Disclaimer: I do not own any of the names, places, etc.
Chapter One:
Owl Post Once Again
It was nearing midnight, and the small road was completely deserted. Only a tiny flicker from the streetlamps remained. Shadows consumed most of the neighborhood, and it seemed as if everyone on Privet Drive was sound asleep. Well, it seemed that way.
A young, black haired boy sat at his window, looking out to the street below. He stared intently into nothingness, unable to fall asleep. Harry Potter had often been suffering from insomnia nowadays. Somehow he just wasn't capable of actually drifting off.
Thoughts raced across Harry's mind, most of them concerning his godfather. Or ex-godfather, now that he thought about it. Tears welled up in his eyes as he recalled that fateful night, down in the department of mysteries. Oh, how he missed Sirius. Harry shook himself. He wasn't the type of person that got over-emotional.
But still, Sirius was all he had had left, and now.well, he didn't want to think about it. He climbed down from his windowsill and threw back his comforter. 'Maybe it'll all seem better after a little rest.'
Harry didn't know how wrong he was. He had only returned to number four, Privet Drive a little over a week ago, and already he felt as if he would never be happy again. Sure, his summers had been less than enjoyable when spent at his aunt and uncle's house, but this time it was infinitely worse. Harry had a night full of fitful dreams, most of which ended in him staring down through the veil, calling after his lost friend.
It was nearly ten o'clock am when Harry woke up, which this summer was somewhat normal. His whole life was messed up now. Instead of rising early and plotting some kind of revenge against his cousin Dudley like normal, he instead preferred to sleep as late as possible. However, Harry realized, he was lucky to have stayed in bed so long. Four owls were waiting for him, all perched on the windowsill he had been sitting on the night before, making quite a racket.
Harry sat up immediately and hurried over to the birds, making first for his own, a snowy owl named Hedwig. "Hello, there," he said gloomily. She paused momentarily to let him untie the note and then flew over to her post and started to eat her breakfast. Harry then relieved the other birds from their letters, and recognized two of them as Pig, his best friend Ron's miniscule pet, and the tawny as one of Hogwarts' many owls. The third bird was unfamiliar to him, but he still allowed it to have a sip out of Hedwig's water dish before sending it on its way.
Harry opened the letter from Hogwarts. Knowing full well that it was too early to expect his annual school supplies list, he read the letter with intense curiosity. There was only one person whom he could expect a letter from at Hogwarts, and seeing as they had tried their hardest the past year to avoid him, Harry doubted that was the sender. And he was right in his suspicions. Harry was extremely surprised to find an unsigned, hastily scribbled note. However, the person who wrote it was unmistakable. Harry gave way to a small smile when he realized who was writing to him, but it quickly disappeared when he read the entire content.
Deer Harry,
I heard about what hapened and I'm real sorry about it. He was a good man. There's somethin we need to talk about, but in person. Come to see me as soon as you get back.
Harry knew that Hagrid sympathized with him, but there was no way he could know what he was feeling right now. He placed the letter on the bed and grabbed the next one, which had happened to come from Pig. This letter was even more upsetting than the last, but not nearly in the same way.
Harry-
How are you? I guess I'm nearly alright, but you know.Anyways I was talking to mum and dad, but it seems there's no way for us to come and get you this summer. We've all been super busy you know, finding a new headquarters and whatever else. You might have to get a ride with your family to the train this year.Write back as soon as you get this, alright?
-Ron
Were all the letters going to carry such bad news? The part of the note that was supposed to anger him most, he knew, was the fact that he couldn't stay with the Weasleys this summer. But Harry seemed a bit relieved, actually, because he still wasn't entirely ready to face his friends again. No, it was the way the letter was written that really made him upset. It seemed like Ron had just forgotten about it all, moved on. Well, Sirius didn't mean as much to him, but still, he almost sounded normal.
Harry moved on to the next letter, which Hedwig had brought him. It was a reply to the letter he had written to Hermione only a few days ago. He looked at the neatly folded letter, noting how she had taken time to magically seal it. Harry wondered where on earth she could have learned to do that, but he realized it was Hermione Granger he was talking about, and he let it go. He slit open the letter with a discarded quill, and started to read.
