CHAPTER ONE- The Mysterious Letter
Sunlight poured through the window of the smallest bedroom of Number Four Privet Drive, right onto the face of a young boy. His eyes squinted and he slowly sat up, shielding his eyes from the light. But if the sun hadn't of waken him, his aunt would for barely a minute later, she was rapping curtly on his door.
"Wake up!" She snapped, her knuckles smartly hitting the door. "Wake up this minute and come downstairs!"
Harry Potter could hear her footsteps briskly walking away. He yawned and fumbled around for his glasses. After finding them, he slid them on and stood up, stretching his arms. The first thing he saw was a feathery thing on the outside windowsill. Harry blinked and walked over. It was about the size of a tennis ball, and looked quite pathetic, nothing of importance however Harry grinned a wide grin and flung the window open.
The feathery tennis ball hopped up in surprise. It was a teeny, tiny owl with a huge letter attached to its leg. The letter was about twice as big as the owl itself.
"Hullo Pig." Harry said, picking the minute owl up. The owl hooted in happiness as it was brought inside. Harry sat on the end of his bed and removed the letter before setting the owl inside a cage that was way too big for it. Pig hooted and hopped over to the water dish and gladly gulped some down.
Harry opened the letter and was about to read it when he heard his Aunt Petunia yelling for him. "You stay quiet, all right?" Harry asked, shutting the cage door but Pig was now eating and ignored him. Harry slid the letter in his pocket and went downstairs to find his family around the table. His tall, giraffe-necked aunt was putting breakfast down for his large uncle and whale-sized cousin.
"Comb your hair!" Harry's Uncle Vernon growled from behind his paper. Harry sat down and began eating his pitiful excuse for a breakfast.
"Yum! Yum!" Exclaimed his cousin Dudley, gobbling up crisp bacon, fluffy eggs, toast with jam on it, plump sausage, smoked kippers and a huge glass of orange juice. Obviously his diet from the previous summer was forgotten. All Harry had was a piece of blackened toast, burnt bacon and eggs, and a small glass of orange juice. But he was quite used to it. And, like his cousin, he gobbled down his food but for another reason. He was itching to open the letter that was addressed to him in an untidy scrawl. It was the letter he had been waiting for with trying patience.
"Thank you." Harry said, finishing off his orange juice and was about to leave when his uncle stopped him.
"Go get the mail, boy." He growled. Harry clenched his teeth but obeyed. He went to the front hall and picked up two bills, a letter from his Aunt Marge to Uncle Vernon, and a letter from Smeltings, the school Dudley attended. Harry took the mail to his uncle and went upstairs. After locking the door, he let Pig out of the cage and sat down on the bed and happily read the letter.
Dear Harry,
Dad wrote to Dumbledore and he said yes! You can finally come!! We won't come via fireplace or anything like that, dad and I are going to come to your house in a car. We will pick you up Monday at one. Don't bother sending a letter back, Pig won't bring it back in time because he's an idiot. See you in a few days!!
Ron
Harry grinned and folded the letter up, feeling ecstatic. He could finally leave the Dursleys and stay with his best friend for the rest of the summer. It was Friday morning and Harry could not wait for it to be Monday! It was July 28th and he'd be going to the Weasleys on Monday the 31st, which also happened to be his birthday. That was probably the best present anyone could ever get him. He looked over at Pig who hooted happily and fell over on his back.
***
If he knew it wouldn't of gotten him locked up for the rest of the his life, Harry would be laughing his head off for his Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia and cousin Dudley were more scared then a rabbit in the road. They already had a run-in with the Weasleys the previous year, when Mr. Weasley, Ron and Ron's older brothers, Fred and George, came to get him for the Quidditch World Cup. It was also when Fred and George gave Dudley some Ton- Tongue Toffee which caused Dudley's tongue to swell up and change color.
Dudley probably had the worse run-ins with Magical folk. The first time was when Hagrid came to get Harry, he gave Dudley a pig tail. It was quite funny. Dudley kept jumping at the tiniest of noises and running to his room and it took all of his control for Harry not to laugh.
The reason Harry could not go to the Weasleys till Professor Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, said so was because of the evil wizard Voldemort. When Harry was a tiny baby, Voldemort killed his parents then tried slaying Harry, but for some reason it backfired and drained Voldemort of his powers and so he fled. Thanks to that fateful night, Harry Potter had a lightning bolt-shaped scar on his forehead, and the evilest of wizards after him once more, for Voldemort had just risen back up to power. It happened near the end of Harry's Fourth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Voldemort killed Seventh Year Cedric Diggory and once more tried killing Harry but once again, it didn't work. But Voldemort's powers were not drained and he was still out there somewhere. Wanting to destroy Harry.
