AUTHOR'S NOTE: The first chapter is an introduction, so it may seem boring, and really have nothing to do with the actual plot of the story. The second chapter is complete as of now, it just needs to be edited. I'll have it out by tomorrow the latest. Enjoy the story and all of its little plot twists.

THANK YOUS: A big thank you goes out to my editor, Jess-chan! She's always there for me, and without her, this story would not be possible.

Enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: I don't Harry Potter or the other characters…..only Tristan is mine! Heh…..

Chapter 1

The Letter



It had been two weeks since he got home from his fourth year at Hogwarts. He had heard no news from anyone, which could be taken as either a good thing or a bad thing. Harry didn't mind so much, but he was bored out of his mind. At least this summer, like last summer, he wouldn't be forced to do anything. One mention of Sirius and he was off the hook. Unfortunately, he knew he'd still be stuck at the Dursley's all summer and that there was no hope of him going to Ron's at all. He couldn't go and live with Sirius, since Sirius was a blood relative. Not that it mattered to Harry, but it mattered in protecting him. He always wished that somehow, someway, there was someone else that was nicer and related to him. He knew why he had to stay with the Dursley's. It was because of Voldemort. Voldemort was the whole reason he was living with the Dursley's anyways.

Only two weeks, he thought.

Harry turned back to his homework. He usually procrastinated, but this year was different. He wanted to get it done with as soon as possible. As always, the History of Magic homework was boring, just like the class. Soon he noticed that it was getting late and he decided to sleep. Just as he rolled over, he saw an owl outside his window. Before the owl woke up the Dursley's, Harry let it in. Not recognizing the owl, Harry took the letter reluctantly. It was from Sirius. He ripped it open as fast as he could.

Dear Harry,

I hope everything is going well with you. I'm managing to survive as always. Stay out of trouble while you're at the Dursley's. We've only been close for about a year and already you're turning my hair gray! I know the Dursley's mustn't be pleasant, obviously, they're Muggles. I have something that you must know. I found something that Remus had sent to me. James had meant it as a will, in case anything should happen to your parents. I never managed to get it until now and still haven't opened the second letter. The first letter was for me, from your father. The second letter was for you when you turn fifteen. I know it's a little early but I thought you should know as soon as possible. I have no clue what it says, but it's in Lily's handwriting. The letter to me asked that I keep you safe and raise you to be an excellent Quidditch player. I'm sorry about everything that has happened, I'm sure your parents never meant it to be that way either. As you may have noticed, there's another letter attached to this. That's for your eyes only and maybe you shouldn't read it until your birthday. I'll send you another letter then. Please keep out of trouble and have fun doing homework! (Ha, the Marauders always copied off each other.) When you find out what the letter says, tell me as much you can, I'm curious as to what it says as well.

-Sirius

Harry looked at the letter. It was awfully thick. He realized, knowing how wizard things are, that if he opened it before his fifteenth birthday, something bad might happen. He decided to fall asleep and write back to Sirius in the morning.

Waking up to hearing Dudley screaming for food was never a pleasant thing. All Harry wanted to do was roll over and sleep, but he knew better than to do that. He woke up and began his letter to Sirius.

Dear Sirius,

Thanks for writing. It gets lonely here. Dudley's lost a lot of weight since I last saw him and that says a lot. I haven't read the other letter you sent me. I'm going to be patient and wait until my fifteenth birthday. Any possibility of seeing you face-to-face for my birthday? That would be the best birthday present ever. As you now should know, the Muggle Prime Minister has declared you free, thanks to Dumbledore. Fudge on the other hand, well that's Fudge for you. Just pop up, that'd make the Dursley's even madder than just having you there. They hate anything magic, especially if the person could harm them. Oh, the best birthday present, I can see it now. You coming here, Dudley running in fear, and Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia fretting over what will happen to Dudley this time. The first time they met a wizard, Dudley ended up with a tail. The second time he ended up with a four-foot long tongue. Hmm, do you have a wand? You could always borrow mine. Oh you just have to come and stay for three days. Come the day before, then you can stay the day of my birthday, and leave on the day after my birthday. Hey, then we can open the letter together! It'll be perfect. Tell me what you think as soon as possible, though I won't tell the Dursley's right away.

~Harry

He finished writing the letter and sent the owl back with the response. Finally getting out of bed, he got dressed and went downstairs. Dudley was still on his diet and Harry realized that he would also be living on 'rabbit food' again. He figured that he would be able to survive a few days. Dudley was staying at Smelting's for an extra couple of weeks. Harry thought it was because Dudley had failed a few classes and had to retake his finals. Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon would never admit to that though. Eating his grapefruit slice, he raced up the stairs to write to Hermione, Ron, and Hagrid. Like last summer, he knew they would send him a ton of food. He hoped that his friends would also send him news of what was going on in the wizarding world. The Daily Prophet was what he missed the most. Although it was known to stretch the truth, it was the best source of information for wizards.

Uncle Vernon, not having Dudley there, made Harry do all of the chores. Cleaning the first and second floors was not as bad as Harry would have thought. Then again, he thought that Aunt Petunia always liked a clean house and that she was always cleaning, when she wasn't staring at her window to find out what the neighbor's were doing, that is. The basement was the worse. It appeared that no one had cleaned it in years.

