Happy Birthday and Sweet Dreams…
Harry woke from a sound sleep. For once he wasn't
having nightmares about the Tri-Wizard Tournament or Cedric, or Voldemort,
which was indeed a bit surprising. These dreams have been haunting him since the
beginning of the summer.
"What was that?" he whispered to himself.
He rubbed his eyes and reached for his glasses on a
nearby table. The sound seemed to be coming from under his bed. Like someone
was whispering his name.
"Who's there?" he said louder this time.
Harry carefully crept out from under the covers and crouched down to look under
his bed.
Nothing.
"I'm loosing it, muttered Harry as he climbed back
onto his bed covers. Then he saw it. On the far shelf there it sat. Watching
him. If he hadn't experienced something like this occurrence with Dobby, he
would have screamed bloody murder. This time he just sat, staring fixedly back
at the creature. It seemed to change at his look. Harry then heard a tapping at
the window; he quickly turned to look at the window to find owls.
"Owls?" Harry said, and then realized it was 12:01,
he was a year older and hadn't noticed it. He then remembered the cause of what
woke him up. He turned back but to his surprise it wasn't there anymore. Harry
sighed and went over to the window to let the owls flutter inside his room.
His own snowy owl, Hedwig, had been one of them.
Another, a Hogwarts Owl, was carrying a large brown parcel and an official
Hogwarts School letter as well. The other owl he noticed was Pig, his best
friend's, Ronald (Ron) Weasley. The two last owls he didn't recognize. There
was an Eagle Owl and a Snowy, smaller than his own owl. He untied each of the
parcels from the owls' legs, but it seemed only the Hogwart's Barn owl decided
to takes its leave.
Harry decided to look at Pig's bundle first. He picked up
the letter.
Dear Harry,
Happy
Birthday! How's the Muggles? Well, everything is great here; Fred and George
are acting weirdly. They bought us new school supplies, but I just can't figure
out where they got the money to do so…
Harry smiled to himself. Harry gave the twins the money which he won
during the competition but it was nice to know Ron was getting new supplies
instead of hand-me-downs this year, he continued to read.
Well they also gave me some pocket money to buy
you something nice. I hope this is to your liking. Oh and Professor Dumbledore
said we might be able to pick you up. Well, maybe I'll see you earlier than
September 1st. –Ron
Harry opened the
package that turned out to be some Chocolate Frogs, Broom Stick Polish, and a
Chudley Cannons Bed Sheet and Poster, also with it there was a copy of Ron's
favorite Wizard Comic Book, The Mad Muggle.
Harry smiled and put the gifts aside. He looked at what Hedwig had with
her. Harry smiled when he found out it was from his Godfather, Sirius. He
opened the package that turned out to be a Book on Animagi. Harry set that
aside, wondering what animal he might become if he achieve the power of being
an Animagus.
He then looked at
what the Hogwarts Owl left him. There was a list of new supplies for his 5th
year at Hogwarts also along with this was a letter and a small box. He read the
letter, which was in loopy handwriting, obviously the Headmaster's, Professor
Dumbledore.
Dear Harry,
I
hope everything is well, and there are no more disturbing dreams. I just wanted
to inform you of two things. First you have my permission to go to the
Weasley's. I have put safeguards around their house, but you need permission
from your guardians before leaving. Next I like to inform you that you are now
a Gryffindor Prefect, Congratulations!
~Professor Albus Dumbledore
Harry was unsure
is he should be happy or discouraged. Asking the Dursleys to go to the
Weasleys' seemed practically impossible. But then again, he could go, and he
was now a prefect. (Was that a good thing?) Harry also saw that Hagrid had
packed a large package of Toffees.
As Harry moved
along he moved to the Snowy. He took the letter and read, which he recognized
as Hermione Granger's handwriting, his other best friend at Hogwarts.
Hi Harry!
I
just recently got this owl, isn't she pretty? I named her Psycho; it's short
for Psychology. Well I heard you can stay at the Weasley's but I doubt the
Muggles would allow them to pick you up. How about my parents and I pick you up
and drive you to the Burrow? I'll bring you birthday gift with me. Well I
should hear from you soon! Your Friend and Happy Birthday, Hermione Granger
"Hermione, what a
life safer!" Harry thought. He then gazed at the last owl that he knew nothing
about. The owl jumped over to the other side of the bed. He noticed there was a
necklace attached, the owl drop the necklace on the bed and whistled a sad tune
and fluttered out of the open window. Harry could still hear the mournful sound
in the night. One by one the owls fluttered away. Harry looked at the necklace
that the owl left him. Harry slipped it around his neck and laid down on the
bed. Instead of the last thought of nightmares, he felt happiness and joy…
