In Every Darkness
Chapter Thirteen: Contact
20. 7. 1996(Morning)
When Harry woke, Fawkes was waiting for him, singing softly. Harry didn't think that it was the phoenix song that had woken him, but he wasn't too sure.
"Hey Fawkes," he greeted the bird softly and looked to his desk. There were several new pieces of paper there, and Harry's heard leapt. Had his friends finally contacted him?
Bounded from his bed across the room, Harry fell into his chair, not really thinking about what he was doing, and picked up the top letter. It was from Ron.
Hey Harry!
How are you doing? Sorry we haven't contacted you, but everyone seemed to think that we needed to leave you alone for a little while to get over … You know.
Sorry again, and I really hope you forgive us! We've missed you, even if it has only been twelve days since we saw you.
There's been a lot of new people at the Order this summer, but we aren't supposed to talk about that. If this gets into the wrong hands, their families could be in danger.
I know that you haven't been reading the Daily Prophet lately, and I really can't blame you after last year, but we have here at the Order, because, even if it is biased, it does usually have some information. If you can read through the lines.
Just thought you might be interested to know that you're now the hero of the wizarding world, sorely misunderstood by those you were trying to help … it goes on for ages.
Big step from being 'mentally unstable' and 'possibly dangerous' and whatever other crap they were spouting last year.
Well, I hope your doing well and not letting your relatives walk over you. Hope to see you here soon,
Ron.
Harry smiled. So his friends didn't hate him. They just wanted to let him recover a little from Sirius's death. Who were the other letters from? He wondered, and reached over to lift the next one.
Dear Harry,
How are you? I'm sure Ron's already told you why we haven't contact you before now, so I won't repeat myself. But I will add my apologies to his, and hope you aren't angry with us.
Grimmauld Place has this huge library that was discovered over the last year (it seems that Kreacher had been hiding it with his magic, its were he'd been hiding all of the things that he 'saved').
He's dead, by the way. It seems that a house-elf dies if he actually betrays his family. Dobby didn't because he never actually did betray the Malfoys. He just gave you the idea of how to free him, and he never plotted to kill any of them.
It's barbaric! I've said it before, and no doubt I'll be saying it over and over until all of the house-elves are free and happy! I mean, forcing them die for betraying their family? It's horrible!
But I guess that I don't mind with Kreacher. I mean, if it wasn't for him, this wouldn't be happening now.
But anyway, back to the library. It's got so many books! I think it's even bigger than the Hogwarts library! And that's saying something. I've found at least ten books that they don't have Hogwarts!
I'm learning loads from them. I can't wait for you to get here so that I can show you! It's absolutely amazing!
Hope to hear from you soon,
Hermione.
Harry smiled triumphantly when he read the bit about Kreacher being dead. The nasty little house-elf deserved it! He had to laugh at Hermione going on about books though.
"I wonder what sort of books are there? Probably a lot of stuff on the Dark Arts – that would be interesting. To defend yourself from something, you need to know what it is you're defending yourself from," Harry said to himself, before picking up the next letter.
Heya Harry!
How are ya mate? You might like to know that business is going absolutely spiffingly. You wouldn't believe how many people have come in and told us that we were 'so brave' for standing up for Harry Potter when the whole wizarding world was against you …
It's sickening really. They were the ones that last year were sending people who were known to be your friends hate mail and stuff.
Its surprising how many people still want to have pranks and things with the Dark Lord back – we were hoping that everyone wasn't going to go into a depression or anything.
Things are going pretty well with the Order too, from what I've heard, and Percy's still being a bastard. Saying that we should have put our trust in the Ministry anyway …
Anyway, we hope you're doing well, we might send some of our inventions around some time soon, you can try them on your cousin! He made a good test case for the Ton-Tongue Toffees!
Oh well, we'd better go, we've got to get to the store before the crowds do!
Fred and George Weasley
Harry had to laugh at Fred and George, not even Voldemort's return could dampen their spirits! It was nice to know that they were still function as normal.
Next letter.
Hi Harry,
It's Ginny, I just wanted to write and say thanks for taking us to the Department of Mysteries. I know you're probably blaming yourself for Sirius's death, but it helped the rest of us enormously.
