Chapter 2
Fifteen years later, on a small bed in a normal house was laying a very unusual boy. He had dark, untidy hair and glasses. His clothes were baggy and worn and he had a scar on his forehead. The scar was in the shape of a lightening bolt and at the moment it was tingling. But this was nothing new to the boy, it had been tingling unpleasantly for almost two years now, ever since that night in the graveyard. This boy's name was Harry Potter and he was a wizard. He had only learned about this when he was eleven. His aunt and uncle, who despised anything abnormal, had told him that his parents were killed in a car crash. But this was not true. Lily and James Potter were killed by Lord Voldemort. They had been his last victims before he had lost his body and became less than human but yet not dead. Voldemort had also tried to kill Harry. He had been only a year old but had somehow survived, doomed to a life with his aunt, uncle, and cousin. But this was not what had Harry down on this particular day. It was the loss of his godfather, Sirius Black. It had happened less than two weeks ago when he had again fought with Lord Voldemort at the ministry of magic. He still couldn't believe he was gone. His bright green eyes drifted over to the desk in the corner of the room. On it was his owl Hedwig and a stack of unopened letters. There were letters there from Ron and Hermione of course but also from various members of the order. He hadn't opened the letters yet because he was not ready to. He knew if he did not answer them soon they would begin to worry but he just needed a little more time to think. What he had to tell them was neither the easiest nor the most fun thing but eventually they had to know. Hermione and Ron were his best friends, and after all they had shared in the past five years he knew he had to tell them. He just hadn't had the heart to do it, not yet. He didn't even want to imagine the looks on their faces when he told them about the prophecy and all that it meant. He didn't like to think about it himself and the thought of having to tell his best friends that he would have to kill or be killed by Lord Voldemort made his stomach churn uncomfortably and his scar prickle. His reverie was broken by a tap on the window. And as he looked out and saw the owl outside perched on the ledge he realized that it had gotten dark. He went to the window and let the bird in. He took the letter off and was about to place it with his other letters when he noticed the Hogwarts seal. It's too early for book lists he thought to himself. He stared at the letter and finally his curiosity getting the better of him, opened it. It read:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf.
Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. Of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that your Ordinary Wizarding Levels are in. Below are your grades and the N.E.W.T classes you have been accepted into. Please choose and send back an owl as soon as possible.
Defense Against the Dark Arts
Theory-Outstanding
Practice-Outstanding
Transfiguration
Theory-Outstanding
Practice-Exceeds Expectations
Charms
Theory-Exceeds Expectations
Practice-Acceptable
Herbology
Practice-Exceeds Expectations
Potions-
Theory-Exceeds Expectations
Practice-Outstanding
History of Magic
Theory-Acceptable
Care of Magical Creatures
Practice-Outstanding
Divination
Practice-Poor
Astronomy
Theory-Exceeds Expectations
Practice-Acceptable
N.E.W.TS: Defense Against the Dark Arts
Transfiguration
Charms
Herbology
Potions
History of Magic
Care of Magical Creatures
Astronomy
You have received 8 O.W.LS. Please get back with us as soon as possible with your selections. Your book list will be sent to you in approximately one month. Thank you for your corporation and congratulations again.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
Harry could hardly believe it. He had to read the letter two or three times before it fully sunk in. He was amazed at how well he had done. He wasn't exactly sure if eight O.W.L s was really good or not but was thrilled that his path to becoming an auror was not blocked by being refused in potions. He had an idea that Dumbledore had always stopped Professor Snape from failing him. His Divination grade was no surprise to him and he was actually quite glad that he did not have to take it anymore. He quickly wrote a response naming all the classes Professor McGonagall had told him last year during his career advice. The school owl gave a small hoot as he tied the parchment to his leg. He ruffled his wings and jumped from the desk to the window and flew off into the night. The news of his grades had uplifted his spirits so that he decided to open the letters from his friends. He decided to open Ron's letter first because he knew that any letter from Ron would cheer him up.