Dear Harry,
I know it must be hard for you, but really, I don't think you're being entirely healthy. It's hard on me too, but please, just get some sleep and have a bit of something to eat, okay? I suspect I'll talk to you soon,
With love, Hermione
Harry just looked at her handwriting, so perfectly shaped and spaced. He didn't know what to think about it, so he set it down next to the others and opened the final note.
Harry,
I'm sorry I haven't written sooner, and I'm sure you feel very isolated living with those retched muggles that call themselves your family. However, there's nothing much to write about. I've mostly been helping locate a new place for the Order, but so far I've had no such luck. It's not like I have anything else to do, though, but I was wondering if I might stop in for a visit sometime? Do you still subscribe to the Daily Prophet? Now that Fudge admits Voldemort's back, the truth is all over, and there are more than a few apologetic remarks in your favor! Please respond as quickly as possible, I really think I should come round your house soon.
Best Wishes,
Remus
As he looked down at the letter, Harry knew that Lupin was only trying to look out for him, but he still wasn't interested in talking to him just yet. He did appreciate him trying to cheer him up though.
Harry fell down on top of all the post, lying as still as possible, listening to the normal morning-time sounds of the Dursleys' house. He could hear Vernon's muffled voice, cursing out the television for showing falling stock numbers. Petunia could be heard chatting on the telephone with some other member of the neighborhood association, and Dudley was playing some new video game on some new TV set in his newly decorated room. Dudley had recently gotten in an argument with his parents about what kind of car he would be receiving for his birthday; apparently, they just didn't have the money at the moment to get him his fantasy car. Harry hadn't even bothered to ask his aunt and uncle about driving. Harry glanced around his own, much shabbier bedroom, before concluding that he liked his better this way. Of course, everything would have been much nicer with all those games and toys, but he really wasn't in the mood to be jealous of his overly pampered cousin.
Suddenly feeling very hungry, Harry sat up and headed downstairs for his first meal in days.
As he walked into the kitchen, both of his guardians' heads turned to look at him in surprise.
"Well it's about bloody time you came out of that room," his uncle started, "There's plenty of chores to be done around here, and you can start with my car. Now when you rinse the soap off of the hood, make sure you-"
Harry gave him a weak smile and didn't even gratify his uncle with an answer. Vernon started to drift off, knowing that there was no way that he was going to get his nephew to clean his newest automobile, but still occasionally saying phrases like, "dry it off completely," and, "wax in the garage."
Harry made for the fridge when the phone started ringing. Apparently, Aunt Petunia had hung up with one of the other mothers. Vernon glared at him and said, "Get that."
He knew that he had already defied his uncle enough for the morning, so he grudgingly picked up the receiver and said, "Hello? Dursley residence." There was a small crackle and a very familiar voice said, "Hello? Yes, I'd like to speak with Harry, please."
"Hermione?"
The voice on the phone seemed shocked, but recovered quickly with, "Harry! Oh, how are you? Are you alright? You seem-"
Harry frowned at his friend, but realizing that she couldn't see him, he asked, "How did you get this number?"
However, Harry was spared hearing the answer by Uncle Vernon, who yanked the receiver out of his hand and spat into the phone, "WHO IS THIS?"
Harry couldn't tell what Hermione was telling his dear uncle, but whatever it was, it seemed to work. Uncle Vernon handed back the phone, muttering under his breath, "Bloody abnormals."
The sight of his uncle in such a state almost made Harry laugh out loud, but he was brought back to reality by Hermione, who was already talking about vacation, summer, and school. Harry told her about how he was going to have to ask his aunt and uncle for a ride to the station, and she seemed as equally distressed about this as he was. "Oh, that's awful! An entire summer there? Well, I suppose it'd be for the best, I mean, now that everyone knows You-Know-Who's back, well, it's safer for you to be there, I guess. Oh, but I do have an idea."
"Really." Harry said curiously.
"Yes, but I really must go, it costs a fortune to call long distance, especially from this far away, well, have a good rest of summer Harry, stay in touch."
After they said their quick goodbyes, she was gone. It was only after Harry hung up the phone that he realized how much he really did miss talking to his friends.
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Sirius looked all around him. He was somewhere very dark, and very cold. He tried to stand up, but his legs wouldn't permit him. So he just sat there.waiting.
