For the rest of his life he would never remember the full details of that day. He would not remember what had been said to his Aunt or how quickly he had run back to his room. All he would know is that he had somehow made it to his room and was sitting on the bed. It seemed surreal to him that this room still existed after everything that had happened; as he sat on the bed staring down at the creamy white envelopes that were addressed to his Uncle and Aunt and one to him. He had never seen the handwriting on the one that was addressed to him; he knew that it was his mothers. He stared for a moment at the beauty of it; the tall sloping R's in his first name and gentle ink strokes; Harry-who had in his life found out many reasons to be proud of his father-seemed utterly proud of his mother for her faultless and beautiful handwriting.

The sound of Hedwig returning entered the room. Harry disregarded his snowy owl and still stared at the letters. He put the one from Dumbledore to his side and decided to open the letter to him from his mother. He turned the letter around and pulled slightly at flip until it came away gracefully. He pulled the letter out and found that he was staring at a piece of paper wet with tears around the edges. He read to himself:

Dear Harry,

I know that if you are reading this then the worst that your father and I could imagine has occurred. Somehow you have survived to bare witness to the whole ordeal. My baby boy, you must know that I loved you and so did your father. We never wished for this entire thing to happen. I am writing this in our home that I am sure that you do not remember. We lived in Godric's Hollow, a quaint little town. Now Harry you must know as you read this that I am assuming the worst about everything. When you read this darling know that I hope that none of it has come true.

There nights ago Albus Dumbledore came to us and warned us that Voldemort, I wonder if you use his name, was after us. He was sure of why though. He had heard a prophecy from a Ms. Trelawney that stated that he would be after either you or another young man. Oh, Harry your father was distraught with grief that our happy life should have to end. I suggested to Albus that we use a very complicated charm that would make someone our secret-keeper so that we could still live in Harmony. While we were having this conversation your Godfather showed up and enlisted himself as our secret-keeper. We know now that he has failed. Everything has failed.

I have left this letter with my sister to give it to you when all was right. I know Harry that life has been hard for you. I know come to the point of my letter my son. I am sorry that I and your father's choices affected you so. If only we had known we would have quit the Order of the Phoenix. We would have done anything to have a complete life with you. I know now that this is impossible but no that regardless that we loved you. My son I am sorry.

If this letter has reached you when you are too young to understand then take nothing from the letter but the fact that we love you and always will. Live my son. Live the life I and your father could not give you.

With Love,

Mum

There were now fresh tear drops on the letter. Harry was making small hacking noises as he tried to suppress the tears. They came though. He could not believe that his mother had blamed herself for his life. "So he told them. He told them about the prophecy and made them run. How does everything miserable in my life stem back to that prophecy." Once again he found himself thinking about the day when it was all revealed in Dumbledore's office. He found that it was like recalling a dream rather than recalling an actual memory. Had it even happened? A sharp pain hit him; of course it happened Sirius was dead because of it all.

He looked over to Hedwig's cage it was full of populated by two birds and four birds surrounded it. The two in the cage Harry knew instantly. They were his own owl and Pig-his best friend's owl. The four outside seemed out of place in the room. Two-while he did not know by name-he could tell were from Hogwarts. They both were tawny brown and rather well fed as all the Hogwarts owls were. The smallest was shade of dark brown and tied around its leg was the Daily Prophet-the largest newspaper in the Wizarding Community. The other was a majestic beautiful owl with sharp red eyes and long bushy hair.

He turned from the owls to the letter on his side. He placed the letter fro his mother next to it and grabbed the one from Dumbledore to the Dursleys. He listened for the sound of his uncle. He heard the sound of a large snore from the next room; it was till only seven in the morning on Sunday. Harry opened the letter-although note a gently as the last-slowly and pulled out a clear white piece of paper. He read:

To Mr. and Mrs. Dursley residents of Number Four Privet Drive,

As I am sure that you found a young child under thus letter much explanation is needed of why he is there. His name is Harry James Potter and he is your nephew-the sun of your now late brother and sister (or in your case Mr. Dursley brother and sister-in-law). Last night your brother and sister died in a horrible and most terrible to write about way. They died at the hands of a gruesome wizard named Voldemort.

Now do not worry as no harm will come to you or your newborn child. All I ask that as Harry's only living relatives you take him in. Treat him as if her were your own. At the correct age you must of course inform him of the truth. I ask that you only tell him about his parents death and how valiantly fought and about the small fact that he is a wizard. I ask that you tell him nothing that is contained in any previous letters. You must also inform him-at the right age-that he is a wizard. There is no chance that this boy is not.

As you know Mrs. Dursley that at the age of eleven he will receive his Hogwarts letter. I must tell you that he will come to Hogwarts by hook or by crook. No need worrying about monetary expenses as that is covered. He must come to Hogwarts because that was the wishes of his parents.

