Disclaimer: Once again, none of the Harry Potter characters belong to me.
A/N: thanks to those who reviewed :O)
Harry woke up for the second time that morning, but not to the throbbing of his scar, rather to the pounding and screeching of his aunt.
"Wake up! Get out of bed!" Aunt Petunia stood on the other side of the door, yelling at him to get up. "I want you downstairs in five minutes. It's my Dudders birthday and I want everything perfect for him! Do you understand!"
Harry shook his head and rolled out of bed. "Ok Aunt Petunia." He crossed to the dresser and began to pull out clothes for the day. As he began to get dressed, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. His face was no longer pale from the night before. Like the rest of him, it was tan from working outside the past few weeks. Gone was the small, skinny boy from years ago. Harry had grown and gained muscles. His thick black glasses were gone, broken last year. In their place were thin metal rimmed glasses, still in black, but much nicer.
Harry sighed and finished getting dressed. He was just about to leave when a large white owl flew into the room through the window. Hedwig landed in the bed, dropping a familiar looking letter before flying over to Harry and landing on his shoulder. She nipped his ear lightly in greeting. He laughed softly and ran his hand over her back.
"Hey girl," he said. Hedwig had been a present to him from his friend Hagrid when he had turned 11 years old, the same year he had found out he was a wizard. She had been with him ever since.
He walked over to the empty cage on his desk and let her fly into it. Leaving the door open in case she wanted to leave, he made his way to the bed and the letter on it. He tore it open and eased the letter out. It was the letter from Hogwarts.
Hogwarts School of
Witchcraft and Wizardry
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. Of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Potter,
Enclosed is the list of all the necessary books and equipment you will need for your seventh year. Please note the addition of dress robes to the list. Hogwarts will be holding a ball and all 3rd year students and above may attend.
Term Begins on September 1. We look forward to seeing you again.
Yours Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
Harry read over the note before letting it fall to the bed, looking at the other piece of parchment enclosed. On it was the list of books he needed for his 7th year and the new equipment he required. And there at the bottom of the page was the dress robes. Harry groaned. This couldn't be good. He remembered all too well his 4th year and the dance then. He had been embarrassed beyond belief at having to attend because he couldn't dance.
Harry dropped the remaining parchment on the bed and left the room, heading downstairs and towards the kitchen. His uncle glanced up and grunted at him, his form of saying hello, and went back to reading his paper. His aunt noticed him in the door way and said, "Took you long enough to join us. Now get over here and start cooking the bacon. I want it crisp, perfect for Dudders birthday, do you hear me boy?"
Harry turned to the stove and rolled his eyes. "Yes Aunt Petunia." Every year it was the same, Harry make the breakfast for Dudders, Harry serve the food, Harry clear the food. It never changed.
Suddenly the house shook. What sounded like an elephant pounded down the stairs. A large boy, roughly the size of a small killer whale squeezed through the doorway and into the kitchen.
Uncle Vernon jumped out of his chair and grabbed his son in a bear hug. "Happy Birthday Dudley. You ready for your big day?"
Dudley wasn't paying any attention to his father; he was busy counting his presents. He looked like he was straining himself. When he finished, he nodded and sat down, the chair creaking under his weight. Around Dudleys 5th year at Smeltings, Vernon and Petunia had decided to take Dudley off his diet. While Harry still didn't get much food, he was eating better now. That and the fact that Mrs. Weasley, Ron's mother kept sending him little snacks to keep him going.
While Dudley began to rip into his presents, Harry began to serve the food. Taking his place at the table, he had just started to eat when there came a commotion for the living room. Harry jumped up and ran inside, pulling out his wand. He had started to carry it with him in his pocket at all times. With Voldemort getting stronger everyday, it made him feel a little safer knowing he had some what of protecting himself if he was attacked.
However, it wasn't Voldemort or a team of Death Eaters that greeted him when he ran into the living room. Four people stood in the middle of the room, covered in ash and soot. Dust and dirt was settling around the room and pieces of wood were drifting down from the ceiling. All four people had red hair and freckles. One of them stepped forward and pulled Harry into a hug. "Hiya Harry!" Harry's best friend Ron was happy to see him. The other three straitened their robes. Rons father Arthur Weasley smiled at Harry before turning to the mess. With a swish of his wand and a small spell, the room was suddenly clean again. The other two boys walked over to Harry and pounded him on the back. "Alright there Harry?"
Fred and George were Ron's older brothers. Identical twins, they had caused a lot of mischief during their days at Hogwarts.
Harry laughed in delight. "Don't think I'm not glad to see, but what are you doing here." So caught up in his friends arrival, he failed to notice Uncle Vernon, Petunia, and Dudley standing in the doorway, mouths open and staring.
Ron smiled widely. "We've come to get you! You're gonna stay the rest of the summer with us at the manor." The Weasleys had once lived in an eccentric house called the Burrow but when the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge had been killed in an attack, Mr. Weasley had been named the new minister and they had moved into the Ministers manor.
