This is my first fic, witten mainly because I've been reading fanfics for so long and I wanted to do "the ultimate fic", so to speak. Well, here it is. It starts out kind of like all the real books witten by Rowling, but I have to confess it goes a bit out of line as the plot goes on. I think I'll write a sequel when I've finished this one (and that won't be for quite some time, I tell you) and those may be a bit more. well rated. This one'll be quite "nice", though, since Harry and gang ARE only fifteen years old.

Observe! Everyone who hates H/Hr can just stop reading right away, I won't go anywhere else than that EVER! All of you others, who share my opinion of the ONE TRUE SHIP, hold on for this simple chapter, and then we'll have that part of the plot rolling away!

Chap. 1 Of fabulous birthday-nights

The fourteen - nearly fifteen - year old Harry Potter was sitting with his back against the house-wall. He had just come back from nearly two hours of running, his messy black hair plastered to his forehead, hiding the lightning-bolt scar from view. His emerald eyes were closed behind round spectacles, and he was wearing a t-shirt and some running-shorts way too large for him. With it's head in his lap was a large, black dog, his tongue hanging from his mouth. Harry opened his eyes and sighed as he looked at his companion. They were both tired from the exercise, which Harry had taken to only so he could leave the house once in a while.

His aunt and uncle hadn't been happy with him leaving and ignoring some of the numerous chores they had lain upon him, but Harry, having predicted their reaction beforehand, threatened them with his 'convicted murderer' godfather, and Petunia and Vernon Dursely could do nothing but sit and watch as Harry did things the way he felt like doing them.

Harry's cousin Dudley was, thank goodness, away on camp over the summer. The diet the school-nurse of Smeltings had out him on hadn't exactly taken effect, and Dudley was now forced to go away on a lose-weight camp for fat children.

A lot had changed since last summer, but not everything for the better. Harry was tortured by nightmares of Voldemort, the most evil wizard of them all, and of his rebirth, and of the death of Cedric Diggory. The only reason he could sleep at all during the nights was the presence of the black dog. Even though he couldn't live with him, or stay with him in the Dursley's house, it brought Harry comfort to have his godfather around, even if only during daytime.

As the sun set behind the houses of Privet Drive Harry scoffed the black dog off his lap and got up.

"I have to go indoors now, Snuffles", he said. "See you tomorrow."

The dog licked Harry's hand and went away down the road, as Harry went into the house. Without even thinking about trying to get dinner from his aunt and uncle, Harry ascended the stairs and locked himself up in his room. Under the loose floorboard was his own stash of food, brought to him by his snowy-owl Hedwig from his friends.

As he sat down at his desk to eat some pie Harry looked once again around his room. It wasn't at all large, or luxurious, or anything even remotely close to anything even resembling those words, but it was all he had when away from school. He had to clean off a whole load of books from his desk before he could sit and eat at it. Next to the desk was his cauldron, in which he currently stacked all his finished homework. It was nearly full now, since Harry had been burying himself in his schoolwork in order to keep himself occupied enough to not think about Voldemort or Cedric, which pained him still. All the papers he was supposed to hand in when the next year began were at least one scroll longer than asked for by the professors in question. He had researched and reread his books so often than he now knew half of them almost by heart, and the other half he was well on the way of doing the same thing.

'I'm beginning to turn out like Hermione!' he thought as he set aside the leftovers from his meal for Hedwig to eat when she returned (she was currently out hunting or whatever) and grabbed his potions-textbook. The essay he had to write was a very difficult one on the subject of truth- serums. He had written as far as to evaluate why the use of the truth- serums were so strictly watched over and, with a little help from Sirius and some books from the grand library at Diagon Alley, he would be finished with his presently five-scroll essay in the morning.

There was one other thing he had to do when it came to his studies, and that task was by far the most difficult he had. He was studying Arithmancy now, having dropped Divination after several weeks of correspondence with Professor Dumbledore, and Harry had a whole lot of catching up to do if he intended on managing this new area of wizardry.

He had given his choice a lot of thought, but had eventually come to the conclusion that he was far better off without Professor Sibyl Trelawney predicting his death at least twice a week. Hermione would be thrilled, of course, and Ron would probably be disappointed in Harry leaving him alone with that wretched hag, but he would just have to live with it.

