Disclaimer: Please do not suppose that I am delusional enough to belive that I have any claim on JKR's genius.
Kari - Yes, I am hoping that it will not be run of the mill. I have some things planned. Hehehehe
Mikee – Sev flying is one of my favorite images. They will find information, but… we will see.
Julie Av() – Thank you. And I will. I plan to finish up before June, but no guarantees.
A/N- Posts will be frequent for a while, but we had better not get used to it, for if we do, Gusha's schoolwork will suffer.
*****
Harry tried to stay awake to greet his birthday, but the spell of lethargy cast by the hot summer night lulled him to sleep.
He was startled awake, just after midnight by the hooting of several owls and the weight of a large parcel on his chest. Harry reached for his glasses and shoved them onto his face.
Hedwig was sitting on top of the parcel, eyeing him carefully. When she was sure he was awake, she hooted and flew over to her cage. Harry looked around the room. Pig was there, along with two other owls he did not recognize. School owls, he guessed blearily.
The School owls, deciding he was ready for their letters, deposited them on top of the parcel, and then flew out the open window.
Harry moved the pile off of his chest and stood up.
"Hey, Pig, come here." He hissed, not wanting to wake the Dursleys.
The tiny owl flew down and fluttered excitedly as Harry untied the parcel from its leg.
Harry opened that first. It was a long flat box, shaped suspiciously like a book. Inside was another box, about the size of his thumb. Harry pried the lid off of that box as well. Inside was an odd, roughly bean shaped object. Harry shined his flashlight onto it, but still could not determine what it was.
He reached for the letter.
Happy Birthday Harry,
I hope you like your present. I wrote to Dumbledore for special permission for you to keep it at school. The book should tell you all about taking care of it. I wanted to get you a poisonous one, but Mum wouldn't let me.
When he wrote to us, Dumbledore told Mum that we are not to invite you to stay. Rotten luck. Bill is staying for the summer. I haven't heard from Hermione. I hope she is having a great time in Bulgaria. The twins asked me to enclose a note for them.
Ron
Harry shook his head. What an uninformative letter. He ignored the note from the twins in favor of pulling the book out of its paper wrapper.
"Your Python: From Egg to Adult"
Harry gaped at the title then at the tiny box. A python egg? He had special permission from Dumbledore to bring a snake to school? Harry shook his head and closed the box firmly. He reached for the letter from the twins.
Dear Silent Partner,
To show our appreciation for your generous contribution, etcetera, we are enclosing a receipt for goods purchased in your name with your share of the current profits.
In other words, we discussed it and decided that you were unlikely to accept money, but might take a birthday present. Present the receipt at The Reptile House in Diagon Alley when you go to buy your things.
Yours truly,
Fred and George
The school owls had brought a card from Hagrid and Harry's school letter. Besides the regular book list, the latter contained a long list of potion ingredients he would need the following year. Harry groaned at the length of the list. Snape must have some horrendous things planned for them.
Harry turned to the package Hedwig had delivered. It was very heavy. He pulled the letter off of the top.
Dear Harry,
Bulgaria has been really fun. It will be good to get back to Hogwarts, though. The O.W.L.s are this year so we all need to study hard to prepare.
How have you been, Harry? Has your scar hurt at all this summer? Take care of yourself.
I should be in Diagon Alley right before school starts. I hope I see you there.
Hermione
Harry grinned at Hermione's mention of the Ordinary Wizarding Levels. She had probably sent him some books to help him prepare.
He tore the paper off of the package. Oh, wow. He thought immediately. It was a small crate with Bulgarian writing all over it. It looked just like the one at school that held…
No. She couldn't have, she wouldn't have. No Way. He shook his head. They were too expensive.
He carefully opened the latches and peeked inside. The crate shuddered. She had!
The bludgers were securely fastened in. The Snitch rested inside its magically guarded case and on top of the Quaffel was another note from Hermione.
Harry,
Bulgaria makes some of the best Quiddich balls in the world. Viktor helped me choose these. The dealer gave me a great discount. Partially because I was there with Viktor, but mostly because I said they were for you. Take good care of them.
Hermione
Harry latched the crate shut again and put it under his bed. What a wonderful surprise.
Harry was a bit disappointed not to have received anything from Sirius, but maybe it would come in the morning.
