I only bold my notes so that you can see them and make sure you remove them
after you've fixed what needs to be fixed before you post.
Chapter Two
"Well Harry," said Dumbledore, peering over at him over his half-moon spectacles, "It looks like you are doing well."
Harry looked at the aged Headmaster in surprise. 'Surely, I thought he would still be angry with me for wrecking his office at the end of last term,' he mused.
Dumbledore mentally laughed to himself. 'Poor child,' he thought. 'There he is sitting there waiting for me to expel him, or worse. If only I had been able to tell him earlier why he's so important, not only to the prophecy but to me as well.'
"Harry," stated dumbledore, "As I wrote to you, there are many things we must discuss, that are of not only grave importance to the wizarding world at large, but also to you as a person. However, as it is time for dinner, perhaps you would like to join the remaining staff and myself in the Great Hall."
Harry looked at the older man in surprise, wanting to ask so many questions that had been plaguing him over the summer, but quickly regained his composure and simply replied, "Of course Professor".
"Harry, while we are out of term please call me Albus," Dumbledore said as they made their way out of his office and proceeded down to the Great Hall. To say Harry was shocked was an understatement, 'Call his Headmaster by his first name?' he contemplated. Harry knew most of the staff did not even do that and they were all fully-grown, trained wizards.
He looked at Dumbledore and simply said "I'll try but it's hard to imagine you even having a first name sometimes," he said cheekily.
Albus acknowledged this with a small sad smile and simply replied, "Yes, for so long people have only thought of me as a Headmaster or leader of the Order but I still am human, Harry, always remember it is that above all that defines us. Our name is what, at times, makes us human. Titles tend to separate us into different entities, and even at times cause us to lose our way." Dumbledore looked as though he was far away for a moment, but quickly returned to reality and looked at his young companion. "But enough of an old man's ramblings, Harry, let us go and eat now and then get you settled in and worry about these things tomorrow."
Harry and Dumbledore then entered the Hall, deep in thought about what was to come in the next few days. All of a sudden, there was a yell of "SURPRISE!!" from all around him. Harry looked about in wonder and in joy at all of the Weasleys, members of the Order and Hermione with her Parents were there.
'Of course,' he thought, 'I forgot, with everything else going on, that today is still my Birthday.' He grinned wildly as both Ron and Hermione ran to him and they grouped in a great group hug. He had been so worried about them after they were injured in the Department of Mysteries and with no communication possible from or to them; he was relieved to find them both looking well and happy.
"Happy Birthday mate," Ron said grinning as they separated. Harry looked at Ron and laughed. He had grown at least 4 inches since last term.
"I can't believe you guys are here," Harry laughed.
"Yeah Dumbledore invited us last week," said Ron. "At least with us not being able to write to you over the summer, I couldn't spoil the surprise," he grinned.
Hermione laughed a rich womanly laugh and looked over at Harry, 'He sure has grown,' she thought. It was true, due to better meals; Harry had had a large growth spurt and had grown in both height and weight, standing a little over 6 foot 1 inch.
It was at this time that Mrs. Weasley had come to Harry and enveloped him in one of her famous bone breaking hugs.
"Harry dear, it's so good to see you looking well for a change," she said.
"Yeah," Harry said while smiling, "It seems that Mad-Eye's threat to the Muggles worked."
"Well it's about time they started to treat you right," she said. Everyone knew her dislike for those particular Muggles ever since Harry and Ron had become best friends, 5 years earlier. Harry looked at his surrogate mother and smiled happily.
"Well Ma'am I'm not sure what is happening, but Professor Dumbledore told me to take all my belongings with me when I left, it seems I may never have to return there again," he said smiling.
"Oh Harry, that's wonderful! So are you going to come to the Burrow this summer then?" asked Ron.
"I'm not sure. We're going to discuss what is to happen sometime tomorrow, or so I'm told," Harry replied.
"Well dear, as long as you're away from those horrible Muggles. That's the important thing," said Molly.
"Harry," broke in Hermione, "How did you do on your O.W.L.s?" Harry laughed inwardly; he knew that would be amongst the first words out of his studious friend's mouth.
Grinning he said, "I got O's in everything but History and Divination, plus the Highest ever recorded mark in the History of Hogwarts for DADA, so 12 out of 15."
"Harry that's wonderful!" said Hermione, flashing him her warming smile. "See I told you it pays to study up and be prepared," she said with her knowing look. "I got 15 O.W.L.s," she finished.
"'Mione, that's fantastic! How did you do Ron?" Harry asked.
Ron smiled and said, "10."
"Mate, that's fantastic," said Harry laughing as he remembered Ron's consternation at taking the exams in the first place.
