On Your Mark

By Arlo

Chapter 6- Pleasant Surprises

            Harry grudgingly wrote to Professor Dumbledore that night explaining a little of what he and Remus had discussed. Unfortunately, he couldn't ask any of the questions he really wanted the answers to, in case the letter was intercepted by Death Eaters, or even the Ministry. Instead, he asked to speak with the Headmaster privately before school restarted. He carefully worded a request to be allowed to spend time at the Evans house, alone with Mark. He also made sure Dumbledore was aware that he didn't want anything to do with the Minister and his little charade. Instead, he would prefer to spend some time in Diagon Alley shopping and visiting Fred and George Weasley's new joke shop. Not only could he use a laugh, but he needed to check on his investment.

            Dumbledore's response was swift and quite exciting, as Fawkes, his pet phoenix dropped a letter to Harry at breakfast the next morning.

            "What in the blazing hell?" Uncle Vernon roared, jumping backward and edging toward the door at the sight of a burst of flame and a large red bird.

            "Blazing is right, Uncle!" Harry couldn't help but laugh at the abusive man's reaction. His Aunt Petunia was not quite as afraid of the bird, although she was doing a pretty good impression of a sitting statue. Fawkes was singing softly and Harry felt the warmth of the bird's head nudge his hand. He smiled broadly. "Congratulations! You've just met a phoenix! Not many Muggles ever do, you know! Great talking point for the office, I'll bet"

            "If you think, boy.." Uncle Vernon ranted, but was cut off by Dudley. The large boy was looking at the beautiful bird in awe, a strange grin plastered on his face, much to Harry's surprise.

            "A phoenix? Like in Greek mythology? Does it burn and rise from the ashes?" Dudley asked studiously.

            Harry stared incredulously at his bullying cousin. He would have bet his Firebolt racing broom that the big oaf would have been shaking in his trainers at the sight of the magical bird. "Yes, yes it does. Amazing, isn't it? He belongs to my headmaster." Harry told him as Fawkes disappeared in another burst of flame. Aunt Petunia  gasped, Uncle Vernon stepped further back into the hall. "So, Dudley, does this mean you actually  learned something at that fancy school of yours?" Harry joked

            "Of course he has!" Uncle Vernon snapped. "He goes to Smeltings! Not some freak school like yours! And you tell your friends, boy, to keep their correspondence more…. private!"

Harry rolled his eyes and took the letter up to his room to read, as his uncle slammed the front door.

            My Dear Harry,

I am very happy, although, I admit a little surprised, that you have found relatives living so close by. I understand that they are wonderful people and see no reason you shouldn't spend time with them. You must however, return to your aunt and uncle's house to sleep. This is very important both for your own safety and that of all your relations!

            I will be very happy to discuss any thing you wish when you come to Grimmauld Place in a few weeks. I  think you will be pleasantly surprised by the improvements Sirius made to the house before his death. I know he wanted desperately to make a home for you and would want you to stay there, despite what happened. I can assure you that I have done everything in my power to make the house safe for all its residents.

            Professor McGonagall will be coming by your home this afternoon. She wishes to speak to your aunt and has a few surprises for you as well. She will also discuss the details of your trip to Diagon Alley. While I am skeptical that this will help bring people out, I agree that other positive aspects will make the trip worth your while. Be sure to send the Weasley twins my regards!

            Please keep me informed as to any dreams, visions or pain you may experience. I am looking forward to seeing you and you friends in a few weeks and to continue your training.

                                                                                                     Sincerely,

                                                                                                  Albus Dumbledore

Harry put the letter down on his desk. It was full of information, both in and between the lines. He supposed the first thing he should do was warn his aunt about Professor McGonagall's visit, then he would call Gloria Evans with the good news. He showered and dressed and went downstairs in search of his aunt. What he found instead was the shock of  seeing his cousin lounging in the conservatory reading a very large book  It looked like the kind of thing Hermione would quote from. "Interesting reading, Dudders?" Harry asked.

"Very. Hey you would know all this stuff, wouldn't you? Is this all true? I mean if we really saw a phoenix, what about centaurs and unicorns and giants?" Dudley asked excitedly, putting down his Encyclopedia of Mythology.