The thought of his friends sent a jolt through his body. He hadn't heard from them all that much lately, he reckoned they felt a little uneasy around him since the end of the Triwizard tournament. But he couldn't wait to hear from them all the same. Just when he had buried himself in a passage about some guy who had made a mistake with some of the ingredients while making Veritaserum, and ended up never being able to speak another word of lie in his whole life Harry heard Hedwig tapping her beak to the window. He got up and let her in.

Soon after her three other owls came flying through the now open window. While he had been studying darkness had fallen, and Harry noticed that, once again, he had spent twenty minutes of his birthday without knowing it. He was now fifteen years old, and the three owls plus his own Hedwig were obviously in his room because of the event, and they all carried envelopes and parcels of different kinds.

Hedwig merely dropped her two letters and a packet on Harry's bed and flew over to her cage to have herself a zip of water and a bite to eat. Of the remaining three owls Harry recognised only one. Flying around and about in the room was the tiny owl known as Pigwidgeon, or rather Pig, for short. He belonged to Ron and was the most crazy being Harry had ever seen. Pig was carrying three envelopes and two parcels, a burden far too heavy for such a small bird. Harry was utterly amazed at the load of presents he seemed to be receiving this year. The second bird was a great owl of Hogwarts, Harry understood that as soon as he laid eyes upon it thoroughly enough. Apart from the usual letter with the school crest on it the owl was also bringing a packet from who Harry knew instantly was Hagrid. The last owl was a majestic grey one, whom Harry had never seen before. The letter and gift the unfamiliar owl had with it, though, came unmistakably from Hermione. The school owl of Hogwarts left as soon as it had dropped off what it had come to leave, but both Pig and the grey owl remained with Hedwig.

Harry then turned his attention to the rather large pile of gifts and letters placed on the bed. He found a new, unbreakable schoolbag from Sirius, in which there was a book with the title "Everything you really should try to avoid if you want to become an Animagus (and some things you desperately need to learn)" written by no other than Padfoot and Prongs. The short letter his godfather had sent with his gift was little more than an explanatory note:

Happy Birthday Harry

Hope you get yourself a good year, I know I had a very fine year when I was fifteen.

Thought I ought to explain a little to you concerning the gift I just sent you, and why I didn't deliver it in person.

This book contains all the notes and facts your father and I found and used when we were developing our Animagi-forms. I just thought you wanted to have it, and perhaps it may be of some use to you. Although, if you do decide to use it for it's original task, please let me help you along.

As for why I didn't bring the gift to you in person, it has been locked up in my Gringotts' vault for many years, and I had so send Hedwig to go get it for me, and when she already had it, she might as well give it to you.

Love Snuffles

Harry was delighted. That gift was one of the best he had received in his entire life, and he planned to make use of it as soon as possible. Well, of course he intended to become an Animagus, he had planned that ever since he learned that it could be done.

As to the other envelope Hedwig had brought, it contained a pretty birthday- card, also from Sirius.

Pig's envelopes and gifts came from, of course, Ron, and surprisingly, his twin brothers, Fred and George. They had all sent him presents, and each a letter along with it.

Harry

Happy Birthday, mate. How are you doing? I mean, with everything that has been happening. I don't know if you have been able to follow what has been happening in the wizarding world, but You-Know-Who hasn't been active at all since beginning of summer, but Dumbledore seams not to let a second go to waste anyway.

Hope you are doing all right. Fred and George said for me to send along their gift for you as well, Pig had some great trouble carrying it all, I tell you. They refused to tell me what it was they sent you, though.

How's all your schoolwork going? Hermione's been sending me tons of letters telling me to get everything done, and obsessing about the upcoming O.W.L.s, of course. Hope she hasn't been giving you that hard a time, mate. Do you know if she's gone to Bulgaria to visit Krum? I tried to get her to tell me, but she won't.

Mum says hello, and that she's sorry that Dumbledore won't let you come visit us this summer. But she wants to invite you here for Christmas, already. Please come!

/Ron

The gift Ron had sent was, believe it or not, a Snitch. Well, not a real one, something of a training-Snitch, it said in the instructions. It was a bit smaller than the usual golden ball, and it didn't fly as far or high, but Harry already knew he could make good use of it, training in his room.

Fred and George sent a short letter, saying how grateful they were for Harry's donation for Weasley's Wizard Wheezes earlier that year. Because of his donation, they had decided to let Harry have the first of every single prank-product they made, and their gift was a huge stash of Canary Creams and suchlike. Harry smiled.