A tapping of a fork on glass from the Head table got their attention. "Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen," said Dumbledore, "I'm so glad you could all make it here this evening to celebrate the 16th birthday of our young Harry Potter today. So without further ado, let's feast and enjoy the party." Dumbledore merely waved his hand and as usual, loads of food appeared on the table.
Harry looked at Dumbledore thoughtfully, 'He uses wandless magic,' he thought, 'I need to learn that, badly. How many times has my wand been taken and left me defenseless?' As he gazed around the room at his surrogate family and friends, his resolve to learn was both strengthened and reaffirmed. Harry silently vowed to himself 'By God as my witness, Tom Riddle, you will fall, you will pay. I will stop you.'
Dumbledore seemed to sense his mood and looked over at him and saw the resolve written on his face and the raw determination and courage to carry out his goal to the end in his emerald gaze. Noting this, he silently raised his glass in salute to the young warrior before him. After dinner came time to cut the cake and open his gifts. After everyone had sung Happy Birthday and he had blown out the candles, he opened the gifts from his friends. 'I've never gotten this many presents before,' he silently mused. Ron came forward and thrust his present into Harry's hands. "Here Harry, open mine first," he said. Harry opened the package wrapped in the familiar orange of Ron's favorite Quidditch team, the Chudley Cannons. "WOW!!" Harry exclaimed looking at his best friend with a grin, "How did you ever get season passes with box seats to the Cannons games?" he asked delighted. "Well, it's a gift from all of the family," Ron said laughing with delight. "Fred and George kind of blackmailed Ludo Bagman as he welched on his bet at the World Quidditch Cup on their bets," Ron said with a grin. "This is great! Thank you so much, I can't wait for the first match," Harry replied. Hermione was next as she handed him a red and gold wrapped package. "Open mine next, Harry" Harry opened it and both Ron and harry grinned and groaned at her. It was a book entitled 1000 and 1Tips for N.E.W.T.S. She laughed at his face and said, "Well, now I know you can do it and besides, we only have 2 years to get ready you know." Harry and Ron both laughed at her seriousness as she said this.
"Really 'Mione" said Ron laughing, "We just got over O.W.L.s, can't we take a break some? It's the holidays after all." Everyone laughed at this.
Harry received many other useful texts and gifts from the Order members, but it was Dumbledore's gift that truly puzzled him. It was a note that said "You will find out more tomorrow."
'I wonder what that means,' he pondered.
Harry turned and said to everyone "I can't thank you all enough for this, I'm speechless."
Everyone gathered just laughed and said, "You deserve it, Harry." After a few more hours, everyone had to leave and Harry told his friends he would see them as soon as he found out what was going on and where he was to stay.
Later, after everyone had left, Dumbledore took Harry to his room.
"Err...Albus, aren't I going to stay in the Gryffindor tower?" he asked, confused, as they headed back towards the Headmaster's Office and personal quarters. Dumbledore looked at Harry and smiled as his eyes twinkled madly at him.
"No Harry, for the time being I have prepared quarters for you in my tower. Don't worry Harry, you will understand soon enough," he said as he sensed the young man's apprehension. Harry merely nodded in acceptance and followed Albus to his new quarters. They entered, not a room, but a suite of rooms, all were decorated in Gryffindor's red and gold. It had a sleeping chamber with his familiar 4-poster bed, a separate bath, and a library and study area.
Harry was stunned, "Is this for me?" he gasped.
Dumbledore merely nodded. "Yes, I thought it was high time you had more livable quarters than what was provided to you by your 'family,'" he said as a slight frown furrowed on his face and his ever present twinkling eyes diminished some.
"Well Harry, I shall leave you here for the night and see you in the morning for breakfast." Dumbledore continued on. "If you need anything, just call for Dobby as he is most anxious to help you settle in." Harry merely nodded dumbstruck as he was.
"Albus," Harry said, the name still coming rather clumsily to him. "I just wanted to say I was sorry for last year and to say thank you." Harry blushed as he finished.
"Don't worry Harry, rest assured that all is forgotten and forgiven," Dumbledore said smiling. "But rest now and tomorrow I'm sure all will be made clear."
With that, Albus bid Harry goodnight and left Harry to his thoughts. Harry took a few minutes to take in more of his new chambers.
'Wow,' he wondered as he looked at the portrait over the fireplace. 'That's Godric Gryffindor's frame. But I wonder where he is, he seems to have left,' he mused. Yawning tiredly, he quickly undressed and climbed into bed and tried to clear his mind before he drifted off to sleep.
As he slept, he dreamt of a man that looked strikingly like himself come to him and look him up and down with an appraising look to his eye. Apparently, he was pleased with what he saw for he nodded, smiled, and said, "You will do. My son, my heir..."
Harry awoke with a start; he thought he had heard voices. Something or someone was calling him. 'Must be dreaming,' thought and drifted back to sleep. A/N Thanks to missy as usual for helping me re-edit my own mess.
