"Wake up! C'mon now Harry! You got to wake up!"
Harry was unpleasantly woken up by Ron.
"Mum has breakfast on the table. She told me to come get you." Ron said hastily.
Harry hopped out of bed and slowly began to change. He heard Sirius barking outside. Harry walked over to the window and peered out. Harry noticed something flying across the garden. Fred and George had to de-gnome the garden once again.
Harry bounded down the stairs and into the kitchen. Mrs. Weasley placed a plate stacked full of food on it. Harry dug right in without any hesitation.
"That was delicious!" Harry beamed.
"Why thank you dear. Now go on and do whatever you'd like." Mrs. Weasley said.
"OOOWWW!" George bellowed as he ran into the kitchen, "That stupid gnome bit me hard! Look! He even drew blood!"
"Aww…honey…you poor thing…GET BACK TO WORK!" Mrs. Weasley hissed.
"But Mum!"
"No buts about it young man. Now get back to work. Your finger will heal." Mrs. Weasley snorted as she turned and walked upstairs.
"Don't worry George." Fred said as he walked in, "I finished it all. Sirius helped chase the others away."
"Hey Harry, you wanna get your new broomstick and we can practice some Quidditch?" Ron asked.
"Sure! I'll be right back then!" Harry said as he leaped up the stairs and grabbed his new BrushFire 2005. Then he joined Ron at the bottom of the stairs and headed outside onto a field behind the house. Harry mounted his new broom and kicked off the ground. He felt the air rushing past him as he rose high into the air. This was one thing Harry loved most about being a wizard. He loved to fly. It was his favorite pastime. Ron joined him in the air on his Cleansweep. After Fred and George cleaned up their cuts and bruises, they too joined Harry. They all flew around the field, throwing apples at one another, trying to knock each other off their broomsticks.
"Oi! Harry! You wanna practice for the Cup? We're gonna get it. I feel it in me bones!" Fred yelled over the wind.
"Sure!" Harry answered back.
Fred dove down to the ground, ran inside the house, and came back with a box full of balls. None of which were the actual balls, but just modeled after them that you had to throw. They practiced by throwing the balls at one another.
"I'm going to take Wood's place and become Keeper!" Ron said.
"Sure you will! And I'm Snape's best friend!" George yelled.
"Ha! That was a good one." Fred stated. And with that, Fred threw a Quaffle-modeled ball at the goal hoops. Ron dove to make the save, but missed. The ball ended up hitting Ron in the back of his head and knocked him to the ground.
After a while, Fred and George got bored with the game and decided to jinx the Bludgers to explode whenever they hit someone they threw it at. They practiced and played all day until the sky started to darken and the sun slowly set behind the horizon.
"Fred and George! Come inside! You too Harry and Ron! C'mon now, supper is ready!" bellowed Mrs. Weasley.
The four of them landed on the ground and headed back into the kitchen. They all placed their broomsticks in the corner and grabbed a seat at the table. Sirius ran over and plopped himself down next to Harry. A couple of minutes later, Hermione and Ginny entered to room and sat down on the other side of the table. Mrs. Weasley looked up at her clock and read it:
Arthur Weasley: Work
Percy Weasley: Work
"Oh, those two work so late anymore. The Ministry never lets them come home on time, especially Percy. Ever since Mr. Crouch was uh…murdered and everything. He has taken his place you know." Mrs. Weasley explained to Hermione and Harry.
Mrs. Weasley handed out the dinner plates and filled them with wondrous food. They all ate and talked and devoured their food.
"Blimey Mum! They aren't home yet!" George spat out with a mouthful of food.
"Now George! Where are your manners? Don't talk with your mouth full!" Mrs. Weasley yelled.
"Sorry Mum." George mumbled.
Ron and Harry sniggered under the table and tried to hide their smiles so they wouldn't be so obvious. Just then, several barn owls swooped in through the open window and landed in front of Ginny, Hermione, Harry, Ron, George, and Fred. They each carried an envelope with emerald green writing on it.
"Oh! The school lists are here!" Hermione squeaked with joy as she grabbed her letter and ripped it open.
Harry opened his and started to read:
Dear Mr. Potter,
Please note that the new school year will begin on September the first. The Hogwarts Express will leave from King's Cross Station, platform nine and three-quarters, at eleven o'clock.
Fifth years are still permitted to visit Hogsmeade on certain weekends during the year. Your permission forms have been kept and are on record.
A list of books for the school year is enclosed.
