He opened his wardrobe, peered into the mirror on the back of the door, and
let out a great sigh of relief. His nose was as it always was. And his eyes
were still emerald green.
Harry's next thought was of his Uncle's drinks cabinet. One whiskey wouldn't hurt.
Gingerly he opened his bedroom door and crept across the landing and down the stairs. The lightning flickered off the dark walls, just like in his dream, and Harry shivered. It all seemed so real.
He rubbed his fingers over his scar and cursed himself mentally. What an idiot, to fall for a vision like that!
Drink in hand, he tiptoed back upstairs, across the landing. Shutting his bedroom door as quietly as he could, he switched off the light again, and went to climb back into bed. He sat there for a while staring at the wall, then lay down and tried to sleep. It was impossible.
Scowling he sat up, reached for the whiskey and downed it in one gulp. A few weeks ago he would have coughed and spluttered, but now he barely noticed its sharp taste. He fingered the glass in his hand and considered going downstairs to get another. But what he really needed right now was one of Dudley's 'special' cigarettes.
Harry smirked to himself. If his aunt and uncle had no clue as to what Dudley was up to last year, then what he was doing this summer would make them faint with the shock!
But the really odd thing was, when Dudley was on his own he actually acted more friendly towards Harry. The day after he had got back from Hogwarts, Dudley had given him his old stereo, and had even let Harry borrow what he wanted from his CD collection.
Harry naturally, had been surprised by this. But not as half as surprised as what had happened to the Dursley household in the nine months he'd been away.
Uncle Vernon had moved out, and had left Aunt Petunia and Dudley alone in Privet Drive. His aunt and uncle had separated.
After Dudley had given him the stereo, Harry asked him what had happened, and they had gone for a walk, ending up behind a shed at the back of the allotments.
Harry was as shocked as Dudley had been. It was really odd to have Vernon dropping Aunt Petunia off outside Privet Drive, then driving off again. As he never cared to contact the Dursleys during term time (For good reason) Harry was even more surprised to learn his uncle and aunt had been living apart for well over six months.
Dudley explained that his parents had a huge row after Harry had left for Hogwarts, and that his father had shouted that he'd had enough of her lies, and had stormed out. He was gone for days, and had switched off his mobile. His mother had been really scared, and had cried. Vernon returned a few days later, the situation didn't improve, and just before Christmas announced he was moving out. Dudley had wanted to move out with him, but his mother made him stay. But she refused to tell him why.
Dudley had shuddered and gone quite pale after he had said this. Maybe he had been told after all.
Told all about Voldemort, his aunt and uncle, who Harry really was-
The cousins had then sat in an almost depressed silence. Harry wondered also what the Dementors had made Dudley hear last summer.
And as the weeks went by, and the holidays became more and more boring, Harry increasingly found himself either lying in Dudley's room listening to music, or creeping out to the allotment with him on evenings when he wasn't with his gang. Conversation was still difficult between them, but this wasn't the whole point of creeping off, anyway.
Harry and Dudley had only one thing in mind - to get stoned. Or drunk. Or both.
There was a sudden loud tapping at the window. Harry looked around, expecting to see Hedwig's shadow. But it was another owl - Hermione's.
The soaked owl hovered in, dropped a package on the bed before perching on Harry's arm. It then shook its body, flicking drops of rain up the walls and over Harry.
'Eugh!' Harry quickly offloaded the soggy bird on top of Hedwig's cage, and gave it a tidbit. He turned toward the parcel on the bed, which had a brightly coloured envelope attached to the outside of it. Of course - he had forgotten it was his birthday!
He tore open the envelope,
*******
Dear Harry,
Happy 16th Birthday! How are you? I really hope you are well. Hope the Dursleys are treating you properly.
As usual, I can't say much, but everyone is well, and missing you.
As for the present, as you are eating one half of it, promise me you will at least have a go at reading the other half. Please, please. I went to a lot of trouble to find it, as it has apparently been out of print for a hundred years!
Please look after yourself. Looking forward to seeing you soon,
Love Hermione
*******
Harry smiled absent-mindedly and unwrapped the present. On top was a plaque of enchanted chocolate with piped icing. He watched as the icing came alive before his eyes. First it twirled into a zooming snitch with fluttering wings, then into balloons surrounding the message 'Happy 16th Harry!'