Chapter One:
Owl Post Once Again
It was nearing midnight, and the small road was completely deserted. Only a tiny flicker from the streetlamps remained. Shadows consumed most of the neighborhood, and it seemed as if everyone on Privet Drive was sound asleep. Well, it seemed that way.
A young, black haired boy sat at his window, looking out to the street below. He stared intently into nothingness, unable to fall asleep. Harry Potter had often been suffering from insomnia nowadays. Somehow he just wasn't capable of actually drifting off.
Thoughts raced across Harry's mind, most of them concerning his godfather. Or ex-godfather, now that he thought about it. Tears welled up in his eyes as he recalled that fateful night, down in the department of mysteries. Oh, how he missed Sirius. Harry shook himself. He wasn't the type of person that got over-emotional.
But still, Sirius was all he had had left, and now.well, he didn't want to think about it. He climbed down from his windowsill and threw back his comforter. 'Maybe it'll all seem better after a little rest.'
Harry didn't know how wrong he was. He had only returned to number four, Privet Drive a little over a week ago, and already he felt as if he would never be happy again. Sure, his summers had been less than enjoyable when spent at his aunt and uncle's house, but this time it was infinitely worse. Harry had a night full of fitful dreams, most of which ended in him staring down through the veil, calling after his lost friend.
It was nearly ten o'clock am when Harry woke up, which this summer was somewhat normal. His whole life was messed up now. Instead of rising early and plotting some kind of revenge against his cousin Dudley like normal, he instead preferred to sleep as late as possible. However, Harry realized, he was lucky to have stayed in bed so long. Four owls were waiting for him, all perched on the windowsill he had been sitting on the night before, making quite a racket.
Harry sat up immediately and hurried over to the birds, making first for his own, a snowy owl named Hedwig. "Hello, there," he said gloomily. She paused momentarily to let him untie the note and then flew over to her post and started to eat her breakfast. Harry then relieved the other birds from their letters, and recognized two of them as Pig, his best friend Ron's miniscule pet, and the tawny as one of Hogwarts' many owls. The third bird was unfamiliar to him, but he still allowed it to have a sip out of Hedwig's water dish before sending it on its way.
Harry opened the letter from Hogwarts. Knowing full well that it was too early to expect his annual school supplies list, he read the letter with intense curiosity. There was only one person whom he could expect a letter from at Hogwarts, and seeing as they had tried their hardest the past year to avoid him, Harry doubted that was the sender. And he was right in his suspicions. Harry was extremely surprised to find an unsigned, hastily scribbled note. However, the person who wrote it was unmistakable. Harry gave way to a small smile when he realized who was writing to him, but it quickly disappeared when he read the entire content.
Deer Harry,
I heard about what hapened and I'm real sorry about it. He was a good man. There's somethin we need to talk about, but in person. Come to see me as soon as you get back.
Harry knew that Hagrid sympathized with him, but there was no way he could know what he was feeling right now. He placed the letter on the bed and grabbed the next one, which had happened to come from Pig. This letter was even more upsetting than the last, but not nearly in the same way.
Harry-
How are you? I guess I'm nearly alright, but you know.Anyways I was talking to mum and dad, but it seems there's no way for us to come and get you this summer. We've all been super busy you know, finding a new headquarters and whatever else. You might have to get a ride with your family to the train this year.Write back as soon as you get this, alright?
-Ron
Were all the letters going to carry such bad news? The part of the note that was supposed to anger him most, he knew, was the fact that he couldn't stay with the Weasleys this summer. But Harry seemed a bit relieved, actually, because he still wasn't entirely ready to face his friends again. No, it was the way the letter was written that really made him upset. It seemed like Ron had just forgotten about it all, moved on. Well, Sirius didn't mean as much to him, but still, he almost sounded normal.
Harry moved on to the next letter, which Hedwig had brought him. It was a reply to the letter he had written to Hermione only a few days ago. He looked at the neatly folded letter, noting how she had taken time to magically seal it. Harry wondered where on earth she could have learned to do that, but he realized it was Hermione Granger he was talking about, and he let it go. He slit open the letter with a discarded quill, and started to read.