Chapter Two
"Well Harry," said Dumbledore, peering over at him over his half-moon spectacles, "It looks like you are doing well."
Harry looked at the aged Headmaster in surprise. 'Surely, I thought he would still be angry with me for wrecking his office at the end of last term,' he mused.
Dumbledore mentally laughed to himself. 'Poor child,' he thought. 'There he is sitting there waiting for me to expel him, or worse. If only I had been able to tell him earlier why he's so important, not only to the prophecy but to me as well.'
"Harry," stated dumbledore, "As I wrote to you, there are many things we must discuss, that are of not only grave importance to the wizarding world at large, but also to you as a person. However, as it is time for dinner, perhaps you would like to join the remaining staff and myself in the Great Hall."
Harry looked at the older man in surprise, wanting to ask so many questions that had been plaguing him over the summer, but quickly regained his composure and simply replied, "Of course Professor".
"Harry, while we are out of term please call me Albus," Dumbledore said as they made their way out of his office and proceeded down to the Great Hall. To say Harry was shocked was an understatement, 'Call his Headmaster by his first name?' he contemplated. Harry knew most of the staff did not even do that and they were all fully-grown, trained wizards.
He looked at Dumbledore and simply said "I'll try but it's hard to imagine you even having a first name sometimes," he said cheekily.
Albus acknowledged this with a small sad smile and simply replied, "Yes, for so long people have only thought of me as a Headmaster or leader of the Order but I still am human, Harry, always remember it is that above all that defines us. Our name is what, at times, makes us human. Titles tend to separate us into different entities, and even at times cause us to lose our way." Dumbledore looked as though he was far away for a moment, but quickly returned to reality and looked at his young companion. "But enough of an old man's ramblings, Harry, let us go and eat now and then get you settled in and worry about these things tomorrow."
Harry and Dumbledore then entered the Hall, deep in thought about what was to come in the next few days. All of a sudden, there was a yell of "SURPRISE!!" from all around him. Harry looked about in wonder and in joy at all of the Weasleys, members of the Order and Hermione with her Parents were there.
'Of course,' he thought, 'I forgot, with everything else going on, that today is still my Birthday.' He grinned wildly as both Ron and Hermione ran to him and they grouped in a great group hug. He had been so worried about them after they were injured in the Department of Mysteries and with no communication possible from or to them; he was relieved to find them both looking well and happy.
"Happy Birthday mate," Ron said grinning as they separated. Harry looked at Ron and laughed. He had grown at least 4 inches since last term.
"I can't believe you guys are here," Harry laughed.
"Yeah Dumbledore invited us last week," said Ron. "At least with us not being able to write to you over the summer, I couldn't spoil the surprise," he grinned.
Hermione laughed a rich womanly laugh and looked over at Harry, 'He sure has grown,' she thought. It was true, due to better meals; Harry had had a large growth spurt and had grown in both height and weight, standing a little over 6 foot 1 inch.
It was at this time that Mrs. Weasley had come to Harry and enveloped him in one of her famous bone breaking hugs.
"Harry dear, it's so good to see you looking well for a change," she said.
"Yeah," Harry said while smiling, "It seems that Mad-Eye's threat to the Muggles worked."
"Well it's about time they started to treat you right," she said. Everyone knew her dislike for those particular Muggles ever since Harry and Ron had become best friends, 5 years earlier. Harry looked at his surrogate mother and smiled happily.
"Well Ma'am I'm not sure what is happening, but Professor Dumbledore told me to take all my belongings with me when I left, it seems I may never have to return there again," he said smiling.
"Oh Harry, that's wonderful! So are you going to come to the Burrow this summer then?" asked Ron.
"I'm not sure. We're going to discuss what is to happen sometime tomorrow, or so I'm told," Harry replied.
"Well dear, as long as you're away from those horrible Muggles. That's the important thing," said Molly.
"Harry," broke in Hermione, "How did you do on your O.W.L.s?" Harry laughed inwardly; he knew that would be amongst the first words out of his studious friend's mouth.
Grinning he said, "I got O's in everything but History and Divination, plus the Highest ever recorded mark in the History of Hogwarts for DADA, so 12 out of 15."
"Harry that's wonderful!" said Hermione, flashing him her warming smile. "See I told you it pays to study up and be prepared," she said with her knowing look. "I got 15 O.W.L.s," she finished.
"'Mione, that's fantastic! How did you do Ron?" Harry asked.
Ron smiled and said, "10."
"Mate, that's fantastic," said Harry laughing as he remembered Ron's consternation at taking the exams in the first place.
A tapping of a fork on glass from the Head table got their attention. "Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen," said Dumbledore, "I'm so glad you could all make it here this evening to celebrate the 16th birthday of our young Harry Potter today. So without further ado, let's feast and enjoy the party." Dumbledore merely waved his hand and as usual, loads of food appeared on the table.