Mr. Weasley turned to the twins. "Why don't you two go and get Harry's things. Then we can get on our way."
The twins grinned at each other and then ran out of the room. It was when Harry's family backed away quickly from the advancing twins that Harry realized they were there. Harry ignored them for the moment. He could hear Dudley whining in the back, "Mum, make them leave. They're ruining my birthday." Harry tuned him out and turned back to Mr. Weasley and shook the hand he was holding out. "How's it going Mr. Weasley? Everything good at the ministry?"
"Well, it's not the best of places right now, but it could be worse. How's everything here?" He leaned closer. "Are the muggles treating you okay?"
Harry looked at his aunt and uncle and shrugged. "It hasn't been too bad so far. At least they don't lock me up anymore. "
Uncle Vernon was slowly turning red in the face. If you looked closely enough you could almost make out the steam coming from his ears. "That's it! Get out of my house! And take that, that boy with you."
Harry, used to this already, was not startled and looked over in amusement. Dudley was trying to hide behind his mother but it wasn't working. He had his hands over his bottom, still scared from the first time he had met a wizard. When Hagrid had first come to get Harry, he had cursed Dudley and a pigs tail had grown out of his bottom.
Arthur looked on in pity. Such horrible muggles to have raised such an amazing wizard. He breathed a sigh of relief when the twins came back down the stairs. Between them they carried Harrys trunk and belongings. Hedwig's cage sat on top, empty of the bird. Harry looked at Fred and George in question.
Fred smiled at him and said, "We let her out so that she can fly to our house. Figured she wouldn't enjoy a ride through the fireplace."
Harry smiled his thanks, happy that the twins had thought ahead. Mr. Weasley clapped his hands. "All ready? Good. Ok, Fred, you and George go through first with Harry's trunk."
The twins pulled Harry's trunk to the fireplace, threw in some powder, stepped in and shouted "Ministers Manor!" Next went Ron with a grin for Harry. With a shout he was gone. Harry turned to the Dursley's.
Vernon glared and said, "After this year you're done. Don't bother coming back here. There will be no room for you."
Mr. Weasley stared in amazement. That was one of the most horrible things he had ever heard.
Harry only shook his head and smiled. "Do you really think I would want to come back? Do you think I stayed here by choice?" Uncle Vernon's face grew redder and redder until it was almost purple.
"Get out! Get out of my home!" Vernon exploded, picking up anything lying near him and began to throw it at the two wizards. Harry jumped into the fire and shouted out his destination, his last glimpse of his aunt and uncle in a rage. He spun round and round until he made it to the manor and spilled out onto the floor.
A/N: thanks to those who reviewed :O)
Harry woke up for the second time that morning, but not to the throbbing of his scar, rather to the pounding and screeching of his aunt.
"Wake up! Get out of bed!" Aunt Petunia stood on the other side of the door, yelling at him to get up. "I want you downstairs in five minutes. It's my Dudders birthday and I want everything perfect for him! Do you understand!"
Harry shook his head and rolled out of bed. "Ok Aunt Petunia." He crossed to the dresser and began to pull out clothes for the day. As he began to get dressed, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. His face was no longer pale from the night before. Like the rest of him, it was tan from working outside the past few weeks. Gone was the small, skinny boy from years ago. Harry had grown and gained muscles. His thick black glasses were gone, broken last year. In their place were thin metal rimmed glasses, still in black, but much nicer.
Harry sighed and finished getting dressed. He was just about to leave when a large white owl flew into the room through the window. Hedwig landed in the bed, dropping a familiar looking letter before flying over to Harry and landing on his shoulder. She nipped his ear lightly in greeting. He laughed softly and ran his hand over her back.
"Hey girl," he said. Hedwig had been a present to him from his friend Hagrid when he had turned 11 years old, the same year he had found out he was a wizard. She had been with him ever since.
He walked over to the empty cage on his desk and let her fly into it. Leaving the door open in case she wanted to leave, he made his way to the bed and the letter on it. He tore it open and eased the letter out. It was the letter from Hogwarts.
Hogwarts School of
Witchcraft and Wizardry
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. Of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Potter,
Enclosed is the list of all the necessary books and equipment you will need for your seventh year. Please note the addition of dress robes to the list. Hogwarts will be holding a ball and all 3rd year students and above may attend.
Term Begins on September 1. We look forward to seeing you again.
Yours Sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
Harry read over the note before letting it fall to the bed, looking at the other piece of parchment enclosed. On it was the list of books he needed for his 7th year and the new equipment he required. And there at the bottom of the page was the dress robes. Harry groaned. This couldn't be good. He remembered all too well his 4th year and the dance then. He had been embarrassed beyond belief at having to attend because he couldn't dance.
Harry dropped the remaining parchment on the bed and left the room, heading downstairs and towards the kitchen. His uncle glanced up and grunted at him, his form of saying hello, and went back to reading his paper. His aunt noticed him in the door way and said, "Took you long enough to join us. Now get over here and start cooking the bacon. I want it crisp, perfect for Dudders birthday, do you hear me boy?"
