He was standing there just holding the letter, the scilence in the room being broken by Pigwidgeon continued hooting in excitement. His heart was hammering, he knew that OWL's were important but up until this moment he did not realise just how imprtant they actually were, if he had failed all his exams he would not be going back to Hogwarts. He felt sure that he had a couple of passes at least and he felt very confident that he had acheived an 'O' in Defence Against The Dark Arts. Quickly he tore open the letter before he lost his nerve. Unfolding the parchments that were enclosed, his eyes quickly scanning the page in fornt of him, he saw a letter in very fancy writing written in emerald green ink.

The first page contained a letter that read

Mr H Potter
4 Privet Drive
Little Whingeing
Sussex
England

Dear Mr Potter,

We are pleased to inform you that your OWL exam results have now been received from the Ministry of Magic Examination Board. Please find them enclosed. Also enclosed is an application form for the NEWT's that you would like to apply for. Please take time to consider all options as your results go a long way to determining you career after Hogwarts.

Please send your choices by owl and we will return your timetable for the forthcoming year along with a list of books and equipment you will require Term begins on 1st September; we are awaiting your return owl.

Yours sincerely

Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress

Harry closed his eyes and quickly flipped over the next sheet of parchment, his heart hammering very loudly in his chest.

Ministry of Magic Examination Board OWL Results – Mr Harry Potter

Astronomy - E
Care of Magical Creatures - O
Charms - E
Defence against the Dark Arts - O
Divination - E
Herbology - E
History of Magic - A
Potions - O
Transfiguration - O

Grading System O Outstanding, E Exceeds Expectations, A Acceptable, P Poor (Fail), D Dreadful (Fail)

I took a second for the explosion of joy to erupt within him. He had passed on every subject. Harry fell on to his bed with a huge smile attached to his face. He realised that he probably not felt like this in months, since before Sirius had died anyway. He looked again at the letter and felt a resolve, he was making a promise to himself. Crossing over to his chest of drawers he pulled out the photo album he had received from Hagrid at the end of his first year. He quickly found the photo he was looking for. Looking down at the combination of happy faces, his eyes were kept fixed upon three of them. The picture was of his Mum and Dads wedding day. His Mum had looked beautiful with her long hair tied back showing of her neck which had a simpe necklace with a small diamond broach hanging from it. His Dad looked untidy in a handsome sort of hair. He had obviously just ran his hands through his hair before the photo had been taken, it was a habit which Harry had gained from him. They both looked very much in love, indeed James kept stroking his Mums face, kissing her lightly and whispering in her her ear. The other person that Harry could not stop looking at was Sirius. He was best man and best friend to James. Harry had to admit that he was a stunningly attractive man who looked so full of life. All three adults were returning their gaze at him.

"I promise you, I will become an Auror" Harry said to the photo. They all seemed to be smiling at him as if they understood. Sitting there he could not keep his gaze of his Mum and Dad and how happy they were. Harry continued smiling as he turned the page. As he looked at the next photo his heart swelled. He was staring hard at her and, for the first time he really saw her. Why had it taken so long. He closed the book feeling a bit confused but determined. If the last few years had taught him anything it was not to let any moment pass you by. He was going to act as soon as he possibly could but he needed to clear it with someone first

Harry looked around his bedroom. Everything had been packed in anticipation of him going to Grimalud Place tomorrow afternoon. The room looked extremley bare now that all his books, quills and parchments were no longer in sight. His Firebolt which stood in the corner of the room had been polished and packed away in his trunk also. The Firebolt was one of Harrys most treasured possesions, a present from Sirius, he knew that he could never part with it. When the time came for him to upgrade his broom, he would always hold onto it for nostalgic and personal reasons. Harry had two other personal items that were also presents that he held with the same regard as his Firebolt. Received in his first year at Hogwarts was his Father Invisibility Cloak. The corner of his lips twitched as memories of the adventures that he, Ron and Hermione had got up to while stowed safely underneath flashed through his mind. Next in line was the Mauraders Map. He had Fred and George Weasley to thank for having that in his posession. An amazing map which showed Hogwarts in it's entirety and all the people within it, where the were and in which direction they were heading. These three things Harry could never be without. All three were connected to his Father and Sirius, and he would forever hold them dear and treasured. The only thing left cluttering the room was Hedwig's cage which still had Pigwidgeon twittering about incessently. Harry expected her back soon, so headed over to his trunk and pulled out three bits of parchment. One already had writing on it and was already addressed. Normally he would have waited to talk to Ron about this but as he had made a promise to himself, his Mum and Dad and Sirius, whatever Ron chose was irrelevant. Harry had decided he wanted to be an Auror for definite and remembering his discussion with Proffesor McGonnagal earlier in the year he knew what subject he had to take.