Hermione sent him a book, and Harry had to admit that he was actually genuinely happy about the gift. When he saw the title, though, he couldn't help but laugh. She had sent him a copy of "Hogwarts; a History", together with a thick bundle of parchments, written by herself, on the subject of the school and it's house-elves.

Harry, her letter read.

Hope you have the best birthday ever. I'm currently at home with my parents, we went away for a short holiday to Italy a few weeks ago, and I'm of course deeply enveloped in my studies. Just so you know, I didn't go to Bulgaria to visit Viktor, he had to go somewhere with the Quidditch-team, and my parents didn't think it appropriate for me to go visit him either. I must confess, I didn't think so either. I know both you and Ron (especially him) think that there's something going on between Viktor and I, but there isn't, at least not for my part.

I sent you the book hoping that I would finally get you to read it. I've given up trying to push Ron into it a long time ago, but I still have my hopes about you, my dear friend. Read it!

How's your schoolwork coming along? I've finished about half of the essays, and of course they're a bit longer than requested (as usual). Get yours done! I hope you have done at least something because you will hopefully be elsewhere occupied for the rest of the summer.

My biggest gift to you, my friend, is this. I've written to Dumbledore, his letter is enclosed together with mine, and he says it's okay for you to come to my house for the rest of the summer, if you will. I really hope you do!

Please send your reply back with Athena here (she's my new owl, isn't she gorgeous?) and if you want to come, my parents and I will be coming to pick you up on Tuesday ('That's just two days to go from here', Harry thought happily).

Right, one more thing. Please don't tell Ron about me not visiting Viktor, I'm afraid he'll misinterpret it.

Happy Birthday! Love /Hermione

Thrilled about the prospect of being allowed to leave the Dursley's for the rest of the summer, Harry immediately went on to Dumbledore's letter.

Ms. Granger

After carefully considering your letter and it's contents I have decided to grant your wish. It's just as safe for Harry to stay with you as it is with his relatives, and he's allowed to come if he wants to. Although, ask him to bring Snuffles along with him, he can stay in the near surroundings of your house.

Sincerely Albus Dumbledore Headmaster of Hogwarts

Without even glancing at the rest of his gifts, Harry scribbled down a short letter of acceptance to Hermione, and sent her owl Athena along with it. He the turned to Hagrid's short letter, which said that he was away on a secret mission for Dumbledore and that he wouldn't be returning to Hogwarts in time for the beginning of term. His replacement as Care of Magical Creatures Professor would be none other than Charlie Weasley, and that ought to be interesting, according to Hagrid.

The gift enclosed with Hagrid's letter was a wooden box for his wand, which Harry appreciated, but didn't really know when to make use of.

Together with Hagrid's letter came the usual Hogwarts-letter. This year, however it held some great surprises.

Dear Mr. Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been appointed a 5th year Prefect for Gryffindor House. Your badge is enclosed with this letter.

The list of 5th year Prefects throughout the school are as follows:

Gryffindor: Harry Potter Hermione Granger Ravenclaw: Padma Patil Terry Boot Hufflepuff: Hannah Abbot Justin Finch-Fletchley Slytherin: Draco Malfoy Pansy Parkinson

The new Head Boy and Girl are Roger Davies of Ravenclaw and Alicia Spinnet of Gryffindor.

You have also, after been thus voted by every single professor of the school been appointed Quidditch Captain of the Gryffindor House team.

The Quidditch Captains throughout the school are as follows:

Gryffindor: Harry Potter Ravenclaw: Roger Davies Hufflepuff: Susan Bones Slytherin: Draco Malfoy

You will be obliged to set up schedules with the other Captains of matches and training sessions.

If you wish to turn down either of these positions please reply in that manner. If you don't, we will see that as an acceptance of both.

Sincerely Minerva McGonnagall Deputy Headmistress

Harry was almost in shock. He didn't even bother looking at his list of required books and other utensils, but he simply stared at the letter for a while, before with quivering hands pulling out a shining Prefect-badge from the envelope.

This was indeed a fabulous birthday-night.

That's it for now, although there are more chapters already posted. How'd you like it? I hope you loved it. or something similar!

Well, I decided to make Harry a prefect, since I think he's the most qualified of the five Gryffindor boys available. Hermione's certain, of course, even Rowling won't go anywhere else than that. I also think it was quite reasonable to make Harry the new Quidditch-Captain.

Everyone else given those posts, I've just ut them there because they were existing names.

Now, go on and read the next chapter, or rewiew, and THEN read the next chapter, whatever you please!