Disclaimer:I like cheese. I also like Pizza. And doughnuts are always nice. JK Rowling doesn't own those! She owns her books and the ideas in them though. Sometimes I even own a few pennies. Yes!

B/N-PLEASE REVIEW! I'd like to write knowing people are actually reading it! Lots and lots is planned for this story!

Chapter 4: O.W.L.s and the Punch from Reality

The next 3 days passed without anything new happening. On the 4th day, Harry was woken by a loud tapping on the window next to his bedstand. Getting up clumsily, he walked to the window, wiped his face of sleepiness, and let Hedwig and a Hogwarts owl in. With a lurch of both excitement and foreboding, Harry realized he had totally forgot about O.W.L.s. With his hand now trembling a bit from nervousness, he grabbed the letter from the Hogwarts owl, and let it fly across the room to Hedwig's cage. Hedwig clawed her letters off her leg, and also flew toward her cage.

Harry tore the seal off the official looking piece of parchment, and read with anticipation in his eyes. He looked over the paper a couple times up and down, which read:

O.W.L. Results

Mr. Harry Potter,

Out of your 9 possible O.W.L. courses, you have obtained 6 O.W.L.s. The specific test scores are as follows:

Astronomy Theory: D

Care of Magical Creatures Theory: O Practical: O

Charm Theory: E Practical: O

Defense Against the Dark Arts Theory: O Practical: O

Divination Theory: P Practical: P

Herbology Theory: A Practical: E

History of Magic Theory: P

Potions Theory: E Practical: O

Transfiguration Theory: O Practical: E

Breakdown of Scores (-denotes passing grade cutoff): P-Poor, D-Dreadful, A-Acceptable, E-Exceeds Expectations, O-Outstanding, -notes borderline on lower grade, -notes borderline with higher grade or near perfect score (with O grades).

You have passed all the requirements to follow your career path in becoming an Auror. Another discussion with your head of house will occur during the first few weeks of term. A list with the books required is included with this note. The courses in which you have received passing O.W.L.s in are the courses in which you shall participate in next term. Term begins on September 1.

Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress and Head of Gryffindor

Harry looked at his book list, and saw that he didn't have any books for astronomy, divination, or history of magic. He was quite pleased at the thought of not having to take those boring subjects anymore. He was absolutely astounded at his success in potions. He suspected that McGonagall may have helped him a bit on that category. Still riding high on his success of his O.W.L.s, Harry picked up the 3 notes that Hedwig had left. The first one was from Ron:

Hey Harry!

First off, there is no need to apologize. I could understand what you must be feeling, and why you act like you did. It is alright. Another thing, I expect we will see each other real soon! I'll have to tell you the bad news in person, though, I'm afraid. Anyway, thanks for the letter Harry! It really meant a lot.

Best friends,

Ron

Harry couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy at Ron's mention of bad news. Quite suddenly, it had occurred to Harry that he had absolutely no idea what had been going on outside of Grimmauld place or Privet Drive for the past 2 and a half weeks. Voldemort was known to be at large again, and he was bound to have taken some action. Harry resolved to ask Prince Ivy what was going on the next time he saw him.

Harry then picked up Hermione's letter.

Harry,

The next time we meet, which I expect will be very soon, we have to talk. Something happened. I can't say here.

Thanks very much for what you said. It meant a lot to say something like that. You're growing up, Harry. Anyway, I hope to talk to you soon. There's no need to owl me. We'll meet soon enough.

Love,

Hermione

As Harry's eyes passed over the word love, he felt a little nest of butterflies awaken in his stomach. He hadn't had that feeling in quite a few months. It was quite unexpected, also. As Harry moved Hermione's letter over, he saw what he had assumed to be a bit of parchment really a note written on what looked like leather. The writing was very strange. Harry had never seen it before. It read:

Dumfries

Harry was quite puzzled at this note. He had no idea what it meant, or who it was from. Shrugging his shoulders, he took all the notes and put them in a drawer. Deciding he was hungry for breakfast, he went downstairs to a startling surprise. There, sitting at the table which he had eaten his meals daily with Prince Ivy sat Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and none other than Prince Ivy in his young disguise.

"Harry!" shouted Ron and Hermione as they saw him first, looking at all of them incredulously on the bottom of the stairs.

Ron caught Harry first, shook his hand, and took his shoulder, all the while leading him back to the kitchen table as if Harry were incapable of doing it himself.

"How did you all get here?" asked Harry with a smirk on his face.

"Dumbledore gave us a portkey." answered Neville. This was only the second time Harry had seen Neville out of school, and the first time he had ever seen him in the summer.

