I own very little, and absolutely none of it is Harry Potter.

I know that this isn't the best thing in the world but I'm posting it anyways to get a friend off of my back.

Chapter 1 Letters

Harry sat on his shabby little twin bed. The fading sunlight fell through the open window. A soft breeze played across his face, causing his bangs to shift slightly, revealing a thin scar down his forehead in the most curious shape. He sat with his feet tucked underneath him, his eyes closed, and a slight frown of concentration on his face. He was attempting to clear his mind of all thought, but the task was proving itself to be more difficult than he would have imagined. He nearly got there a few times, but his attempts were always thwarted by unwanted images. Most of these images involved a single person. Sirius Black.

Things were going well this time. Harry's breathing was calm, his eyes closed lightly, his hands laying loose palms down upon his knees, and then Sirius fell for what seemed to be the thousandth time that night. Harry stared as his godfather again came closer and closer to the black curtain behind him. He wore the same look of fear and surprise. The same triumphant scream of his attacker rang in Harry's ears.

Harry growled in frustration, as he reached behind him and grabbed his pillow. He flung it at the wall with a loud THUMP in hopes of venting some of the anger and restlessness that refused to leave him.

"KEEP IT DOWN, BOY!" Uncle Vernon roared from the living room, where he sat with a stiff drink watching the news before bed.

Harry slumped back onto his bed, which was rather uncomfortable seeing as his pillow was no longer there. I am never going to get this. He thought dejectedly, trying to keep his mind off of Sirius. I am not meant to learn occlumency.

It had been less than two weeks since Harry's 5th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry had ended, and his nightmares were back and stronger than ever. The thing that frustrated him the most was that he wasn't even learning anything useful from his dreams now. Voldemort knew how to keep him from watching, and how to make him watch. Which resulted in Harry seeing nothing of any importance, but enough violence to make him literally ill when he woke every morning.

Harry got to his feet and walked across the room to get his pillow, debating the whole way as to whether it was worth another try tonight or not, when a rustling at his window drew his attention.

"Hey, girl." Harry said softly, as Hedwig landed on the back of his wobbly desk chair. He walked across the room throwing his pillow back on his bed as he passed. He smiled down at her, and she stuck out her leg so that he could remove the letter that was tied there. He sat the letter on the desk and ran his hand absentmindedly over her beautiful white feathers.

Just then a fluffy winged tennis ball flew strait into the side of Harry's head. Harry grabbed at Pig, but failed to capture the overexcited owl who was doing loop-the-loops around the light in the center of his ceiling. Standing on the foot of his bed he finally snatched tiny creature out of the air and jumped down.

"Popular tonight. Aren't I, girl?" Harry said to Hedwig who was now settling down in her cage for a nice nap after her journey. He took the note from Pig and let the owl go. He immediately went back to his acrobatics around the light fixture. He's been into Ron's sugar quills again, Harry thought, staring at the hyperactive bird that had begun dive bombing Hedwig's cage in an attempt to get her to come out and play.

The sun had set now. Harry grabbed Hedwig's letter, flopped down onto his bed and unrolled it. Inside was something that Harry had never expected to see.

Dear Harry,

I have come to the conclusion, due to the events of the end of your last school term, that some of my opinions regarding you may have been wrong. While I understand that you may feel a bit betrayed, please understand that I always had your best interest at heart. I apologize for my previous behavior and wish you nothing but the best.

Sincerely, Percy Weasley

Umm. Okay. Harry wondered if now would be a good time to practice occlumency, seeing as how he didn't know what to think it might be easier now to not think at all. Trying to ponder the logic in that, he sat up, staring blankly out the open window and into the darkness outside.

He glanced back down at the bed and saw the note that Pig had brought. He picked it up in hopes that Ron might be able to shed some light on the previous letter.

Harry,

Did you get it? Mom said I couldn't read it. She made Percy send one to you and Dumbledore before she would let him back into the family. Only you and Dumbledore! Like he did nothing to the rest of us! I told him not to think that I had forgiven him for the letter he gave me. Only Mom and Dad have really taken him back. I'd be happy if I never saw the guy again. Ginny nearly hexed him for touching Hedwig, but Dad kept her from it saying that Hermes was out taking one to Dumbledore and I had Pig out to take something to Hermione. I honestly cannot believe him. Have fun burning his letter. I have to go. Fred and George are going to tell Mom where the money came from. I'll owl when I know when you can come over.

Ron

Harry looked back at the letter from Percy. It made a bit more since now. He was forced to do it. It meant nothing. My best interest. he thought sarcastically. He took both of the letters, stuck them in his trunk, staring at a pile of old letters from Sirius before getting up and turning out the light. He lay back on his bed, now sure that any attempt to practice tonight would be far beyond fruitless. He fell asleep to the sounds of a tiny bouncing owl whirling around his room, hoping pointlessly that he might go forgotten for one night and would be spared his dreams.

