It was a day like any other on quiet Privet Drive. Up at number 5, old Mrs.
Figg was picking up her paper in her old carpet slippers. At number 7, An
elderly lady washed her front windows. At number 4, a nosy Aunt Petunia
strained to hear Mr. and Mrs. number 6's conversation about Mrs. 8's
teenage daughter as she pretended to water her flower beds. A furious Uncle
Vernon ranted to a bored Dudley who was flipping through daytime television
shows. And a very troubled Harry Potter sat on his bed, trying to force
himself to concentrate on a long essay for school. Harry had been home for
only one month, but found he didn't care much that he was unhappy.
Truthfully, he thought as his concentration slipped again, he didn't care
much whether he went back to school or not this year. He found he didn't
care about much of anything. He wasn't eating very much, and he spent
increasingly long amounts of time lying on his bed, trying not to think
about anything. He put down his half finished essay with a sigh, and
glanced around his room.
The room itself was in a state of great discord; Harry's clothes were scattered around, along with his school things. Amidst the mess were several letters, all unopened which Harry hadn't even bothered to pick up after they had been dropped by their winged messangers. When he walked by them, he could see a few clearly in Ron's hand writing, and several in Hermiones, even one that looked like it could be Lupins, but he didn't want to read them. He was sure of what they would say; full of empty sympathy about his dead godfather, assurences he would be allright in time, and pitiful stabs at normal conversation about school and his aunt and uncle. On his birthday, which had been the previous day, he had tossed his gifts aside with great apethy, they only reminded him of the fact that there was no card or present from Sirius. If his friends were writing to cheer him up, he had low hopes; none of them knew the other half of what was making him so angry and hopeless. It was not only losing Sirius, but the new information that had come with it, the fact that he was, his life, and his purpose, was to be simply a weapon against an evil Lord Voldemort. Harry knew this opinion was slightly distorted, but he didn't care. He knew he was being self pitying, but, he thought as he lay back on his bed frowning, if anyone had the right to a bit of self pity it was him.
A wild hooting noise shook him from his thoughts. A tiny owl Harry recognized was twittering about his floor trying in vain to drag a letter towards Harry. he seemed to have floated int the open window while Harry wasn't watching "Hullo Pig," said Harry in a dead hollow voice. Tiny Pig gave a gleefull hoot and gave up on his task, dropping the letter ten feet from Harry and flopping down next to it looking utterly exhausted . Harry jumped up. The letter was enclosed in a scarlet envelope that had already begun smoking at the corners. He recognized it at once and leapt forward to seize it, but too late. The letter burst into flame and a deafening voice sounded from it.
"HARRY YOU'RE BEING RIDICULOUS". It was Hermione's voice booming at him from the smoldering envelope. "I'VE BEEN WRITING TO YOU TONS, AND YOU'VE NEVER ONCE WRITTEN BACK, AND DON'T TELL ME YOU HAVEN'T RECEIVED MY LETTERS, BECAUSE RON SAYS THE SAME THING.
"THAT'S RIGHT" chimed in another voice Harry recognized as Ron's. "WE KNOW YOU'RE UPSET, BUT WE'VE ASKED YOU TO COME BACK TO THE ORDER A MILLION TIMES, AND IF YOU WON'T ANSWER, THEN WE'RE COMING TO GET YOU."
"SO PACK YOUR THINGS UP HARRY," continued Hermione, "BECAUSE WE'RE COMING ON THE FIRST OF OCTOBER AT EXACTLY 8 O'CLOCK, AND YOU'RE COMING BACK TO THE ORDER WHETHER YOU WANT TO OR NOT. YOU'D BETTER BE READY. i'M SORRY IF THIS GETS YOU IN TROUBLE WITH YOUR AUNT AND UNCLE, BUT THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO CONTACT YOU, AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTLEY NOT MOPING AROUND FOR THE REST OF THE SUMMER."
"AND YOU'D BETTER OPEN YOUR LETTER FROM HOGWARTS HARRY," said Ron thunderously, "OR YOU WON'T HAVE A CLUE ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT'VE CHANGED...THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY HERE, JUST READ IT OKAY? HAPPY BIRTHDAY BY THE WAY."
"SEE YOU AT 8 O'CLOCK!" chimed Hermione shrilly.
Harry sat there stunned for a moment, then slowly turned to his doorway, which had crashed open, and stared blankly at the Dursleys, who had arrived looking shocked, or in Uncle Vernon's case, absolutley enraged.
After a good half hour of being yelled at by a purple faced Uncle Vernon, Harry slammed his door again and sank onto his bed. Hedwig ruffled her feathers irritably in her cage. The howler had obviously wrong-footed her. She hooted softly and glanced at Harry through one orange eye.
