Chapter 3
Gifts, and Troubling News
Harry woke to the sound of light tapping. Getting up quickly, he saw a very peculiar site indeed. Perched patiently on the tree right outside his window were many owls with parcels and letters waiting to be delivered. He glanced at his clock and saw that it was 4:30 in the morning. The sun hadn't even risen yet.
Harry quickly opened his window and Hedwig flew in carrying a parcel, followed by Pig, and the rest of the owls. Harry was amazed at all parcels and letters he had received. He set to work untying all of the parcels and letters. It took him a while to catch Pig and get the parcel untied from him, but he soon managed it and finally the young owl flew away along with the other owls. Harry gently pat and said, "It's nice to see you again girl. I've really been missing you."
*I've missed you too Harry.*
Harry jumped back in surprise.
"Did...did you just talk?!" Harry muttered.
*Yes, it seems you can understand me now. I am quite pleased Harry.*
"But…how?"
[[[It is one of many abilities you will discover that you have Harry. Because we Akitians are magic in a sense, we are also a part of life itself. Being bonded to us gives you a connection to all living things, and therefore, you are able to talk with nature, and you are able to understand its reply.]]]
"Wow, I never even thought about being able to do that. I like it though. Tell me Hedwig, how do you like staying at Ron's?"
*Not as much as like being with you Harry. And I can't say I like being around that pig. I fear that he will never learn to be still and do his duty!* Hedwig said and ruffled her feathers a bit. Harry laughed quietly.
"Have faith Hedwig. I'm sure when he's a bit older he'll calm down a bit."
*Perhaps* replied Hedwig, but she didn't seem convinced. Harry shook his head and silently chuckled as he grabbed the letter nearest to him and saw that it was from Hermione. Smiling, he opened it and read:
Dear Harry,
How are you? Are your relatives treating you ok? Has your scar hurt? Make sure to tell Dumbledore if it does Harry. Anyway, Happy Birthday Harry! I got you the perfect gift. I know how much you hate not being able to know what's going on in the wizarding world, so I got you a subscription to the Daily Prophet, and Quidditch Weekly. Your first issues should be coming soon. You're welcome and I'll see you on September the first. I already went to Diagon Alley to get my supplies and since I'm leaving with my parents to New Zealand for the month of August, I won't be able to visit you there. Anyway, have a good summer and remember, STAY SAFE.
Love,
Hermione
P.S. I was made a prefect! I wonder who else was.
Harry grinned. He had known all along that Hermione would be made a prefect. How could she not be? She was the top student in the school and the only time she ever broke the rules was when they had needed to stop Voldemort or save Sirius.
Harry then found the package from Ron. It was quite heavy, and he wondered how the little owl had managed to carry it to him. He first read the letter that accompanied it:
Dear Harry,
How are ya mate? Are the muggles treating you alright? We've asked Dumbledore if you can come and stay with us for the rest of the summer, but he said no, that you were safer where you are. I don't understand it, but you know Dumbledore. Anyway, guess what? My Dad quit his job at the ministry, and accepted a job from Dumbledore. He won't tell us what, but he's making a lot more money now. So I was able to get you this gift. And believe me mate, you need the practice! We're taking good care of Hedwig, and I'll make sure to bring her with us on September the first. Did you hear Hermione was made a prefect? Saw that one coming. I wonder if she actually went to see Krum this summer. Oh well. I'll see ya on the train. We'd have taken you to Diagon Alley but Dumbledore said that you had your own way of getting there but wouldn't be going for a while. How are you getting there? Are the muggles taking you? I somehow doubt that.
-Ron
P.S. I'm going to try out for Keeper this year. I'm practicing real hard and Fred and George said I might have a chance, (they even bought me new dress robes, but they won't tell us where they got money, and Mum is real suspicious).
Harry frowned. How did Dumbledore know that I was planning on leaving for Diagon Alley on my own?
[[[We were bonded with him during the time of Grindlewald. When Dumbledore defeated him, we left him with the knowledge that we would bond with a young boy that he would meet in his future. Dumbledore was wise enough to recognize you as that boy. So he must know that we are now bonded. Just as he would know that you would be safe to go to Diagon Alley by yourself and that you would plan to do so.]]]
"I thought you bonded with your chosen for life?" asked Harry.
[[[ Sometimes we do, just as we did with Merlyn and Godric. Others we only bond with long enough to complete a task that they are meant to accomplish for peace.]]]
Harry nodded in understanding and opened Ron's gift. Inside he found a wizard's chess set. It was a nice set too. The board was made of white marble and its squares were made of ebony and ivory. The pieces were also carved of ebony and ivory. They greeted him warmly and as their new player. Harry greeted them as well and set the chess set to the side and opened his gift from Sirius. It was a book called 1001 Curses and Counter Curses By Jessi Rivera. His letter said,
Dear Harry,
I can't say much, I'm currently on assignment for Dumbledore. But of course, I didn't forget your birthday. I figured you would enjoy this book quite a lot. And it will come in handy for the future. Remember, if your scar hurts, be sure to write Dumbledore and me.
Gotta go Harry, and stay out trouble.
Love
Snuffles
Harry smiled and continued to unwrap the rest of his gifts. When he was finished he had:
The Greatest Seekers and Their Greatest Moves By: Pandora Gonder From Charlie A box of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes from the twins and a thank you note for his investment money. A new coat from Mrs. Weasley that had the initials H.P. A black belt with a place for his wand from Mr. Weasley Two Daggers from Bill that had ivory handles with different markings on them. ('At least now I know how to use these' thought Harry) A carving him, Ron, and Hermione from Hagrid that moved A new wrist watch from Lupin that worked just like the Weasleys clock as well as telling the time. The band was black leather and the face of the clock a broom stick flying around it.
