J.K.Rowling owns all the characters and locations! I did not create them.
Chapter 2-The Worst Birthday
Harry lay awake, splayed out upon his bedspread still dressed in the early hours of the morning. He rolled over grumbling slightly, ever trace of drowsiness that should be felt in the early hours of day non-existent. He rubbed his scar angrily, it had never stopped hurting since Voldemorts evident return, and it felt like one long, everlasting, headache. Every now and then the pain would increase dramatically and then subside, and Harry knew that the pain he was feeling was only a fraction of the pain others were feeling at the same time.
The feint image of the veil was still imprinted upon his memory, the shadowy figure never moving, yet the veil billowing constantly. Harry shook his head, he knew he must stop thinking about the veil; the trouble was he just couldn't. He grappled around his bedside cabinet for Quidditch through the Ages and tried, with no real conviction, to distract himself from the haunting visions of the department of mysteries. His eyes scanned the page, yet they could not focus themselves on one point, too distracted to read.
Harry snapped the book shut quickly, causing Dudley to give a great grunting snore in the other room. Not even Quidditch, Harry's escape from his troubles, could stop the pain he was feeling right now. For a few moments satisfying thoughts of being made Quidditch captain wove in and out of his musings. Thinking about pre-match pep talks, and new members shifted his thoughts, if only briefly, as he found consolation in them. He could see the badge glinting under the sunshine; he could imagine himself clutching the Quidditch cup, Malfoy burning with jealousy…
Tick-tick-tick
Harry scrabbled about in the tangle of his bed-spread and soon released himself and leapt to his feet, cricking his neck quite painfully in the process. He whipped out his wand whilst massaging his neck with his left hand, and tried, without any real progress, to stop his wand hand from quivering. Once again came the same sinister clinking noise, Harry gasped, taking a step back, there was a shadowy figure bobbing up and down at his window…he opened his mouth to yell, half paralysed with fear, then thought once again about what he had just seen.
Bobbing up and down?
Harry shifted towards the light switch, and flicked it on, only to find a tawny owl bobbing up and down at the window frame. Harry could have burst into peals of laughter there and then, yet he compromised by stuffing his fist into his mouth to stifle the laughter, clutching a stitch in his side. One he had recovered from his laughing fit he tip-toed towards the window, still very conscious of the sleeping Dursley's next door to his bedroom. Still smiling with amusement he carelessly flipped the latch on the window, allowing the very disgruntled tawny owl to come tumbling in. Evidently it had been waiting there quite some time.
Harry, though still amused was highly suspicious of the letter. Who would send post at this time in the morning? He tentatively took the yellow parchment from the tawny owls leg, and allowed it to soar out through the open window, hooting indignantly. Just as he was about the unseal the envelop he remember restlessly how his heart would skip a beat out of excitement when a great, colourful bird would swoop down on his window sill two short years ago. He always knew when one of the birds arrived that he would shortly be reading a highly amusing letter from his recently found Godfather.
He slid open the parchment with a shaking finger, and sighed a breath of relief as he saw the Hogwarts 'H' in glittering emerald ink, surround by a badger, a raven, a snake, and the Gryffindor lion. But the relieved smile that had once occupied his face soon slid off it as his eyes fell upon the date.
July 31st.
Harry took a deep intake of breath, yet all he felt with numb and a strange sense of loneliness. He was 16, 16 today…yet Sirius wasn't there to celebrate with him, the way things should have been…
Harry slumped upon the edge of his bed, running his fingers distractedly through his hair. He then paused and wiped the tears away with his sleeve. No, Harry told himself firmly, let concentrate on other things…think about other stuff. He gave himself a firm shake, then turned upon the envelope and shook it upside down above his bedspread, looking at it expectantly, waiting for the glistening silver badge to fall out with a satisfying 'flump' upon his sheets. Yet it did not come.
Harry breathed slowly and deeply, surely Dumbledore wasn't denying him something he deserved, two years in a row. And on his birthday? Harry quickly pulled out a piece of yellowing parchment, and found attached to it another piece of paper, written on with loopy handwriting in the same glimmering emerald ink that always made Harry's heart skip a tender beat. Harry's eyes began to move swiftly from left to right. The letter read:
Dear Harry,
I beg of you Harry, that you are not angry at and old man such as myself for not appointing you Quidditch Captain-
Harry had the sudden urge to rip the letter up, his anger reaching boiling point as he tensed, but as he read on he began to relax-
-Please do not rip this up Harry, although as this point in the letter you have every right to. I have a very good reason for not giving you the position, and also the unpleasant task of giving you equally unpleasant news. Harry, in every war there are casualties. Fortunately nobody you have known and loves has been one of those casualties so far, but believe me when I say there are others was have lost. And unfortunately Harry, the Weasley family have recently lost someone they know and love.
Harry's eyes unfocused as he tried to take and intake of breath, yet his lungs were icy cold, he was paralysed with fear. Not Ron…it couldn't be…
I am afraid Ron's eldest brother, Bill, died at the hands of Voldemort's Deatheaters.
