Harry Potter 6
Chapter 1: OWL Results

Fifteen-year-old Harry Potter lay on his bed at Number 4 Privet Drive looking with a faraway gaze that had been present in his green eyes since he returned from school. "Hurry up boy!" he heard his uncle Vernon yell from downstairs, "We are going out soon." Harry scrambled out of bed, quickly changed his clothes, and ran downstairs. Uncle Vernon spat, "Mrs. Figg is coming over to watch you, don't to any funny stuff or I'll, I'll," he let out a strangled cry, an owl soared through the window and dropped a letter on Harry's lap.

Harry sighed, he knew now that the power of Voldemort, the most evil wizard ever, had prevented Harry from being allowed to venture outside at night. This made Harry's summer with the Dursley family much worse. A frightfully intimidating warning had reminded Uncle Vernon to leave Harry alone this summer. From the looks of it, Uncle Vernon had kept his part of the deal very well.

Harry opened the letter as if he had just gone to his mailbox and opened one there. Harry Potter was a wizard, and the prime target of the most evil and second most powerful wizard in existence, Lord Voldemort. Owl Post was the normal way of long distance communication for wizards, so Harry was not surprised to have an owl drop a letter onto his lap.

Uncle Vernon thundered, "WHAT HAVE I TOLD YOU ABOUT OWLS IN OUR HOUSE!"

Harry sighed; his aunt and Uncle had always detested everything to do with magic. He opened his letter and read the letter.

Dear Mr. Potter
Please note that the new school year will begin on September the first. The Hogwarts Express will leave from King's Cross Station, platform nine and three-quarters at eleven o'clock.
Enclosed are your Ordinary Wizarding Levels from last year as well as a new list of books. Yours sincerely, Professor M. McGonagall Deputy Headmistress

Eagerly, Harry flipped through the letter and found his OWL sheets, he quickly read off his scores.

Transfiguration- Exceeds Expectations Charms- Outstanding Potions- Outstanding Defense against the Dark Arts- Outstanding Herbology- Exceeds Expectations Care of Magical Creatures- Exceeds Expectations History of Magic- Poor Astronomy- Acceptable Divination- Dreadful

Harry quickly did the math, three O's, three E's an A, a P, and a D. Harry smiled truly for the first time all summer. He had gotten an O in Potions, Charms, and Defense against the Dark Arts (which he had expected). Harry bid his uncle farewell without much attention, and skipped up to his bedroom. When he arrived, he scribbled a letter, forgetting to use a code in case the owl was intercepted.

Dear Ron and Hermione,
I got my OWL grades! I got a P in History of Magic, a D in Divination, an A in Astronomy, E's in Herbology, Transfiguration, and Care of Magical Creatures, and O's in Potions!, Charms, and of course Defense Against the Dark Arts. How did you two do? Tell Professors Moody, Lupin, as well as Tonks that everything is fine, and I look forward to seeing you soon.
Your best friend,
Harry Potter P.S. Tell Professor Lupin that I hope he is doing well after Sirius's death.

Harry looked over the letter and tied it on Hedwig's, his owl's, leg. He said, "Give this to Ron and Hermione, OK?"

Harry then proceeded to his course books he read:

Sixth Year students will require:
NEWT Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration- The Standard Book of Spells Grade Six- Miranda Goshawk
NEWT Transfiguration- A NEWT Guide to Transfiguration- Emeric Switch
NEWT Potions- Complex Drafts and Potions- Arnsius Jigger
NEWT History of Magic- Important Events in Wizarding History- Bathilda Bagshot
NEWT Herbology- The Most Dangerous Plants - Peter Gevett
NEWT Care of Magical Creatures- Secrets of Rare Creatures- Donald Rogers
NEWT Defense against the Dark Arts- Elite Defense against the Dark Arts- Walter Frosen
NEWT Divination, Astronomy- Movements of the Stars- Lee Michaels
NEWT Ancient Runes- NEWT Runes- Thomas Isaacs
NEWT Arithmancy- Expert Arithmancy- Bradley Davis
NEWT Muggle Studies- Individuals Who Changed the Muggle World- Armando Dippet

Harry looked at the school books and looked at the books necessary. He also saw a slip of paper fall out from the envelope. He read it and smiled with glee.

Dear Mr. Potter,
You have been named Gryffindor House Quidditch Captain. Congratulations and good luck on the upcoming season.

Sincerely, Professor M. McGonagall

Harry smiled. Hedwig nipped his finger affectionately and took off; no sooner had she left did the doorbell ring. Mrs. Figg, his neighbor with Wizarding parents, but non magical, or a Squib, came in. Harry asked Mrs. Figg what was new in the Order of the Phoenix.

Mrs. Figg sat down and hushed explained, "You will find out soon enough!"

Harry sighed, the Order of the Phoenix, the rebellion against Lord Voldemort, had always kept Harry in the dark. The headquarters were in his late godfather's house.

Sirius Black, Harry's godfather, had died gallantly fighting off Bellatrix Lestrange, a supporter of Voldemort. Sirius had been on the run since he escaped from Azkaban, the wizard prison. Yet Sirius's crimes were really committed by Peter Pettigrew an animagus who was able to turn into a rat at will. Dumbledore had explained this to Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, but while Sirius was alive, everyone who was not in the order believed him to be a mass murderer.

Mrs. Figg kindly said, "I'm sorry about your godfather Harry. Sirius was a good man."

Harry grunted. Just then an owl came in. Harry saw his name written in Professor Lupin's handwriting. He tore open the letter and read.

Dear Harry,
We will pick you up to come to our mutual friend's house in one week. We need to go over his last will and testament. Also, the person who hired me three years ago wants you to observe the trial of five men. We're not sure how, but the rest of the bad guys escaped. See you soon and I hope you are well. Yours truly, Moony P.S. Your two best school friends say that the girl did really well on her exams. The boy will tell you his later

Harry looked at Mrs. Figg. She exclaimed, "Dumbledore only told me that you were leaving in a week, he didn't say why."

Harry sighed. He still hadn't gotten over Sirius's death. Contrary to what he silently promised himself, he was forgiving Snape for the death of Sirius. He realized that if the roles were reversed, Sirius would have done the same. A red pen buzzed in Mrs. Figg's pocket. She took it out and studied it before hurriedly explaining, "I've got to go, no time to explain!"

She hurried out of the house, down Privet Drive and out of sight. Harry lay on the couch and fell asleep. He was crouched in a bush. Two figures walked in front of him. One was Wormtail, the other, Lord Voldemort.

"Yes Wormtail," Harry's heart shuddered as he heard Lord Voldemort's icy voice. "He is dead."

Wormtail gave a long gasp, soon he stuttered, "My Lord, but if Black is dead, then the Order of the Phoenix stands one less."

Voldemort snapped, "Wormtail, you care not about the size of the order, now you only know that your old friend will not kill you." Wormtail tried to interrupt, but Voldemort continued, "I know the werewolf is out there but we can finish him right before Hogwarts starts, he should be a werewolf then, and during his transformation, we are striking and shall kill him. Then do you agree to finish your duties?"

"Yes master!" replied Wormtail looking horrified.

Harry's scar felt like it would explode. He gave a sudden jolt upright. The sky had fallen and Aunt Petunia's car was back in the driveway. Harry went upstairs and got to bed.