Uncle Vernon made Harry a promise though. If Harry cleaned the entire basement, Uncle Vernon would allow him to move his things down there and also be allowed to keep his 'school' things there as well. Harry wanted to have the basement room more than anything, for it was roomy and the door was very small to get down there. Dudley would never be able to fit through the door.

Opening the door, he walked downstairs into the basement. He found a light switch quickly and turned it on. There was an inch of dust covering everything. He sneezed a few times before he could find another light switch. Climbing back upstairs, he grabbed the vacuum and carried it downstairs. He thought it would be best to first vacuum and then unpack everything. There were boxes everywhere with things like wedding shower, bridal shower, baby shower, and Harry written on them. He wondered what could possibly be in the last box.

Vacuuming took forever and by the time he was finished, it was time for another grapefruit quarter. He knew that Uncle Vernon would be at work until at least three o'clock and Aunt Petunia was out shopping. The house was to himself and this was how he liked it. He went outside to finish weeding Aunt Petunia's garden before they got home. He was in the middle of it when Aunt Petunia ran up screeching.

"What do you think you are doing boy?!" she screeched.

"I'm weeding the garden like my chore list says to do," Harry replied calmly as he handed her the chore list, which was in Uncle Vernon's handwriting.

"Oh, continue what you're doing then. If I find any flowers that are missing, you are dead. Do you hear me?" Aunt Petunia said, disgusted. It hurt her to thank Harry for anything, considering he was a wizard.

Harry finished quickly and washed up for dinner. He knew that Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon weren't following the diet, so dinner would be it's normal size. He peered into the kitchen. From where he was, he caught the aroma of spaghetti and meatballs. Spaghetti and meatballs wasn't something that he would normally have at Hogwarts and he was glad he could have it tonight.

Dinner went peacefully until Uncle Vernon asked Harry what he had done today off the chore list.

"I cleaned the entire first and second floors, weeded the garden, and vacuumed the basement. I still have to finish a little bit left with the basement," Harry said.

"YOU DID WHAT? WHAT DID YOU FIND IN THAT BASMENT????????" Uncle Vernon roared at Harry.

"Nothing sir. I was only vacuuming it. I intended on asking you what you wanted me to do with the boxes once I had finished vacuuming. You do remember your promise. If you don't, I can always remind you," Harry said evilly.

He knew what was going on in Uncle Vernon's head. Uncle Vernon knew that some things that were meant for Harry were in some of the boxes in the basement. He couldn't let Harry find them on his own, but he also couldn't break his promise. He knew about Harry's godfather and didn't want Harry to write to him.

"Anything labeled with your name on it can stay down there. Everything else you can move upstairs into the attic," he said with a sigh. He didn't want it to come to this, but he had to let Harry have that basement, or else face Harry's murderous godfather.

Aunt Petunia looked at Uncle Vernon, confused. She decided to ask, "Vernon, why are you doing this? Harry's room upstairs is perfectly fine for a boy his age. He doesn't need that basement."

"Petunia, Harry only gets the basement if he cleans it all up first. He was the one who asked for it anyways. You might want to ask his reasons for it."

"Harry, what do you want with the basement?"

"Well, Aunt Petunia, in the basement I was hoping to escape from Dudley. That's really all."

"Well, if that's all you want it for, it seems a bit of a waste to me. You're going through a lot of trouble just to escape Duddykins."

"Yes, that's all. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to go finish cleaning the basement up. It's going to need new carpet and a new coat of paint as well," Harry said offhand as he quickly went downstairs.

Once downstairs, he began finding the heavier boxes and started to take them up three flights of stairs. He figured that he should take the heavier ones first so that he would be able to have more energy tomorrow, when he would take the lighter ones upstairs. After finishing with the heavier boxes, he walked up the stairs quietly, for it was late. Once in his room, he rolled over on the bed and fell asleep until he heard a knocking. The knocking was coming from his window. He wondered who could possibly be here at this hour. It was Hedwig! He raced to the window to let her in. She had three giant parcels with her and there was also today's Daily Prophet attached. Grabbing the largest of the packages, he tore open the letter and package and found food from Hagrid, though it looked better than usual.

Dear Harry,

How have ya been? I've been fine with Olympe. Hogwarts is too quiet without Hermione, Ron, and yourself. Snape's been looking pale these past couple of days. I wonder what's up with him. Anyway, I hope you like this Olympe and I made it. We'll make you a nice big birthday cake for your birthday in two weeks. Send you another letter then!

~Hagrid

That was Hagrid for you- short and to the point. The food did smell better than last year's and now he was looking forward to his birthday for the first time. The next package he decided to open was from Hermione.

Dear Harry,

Another summer on rabbit food? That's got to be bad for you. That's what I'm here for! I've sent you tons of snacks, plus regular food that I hope you'll enjoy. How's your summer homework going? Wait, don't bother answering that, knowing Ron and you, you two probably wait until the last day to do it. If you need any other help, just ask.

~Hermione

That's just like Hermione, he thought. I'll get to prove her wrong though by doing my homework early enough. He knew who the last package was from. It was from his best friend Ron Weasley. Last summer, he received a ton of food from the Weasley's. This year was no exception. He looked for a note from Ron, but there was none to be found. Harry quickly put the food away in his school trunk before the Dursley's could take it away. Climbing into bed again, he fell fast asleep.