Harry gasped, tears escaping his weary eyelids. His tears splattered upon the parchment, smudging the emerald ink that no longer seemed as magical as it had moments ago. He looked at the desk, littered with old letters from Sirius for words of consolation, knowing full-well that none would come. He then continued to read:
I am afraid others have been taken amongst the order, but none of those who you have become close with.
The weasley family are in a state of shock, that is why I thought giving Ron the task of captain might lift the families spirits, if only slightly. Hopefully it will be something for them to celebrate in between all this worry. I also thought that if I gave you the prestigious position, it would consume far too much of your time, giving you less time to focus your efforts on my "army". It is my wish that you continue your efforts with the "D.A", but you must be extremely discreet Harry. You cannot just randomly ask someone to join, you must keep it the members you had last year and only ask people who can be trusted to join, once you have received my opinion.
And Harry, you must remember that certain members of Hogwarts, sons of well known death eaters for instance, must not find out what you are doing.
Professor Dumbledore.
Harry knew Dumbledore was referring to Malfoy, but he couldn't spare a thought him. He had known, when Voldemort had risen, that inevitably there would be casualties when war truly broke out. But now that it had affected someone so he had known for such a long period of time, it all seemed so much more real to him. It had been twice in one year Dumbledore had let Harry down, yet this time Harry didn't feel remotely angry at the headmaster, all his emotions had turned to sorrow. And to think he had been angry at Ron for not writing to him…
Harry vaguely noticed a P.S. at the bottom of the note which included details of what he would need for the year, it read:
P.S. Please find enclosed a separate slip of parchment with the results of your O.W.L examination.
Harry didn't even bother to read for the other piece of parchment, Harry, along with Ron and Hermione, had agreed he would not open his until they were all together again, at which point they would open them together.
Harry spent the rest of the day in a state of shock, eating barely a thing, and not even noticed how concerned his aunt had become about him. After darkness had fallen he lay on his bed, thinking miserably that it had been the worst birthday of his life, when he saw a flash green light across his bedroom ceiling. He leapt to his feet for the second time that day, his mind racing, surely someone wouldn't be using the Avada Kedavra curse ,here, in little whinging?
He peered suspiciously out of his window, his heart making an unpleasantly fast rhythm in his throat, when he saw unmistakable green wand sparks. He felt a surge of hope, Dumbledore had told him to look out for wand sparks at the end of the last term, and he had said it was the signal that the advanced guard were coming to take him away.
A/N: Dedicated again to my boyfriend, who wished me to have Snape attacked my dustbin's. (Muse: 'Now theres an idea…') And also to my two best friends Rozie and Jamie! (sniffs Rozie get back from holiday soon girl!)
Replies:
Kingofagony- Thank you very much! I appreciate your praise ) it feeds my muse and make him want to work harder!
Kitties-rule- Hehe! Thanks! Lots more angst coming, trust me!
Cox Poppy- I can't wait either! Now there's a point! A havn't even decided what he got yet!
I think your very right on Harry's characteristics, but he didn't technicallycry in front of the Dursleys ;) he ran off and tried to stop the tears in the safety of his room in good old Harry-style.
Thanks very much though, this has helped me realize I was slipping away from his character a bit! Hopefully you'll review more chapters and keep me on my toes!
RecorderofRedwall- If this one made you cry, perhaps you should stop reading this Fanfic! Hehe, just joking, but much more sorrow to come, unfortunately.
Delumacar- Thanks! Will do )
Littleflower2004- Thank you very much littleflower! You lot are really help building up my confidence! Hopefully I'll get round to reading the story soon, but I've got a lot on at the moment. Opening a new role-play site fan fiction chapters and SATs (Yes, I'm only 13 years old) I guess I chose an odd time to start a fanfiction…heh!
Des Felidra- Tone down the caps locks hun. ;)
Dracoslovingirl- Thanks very much! I can tell by your review you're a very sincere person, I'm touched by how much you like it so far! I'm trying my hardest to keep it to what I imagine the sixth book to be like, because I get frustrated when I stray too far from the boundaries
(I'm also slightly concerned by your name! who could love Drace...twitchy little ferret! P)
Smellycat-190- Thankyou very much! And by the way, I'm loving your name!
Griffindor16- I miss Sirius too! And Harry certainly does! I read on J.K.Rowlings official website that she cried after she killed off Sirius. Bless her!
Demonchild4110- AWW! Sorry but your review made me feel very enlightened! You lot certainly boost my courage! As stupid as It sounds, I feel like I know Harry from reading the books…over…and over…and over again! xD
I imagine Dudley like that too! Ha! Well at least I hope he turns out that way, bullying prat!
I look forward to more reviews from you!
Sniffles4padfoot- Thanks! I can't wait for more reviews so keep 'em coming.
Purpledancingmonkey- Thanks, that's very much appreciated, im glad you enjoyed it! And fab name ;)