Harry crumpled the charred envelope furiously. Who did they think they were telling him he was ridiculous. Telling him he couldn't mope around anymore. He had every right, he thought now tearing the envelope in halves, to be "ridiculous".
And yet he felt a numb sort of relief at the fact he'd finally been forced to come back to reality. He even began to feel a bit grateful for his friends' candidness. He grinned at the thought of his friends forcing him back to the order, and suddenly he felt a lurch of nerves. He would be going back to the order...Sirius's old house. Harry checked the clock. It was already 5 o'clock. Half still angry, and half sort of glad, he stood up and began to pack his clothes into his trunk.
It was a moment before he remembered what Ron had said about his Hogwarts letter. What could've changed? He rumaged around on the floor and pulled out a parchment envelope bearing the Hogwarts crest of an eagle, a serpant, a lion and a badger all wound around a letter H. It was adressed in emerald ink to "Mr. H. Potter, The Smallest Bedroom, 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey". He ripped the envelope open ad pulled out several sheets of parchment. He scanned the first one, which reminded him he was expected on platform 9 and 3/4 at 11:00 September 1st to take the Hogwarts Express, and should have completed his summer homework by that time, and flipped to the next page of parchment which was his new book list.
Sixth Year Students will Require:
An Advanced Guide to Transfiguration By Bathilda Bagshot
The Art of Conjuring by Ibbor Blip
The Standard Book of Spells grade 6 By Miranda Goshawk
NEWT level Potions by Darwash Comerfeld
Surviving Your NEWTs by Marianna Redbarn
The Dark Arts Re-Created by Ogro Grogor
Harry wondered vaguely who the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher would be this year. So far he hadn't had a teacher that lasted a single full year at Hogwarts. This new teacher's predescors included a conceeded failure at magic, a werewolf, an unbalanced government plant, a semi- delusional ex dark wizard catcher (who turned out to be a Death Eater) and a servant to Lord Voldemort. Two of the five had attempted to murder Harry before the end of the year. It was Hogwarts legend that the job was jinxed. No one would take it anymore, and Harry wondered if whoever had taken the job was aware of this.
Suddenly with a jolt, Harry realized his exam results must be in here as well. He flipped through the remaining two sheets and found them. Eagerly he broke the seal and read, holding his breath.
Dear Mr. Potter- Your OWL level examination grades are as follows:
Defense Against The Dark Arts: O
Potions: O
Care of Magical Creatures: E
Transfiguration: E
Charms: E
Divination: D
History of Magic: P
Herbology: A
Astronomy: A
Harry was stunned. "O in Potions??" he said aloud. He had a sneaking suspision that Dumbledore may have been behind this unnaturally high mark. As for his poor divination grade, he wasn't worried, it finally meant he could give up the pointless class. He smiled however (for what felt like the first time in months) at his 'Outstanding" in Defense Against the Dark Arts. It was very satisfying to have passed so well, especially as his previous teacher had been bent on seeing him and the rest of the class fail by not letting them perform magic in her class. He read on:
Please note your course list for the coming year is revised. You will be taking only the following regular courses:
Care of Magucal Creatures
Astronomy
Herbology
Your NEWT classes are as follows:
Defense Against the Dark Arts
Potions
Charms
Transfiguration
Please note that NEWT classes require a great deal of dedication, and are the tickets into your profession of choice. We ask that you consider this when confirming your schedule. Any student not performing up to the expected pre NEWT standard at the end of this term will be asked to drop the class/es.
Enjoy the rest of your holiday,
Minerva McGonnagal
Deputy Headmistress
Harry folded up his exam results, feeling somewhat pleased, and rather surprised. He then noticed the last notice inside the envelope. He unfloded it wondering what else there could possibly be.
Dear Mr. Potter- You have, over the last five years, proved your responsibilty and skill as a member of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. We at Hogwarts feel you are the best candidate to fill the vacant captain's position. If you accept this offer, please send an owl back as soon as possible to confirm. As captain your duties will include holding tryouts for vacant team spots, scheduling practices and organizing your team. It is not a responsibility to be taken lightly, and we hope you will consider before sending your decision.
Sincerely yours,
Mme. Hooch
Quidditch Instructor and Flying Professor
at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Harry couldn't believe it. Quidditch Captian! Immediatley he began to plan his new team, they would need two new chasers, and probably new beaters if he could convince kirk and sloper to drop their spots somehow..."send an owl back to confirm" the letter said. He quickly turned the notice over and scrawled
Dear Madame Hooch,
I'm definatley interested in taking the captain spot, thanks for the consideration.
