Disclaimer: All Harry Potter™ characters and settings are the sole property of JK Rowling. No money is being made with this fanfiction and no copyright infringement is intended. All that belongs to me is the plot!

Spoilers for all five books. It's rated at PG-13 for now and there are no romantic pairings at the moment, but that is subject to change depending on future plotlines. Comments can be sent to jewel_of_atlantis@yahoo.co.uk

Chapter 2: Sixteen

A quiet hoot was the first indication that not all was right. A rustle of feathers seemed to reinforce that first impression. Harry, eye still closed, grimaced. In his opinion, it was far too early ... or should that be too late, to be awake.

Harry cracked an eye open and one bright green eyes was seen to survey the room. There was not one owl in his room, nor two, but a whole peck of owls. Harry rubbed his sleep-crusted eyes and ran a hand through his untidy black hair before leaving his bed to turn on the light.

"Ow!" he exclaimed as the sudden light caused his eyes to water. "What the hell are you all doing here?" he asked, looking at the waiting owls. A loud twittering caught his attention and Harry shot an arm out into the apparently empty air. A happy chirp, however, indicated that he had caught something. The something being a small owl, Pig.

Harry untied the scroll and read the letter from Ron.

Hello mate.

Sorry I haven't sent your present with Pig. Thought this was more important, besides, have 'left' your gift at you-know-where. Am back home since the problem has to do with Headquarters. The House just went barmy on us yesterday. No one knows why, or if they do, they haven't told any of us (the Twins, Ginny, or me). Mum was saying that if anything like this was going to happen it would have been right after...

Here Harry squinted since Ron had written something before obviously scratching it out. Sudden realisation hit him, Sirius. Harry was torn between throwing the letter away and wanting to know what was happening, and it was the latter that won out.

... the incident in the Department of Mysteries. Nothing did so everyone thought it was okay. No one has a clue what's going on! All meetings are being held at Hogwarts until they can sort out the problem. Sorry mate, I don't know a thing apart from that. On the other hand, have you heard about Fudge? Hermione's going to go mental with the new regulations!

Have you had your OWL results yet? Got mine the other day. Mum wasn't best pleased but I did better than Fred and George. No surprise there though. Got an Outstanding in Defence (Umbridge sucks! It's all down to you mate!) and Exceeds Expectations in Herbology, Transfiguration, and Charms. I got acceptable in all the others apart from History of Magic and Astronomy. Got a Poor there, but I don't care since I always fell asleep in that anyway. Looks like Potions is out, unless Snape will take an Acceptable. Fat chance of that though. Greasy git! Will get your present to you as soon as I can. Dumbledore will manage it somehow.

Ron

A strange looking owl approached him next. He untied the package to find a book, 'Wizarding Heritage and Genealogy'. Harry looked in the wrapping paper for a note, a suspicion at the back of his mind as to who it was that had sent him this tome.

Dear Harry.

Happy Birthday! 16 now ... technically you could leave the Dursleys you know. Not that I'm saying you should. Dumbledore obviously has his reasons. Hope they're treating you better. They should since they got that warning at the train station.

Have you got your OWL results yet? I got 13! Can you imagine! My parents are so proud. Apparently I've got the highest amount of OWLs in recent times. Professor McGonagall said she'd check it out for me! How did you do? I got Outstandings in all of mine apart from Astronomy. Exceed Expectations, but honestly, it was terrible! How could they expect us to do well when that hag was trying to curse Hagrid!

Anyway, hope you like the book. You know ... or maybe you don't, but you'll be coming into your magical maturity soon. Sirius would have probably told you about that but maybe Dumbledore will now that he's gone. Your recent letters are more encouraging and you seem to be coming to terms with it/ I hope I'm not bringing things up too soon. Sorry. Anyway, the book should have a lot of information you need. It's one of the few book that actually mention your family in proper detail. Anyway, am sure you have plenty more presents so will end here. Take care.

Love,

Hermione

Harry allowed himself to smile at Hermione's concern and her exuberance over her exam results. The OWL results were a topic that Harry had tried to forget about. He knew that were he to take them now, he would have performed far better than he had probably done. Harry eyed the rather large book and wondered how the owl had carried it, before deciding that Hermione would have got someone to cast a featherlight charm on it. It was definitely one for later.

A little while later, Harry had opened many more presents and letters. The twins had sent him several Extendable Ears amongst other WWW products, while several members of the DA had sent him sweets from Honeydukes or books. Harry did not even want to consider how they had found out it was his birthday and he was slightly overwhelmed at their generosity. Strangely enough, that had also all received their OWL results.

'So it's just me who hasn't had their results yet' Harry thought to himself. 'Of course. Why bother telling me? I'm just the Boy-Who-Lived and destined to either kill or be killed by Voldemort himself! No biggie there!'