"Ah so he is still breaking the law, then?" said Harry, his smirk turning into a grin. He saw a big grin crack across Prince Ivy's young face.

"Of course, the man's bloody amazing at everything. Listen Harry, you all right mate? You seem, well, a bit too happy."

Looking at Harry with worrying eyes, Harry answered Ron, a bit grudgingly, "I'm fine. Things are just better now."

"That is good to hear. Listen, Harry, we need to talk" interjected Hermione, now motioning all of them to move into a different room without the peculiar young man now staring into her eyes in anticipation.

Mrs. Weasley looked over at all of the 5 moving towards the stairs, right before she said, "You 5 get right back here right now! You are all having a breakfast before any words are exchanged between yourselves!"

Hunger now itching to escape, Harry couldn't help but go back and sit at the table. Surveying the delicious plates of food that were now being carried before his eyes, Harry's mind shifted from the unusual way his friends were acting to eating as much as he possibly could.

For the next half an hour, the 5 of them, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and even occasionally Prince Ivy all talked about food and silly stuff. Apparently all of Harry's friends already knew Prince Ivy. He couldn't think of where they could have met.

As soon as everyone was done with breakfast, the 5 teenagers raced upstairs to the familiar room where Harry had slept the past 5 days. After all 5 were safely inside, Ron closed the door behind them, and exclaimed, "Harry, we need to talk."

"Whatsup, Ron?" said Harry, starting to sense that he wasn't going to like what they were going to discuss.

"Have you been keeping up with the outside world at all?" Hermione asked.

"No, I… No, I don't have a subscription to any of the newspapers…Why? What has been happening?" Harry quickly figured out why his friends were so tense all of a sudden.

This time Neville answered, "He has started attacking people. He tried to get me 2 days ago, actually. It was lucky 'cause Gran and I were in Scotland visiting my Uncle. Heh… he destroyed our house. When we got back yesterday it was blown to pieces."

Seeing the mingled fear and worry in Neville's face, Harry walked over to him and said, "Are you okay? Was anyone hurt?"

"No one was hurt in that event. We went straight to Dumbledore. He relocated us, and here I am now. Gran is at the Ministry, filing with the Magical Insurance office on our house. It's been horrible Harry. In the past 2 weeks, 43 muggles have been killed."

"And I overheard mum saying to dad that death eaters have been spotted in Kings Cross" said Ron, looking very serious.

"But school doesn't start for another month! Why would there be…" Harry was cut off.

"They are trying to scare our world, obviously. It's peculiar though. A huge troupe of Scottish Death Eaters were found outside of a Forest in Dumfries" said Hermione.

"Dumfries! It's a place! But what…" Harry stopped talking to himself, realizing he was still in front of Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Neville. "Nevermind, is there any reason as to why they were all found there?"

"No, all the interrogations are useless. Ever since Azkaban was overthrown, all captured criminals were sent to these underground dungeons in Gringotts. Apparently we lost 80 of all convicted that were in Azkaban. It's horrible. Surprisingly, no Aurors have been killed yet. On the contrary, they have caught around 200 death eaters so far since the mention of V-Voldemort's…RON get used to it!… return in the Daily Prophet. So far the worst has been Dementor attacks and a few houses have been destroyed."

Harry notice Neville close his eyes for a second then open them, looking down at the floor. Pity overflowed in Harry for Neville. He'd never had that much pity for anyone. The kid had lost his parents because they were tortured to madness, and now his family is a target of Voldemort's again.

"Is that most of it?" asked Harry.

"Yah, except, well, the death eaters tried to take Gringotts" said Ginny, speaking for the first time. Harry noticed she looked much, much better than he had remembered. She was a lot curvier than he remembered, and her freckles ceased to exist anymore.

"Quite a stupid move," said Hermione. "The goblins took them down in a couple of hours. More Death Eaters were captured. The war is just beginning though. Attacks like these are happening all around the world."

Nodding his head, Harry looked at the faces of each of his friends, and tried to comfort them with some good news, "I hear that Fred and George are doing good?"

"Yeah! They said they've been getting loads more popularity now that the Daily Prophet put out the You-Know-Who article. Mum's even happy! Dad of course is pleased that they are so successful. They said they have something to show me. I don't know what though." said Ron, ending with a doubtful expression.

"I'm sure it will be brilliant."

The 5 of them spent the rest of the day discussing all facets of life. Very ecstatic, Ron and Hermione told Harry that they had passed their O.W.L.s. Hermione wanted to pursue the profession of Healer, and Ron wanted to be an Auror. When it came turn for Neville to share, he turned a deep shade of red.

"Whatsup, Neville? What did you get?" asked Ron, still basking in the good mood of O.W.L. results.