Harry stood tall over the cowering form of a young girl. She cried and pleaded to be left alone, but he simply laughed. She hid her tear-streaked face behind a veil of bright red hair. Harry raised his wand, and cried out "Crucio!" The tiny body before him tensed and she cried out in pain. He held the curse on her for quite some time, not removing it until she could no longer scream. He released her for a moment, laughing as she gasped for air, before taking away her relief and placing under the curse once again. After several more rounds, Harry put away his wand and knelt beside the still twitching girl. "I'm not playing little girl," he said in a sinister voice. "You can't protect him forever." He pull a sharp dagger from somewhere in his cloak, as the small form, barely clinging to her sanity, whimpered and tried and pull away.

The dream continued on, never letting up until Harry rolled off the side of his bed and onto the floor. He knelt there panting and trying desperately not to be sick. Ginny. he had unshed tears in his eyes, his heart hurting just about as bad as his scar. Harry hated all his dreams lately, but Voldemort every now and then liked to really punish him, to give him a bit of fiction, a dream like the one that had led him to the prophecy, and Sirius' death. It was always the same in these dreams, though there had only been a few so far. The people he loved were always being tortured because of him, because they were protecting him.

Harry got to his feet carefully, his breath slowly returning to him. There was a sharp rap on the door, and his aunt snapped, "Up boy! Get up now!" He rolled his eye, and held onto the desk chair for support. "I'm up Aunt Petunia," he said complacently. He heard her tromp down the stair, and turned to his closet. Trying hard to put the dream out of his mind he pulled out a threadbare T-shirt that was so large he often thought Hagrid might be able to wear it, a pair of patched jeans, and a much-needed belt and set about the task of getting dressed.

He trudged his way down to the kitchen, not paying attention to the murmurs of conversation heard beyond the swinging door, until he entered and they stopped abruptly. He looked between his aunt and uncle suspiciously as he headed for the stove. He took out the frying pan, and turned to glance at his relatives again. They were sitting at the table staring at him as though a perfect stranger had just walked in and started cooking them breakfast. Harry turned back to the stove and raised his eyebrows. Hmm. well they're obviously up to something, he thought, then turned and headed to the fridge to retrieve the bacon.

After a breakfast of dry toast and orange juice, Harry made his way back up stairs. He dug through his trunk looking for a quill and parchment so that he could right back to Ron. He found what he was looking for, and started to close his trunk, but lost sight of this goal for a moment when he caught sight of Sirius' letters. He sat frozen for a moment, unable to take his eyes off of his own name, scrawled across the front of the letter in Sirius' untidy handwriting. Coming back to his senses he shut the lid shaking his head of the thoughts that had threatened to overtake him. He sat at his desk and began to pen a note to his friend, starting off the same way that he had every letter this summer.

Ron

Let everyone know I'm fine. Aunt Petunia is even keeping Dudley off my back some, because of Dumbledore's howler. That and they are still terrified of Moody. Yes, I got Percy's letter. I let you read it when I see you. Tell Ginny I said thanks for trying to protect Hedwig. Let me know how things go for Fred and George. I hope I see you soon.

Harry

He had to tell them he was fine in every letter or they would come to check on him, which was probably a good thing since he was sure that otherwise his uncle would do more than just turn purple and leave the room when he was upset with Harry. Harry rolled up the parchment and started to tie it to Hedwig's outstretched leg, when he stopped and sat back down at his desk.

"Just a second girl," Harry said to his somewhat confused owl. Only polite to reply. he thought to himself as he reached for a second piece of parchment.

Percy

I have come to the conclusion, due to your last letter, that you are a complete idiot. While I understand that you may feel a bit angry, please understand that I don't care. I do not accept you apology, and wish you nothing but fleas.

Sincerely, Harry Potter

P.S. Fred and George are bad, bad influences.

Harry shook his head, grinning a bit. He rolled up the parchment and threw it in the trash, further confusing his poor owl. Grabbing another piece of parchment, he tried again.

Percy

I accept your apology, and thank you for your kind wishes.

Harry Potter

He tried to think of something else to say, but after racking his brain for five minutes that was all he came up with. He tied to two letters to the offered leg and sent Hedwig off. He stayed leaning out the window enjoying the fresh air, until a shrill voice from out side his door called him down to do his chores.

A/N There you have it... a bunch of crap... hope you liked it.... don't know when I'll update.... review if you wish... I'm going out for a cappuccino....