Harry awoke the next morning at five to a large barn owl pecking at his head. The same owl delivered the Daily Prophet every morning at the same time. Harry got up, grabbed a knut from his school bag, and gave it to the owl. It hooted softly, dropped the paper on his bed, and flew out the window into the early morning light. Harry flopped back down on his bed and opened the paper. There in big, bold letters on the front page was the headline:

Order of the Phoenix praised for Noble

Services to the Ministry of Magic

Under the title of the article was a picture of Cornelius Fudge handing a plaque to Albus Dumbledore, Harry's headmaster at Hogwarts, and vigorously shaking his hand. As the picture moved, Harry noticed that Dumbledore had a look of unease on his aged face.

"I wonder why he looks so unhappy," Harry thought, and he couldn't help but notice that his headmaster looked very worried and older than usual.

He scanned the rest of the article, and while it didn't mention any other names besides Dumbledore's, it did mention some of the things that Harry knew the members of the Order were working on. The article mentioned how relationships with the giants were gradually becoming more stable and how well the member of the Order thwarted Voldemort in the Ministry of Magic last June. Harry laid the paper down, and his mind wondered back to that day in the Ministry. He had never felt guilt at this level for putting his friends in danger and pulling Sirius there and not to mention the fact that he had become completely unhinged to Dumbledore. While he felt Dumbledore should have kept him informed about some things, Dumbledore was the only person that truly believed in Harry, and he felt extremely guilty for his childish actions. His eyes wondered to the pile of birthday cards and Sirius' letter on his bedside table. Harry abruptly stood up and walked to his closet to find clothes for the day. He could no longer blame himself for all these things. He had made mistakes, but he had to focus on the future. His fate was yet to be fulfilled, and he was going to make damn sure the prophecy was going to go his way. He dressed and pulled out his potions' book from his desk. He had an hour until Aunt Petunia got up and cooked breakfast, so he might as well study. Since O.W.L.S were over, and it wasn't a N.E.W.T. year, he thought the teachers would lay off the summer homework. There was the same amount, if not more, then last summer. Harry read the passage about a potion for turning animals to different colors which said:

Different colors use different types of plants.

For example, red would require bark from

the redgnom tree, which has a reddish tint.

Green would require the flower, viresca, which

is a deep forest green.

As he read over this, a memory stirred in his head. He remembered a spell with a similar word, and an eerie green light. He remembered a little girl that was vaguely familiar, and another girl-.

"Potter!" Uncle Vernon screamed from below, "your aunt has your breakfast ready!" He stopped yelling, and as if remembering Mad-Eye Moody's warning, said in a much quieter yell, "It's getting cold."

Harry slammed his book shut.

"Bloody git," he muttered and went down to the kitchen.

As he walked into the obsessively clean kitchen, Dudley raised his head and then quickly looked back down. He had been very skittish ever since Harry had come home. He really couldn't blame him. The first time he had come across a dementor he had passed out. It wasn't something you easily get over. Dudley, while still bigger than most small automobiles, had lost some considerable weight in the past year. He had been eating less and wasn't such a loudmouth big shot. He was usually extremely nervous. Harry sat down, and Aunt Petunia set a plate of eggs in front of him.

"What took you so long, boy?" Uncle Vernon asked.

"I was studying," Harry replied, reaching for the pepper.

Dudley jumped in his seat, which said a lot for the strength of the chair.

"I'm just reaching for the pepper, mate," Harry said, trying hard to suppress a smile.

It felt good to have Dudley scared. He had been tormented in his youth by his bully of a cousin.

"Don't worry about him, son," Uncle Vernon said, then glared at Harry, "watch yourself, boy."

"Vernon, let's not start," Aunt Petunia said, sitting down at the table. "We don't want any commotion."

Harry caught his aunt's pale watery eyes in surprise, and she quickly looked down at her plate. Uncle Vernon shoveled eggs in his mouth and remained quiet.

"I'm leaving today at four," Harry said.

"How?" his uncle asked quickly, looking worried.

"Some friends are coming to get me," Harry replied.

Dudley looked at his mother and then at his father with his eyes full of nothing short then terror.

"Well, we won't tolerate any more disturbances in this house," Uncle Vernon said matter-of-factly, and Harry smiled into his plate knowing that there was nothing his uncle was going to do against his fellow wizards.

"Okay, then," Harry said, swallowing his last bite of eggs, "I'll go pack."

"You do that then," Uncle Vernon said.

Harry went to his room and began to gather all of his things. He made sure he had his Firebolt and all of his books and birthday presents. He double checked everything and began to read the Quidditch book Hermione had given him. He was absorbed in that until lunch. He quickly ate a ham sandwich and went back up to his room. Hedwig arrived back around three, and Harry put her in her cage with some water and owl treats. He paced until a quarter to four and then took his trunks down to the living room. Uncle Vernon was pretending to read the newspaper, while Aunt Petunia was dusting the same spot on the mantelpiece over and over again. Dudley was nowhere in sight.