Yours sincerely,
Professor McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Harry finished the letter and turned to the list of books and read:
FIFTH-YEAR STUDENTS WILL REQUIRE:
The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5 by Miranda Goshawk
Caring for Magical Creatures by Emerald Haveford
Protecting Yourself from Dark Forces by Mad-Eye Moody
A Thousand Years of Triumph and Defeat by Ismeric Switch
Gazing Into the Future by Valliet Murtlrey
Brew Yourself an Answer by Derrick Mogley
Transfiguring Into Wonders by Merrit Blodgle
Herbs and Fungi Uses for Everyday Life by Lucidre Cashwir
"Same old, same old. Nothing new." Fred said depressed.
"What did you expect? You should be happy that there isn't anymore books written by Lockhart that we need!" Ron said.
"True." Fred agreed.
There was a click on the door and Mr. Weasley and Percy walked into the house.
"Good evening dear." Mr. Weasley said to Mrs. Weasley.
"Hey Percy. Business booming as usual?" George asked sarcastically.
"At least I have a real job, unlike your, shall I say, dream job." Percy snorted, noting the sarcasm.
"Yeah, you just wait Percy. Me and Fred are going to become rich and famous and just leave you back in the dust!" George screamed at Percy.
"Sure you will." Percy answered back, "Rich and famous. Ha! Like that would ever happen."
Fred had to hold George back from attacking Percy.
"Now boys. Please behave. We do have company over you know." Mrs. Weasley said, nodding to Harry and Hermione.
"Well tell that low-life piece of--"
"THAT'S ENOUGH! Both of you stop bickering now! I do not want anymore fighting in this house for the rest of the night! Do you all understand?" Mrs. Weasley said threateningly.
"Yes." everyone mumbled together.
"Good. Now let it stay that way." Mrs. Weasley said as she stormed out of the room. Sirius ran off as Mrs. Weasley left.
"Hey Ron, let's go up to your room." Harry whispered to Ron and Hermione.
"Alright. Let's go now." Ron answered.
Ron, Hermione, and Harry got up, walked over to the corner of the room, grabbed their broomsticks, and then headed upstairs. When they opened the door, Harry found Hedwig chatting her beak at Sirius. She looked as though she were annoyed at the presence of the dog. Ron turned and locked the door once everyone was through. Sirius then turned back into himself.
A screech owl suddenly flew in through the window and tossed a letter into Sirius's hands. Sirius opened the letter and read it. After he was finished with the letter, he handed it to Harry to read:
Dear Sirius,
I received your letter of concern along with the letter from the mystery person. I am quite worried for our young Harry, but there is not much we can do at this present moment. I will indeed allow you to come and stay with Harry here at Hogwarts. I will talk to Professor Snape and inform him on the current situation we are dealing with. As for Lord Voldemort, I do not know what to do. But that is not of concern right now. Right now we must worry about how to get you through Hogwarts without arising and suspicion among the teachers and the students. Until then, best wishes to you. Be safe and smart Sirius.
Dumbledore
Harry handed the letter to Ron and Hermione when he had finished. They read it and their faces had an expression of happiness and horror at the same time. Harry tried hard not to laugh at the expressions. It was a comical sight. Even Sirius had to hide his face to control himself from laughing.
"Oh Harry! Well, the good news is about Sirius, but what about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Name?" Hermione asked.
"Who? Voldemort?" Harry asked.
"Stop saying his name!" Ron yelled.
"Shhh!" Harry said, "We can't be heard! Sirius is here, remember?"
"Well, what are we going to do about You-Know-Who?" Ron asked gloomily.
"We're not doing anything. I will fight Voldemort. It's my fight with him. Not yours. I don't want to get all of you involved. Besides, I'm going to do what Dumbledore said, and that is to wait." Harry answered.
"Harry, please be reasonable." Hermione pleaded.
"I am. You both aren't getting involved." Harry answered sharply.
"Why don't we all just get some sleep." Sirius said, looking at the faces of the three of them.
"Alright." Ron said, "G'night Hermione."
"Good-night." Harry said.
"See you all in the morning." Hermione said as she left the room.
Sirius changed back into a dog, curled up in a warm spot on the floor, and fell sound asleep. Ron crawled into his bed and fell asleep rather fast. Harry just lay there, as still as a stone, trying not to wake anyone up. He stared out the window and started to imagine his parents. He remembered everything that happened last year. He remembered the Triwizard Tournament and, most of all, the last task. The task in which Cedric Diggory and himself were transported to a graveyard where Cedric had been ruthlessly killed and Voldemort rose to power once again. He remembered how his wand had interlocked with Voldemort's wand in a spell and his parent's ghosts came out and told Harry to be strong. Harry had barely escaped with his life.