After Harry had opened the gift from Lupin, he noticed he still had two more parcels.
The first was a small box with a small gold key in it. Curious, Harry opened the accompanying letter and found his usual Hogwarts letter along with a note from Dumbledore.
Harry,
This key opens vault 1031, your parent's vault. In it you will find the few belongings that I managed to save after their deaths. I was instructed by them to give this to you on your fifteenth birthday should anything happen to them. Also, you, along with Miss. Granger have been made a prefect. A responsibility I believe you will rise to well; just as your parents did. Also, I regret to inform you that you will not be able to stay at the Weasleys this summer. A colleague of mine will come and pick you up to take you to the train station at 9:00 a.m. on September the first. When you arrive at school, please come straight to my office. The password is "Canary Cream".
-Professor Dumbledore
"My parent's vault…." said Harry. But he just shook his head as if in a daze and opened the very last parcel. He was surprised to find that it was from Ginny.
Inside he found a small purple sphere. It was no bigger than a marble, and Harry held it in the palm of his hand wondering what it could possibly be. He pulled the note that had come with the gift.
Dear Harry,
My gift is called a Rithian Sphere. They are extremely rare and very valuable. What it does is capture dreams. You simply place it under your pillow and when a nightmare comes it will capture it before you even realize you were having a nightmare. If you have a good dream, it will not interfere, but it will remember the dream for you so that you can view again anytime you want. For the select few people who have visions, it will store the visions as well. I hope this gift proves useful to you Harry. Happy Birthday.
-Ginny
Harry gazed at the purple sphere closely and knew that it would indeed be useful. He then looked outside and saw the first rays of dawn. He quickly put all of his gifts and cards into his trunk which already contained all of his other belongings and then quickly got dressed.
"Kai, is there anyway for me to shrink my trunk without the ministry knowing?"
[[[You already can. The ministry will not be able to sense anything the charm will take such little amount of magic from you that they won't even notice it.]]]
"Why will it take so little?" asked Harry.
[[[Because we are magic, which means you have the very essence of magic inside of you. That is the power and energy that Merlyn spoke of. Most curses, charms, hexes, and so on will take very little out you because you have so much magic inside you. Although, this does not mean you can start casting spells left and right. We are still newly bonded (completely anyway) and so your body is still getting used to us, just as we are getting used to you. You will eventually grow into your abilities, but it may take some time. ]]]
"I understand" said Harry.
He quickly put his trunk in his pocket after shrinking it with his wand which he put on his new belt. Harry then said Goodbye to Hedwig who flew back to Ron's. He wasn't afraid of the Dursleys anymore, but he couldn't take the chance of something happening to her. He then headed downstairs. The Dursleys were still asleep, so he left a note saying he was going for a walk and that he would back later that day.
"Sir, I have news" said Snape walking briskly into the headmaster's office.
"Go on Severus." Replied the Headmaster patiently.
"Wormtail is on his way with to the giant village with about 50 Deatheaters behind him. They will offer the Giants a deal, and if the giants decline, then Wormtail has orders to kill two of them as an example of what happens when one does not obey the dark lord." Snape said the last bit a little forcedly, and waited for the Headmaster to say something.
"I have already sent Hagrid and Olympe to the Giants. If I am correct, they reached the village late last night. I will send Fawkes with a note after them, so they know they to leave immediately and to convince the giants to leave as quickly as possible. Preferably here."
"Here sir?" asked Snape surprised.
"Yes, they could stay in the forest, and it would be much more difficult for anyone from the ministry that is not on our side to reach them as well as the fact that Voldemort will not come anywhere near this school until he has built up his army which will not be for sometime. Now, was there anything Severus?"
"Yes sir. The dark lord is also trying to recruit the dementors. But they do not believe he has returned. From what I could gather, he will show himself to them, as well as give them a treat as he called it. I believe he is going to sacrifice someone, or many to the dementors."
"This poses a problem indeed. I warned Fudge. But he's too stubborn to listen." Dumbledore sighed.
"Until we know more about what Voldemort is planning to do about the dementors, we can do nothing."
Snape nodded and said "I will stay here tonight and go back in the morning. What of our new professors?"
"They both accepted and will be arriving in the next few weeks."
'Wow, I can't believe I found it' thought Harry as he walked up to a very old oak door.
[[[It is where we said it would be]]] said Kai.
'Why is it that no one knows about it?' asked Harry.
[[[This door was put here centuries ago as an escape route for emergencies. A small forest in the park of Surrey is a much unexpected place to find a door leading to the busiest place in Wizarding England as well.]]]
Harry had planned to go to Diagon Alley to pick up his supplies and some new clothes. But he wasn't sure if he would be able to find it. Kai had been helped him by informing him of a door in the forest by the park that led to abandoned alley in Diagon Alley.
Harry opened the door and stepped through. He found himself in a small deserted alley just as they had said and quickly headed into the crowd of people as he made his way towards Gringotts.
Authors Note: I wasn't going to stop there, but it's late, I'm tired, and I'm sick which is also why I'm not going to be thanking everyone individually this time. I'm sorry, but I'm SO TIRED. Remember to keep those reviews coming. They're my favorite part of writing fics. Oh and I'll probably update one more time on Saturday, and then my updates aren't going to be as often. Next week I'm reviewing for exams, and the week after that, I'm TAKING exams. Ugh. If I can update during that time I will, but things will be hectic so I doubt it. But don't worry! I've got action, and a little romance coming REAL soon.
For those who are confused: *speech* means animals or other beings of nature are speaking, 'speech' means that person is thinking, not speaking. [[[Speech]]] means the Akitians are speaking to Harry in his mind.