That, ofcourse, caused Harry quite a few sleepless, and uneasy nights. He would not feel completely safe till he was back at Hogwarts, under the watchful eye of Albus Dumbledore who was the only one Voldemort ever feared. Harry knew he'd feel a tad bit better once he got to the Weasleys.
Ofcourse, the other reason he couldn't wait to get there was because of Ron Weasley, his best and most loyal friend in the entire universe. Harry and Ron were probably the closest friends you'd ever see. Harry wished, though, Hermione would be there but she was in. Bulgaria, visiting Viktor Krum. Harry narrowed his eyes. He didn't really like Krum all that well. But there was nothing he could do.
Harry looked up at his window at the sound of tapping. It was Sunday afternoon. Only one more day. Outside his window was... a red-tailed hawk?!
Harry leapt up and ran over, flinging the window open. The hawk flew it and perched on his bed, holding out his leg where a letter was tied. Harry cautiously went over and took the letter off, hoping the hawk wouldn't tear at his arm. He jerked back after getting the letter and kept one eye on the hawk for a moment then looked down at the letter in his hands. The envelope was dusky blue with a print of a lake and full moon. On the other side was neat printing:
From the desk of J. Potter
Harry dropped the letter in fear and stepped back, tripping over his jacket and crashing to the floor.
"HARRY! What is going on?!" Aunt Petunia shrieked.
"N-nothing!" Harry yelled back, still staring at the letter as if it were going to explode.
"Get down here!" Aunt Petunia yelled.
Harry scrambled to his feet and down the stairs. "Yes Aunt Petunia?" He asked.
"Go and weed the garden and when your done with that, trim the hedges and sweep the front walk." She snapped as she made Dudley an ice cream sundae.
"Yes Aunt Petunia." Harry trudged outside and kneeled beside the garden and slowly began weeding. The. desk of J. Potter? It couldn't be... James Potter. Harry yanked weeds out, trembling slightly. It could just NOT be James Potter!
A few minutes later, Harry realized he had finished and headed over to trim the hedges.
No. Not James Potter.
Okay. so some other J. Potter was sending Harry a letter.
Harry knew no other J. Potters. He didn't even know any other Potters period.
But it couldn't be James Potter.
Harry finished trimming the hedges and then swept the front walk then headed up to his room. Half-way up, his Aunt called him down for dinner. Harry didn't even pay attention to what he was eating as he ate dinner. The letter was in his mind.
The letter from J. Potter.
After dinner, Harry raced up to his room. The hawk was still in his room. It was perched on his windowsill, feathers ruffled up and eyes closed. Harry quietly shut his door but the hawk awoke and watched Harry as he picked up the letter.
Harry sat on his bed and just stared at the letter. J. Potter stood out in big bold letters, though they really weren't that big or bold.
J. Potter.
James Potter?
Harry traced the moon with his finger then the lake. He raised the letter and sniffed it cautiously. It smelled normal. But you never knew. TAP! TAP! TAP!
Harry looked up and saw Hedwig, his Snowy Owl. He got up and the hawk hopped aside as Harry opened the window but then took off. Harry and Hedwig watched it fly away then Hedwig hopped in and stuck her leg out. Harry untied the letter and sat on the end of his bed, stroking Hedwig and opening the letter which was written in Hermione Granger's neat handwriting.
Dear Harry,
How have you been doing? Thank you for the letter. I'm having a lot of fun here in Bulgaria. Viktor's family is quite nice. Guess what? I got made a Prefect!!! Isn't that exciting? Viktor is happy for me. Have you talked to Ron? I wrote him a letter about two weeks ago and should of gotten a reply by now but nothing. How about we meet in Diagon Alley on August 15th? I'm coming back the tenth. Well, I hope to see you then.
Love,
Hermione
Harry read the letter twice then folded the letter up and stared down at the one from J. Potter. J. Potter! Harry slowly got up and nervously reached out for the letter then withdrew his hand back, too nervous and. scared to read it. Perhaps it was someone playing a. a joke. It must of been. right? It had to of been a joke. A joke. Right. a. joke.
Harry got off of his bed and decided to finish packing for the next day.
***
Dudley locked himself in his room and Uncle Vernon kept glaring at the fireplace and Aunt Petunia kept nervously going into the kitchen. It was Monday at about 1:15. Harry sat beside the window, staring out with wide eyes. waiting for Ron and Mr. Weasley. 1:30. a mini-van! No, it passed the house. 1:45. a fancy white car! No. it passed. 2:00. Why were they so late?
Harry leapt up at the sight of a large green van driving down the street. Or rather at the sight of two red-heads inside the green van. When Harry jumped up, his Aunt Petunia let out a gasp and ran into the kitchen and Uncle Vernon grabbed a fire-poker tightly.
