A/N: This is my first Fanfic. I hope you like it. Please r/r. Constructive criticism only please.
Chapter 1
Harry had been at the Dursley's home for only 8 hours, and they have already been torturing him with housework.
The very first thing Aunt Petunia had said to him was, "Harry! Mow the lawn, trim the bushes, wash the car, wash the dishes, clean the bathroom" etc.
Sure, Harry was used to this, but he just wasn't in the right state of mind. His mind was still on the tragic events of his fourth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
You see, Harry was entered into the Triwizard Tournament by an Mad Eye Moody's imposter, Barty Crouch Jr.
On his final task, Cedric Diggory and Harry were transported to Tom Riddle's (Volemort's) home. There, Cedric was killed by Peter Pettigrew, known as Wormtail, using the worst of the "Unforgivable Curses:" Avada Kedavra. Then, Lord Voldemort was brought back to life.
How he wished that his 4th year had all been a dream. Could it have been a dream? I hat seemed so real!
Harry's worst nightmare had come true. Voldemort had risen.
Harry tried to think about the good times he had during his 4th year. He had made two new friends from two different schools. Viktor Krum, a famous Quidditch player, and the best seeker on the Bulgarian Quidditch team in history. And there was Fleur Delacour. Part human, part veela. She came from Buexbatons.
He successfully learned how to do a Summoning Charm on his first task.
And Cho Chang, Harry's crush since his 3rd year, actually noticed Harry for at least a few minutes.
But then, they all led to the fact that Volemort had still risen.
To get his mind off things, Harry decided to take a long nap. It was working until Aunt Petunia made Dudley practice for his upcoming ballet recital. Aunt Petunia signed him up so that he would learn to be more "graceful." To Harry, it didn't sound or feel graceful at all. Since Dudley's "diet" hasn't been going well, he was breaking every thing by either bumping into it or landing from his jumps and leaps.
Since it was impossible to sleep, Harry got out parchment and a quill. He wrote:
Dear Sirius,
It's horrible here at the Dursleys as usual. I had to do yard work and house work just as I had arrived from King;s Cross.
Anyways, I wrote to tell you that I can't get the image of Cedric's death out of my head. I can't concentrate anymore. When I was supposed to be mowing the lawn, I was mowing the sidewalk instead. What am I going to do? I tried of thinking of all the good things that happened to me, but they all seem to lead to Cedric's death.
I just wanted to let you know.
~Harry
Harry tied the letter to Hedwig's leg, petted her affectionately and let her out to deliver the letter.
Half an hour later, Dudley finally finished "practicing" and Harry went to sleep.
~*~*~*~*~
"Harry! Harry! Get your butt down here and cook breakfast!" Aunt Petunia scolded.
"Ok, ok! Coming!" said an annoyed Harry.
When Harry had gone downstairs and was preparing breakfast, Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and Dudley were planning what to do for the next month.
"On July 31, we are going to dinner and go see a movie" said Uncle Vernon.
Harry dropped ½ a dozen of eggs.
"What the heck do you think you're doing boy?!" roared Uncle Vernon.
"I-I-I'm sorry," Harry stuttered , "but did you say that we are going out to dinner and see a movie on July 31?" he asked eagerly.
"Everyone except you! Mrs. Figgs is going to look after you!" answered Uncle Vernon angrily.
"Oh," said Harry, his self-esteem hitting rock bottom.
You see, July 31 is Harry's birthday. For a split second, he actually thought that the Dursleys had finally decided to celebrate his 15th birthday. But instead, he gets to spend his birthday with and old woman who had cats all over her house with a stinky cabbage smell.
'Great!' thought Harry. 'They never remembered my birthday before, why would they remember now? I should've known better.'
After Aunt Petunia went to the store and bought more eggs, Harry cooked breakfast and served it.
The next few days went along the same as usual when Harry was with the Dursleys.
There was no sign of Hedwig with Sirius' reply. Nor had he heard from his two best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger.