"Where's Dudley?" Harry asked sitting down on the couch.

Uncle Vernon lowered his paper and glared angrily at Harry and then at Hedwig who was rustling her large white wings noisily in her cage.

"Never you mind, boy," Uncle Vernon said at the same time Aunt Petunia said, "Boxing practice."

She had surprised Harry for the second time that day with her almost normal behavior toward him.

"Yes," Uncle Vernon muttered, glaring now at his wife, "We paid for an extra session, so he didn't have to be here when those frea-,"

Harry drew up a look of upmost hatred at his uncle which dared him to finish his sentence.

"People arrive to get you," his uncle finished.

"He's still very nervous about what happened last summer," Aunt Petunia said pointedly.

"We had to put him in therapy for it," Uncle Vernon said in a moment of sincerity looking ashamed that any son of his had to talk to a shrink.

Harry nodded, knowing all too well how the dementors could make you feel. Harry knew that if his cousin had had to go through even half the stuff that he had, Dudley would be in an insane asylum.

"What exactly did those things do my son?" Aunt Petunia asked slowly as Uncle Vernon shot her a furious look.

"Well," Harry began, thinking that is was totally bizarre to be having a civil conversation about magic with the Dursley's, "They suck all the happi-."

Before he could finish his sentence, there were several loud cracking sounds. Harry knew what it was, but he was so thrown off by his aunt screaming and flying across the room to his uncle, he fell off the couch. Five people had just apparated into the Dursley's living room. They were Nymphadora Tonks, Mad-Eye Moody, Arthur, Molly, and Percy Weasley.

"Percy!" Harry exclaimed, grabbing Moody's hand that he had kindly reached out to pull him off the floor.

"Yes, Harry," Percy began, looking very reserved (much like his protege', Cornelius Fudge), "I have seen the error of my ways and have come to be part of your advance guard. I also wanted to apologize for my actions last year. They were completely uncalled for. I was drunk with power, and I didn't seem to care whom I hurt. Can everything be forgiven?"

Mrs. Weasley sighed with happiness at Percy's speech, while Mad-Eye rolled his eye (for the other one was already rolling).

"Er, -no problem, mate," Harry said, looking everywhere but Percy's face.

Uncle Vernon stood in front of Aunt Petunia guarding her. Harry smiled at this because it had become strangely familiar every time any wizard come to pick Harry up. Mad-Eye thumped his way over to Uncle Vernon, his hair wild and crazy blue eye rolling freely in its socket.

"So how have you been treatin' him, Dursley?" he said gruffly.

His magical eye stopped dead on Uncle Vernon.

"They were fine," Harry said before his uncle could answer, "They actually fed me decently well this summer."

Mrs. Weasley scoffed at this and wrapped Harry in a big hug.

"It's so good to see you, dear," she said then lowered her voice, "But I'll bet I'll feed you much better at the Burrow."

"We're going to the Burrow!" Harry exclaimed, so excited that he wouldn't be returning to the black hole that was headquarters.

"We sure are, Harry," Mr. Weasley said, stepping up and shaking Harry's hand. "Dumbledore thought it would be safe enough. He thought it would be fun for you, but there will be Order members there on a regular basis."

Harry felt a stab of guilt as he thought of his headmaster. He knew that Dumbledore was trying to make up for keeping the prophecy from him for so long. Harry knew he would have to have a long talk with him and apologize for his actions last year in his office.

"We have done some vast improvements on headquarters, yet we still can't get that bloody picture off the wall," Mrs. Weasley said.

"That permanent sticking charm is tricky," Percy piped up, "But I'm sure a bunch of talented wizards such as ourselves will be able to accomplish the task."

Harry had the distinct feeling that Percy was doing some well-needed sucking up.

"How will we get there?" Harry asked, knowing, without a doubt, they weren't going to fly like last time.

They couldn't during the day. Harry saw Uncle Vernon shoot Mr. Weasley a look of fear remembering the floo powder incident two years ago when the Weasley men had picked Harry up for the Quidditch Cup. Harry followed his uncle's gaze to Mr. Weasley who was staring at a very old music box of Aunt Petunia's on an end table beside Percy.

"Fascinating," he muttered as he opened and shut the lid again and again.

"Portkey," Moody growled and everyone jumped. He surveyed the room with one eye, but kept his magical one directly on Uncle Vernon. The Dursley's had calmed down some, but were still standing extremely close to one another. Aunt Petunia just looked relieved that nothing had been damaged yet.

"Nymphadora, the portkey, please," Percy said briskly.

"How many times do I have to tell you, Percy? It's Tonks," Tonks herself said exasperated.

She stepped out from behind Percy, her hair a shocking lime green cut in a short bob. Aunt Petunia nearly fainted.

"Sorry I haven't been very talkative, Harry," Tonks said, not moving from her spot next to Percy. "Molly told me not to do too much while we were here. You know, my clumsiness and all." She put her hand to the side of her mouth and whispered, "She said your aunt might keel over if I broke anything."

