A/N) This chapter is not really essential to the over-all plot, basically its just background info that is essential to later parts of the story. I'm trying to build up Harry and Bonnie's relationship so that it has some groundwork and readers can understand what the position and future for them is like.
Review Replies are at the bottom.
Chapter 3: How Harry Met Bonnie (Or Cornelius Fudge's Magical Certificate to Harry)
The following day after Bonnie's visit to his house, Harry received two letters, one from Albus Dumbledore, the other from Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic. He ripped open the one from Dumbledore first, eagerly reading what the headmaster had put:
Harry,
I've been talking to Cornelius Fudge about moving you to a secure location. We have decided or' compromised' that I will collect you from your house tomorrow at sunset and you'll be taken to the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. I know you will not want to go there Harry but it is the safest place for you.
Best wishes
Albus Dumbledore
Harry put down the letter, his heart beating fast. He didn't want to go back there not after what happened. No, he decided, I do not want to go back there. They can't force me to. Though its for my own safety, have they thought that I wouldn't want to go back there? No, I'm never asked am I, I'm just the hero who gets everyone I know killed.
He felt so angry that he momentarily forgot the other letter until his fingers brushed across it. Sitting up he unfolded it and read, his brow creasing in concentration. A small grin gradually spread across his face, until it consumed his features. This is what he read:
Dear Mr. Potter
It may have come to your attention that You-Know-Who was sighted in your area a few days ago and that he committed murder. It has come to our attention that it is a possibility that he is seeking you and your remaining family. For the remainder of the summer you'll be transferred to the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix and the Fidelius Charm will be placed upon your Aunt and Uncle's house to protect them from discovery from He Who Must Not Be Named. Of course, the Secret Keeper will be Albus Dumbledore, and I'm sure that he'll protect your relatives for as long as he can.
I am afraid to point out to you, due to the circumstances, that you'll not be allowed to leave Headquarters until you leave for school in September. It is for your own safety. To stifle your boredom, I have generously agreed to allow you to use magic starting from your 16th birthday outside of school. This applies to any Hogwarts student currently residing in the Headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix, at least this way you'll be able to protect yourself if anything bad happened there.
I have sent a certificate with this letter that allows you to use magic. Remember only at Headquarters may you use magic, and not before your birthday.
It has come to my attention that last year you were banned from Quidditch by the Order of Dolores Umbridge, however I am revoking that ban from the date of your birthday.
Remember Harry, be careful and watch out for those who may attempt to harm you. Have a good summer.
Cornelius Fudge
Minister for Magic
Harry looked inside the envelope and found another piece of parchment. It showed that he was officially allowed to use magic outside school. He grinned, suddenly, wondering what the Dursley's would say when he told them he was allowed to use magic now. He glanced at the piece of parchment again, his grin growing larger by the second as he read each line of the genuine certificate.
CERTIFICATE OF MAGIC
This certificate is presented to
Harry Potter
allowing him rights to use magic outside of school at the age of 16.
Hereby ordered by: Cornelius Fudge, Minister for Magic
Asked for by: Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Harry was grinning madly now. He couldn't believe this. He, Harry Potter, the boy who everyone had thought was a nutter a year before, was allowing him to do magic at the age of 16? How ironic was that? Hermione and Ron must be thrilled at the prospect.
He got up from the bed and looked out of his window, smiling. His eyes settled upon Bonnie who was walking past his house, with Claire. His mind became foggy as he remembered the time when he had first met her at Primary School at age 7. She had been new, half-way through the year.
Harry was seven years old and sitting at a desk all by himself, at the front of the class, waiting patiently for the teacher to arrive. Miss Carrigan had told them that they were expecting a new student into the class that morning. There was only one space left in the class, and that was next to Harry.
On the other side of the room there was laughter. Dudley was entertaining the class with an amusing joke, though according to Harry was not funny.
Then Miss Carrigan walked in, accompanied by a young girl in a blue, flowery dress, her dark black shoulder length hair sat upon her head as light as a feather, and her face seemed to shine as Harry looked at her. He thought, quite unintentionally, of course, She is beautiful.
"Everyone," Miss Carrigan began, "this is Bonnie Wright. She is starting this school today and will be in this class." She turned to Bonnie. "As there is no seats apart from next to Harry for now, do you mind sitting next to a boy for a week, before I rearrange the class so its more suitable for your needs?"
"It'll be fine, Miss Carrigan," Bonnie said moving away from the front and sitting down next to Harry. "Hi."
"Hi," Harry replied nervously, "I'm Harry. Harry Potter."
"Nice to meet you Harry." Bonnie replied, "So where about do you live? Maybe you could show me around?"