Soon, one of the worst days came by: Dudley's birthday. As usual, they played "Harry Hunting." But this time, Harry was not caught and punched. He had his Invisibility Cloak with him. Now that he had this, he was able to play joke son Dudley and his gang.
Some how, there was water on the floor, and all three boys slipped and with Dudley hitting the ground, all of Aunt Petunia's good china fell out of it's display case and shattered.
Aunt Petunia came storming in with the most horrific look on her face that Harry had never seen before.
It was then he decided to leave the scene of the crime. His fun and games were over.
When he got to his room and had taken the Invisibility Cloak off, He noticed that Hedwig was back with Sirius' reply, along with an owl Harry had never seen before.
Harry opened Sirius' letter first.
Harry,
It is not your fault that Cedric died, nor is it your fault that Voldemort is back.
All you should do is act as if nothing had ever happened. Just study for your O.W.L.'s that are coming up. I don't want to see my Godson get a low score because he is worrying too much about Voldemort.
I hope your summer turns out better than it is now.
~Sirius
P.S. I wrote a letter to Dumbledore, and he will be writing a letter to your aunt and uncle asking to be nicer to you because of what had happened last year. Don't worry, he said that if they don't, I'll teach them a lesson they'll never forget.
~Sirius
Harry took a deep sigh. 'Sirius is right. I should concentrate on something else like studying for my O.W.L.'s.' Harry thought.
Harry then remove the letter from the second owl and was just about to open it when he realized it was addressed to the Dursleys.
'It's probably from Dumbledore.' Harry thought.
He gave the two owls a treat, then let the tawny brown owl out into the wild.
Harry crept over to Uncle Vernon's room and quietly placed the letter on top of his pillow and left.
Then he went back to his room to study for his O.W.L.'s.
~*~*~*~*~
The next morning, Harry woke up at 8:30.
"Oh no!" Harry cried. "Aunt Petunia is going to kill me!"
He was supposed to be cooking breakfast.
He quickly got dressed and ran down the stairs as fast as he could.
Instead of finding an angry Aunt Petunia, a red faced Uncle Vernon, and a hungry Dudley, he found Uncle Vernon reading the newspaper with a piece of toast, Dudley devouring his eggs and waffles, and Aunt Petunia cooking his, Harry's breakfast!
'I guess they decided to listen to Dumbledore.' thought Harry, dumbstruck.
Harry sat down and started to eat breakfast when Uncle Vernon asked Harry to have a word with him.
'Great, what did I do now?' Harry thought.
"Harry, last night I received a letter from a man named something like Bumbledum."
"Albus Dumbledore," corrected Harry.
"Excuse me?"
"Albus Dumbledore, that's his name." Harry replied again, staring anxiously at Uncle Vernon.
"I don't care what his stupid name is!" Uncle Vernon replied through gritted teeth. "Anyway," he continued trying to look pleasant, but failing. "Your aunt and I want to let you know that on July 31st, we are still not going to take you to dinner and a movie." he explained.
"So?"
"I'm not finished." he said impatiently. "As I was saying, we are both aware that July 31st is your birthday ('So they did remember' Harry thought) so we are going to let you invite two, only two, of 'your kind' over for the day. They come here at 10:00 and leave at 3:00, is that clear?"
Harry was dumbstruck. He couldn't believe it. Harry was allowed to have his very first birthday party!
"I said, is that clear?" Uncle Vernon said.
"Y-yes." said Harry still in awe from the surprise.
Harry just about left the room to write to Ron and Hermione when Uncle Vernon spoke again.
"But after the party, you are still going to Mrs. Figg's house for the night. We won't be home 'till very late."
"Ok" said Harry. He didn't carethat he was going to Mrs. Figgs' house. His 2 best friends are going to come visit him on his birthday. Nothing else worse could happen.
Harry ran upstairs, and grabbed 2 rolls of parchment & a quill and began writing.
