Disclaimer: What a pity, I don't own any HP characters……..

Thanks a lot to my first reviewers: sweet775, Cu-Cu Picachu, Carmel March. Thank you so much!!!! You made my day!!!

Chapter 2 – O.W.Ls and owls

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For the first time since his return to Privet Drive, Harry had a dreamless night. When he woke up, he felt… different. Obviously, he was still sad, but he was more – more peaceful than before. Lupin's present seemed to help him accept the fact that Sirius was dead. From now on, he knew, he won't be having these nightmares anymore. Harry got up, took out a bottle of ink, a quill, and some parchment, sat at his desk, and wrote:

Dear Remus,

Thank you very much for your present. It helped me a lot. I don't think I can express exactly what I'm feeling about it, but it really made me feel better about everything.

I hope that we'll meet soon.

Thank you, again,

       Harry.

It felt really weird writing a letter to Lupin, and even weirder – calling him by his first name. It was a short letter, but he couldn't think of anything else he could write. He sealed the letter and went to Hedwig's cage. She was still asleep, so Harry stroke her gently to wake her up. She opened her amber eyes, and hooted.

"I need you to take this letter to pro… to Remus," he said. It still felt weird saying "Remus", but he needed to get used to it. He tied the letter to Hedwig's leg, and she took flight.

After having a small breakfast, during which Dudley managed to eat about 20 pancakes, Harry went up to his room and started packing his belongings. Just as he was putting in his trunk the mismatching socks that he got from Dobby the house-elf two years ago, two owls soared through the open window, carrying a small parcel and three letters. They dropped everything on Harry's bed and flew out of the window.

Harry picked up the first letter, and saw that it was from Hagrid, the Hogwarts gamekeeper and the Care of Magical Creatures teacher.

Dear Harry,

Happy sixteenth birthday!! I'm enclosing your birthday present. It's a talisman that will protect you. It has great powers, and it'll help you if you ever need it.

I'll see you in school on the first of September.

Bye,

    Hagrid.

Harry opened the parcel cautiously. Knowing Hagrid, this talisman could easily bite his fingers off, but as he looked at it, it seemed to be harmless. It was a silver chain with a matching pendant that held a small and sparkly green jewel. He put it on himself and proceeded to open the next letter, which was from Hogwarts.

Dear Mr. Potter,

I am pleased to inform you about the results you achieved in your Ordinary Wizarding Levels:

Astronomy – Poor

Care of Magical Creatures - Outstanding

Charms – Exceeds Expectations

Defense Against the Dark Arts – Outstanding

Divination – Poor

Herbology – Exceeds Expectations

History of Magic – Poor

Potions – Exceeds Expectations

Transfiguration – Outstanding

You have received 6 O.W.L.s!

You now need to choose the subjects that you are going to study during the next two years. Please remember that there are several subjects that require a high O.W.L grade. If you don't have the required grade, you won't be able to take the subject, even if you want to study it.

Please send your owl with the list of your chosen subjects not later than the 5th of August.

Yours sincerely,

      Professor Minerva McGonagall,

      Deputy Headmistress.

Harry couldn't believe his eyes. He completely forgot about the O.W.L.s, and even if he had remembered, he'd never expect to get such high grades. His grades allowed him to take all of the subjects he needed to be accepted to Auror training. Except for Potions, that is. Though once Harry wouldn't even dream of getting an 'E' in Potions, now it disappointed him… But he had another letter to open. This one, too, was from Professor McGonagall.

Dear Mr. Potter,

As I had told you during the Careers Advice you had last year, I would help you to take the subjects you need to become am Auror. I talked to Prof. Snape, and managed to convince him to accept you to his Potions class, even though you didn't get an 'Outstanding' O.W.L in Potions. However, you will have to achieve high results in this class in order to continue taking it. Be sure to put enough efforts into it.

I am also delighted to inform you that you were chosen as the Griffindor Quidditch Captain. As Dolores Umbridge is no longer anything in Hogwarts, you are, of course, no longer banned from playing Quidditch. You will get your broom back on the 1st of September.

Yours sincerely,

      Prof. M. McGonagall. 

Now, Harry was in the seventh heaven. Not only he could take Potions, but he also was the Quidditch Captain!! When he left school, he didn't even remember about the Quidditch ban imposed on him by that hag Umbridge, or about the confiscation of his Firebolt. Now, it felt – it felt like a dream coming true. Harry laughed at himself for wanting so badly to take Potions. But, as he reminded himself, he had to attend this class if he ever wanted to become an Auror. Even if it meant enduring another two years of Snape's insults. The thoughts of Snape deflated his happy mood a little. But he didn't think about that for too long. He needed to send an owl to Hogwarts, with the list of the subjects he wanted to take. He took a piece of parchment, and wrote:

Prof. McGonagall, The subjects that I want to study are: Defense Against the Dark Arts Transfiguration Charms Potions Herbology

Thank you for your help, and for making me a Quidditch Captain.

      

        Harry Potter.

Hedwig hasn't returned yet, so he went back to the packing. In the evening, when she returned, he sent the letter with her, and went down to have his dinner.

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Two days later, a tapping sound woke Harry early in the morning. An unknown owl was outside his window, waiting to get in. He opened the window; the owl dropped the letter on the floor and quickly flew away. Harry opened the letter, which was written in an unfamiliar writing.

      

Dear Harry,

Hi, it's me, Ron. I broke my arm playing Quidditch, so Bill is writing this for me. It is his owl that I'm sending to you. Anyway, I wanted to tell you that we're (Dad and I) coming tonight at 7 o'clock, to take you with us to The Burrow.

See you tonight,

     Ron.

There was definitely something suspicious about this letter. Remus told Harry that he wouldn't go to The Burrow. Besides, it wasn't possible for them to come and take him without a guard. And, Remus said that taking Harry from the Dursleys' house wasn't so simple, because of the Ministry… It just didn't make sense. Could this be a trap???

A\N: I think I'll leave it here, what d'you think? *evil grin* You'll have to REVIEW to find out what happens next! (Actually, I haven't written the next chapter yet, so I don't know when I'm going to update, but I know what's going to happen.)