Back to Hogwarts

Harry woke up to a miserable, rainy day, not the sort of day you would expect in the middle of the summer holidays. Nevertheless, he was happy, because last night he had received a letter from Sirius, saying that he had talked to Dumbldore, and was allowing harry to go to his best friend, Ron Weasley's house for the remainder of the summer.

Harry walked downstairs to the usual breakfast scene. Uncle Vernon was yelling at him to fetch the mail, Aunt Petunia was yelling at him to finish frying the bacon, and Dudley was just yelling.

After Harry had fetched the mail, cooked the bacon, and given Dudley half his breakfast to shut him up, the house was quiet, except for Hedwig's occasional muffles screeches form upstairs in Harry's room.

"That ruddy owl!" complained Uncle Vernon. "I'm going to be glad to get rid of you two. Marge has finally agreed to visit again tomorrow, since you wont be here." continued Uncle Vernon "we've been asking her to stay for weeks, but she refuses to be in the same town as you, let alone under the same roof." said uncle Vernon, fuming.

Harry did his best to fight the satisfied smile that had somehow appeared non his face. Luckily at that moment Dudley (who now needed Aunt Petunia to get his school uniform custom made, as he was four sizes too big for the largest the school provided) had just started whining that he needed more food, having finished Harry's breakfast by now.

All Harry could think of was how pleased he was that he was getting out of there to his best friend's house today, and he didn't have to see the Dursleys for another year.

Harry excused himself from the kitchen table-, which really wasn't necessary, as everyone's attention was on "poor deprived Dudley" and Petunia was once again insisting that he didn't get enough to eat at school- and went upstairs. Looking forward to eating some of the nice pies that Mrs. Weasley had sent him because she didn't think that the Dursleys fed him enough. To Harry's surprise, when he got upstairs, he saw three owls perched upon the windowsill in his room. One he recognized as a Hogwarts owl which he guessed contained his list of requirements for the coming school year, one on which he recognized his friend Hagrid's untidy scrawl, and the other was from one of Harry's best friends- Hermione.

He noticed that the two from his friends had packages tied to their legs, and Harry remembered with a jolt that today happened to be the 31st of July, his fifteenth birthday!

Harry detached all of the letters and packages from the owls, and as they took turns in drinking from Hedwig's water tray and nibbling some of her owl treats and one by one flew out the open window, Harry opened the letter from Hermione, and read:

Dear Harry

Hi. I hope you are having a nice holiday. (Unlikely from what I've heard about you aunt and uncle).

I'm staying with Victor this and next week and I've been having a lovely time! Except for when it comes to talking to Victor, all he ever talks about is Quidditch, quite boring really. He is very nice, but just really plain.

I have to go now, but I hope to see you a Ron's house on the last week of holidays when I get back.

Love, Hermione

P.S. happy birthday

Harry excitedly opened his present from Hermione, and found a nice sports watch. He put it on straight away, admiring it, he was just thinking yesterday that he needed a new watch. He then opened Hagrid's letter, it read:

'Lo Harry

Happy B-day, hope 2 see u back @ Hogwarts soon, have a nice holiday, and enjoy your prezzie

Love, Hagrid

Harry found attached to the letter was a small parcel containing a bag of Honeydukes lollies. As he started on the lollies, harry opened the letter bearing the Hogwarts crest, and found two pieces of paper. He knew one had the requirements, but had on idea what the other was for...*