Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Disclaimer: All the characters belong to J.K. Rowling.

Chapter 1-Harry's Surprise Visitor

At 4 Privet Drive, Harry Potter was sitting down on his bed reading his Occlumency book that Hermione Granger had sent him for his birthday. Harry looked at the parcel that Ron sent, and he also saw Mrs. Weasley's mince pies sitting along with Ron's present, which was a weird device, that Ron claimed Fred and George invented. Hagrid had sent Harry one of his famous rock cakes, which Harry hid under the loose board in the floor. Harry then realized that Sirius had not sent him anything, and suddenly remembered why. He felt sad that Sirius was not alive for his birthday. Professor Dumbledore, the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, had sent him back his Firebolt, which Professor Umbridge had confiscated last year.

Suddenly, Aunt Petunia's voice screeched from downstairs, "BOY! GET DOWN HERE NOW!" Harry stomped downstairs, and he saw Aunt Petunia frying bacon.
Aunt Petunia said, "You have a letter over there, BOY!"

Harry said, "Who is it from?"
Aunt Petunia said, "I don't know, and why should I care who it is from?"

Harry walked over to the table, and turned over the letter, and he read the letter.

Harry,

Professor Dumbledore has required a meeting of all the Order Members tomorrow, around 9 o'clock tomorrow morning. He wants you, Hermione, and Ron to be there tomorrow. There will be an Order member to pick you around 8:30 A.M. I don't know why Dumbledore wants you three at the meeting, but it sounds pretty urgent. Again, I don't blame you for being upset about Sirius's death. I know it's hard to accept it. It was hard for me, too. On a happier note, I wish you a Happy 16th Birthday, and I'll see you tomorrow!

From,

Remus Lupin

Harry finished the letter, and he said, "Aunt Petunia, where's Uncle Vernon? I need to tell him something."

Aunt Petunia said, "Well, bad news for you, Boy! Your uncle and Dudley went to Marge's. You're stuck with me! What did you want?"

Harry said, "Well, someone is supposed to pick me up tomorrow morning around 8:30."
Aunt Petunia's eyes went wide, and she said, "Not another one of these freaks? It better not be that pink-haired woman we saw at the train station when we came to pick you up."

Harry didn't think Tonks as a freak, but he told Aunt Petunia, "Probably so."

Aunt Petunia said angrily, "How are they getting here? They better not mess up the carpet, or the fireplace!"

Harry thought about it, and he realized Lupin had not told him how they were supposed to come pick him up.

The next morning, Aunt Petunia's rapping on the door woke Harry up, and Harry looked at the clock, and it stated it was 7 o'clock. Harry got dressed, got Hedwig ready to be packed, and his trunk together. He went downstairs grumpily, because he didn't want to join Aunt Petunia for breakfast, but he had no choice.

Aunt Petunia gave him a bowl of grapefruit, and screeched, "You better eat up! I don't want these freaks to see grapefruit juice all over my carpet."

Around 8:30, Harry heard the doorbell ring. Harry yelled, "I'll get it, Aunt Petunia."

Harry opened the door, and was surprised to see a tabby cat sitting on the stoop, and it looked like it was blinking its eyes at him.

Harry said, "Professor McGonagall? Is that you?" He had seen Professor McGonagall before in her Animagus form as a cat.

The cat then transformed in a woman who had emerald robes, and a stern face.
Professor McGonagall said, "Correct, Potter. I see you still recognized me in my cat form."

Harry said, "Sorry to ask, but what are you doing here? I was expecting somebody like Lupin, Moody, or Tonks."

Professor McGonagall's mouth went thin, then she said, "Well, Potter, Professor Dumbledore felt it would be safe for me to come fetch you this way. That way, the Muggles wouldn't know that a tabby cat came to get their neighbor. Now, is your aunt or uncle home?"

Harry said, "Er, of course, Aunt Petunia's here. Oh, sorry, Professor, I forgot to invite you in. Why don't you come in, and I'll go fetch Aunt Petunia?"