That looked allright, he thought as he signed his name. Hedwig floated gracefully down from her perch and landed on the windowsill expectantly. He gave her a grateful stroke and attached the letter. "I'll probably be at the order when you get back." he told her. He watched for a moment as she glided away into the late afternoon sun, and then wishing wistfully he could do the same, Harry continued to pack his things.
The room itself was in a state of great discord; Harry's clothes were scattered around, along with his school things. Amidst the mess were several letters, all unopened which Harry hadn't even bothered to pick up after they had been dropped by their winged messangers. When he walked by them, he could see a few clearly in Ron's hand writing, and several in Hermiones, even one that looked like it could be Lupins, but he didn't want to read them. He was sure of what they would say; full of empty sympathy about his dead godfather, assurences he would be allright in time, and pitiful stabs at normal conversation about school and his aunt and uncle. On his birthday, which had been the previous day, he had tossed his gifts aside with great apethy, they only reminded him of the fact that there was no card or present from Sirius. If his friends were writing to cheer him up, he had low hopes; none of them knew the other half of what was making him so angry and hopeless. It was not only losing Sirius, but the new information that had come with it, the fact that he was, his life, and his purpose, was to be simply a weapon against an evil Lord Voldemort. Harry knew this opinion was slightly distorted, but he didn't care. He knew he was being self pitying, but, he thought as he lay back on his bed frowning, if anyone had the right to a bit of self pity it was him.
A wild hooting noise shook him from his thoughts. A tiny owl Harry recognized was twittering about his floor trying in vain to drag a letter towards Harry. he seemed to have floated int the open window while Harry wasn't watching "Hullo Pig," said Harry in a dead hollow voice. Tiny Pig gave a gleefull hoot and gave up on his task, dropping the letter ten feet from Harry and flopping down next to it looking utterly exhausted . Harry jumped up. The letter was enclosed in a scarlet envelope that had already begun smoking at the corners. He recognized it at once and leapt forward to seize it, but too late. The letter burst into flame and a deafening voice sounded from it.
"HARRY YOU'RE BEING RIDICULOUS". It was Hermione's voice booming at him from the smoldering envelope. "I'VE BEEN WRITING TO YOU TONS, AND YOU'VE NEVER ONCE WRITTEN BACK, AND DON'T TELL ME YOU HAVEN'T RECEIVED MY LETTERS, BECAUSE RON SAYS THE SAME THING.
"THAT'S RIGHT" chimed in another voice Harry recognized as Ron's. "WE KNOW YOU'RE UPSET, BUT WE'VE ASKED YOU TO COME BACK TO THE ORDER A MILLION TIMES, AND IF YOU WON'T ANSWER, THEN WE'RE COMING TO GET YOU."
"SO PACK YOUR THINGS UP HARRY," continued Hermione, "BECAUSE WE'RE COMING ON THE FIRST OF OCTOBER AT EXACTLY 8 O'CLOCK, AND YOU'RE COMING BACK TO THE ORDER WHETHER YOU WANT TO OR NOT. YOU'D BETTER BE READY. i'M SORRY IF THIS GETS YOU IN TROUBLE WITH YOUR AUNT AND UNCLE, BUT THERE'S NO OTHER WAY TO CONTACT YOU, AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTLEY NOT MOPING AROUND FOR THE REST OF THE SUMMER."
"AND YOU'D BETTER OPEN YOUR LETTER FROM HOGWARTS HARRY," said Ron thunderously, "OR YOU WON'T HAVE A CLUE ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT'VE CHANGED...THAT'S ALL I CAN SAY HERE, JUST READ IT OKAY? HAPPY BIRTHDAY BY THE WAY."
"SEE YOU AT 8 O'CLOCK!" chimed Hermione shrilly.
Harry sat there stunned for a moment, then slowly turned to his doorway, which had crashed open, and stared blankly at the Dursleys, who had arrived looking shocked, or in Uncle Vernon's case, absolutley enraged.
After a good half hour of being yelled at by a purple faced Uncle Vernon, Harry slammed his door again and sank onto his bed. Hedwig ruffled her feathers irritably in her cage. The howler had obviously wrong-footed her. She hooted softly and glanced at Harry through one orange eye.
Harry crumpled the charred envelope furiously. Who did they think they were telling him he was ridiculous. Telling him he couldn't mope around anymore. He had every right, he thought now tearing the envelope in halves, to be "ridiculous".