"Er, yeah. I've seen them all." Harry looked around nervously. This was not a conversation his aunt should hear. "Where's your mum, Dud?"

"Outside cleaning the shed again. You think I'm stupid enough to take this out in front of her. If they knew we studied this stuff in school they'd freak."

"Your dad seemed pretty happy that you knew about it, though."

"Yeah, well he's just happy I learned anything, I guess. I barely passed my O Levels and if my grades don't pick up, they won't let me box anymore. It's the only thing I like about school! I can't imagine not boxing!" Dudley admitted.

"Yeah, I know the feeling. I  got tossed off my team for fighting , it was a lousy year!"

"You? Fighting? I guess I taught you something, huh? Maybe we have more in common than we think! Hey, you could help me with all this stuff! I need to get a head start on next year or I'll fail for sure! I can't believe that the phoenix is real!"

"Er, Dudley, don't tell anyone you actually saw it. We could both be a in a lot of trouble from the Ministry of Magic!" Harry emphasized, as Dudley squirmed in his chair. "Tell you what. Come up to my room after your parents go to sleep and I'll take a look at these books of yours." He shook his head in disbelief. Had he actually offered to help Dudley? With homework? Things just kept getting stranger and stranger!

Dudley gladly put his books away and went to hang out with his friends. Harry went to find his aunt. As her son had said, she was cleaning the already spotless garden shed, scrubbing shelves that already gleamed like someone else's kitchen  counter.

"Aunt Petunia, do you need any help?" Harry asked hoping the answer was no.

Petunia Dursley started, apparently surprised by the intrusion. "No, I'm finished now," she said slightly nervously. "You have perfect timing, as usual," she added a bit sarcastically.

            "Thanks. It's an art," Harry replied matching her tone. "The letter I got said that my Deputy Headmistress, Professor McGonagall, would be coming by this afternoon."

            "I will be sure to take Dudley out for the afternoon, then."

            "She wants to talk to you"

            "To me? Why?"

            "It didn't say. She needs to talk to me too. I don't know what its all about." Harry said a bit concerned.

            "When?"

            "Sometime this afternoon," Harry repeated.

"Probably wants tea. Always one for formality, that one!" Petunia retorted.

"Excuse me?" Harry thought he had heard wrong. "Have you met McGonagall?"

"Your mother may have introduced us once. None of your concern. I will give her exactly fifteen minutes of my time. That is all!" She stormed out of the shed leaving her nephew with his mouth agape.

Professor McGonagall arrived right a four with a tray of biscuits and a sympathetic smile. Harry introduced her to his aunt and was sent to make tea. When he returned, Aunt Petunia and Professor McGonagall were calmly discussing the weather, their respective scowls firmly in place.

"Ah, thank you, Mr. Potter. Will you be joining us for tea, Mrs. Dursley?" the professor asked, as if it were her house.

"No, thank you very much," Petunia said waspishly. "I promised my son I would take him shopping."

"Perhaps you could pick up some new clothes for Harry, while you are out. He seems to have grown quite a bit," McGonagall asked slyly. She smiled at Harry and met his eyes with a wink. He concentrated on the feeling he was getting. Affection and concern? This new talent was certainly interesting.

"Well, Potter," she said after Petunia had hastily gathered Dudley and left the house, "how is your holiday going so far?"

"Fine, Professor," he replied automatically. Minerva McGonagall narrowed her eyes and frowned at him. Harry took the hint. " I've discovered that I have distant relatives living nearby. They have a son who's eleven, named Mark, Mark Evans."

"Ah, yes," she nodded. "Eleven, you say? Just about to start a new school then," the professor said. Harry shrugged. "Maybe even getting that special letter very soon," she continued coyly, grinning. "Perhaps it could even be brought by owl."

Harry's head snapped up. Could she mean what he thinks she does? "What? Is … is Mark a wizard?"

Professor McGonagall nodded. "Indeed, he is, Harry. He will be receiving his letter early next week. Then they will have until the thirty first to respond."

"You mean, to go to Hogwarts?" She nodded again. "Why wouldn't he want to go to Hogwarts?" Harry couldn't believe anyone could turn down such an opportunity.