Professor McGonagall stepped in, and she said, "Well, thank you, Potter. I remember the day I was here when Professor Dumbledore left you here. I have never been in this house before, but I sat on that wall for a while, and your uncle went crazy, when he saw a tabby cat reading a map!"

Harry chuckled and said, "I didn't know you were here with Professor Dumbledore the day he left me here."

Professor McGonagall said, "Yes, I was, and so was Hagrid. Now, enough chitchat, and go fetch your aunt. I have a message from Professor Dumbledore to give to your aunt."

Harry was surprised to learn that Hagrid had been at Privet Drive before, and never told him. He snapped back to reality, and went upstairs to the drawing room, where Aunt Petunia was watering a flower with a flower can.

Harry said, "Aunt Petunia? Someone wants to talk to you."
Aunt Petunia turned around and said, "It better not be that pink-haired woman!"

Harry said, "No, but I can tell you, it's someone you don't want to cross with."
Aunt Petunia said, "Oh, really? We'll see about that!" She stomped out of the room, with Harry following in the rear.

They went to the living room, where Professor McGonagall was still waiting. Professor McGonagall got up from the chair she was sitting in, and walked over to Aunt Petunia and said, "Nice to meet you at last, Mrs. Dursley. I'm Professor Minerva McGonagall, the Deputy Headmistress of Hogwarts, and I have to come fetch your nephew. I also have here a message from Professor Dumbledore, the headmaster, which is addressed to you."

Aunt Petunia hesitantly took the letter and said, "What does that old crackpot want with me this time?"
Professor McGonagall's face screwed with anger and her eyes flared. She barked, "Don't ever insult Albus Dumbledore in front of me! I could use a spell on you right now, but I won't, because I don't want to get in trouble with the Ministry."

Aunt Petunia stammered, "I'm sorry, -P-Professor."

Professor McGonagall said, "That's better, Mrs. Dursley. Now open that letter!"

Aunt Petunia ripped open the letter, and her eyes followed as she read the letter, and when she finished, "You mean, you're taking the boy away for the rest of this summer?"

Professor McGonagall said, "Yes, that's correct. Why don't you say goodbye to your nephew right now?"

Harry said, "Professor, it's fine. Let me go get my things, and I'll be ready."
Professor McGonagall said, "No worry. Locomotor!" She waved her wand, and Harry's trunk and Hedwig's cage floated out of Harry's bedroom, and landed right at Harry's feet.

Harry said, "Now, I'm ready."

Professor McGonagall said, "Excellent! You wait here, and tell your aunt goodbye, while I send Professor Dumbledore a message to inform him we are on schedule."
Harry looked at Aunt Petunia, and Aunt Petunia looked like she was trying to say something. Finally, Aunt Petunia forcibly said, "Good bye, and have a good summer."

Just then, Professor McGonagall came back in the room, and said, "Look like we're ready to go."

She stepped outside, with Harry following, dragging his trunk behind him, and Hedwig fluttering angrily in her cage.

Harry said, "How're we getting there, Professor?"

Professor McGonagall said tersely, "You forgot there is a Squib who lives in this neighborhood!" She walked down Magnolia Crescent, and stopped in front of a house, which she knocked on. The door opened, and Arabella Figg answered.
Mrs. Figg said, "Why, Professor, you're finally here, and Harry! I see you are doing okay!"

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat and said, "Arabella, is the fireplace ready for us to use?"
Mrs. Figg said, "Yes, of course. Harry, I want to wish you a happy birthday, and have a good summer." But before Harry could reply, Professor McGonagall pushed him forward in the fireplace, and she said, "Now, we don't want to be late, or Professor Dumbledore won't like it that we're late. Grimmauld Place!" Harry felt the fire revolving around him, and he felt dizzy. Suddenly, he landed in the fireplace of 12 Grimmauld Place, and a hand pulled him out of the fireplace. Professor McGonagall had gotten there first before him.

To Be Continued……