Harry, Oy, why haven't you written me back? Mum's starting to get worried sick. I have asked you in the past three letters to come to the Burrow since we are spending the summer here. Dumbledore said it was ok for you to come. Mum asked him ages ago. So send an owl back soon if you can come.
Ron,
PS Hermione says she misses you too.
Though Ron did not have much to say it did please Harry to know that he was allowed to go and stay at the Burrow. Besides Hogwarts, it was his favorite place to be. Surely Hermione would give him more information about what was going on at the Order. He sifted through the rest of the letters left on his desk for Hermione's handwriting.
Dear Harry, How have you been? I haven't heard from you in a bit and am starting to worry. I wrote to Ron but he said you hadn't written him either. My family and I are in Bulgaria. It is so nice here and Viktor has been showing all kinds of interesting places. They have more than one all wizard village here. Please don't tell Ron about me visiting Viktor. I don't want to start that again. He is so closed minded sometimes. Oh never mind. I hope you write back soon. I miss you and Ron tons.
Hermione,
PS I will be going to stay with Ron (and hopefully you too) at the Burrow in about a week.
After reading Hermione's letter he agreed with her about not telling Ron about Krum. The last thing he wanted to hear when he saw Ron again was complaining about him and Hermione. He wanted his time at the Burrow to the enjoyable not plagued with bickering from the pair of them. He opened the rest of the letters and found they were pretty much the same. They said nothing of Voldemort or plans against him. But Harry had learned over the past year that he shouldn't be angry because there were ways of intercepting owls and they couldn't take this chance. Besides if something really important were to come up there was other ways of letting him know. He sat done and wrote quick response to all the letters. Telling both Ron and Hermione that he was fine and was definitely coming to the Burrow, somehow, and that he missed them too. He finished and sealed the letters and tied them to Hedwig's feet. Then she hopped on the ledge, flew off, and was out of site.
Fifteen years later, on a small bed in a normal house was laying a very unusual boy. He had dark, untidy hair and glasses. His clothes were baggy and worn and he had a scar on his forehead. The scar was in the shape of a lightening bolt and at the moment it was tingling. But this was nothing new to the boy, it had been tingling unpleasantly for almost two years now, ever since that night in the graveyard. This boy's name was Harry Potter and he was a wizard. He had only learned about this when he was eleven. His aunt and uncle, who despised anything abnormal, had told him that his parents were killed in a car crash. But this was not true. Lily and James Potter were killed by Lord Voldemort. They had been his last victims before he had lost his body and became less than human but yet not dead. Voldemort had also tried to kill Harry. He had been only a year old but had somehow survived, doomed to a life with his aunt, uncle, and cousin. But this was not what had Harry down on this particular day. It was the loss of his godfather, Sirius Black. It had happened less than two weeks ago when he had again fought with Lord Voldemort at the ministry of magic. He still couldn't believe he was gone. His bright green eyes drifted over to the desk in the corner of the room. On it was his owl Hedwig and a stack of unopened letters. There were letters there from Ron and Hermione of course but also from various members of the order. He hadn't opened the letters yet because he was not ready to. He knew if he did not answer them soon they would begin to worry but he just needed a little more time to think. What he had to tell them was neither the easiest nor the most fun thing but eventually they had to know. Hermione and Ron were his best friends, and after all they had shared in the past five years he knew he had to tell them. He just hadn't had the heart to do it, not yet. He didn't even want to imagine the looks on their faces when he told them about the prophecy and all that it meant. He didn't like to think about it himself and the thought of having to tell his best friends that he would have to kill or be killed by Lord Voldemort made his stomach churn uncomfortably and his scar prickle. His reverie was broken by a tap on the window. And as he looked out and saw the owl outside perched on the ledge he realized that it had gotten dark. He went to the window and let the bird in. He took the letter off and was about to place it with his other letters when he noticed the Hogwarts seal. It's too early for book lists he thought to himself. He stared at the letter and finally his curiosity getting the better of him, opened it. It read:
HOGWARTS SCHOOL
of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore
(Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf.