"Goodbye!" Harry called without saying another word and dragged his large trunk, suitcase and Hedwig's cage with Hedwig and Pig inside, outside before the van even parked.
Ron was waving vigorously from the front seat, his incredibly freckled face split into a wide grin. Harry grinned back at the sight of his friend. Ron hopped out of the car and went over to Harry, who had to look up at his incredibly towering and lanky friend whose flaming red hair was getting quite long.
The two boys picked up Harry's trunk and packed it in the back then slid Harry's suitcase on top and climbed into the middle seat. "What about your family?" Mr. Weasley asked.
"They don't care." Harry said.
"Yeah dad, let's go!" Ron exclaimed, still grinning. Pig was going crazy at the sight of his owner but Ron ignored him.
"Well. all right." Mr. Weasley said and drove off. "How have you been doing, Harry?" He asked.
"Fine, thank you Mr. Weasley." Harry said.
Mr. Weasley laughed. "Harry, for goodness sakes you can call me Arthur!" He said.
"Um, thank you. Arthur." Harry said.
"Guess what?" Ron asked, seeming quite hyper.
"What?" Harry asked.
"Percy's gone for a while! He's visiting his girlfriend for about two weeks." He said.
"Girlfriend?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, Penelope Clearwater." Ron said.
"Oh, yes." Harry said. "Have you talked to Hermione?"
"No. She sent a letter but I didn't send a reply." Ron said, finally settling back into his seat.
"Why not?" Harry asked.
"I didn't feel like it." Ron said with a shrug.
"She got made Prefect." Harry said and Ron shrugged again.
"Don't really care." He said. Harry looked at Ron a moment then looked out the window then the letter came into his mind. He had packed the letter from J. Potter in the bottom of his trunk. It just made him nervous and sick and he just could not stand to even look at it.
Oh he would open it some time soon. But not this time soon.
"Mum made a huge cake for you, Harry!" Ron exclaimed happily, licking his lips.
"She didn't have to do anything, just going to your house is good enough for me." Harry said.
"Good, you can give your piece to me, then!" Ron said with a laugh. Harry laughed, too, feeling great to be with his best friend.
***
"Harry dear!" Harry was engulfed in a hug from the plump, red-headed witch who was Ron's mother.
"Mrs. Weasley!" Harry said with a smile.
"Molly. How have you been doing?" She asked, helping him into the kitchen as if he were a little kid who couldn't go three steps without falling over.
"Oh, fine, thank you. Molly." Harry said as she sat him down in a seat.
"Hey Harry!" Ron's older brothers, Fred and George, said enthusiastically. They were sitting across from him and grinning from ear-to-ear. Ron plopped into the seat beside Harry and on the other side of him was a tall wizard who looked like he belonged more at a rock concert then in the tiny kitchen.
He was as tall as Arthur with his flaming red hair pulled back in a pony- tail, a earring with what Harry guessed was a snake fang and his clothes were just awesome and he also had dragon hide boots. "Hey Harry." He said with a grin. It was Bill, the eldest Weasley child however beside him sat someone Harry did not recognize one bit.
He looked older then Bill with neatly clipped brown hair, he had a long face, tanned skin and wore neat clothes that reminded one of a banker. The sleeves of his buttoned-up white shirt were rolled up and he had a black tie and black slacks and he reminded Harry deeply of Percy.
"Cake! Especially prepared for you, dear." Molly set a huge cake in front of Harry. It was about four layers high, covered with thick, generous and luscious chocolate icing and fifteen candles perched around the words 'Happy Fifteenth Birthday, Harry'.
"Oh thank you Molly." Harry said with an embarrassed grin.
"Come on blow out the candles so we can eat it!!!" George exclaimed.
Molly smacked Fred's hand which was trying to sneak some icing and then yelled for Ginny.
The only girl of the family, besides Molly, appeared. Harry raised his eyes slightly at the sight of her which was quite different. Her flaming red hair had been cut a little lower then her chin and so her hair curved under, framing her freckled face. She blushed at the sight of Harry staring at her and slowly sat down beside Fred.
"C'mon Harry!" Ron said, urging him. Harry took a deep breath and blew out all the candles. Everyone cheered and Molly cut the cake and served a huge piece to Harry.
After everyone got a piece and some ice cream, they went outside and took up a couple picnic tables. Harry was between Ron and Bill and the strange guy was across from him.
"This is Jonathan Wilder. He's my partner at Gringotts, in Egypt." Bill said. "Jonathan, this is Harry Potter."
