Author's Notes - Thanks to the people who have reviewed my story. I really
appreciate it.
I'm sorry this is taking awhile, but I'm doing it as quickly as I can, I want to done it properly so I don't have to do it again!
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-Chapter Three-
Sweet Sixteenth
Harry's next two weeks at the Dursley's could best be described as interesting. When he had left his room to make his presence known, he had no idea how they would react to him being in the house again. If he had had any expectations, he would have thought that Uncle Vernon would yell himself hoarse and then lock him in his room for the remainder of his time there. He had no idea what Aunt Petunia would do. He still did not know what to think about her.
He was completely wrong. Dudley was in a state of shock, probably something to do with having grown up listening to Uncle Vernon yell about "Weirdoes", "Freaks" and anything else he could think to call Harry and his parents. Along with the fact that he had never had an encounter with a member of the wizarding world and survived unscathed; pig tails, huge tongues, dangerous snakes and the like.
Aunt Petunia on the other hand, spent most of her time crying whenever she saw Dudley or something that belonged to him, and had taken to hiding in her room. She was not at all herself; she had not tweaked back the curtain, to spy on the neighbors, since that fateful day. Nor had she done any housework, the normally immaculate house was turning into something of a pigsty, take-away boxes were every where, she was not cooking either.
Uncle Vernon reaction was perhaps the oddest; he was not roaring at Harry every time Harry so much as put a toe down stairs. He had not said a word to him since his return, in fact Harry had not even seen him speak to either Aunt Petunia or Dudley. He just walked from room to room ringing his hands and muttering to himself, something about, "Never, not my own son." or, "Well he's not going, I won't have another one in the house."
The atmosphere was not that of one, which induced peace, tranquility and relaxation. Harry didn't mind, he was too used to it. Besides he had enough to think about, the 31 of July dawned brightly. It was not however a normal sixteenth birthday, in fact there was nothing remotely normal about it. The first unusual event took place at breakfast.
When Harry had entered the kitchen he had not expected birthday greetings, if he had he want have fond it more alarming. The Dursley were not the their usual sarcastic selves. They did not even pretend not to notice that he had come into the room. Uncle Vernon was throwing Dudley more dangerous looks then he directed at Harry. Harry had just started on a piece of toast as an owl came in through the open window. It dropped two letters in Harry's lap, one addressed to,
Mr H Potter The Smallest Bedroom 4 Privet Drive Little Whinging Surrey
The other had the same address, but a different name. Instead of Mr H. Potter, The Smallest it said Mr D. Dursley, the second Largest Bedroom. It was about ten minutes for Harry realised why Dudley was getting a letter from Hogwarts, but when he did he through it a cross to him and left the room quickly. Once in the safety of his own room he opened the letter.
Dear Mr Potter,
We received your letter, with your preferred classes. You may take the classes you have chosen. A homework list is included with your book list. Term begins, as always on September the First, The Hogwarts Express will be leaving King's Cross Station platform nine and three-quarters, at eleven o'clock. As a result of a discussion with the Minister for Magic your life long ban from playing Quidditch has been removed with effect from the 1 of August. In consequence of this, you have been restored to the Gryffindor house Quidditch team, in the position of Seeker. Therefore we feel that it is fitting to inform you that you are the new Gryffindor house Quidditch Captain.
Yours sincerely Professor M. McGonagall Deputy Headmistress
"Ha, there you go Umbridge!" Said Harry happily. "Not only am I aloud to play Quidditch again, but now I'm Captain too."
He smiled, pulling out the book and homework lists.
Sixth-year students will require:
The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 6 by Miranda Goshawk Advanced Charms by Edward Smarmy How to Change it into Something else by Alice Unsettled An Advanced Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch Advanced Potions and Their Properties by Lucy Fer Tricky Potions by Emily Druggit Practical Defence Against the Dark Arts by Vald T. Impaler Defence Against Dark Creatures by Frank N. Stein How to Protect Yourself from the Dark Arts by Aleister Crawley Getting to Know Your Plants - Advanced Herbology by Rose Herb A Guide to the night skies by Mandy Moonshine Caring for Magical Creatures by Garry Dolittle
Harry quickly scanned his homework list, which was two rolls of parchment long.
He had just put it down, when Hedwig flew in the open window. She landed on his desk and held out her leg. He removed the letter, and the parcel tried around her leg. He noticed the handwriting was Hermione's. Hedwig, who had flown on to his shoulder, nibbled his ear to get his attention.