Warlock,
Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. Of Wizards)
Dear Mr. Potter,
We are pleased to inform you that your Ordinary Wizarding Levels are in. Below are your grades and the N.E.W.T classes you have been accepted into. Please choose and send back an owl as soon as possible.
Defense Against the Dark Arts
Theory-Outstanding
Practice-Outstanding
Transfiguration
Theory-Outstanding
Practice-Exceeds Expectations
Charms
Theory-Exceeds Expectations
Practice-Acceptable
Herbology
Practice-Exceeds Expectations
Potions-
Theory-Exceeds Expectations
Practice-Outstanding
History of Magic
Theory-Acceptable
Care of Magical Creatures
Practice-Outstanding
Divination
Practice-Poor
Astronomy
Theory-Exceeds Expectations
Practice-Acceptable
N.E.W.TS: Defense Against the Dark Arts
Transfiguration
Charms
Herbology
Potions
History of Magic
Care of Magical Creatures
Astronomy
You have received 8 O.W.LS. Please get back with us as soon as possible with your selections. Your book list will be sent to you in approximately one month. Thank you for your corporation and congratulations again.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall
Minerva McGonagall,
Deputy Headmistress
Harry could hardly believe it. He had to read the letter two or three times before it fully sunk in. He was amazed at how well he had done. He wasn't exactly sure if eight O.W.L s was really good or not but was thrilled that his path to becoming an auror was not blocked by being refused in potions. He had an idea that Dumbledore had always stopped Professor Snape from failing him. His Divination grade was no surprise to him and he was actually quite glad that he did not have to take it anymore. He quickly wrote a response naming all the classes Professor McGonagall had told him last year during his career advice. The school owl gave a small hoot as he tied the parchment to his leg. He ruffled his wings and jumped from the desk to the window and flew off into the night. The news of his grades had uplifted his spirits so that he decided to open the letters from his friends. He decided to open Ron's letter first because he knew that any letter from Ron would cheer him up.
Harry, Oy, why haven't you written me back? Mum's starting to get worried sick. I have asked you in the past three letters to come to the Burrow since we are spending the summer here. Dumbledore said it was ok for you to come. Mum asked him ages ago. So send an owl back soon if you can come.
Ron,
PS Hermione says she misses you too.
Though Ron did not have much to say it did please Harry to know that he was allowed to go and stay at the Burrow. Besides Hogwarts, it was his favorite place to be. Surely Hermione would give him more information about what was going on at the Order. He sifted through the rest of the letters left on his desk for Hermione's handwriting.
Dear Harry, How have you been? I haven't heard from you in a bit and am starting to worry. I wrote to Ron but he said you hadn't written him either. My family and I are in Bulgaria. It is so nice here and Viktor has been showing all kinds of interesting places. They have more than one all wizard village here. Please don't tell Ron about me visiting Viktor. I don't want to start that again. He is so closed minded sometimes. Oh never mind. I hope you write back soon. I miss you and Ron tons.
Hermione,
PS I will be going to stay with Ron (and hopefully you too) at the Burrow in about a week.
After reading Hermione's letter he agreed with her about not telling Ron about Krum. The last thing he wanted to hear when he saw Ron again was complaining about him and Hermione. He wanted his time at the Burrow to the enjoyable not plagued with bickering from the pair of them. He opened the rest of the letters and found they were pretty much the same. They said nothing of Voldemort or plans against him. But Harry had learned over the past year that he shouldn't be angry because there were ways of intercepting owls and they couldn't take this chance. Besides if something really important were to come up there was other ways of letting him know. He sat done and wrote quick response to all the letters. Telling both Ron and Hermione that he was fine and was definitely coming to the Burrow, somehow, and that he missed them too. He finished and sealed the letters and tied them to Hedwig's feet. Then she hopped on the ledge, flew off, and was out of site.