"Nice to meet you!" He exclaimed and shook Harry's hand. "Its especially nice to meet someone who isn't a Weasley." He joked and elbowed Fred who just rolled his eyes. "Your fifteenth birthday! That's quite a milestone." Jonathan continued.
"Yeah." Harry said, gladly eating the delicious chocolate cake.
"I remember when I was fifteen. Remember that year?" He asked Bill who grinned.
"Yep." He said then turned to Harry and Ron. "A boy in our class was turned into a giant chocolate cupcake for almost an entire month. When they turned him back, he still smelled chocolate for years." He said.
"Wouldn't he of been moldy by that time?" Ginny asked.
"I was." Jonathan said with a wide grin.
"You were turned into a giant cupcake?" George asked.
"Yes by a complete idiot." Jonathan said.
"I am not an idiot!" Bill snapped.
"You turned him into a giant cupcake?" Fred asked, grinning. Bill grinned back.
"Yep." He said rather proudly until he saw his mother scowling at him.
"Ofcourse he was having some problems at that time." Jonathan said, patting Bill's arm.
"I was not!" Bill snapped.
"See, this one girl refused to go out with him. It was quite funny." Jonathan said.
"Oh really? A girl refused to go out with you Mister 'All-The-Girls-Were- Always-All-Over-Me'?" Fred asked with a grin.
"Jonathan's just jealous." Bill said but was grinning, too.
***
"Ron, Harry you got letters from Hogwarts." Molly called. Harry and Ron looked at each other. They were in Ron's room, stretched out on his bed playing a game of 'Go Fish' with Harry's new cards that Remus Lupin had sent him for his birthday. Really cool cards. The backs were scarlet with gold lions on them and the fronts, well, they all moved. The queen in Harry's hand seemed very arrogant. She had a mirror in her hand and kept looking at herself and looking down at the other cards in his hand.
"We already received our book lists and stuff we need." Ron said in confusion. Harry shrugged.
"Got any threes?" He asked. Ron handed him two threes. The hearts fluttered about and the clovers danced about happily. The queen turned her nose up at these two new additions.
The door opened and Ginny walked in. "Thanks for knocking." Ron snapped angrily. "We could of been changing."
"Here." Ginny said and tossed two letters on the bed.
"Thanks now go away." Ron said.
"Oh that's nice." She huffed and stormed out. Harry set his cards face down and opened his letter. A thick piece of yellowish parchment and the words written in emerald green ink fell out.
Dear Mr. H. Potter
Starting in your Fifth year an extra course will be offered. The class teaches healing charms, potions, plants and so on. If you would like to take this class please reply back and pick up the following books:
Healing Charms by Hundary Hoffner,
Healing Charms Volume Two by Hundary Hoffner,
Common Magical Ailments and Afflictions, by Lurjer Guane
A Guide Of Medicinal Plants by Alexandria Evritch
Healing Potions, by Lolwiega Joan
Please respond immediately if you would like to take this class
Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress, Hogwarts
Harry look up at Ron who had just finished reading his letter.
"What do you think?" Harry asked.
Ron shrugged. "I think Hermione'll take the class."
Harry snorted. "Probably. I think I'll sign up, though. With all we go through I might need it."
Ron laughed. "Yeah I will, too." He said.
"Let's finish our game first, though."
"All right."
"Any fives?"
"Go fish."
***
By the end of the next week Jonathan was gone and Percy was back. When he saw Harry, he clapped him on the back in a happy greeting. That night they had a cook-out. After they ate, everyone milled around. Percy sat at a picnic table, reading. Ginny studied under a tree. The twins were on the far side of the yard concocting something and Ron and Bill were playing Frisbee. Harry was sitting underneath a large tree with the letter from. J. Potter in his hands. It was time for him to read it. He couldn't put it off any longer.
Harry closed his eyes and slid his fingernail under the slit and opened the letter. He slowly opened his letter and saw a thick piece of dusky blue paper, folded up, in his hands.
Harry gritted his teeth and slowly, slowly, slowly opened it. In writing that was as neat as the writing on the envelope was a letter for Harry. He shakily and nervously read it.
Dear Harry,
That was all he read for the Frisbee smacked him in the head.
"Oops! Sorry!" Ron said with a sheepish grin. Harry hopped up and threw the Frisbee back. Just then there was a great gust of wind. Harry whirled around and saw the letter blowing away.
"No!" Harry said and dove for it but it was too late. The wind blew the letter into the pond.
"Oh dear!" Molly exclaimed. Arthur fished the letter out but the ink had completely run off and it was now just a blotchy, wet piece of blue parchment.
"I hope that wasn't important." Fred said.
Harry just stared at the ruined letter, feeling sick. Now he would never know what the mysterious letter from J. Potter had said.