Immediately Harry chastised himself for his thoughts but he could not quite shake the feeling of hurt and distrust he held towards Dumbledore. Harry put aside the cake and box of scones he had received from Hagrid and turned to the final owl, which turned out to be a normal looking brown owl. However, it did not hold a letter or a present, but a newspaper. Apparently, someone had decided to send him the latest copy of the Daily Prophet. Harry stared at the owl for a long moment, wondering whether the paper would contain more of the lies that had been printed so often the year before.

With a derisive snort, Harry moved to his trunk to find the payment for the owl. 'Of course not. I am the Wizarding World's golden boy again. Now that Fudge has finally admitted Voldemort's back. If he'd only admitted it from the beginning, everyone might have been better off to deal with him and perhaps Sirius would still be...'

Harry stopped his thoughts, paid the owl, and opened the paper. He scanned the title and frowned. 'Surely Fudge doesn't think he can actually get away with this?'

MINISTER OF MAGIC PLEDGES TO INCREASE WAR CHEST

The Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, last night announced that he had approached the goblins who ran the UK branch of Gringotts with regards to the Ministry vaults and those belonging to convicted Death Eaters and those accounts that have been left without a executor. He insisted that these measures were necessary to help pay for the forthcoming war against You-Know-Who.

Several high profile families and their vaults are also thought to be affected if the Minister's plans are approved. The Black Trust is believed to be the largest account that would be affected. Several others that could come under the Minister's purview are vaults belonging to the Crouch family (deceased), the Lestranges, and the Rookwoods amongst others.

There are also rumours that the Malfoy vaults are also being considered however Mrs Malfoy has started proceedings to claim the family's assets. It has been suggested in some circles that Narcissa Malfoy (nee Black) has also started legal proceedings into claiming the Black estate and vaults. The last known heir to the large Black fortune was Sirius Black, Secret Keeper to the Potters, and Godfather to Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived.

The story of the Black heir is widely known. Black betrayed the Potters to the Dark Lord and was the first prisoner to have escaped Azkaban, only three years previously. No confirmed sightings of Black have been seen in the past few months, but it is believed he had joined the Dark Lord along with his cousin, Bellatrix Lestrange (nee Black) and the husband of his other cousin, Lucius Malfoy.

As such, under the Minister's new plans, Black would lose whatever control he held over the Black Trust. However, another member of the almost extinct Black family also still lives; Andromoda Tonks (nee Black), sister of Narcissa Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange, and her daughter Nymphadora Tonks, Auror. However, this reporter has it on good authority that Mrs Tonks was written out of the original Black Family's Last Will and Testament for marrying a muggleborn, Ted Tonks. However with Fudge's radical plans in the pipeline, perhaps the courts will judge in her favour.

As part of his plans to help increase the Ministry coffers, Fudge has also approached the goblins regarding vaults with no blood-related or legally defined adult executor. His plan is to create a new department, which will oversee these vaults and act as a de-facto executor of the accounts until the Heir becomes of age. This latest announcement has caused great concern amongst members of the Ministry and the Wizgamot. As of now. these plans have no legal backing to them, however a decision was passed by the Wizgamot to start drawing up legal documents, albeit with an incredibly slim majority. This would mean that the sole heirs to large family Trusts, who are under the age of 17, will find Ministry officials in charge of their financial situation until they become of age.

With several pureblood families, the inheritance lines follow down the eldest male line, and therefore there are several notables who will be affected if this proposal were to become law. The most widely known would be in the case of Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, who is the sole heir of the Potter estate and vaults. Other notables include Neville Longbottom and Draco Malfoy, if Mrs Malfoy's legal proceedings to gain control of the Malfoy estates do not succeed. Another family Trust that could be affected under the new moves involves half of the Bones family estate, which currently only has a single female heir, Susan Bones. The estate was entailed upon Miss Bones upon the death of her aunts, uncles and cousins, while the other half is currently split between Madam Bones, Head of DMLE, and young Miss Bones' father.

According to this reporter's inside information, the Minister's intentions have come as a surprise and shock to many of those in the Ministry, the Wizgamot, and those at Gringotts. There are several vociferous objectors, including Madam Bones, Mrs Longbottom, grandmother of Neville Longbottom, and Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and Chief Warlock of the Wizgamot.

The information coming in regarding the new proposals from the Ministry are garbled and confusing at best. Nor have Gringotts made any statements regarding these new policy ideas, though the undercurrent feeling amongst those in the know is that the changes will not be welcome, nor are they likely to happen. The Minister and his closest advisors are insisting the measures are necessary to protect the estates and vaults of several families whose heirs are not yet of age while also increasing the funds required if the Ministry is to defeat Voldemort. One close advisor has commented that the Minister will go to the courts to claim the vaults in question if necessary. However, this reporter foresees many battles, within the Ministry and the courts before this matter is finally decided.

Harry blinked.

His jaw dropped in shock. He could not believe that Fudge had actually had the audacity to do this. At the same time, a familiar feeling or anger and hurt threatened to overwhelm him as he read the lies about Sirius. A great part of his mind was confused by what the Minister was proposing and it seemed obvious that the reporter for the Daily Prophet too was confused since the article was a jumble of information, insinuations, rumours and half-truths.

