A/N: Well, here I am!!!

First of all, Happy Salazar Day, or St. Patrick's Day, whichever you prefer! I hope you're wearing green!

Second, I'm sorry…it's been a while. But isn't it always?

Third: I'd like to dedicate this chapter to Kaila, in loving memory.

Well, read on!

Chapter 6: Mark and Timothy

Harry received the answer he was looking for while he was finishing up all his holiday homework, just after dinner. Throwing aside all of his scrolls, he jumped up for the letter and tore it open.

Harry;

He told you all that?

I'm surprised at him; he told us not to tell you anything.

Yes, I'm sad to say it's true. We don't know what to do. You'll hate me for saying this, but you're almost lucky that you're isolated. We've been getting the Quibbler now. Do you still get the Prophet? Hermione does.

Yes, I have talked to her. She is very worried about the situation.

Tomorrow, we're going to Fred and George's. I'll make sure to bring back some things for you. Maybe you can use them on your cousin!

~Ron

Harry's heart plummeted. It was true. Now the future was uncertain. How was he supposed to defeat Voldemort if the world was in chaos long before Voldemort even started to take over? Sighing, he took his quill and parchment and ink and began his letter.

Professor Dumbledore;

Sweet Merlin, that's horrible! Is there anything we can do? What are you doing to try and help the problem? What can I do?

Also, I have another question for you. My Aunt Marge (the one I –er- blew up four summers ago) is coming to stay for a week, and I don't know if I should tell her about magic and everything or not. What do you think?

And who is that first year you mentioned?

Harry Potter

He called to Hedwig, who flew over importantly, tied the letter to her foot, and sent her off. When he finally finished the last of his homework well into the night, he fell down on his bed and quickly fell into a troubled sleep.

~*~

The next day, Harry woke up with the strange feeling that something was going to happen today. Thinking on it, he remembered that his Aunt Marge was supposed to come at noon today to stay for a week. He also remembered that Ron was going to go to Fred and George's shop, and he wondered how well that would go.

After taking a shower and dressing properly, he went down to breakfast, dreading the news of his aunt. He checked the clock on the wall and saw that it was a quarter after seven.

After grabbing some food and taking a seat, his Uncle grunted at him. "Boy, your Aunt Marge is coming today. Remember your promise…" He warned gruffly. And Harry did.

When all of the Dursleys and Harry were done, Harry placed the dishes rather unceremonially in the sink and went back into his room. He figured that, like last time he saw her, he would ignore Marge as much as he could. In his room, he had nothing to do but study and do homework. He ached for company, but Hedwig was sent off yesterday with a letter to Dumbledore. Resigning himself to his studies, he stayed in his room as long as he could, but at five till 8, he heard the door open and someone call, "Vernon? Petunia? Dudley? Are you here?" and sighed.  She was four hours early.  It was going to be a long week.

Harry didn't think the Dursleys would mind if he didn't show up for a while (truth be told, he didn't even think they would notice him) so he stayed upstairs. In the next three hours, he got three more of his essays done and finished the rest of his potions homework. Tired of doing work, he suddenly wished very much that he could do magic. He longed to go back to school…or did he? Suddenly the contents of Dumbledore's letter hit him, and he remembered the chaos described. He pondered it for a second, and realized that he wanted to do something about it, but he didn't know what he could do. He wished that Hogwarts weren't so far away, so he could get answers to his letters faster. Harry took out Quidditch Through the Ages and began rereading it, glancing every five minutes at the window.  When he could stand his room no longer, he went downstairs, intending to go the park, but he realized that the Dursleys and Marge might see him. Deciding he was desperate and wanted to risk it, he zipped down the stairs as fast yet as softly as he could.

Lucky for him, he made it out of the house without being noticed. The weather was not as nice as it had been the day before; it was much cooler and windier, but still people were out enjoying their summer without a care in the world. Harry was disappointed at the fact that there were people out that would be staring at him nervously, and was tempted to go back inside, but realized that he would rather face stares from little kids and neighbors than the Dursleys.