"Privet Drive with my Aunt and Uncle and Cousin, Dudley." He pointed over to Dudley who was now being told of by Miss Carrigan for being rude during Bonnie's entrance.
"I live one road away!" Bonnie said excitedly, then something occurred to her and she asked, "Um, why don't you live with your parents?" her eyes suddenly flickered to his lightening bolt scar on his forehead. "What's that?"
Harry sighed heavily. "My parent's are dead. They died in a car crash. This is a scar I got during the crash."
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you."
"You didn't."
Harry opened his eyes remembering that a week later Bonnie had been moved to the other side of the class room and he had been stuck with Josh Garner for company. He shuddered at that. It suddenly occurred to him that Bonnie, after that first week, had not spoken to him again for the three years, right up until the end of the sixth year, before his eleventh birthday. Had she really liked him? Why hadn't she come round before, especially when Harry hadn't turned up at Stonewall High at the beginning of September? Maybe she did, and the Dursley's had never told him? Did they like keeping secrets from him?
He shrugged not really bothered but saddened that he could've forgotten Bonnie in the excitement of knowing that he was a Wizard. She must have been terribly disappointed about him not going to Stonewall High, and not knowing that he, Harry Potter, was famous and a Wizard! At least, because of her sister, now knew of the existence of the magical world. At least they had something in common.
He would make it up to her. He would take Claire under his wing and protect her from the likes of Malfoy. He would aid her in any way he could in order to make it up to Bonnie. Who cares if Claire was sorted into Slytherin? She looked smart enough to not be put in the worst house. If she was, he didn't know how he would protect her from Malfoy. At least in Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff he had people to choose from who he trusted to look after her.
He would wait, wait and see what the future held for him in his new year at Hogwarts. Hopefully it wouldn't be too bad.
TBC
Yes, I am well aware that Under-Age Wizards are not allowed to do magic outside school until they are 17, but for the purpose of this story, Cornelius Fudge has altered that rule to apply to those students who are at Grimmauld Place with many responsible adults around anyway so Harry, Ron and Hermione will be watched. This change has been made to make Harry's stay at Grimmauld Place much more interesting.
Next Chapter: The Best Birthday – It's Harry's sixteenth and he comes to Grimmauld Place.
Review Responses:
ThE 3 cAbAlLeRoS: It's fine that you didn't read the other beginnings. I thought I'd mention it anyway in case people who reviewed before have read the same type of chapter twice before and are fed up with reading the beginning over and over, but now I've got the entire story basically lined out in my head. This chapter was not even meant to be here, but it seemed right for the occasion, and the ideal time to expand on the whole Harry/Bonnie friendship. Yes, I thought it would be nice to have Harry seen with an old school friend especially one he liked! Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Angelina Granger: Actually I didn't think of Bonnie Wright the actress. It was a name that came into my head. Thanks for pointing it out though! Thanks for your review!
Kimiski: I'm not sure what house I'm going to put Claire in at the moment. I'm still deciding. If she's in Gryffindor then…well, I don't know, but putting her in Slytherin would be different and cause Harry trouble, especially if Draco found out about her sister and Harry. But then, Muggle-born are not placed in Slytherin, so I don't really know where she's going at the moment. Thanks for the review!
Willmonger15: Claire Wright is a character that happened to stroll into my head when I was writing Chapter 2. I have no clue what she's going to do in the story or what part of it she plays. I'll think over your suggestions and we'll see what happens to Claire as the story progresses! Thank you for your kind comments.
Ash Knight: Harry is not mad at Dumbledore yet but I can tell you he will get angry with him later on, depending on what way the story goes. I have two roads I can take it down; later on when I'm nearer to choosing the road, I will ask what my readers think involving certain characters. Your comments are appreciated.
Destiny-TwoP: I've never read any HP fanfiction at all, I'm only just starting to as well. I'm trying to pace the story on, so no one gets too bored. This chapter is just a filler in, but essential for later on in the story. Hope you enjoyed this chapter!
LunaShadows: Two other reviewers pointed out Bonnie Wright's name as being the girl who plays Ginny in the films. I have to admit though I had no idea that I'd done that! I suppose its just that I was trying to think of a suitable name for the character and the name came to me, just like that! Hope you enjoyed this chapter.
Thank you's go to the following people for reviewing: Evil-pillow, HoofsTailsGal, Moon Lace/Serry and Lizzy-Chan.
THANKS for all the reviews! The story will pick up as soon as Harry gets to Hogwarts, I'm estimating around Chapter 6 or 7, but it could even be 8. There will be tons of stuff happening during the next few chapters which are essential to the overall plot, and they have to be included.
I'm working on Chapter 4 now and it should be up within a couple of days. Look out for it!