Sunlight poured through the window of the smallest bedroom of Number Four Privet Drive, right onto the face of a young boy. His eyes squinted and he slowly sat up, shielding his eyes from the light. But if the sun hadn't of waken him, his aunt would for barely a minute later, she was rapping curtly on his door.
"Wake up!" She snapped, her knuckles smartly hitting the door. "Wake up this minute and come downstairs!"
Harry Potter could hear her footsteps briskly walking away. He yawned and fumbled around for his glasses. After finding them, he slid them on and stood up, stretching his arms. The first thing he saw was a feathery thing on the outside windowsill. Harry blinked and walked over. It was about the size of a tennis ball, and looked quite pathetic, nothing of importance however Harry grinned a wide grin and flung the window open.
The feathery tennis ball hopped up in surprise. It was a teeny, tiny owl with a huge letter attached to its leg. The letter was about twice as big as the owl itself.
"Hullo Pig." Harry said, picking the minute owl up. The owl hooted in happiness as it was brought inside. Harry sat on the end of his bed and removed the letter before setting the owl inside a cage that was way too big for it. Pig hooted and hopped over to the water dish and gladly gulped some down.
Harry opened the letter and was about to read it when he heard his Aunt Petunia yelling for him. "You stay quiet, all right?" Harry asked, shutting the cage door but Pig was now eating and ignored him. Harry slid the letter in his pocket and went downstairs to find his family around the table. His tall, giraffe-necked aunt was putting breakfast down for his large uncle and whale-sized cousin.
"Comb your hair!" Harry's Uncle Vernon growled from behind his paper. Harry sat down and began eating his pitiful excuse for a breakfast.
"Yum! Yum!" Exclaimed his cousin Dudley, gobbling up crisp bacon, fluffy eggs, toast with jam on it, plump sausage, smoked kippers and a huge glass of orange juice. Obviously his diet from the previous summer was forgotten. All Harry had was a piece of blackened toast, burnt bacon and eggs, and a small glass of orange juice. But he was quite used to it. And, like his cousin, he gobbled down his food but for another reason. He was itching to open the letter that was addressed to him in an untidy scrawl. It was the letter he had been waiting for with trying patience.
"Thank you." Harry said, finishing off his orange juice and was about to leave when his uncle stopped him.
"Go get the mail, boy." He growled. Harry clenched his teeth but obeyed. He went to the front hall and picked up two bills, a letter from his Aunt Marge to Uncle Vernon, and a letter from Smeltings, the school Dudley attended. Harry took the mail to his uncle and went upstairs. After locking the door, he let Pig out of the cage and sat down on the bed and happily read the letter.
Dear Harry,
Dad wrote to Dumbledore and he said yes! You can finally come!! We won't come via fireplace or anything like that, dad and I are going to come to your house in a car. We will pick you up Monday at one. Don't bother sending a letter back, Pig won't bring it back in time because he's an idiot. See you in a few days!!
Ron
Harry grinned and folded the letter up, feeling ecstatic. He could finally leave the Dursleys and stay with his best friend for the rest of the summer. It was Friday morning and Harry could not wait for it to be Monday! It was July 28th and he'd be going to the Weasleys on Monday the 31st, which also happened to be his birthday. That was probably the best present anyone could ever get him. He looked over at Pig who hooted happily and fell over on his back.
***
If he knew it wouldn't of gotten him locked up for the rest of the his life, Harry would be laughing his head off for his Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia and cousin Dudley were more scared then a rabbit in the road. They already had a run-in with the Weasleys the previous year, when Mr. Weasley, Ron and Ron's older brothers, Fred and George, came to get him for the Quidditch World Cup. It was also when Fred and George gave Dudley some Ton- Tongue Toffee which caused Dudley's tongue to swell up and change color.
Dudley probably had the worse run-ins with Magical folk. The first time was when Hagrid came to get Harry, he gave Dudley a pig tail. It was quite funny. Dudley kept jumping at the tiniest of noises and running to his room and it took all of his control for Harry not to laugh.
The reason Harry could not go to the Weasleys till Professor Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, said so was because of the evil wizard Voldemort. When Harry was a tiny baby, Voldemort killed his parents then tried slaying Harry, but for some reason it backfired and drained Voldemort of his powers and so he fled. Thanks to that fateful night, Harry Potter had a lightning bolt-shaped scar on his forehead, and the evilest of wizards after him once more, for Voldemort had just risen back up to power. It happened near the end of Harry's Fourth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Voldemort killed Seventh Year Cedric Diggory and once more tried killing Harry but once again, it didn't work. But Voldemort's powers were not drained and he was still out there somewhere. Wanting to destroy Harry.