Harry looked at Dumbledore thoughtfully, 'He uses wandless magic,' he thought, 'I need to learn that, badly. How many times has my wand been taken and left me defenseless?' As he gazed around the room at his surrogate family and friends, his resolve to learn was both strengthened and reaffirmed. Harry silently vowed to himself 'By God as my witness, Tom Riddle, you will fall, you will pay. I will stop you.'
Dumbledore seemed to sense his mood and looked over at him and saw the resolve written on his face and the raw determination and courage to carry out his goal to the end in his emerald gaze. Noting this, he silently raised his glass in salute to the young warrior before him. After dinner came time to cut the cake and open his gifts. After everyone had sung Happy Birthday and he had blown out the candles, he opened the gifts from his friends. 'I've never gotten this many presents before,' he silently mused. Ron came forward and thrust his present into Harry's hands. "Here Harry, open mine first," he said. Harry opened the package wrapped in the familiar orange of Ron's favorite Quidditch team, the Chudley Cannons. "WOW!!" Harry exclaimed looking at his best friend with a grin, "How did you ever get season passes with box seats to the Cannons games?" he asked delighted. "Well, it's a gift from all of the family," Ron said laughing with delight. "Fred and George kind of blackmailed Ludo Bagman as he welched on his bet at the World Quidditch Cup on their bets," Ron said with a grin. "This is great! Thank you so much, I can't wait for the first match," Harry replied. Hermione was next as she handed him a red and gold wrapped package. "Open mine next, Harry" Harry opened it and both Ron and harry grinned and groaned at her. It was a book entitled 1000 and 1Tips for N.E.W.T.S. She laughed at his face and said, "Well, now I know you can do it and besides, we only have 2 years to get ready you know." Harry and Ron both laughed at her seriousness as she said this.
"Really 'Mione" said Ron laughing, "We just got over O.W.L.s, can't we take a break some? It's the holidays after all." Everyone laughed at this.
Harry received many other useful texts and gifts from the Order members, but it was Dumbledore's gift that truly puzzled him. It was a note that said "You will find out more tomorrow."
'I wonder what that means,' he pondered.
Harry turned and said to everyone "I can't thank you all enough for this, I'm speechless."
Everyone gathered just laughed and said, "You deserve it, Harry." After a few more hours, everyone had to leave and Harry told his friends he would see them as soon as he found out what was going on and where he was to stay.
Later, after everyone had left, Dumbledore took Harry to his room.
"Err...Albus, aren't I going to stay in the Gryffindor tower?" he asked, confused, as they headed back towards the Headmaster's Office and personal quarters. Dumbledore looked at Harry and smiled as his eyes twinkled madly at him.
"No Harry, for the time being I have prepared quarters for you in my tower. Don't worry Harry, you will understand soon enough," he said as he sensed the young man's apprehension. Harry merely nodded in acceptance and followed Albus to his new quarters. They entered, not a room, but a suite of rooms, all were decorated in Gryffindor's red and gold. It had a sleeping chamber with his familiar 4-poster bed, a separate bath, and a library and study area.
Harry was stunned, "Is this for me?" he gasped.
Dumbledore merely nodded. "Yes, I thought it was high time you had more livable quarters than what was provided to you by your 'family,'" he said as a slight frown furrowed on his face and his ever present twinkling eyes diminished some.
"Well Harry, I shall leave you here for the night and see you in the morning for breakfast." Dumbledore continued on. "If you need anything, just call for Dobby as he is most anxious to help you settle in." Harry merely nodded dumbstruck as he was.
"Albus," Harry said, the name still coming rather clumsily to him. "I just wanted to say I was sorry for last year and to say thank you." Harry blushed as he finished.
"Don't worry Harry, rest assured that all is forgotten and forgiven," Dumbledore said smiling. "But rest now and tomorrow I'm sure all will be made clear."
With that, Albus bid Harry goodnight and left Harry to his thoughts. Harry took a few minutes to take in more of his new chambers.
'Wow,' he wondered as he looked at the portrait over the fireplace. 'That's Godric Gryffindor's frame. But I wonder where he is, he seems to have left,' he mused. Yawning tiredly, he quickly undressed and climbed into bed and tried to clear his mind before he drifted off to sleep.
As he slept, he dreamt of a man that looked strikingly like himself come to him and look him up and down with an appraising look to his eye. Apparently, he was pleased with what he saw for he nodded, smiled, and said, "You will do. My son, my heir..."
Harry awoke with a start; he thought he had heard voices. Something or someone was calling him. 'Must be dreaming,' thought and drifted back to sleep. A/N Thanks to missy as usual for helping me re-edit my own mess.
