Chapter 1:Owl Post Again

It was a fine day in Little Whinging, along Number Four Pivet Drive. The sun had been shining for numerous days. Most people were nestled snug in there houses away from the heat. But not Harry Potter. He was shunned by his aunt and uncle, and therefore had to do large amounts of work for them. Harry though was not normal and this gave them a good reason not to like him. He was a wizard now about to start his sixth year at Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He had jet black hair and the most intriguing green eyes, curtisy of his mother.

But now he was on summer vacation. The worst part of the year to him. Petunia Dursley, his aunt, had forced him into doing the mowing, weeding, cutting the hedges, and pruning the flower pots. And now he worked on watering the plants. It was quite hot outside and he was not enjoying this tedious work.

Harry though was away from his aunt and uncles eyes for the moment. This was extremely good considering he didn't care much for socializing with them. Although he knew they would not ask him about school, and what happened there, he felt better when he was not around them. Just the thought of the past year made him get a terrible feeling in his gut. In Harrys fifth year he was forced yet again to come face-to-face with Lord Voldemort. He also now had to face the realization of Sirius being murdered.

He had good friends though. This year they sent him far more mail than the last. They had not yet brought up Sirius murder. Instead they sent him loads of mail always checking in to say hi. Harry was thankful, the constant need for replies to the letters kept him busy.

"Harry!" Aunt Petunia shrieked from the kitchen."In here now!"

Harry got up form the grass were he had been knelling. There were grass stains now covering his once clean jeans. He was sure to approach the kitchen with caution. The fear that if he was in trouble he may get things thrown at him.

The Dursleys house was always clean and tidy. Aunt Petunia had always hated and despised dust, therefore she made sure there was not a speck anywhere. The kitchen was a fair size. It had a large window to the east end. Everything had its place, the toaster always remained on the same cabinet and the plates and such, always in the same cupboard. Aunt Petunia also apparently felt the need to have numerous frilly flowered doilies upon the counters.

Inside the door frame, Harry spotted his abnormally large cousin, Dudley. He was short and pudgy. He had a frightful temper, and was, and always had been, a bully. Dudley resembled his father. They were alike in so many ways. Vernon Dursley was large, bad-tempered and everything else a civilized person was not. His aunt, Petunia, on the other hand was quite tall. She resembled a stick quite well. She also had the hobby of spying on the neighbors all day.

When Harry entered the room, quite cautiously to, he spotted a small figure laying on the kitchen table. When Harry made his way farther into the room he was shocked to find that it was an owl. The owl was Errol. Errol was the ancient bird that belonged to the Weasley family. The bird was laying crumpled on the table. In its talons it still clutched the letter it was delivering.

Harry rushed forward and untied the letter. Strangely he found the letter was adressed to Mr. and Mrs Dursley. Harry handed the letter to them and Vernon read aloud:

Dear, Mr and Mrs Dursley

We decided to send this letter by owl post this time seeing the problems we had with muggle mail. The main point of this letter is to ask permission for Harry to come stay with us for the rest of summer. We would be pleased if this year we could give him a proper Birthday. If you could please send a reply as soon as possible. My son Ronald will give Harry the greater details.

Yours truly, Molly Weasley

As his relatives remained silent Harry re-thought the letter in his head. A proper birthday? Surely he had never had one before. Of course he had received presents before though. His first he received on his 11th birthday. It was a cake that he received from a good friend Hagrid.

"So may I go then?" Harry asked trying to be very polite. "I'll get to leave well before the end of summer. That leaves you Harry free."

"Is this the same family who came to pick you up a couple of years ago?" His uncle asked.

"Yes"

"Disturbing lot, that was" Vernon muttered "Well boy, I don't see any reason why anyone would want to throw you a birthday. But since these are" he paused" un-natural people, I suppose they would want to."

There was a short silence that was only disturbed my Petunias dainty sneeze.

"Fine. You can go."

Harry muttered an almost silent thank you, scooped up the limp Errol and went off to his bedroom. There, he was very happy to see that Hedwig had returned from her evening mouse hunt. He laid Errol into Hedwigs cage and offered him water. Then he went to his desk and took out a fresh piece of parchment, as well as a almost empty ink bottle. On the parchment he wrote:

Dear, Ron

Thank you for saving me form here. As you can see the muggles said yes. Although I am sure you would have come anyway. Well I think it would have been better if you had just come any ways, as a surprise. Send back details.

Waiting patiently

Harry

Next he went to the window and tied the letter to Hedwigs leg.

"Take this to Ron although I'm not sure were he is at, you should know. Be quick with a reply, I need out of this place"

She hooted softly as though in agreement and then took off threw the window.

Over the next few days Harry waited. He was excited to have the chance to be able to see his friends again, having spent the summer alone. Errol was able to fly home within a few days. Harry wondered why they had bothered to send a ancient owl on such a long trip.

Later that night Harry went outside for some fresh air. He seated himself on the bench in the garden. The stars were already out and the moon was barely shining through the clouds. The cool breeze that night was refreshing to anyone who had been out during the heat.

The sound of crumpled leaves came from over Harry's shoulder. He spun around, there in the light from the porch lantern, was Mrs.Figg.

"Hello Harry" she said sweetly "I was hoping you could join me for some tea. So we can, discuss certain plans" after her last sentence she gave a noticeable wink.

Harry understood immediately. He got up and followed Mrs.Figg to her front door. When Harry entered her house the strong smell of cats food reached his nose. Mrs.Figg had a strong attachment to cats.

They sat themselves beside a small dining table. Soon Mrs.Figg brought them both tea and they each took a cup. Harry was so eager to ask questions that he started without even touching his tea.

"Why haven't you been keeping in touch with me this year? Haven't you been watching me?" he asked.

"Oh, don't be silly boy. Of course we have been watching you. Yes, you are once again heavily protected. The people from the Order remain well hidden, especially when around muggles. Now, we should make this short because the Dursleys may worry."

"Ya" Harry laughed "The Dursleys could really care less if -"

"Yes well, we should still get on with it. Now I have been requested to tell you the details. Since Ron could not send a letter that explained everything to you, we figured this is easiest. You will be going to Grimmuald Place tomorrow night." Harry stomach gave a lurch at the name." A guard will pick you up tomorrow. They will arrive shortly after dinner time. They request that you are packed and waiting. Sorry that I cannot give you a specific time though. And Remus says you are to tell the muggles." She finished and then took a sip of her tea.

"I'll make sure i'm ready." Harry announced "Do you think theres a possibility that maybe I can go to The Borrow instead?"

"The Borrow sadly is not under protection of the Order nor of Dumbledores. Its best for you dear, to go to Grimmuald Place."

Silence followed the last answer. The last thing Harry wanted to do was go to Grimmuald Place after his godfathers death. To many memories within those walls. But now Harrys mind turned to a different question. One that had been nagging him for some time now.

"Were is Voldemort?" Mrs.Figg shuttered at the name. Everyone who really feared Voldemort did not speak his name and always were worried when he was mentioned.

"I'm sure the order will answer all your questions Harry." She spoke as though she avoided the question. "Now we best get you back home. Its late. Come now" She said lifting herself from the chair.

The two made there way slowly back to the Dursleys. Now the street lights were on. The clouds that were over head before had past, reveling a half crescent moon.

"Thanks" Harry whispered as he stepped through the door. When Harry entered the house he made his way to the living room. Sure enough there the family sat all staring at the television screen. Harry cleared his throat loud enough for his relatives to notice his presence.

"I'm leaving tomorrow night. After dinner I expect."

"Very well then" Uncle Vernon muttered as he turned to face the television.