Harry smiled and tried not to laugh.

"Tonks, the portkey," Mrs. Weasley reminded her.

"Oh, yeah. I forgot," Tonks said as she pulled an old, rusted hammer from a gold bag over her shoulder.

Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia gasped and stepped back.

"Calm down," Moody said, looking greatly irritated. "We don't have to use Muggle tools to hurt you, Dursley."

Tonks stepped forward, and as she raised the hammer to hand it to Mr. Weasley, managed to shatter the music box he had been admiring earlier.

Aunt Petunia dived behind Uncle Vernon again as he shouted, "I will not have you tearing up my house again you frea-,"

"What was that, Dursley?" Moody asked threateningly, his wild eye that had been fixed on Uncle Vernon was now spinning like mad.

Uncle Vernon's large face became the color of cherries, but he remained silent.

"Now, boys, stop it," Mrs. Weasley said, as if breaking up a fight between Ron and Fred. She pointed her wand at the music box, "Musigo Reparo!" she said, and the trinket was as good as new.

"I'll take that now," Mr. Weasley said, as he gently took the hammer from Tonks. "Alright, everyone grab on."

"Bye, then," Harry said to the Dursley's, and then couldn't resist saying. "Tell Dudley I can do magic legally next summer."

Uncle Vernon muttered something that sounded vaguely like a curse word. All six wizards put one finger on the hammer. Harry felt that familiar tug under his naval, and #4 Privet Drive vanished.

Harry fell hard to his knees onto a worn, but soft carpet.

"Harry!" two female voices cried in unison, and he was engulfed in a blur of brown and flaming red hair.

"It's so good to see you!" Hermione Granger said, stepping away from him.

Ginny still had her arms around him.

"I've been so worried about you all summer," she said finally, pulling away from him.

Harry could not help but notice how pretty she looked in regular Muggle clothing. She seemed to have lost a lot of the child in her since the Ministry of Magic. He had the idea that Ron wanted Ginny and him to get together. Ron didn't trust anyone else with his only sister. Harry just looked at her like the sister he never had, but he knew whoever she ended up with would be incredibly lucky.

"I'm just fine, Ginny," he said, ruffling her hair playfully. He looked at Hermione whose hair was straighter than usual. "I like the hair, Hermione," he said, pulling her into another hug.

"It's not as straight as the Yule Ball. That was just too much, but I thought I needed a change," she said.

Harry smiled at her. He valued Hermione's friendship more than ever now since she had stood by him faithfully last June. He stepped back and stared at the Weasley's living room. He hadn't been here in over a year, and he had really missed it. He saw the extraordinarily convenient grandfather clock that showed the position of every Weasley family member at any given time.

Right now, all but two hands were pointed at home. Fred and George's hands were pointed at work, so Harry knew they must be at their store in Diagon Alley. The Order members had spread out once they had arrived. Harry looked through the kitchen door and saw Mrs. Weasley furiously waving her wand as she prepared dinner. All of a sudden his vision was obscured by a red haired, freckle-faced boy stuffing a roll in his mouth.

"Wotcher, Harry!" Ron exclaimed, spitting crumbs on the carpet in the process. He entered the living room and slapped Harry on the back. If it was possible, he had grown several more inches over the summer holidays.

"Oh," Hermione said, "Happy Birthday!"

"Yeah, mate," Ron said, grinning. "Happy Birthday! Did you get our presents?"

"Yeah, I got them. Thanks so much," Harry replied.

"Hey, me too," Ginny piped up from behind Harry. "Happy Birthday!"

Harry could not get the smile off his face. Sirius had been right. He would value his friends above all else because they were the only true family he had.

"Weren't you supposed to be getting in from the South of France, like, yesterday?" Harry asked Hermione.

"Right after I sent your present with Hedwig, Dumbledore sent me another owl saying that we should all be together. I stopped taking my potions everyday weeks ago, so he said it would be okay."

Harry once again felt that familiar surge of guilt for getting her into that mess, and he looked down at the floor. He felt her hand on his shoulder, and he glanced back up at her.

"Don't even think about blaming yourself. We all decided to go on our own," she said kindly.

"Yeah, mate," Ron said, "Just think. We get to be here together for a month with nothing to do."

"Well, not nothing," Hermione said, "We still have homework to do."

Ron rolled his eyes, and he and Hermione walked into the kitchen. Harry could hear Ron saying that they all deserved some well-needed time off. Harry grinned and began to walk after them when Ginny caught his hand from behind him.

"I just wanted to tell you that I feel like the real Harry is back. I haven't seen you smile like that since our second year at Hogwarts," she said seriously.

Harry sighed and looked at her.

"Well, Ginny, you're right," he said, "I'm back, and this time, I'm not going anywhere."

He put his arm around her shoulder, and they walked after Ron and Hermione.