If ever there are any problems just contact me. You may do this by simply sending a letter to P.O. Box 131793. I will certainly receive it and get back to you by mail or owl at the quickest

Albus Dumbledore

Headmaster of Hogwarts

Chief Wizard of the Wizengammot

Attendant of Chocolate Frog card # 27

Harry laughed to himself about this letter. It was clear that this letter was only for his Uncle. "So all this time she has been talking to him. I guess that is what he meant by 'Remember my last'" He got up from the bed in a rather good mood. He felt like he had just received the greatest gift of all; a letter from his mother and a joke from Dumbledore. He headed over to the cages were all four birds still waited quietly. He took out the money for the Prophet bird and slipped it into the pouch on its wing retrieved his Daily Prophet which he then threw onto the floor for later.

"Pig come here." He said in a soft voice. The excited bird swooped quickly from the cage and perched itself of Harry's arm. Harry pulled off the letter from Ron and opened up the parchment. As he opened it out fell a very tiny spinning top. For a moment he thought it was a sneakoscope and then noticed it was far too small. He read the letter while absently stroking the bird.

Dear Harry,

Happy Birthday, Harry! Sorry that I have not sent any letters before this but I have been really busy. Mum flipped when she saw that I did so well on my o.w.l. I think she was expecting low grades. How did you do? I passed everything and got a bloody Outstanding in Defense Against the Dark Arts. I won't ruin the surprise about what Hermione got. I barely passed in potions and I am sure that I will not be in his N.e.w.t class. I got your gift at Diagon Alley when we there last week. It called a mini-pensive or something like that. It is supposed to be able to hold a few memories or something. I am going to be in Diagon Alley the last week before break so do you think the Muggles will let you come. Even if they don't I will see you at the station.

P.s. Fred and George are doing great at the shop. Don't let the Muggles get ya down.

Ron.

Harry thought for a moment about how relived he was when he had received his O.W.L'S scores. He had waited for weeks until that faithful day when the letter had arrived. He still remembered opening the letter and finding:

Transfiguration: Exceeds Expectations

Charms: Outstanding

Defense against the Dark Arts: Outstanding

Potions: Acceptable

Divination:Poor

Astronomy: Exceeds Expectations

Care of Magical Creatures: Outstanding

History of Magic: Poor

Herbology: Exceeds Expectations

He had passed all of his classes. He would be studying only what he needed in his sixth year. What followed the feeling of satisfaction was the idea that he would have to choose a job. He had wanted to be an Auror but now that seemed out of the question. Professor McGonagall had told him that it would take top grades to be an Auror-these graded would include a high grade in Potions. Harry had laughed this statement off last year but now it seemed a harsh reality that the only career he had thought about was now closed to him. Harry was happy that Ron had passed as well.

He motioned for Pig to move off of him. The bird went obediently and turned back to the window. With a final hoot he left the room as excitedly as he had entered it. Harry moved over to the other owls. He could still hear the spinning metal of the mini-pensive. He moved closer to the bushy owl and quickly knew that it was from his friend Hermione. He knew this from the fact that the bird reminded him of Hermione and the fact that it was carrying a gift that he was sure only she would buy him- a set of Eaton's Finest Eagle Quills. On the birds other leg was small roll of parchment. Harry grabbed the parchment and the case of quills and the bird left the room with an air of dignity. He unrolled it and read:

Dear Harry,

You will not believe how absolutely great my summer has been. Well, I wasn't expecting to get my o.w.l'scores until I got the letter for the new book etc. I have been having some much fun here in Romanian-we decided against our usual visit to Paris. The Romanian wizards were brilliant. I will tell you more about that when I see you. I ordered your gift from the mail. I noticed at the end of the year that you were running low. Guess what I got on my O.W.L's. I got all outstanding. Can you believe it? Mum and Dad were so proud they bought me an owl. Her name is Jane Eyre. What did you get on your O.W.L's. Guess who I saw here, it Luna Lovegood and her father. They are very nice and I and Luna got to spend some time together. I will be in Diagon Alley the last week before school can you make it. Oh and Happy Birthday.

Love,

Hermione

P.S. I got all outstanding but wait I said that goodbye.

One of the tawny Hogwarts birds were chirping in anger as Hedwig shot it a reproachful glance. It was as if the bird-that Harry had owned for some time now-understood how important this all was. Harry went over to the owl and pulled from his leg small pieces of parchment. He rolled out one and read:

Dear Mr. Potter,

Please note that the new school year will begging on September the first. The Hogwarts express will leave King's Cross Station, platform nine and three-quarters, at eleven o' clock.