Harry turned off his light; put his glasses back on his bedside table and drifted back off to sleep.
*****
Kari - Yes, I am hoping that it will not be run of the mill. I have some things planned. Hehehehe
Mikee – Sev flying is one of my favorite images. They will find information, but… we will see.
Julie Av() – Thank you. And I will. I plan to finish up before June, but no guarantees.
A/N- Posts will be frequent for a while, but we had better not get used to it, for if we do, Gusha's schoolwork will suffer.
*****
Harry tried to stay awake to greet his birthday, but the spell of lethargy cast by the hot summer night lulled him to sleep.
He was startled awake, just after midnight by the hooting of several owls and the weight of a large parcel on his chest. Harry reached for his glasses and shoved them onto his face.
Hedwig was sitting on top of the parcel, eyeing him carefully. When she was sure he was awake, she hooted and flew over to her cage. Harry looked around the room. Pig was there, along with two other owls he did not recognize. School owls, he guessed blearily.
The School owls, deciding he was ready for their letters, deposited them on top of the parcel, and then flew out the open window.
Harry moved the pile off of his chest and stood up.
"Hey, Pig, come here." He hissed, not wanting to wake the Dursleys.
The tiny owl flew down and fluttered excitedly as Harry untied the parcel from its leg.
Harry opened that first. It was a long flat box, shaped suspiciously like a book. Inside was another box, about the size of his thumb. Harry pried the lid off of that box as well. Inside was an odd, roughly bean shaped object. Harry shined his flashlight onto it, but still could not determine what it was.
He reached for the letter.
Happy Birthday Harry,
I hope you like your present. I wrote to Dumbledore for special permission for you to keep it at school. The book should tell you all about taking care of it. I wanted to get you a poisonous one, but Mum wouldn't let me.
When he wrote to us, Dumbledore told Mum that we are not to invite you to stay. Rotten luck. Bill is staying for the summer. I haven't heard from Hermione. I hope she is having a great time in Bulgaria. The twins asked me to enclose a note for them.
Ron
Harry shook his head. What an uninformative letter. He ignored the note from the twins in favor of pulling the book out of its paper wrapper.
"Your Python: From Egg to Adult"
Harry gaped at the title then at the tiny box. A python egg? He had special permission from Dumbledore to bring a snake to school? Harry shook his head and closed the box firmly. He reached for the letter from the twins.
Dear Silent Partner,
To show our appreciation for your generous contribution, etcetera, we are enclosing a receipt for goods purchased in your name with your share of the current profits.
In other words, we discussed it and decided that you were unlikely to accept money, but might take a birthday present. Present the receipt at The Reptile House in Diagon Alley when you go to buy your things.
Yours truly,
Fred and George
The school owls had brought a card from Hagrid and Harry's school letter. Besides the regular book list, the latter contained a long list of potion ingredients he would need the following year. Harry groaned at the length of the list. Snape must have some horrendous things planned for them.
Harry turned to the package Hedwig had delivered. It was very heavy. He pulled the letter off of the top.
Dear Harry,
Bulgaria has been really fun. It will be good to get back to Hogwarts, though. The O.W.L.s are this year so we all need to study hard to prepare.
How have you been, Harry? Has your scar hurt at all this summer? Take care of yourself.
I should be in Diagon Alley right before school starts. I hope I see you there.
Hermione
Harry grinned at Hermione's mention of the Ordinary Wizarding Levels. She had probably sent him some books to help him prepare.
He tore the paper off of the package. Oh, wow. He thought immediately. It was a small crate with Bulgarian writing all over it. It looked just like the one at school that held…
No. She couldn't have, she wouldn't have. No Way. He shook his head. They were too expensive.
He carefully opened the latches and peeked inside. The crate shuddered. She had!
The bludgers were securely fastened in. The Snitch rested inside its magically guarded case and on top of the Quaffel was another note from Hermione.
Harry,
Bulgaria makes some of the best Quiddich balls in the world. Viktor helped me choose these. The dealer gave me a great discount. Partially because I was there with Viktor, but mostly because I said they were for you. Take good care of them.
Hermione
Harry latched the crate shut again and put it under his bed. What a wonderful surprise.
Harry was a bit disappointed not to have received anything from Sirius, but maybe it would come in the morning.
Harry turned off his light; put his glasses back on his bedside table and drifted back off to sleep.
*****