Dear Harry,
I know it must be hard for you, but really, I don't think you're being entirely healthy. It's hard on me too, but please, just get some sleep and have a bit of something to eat, okay? I suspect I'll talk to you soon,
With love, Hermione
Harry just looked at her handwriting, so perfectly shaped and spaced. He didn't know what to think about it, so he set it down next to the others and opened the final note.
Harry,
I'm sorry I haven't written sooner, and I'm sure you feel very isolated living with those retched muggles that call themselves your family. However, there's nothing much to write about. I've mostly been helping locate a new place for the Order, but so far I've had no such luck. It's not like I have anything else to do, though, but I was wondering if I might stop in for a visit sometime? Do you still subscribe to the Daily Prophet? Now that Fudge admits Voldemort's back, the truth is all over, and there are more than a few apologetic remarks in your favor! Please respond as quickly as possible, I really think I should come round your house soon.
Best Wishes,
Remus
As he looked down at the letter, Harry knew that Lupin was only trying to look out for him, but he still wasn't interested in talking to him just yet. He did appreciate him trying to cheer him up though.
Harry fell down on top of all the post, lying as still as possible, listening to the normal morning-time sounds of the Dursleys' house. He could hear Vernon's muffled voice, cursing out the television for showing falling stock numbers. Petunia could be heard chatting on the telephone with some other member of the neighborhood association, and Dudley was playing some new video game on some new TV set in his newly decorated room. Dudley had recently gotten in an argument with his parents about what kind of car he would be receiving for his birthday; apparently, they just didn't have the money at the moment to get him his fantasy car. Harry hadn't even bothered to ask his aunt and uncle about driving. Harry glanced around his own, much shabbier bedroom, before concluding that he liked his better this way. Of course, everything would have been much nicer with all those games and toys, but he really wasn't in the mood to be jealous of his overly pampered cousin.
Suddenly feeling very hungry, Harry sat up and headed downstairs for his first meal in days.
As he walked into the kitchen, both of his guardians' heads turned to look at him in surprise.
"Well it's about bloody time you came out of that room," his uncle started, "There's plenty of chores to be done around here, and you can start with my car. Now when you rinse the soap off of the hood, make sure you-"
Harry gave him a weak smile and didn't even gratify his uncle with an answer. Vernon started to drift off, knowing that there was no way that he was going to get his nephew to clean his newest automobile, but still occasionally saying phrases like, "dry it off completely," and, "wax in the garage."
Harry made for the fridge when the phone started ringing. Apparently, Aunt Petunia had hung up with one of the other mothers. Vernon glared at him and said, "Get that."
He knew that he had already defied his uncle enough for the morning, so he grudgingly picked up the receiver and said, "Hello? Dursley residence." There was a small crackle and a very familiar voice said, "Hello? Yes, I'd like to speak with Harry, please."
"Hermione?"
The voice on the phone seemed shocked, but recovered quickly with, "Harry! Oh, how are you? Are you alright? You seem-"
Harry frowned at his friend, but realizing that she couldn't see him, he asked, "How did you get this number?"
However, Harry was spared hearing the answer by Uncle Vernon, who yanked the receiver out of his hand and spat into the phone, "WHO IS THIS?"
Harry couldn't tell what Hermione was telling his dear uncle, but whatever it was, it seemed to work. Uncle Vernon handed back the phone, muttering under his breath, "Bloody abnormals."
The sight of his uncle in such a state almost made Harry laugh out loud, but he was brought back to reality by Hermione, who was already talking about vacation, summer, and school. Harry told her about how he was going to have to ask his aunt and uncle for a ride to the station, and she seemed as equally distressed about this as he was. "Oh, that's awful! An entire summer there? Well, I suppose it'd be for the best, I mean, now that everyone knows You-Know-Who's back, well, it's safer for you to be there, I guess. Oh, but I do have an idea."
"Really." Harry said curiously.
"Yes, but I really must go, it costs a fortune to call long distance, especially from this far away, well, have a good rest of summer Harry, stay in touch."
After they said their quick goodbyes, she was gone. It was only after Harry hung up the phone that he realized how much he really did miss talking to his friends.
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Sirius looked all around him. He was somewhere very dark, and very cold. He tried to stand up, but his legs wouldn't permit him. So he just sat there.waiting.