This time, he knew for certain that the Order was watching him. He wondered idly whom it was that was guarding him today. With a small laugh, he decided that he would try to find out who had what shift each day. It would be an amusing way to think of his guard, and he had nothing better to do that summer, after all.

Glancing around the neighborhood as he passed houses on the way to the park, he saw many of the little kids that were usually beaten up by Dudley's gang relaxing that day. He realized that they probably heard from someone that Dudley's aunt would be here for a week, and he or his gang wouldn't bother them during that time. Harry waved at them happily, but frowned slightly when they looked a little nervous.

Rolling his eyes, he decided it was time he at least got to know the kids his cousin tortured, and went over to them.

"Hi, I'm Harry Potter." He said, holding out a hand to a group of ten- and eleven-year olds.

They all looked at each other; their parents had told them that "that Potter boy" was not one to hang around with. One boy said out loud, stuttering, "Please, Potter. Don't do anything to us. We don't want your drugs. Please leave us alone!"

Harry was taken aback. What had their parents told them about him? They were expecting him to smoke and do drugs? That sounded like something Dudley would do. After the shock, he laughed and shook his head at them.

"Don't worry; I don't do drugs or anything. Whatever anyone's said about me is wrong. My Uncle tells everyone that I'm a hooligan and that I go to St. Bruits, but he's just a liar." Harry said kindly to them.

They all turned to each other and began to speak in hurried whispers. Finally, one of them said nervously, "Hi, Mr. Potter. I'm Mark."

Harry smiled again. "You don't have to call me Mr. Potter or anything, I'm just Harry. Hello, Mark."

"I'm Timothy." One of the shortest boys squeaked. He reminded Harry of Neville Longbottom.

All the boys were introducing themselves to Harry, not afraid in the slightest anymore. Harry was glad to be making friends, even if they were 5 year younger than him.

"So, what are you doing for the summer, Harry?"  One of them asked when the introductions were completed.

"Well, not much. I'll just be sending letters to my friends, and waiting to go back to school."

"Wow, I would have thought that you didn't like going to school." Timothy said.

"Why's that? I love school!" Harry said, thinking fondly of Hogwarts.

"Well, don't you go to some correction school?" Mark said slightly apprehensively.

Harry realized what they meant and laughed. "You mean St. Bruits Center for Incurably Criminal Boys? Of course I don't go there!"

The boys looked at each other. "Well, where do you go?"

Harry rolled his eyes at his stupidity and immediately regretted what he had just said. What was he going to tell them?

"Er…well…I don't know if I'm supposed to tell you where I go. It's sort of complicated. But I can say that I simply love it! Except this year I had a really bad teacher who ruined almost the whole year…"

"Who was she?" A random kid asked who hadn't been there before, and Harry realized he had attracted an audience.

"Well, her name was Umbridge, and she was bent on torturing me. I don't know why, but she was breaking the laws right under the Minister's nose, and she started to take control of the school, enforcing new stupid rules and such. She made a rule that I couldn't play anymore on the quid—sports team and one that said that there could be no clubs any more at our school because I started a club she didn't like…" And Harry found himself telling the tale of Umbridge, excluding the parts that involved magic and Hogwarts, of course. The small kids were astonished that he had to put up with her, and when he was done, insisted to hear more of his school year.

"Well…I'll tell you more later. Maybe tomorrow. Right now I've got to back to my Uncle's house, he's probably expecting me there."

And he made his way home as they all said good by, dreading his meeting with his "Aunt". As he walked in the door, Marge noticed him immediately and started running her mouth.

"Oh, look who's back…the scoundrel who lives with you. What have you been up to boy? Vandalizing neighbors' cars? Drinking and smoking on street corners?" Harry found it slightly amusing that these were all the things Dudley and his gang did, but he refrained from comment about that.

"No. I was just talking to some kids." He answered simply.

"Well, if the kids were smart, they'd stay away from you! You don't deserve anything Vernon has given you. Why, all you deserve is a good spanking…"

Harry ignored her and went up to his room, already tired of her. When he opened the door to his small room, he was hoping to see Hedwig there with a reply from Dumbledore, but instead he saw a delivery owl that could be hired. Wondering who had used this owl, he took the letter and read,

Dear Harry;

How have you been? Ron told me your aunt is coming to stay. I hope you don't blow her up again. Though I think you're back on Fudge's good side, and you could probably get away with it-but I'm not saying you should!!!