That, ofcourse, caused Harry quite a few sleepless, and uneasy nights. He would not feel completely safe till he was back at Hogwarts, under the watchful eye of Albus Dumbledore who was the only one Voldemort ever feared. Harry knew he'd feel a tad bit better once he got to the Weasleys.
Ofcourse, the other reason he couldn't wait to get there was because of Ron Weasley, his best and most loyal friend in the entire universe. Harry and Ron were probably the closest friends you'd ever see. Harry wished, though, Hermione would be there but she was in. Bulgaria, visiting Viktor Krum. Harry narrowed his eyes. He didn't really like Krum all that well. But there was nothing he could do.
Harry looked up at his window at the sound of tapping. It was Sunday afternoon. Only one more day. Outside his window was... a red-tailed hawk?!
Harry leapt up and ran over, flinging the window open. The hawk flew it and perched on his bed, holding out his leg where a letter was tied. Harry cautiously went over and took the letter off, hoping the hawk wouldn't tear at his arm. He jerked back after getting the letter and kept one eye on the hawk for a moment then looked down at the letter in his hands. The envelope was dusky blue with a print of a lake and full moon. On the other side was neat printing:
From the desk of J. Potter
Harry dropped the letter in fear and stepped back, tripping over his jacket and crashing to the floor.
"HARRY! What is going on?!" Aunt Petunia shrieked.
"N-nothing!" Harry yelled back, still staring at the letter as if it were going to explode.
"Get down here!" Aunt Petunia yelled.
Harry scrambled to his feet and down the stairs. "Yes Aunt Petunia?" He asked.
"Go and weed the garden and when your done with that, trim the hedges and sweep the front walk." She snapped as she made Dudley an ice cream sundae.
"Yes Aunt Petunia." Harry trudged outside and kneeled beside the garden and slowly began weeding. The. desk of J. Potter? It couldn't be... James Potter. Harry yanked weeds out, trembling slightly. It could just NOT be James Potter!
A few minutes later, Harry realized he had finished and headed over to trim the hedges.
No. Not James Potter.
Okay. so some other J. Potter was sending Harry a letter.
Harry knew no other J. Potters. He didn't even know any other Potters period.
But it couldn't be James Potter.
Harry finished trimming the hedges and then swept the front walk then headed up to his room. Half-way up, his Aunt called him down for dinner. Harry didn't even pay attention to what he was eating as he ate dinner. The letter was in his mind.
The letter from J. Potter.
After dinner, Harry raced up to his room. The hawk was still in his room. It was perched on his windowsill, feathers ruffled up and eyes closed. Harry quietly shut his door but the hawk awoke and watched Harry as he picked up the letter.
Harry sat on his bed and just stared at the letter. J. Potter stood out in big bold letters, though they really weren't that big or bold.
J. Potter.
James Potter?
Harry traced the moon with his finger then the lake. He raised the letter and sniffed it cautiously. It smelled normal. But you never knew. TAP! TAP! TAP!
Harry looked up and saw Hedwig, his Snowy Owl. He got up and the hawk hopped aside as Harry opened the window but then took off. Harry and Hedwig watched it fly away then Hedwig hopped in and stuck her leg out. Harry untied the letter and sat on the end of his bed, stroking Hedwig and opening the letter which was written in Hermione Granger's neat handwriting.
Dear Harry,
How have you been doing? Thank you for the letter. I'm having a lot of fun here in Bulgaria. Viktor's family is quite nice. Guess what? I got made a Prefect!!! Isn't that exciting? Viktor is happy for me. Have you talked to Ron? I wrote him a letter about two weeks ago and should of gotten a reply by now but nothing. How about we meet in Diagon Alley on August 15th? I'm coming back the tenth. Well, I hope to see you then.
Love,
Hermione
Harry read the letter twice then folded the letter up and stared down at the one from J. Potter. J. Potter! Harry slowly got up and nervously reached out for the letter then withdrew his hand back, too nervous and. scared to read it. Perhaps it was someone playing a. a joke. It must of been. right? It had to of been a joke. A joke. Right. a. joke.
Harry got off of his bed and decided to finish packing for the next day.
***
Dudley locked himself in his room and Uncle Vernon kept glaring at the fireplace and Aunt Petunia kept nervously going into the kitchen. It was Monday at about 1:15. Harry sat beside the window, staring out with wide eyes. waiting for Ron and Mr. Weasley. 1:30. a mini-van! No, it passed the house. 1:45. a fancy white car! No. it passed. 2:00. Why were they so late?
Harry leapt up at the sight of a large green van driving down the street. Or rather at the sight of two red-heads inside the green van. When Harry jumped up, his Aunt Petunia let out a gasp and ran into the kitchen and Uncle Vernon grabbed a fire-poker tightly.