Also note that classes will not start for sixth years until the second week back as students need time to choose their new classes, and teachers need to assess who will be allowed to enter there's. This will mean that you should only choose books to buy that you may wish to study. When buying books simply ask for the Hogwarts N.E.W.T level book for the subject(s) of your choice(s)

Yours Sincerely,

Professor M. McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

Harry wondered for a moment about what classes he would take. He decided that he should wait to discuss the matter with Ron and Hermione. The tawny Hogwarts owl left after Harry finished and only Hedwig and the second owl was left. The owl flew over longingly to Harry and he grabbed the letter from it's' leg.

Dear Harry,

Have been terribly busy this summer with things that should not be listed hear. How have you been. Happy sixteenth birthday. It seems like it was only a few years ago that I picked up you from the Dursleys. I didn't have time to mail your gift and yopu will get your when you come back to school. See ya tham.

Hagrid.

As Harry looked at the numerous letters in the room and thought about the breakfast that his Aunr gave him it was hard not to smile. Today, on his birthday he had received a note from his mother and very good notes and presents from his friends. He couldn't blive that it was only seven o'clock as he laid back down and closed his eyes.

"Harry…wake up! You have been sleep for the last sixteen hours." Harry's eyese opened at the sound of his Aunt Petunia's voice. It was once again soft and had a rather fragile. He couldn't help noticing that she looked different. Her once pale cheeks seemed rosy and she was giving off this motherly vibe. Harry couldn't help but notice that his Aunt Petuni did not look so very old. She looked rather young when he looked into her eyes which were ilumminated from the moon light. For a moment Harry thought of his dream. He had been sailing with his Aunt and his parents. They seemed to be sailing away from something. Then he lost the rest.

By the time Harry was fully awake she was sitting on the end of his bed. She was smiling. "Harry, I really am sorry about how you have been treated." There was a pause. Neither of them knew what to say. They did however know what was to come. It was time for Aunt Petunia to awnser the questions Harry had to ask.

"What did the letter mean last year? How did you know about dementors? Why did you take me in? What is it that you have against magic? Are you in contact with Dumbledore? Has anything happened?" Harry did not mean to aks all those questions at once. She chuckled a moment and then her face became as hard as nails. Her eyes stayed the same full of the love that Harry had always yearned.

"I won't bother with excuses. I am going to awnser the questions. The letter was only reminding me of the last letter Albus sent me-in which he told me about the return of Voldemort, the importance of making sure you were not agrivated into using magic and the blood tie above all else. He reminded me that I had to make sure you stayed in this house. I knew about the Dementors because I have come in contact with them once-a long time ago-and they are by far the worst creature alive. One encounter is enough to burn there name into your brain forever. I took you in Harry because you are my sister's son. I loved my sister regardless of how much I despised her for having magic. The only thing I have against magic is the fact that I do not have it. It is something I have always wanted. I am in contact with him. The last letter he sent to me you knew about as you were there to hear it. I know nothing anout anything concerning the world of magic. David Beckham, however is doing some rather intresting things." She stoped. She had awnsered everything. Harry thought about how clear and eloquently she had awnseres the questions. He was surprised that she had come up with the awnsers so easily. He thought of nothing else. Then he thought of one more.

"Aunt Petunia, Who is Uncle Monty?" He had been wondering about this for sometime. He wondered to himself it was someone related to his mother or father.

"He is your Uncle Vernon's brother. He is as much your uncle as Marge is your Aunt. I think you will like him. He has been dying to meet you for the last few years. Harry I must also tell you something rather…shocking" There was a tear coming down her cheek. She wiped it away. "You no longer have to stay here. You could go and stay with your godfather." Harry wanted to tell her that Sirius was dead. There was a lump in his throat. He could feel the tears coming. It was evident to Petunia that he was on the verge of tears. "I belive that his name was Sirius Black." Harry wanted to scream that he could not live with Sirius. He wanted to tell her that Siruis was dead.

"I know all about Sirius. I can not live with him because he died." Harry spoke the word softly. No tears came for the first time. It was over. Sirius was dead. He would always miss him but he was dead and missing would not bring him back. It hadn't brought back his parents.

"I know that your life here has been sad. I am sorry that Vernon made you miserable but I love him and could not stand to lose him so I went along with him for all those years. " Once again there was a silence in which they both knew all was forgiven. Harry smiled at his Aunt Petunia and then at the clock as it struck twelve he knew he had just had the best birthday ever.

"Thank you Aunt Petunia." His voice was solemn and mellancholy. He was picturing that horrendous day that Siruis had gone through the veil.

"Harry,while you were sleeping we recived a letter from the Weasley family. They asked that you come and stay. There is supposed to be some typ of party that has to do with someone getting married. Anyway they said to send word and they would come tommorow…well today now. You had better send word now and hope they get it." His Aunt left the room with a smile. Her cheeks were rosy red for the first time Harry had ever seen.