Chapter 7

Next morning, the first of August was bright and shiny. Ron and Harry woke up at about the same time, blinking in the sunlight filtering into the room. They immediately rolled out of bed, pulled on some clothes, grabbed their brooms and headed downstairs. They didn't make it out the door though.

"And where are you going in such a hurry?"

"Mum, we've been doing this all summer. Wake up, Quidditch practice, breakfast, then the rest of the day. You can't tell us you had no idea!" Ron looked at his mother incredulously.

Molly shook her head. "Your letters came today. OWL results included. You need to see how you did, and then we have to go to Diagon Alley to get your supplies. No Quidditch today!"

"But…" Ron's pained expression was lost on his mother, however. Harry just looked from one red head to the other, bemused.

"No buts. Come along Harry dear, Dumbledore knew you were here, as always."

Hermione was already in the kitchen with Ginny, talking about the new year. Hermione's letter was already opened, and she kept on glancing down at it with a small smile on her face.

The rest of the post was in a pile by the butter, and Ron lunged immediately for his, tearing it open in a frenzy of confetti.

Harry opened his slowly.

It read:

Dear Mr. Potter,

Your results on the Fifth Year Ordinary Wizarding Levels are below. O stands for Outstanding, E stands for Exceptional, A stands for Acceptable, F stands for Fail.

Charms O.W.L: E

Transfiguration O.W.L: E

Herbology O.W.L: O

Defence Against the Dark Arts O.W.L: O

Potions O.W.L: A

Care of Magical Creatures O.W.L: O

Astronomy O.W.L: A

Divination O.W.L: A

History of Magic O.W.L: A

These results confirm your magical levels for your first five years attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. They will determine some of your future choices as a career move.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Marchbanks,

Head of Magical Education and Examination

Harry read through the list a few times, unable to believe it. He hadn't failed anything! He got Outstanding in Defence Against the Dark Arts! He had passed Divination! Maybe the examiner had really nearly died, so he got some points for that. He looked over the paper towards Ron, who was running a hand through his hair, eyes flicking left to right quickly. Hermione stared at Ron expectantly, while Ginny tried not to stare at Harry. Finally Hermione broke the silence.

"Well? How did you two do?"

Harry passed his letter silently to Hermione who snatched it. Ron was still reading his. Ginny looked over Hermione's shoulder.

"I don't believe it. You got higher than Hermione in something!" Ginny exclaimed. Hermione started, blushed then turned to berate Ginny, but too late. Ron and Harry stared at Hermione incredulously.

"In what?"

"DADA. That's awesome, Harry, you got an Outstanding! Ron how did you do?" Ginny turned to her brother.

"A couple Outstandings, Herbology and Care of Magical Creatures, and Exceptional and Acceptable in everything else. No fails!"

Mrs Weasley came around, drying her hands on a dish towel. She gave Harry and Ron both a great big hug, exclaiming how happy she was that they had done so well, and of course Hermione, because of her Outstandings in almost every subject.

Ginny smiled at the Trio being smothered by her mother, then silently left the kitchen. She headed for her room, to continue her History.

Harry and Ron suffered in the absence of Hermione, who had been petrified by the terror that was stalking the school. Nobody knew who the Heir to the Chamber of Secrets was, and Draco Malfoy certainly wasn't helping. Even the Hogwarts ghosts were not safe, when Nearly Headless Nick was petrified along with Justin Finch-Fletchley. Ginny Weasley became more and more edgy, fearful. Harry and Ron didn't notice, being too wrapped up in discovering who the Heir was, and where the chamber was, so that they might discover anything else, and save the school again. Finally, Ginny was taken down to the chamber, and Harry, Ron and Professor Lockhart followed. Harry rallied up his talents, and hissed his way through the passages. Unfortunately, a mishap caused by Lockhart caused the tunnel to collapse, separating Ron and Lockhart from Harry, so Harry had to go on alone. He encountered his arch enemy in the form of a seventeen year old boy, named Tom Riddle. Tom Marvolo Riddle became I Am Lord Voldemort. Ginny was unconscious and near death's door, and so she did not witness everything that had occurred. Harry defeated the Basilisk with Gryffindor's Sword, pulled from the Hogwarts Sorting Hat, and Fawkes the Phoenix, Dumbledore's lovely bird, distracted the serpent. Fawkes also helped Harry when a poisonous fang was embedded in his arm (Phoenix tears have marvellous healing powers). Finally, the Diary along with Riddle was destroyed, and Ginny, Harry, Ron and an unusually absent-minded Lockhart returned to the world of the living. The Weasleys were beside themselves, Dumbledore was his normal cheery self, and Lockhart left to find some new memories. And there was evening, and then morning, and the second year.

The summer after was not unlike the other two, and the Dursleys continued on making Harry's life trouble. Mostly, he was left alone, and Harry was equal to that. They ignored him, and he did his homework. He kept up correspondence with his friends, and on his birthday received gifts from everybody. Unfortunately, things would not last. His Hogwarts letter arrived, with a permission form for his uncle to sign for permission to go to Hogsmeade Village. His 'Aunt' Marge came for a visit, and got blown up by uncontrolled magic. Harry left in a huff, got frightened off his socks, and made his way to the Leaky Cauldron by way of the Knight Bus. Harry was not in trouble, to his surprise, and stayed in Diagon Alley for the rest of the summer, until he met his friends, the Weasleys, and Hermione Granger again.

There was another ingredient in the cauldron, however, and everywhere Harry went, a scary face followed. Sirius Black, the notorious death-eater, had escaped Azkaban, the wizarding prison. It had never been done before, and nobody knew how he could have accomplished such a feat.

The Prison was located on a small island in the middle of the ocean, and was guarded by monstrous creatures called Dementors. These Dementors are figures of cloak and shadow, and they suck every good feeling out of you if they come near. The worst thing possible that can be done by them is the Dementor's Kiss, where they suck out the soul entirely.

Harry did not allow this to bug him too much however, and so continued on to Hogwarts with his trusty friends, the little sister, and the odd roommate. The Dementors did stop the train on the way to Hogwarts, and Harry did faint, but the new DADA teacher, a Professor R. J. Lupin was sleeping in the same compartment and so knew the proper response one gives to a Dementor (the Patronus charm). Harry was fussed over, Hermione was given something secret, and chocolate was eaten all around.

Ginny put down her pen. It was ten o'clock at night, and that was enough. She would finish year three tomorrow, perhaps.

Harry lay in his bed in Ron's room, staring up at the ceiling. He thought, maybe I'll play Quidditch tomorrow…

And promptly fell asleep.

A/N: Odd as this is, I can't help but enjoy this. I had serious writer's block for a few months.. sorry. Then I realised that there was nothing more to be read, unless I give others something to read, and so I am. Enjoy this … month's instalment of

Ordinary Guy.

Please review!