Dear Ron,
You are never gonna believe what the Dursleys are letting me do. You see, Dumbledore wrote them a letter explaining about what had happened last year, and asking them to be nicer to me or Sirius would teach them a lesson they would never forget. Anyway, I guess they decided to listen because they are letting me have a birthday party. They are only letting me invite 2 people, so I'm inviting you and Hermione. It is on July 31st at 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Write back and let me know.
-Harry
Once he finished writing Hermione's letter, he tied both of the letters to Hedwig's legs and watched her soar into the sky.
Harry spent the next few days waiting for their reply.
~*~*~*~*~
One morning when Harry was polishing his Firebolt, an owl came through the window with a letter.
Harry eagerly opened the letter hoping it was from Ron or Hermione, but it was a letter from Hogwarts.
Dear Mr. Potter,
Please note that the new school year will begin on September first. The Hogwarts Express will leave from King's Cross station, platform nine and three quarters, at 11:00 A.M. A list of books and supplies are enclosed.
Yours sincerely,
Professor M. McGonagall Deputy Headmistress
When Harry looked in the envelope to find the list of books and supplies that he needed for his next year, Harry pulled out another letter. It read:
Dear Mr. Potter,
Because of your great bravery you have shown in your first four years here at Hogwarts, you have been chosen to be one of the Gryffindor prefects. Your badge is inside the envelope. You are allowed to award and take away points from all houses. But we ask you not to abuse this privilege. The other two prefects are Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger.
-Professor Albus Dumbledore
Headmaster
Harry couldn't believe it. He was going to be a prefect. But how? He had broken nearly every rule in the book.
'If they want me to be a prefect, then I'll be a prefect.' Harry thought to himself.
Harry was so busy being shocked, he diddn't notice Hedwig and Pig (Ron's owl) had just flown through the window until Pig flew right into his head.
"Ow!" cried Harry. "What the heck was that?"
Harry looked around trying to figure what had hit him when he saw Pig land on his bed.
Harry quickly took the letter from Pig and read:
Harry,
That's great that the muggles are letting you have a birthday party, but the thing is, I can't go. I'm really sorry, but our family had made plans to visit an old friend of our again, I'm sorry I can't make it. I hope you have a fun birthday.
-Ron
Harry couldn't believe it. Ron, his best friend, couldn't make it to his very first birthday party.
Harry opened Hermione's letter hoping that she could make it.
Harry,
Your birthday party sounds like a lot of fun, but I can't come. Viktor and I made plans to visit his family. If I would've known 3 day before I received your letter, I probably would've been able to come, I'm sorry.
-Hermione
Harry was even more devastated. His 2 best friends couldn't make it. He decided to invite Dean Thomas, Neville Longbottom, and Seamus Finigan. Finally he got so desperate, he eve3n invited Colin Creevey & his little brother, 2 younger boys who adored Harry, and even Cho Chang, Harry's crush since his 3rd year at Hogwarts, but they all seemed to have an excuse explaining why they couldn't make it.
Since it was so close to his birthday, he gave up all hope in inviting anyone because it seemed everyone had plans on his birthday.
Then the day came, his birthday. He was expecting 4 owls with presents from Ron, Hermione, Sirius, and Hagrid, but they didn't show up.
'Maybe they're running a little late. After all, all of them are busy today.' Harry thought.
When Harry walked downstairs for breakfast, he noticed Dudley had the biggest grin Harry had ever seen. Harry just ignored it while he started his breakfast, but soon the grin was getting to him.
"And just what is it you're grinning about, Dudley?" Harry asked cautiously.
"Harry has no friends" Dudley sang.
"I do to have friends!" Harry roared, but then, also trying to control his temper.
"Then why isn't anyone coming to your birthday party?!" Dudley shot back at him.
"Because they all have plans, that's why!"
"Those are just excuses!" Dudley said with his grin widening.
Harry got back up and stormed to his room.
'What if Dudley's right? What if I really don't have any friends? Did they become my friends just because I'm famous? And if they did or didn't, are they backing out because Voldemort is back?' Harry asked himself these questions all at once.
Harry sat there questioning himself for a while longer, then got out all of his books studying for his O.W.L.'s.