Harry turned to the stove and rolled his eyes. "Yes Aunt Petunia." Every year it was the same, Harry make the breakfast for Dudders, Harry serve the food, Harry clear the food. It never changed.
Suddenly the house shook. What sounded like an elephant pounded down the stairs. A large boy, roughly the size of a small killer whale squeezed through the doorway and into the kitchen.
Uncle Vernon jumped out of his chair and grabbed his son in a bear hug. "Happy Birthday Dudley. You ready for your big day?"
Dudley wasn't paying any attention to his father; he was busy counting his presents. He looked like he was straining himself. When he finished, he nodded and sat down, the chair creaking under his weight. Around Dudleys 5th year at Smeltings, Vernon and Petunia had decided to take Dudley off his diet. While Harry still didn't get much food, he was eating better now. That and the fact that Mrs. Weasley, Ron's mother kept sending him little snacks to keep him going.
While Dudley began to rip into his presents, Harry began to serve the food. Taking his place at the table, he had just started to eat when there came a commotion for the living room. Harry jumped up and ran inside, pulling out his wand. He had started to carry it with him in his pocket at all times. With Voldemort getting stronger everyday, it made him feel a little safer knowing he had some what of protecting himself if he was attacked.
However, it wasn't Voldemort or a team of Death Eaters that greeted him when he ran into the living room. Four people stood in the middle of the room, covered in ash and soot. Dust and dirt was settling around the room and pieces of wood were drifting down from the ceiling. All four people had red hair and freckles. One of them stepped forward and pulled Harry into a hug. "Hiya Harry!" Harry's best friend Ron was happy to see him. The other three straitened their robes. Rons father Arthur Weasley smiled at Harry before turning to the mess. With a swish of his wand and a small spell, the room was suddenly clean again. The other two boys walked over to Harry and pounded him on the back. "Alright there Harry?"
Fred and George were Ron's older brothers. Identical twins, they had caused a lot of mischief during their days at Hogwarts.
Harry laughed in delight. "Don't think I'm not glad to see, but what are you doing here." So caught up in his friends arrival, he failed to notice Uncle Vernon, Petunia, and Dudley standing in the doorway, mouths open and staring.
Ron smiled widely. "We've come to get you! You're gonna stay the rest of the summer with us at the manor." The Weasleys had once lived in an eccentric house called the Burrow but when the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge had been killed in an attack, Mr. Weasley had been named the new minister and they had moved into the Ministers manor.
Mr. Weasley turned to the twins. "Why don't you two go and get Harry's things. Then we can get on our way."
The twins grinned at each other and then ran out of the room. It was when Harry's family backed away quickly from the advancing twins that Harry realized they were there. Harry ignored them for the moment. He could hear Dudley whining in the back, "Mum, make them leave. They're ruining my birthday." Harry tuned him out and turned back to Mr. Weasley and shook the hand he was holding out. "How's it going Mr. Weasley? Everything good at the ministry?"
"Well, it's not the best of places right now, but it could be worse. How's everything here?" He leaned closer. "Are the muggles treating you okay?"
Harry looked at his aunt and uncle and shrugged. "It hasn't been too bad so far. At least they don't lock me up anymore. "
Uncle Vernon was slowly turning red in the face. If you looked closely enough you could almost make out the steam coming from his ears. "That's it! Get out of my house! And take that, that boy with you."
Harry, used to this already, was not startled and looked over in amusement. Dudley was trying to hide behind his mother but it wasn't working. He had his hands over his bottom, still scared from the first time he had met a wizard. When Hagrid had first come to get Harry, he had cursed Dudley and a pigs tail had grown out of his bottom.
Arthur looked on in pity. Such horrible muggles to have raised such an amazing wizard. He breathed a sigh of relief when the twins came back down the stairs. Between them they carried Harrys trunk and belongings. Hedwig's cage sat on top, empty of the bird. Harry looked at Fred and George in question.
Fred smiled at him and said, "We let her out so that she can fly to our house. Figured she wouldn't enjoy a ride through the fireplace."
Harry smiled his thanks, happy that the twins had thought ahead. Mr. Weasley clapped his hands. "All ready? Good. Ok, Fred, you and George go through first with Harry's trunk."
The twins pulled Harry's trunk to the fireplace, threw in some powder, stepped in and shouted "Ministers Manor!" Next went Ron with a grin for Harry. With a shout he was gone. Harry turned to the Dursley's.
Vernon glared and said, "After this year you're done. Don't bother coming back here. There will be no room for you."
Mr. Weasley stared in amazement. That was one of the most horrible things he had ever heard.
Harry only shook his head and smiled. "Do you really think I would want to come back? Do you think I stayed here by choice?" Uncle Vernon's face grew redder and redder until it was almost purple.
"Get out! Get out of my home!" Vernon exploded, picking up anything lying near him and began to throw it at the two wizards. Harry jumped into the fire and shouted out his destination, his last glimpse of his aunt and uncle in a rage. He spun round and round until he made it to the manor and spilled out onto the floor.