"Well I wanted to be an Auror too. But McGonagall said I only got enough to pursue a job in experimental spell/charms. I dunno. I might be able to retake the O.W.L.s this year. I did pretty bad." He looked at the floor while he said every word.

"You are allowed to retake them? That's brilliant! My dad said experimental spell work is great fun though!" said Ron, a bit over-sympathetic.

"Yeah, but I really want to be an Auror. It be great fun." said Neville, still very downtrodden.

Mrs. Weasley then called the 5 down for dinner. Harry delayed a bit so he could talk to Ron and Hermione alone. After Ginny and Neville exited, Harry called the two over.

"Listen you two. I…um…well…"

Harry was having a rough time debating over whether to tell Ron and Hermione about the prophecy made about him. He also wondered if he should tell them about his dream with Sirius. He decided against it.

"I just wanted to say thanks. Um…for being there for me, you know. It really means something," finished Harry, a bit mad at himself for not saying what he wanted to.

Hermione flung her arms around him and Ron even gave Harry a fast hug after a few seconds.

"It's okay Hermione, really it is fine." said Harry, a bit taken-aback from Hermione's hug.

"Harry you are such a great friend." said Hermione, her arms still around Harry.

"Yeah, mate. Keep it up, hah." said Ron, looking at Hermione, then Harry, punching him in the arm.

"We best get downstairs quick, before your mum has a fit." said Harry.

"Quite right, Harry. Lets go." Hermione agreed.

The 3 of them went to dinner, holding their bellies in their hands as they yearned for some of Mrs. Weasley's cooking. Only, to their surprise, Mrs. Weasley was at the table, not cooking. Prince Ivy, on the contrary, was at the stove, putting his finishing touches on the items of food to be placed on the table.

"Ivy sweetly offered to make dinner for us. He's quite the cook," said Mrs. Weasley, seeing the bewildered look on Hermione's face.

All of them sat down to dinner, and enjoyed Prince Ivy's cooking thoroughly. Prince Ivy beamed as compliments for his dinner rang out as everyone was leaving the table after a thoroughly large meal.

Mrs. Weasley made an announcement, "Harry? Since we all missed your birthday last week, we're going to have a formal celebration tomorrow. How does that sound?"

Gasping, Harry totally forgot that July 31 was a good 2 days ago. It had totally slipped his mind in the events at hand. Apparently it had slipped everyone else's mind, also.

"Uh... that sounds great Mrs. Weasley, thanks!" said Harry, still shocked at himself.

Everyone moved upstairs towards the bedrooms except Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and Prince Ivy.

"Mum, Dad, aren't you staying here?" asked Ron.

"No, I've got to go help with the inquiries", said Mr. Weasley.

"And I have to go Fetch Mrs. Longbottom." said Mrs. Weasley.

Prince Ivy then said, "Harry come down here. I need to talk to you for a minute."

Puzzled at what Prince Ivy had to say now, Harry slowly walked down the stairs, all the while assuring Ron that he would be back upstairs in a few minutes.

Prince Ivy ushered Harry into that odd room with the throne like chair, and then sat down on a couch.

"Go ahead and sit, Harry. I have had the ever increasing feeling that this house is becoming less and less safe. You still remember that a Dementor took residence in the house not too long ago, right? Well then you must know that someone out of Dumbledore's influence knows how to get into this house. I have decided that, for your safety, we should move out of the country, until term starts."

Harry surveyed him with angry eyes, " But I've only just gotten here! It's perfectly safe. Sirius's dad put spells on it and all that!"

"I'm afraid all of the spells are useless, now that someone has given away the location," Prince Ivy answered with a serious tone. "Me and my father…."

"Why doesn't your dad ever speak with me? Is he afraid of me again?" said Harry.

"Actually, he was planning on speaking with you tomorrow night. Do you not want to?" Prince Ivy answered calmly.

"No, it is fine. Nevermind. So where exactly will we be?"

"I was going to ask you, actually. We need to move somewhere in the country. I was talking to Mrs. Weasley…"

Harry interjected, "I thought only Dumbledore knew who you really were?"

"Please stop interrupting me, Harry. There are a select few who know who I am, with you being one of them. Now, Mrs. Weasley suggested Scotland. She said they have a beautiful countryside."

"How about Dumfries?" asked Harry, remembering the strange leather-clad note bearing that location in mysterious writing.

"I'm afraid not, Death Eaters were found there. It would be too risky."

"But then wouldn't it be unexpected if we were to move there? If Voldemort thinks I'm here, finds out I'm not, then goes looking for me, surely he wouldn't look where his ranks had just been?" Harry asked, pushing to go to the strange city called Dumfries.