"Goodbye!" Harry called without saying another word and dragged his large trunk, suitcase and Hedwig's cage with Hedwig and Pig inside, outside before the van even parked.
Ron was waving vigorously from the front seat, his incredibly freckled face split into a wide grin. Harry grinned back at the sight of his friend. Ron hopped out of the car and went over to Harry, who had to look up at his incredibly towering and lanky friend whose flaming red hair was getting quite long.
The two boys picked up Harry's trunk and packed it in the back then slid Harry's suitcase on top and climbed into the middle seat. "What about your family?" Mr. Weasley asked.
"They don't care." Harry said.
"Yeah dad, let's go!" Ron exclaimed, still grinning. Pig was going crazy at the sight of his owner but Ron ignored him.
"Well. all right." Mr. Weasley said and drove off. "How have you been doing, Harry?" He asked.
"Fine, thank you Mr. Weasley." Harry said.
Mr. Weasley laughed. "Harry, for goodness sakes you can call me Arthur!" He said.
"Um, thank you. Arthur." Harry said.
"Guess what?" Ron asked, seeming quite hyper.
"What?" Harry asked.
"Percy's gone for a while! He's visiting his girlfriend for about two weeks." He said.
"Girlfriend?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, Penelope Clearwater." Ron said.
"Oh, yes." Harry said. "Have you talked to Hermione?"
"No. She sent a letter but I didn't send a reply." Ron said, finally settling back into his seat.
"Why not?" Harry asked.
"I didn't feel like it." Ron said with a shrug.
"She got made Prefect." Harry said and Ron shrugged again.
"Don't really care." He said. Harry looked at Ron a moment then looked out the window then the letter came into his mind. He had packed the letter from J. Potter in the bottom of his trunk. It just made him nervous and sick and he just could not stand to even look at it.
Oh he would open it some time soon. But not this time soon.
"Mum made a huge cake for you, Harry!" Ron exclaimed happily, licking his lips.
"She didn't have to do anything, just going to your house is good enough for me." Harry said.
"Good, you can give your piece to me, then!" Ron said with a laugh. Harry laughed, too, feeling great to be with his best friend.
***
"Harry dear!" Harry was engulfed in a hug from the plump, red-headed witch who was Ron's mother.
"Mrs. Weasley!" Harry said with a smile.
"Molly. How have you been doing?" She asked, helping him into the kitchen as if he were a little kid who couldn't go three steps without falling over.
"Oh, fine, thank you. Molly." Harry said as she sat him down in a seat.
"Hey Harry!" Ron's older brothers, Fred and George, said enthusiastically. They were sitting across from him and grinning from ear-to-ear. Ron plopped into the seat beside Harry and on the other side of him was a tall wizard who looked like he belonged more at a rock concert then in the tiny kitchen.
He was as tall as Arthur with his flaming red hair pulled back in a pony- tail, a earring with what Harry guessed was a snake fang and his clothes were just awesome and he also had dragon hide boots. "Hey Harry." He said with a grin. It was Bill, the eldest Weasley child however beside him sat someone Harry did not recognize one bit.
He looked older then Bill with neatly clipped brown hair, he had a long face, tanned skin and wore neat clothes that reminded one of a banker. The sleeves of his buttoned-up white shirt were rolled up and he had a black tie and black slacks and he reminded Harry deeply of Percy.
"Cake! Especially prepared for you, dear." Molly set a huge cake in front of Harry. It was about four layers high, covered with thick, generous and luscious chocolate icing and fifteen candles perched around the words 'Happy Fifteenth Birthday, Harry'.
"Oh thank you Molly." Harry said with an embarrassed grin.
"Come on blow out the candles so we can eat it!!!" George exclaimed.
Molly smacked Fred's hand which was trying to sneak some icing and then yelled for Ginny.
The only girl of the family, besides Molly, appeared. Harry raised his eyes slightly at the sight of her which was quite different. Her flaming red hair had been cut a little lower then her chin and so her hair curved under, framing her freckled face. She blushed at the sight of Harry staring at her and slowly sat down beside Fred.
"C'mon Harry!" Ron said, urging him. Harry took a deep breath and blew out all the candles. Everyone cheered and Molly cut the cake and served a huge piece to Harry.
After everyone got a piece and some ice cream, they went outside and took up a couple picnic tables. Harry was between Ron and Bill and the strange guy was across from him.
"This is Jonathan Wilder. He's my partner at Gringotts, in Egypt." Bill said. "Jonathan, this is Harry Potter."