"Thanks Hedwig." He said scratching the top of her head, and with that, she left his shoulder in favour on a drink and a sleep.
Harry opened the letter eagerly. He had not heard from Hermione for since she had gone to Bulgaria, and he wanted to know how she did in her O.W.Ls.
Dear Harry,
Happy 16th Birthday Harry! Sorry that I have not written to you for awhile I have been so busy. I hope your okay, how are the Dursleys treating you after what happened? I read all about in the Daily Prophet. Is he really going to Hogwarts? It will be odd with him there. Have you gotten your O.W.Ls results yet? I got mine only yesterday. Nineteen, Outstanding in everything but Astronomy and Study of Ancient Rune which I got Exceeds Expectations. But I'm satisfied with that. At least I didn't fail anything. So how did you do? I'll write again soon, I'm going to you-know-where three weeks before the beginning of term. I hope you like your birthday present.
Love Hermione
Harry turned eagerly to the present. It was big and heavy and looked suspiciously like a book. He opened it, to see Quidditch Teams of the World - A Seeker's Guide. He opened it eagerly. A note fell out. He picked it up,
Victor thought that you would like this. He said that it has often helped him with patricianly difficult moves.
Harry received presents and cards from Ron, Hagrid, Lupin, Dobby, Ginny and Ron's parents. Ron had given him a minute Foe-Glass that could be carried around in the pocket. Hagrid box of homemade biscuits, Harry wasn't going to touch these until he had to. Dobby's gift had been a pair of socks, odd again, one with Harry's face on, the other had a broom stick on it. Ginny had given he a huge box of Chocolate Frogs. Mr and Mrs Weasley gave him a book called Everything You'll Ever Want to Know About Quidditch and Much More. Lupin had given him a book containing all the photos he could find of Harry's parents and Sirius. Lupin a sent a note along with the package,
Harry, these are just some old photos that I found lying around, I thought you would like them. I thought you might like to know that Sirius appointed me, as your guardian if anything happen to him. It's not long now you'll be out of there soon, we'll write and tell you how, when the time comes. Don't forget to write every two or three days.
Remus
Harry wasn't sure how to reacted to this, but the thought of leaving Privet Drive again in the near future of the only thing keeping him sane.
I'm sorry this is taking awhile, but I'm doing it as quickly as I can, I want to done it properly so I don't have to do it again!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
-Chapter Three-
Sweet Sixteenth
Harry's next two weeks at the Dursley's could best be described as interesting. When he had left his room to make his presence known, he had no idea how they would react to him being in the house again. If he had had any expectations, he would have thought that Uncle Vernon would yell himself hoarse and then lock him in his room for the remainder of his time there. He had no idea what Aunt Petunia would do. He still did not know what to think about her.
He was completely wrong. Dudley was in a state of shock, probably something to do with having grown up listening to Uncle Vernon yell about "Weirdoes", "Freaks" and anything else he could think to call Harry and his parents. Along with the fact that he had never had an encounter with a member of the wizarding world and survived unscathed; pig tails, huge tongues, dangerous snakes and the like.
Aunt Petunia on the other hand, spent most of her time crying whenever she saw Dudley or something that belonged to him, and had taken to hiding in her room. She was not at all herself; she had not tweaked back the curtain, to spy on the neighbors, since that fateful day. Nor had she done any housework, the normally immaculate house was turning into something of a pigsty, take-away boxes were every where, she was not cooking either.
Uncle Vernon reaction was perhaps the oddest; he was not roaring at Harry every time Harry so much as put a toe down stairs. He had not said a word to him since his return, in fact Harry had not even seen him speak to either Aunt Petunia or Dudley. He just walked from room to room ringing his hands and muttering to himself, something about, "Never, not my own son." or, "Well he's not going, I won't have another one in the house."
The atmosphere was not that of one, which induced peace, tranquility and relaxation. Harry didn't mind, he was too used to it. Besides he had enough to think about, the 31 of July dawned brightly. It was not however a normal sixteenth birthday, in fact there was nothing remotely normal about it. The first unusual event took place at breakfast.