Well, I hope you've been doing your homework. I've finished mine, but I finished it later than I had expected. I've just been very busy. Victor has been owling me constantly. I'm sorry I haven't sent anything to you until now. As I said, I've been busy, plus I don't have an owl of my own.  I'm using this one every once in a while, but I've had to pay 4 sickles for each trip.

Anyway, I know I've already asked this, but how have you really been, Harry? Don't tear yourself up with guilt. We all know it's more than what happened with Sirius, though. Are you alright? Don't blame yourself, because, as Dumbledore agrees, I'm sure, it's not your fault.

Speaking of Dumbledore, how much have you been owling him? Ron says you contact him a lot. Is anything wrong, or do you just like talking to him?

Well, I've got to go, this owl is getting impatient. By the way, its name is Geg, just to let you know. Please write me back!

Love,

            Hermione

Harry knew he should have expected it to be from Hermione. He was slightly annoyed that she asked how he was coping with Sirius's death. What did she expect? 

He also realized what a great gift for her birthday could be: an owl. So what if she already had a cat? Then, an idea came to him: he knew that Ron was slightly smitten with Hermione, so he decided to suggest the gift idea to him.

He quickly drafted a letter.

Hermione;

I'm alright. No, really I am. I wish people wouldn't ask me that so much.

You'll be happy to know that I've been working on my homework too, though I bet Ron hasn't even started. But don't bug him about it because then you two will just get into a fight like you always do.

How is Victor doing? Tell him I said hello. I haven't seen him since the Tournament. Is he still in school?

I've been owling Dumbledore frequently. No, nothing's wrong, I just feel like I can talk to him because he knows exactly what I'm going through.

Where are you, Hermione? Are you at your house? When are you going to you-know-where?

~Harry

Then Harry called to Geg and tied the letter to him, wondering who had chosen the name Geg, and sent him off.

With nothing else to do, he started on a letter to Ron, trying to ignore the loud comments from Marge that he could hear from downstairs.

Ron

Hey, mate! I've just come up with the perfect birthday gift idea for Hermione that you could give her: an owl. Only I think you should give it to her early, as she won't need an owl during September, but she will during the summer. And maybe I can convince Dumbledore to let me go with you to pick one out!

How was Fred and George's shop?

Well, that's about all I've got to say

Harry

Harry sealed the letter and waited for Hedwig to come back, but he didn't have to wait long. Just as he finished another essay, the snowy white owl came soaring through the window gracefully, but she looked a little tired. Harry hurriedly offered her water, and she gave him a grateful smile. He tore open the letter.

Harry;

Yes, it is horrible. I'm sorry for rambling and complaining, but it's overwhelming. There are a few small things we are trying to do, and they are helping a bit. I'm glad you would like to help also, but I can't think of anything for you. If you can, let me know! Any help would be great at this time of need.

I think you should tell your aunt if and when the occasion comes up when the information is needed. If nothing abnormal passes within the week, then you need not bring it up at all. If, however, she is nagging you until you think it could be possible for you to 'blow her up' again, then please tell her, if just to get her off of you back.

As for the first year you are curious about, I think I'll keep you in suspense a little longer, just for the fun of it. I'll tell you this, though. His last name may sound familiar to you.

Albus Dumbledore

Harry guessed aloud. "Granger? Weasley? Dumbledore? But I don't know anyone else with those last names." He figured he'd have to pester Dumbledore more.

And Harry couldn't think of any ways to help Dumbledore's cause of restoring order in the wizarding world at that moment. He decided he would ask Hermione; she would know for sure.

Harry also decided that he would follow Dumbledore's advice with his aunt, and he suddenly remembered that he should go downstairs and meet his aunt and get some dinner. Dreading it, he came down the stairs slowly.

~

Was it good? Do you know who Mark is? (Three guesses who). Well, you'll find out later, and also there will be some of Marge in the next chapter! Please read and review!