"Ah…I suppose. I will have to ask father. Another thing…have you been practicing Occlumency before you sleep?"

"Yes, actually. I haven't had any funny dreams in a while."

As he finished that sentence, he realized it was quite true. Sirius hadn't entered his dreams since he had started calming himself before sleep. Perhaps tonight he should hold it off for once?

"Good then. Off to bed, you," Prince Ivy said, shooing him out of the room.

"That guy is so weird!" Harry said to himself.

As Harry traveled the path to his room, he was wondering whether or not to tell Ron about the thing with Sirius in his dream. 'Another time, perhaps', he thought. Tonight was just not the right time.

He stepped through the doorway of his room, to find Ron standing near the wall, his right knee bent with his right foot lying vertical on the wall.

"Hey Harry. What was that about? Who is that bloke?" said Ron, noticing Harry's entry to the room.

Harry hated lying to his friend. "He asked me if dinner was alright. He's my bodyguard or something. Dumbledore sent him."

Harry had figured that it was a believable enough story. So did Ron, apparently, " Oh. Bit of a weird one, isn't he?"

With a laugh, Harry answered, "Yah, he is quite weird. But he is a good guy. Listen Ron. I'm real tired. Lets talk tomorrow. Alright?"

"Yah, that's fine mate. G'night."

It was at this moment that Harry noticed Neville was also in the room. He was standing in the corner, staring at the floor.

"Anything wrong, Neville?" asked Harry.

"No, sorry. I was just waiting for you to come back. G'night."

Not completely satisfied with Neville's answer, Harry went over to the dresser, changed into his nightclothes, and stepped into bed. While he was relaxing on his bed thinking about the day's events, he couldn't help but wonder what was up with him. When Hermione had hugged him earlier that day, he had felt a feeling towards her that he had sometimes felt towards Cho. But he also had the same feeling when Ginny had talked to him earlier that day. 'Ah. Life is so complicated', he thought. Soon, thereafter, he fell asleep, totally forgetting to clear his mind of emotion…

Harry was standing on a cliff, dangling a leg as if to jump.

"Harry, over here!" yelled an only too familiar voice.

Turning in anticipation of talking to his Godfather again, Harry accidentally hit a rock and then toppled backwards off the cliff. He continued to fall until he landed in the Hogwart's lake.

"Oh damn! The squid is gonna come after me!" he yelled as he swam with as much speed as he could toward the lake's edge. When he reached the edge, he clambered out, and shook the water out of his eyes. When he opened them up, he found himself on the edge of a vast forest. He had never been here before.

"Hey Harry! I'm right here!" said Sirius, standing a few feet inside the forest.

Now with excitement in every step, Harry ran towards Sirius, opening his arms to embrace his godfather once more. As Harry ran closer to Sirius, Harry noticed quite frankly that he wasn't running towards Sirius. The man he had presumed to be Sirius was actually Snape, who now darted through the huge trees purposefully. Harry followed Snape until Harry saw something he hadn't seen in about a year. Harry now stood in the Graveyard where Voldemort had been reborn, and sure enough sitting on the Riddle gravestone was Sirius.

"Sirius, what are we doing here?" asked Harry, a little worried that they were back in this horrible place.

Not answering him, Sirius picked up a shovel from next to the gravestone he was next to. To Harry's horror, Sirius started digging up Tom Riddle's (Senior) grave.

"Harry, come over here," Sirius said, still looking down at his digging spot.

Sirius stuck his hand in the hole, and pulled out a dirty piece of leathery parchment. Taking out his wand, Sirius beckoned Harry even closer. "Foluscizar!" Sirius said.

The leather like parchment sprang to life, much like the Marauders Map. In fact, it looked to Harry as if it were actually a map.

"Here take it, you already have it anyway," said Sirius, handing the leathery thing to Harry.

Harry took the map, turned it over, and to his amazement he in fact had seen this paper before.

"Sirius did you send this map to me from the veil?" asked Harry with a look of astonishment on his face.

"O' course not Harry." said Sirius now staring at the spot where Harry and Voldemort's wands had connected together.

"Harry I don't have much time left. You must use the map Harry. It's the only way."

With these words, Sirius looked over Harry's head, lit up with shock, and sprinted away from Harry. Harry, pondering why Sirius had run, looked over his shoulder, only to see a herd of 10,000 broomsticks flying straight at Harry.

"Oh my God," said Harry, now grabbing the shovel, kicking off the ground, and flying away from the advancing broomsticks…

A/N-IF YOU READ THIS PLEASE REVIEW. Thats probably the last time I should say that for today. Peace.