Hi, everybody who's anybody... I'm back. I'm afraid this chapter. I've been too busy with my exam results, assignments, piling homework and more things to memorise. Hope you all like it though. Anyway, thanks for reviewing, lwc24. I appreciate it. My friends from school, thanks for telling me what you think about it though you guys didn't review.

Disclaimer - I do not own Harry Potter, and any other characters in the book. J.K. Rowling owns them. This is just written in my view.

Chapter 2

Something's Just Unexpected

Sweat was dripping down from his face to his neck. Harry felt a cold shiver running through him. He had lowered his guard once more. He regretted not having himself study Occlumency even though it is important for him to do so. He made a mental note to inform Dumbledore.

Just when Harry was about to get up from his bed, he heard his aunt screaming on the top of her voice and later muttered under her breath about not having proper transport and she glared at Harry just as he was about to step foot on the last landing of the stairs. Then, he saw the something that made his heart swell with happiness. Mr. Weasley, Fred, George and Ron were there. They had been waiting for him and simply beamed the moment Harry entered the living room which had been a complete mess because they had used the floo network. Without warning, Fred and George had him wrapped up in a rib crushing hug. When he was released from their hug, Harry could definitely see the change in Ron. Ron had grown taller and plumper all through the summer but Harry had somehow managed to grow almost as tall as Ron.

"Harry! How are you mate? Been okay lately? It seems like you've grown taller. You're almost as tall as our ickle Ronniekins, "said Fred.

"Well, I'm okay. But I dunno about being tall. Seems like you're right," said Harry.

"Harry, I'm sorry to interrupt this, but we have to hurry. Go and get your trunk and we'll floo straight to Grimmauld Place," interrupted Mr. Weasley. Mr. Weasley need not have to tell him that because Fred and George were already in his room picking up his belongings that includes Hedwig's cage. He had released Hedwig the night before and told her to fly straight to Grimmauld Place. He then heaved his trunk and grabbed his bird cage. Mr. Weasley threw the floo powder at the fireplace and Harry stepped into it; his trunk and bird cage with him and said out loud, "Number twelve, Grimmauld place!"

Harry could feel the swirling motion and it almost made him green and sick. Then, he landed on a hard surface. He stepped out of the fireplace, dragged his trunk out and carrying Hedwig's cage on the other hand. When he had managed to clean the soot off his face and clothes, he looked up to see Lupin coming his way. When he saw that Harry had arrived, he went towards Harry in three strides and welcomed him to The House of Black; Headquarter of The Order of The Phoenix.

Harry dragged his trunk into his room. It is the usual room he had shared with Ron last summer. Just as Harry was about to exit the room, Phineas Nigellus appeared in his portrait and yelled at him to get his attention. Harry glared at Phineas at this. Phineas cleared his throat and said "Dumbledore has some words for you. You must continue your Occlumency lessons but this time, you will also be learning Legimency. Dumbledore will find you a new tutor by the start of term. In the mean time, please practice Occlumency. And please don't say anything. It's Dumbledore's orders."

Without saying a thing, Harry closed the door of his room and went downstairs and into the kitchen. Mrs. Weasley was cooking breakfast in the kitchen. She clearly had a bad day and kept bursting into hysterics and constantly muttering 'Percy' under her breath. Harry thought it best to not say a word and ate his breakfast quietly. After finishing his breakfast, he went out of the kitchen with Ron and headed to the library. There, he finished all of his homework including a really nasty one that Snape had given him and found time to read the book Hermione had bought him. Ron was eyeing him suspiciously but Harry didn't mind because he had found that it could actually keep his mind off things. Strangely, however Harry had himself thinking how enjoyable studying is. After a few minutes, Ron decided to play a game of chess. So, they went back to their room. Harry surprised him by almost narrowly beating him in the last few games. By then, Harry had felt really sleepy and Ron certainly felt sleepy too. They went off to bed without even a word.

The next day, Harry and the Weasleys went to Diagon Alley to get their school supplies and some other things. They had to go to Gringotts first to get their money. After a wild cart ride, they made their way out, feeling slightly sick. They decided to go to Flourish and Blotts fist to get their books for the next term. The moment they stepped into the shop, they didn't count on a hug from a bushy haired person who is none other than Hermione. She came with her parents; who seemed to be deep in conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. They stepped into the shop and handed their booklist to the shop assistant. They walked out carrying thick volumes of books that made them feel as though they were about to tear their hands apart.

After about five minutes walking down Diagon Alley, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and Hermione's parents, they reached a shop with the sign 'Weasleys Wizard Wheezes'. Harry smiled as he remembered the occasion when Fred and George set off Dung bombs at the Hogwarts corridor and Fred telling Peeves to give Umbridge hell from them. They dropped their books and went their separate ways. Harry and Hermione clearly needed to get some new robes; so, they left for Madam Malkin's while Ron and Ginny waited for them at Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour.

After finishing their shopping; including replenishing their potion supplies (he noticed Ron didn't), they spent the rest of the afternoon at the Ice Cream Parlour. They ordered a giant sundae and talked all day. It was Hermione who had been the first to bring out the subject of the OWLs results. Hermione, as usual; received top grades in all of her OWLs. Ron however did okay but had been rather unfortunate to not pass his Potions OWL (Harry realised this was why he hadn't replenished his supplies). When asked about his results, Harry told them about it and was congratulated by the enthusiastic Hermione. Ron on the other hand was looking a bit put off and just groaned but Harry comforted him.

"Well, Ron. At least you don't have Snape breathing down your neck anymore. Unlike me, I would have to put up with it for another two years, "said Harry.

"I wanted to be an Auror, but I guess it is better that way. I reckon Snape was all too pleased with this," was Ron's reply.

"Well, Snape won't be too happy because he'll have to put up with me for another two years. But I reckon he'll get over it soon enough because he will be having two years of pleasure just by hissing snide remarks at me," said Harry.

"Hmm, oh well. I wish you good luck with it. I hope you'll survive it before the year ends. Otherwise, our Quidditch team will lose our best Seeker." "Ginny doesn't want the position of Seeker, says that she prefers chasing to seeking. So, she'll be trying out for Chaser this year," Ron added.

"Whoa, look at the time!" exclaimed Harry when he glanced at his new watch. "We'll have to hurry or we're gonna be late," said Harry as he remembered that they had promised Mr. and Mrs. Weasley to be back by three and now it is a quarter past three. They rushed to the twins' shop to take their things and scurried to the Leaky Cauldron after a quick tour of their shop. But this time, Hermione was not with them. She had gone home with her parents while Harry and Ron were still talking. They threw some floo powder and cried 'number twelve Grimmauld Place' after they were sure that nobody unrecognised by them was anywhere near to hear them.

Harry received a great surprise the moment he arrived at the fireplace at Grimmauld Place. Everybody wished him 'Happy Birthday' before the candle of his cake was blown. He put all of his shopping at the corner and went to join the crowd moments later; he was hugged practically by everybody. Then, everybody ate the cake, had a great time and actually felt free from the problems that had plagued them. By midnight, numerous guests went home and some had stayed overnight. Tonks could be seen lying on the couch, snoozing after she had a rather large amount of Butterbeer. By the time everybody went to sleep, Harry was bleary eyed and went to his room. He was asleep moments later without changing into his pyjamas or even took his glasses off.