"Nice to meet you!" He exclaimed and shook Harry's hand. "Its especially nice to meet someone who isn't a Weasley." He joked and elbowed Fred who just rolled his eyes. "Your fifteenth birthday! That's quite a milestone." Jonathan continued.
"Yeah." Harry said, gladly eating the delicious chocolate cake.
"I remember when I was fifteen. Remember that year?" He asked Bill who grinned.
"Yep." He said then turned to Harry and Ron. "A boy in our class was turned into a giant chocolate cupcake for almost an entire month. When they turned him back, he still smelled chocolate for years." He said.
"Wouldn't he of been moldy by that time?" Ginny asked.
"I was." Jonathan said with a wide grin.
"You were turned into a giant cupcake?" George asked.
"Yes by a complete idiot." Jonathan said.
"I am not an idiot!" Bill snapped.
"You turned him into a giant cupcake?" Fred asked, grinning. Bill grinned back.
"Yep." He said rather proudly until he saw his mother scowling at him.
"Ofcourse he was having some problems at that time." Jonathan said, patting Bill's arm.
"I was not!" Bill snapped.
"See, this one girl refused to go out with him. It was quite funny." Jonathan said.
"Oh really? A girl refused to go out with you Mister 'All-The-Girls-Were- Always-All-Over-Me'?" Fred asked with a grin.
"Jonathan's just jealous." Bill said but was grinning, too.
***
"Ron, Harry you got letters from Hogwarts." Molly called. Harry and Ron looked at each other. They were in Ron's room, stretched out on his bed playing a game of 'Go Fish' with Harry's new cards that Remus Lupin had sent him for his birthday. Really cool cards. The backs were scarlet with gold lions on them and the fronts, well, they all moved. The queen in Harry's hand seemed very arrogant. She had a mirror in her hand and kept looking at herself and looking down at the other cards in his hand.
"We already received our book lists and stuff we need." Ron said in confusion. Harry shrugged.
"Got any threes?" He asked. Ron handed him two threes. The hearts fluttered about and the clovers danced about happily. The queen turned her nose up at these two new additions.
The door opened and Ginny walked in. "Thanks for knocking." Ron snapped angrily. "We could of been changing."
"Here." Ginny said and tossed two letters on the bed.
"Thanks now go away." Ron said.
"Oh that's nice." She huffed and stormed out. Harry set his cards face down and opened his letter. A thick piece of yellowish parchment and the words written in emerald green ink fell out.
Dear Mr. H. Potter
Starting in your Fifth year an extra course will be offered. The class teaches healing charms, potions, plants and so on. If you would like to take this class please reply back and pick up the following books:
Healing Charms by Hundary Hoffner,
Healing Charms Volume Two by Hundary Hoffner,
Common Magical Ailments and Afflictions, by Lurjer Guane
A Guide Of Medicinal Plants by Alexandria Evritch
Healing Potions, by Lolwiega Joan
Please respond immediately if you would like to take this class
Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress, Hogwarts
Harry look up at Ron who had just finished reading his letter.
"What do you think?" Harry asked.
Ron shrugged. "I think Hermione'll take the class."
Harry snorted. "Probably. I think I'll sign up, though. With all we go through I might need it."
Ron laughed. "Yeah I will, too." He said.
"Let's finish our game first, though."
"All right."
"Any fives?"
"Go fish."
***
By the end of the next week Jonathan was gone and Percy was back. When he saw Harry, he clapped him on the back in a happy greeting. That night they had a cook-out. After they ate, everyone milled around. Percy sat at a picnic table, reading. Ginny studied under a tree. The twins were on the far side of the yard concocting something and Ron and Bill were playing Frisbee. Harry was sitting underneath a large tree with the letter from. J. Potter in his hands. It was time for him to read it. He couldn't put it off any longer.
Harry closed his eyes and slid his fingernail under the slit and opened the letter. He slowly opened his letter and saw a thick piece of dusky blue paper, folded up, in his hands.
Harry gritted his teeth and slowly, slowly, slowly opened it. In writing that was as neat as the writing on the envelope was a letter for Harry. He shakily and nervously read it.
Dear Harry,
That was all he read for the Frisbee smacked him in the head.
"Oops! Sorry!" Ron said with a sheepish grin. Harry hopped up and threw the Frisbee back. Just then there was a great gust of wind. Harry whirled around and saw the letter blowing away.
"No!" Harry said and dove for it but it was too late. The wind blew the letter into the pond.
"Oh dear!" Molly exclaimed. Arthur fished the letter out but the ink had completely run off and it was now just a blotchy, wet piece of blue parchment.
"I hope that wasn't important." Fred said.
Harry just stared at the ruined letter, feeling sick. Now he would never know what the mysterious letter from J. Potter had said.