Bending over he ticked the boxes for, Defence Against The Dark Arts, Transfiguration, Charms & Potions. He looked down at the list of subject and realised he only had four there. Thinking what else an Auror would need he quickly ticked Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures. Herbology could be useful in knowing about poisounous plants and other uses of rare plants and fungi. Care of Magical Creatures was taught by Hagrid. There was no other reason for picking it. Sometimes the classes bordered between boring and extremley dangerous, the Blast Ended Skrewts immediateley jumping to mind, but Harry liked being taught by Hagrid. Folding the Parchment neatly twice he enclosed it in and envelope and sealed it. Taking the second piece of parchment he wrote to Ron, telling him about his results and which NEWT's he had chosen. Ron had also shown an interest in being an Auror too and wondered what subjects he would have chose. He walked across to Pigwidgeon and said "Are you feeling up for delivering this letter to Ron for me"

A high pitched twittering showed her obvious delight and with some difficulty, due to Pigwidgeons excitement, Harry attached the letter and carried her over to the window.

"See you tomorrow then" Harry said grinning

Harry looked at the third blank piece of parchement and sat down to write. What would he say though. His mind had become blank and although he knew what he wanted to say to her, he did not know how to convey it in a letter.

Again he opened his trunk, and began to think he had been a bit hasty in packing, retrieved the photo album. He opened it to the picture that had caused the revelation earlier in the day. The picture was taken at one of the last DA meetings of last term. Looking up at him was a picture of him and Ron and two females. Harry couldnt take his eyes of her again wondering in astonishment how he had not realised how beautiful she actually was. His stomach tightened and his heart rate rose as she smiled up at him. He could not do anything until he spoke to Ron. Harry propped the photo album on top of his pillow. Smiling back at him was Ginny Weasley and Hermione Granger.

After Supper that night Dudley headed out on his usual night-time prowl of hunting for kids to beat up with his gang of cronies behind him, and Uncle Vernon, who was still in a funny mood after the way Aunt Petunia had mocked him in the afternoon, made his excuses by saying he had to get back to the office as he was really very busy. He shot Harry a nasty glance as he left the house, but Harry was beyond care. Walking down the hallway he was just about to head upstairs when he heard someone call.

"Harry, can you come in here a moment please?" Harry took his right foot of the bottom step and about turned and head off in the direction of the living room. Tentatively he pushed the door open and half entered the room while keeping his other half firmly hidden behind the door.

"Harry, please take a seat, I..er.. have something for you, before you go back to school I mean"

Harry crossed the room and sat on the edge of the settee. Looking around he took in the pristene tidyness of the room. The TV was off and the radio was playing softly in the background. Magazines were filed away in the rack that sat beside Aunt Petunias chair and the coffee table was polished to such a high degree that his face gazed back with almost crystal clarity at him. Harry imagined Percy Weaslys house to be like this but in more of a wizards way. Everything was neat, tidy and in order. Harry did not know what to expect. Aunt Petunia had never exactly been nice to Harry but he had to admit that this summer had been more tolerable due mainly to the fact the she did seem to treat him a bit better. Never in fornt of Uncle Vernon or Dudley of course, but there were a few instances when it was just the two of them when he felt almost relaxed. Harry looked at his Aunt Petunia for a while, she had not changed in the last six years, she still had that thin, horsy face of hers but the eyes were the thing that Harry was noticing more and more. She had green eyes as well as he did. He had inherited the clolour of his eyes from his mother Lily, everything else about him was from James.

"It's just with you going tomorrow...well..we will miss your birthday and ...."

"Since when did that matter" Harry cut her off brusquely. He did not mean to be so rude but the words had spilled out of his mouth before he had realised it.

"Yes.. I .. er ... well this is for you. It's nothing much but I thought you might like it."

A heat shot through Harrys neck and face and he was sure that the colour of his face must be the deepest red. "I'm sorry. I never expected..."

"It's time I told you a few things Harry. I have been wanting to all Summer since you came back from Hogwarts but have either lost my nerve or never got the chance. Please dont open that until I've explained a few things" A softness had appeared in her face and Harry saw that this was difficult for her. He said nothing but nodded silently at her.

"Its funny, I've lost count of the times I've rehearsed this but now that the time has come I do not know where to start. Have you ever had that feeling?" Harry thought of the letter that remained unwritten upstairs and looked into his Aunts eyes.

"Yeah I know exactly what you mean. Aunt Petunia you do not have to do this"

"No I do, I need to explain before you go back, I should have done it long before." Aunt Petunia rose quickly from her chair, her hands Harry noticed were clenched in front of her. She began pacing the room until she sat down right beside him.