What he did manage to gleam from the article was that the Malfoy wanted to claim the Black monies. That Fudge was greedily trying to claim several vaults and estates of convicted Death Eaters, including his innocent godfathers'. Finally, Fudge wanted to assume control of his finances, as well as several others.

'Fudge is a bloody moron!' Harry thought viciously. 'An idiot of the highest order! How can he do this? And why the hell hasn't anyone told me about this?' Suddenly another thought came to him. 'Is this why the Order Headquarters kicked everyone out?'

Harry quickly scanned the article again, yet the only result was to further increase his confusion, worry, and anger. 'Fantastic way to start my birthday!' he thought wryly. Harry wondered how he was to stop Fudge from gaining access to his vault, his only source of money. 'I need to get out of here, but I can't. What with Order members watching me and having to live with the Dursleys for the protection. I need to be there, where I'm meant to be, in the Wizarding World. I need to try and talk to someone about this. Moony might be able to help me. Or he could at least tell me something rather than hide things from me. Dumbledore had known about this ... he must have. Why didn't he warn me? Alternatively, why didn't he stop Fudge? If I lose control of my vault, how will I pay for school?'

Harry was working himself up to a panic when a flash of white distracted him. It was Hedwig. Harry smiled at his faithful owl and quickly untied the bulky letter. She gave him a grateful hoot and nipped his ear before flying the short distance to her cage and taking a nap. Harry looked at the bulging envelope, instinctively knowing that it had come from the Order. Harry opened the envelope and the first thing to fall into his lap was his Hogwarts letter.

Dear Mr Potter,

Enclosed are the results from your Ordinary Wizarding Level exams.

Due to the Ministry's Educational reforms, it is not possible at this time to choose what subjects you wish to study at NEWT level. It should be noted that you are eligible to participate in the Teaching Accreditation Scheme that has recently become available. As soon as the current reforms are finalised, another letter will be sent out to inform you of your choices.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

PS. Mr Potter, your Quidditch ban has been rescinded and I am proud to offer you the position of Quidditch Captain for Gryffindor. I hope to see the cup in my office once more. Please see me at the start of term to arrange tryouts and practices.

Harry stared at the Quidditch Captain badge that fell out of the envelope. A warm feeling filled him, temporarily pushing his worries aside. His attention was caught by a second piece of parchment. Harry opened it and discovered that it held his OWL results.

OWL Results

Astronomy - Acceptable

Care of Magical Creatures - Outstanding

Charms - Outstanding

Defence Against the Dark Arts - Outstanding

Divination - Poor

Herbology - Exceed Expectations

History of Magic - Poor

Potions - Outstanding

Transfiguration - Outstanding

"Wow" he whispered as his eyes roved over the parchment. Harry was stunned that he had done so well. More impressive what his Outstanding result in his Potions exam. Harry spent an enjoyable few minutes imagining Snape's reaction to the news before grimacing as he realised that he would have to put up with the Potions Master for another two years. 'Still it's for a good cause' Harry said to himself reassuringly. 'Imagine the looks on Fudge and Umbridge's face when I get the grades to be an Auror!'

Harry was still riding on the high of his OWL results when he noticed that there was still another note in the envelope. Harry grabbed it and began to read. It was a letter from Moony and the Order.

Dear Rascal,

Happy 16th Harry! I wish I could write more but it's not particularly safe to do so at this moment. I'm sure you've already heard about the problems at Headquarters. I can't tell you more than that at the moment. Have you read the Daily Prophet? There are several matter that need your attentions, involving these issues. Dumbledore would normally deal with this, but considering the many reforms and agenda's Fudge is proposing his hands are full. Therefore, it's left to you to try and sort it out. I know it sounds unconventional and well frankly ... a annoying waste of time, but as I'm sure you understand, it's necessary.

If you have no problems, I'll accompany you on those matters. There is also the matter of Sirius to deal with. I know that neither of us are particularly ready to deal with it, but as you have probably read, Fudge and Narcissa Malfoy are forcing our hands. Remember CONSTANT VIGILANCE since being CLUMSY will get you hurt.

Moony

Harry re-read the last paragraph and realised that Moody and Tonks would be arriving to pick him up at some point. However, what seemed slightly disconcerting was the fact that the letter made no mention of whether he would be leaving Privet Drive or not. Still most of his belongings had remained in his trunk, so it was not a big deal if he had to leave suddenly.

Harry wondered regarding what Remus had implied in his letter. Harry had the distinct impression that many things were remaining unsaid, but that whatever lay ahead, it was not going to fit in with Fudge's agenda. This brought a small smile to Harry's face and he resolved to get several hours of decent unbroken sleep so he could best cope with the daunting day that would lay ahead. A day away from the normalcy of the Dursleys was exactly what he needed.