Before Harry realized it, he had fallen asleep. He had a dream that was unlike any dream he ever had. He seemed to be only a little toddler. He turned his head and saw a couple standing near a fireplace. They turned around and came walking over to Harry. It was his mother and father. They picked Harry up and started to talk and play games with him. Harry had never been so happy. Then a man walked in and came striding towards his father. Harry recognized the man as a young Sirius Black. Sirius took Harry into his hands and bounced him up and down. Harry was enjoying this all. He was with his parents and his godfather. Nothing could ruin this moment.
After a while, Sirius handed Harry back to his mother. He kissed Harry on his forehead and left. Harry started to cry. But his mother started to sing a low, sweet song:
"Dream away all your worries and fears. Sorrowful nights and warm days blend as one as you lay your little head onto the soft pillow. Sweet dreams my dear, sweet dreams."
Harry was soothed by the song and stopped crying.
She laid Harry back down into his crib as she walked into the kitchen.
Then a tall, dark figure in a cloak entered the house with a wand held out, pointing at his father. His father yelled something Harry couldn't understand. Harry's mother ran into the room, grabbed Harry, and locked herself and Harry in another room. Harry could hear everything going on. He heard the man scream Avada Kedavra! It was the Killing Curse. His father was now dead. The man burst through the door and started on Harry's mother. She pleaded with the man, but all he did was laugh at her. Then he killed her with the same curse. And then the man turned on Harry. The man screamed the curse and green light shot out of the wand at Harry's head. Harry screamed.
"AAAHHHHH!" Harry was screaming. His face was sweaty and his scar had searing pain shooting in it.
"Harry! HARRY! Are you okay?" Sirius and Ron were bent over him.
"It was a dream." Harry said.
"About what?" Sirius asked.
"About the night Voldemort came and killed my parents. It has never been so vivid and real before." Harry kept wincing at the pain on his head, "And you were there Sirius."
Sirius looked away from Harry quickly, trying not to catch his eyes.
"You were there, weren't you?" questioned Harry, now sitting up on his bed.
"I, er…I was, yes. I was there that night." Sirius answered, still staring at the floor.
"What happened?" Harry asked.
"Well, I had stopped by earlier that evening, just for a visit. I left before he came. When I was down the street, I heard the scream of your mother, but I was too late. They were already killed. I thought the worst and suspected that you had been killed also. Then the guards from Azkaban came and chased me away. I should have never trusted that sly bastard, Wormtail! I'm so sorry Harry. I should have never trusted him." Sirius explained, now looking right at Harry.
"It's not your fault. You didn't know he was horrible like that. No one ever knew. Besides, you wouldn't have been able to stop Voldemort by yourself." Harry answered quietly.
Sirius smiled very faintly. Ron, on the other hand, looked very angry.
"What happened? What's wrong with you?" Harry asked flatly.
"I tell you all the time! Would you please stop saying his name ?" Ron said through gritted teeth.
"I'm sorry Ron. I'll try harder." Harry said.
"Let's get back to sleep. It's four in the morning. We'll be getting up soon enough." Sirius said coolly.
They all got into bed and fell asleep. Everyone except Harry. Harry still thought about the dream. So Voldemort killed his parents with one of the Unforgivable Curses. That's what the flash of green light was. Harry had known that that's what happened, but never heard the curse yelled out before. And he had tried to use it on him. But it backfired and hit him. It didn't work because Harry was protected by his mother, but not anymore. Voldemort took some of Harry's blood, so now Harry was defenseless. He didn't know what to do. Harry looked out the window and watched as the sun started to rise. He never realized he had been awake all that time. He got up, changed, grabbed his BrushFire 2005, and bolted out of the room and went outside, right back to the field.
Harry mounted his broom and kicked hard off the ground. The cool air rushing past his face felt refreshing to Harry and woke him up. He soared around the field, diving every which way and just zooming all over. He tried the Wronksi Feint a couple of times, trying to perfect it for this year's games. Hopefully he would use it against Slytherin and cream Malfoy straight into the ground. This made Harry smile. Anything that had to do with Malfoy getting hurt always pleased Harry, even in the worst of moods. Hopefully it will work on him. Then Harry could beat him and hopefully win the Cup.
As the sun rose higher into the air, Harry guessed that everyone would be waking up soon. And he was right. Sirius came pouncing out the back door and sat down under Harry, watching him fly around. Harry thought that Sirius probably missed flying on a broom. Then after Sirius, Ron and Hermione came running out.
"Hey Harry! Guess what!" Ron yelled up to Harry.
"What?" Harry asked.
"We're going to Diagon Alley today! C'mon!" Ron yelled back.