And yet he felt a numb sort of relief at the fact he'd finally been forced to come back to reality. He even began to feel a bit grateful for his friends' candidness. He grinned at the thought of his friends forcing him back to the order, and suddenly he felt a lurch of nerves. He would be going back to the order...Sirius's old house. Harry checked the clock. It was already 5 o'clock. Half still angry, and half sort of glad, he stood up and began to pack his clothes into his trunk.
It was a moment before he remembered what Ron had said about his Hogwarts letter. What could've changed? He rumaged around on the floor and pulled out a parchment envelope bearing the Hogwarts crest of an eagle, a serpant, a lion and a badger all wound around a letter H. It was adressed in emerald ink to "Mr. H. Potter, The Smallest Bedroom, 4 Privet Drive, Little Whinging, Surrey". He ripped the envelope open ad pulled out several sheets of parchment. He scanned the first one, which reminded him he was expected on platform 9 and 3/4 at 11:00 September 1st to take the Hogwarts Express, and should have completed his summer homework by that time, and flipped to the next page of parchment which was his new book list.
Sixth Year Students will Require:
An Advanced Guide to Transfiguration By Bathilda Bagshot
The Art of Conjuring by Ibbor Blip
The Standard Book of Spells grade 6 By Miranda Goshawk
NEWT level Potions by Darwash Comerfeld
Surviving Your NEWTs by Marianna Redbarn
The Dark Arts Re-Created by Ogro Grogor
Harry wondered vaguely who the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher would be this year. So far he hadn't had a teacher that lasted a single full year at Hogwarts. This new teacher's predescors included a conceeded failure at magic, a werewolf, an unbalanced government plant, a semi- delusional ex dark wizard catcher (who turned out to be a Death Eater) and a servant to Lord Voldemort. Two of the five had attempted to murder Harry before the end of the year. It was Hogwarts legend that the job was jinxed. No one would take it anymore, and Harry wondered if whoever had taken the job was aware of this.
Suddenly with a jolt, Harry realized his exam results must be in here as well. He flipped through the remaining two sheets and found them. Eagerly he broke the seal and read, holding his breath.
Dear Mr. Potter- Your OWL level examination grades are as follows:
Defense Against The Dark Arts: O
Potions: O
Care of Magical Creatures: E
Transfiguration: E
Charms: E
Divination: D
History of Magic: P
Herbology: A
Astronomy: A
Harry was stunned. "O in Potions??" he said aloud. He had a sneaking suspision that Dumbledore may have been behind this unnaturally high mark. As for his poor divination grade, he wasn't worried, it finally meant he could give up the pointless class. He smiled however (for what felt like the first time in months) at his 'Outstanding" in Defense Against the Dark Arts. It was very satisfying to have passed so well, especially as his previous teacher had been bent on seeing him and the rest of the class fail by not letting them perform magic in her class. He read on:
Please note your course list for the coming year is revised. You will be taking only the following regular courses:
Care of Magucal Creatures
Astronomy
Herbology
Your NEWT classes are as follows:
Defense Against the Dark Arts
Potions
Charms
Transfiguration
Please note that NEWT classes require a great deal of dedication, and are the tickets into your profession of choice. We ask that you consider this when confirming your schedule. Any student not performing up to the expected pre NEWT standard at the end of this term will be asked to drop the class/es.
Enjoy the rest of your holiday,
Minerva McGonnagal
Deputy Headmistress
Harry folded up his exam results, feeling somewhat pleased, and rather surprised. He then noticed the last notice inside the envelope. He unfloded it wondering what else there could possibly be.
Dear Mr. Potter- You have, over the last five years, proved your responsibilty and skill as a member of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. We at Hogwarts feel you are the best candidate to fill the vacant captain's position. If you accept this offer, please send an owl back as soon as possible to confirm. As captain your duties will include holding tryouts for vacant team spots, scheduling practices and organizing your team. It is not a responsibility to be taken lightly, and we hope you will consider before sending your decision.
Sincerely yours,
Mme. Hooch
Quidditch Instructor and Flying Professor
at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Harry couldn't believe it. Quidditch Captian! Immediatley he began to plan his new team, they would need two new chasers, and probably new beaters if he could convince kirk and sloper to drop their spots somehow..."send an owl back to confirm" the letter said. He quickly turned the notice over and scrawled
Dear Madame Hooch,
I'm definatley interested in taking the captain spot, thanks for the consideration.
That looked allright, he thought as he signed his name. Hedwig floated gracefully down from her perch and landed on the windowsill expectantly. He gave her a grateful stroke and attached the letter. "I'll probably be at the order when you get back." he told her. He watched for a moment as she glided away into the late afternoon sun, and then wishing wistfully he could do the same, Harry continued to pack his things.