When Harry had entered the kitchen he had not expected birthday greetings, if he had he want have fond it more alarming. The Dursley were not the their usual sarcastic selves. They did not even pretend not to notice that he had come into the room. Uncle Vernon was throwing Dudley more dangerous looks then he directed at Harry. Harry had just started on a piece of toast as an owl came in through the open window. It dropped two letters in Harry's lap, one addressed to,
Mr H Potter The Smallest Bedroom 4 Privet Drive Little Whinging Surrey
The other had the same address, but a different name. Instead of Mr H. Potter, The Smallest it said Mr D. Dursley, the second Largest Bedroom. It was about ten minutes for Harry realised why Dudley was getting a letter from Hogwarts, but when he did he through it a cross to him and left the room quickly. Once in the safety of his own room he opened the letter.
Dear Mr Potter,
We received your letter, with your preferred classes. You may take the classes you have chosen. A homework list is included with your book list. Term begins, as always on September the First, The Hogwarts Express will be leaving King's Cross Station platform nine and three-quarters, at eleven o'clock. As a result of a discussion with the Minister for Magic your life long ban from playing Quidditch has been removed with effect from the 1 of August. In consequence of this, you have been restored to the Gryffindor house Quidditch team, in the position of Seeker. Therefore we feel that it is fitting to inform you that you are the new Gryffindor house Quidditch Captain.
Yours sincerely Professor M. McGonagall Deputy Headmistress
"Ha, there you go Umbridge!" Said Harry happily. "Not only am I aloud to play Quidditch again, but now I'm Captain too."
He smiled, pulling out the book and homework lists.
Sixth-year students will require:
The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 6 by Miranda Goshawk Advanced Charms by Edward Smarmy How to Change it into Something else by Alice Unsettled An Advanced Guide to Transfiguration by Emeric Switch Advanced Potions and Their Properties by Lucy Fer Tricky Potions by Emily Druggit Practical Defence Against the Dark Arts by Vald T. Impaler Defence Against Dark Creatures by Frank N. Stein How to Protect Yourself from the Dark Arts by Aleister Crawley Getting to Know Your Plants - Advanced Herbology by Rose Herb A Guide to the night skies by Mandy Moonshine Caring for Magical Creatures by Garry Dolittle
Harry quickly scanned his homework list, which was two rolls of parchment long.
He had just put it down, when Hedwig flew in the open window. She landed on his desk and held out her leg. He removed the letter, and the parcel tried around her leg. He noticed the handwriting was Hermione's. Hedwig, who had flown on to his shoulder, nibbled his ear to get his attention.
"Thanks Hedwig." He said scratching the top of her head, and with that, she left his shoulder in favour on a drink and a sleep.
Harry opened the letter eagerly. He had not heard from Hermione for since she had gone to Bulgaria, and he wanted to know how she did in her O.W.Ls.
Dear Harry,
Happy 16th Birthday Harry! Sorry that I have not written to you for awhile I have been so busy. I hope your okay, how are the Dursleys treating you after what happened? I read all about in the Daily Prophet. Is he really going to Hogwarts? It will be odd with him there. Have you gotten your O.W.Ls results yet? I got mine only yesterday. Nineteen, Outstanding in everything but Astronomy and Study of Ancient Rune which I got Exceeds Expectations. But I'm satisfied with that. At least I didn't fail anything. So how did you do? I'll write again soon, I'm going to you-know-where three weeks before the beginning of term. I hope you like your birthday present.
Love Hermione
Harry turned eagerly to the present. It was big and heavy and looked suspiciously like a book. He opened it, to see Quidditch Teams of the World - A Seeker's Guide. He opened it eagerly. A note fell out. He picked it up,
Victor thought that you would like this. He said that it has often helped him with patricianly difficult moves.
Harry received presents and cards from Ron, Hagrid, Lupin, Dobby, Ginny and Ron's parents. Ron had given him a minute Foe-Glass that could be carried around in the pocket. Hagrid box of homemade biscuits, Harry wasn't going to touch these until he had to. Dobby's gift had been a pair of socks, odd again, one with Harry's face on, the other had a broom stick on it. Ginny had given he a huge box of Chocolate Frogs. Mr and Mrs Weasley gave him a book called Everything You'll Ever Want to Know About Quidditch and Much More. Lupin had given him a book containing all the photos he could find of Harry's parents and Sirius. Lupin a sent a note along with the package,
Harry, these are just some old photos that I found lying around, I thought you would like them. I thought you might like to know that Sirius appointed me, as your guardian if anything happen to him. It's not long now you'll be out of there soon, we'll write and tell you how, when the time comes. Don't forget to write every two or three days.
Remus
Harry wasn't sure how to reacted to this, but the thought of leaving Privet Drive again in the near future of the only thing keeping him sane.