He put the chocolate aside. Underneath it was a small, rather old looking book with a battered leather cover. The spine was grooved without writing, but there was a circular emblem pressed into the front. Harry peered at it. It showed a pair of hands partially obscuring the image of a large circular eye.
Frowning, and intrigued he opened the front cover.
'Oh, bloody hell Hermione,' Harry groaned as he read the book's title. She had to remind him, just when he had nearly forgotten!
***Enshrouding intent: A successful Occlumen's technique.***
Sighing wearily, Harry took out a small piece of parchment, scribbled a note of thanks to Hermione and sent the owl on her way, the open window sending in another shower of rain. And another very small, zooming bundle of feathers.
'Pig!' hissed Harry, as Ron's tiny owl whizzed around the lampshade twittering madly. 'Get down here!'
Harry managed to entice the little bird down with a bit of owl treat. As Harry was untying the envelope from his leg, the owl sneezed and puffed up its feathers.
'Hope you aren't getting a chill, Pig, I don't want Hedwig coming down with anything,' he muttered opening up the birthday card.
*****
Hiya Harry!
Happy 16th birthday mate!
Hows it going? Listen - I can't write you a long note, as we'll be seeing you soon anyway - and I'll give you your present then - be patient, its worth it! Hope your summer isn't going too badly still. You say your cousin gave you a Stereo? I think Dad has one that plays large black discs called LP's - is yours the same? Someone must have put a spell on your cousin or something! And your uncle gone. Now that's just weird!
Right, gotta go - see you soon!
Ron
******
He smiled briefly. Well, at least he had chocolate for now. He cast a sideways look at the book. And Occlumency.
Harry swallowed. He wasn't sure even if he wanted to touch the book, let alone read it. It would just remind him of how he had failed.
Of how he still dreamt sick dreams, had sick visions. The difference was he deserved them now, for what he'd done.
Almost too clearly he could hear the sound of Snape laughing, as he had in his vision. Harry felt a flare of anger. He had actually apologised to that man in his vision! Apologised! What madness was that?
He scowled and turned his back on the book. And in doing so his eyes fell on his bedside table. And his glasses.
His glasses? He snatched them up and looked at them. Gingerly he put them on. He screwed up his eyes, and took them off again. And stared at them long and hard, feeling his heart beginning to thud like a hammer in his chest.
He licked his lips nervously, and began to tremble.
His eyesight was corrected.
Harry's next thought was of his Uncle's drinks cabinet. One whiskey wouldn't hurt.
Gingerly he opened his bedroom door and crept across the landing and down the stairs. The lightning flickered off the dark walls, just like in his dream, and Harry shivered. It all seemed so real.
He rubbed his fingers over his scar and cursed himself mentally. What an idiot, to fall for a vision like that!
Drink in hand, he tiptoed back upstairs, across the landing. Shutting his bedroom door as quietly as he could, he switched off the light again, and went to climb back into bed. He sat there for a while staring at the wall, then lay down and tried to sleep. It was impossible.
Scowling he sat up, reached for the whiskey and downed it in one gulp. A few weeks ago he would have coughed and spluttered, but now he barely noticed its sharp taste. He fingered the glass in his hand and considered going downstairs to get another. But what he really needed right now was one of Dudley's 'special' cigarettes.
Harry smirked to himself. If his aunt and uncle had no clue as to what Dudley was up to last year, then what he was doing this summer would make them faint with the shock!
But the really odd thing was, when Dudley was on his own he actually acted more friendly towards Harry. The day after he had got back from Hogwarts, Dudley had given him his old stereo, and had even let Harry borrow what he wanted from his CD collection.
Harry naturally, had been surprised by this. But not as half as surprised as what had happened to the Dursley household in the nine months he'd been away.
Uncle Vernon had moved out, and had left Aunt Petunia and Dudley alone in Privet Drive. His aunt and uncle had separated.
After Dudley had given him the stereo, Harry asked him what had happened, and they had gone for a walk, ending up behind a shed at the back of the allotments.
Harry was as shocked as Dudley had been. It was really odd to have Vernon dropping Aunt Petunia off outside Privet Drive, then driving off again. As he never cared to contact the Dursleys during term time (For good reason) Harry was even more surprised to learn his uncle and aunt had been living apart for well over six months.
Dudley explained that his parents had a huge row after Harry had left for Hogwarts, and that his father had shouted that he'd had enough of her lies, and had stormed out. He was gone for days, and had switched off his mobile. His mother had been really scared, and had cried. Vernon returned a few days later, the situation didn't improve, and just before Christmas announced he was moving out. Dudley had wanted to move out with him, but his mother made him stay. But she refused to tell him why.
