl Harry didn't recognize but he could guess that it probably was a Hogwarts owl. Harry relieved the Hogwarts owl first of its burden, which consisted of two letters and a package.

"Want a drink of water?" Harry muttered softly. He really didn't want to wake up the Dursleys.

The owl looked at him, hooted, and flew out of the open window.

"Guess not." Harry said at the owl's retreating back. He went to Hedwig next and took off a letter and a package. Hedwig softly hooted her thanks and went to her cage and started gulping some water. Then Harry looked up to find Pig. He knew the little owl was circling the light fixture as always.

Harry hissed at him quietly, "Pigwidgeon, get down here right now. You'll wake the Dursleys!"

Pig hooted happily and swooped down onto Harry's outstretched hand. Ron had written Harry before telling him just threaten to Pig and hold out his hand and he should come right down. It never failed. Harry (with some difficulty) took the two letters and the package off of the owl. While Pig went to Hedwig's cage, Harry was looking at the two letters in bewilderment. He knew one was from Ron but who was the other one from? Harry decided to open the two letters and package from the Hogwarts owl first. He picked up one and slit it open. He read,

Dear Harry,

I hope you're doing ok. I'm doing just fine. I hope the Muggles aren't treating you too badly. I think you'll like what's in the box. I'll see you when school starts.

Hagrid

Harry looked at the box on his bed. He remembered all too well the other gift Hagrid had gotten him, which happened to be a biting book. He approached the package warily but picked it up and ripped off the wrapping. He opened the box to find a large claw and a note. The note said,

This is a claw from a Norwegian Ridgeback. The claw is from the right front claw, off of the "finger" equal to our forefinger. A dragon's claws seem to be of a substance that is part silver, part steel, and part of a metal we can't identify. The metal is stronger than a diamond, which is the strongest substance known to humankind.

Harry gaped. He never thought Hagrid could get him something, well, so tame. Then Harry thought, this is very cool. He took the claw, which was tied to a leather string, and hung it on a nail on the wall.

Harry picked up the other letter, which had the Hogwarts crest on it, and opened it. He read the normal letter which stated that he was to get on the Hogwarts Express at 11:00 am on Platform Nine and Three-Quarters on September 1st. Harry looked at the other three letters and the other two packages wondering which one to open first. He decided on Hermione's and picked up the letter. He slit the letter and read,

Dear Harry, July 27, 1995

Happy Birthday!! Well, I know it won't be too happy but I hope we can make it happier. You know I left for Italy two days ago, and it's great. I never thought Italy was so interesting! Based on things I've found here, I had to rewrite my entire History of Magic essay (Who were the Roman/Greek gods? Explain). It's about one foot longer than he asked even with my tiny writing! I think he doesn't even read them but oh well, just in case he does.

Do you know when you can go to the Burrow? I'll be there from August 20th till school starts. Even I wrote Professor Dumbledore to ask and I received the same answer you lot got. I hope to see you soon Harry. Don't let your "relatives" get you down too much.

Love,

Hermione

P.S.

I got your present here in Italy so that's why some of it is in Italian. But don't worry though; you won't need to know Italian.

Harry shook his head. Hermione could never resist getting extra information while on vacation. He picked up the package. It felt heavy, like a book or some books. Harry ripped open the package and said,

"Wow Hermione."

Hermione had gotten him two books. The first was a photograph album. It had a blue cover with a gold inscription that said "Amici per la vita." Harry thought, I definitely have to ask Hermione what this says. The other book was Quidditch Legends: Teams and Players by Maria Venuto. He smiled. Hermione might be a bookworm but she knew what kind of books he liked. Anything that had to do with Quidditch of course.

Harry then picked up the second-to-last letter. He could tell right away that it was from Ron. He slit it open and read.

Hi Harry, July 29, 1995

Happy Birthday! Hope the muggles aren't making it a miserable one.

The twins have gone back to making Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes. But I don't think Mum even cares anymore. She'll still yell at them but she's so worried about everything. You know, she's still after me about Sirius. Let me tell you, I am bored out of my wits. I've de-gnomed the garden twice today! Did Hermione tell you about how she's written another foot onto her essay in her tiny handwriting? And she finally figured out that Binns doesn't even read the essays. For a girl so smart, she thinks some teachers are sometimes no less than saints! No, there's mum yelling at me to help her. Even though I'm bored, I don't want to help her. She's telling me to help her cook! I can't cook. Oh well. I'd better go before she kills me.

From,

Ron

P.S.

Still writing Dumbledore. Let's keep bugging him until he caves. I think even the twins are writing to him. Oops, got to go. Mum is a real tiger today.

Harry laughed quietly at Ron's letter. He didn't have to wonder at why Ron rambled so much about Hermione, even if Ron didn't realize it. He picked up the package and ripped it open. Inside was a wizard camera. No wonder I got a photo album from Hermione thought Harry. There was a small manual inside the wrapping and two rolls of film.

Harry put the camera down and picked the other letter Pig had brought. He wondered who it was from. He slit the envelope and peeked inside. It was just a letter. He took it out, unfolded it and read:

Dear Harry, July 29, 1995

I usually don't write you but I just wanted to say happy birthday. Also, just to tell you (if my thick-headed brother hadn't told you) that everyone at the Burrow is writing Dumbledore to get him to let you come. I'll see you whenever Dumbledore let's you come.

From,

Ginny Weasley

P.S.

Don't tell Ron that I wrote you because he would go ballistic. I don't know why but he would. Thanks.

Harry stared at the letter. He knew that Ginny had a huge crush on him but he thought she had gotten over it. He decided that he didn't mind that Ginny had written him and in fact, he would write her back. But I'll write her later, he thought, right now I am going to go to sleep, but there's one thing I have to do first. He picked up the camera and loaded it. He focused in on Hedwig and Pigwidgeon, who usually weren't that friendly, but were now hooting at each other in owl conversation. The camera clicked and both owls looked up. Harry grinned and climbed into bed. This time when he dreamed, it wasn't of the Triwizard Tournament; he dreamt of being at the Burrow.

Second Author's Note: This story was first published at www.sugarquill.com. I used different texts for their letters so if you want to see the proper texts, go there!