It showed us what it was really like to fight Voldemort. It showed the Ministry that Voldemort had returned. It gave those of us who came with you confidence in our abilities to fight.
So if you are still blaming yourself about Sirius, remember that. Because of it, the Wizarding world knows what it's facing, and I think that Sirius would be proud to have died for such a cause.
I don't think any of the others would have mentioned Sirius by name – they think that they shouldn't remind you of him. But I think that you need reminding. You can't just push him away as if he never was. He would have hated that, Harry.
I didn't know him as long as you did, but I know that for certain.
I hope you're well, and Luna sends her love, and asked me to say that she and her father haven't found that thing that they were looking for yet.
Hope to see you soon,
Ginny Weasley.
Harry smiled. Ginny was actually being more open with him than his best friends were. That was surprising. It was also surprising that Luna remembered him enough to send her love, unless Ginny was making that up. After the rest of her letter, he didn't think she was.
There was now only one letter left.
Dear Harry,
I hope you are well. You may wish to start reading the Daily Prophet again – there are many reports of Death Eater attacks, everywhere. Most of them don't make it to the Muggle news, they are, as usual, hushed up by the Ministry.
You seem to be doing well so far, from what I have heard from those who watch over the house. Your OWL results will be out soon, you may be pleased to know.
This means that you will have to make your selections for the next year of your magical education at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Someone should be along to help you with this in the next few weeks. I believe that having an older wizard to guide you would probably be a good idea.
I regret to say that I doubt I myself will be along, but I will send someone I trust.
Soon you will be brought to Grimmauld Place for a short time. Perhaps a day or two. I'm sure that your friends would love to see you as much as you would love to see them.
~Albus Dumbledore.
Harry took up his pen to write letters in return to all of his friends.
Dear Ron,
I'm doing fine. They Dursley's are being much nicer to me now, since they know that threes a whole order of wizards just waiting on my call … Don't worry, I'm not angry at you guys for not writing before now. I probably would have snapped at you if you had tried to before …
Lots of new members in the Order? That can only be a good thing. Maybe I'll get to meet them soon, Dumbledore hinted that I might be coming to Grimmauld Palace sometime soon.
I hope I do. I think I need to go there to help me get over Sirius's death. You didn't have to avoid mentioning him altogether, you know. He is kept alive in our memories. I don't want to forget him.
Talk to you again soon,
Harry.
Dear Hermione,
A whole library? Good for you! Don't read all of the books before I get there, will you? Kreacher's dead? Good. I know that you probably think that's nasty of me, but I can't bring myself to be the least bit sorry for the little … creature.
Like I told Ron, you didn't need to not mention Sirius's death. I have no intention of stopping being friends with you and Ron – you only did what you thought was right.
I'll talk to you soon, possibly even see you, if Dumbledore is to be believed.
Harry.
Dear Ginny,
Thank you for being frank – no one else even mentioned Sirius's name. I was very happy to read your letter. You are welcome, though I still don't like the Department of Mysteries much.
I'm glad that you feel more confident with your magic now, and I look forward to seeing you soon.
Thanks for passing on Luna's message.
Harry.
Fred and George,
Still causing no end of trouble? Good to hear. Glad that Weasley's Wizard Wheezes is going well.
If you would send some pranks, that would be great – I'd like to see what you've been inventing now. Did the others tell you that Flitwick left a bit of your swamp in memory of a great bit of charms work?
I'm sorry to hear about Percy, but really, I don't think he's too much of a loss. I doubt your mother thinks that, though. I know you never liked him much – he was basically the opposite of you two in every way.
Well, I hope your shop continues to do well,
Harry.
Professor Dumbledore,
I would love to come to Grimmauld Place again soon. Everything is going well the Dursley's. Perhaps I will have a look at the Daily Prophet then … Could be interesting, though I'm not too sure. I may as well anyway, I suppose.
I'll hear from you in three days, I suppose. Why can't I do my selections for the OWLS when I come to Grimmauld Place? That would be easier, wouldn't it?
Harry.
"Here Fawkes," Harry said, holding out the small pile of letters. "You can go back to Dumbledore now."
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Ok, so nothing much happened this chapter. At least he got a bit of news from his friends! Please review!
~WolfMoon~