Dudley had shuddered and gone quite pale after he had said this. Maybe he had been told after all.
Told all about Voldemort, his aunt and uncle, who Harry really was-
The cousins had then sat in an almost depressed silence. Harry wondered also what the Dementors had made Dudley hear last summer.
And as the weeks went by, and the holidays became more and more boring, Harry increasingly found himself either lying in Dudley's room listening to music, or creeping out to the allotment with him on evenings when he wasn't with his gang. Conversation was still difficult between them, but this wasn't the whole point of creeping off, anyway.
Harry and Dudley had only one thing in mind - to get stoned. Or drunk. Or both.
There was a sudden loud tapping at the window. Harry looked around, expecting to see Hedwig's shadow. But it was another owl - Hermione's.
The soaked owl hovered in, dropped a package on the bed before perching on Harry's arm. It then shook its body, flicking drops of rain up the walls and over Harry.
'Eugh!' Harry quickly offloaded the soggy bird on top of Hedwig's cage, and gave it a tidbit. He turned toward the parcel on the bed, which had a brightly coloured envelope attached to the outside of it. Of course - he had forgotten it was his birthday!
He tore open the envelope,
*******
Dear Harry,
Happy 16th Birthday! How are you? I really hope you are well. Hope the Dursleys are treating you properly.
As usual, I can't say much, but everyone is well, and missing you.
As for the present, as you are eating one half of it, promise me you will at least have a go at reading the other half. Please, please. I went to a lot of trouble to find it, as it has apparently been out of print for a hundred years!
Please look after yourself. Looking forward to seeing you soon,
Love Hermione
*******
Harry smiled absent-mindedly and unwrapped the present. On top was a plaque of enchanted chocolate with piped icing. He watched as the icing came alive before his eyes. First it twirled into a zooming snitch with fluttering wings, then into balloons surrounding the message 'Happy 16th Harry!'
He put the chocolate aside. Underneath it was a small, rather old looking book with a battered leather cover. The spine was grooved without writing, but there was a circular emblem pressed into the front. Harry peered at it. It showed a pair of hands partially obscuring the image of a large circular eye.
Frowning, and intrigued he opened the front cover.
'Oh, bloody hell Hermione,' Harry groaned as he read the book's title. She had to remind him, just when he had nearly forgotten!
***Enshrouding intent: A successful Occlumen's technique.***
Sighing wearily, Harry took out a small piece of parchment, scribbled a note of thanks to Hermione and sent the owl on her way, the open window sending in another shower of rain. And another very small, zooming bundle of feathers.
'Pig!' hissed Harry, as Ron's tiny owl whizzed around the lampshade twittering madly. 'Get down here!'
Harry managed to entice the little bird down with a bit of owl treat. As Harry was untying the envelope from his leg, the owl sneezed and puffed up its feathers.
'Hope you aren't getting a chill, Pig, I don't want Hedwig coming down with anything,' he muttered opening up the birthday card.
*****
Hiya Harry!
Happy 16th birthday mate!
Hows it going? Listen - I can't write you a long note, as we'll be seeing you soon anyway - and I'll give you your present then - be patient, its worth it! Hope your summer isn't going too badly still. You say your cousin gave you a Stereo? I think Dad has one that plays large black discs called LP's - is yours the same? Someone must have put a spell on your cousin or something! And your uncle gone. Now that's just weird!
Right, gotta go - see you soon!
Ron
******
He smiled briefly. Well, at least he had chocolate for now. He cast a sideways look at the book. And Occlumency.
Harry swallowed. He wasn't sure even if he wanted to touch the book, let alone read it. It would just remind him of how he had failed.
Of how he still dreamt sick dreams, had sick visions. The difference was he deserved them now, for what he'd done.
Almost too clearly he could hear the sound of Snape laughing, as he had in his vision. Harry felt a flare of anger. He had actually apologised to that man in his vision! Apologised! What madness was that?
He scowled and turned his back on the book. And in doing so his eyes fell on his bedside table. And his glasses.
His glasses? He snatched them up and looked at them. Gingerly he put them on. He screwed up his eyes, and took them off again. And stared at them long and hard, feeling his heart beginning to thud like a hammer in his chest.
He licked his lips nervously, and began to tremble.
His eyesight was corrected.