Chapter I: The letter.

Harry Potter lay awake in bed. He had been waiting for the past hour for his usual barricade of owls coming through the window that he would usually expect on his birthday. Harry remembered the sequence of events that occurred the last year. He had uncovered a plot to overthrow Professor Dumbledore and transform Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry into a school for the dark arts. This plot was of course masterminded by Lucius Malfoy, the Right-hand man of Lord Voldemort, the most feared Dark Wizard in one hundred years.

It had been Harry's fifth confrontation with the dark lord, the first of which was the reason why he was where he was, waiting for mail in the dead of night, in the home that would tolerate Harry, or any wizard like him. That family was Vernon and Petunia Dursley, not to mention their grossly overweight bully of a son, Dudley. It was 2 o'clock when the first sound of hooting in the distance was audible, and ten winutes later, Hedwig, Harry's snowy owl burst through the window with Pigwidgeon, Ron Weasley's owl and a magnificent Tawny owl.

As was usual on his birthday, Harry opened the package from Ron first and received a package full of food, and a letter:

Happy birthday, Harry!

Fred and George have finally opened their Joke Shop in Diagon Alley (Mum still can't work out where the money came from), and so we thought we'd give you a small sample of their produce! DON'T EAT THE FOOD, IT'S FOR DUDLEY, but we thought you'd probably enjoy the results.

Ron.

Harry at once knew what was in the package. Harry's previous experience with Fred and George's cooking resulted in Neville Longbottom, one of Harry's classmates into a canary for a few seconds. He smiled as he ripped open the package that Hedwig was carrying; hoping that it was from Harry's other best friend, Hermione Granger.
It was.

Dear Harry -

Sorry for not writing to you earlier, there are no owls living near me, and I know what happened last time you received muggle post! I've still got my subscription to the Daily Prophet, it seems as though Ron's Dad has been fired from his Ministry job.

'Hmm' thought Harry, 'Ron didn't say anything about that,'

I thought you'd be running low on this.

Harry opened the box and discovered a bottle of Fleetwood's hi-finish handle polish and the advanced book of DIY broomstick care.

From Hermione.

Harry looked at the letter from the Hogwarts owl. It was the biggest letter Harry had ever seen.

Dear Mr Potter,

We wish to advise that on top of your regular school duties, you have been selected as Gryffindor house Quidditch Captain. Please find enclosed planning and team selection sheets. Please also find a pitch booking form.

As usual, term will start on the First of September, enclosed is your train ticket.

Professor M. McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

Head of Gryffindor House

He looked at the sheets, and found another letter.

Dear Harry,

Please be expecting to see Mr. Arthur Weasley at 12 o'clock noon. He will take you to a secret meeting, I'm sorry that I can't say too much more, no doubt it will be explained during your journey.

Prof. Albus Dumbledore,

OMM First Class; Grand Warlock.

He was expecting one more message, hopefully of a much lighter heart, from Rubeus Hagrid, the Hogwarts Gamekeeper and the Care of Magical Creatures teacher.

Happy Birthday Harry!!!

Have you heard about the new teacher? It's someone you know, to say the least, but I really shouldn't have said that! This should be useful for school.

Hagrid.

Harry's heart fell as he heard a growling sound come from the brown paper packaging. Last time Harry heard that last sound, it was a biting book, and Hagrid sent exactly the same note with it. But then Harry's eyes transferred back to the part about the new teacher, hoping that it was either, Harry's Godfather, Sirius Black, or to say the least, one of the graduated Weasley Brothers.

Speaking of Weasley, Harry thought it would be good to go back to sleep, as he only had ten hours left until he would spend his fourth summer at the Weasley's.