"Harry, Your life here has not been easy I know and while not all my doing, I have played a large part in you unhappiness here and I'm sorry. I have acted in away that my Mum and Dad would be ashamed of me. Your Mum on the other hand....even though it was you who was being mistreated.....well lets just say that she was a very understanding and forgiving person."

"Growing up, your Mum and I were very close, we were'nt just sisters we were best friends. We did everything together and got into some right mischief. Oh we caused no end of worry for our parents" She smiled to herself as though some memory had came flying back to her. Harry said nothing but continued to listen.

"I would have been nine when it happened. Your mum had just turned eleven and her letter of enrollment to Hogwarts came. Mum and Dad, although they were very surprised, were delighted. A witch!!! They couldnt believe it, although I admit to becoming a bit scared of her she quickly made me realise that she was still the same person. Anyway off she went Hogwarts and left me at home with your Gradparents. From that day on it was Lily this and Lily that. They never meant it but from here on in I was pushed to the side and the worst part of it was, was that you Mum was not here to look after me. She was away to Hogwarts and even in that first year I began to resent that place and anything remotley magical. She came back every Christamas and every Summer, but things were never the same between us ever again"

Aunt Petunia slowly shook her head and sighed. "Then she met your Dad. I only met him a couple of times but I could see right away what she saw in him. He was handsome, unruly, with a very cheeky wit about him. He was so confident in himself that I hated him for being so likeable. Of course my Mum and Dad absolutley adored him from the off and I will admit, that if the feelings I had about witches and wizards were not inside of me, I would have been very taken with him too."

She sat there looking at Harry while Harry stared back at her, afraid to blink incase he missed anything. "You know, it's amazing how much you actually look like him, but I suppose you get that a lot from people who knew him, but whenever I look at you Harry, it your eyes that always grab my attention. You have the eyes of your mother and it hurts to look into them"

"Anyway your Mum and Dad went off, got married and had you. I only saw her a couple of times after she left school. I had my own life now, I had met your Uncle Vernon and I knew he was going to propose any day. I was sick of being constantly reminded about your Mum, the world she lived in, the things she did. All it did was serve notice to me that I was no longer needed, no longer wanted by your mother. Two months after you were born both my parents died in a car accident. Both me and your Mum arrived at the hospital at the same time. We were to late, they had both passed. Anger and grief erupted in me with such force that I had never felt before and I swore and shouted at your Mum until I could no longer do so. Years of hurt and petty jealosuy exploding at the worst time. The funeral service was held a week later. I never spoke too, or saw you mother ever again. The experience of age shows us the naievity we show when we are young." she finished in an almost whisper.

Aunt Petunia rose slowly from the settee and walked across to the window and stared out. "My life was going exatly how I was planning it Harry. I had my husband, I had just given birth to my first baby and was blocking out the painful memories quite successfully until one night changed everything. Lord Voldemort murdered James. Then took my Sister life as though she was nothing and then tried to kill you and we both know that somehow he failed. You were rescued and left on my doorstep with a letter from and Albus Dumbledore. The letter explained everything, everything that had happened and why it was important that you came and lived with us. I didnt want you here, you were a cobstant reminder of Lily and having to look at you every day made me feel guilt and shame. I had to hold you at arms length. I was scared of letting you into my heart. I knew you would be a wizard and would one day leave to go to that place. I smothered Dudley in love and cast you aside as my parents had done to me."

Her body seemed to cave in on itself and deflated as though all the air inside of her was escaping slowly. She turned to look at Harry and said "Whether those words mean anything to you or not I'm not sure. I had to let you know."

"I cannot forgive all those year right away, but I do understand to a lesser extent your reasons for the way you are with me"

"Was Harry, not are. I know we cannot start again but I would like to try and have some form of friendly relationship with you....If you want to that is"

Harry said nothing but looked at the parcel that he still held in his hand. Slowly he unwrapped it. It was a photo of his Mother and Aunt Petunia when they were children. Both were smiling and in the background was a huge garden where two children could get up to all sorts. Harry noticed that immediately behind the sisters was a huge Oak tree with a tree house built in it. Harry found it strange that he looked at his mothers face for only a few seconds before transferring his gaze upon his Aunt Petunia. The face was alight with happiness and cheekiness. She looked so happy to be in his Mother company that Harry felt he understood. Looking up to his Aunt Petunia who was still standing, he noticed the tears falling silently down her face.

"It's one of the few thing things that I have left of her" Harry rose from his place and walked across the room to where his Aunt Petunia was standing and kissed her on the cheek.

"We'll try" he said.