"Well, a lot of Muggles think it's a joke. And even some wizards are afraid these days, they are considering tutoring their children at home," Professor McGonagall said sadly. "What I do is supply an address where Muggle families can request additional information. Sometimes I even pay them a visit if they wish. I did just that with Miss Granger's parents."

"I see," Harry nodded. "I would have liked a little more information myself. Although Hagrid was great!" he added hastily. "Really made an impression!"

"I'm sure he did, Potter. You were down as a wizard-born, though, so you got that letter instead. Perhaps we should have sent the other."

"Too late now." Harry retorted. "Too late for a lot of things, but that's neither here nor there."

"Very mature approach, Mr. Potter. I am very, very sorry that I was not able to be of more assistance to you last year. It was a very… delicate time."

"I know. It's okay. I didn't really ask for help. I felt a bit, er, abandoned. I tend to take things on by myself, anyway. I'm not used to taking advice," the young wizard hung his head, remembering how his mistakes had gotten his friends hurt, and worse.

"Harry," his head of house said softly, putting her hand on his knee. "Its not your fault. You did the best you could under the circumstances. We all did. Hindsight is always 20/20. Please don't blame yourself."

"Old habits die hard," he replied philosophically.

"Indeed they do, Potter. Indeed, they do." Professor McGonagall was smiling warmly at him. It made Harry a little nervous. "Well, let's get down to business, shall we?" She dug down into her bag and handed her student an official looking letter. Harry pulled a face. "No, it's not another letter from Fudge!" McGonagall said, reading his mind. "Go ahead, open it," she instructed. Harry pried up the wax seal, which he noticed was the emblem of the Wizarding Examinations Authority. She had personally brought his O.W.L. test results, his stomach took another uncomfortable lurch. As he looked over the parchment his expression became more and more excited.

"Wow! Is this right?" he asked.

"They rarely make mistakes, Harry. I understand you did quite well, where is the problem?" McGonagall asked looking over the results.

"This can't be right! I didn't even finish the History exam and I really stunk on Divination!"

"Just because you didn't complete the exam, doesn't mean a failing grade, Obviously you did well enough on the parts you did finish. Well enough , indeed!" She was smiling broadly at him. "Eleven OWLS, Mr. Potter, the same as your father and godfather and one less than your mother! Excellent!"

            Harry looked over the results in shock, not really seeing them at all. Taking a deep breath, he slowly read the parchment he was holding. He had gotten an Outstanding Plus in Defense, Outstandings in Charms, Transfiguration, Care of Magical Creatures, and to his utter disbelief, Potions. He received grades of Exceeds Expectations in Herbology and Astronomy and Acceptables in  History and Divination. Not only had he passed everything, he had done it with honors! He smiled broadly at Professor McGonagall. "Wow, I can't believe this! Thank you!"

             "For what Mr. Potter? You studied very hard. You deserved those grades. We are all extremely proud of you, especially after the year you had! Now, lets go over your course options for next year."

             They spent the next half an hour discussing  the best courses for him to take. They decided on NEWT Level Defense (a given), Charms, Transfiguration and Potions. He couldn't wait to see Professor Snape's face when he found out his most hated student would still be in his class! Sweet revenge! Although Care of Magical Creatures was one of his favorite classes, mainly because of Hagrid, he wasn't sure whether he should take it at NEWT level, or even at all. He decided to ask Remus, as well as Ron and Hermione for advice. He had until the middle of August to fill out the rest of his schedule and Professor McGonagall hinted about some special plans the Headmaster had for him.

McGonagall also emphasized that the Evans family should not know about Harry's wizard status until they were ready to make a decision about Hogwarts. Harry was a little disappointed that he couldn't mention it. Not only was he excited about being able to talk to his new friends about his school, he couldn't wait to tell the Dursleys that there was another wizard in the neighborhood- and family! It was going to be very hard to keep it all secret while staying with Mark.

 After they finished talking about school business, McGonagall explained the plan for Diagon Alley. "Be sure to dress properly, Potter. This little expedition is all for appearance sake, you know! Be on your best behavior. No matter what happens, pleases keep your emotions in check!

            "Yes, Professor. Don't worry, I will make you proud!

            "I am already extremely proud, Mr. Potter," she replied, giving him a quick hug before leaving.