Disclaimer: Alas, I own nothing...
Note: Instead of Sirius dying, I made Seamus die... Didn't much like him anyway... Oh well
Chapter 1
Harry Potter woke with a start. He sat straight up in his bed, covered in sweat, his right hand reaching out to find his glasses. His eyes were unfocused, not just from the lack of perfect eyesight but from the splitting pain in his head. And the pain was centered mostly in his scar.
You see, Harry Potter wasn't a normal fifteen-year-old. His scar was one of the reasons he wasn't normal. It had been given to him by Voldemort, the Dark Lord whom above all, wanted nothing more than to kill Harry. He had tried to kill Harry when he was only a year old, which resulted in both of his parents' deaths, and his own down bringing. When Voldemort had cast the spell to kill the young Potter heir, it had rebounded to him. His body was instantly destroyed.
Since then Harry had faced him four more times and had come out alive. Lucky for him. Harry wasn't sure he could survive another confrontation with the slimy Dark Lord. Especially since he was feeling so alone lately. Ever since that night. That night in the Department of Mysteries. The night he had died.
Okay, so Seamus Finnigan hadn't meant as much to him as the others had but still, Seamus had been his friend. Damn Bellatrix Lestrange to the lowest pits of hell. He wished that he could kill her himself in the most painful way. Seamus' death made him think about everything in a new perspective. He didn't want to get so close to Ron, Hermione, and the others just to have them die and leave him with the guilt. Because he would feel guilty. To him it would be his fault. Voldemort would target them because of their connections with him. Harry wouldn't have it.
As the ache in his head subsided slowly he turned to look at the clock beside his bed. 12:03. He had been sixteen for three minutes and not known it. Then he thought back to the dream. Someone had attacked Voldemort. And he had disappeared. What was that spell that the person had used?
Harry snorted. "What a nice birthday wake up," he said bitterly as he stood to open the window.
Instantly Hedwig flew in, followed by countless other owls. He took all of the packages, offered them some of Hedwig's water and food, and sat down on his bed. Most of the birds just flew off after being relieved of their burdens. Only Errol, the Weasleys' owl, remained. Harry took one look at the faint owl and snorted. Ron would have to start using Pig more often, even if he couldn't carry the bigger packages.
He sorted them out in two piles, the letters in one, the packages in the other. He tore open Ron's letter.
Harry,
Hey, mate. What's up? How are the muggles treating you? Okay, I hope. Look, don't get down on Seamus' death. You know he wouldn't want that. He knew the risks when we went. The big package is from all of us. The little ones are individual. Have a great sixteenth!
Ron and the Weasleys
Harry folded the letter and picked up the one from Hermione.
Harry,
I do hope you are okay, Harry. And the muggles are treating you all right? I hope so. Remember, don't get so bogged down with Seamus' death. You know he wouldn't want that. We all knew the risks when we went. So when are you planning on going to Diagon Alley? I'm going with the Ron and the others as soon as we can get you out. Wouldn't want to have you running around by yourself and getting into trouble, now would we? I hope you have your all of your school work done. I will not help you and Ron cheat this year. You'll never pass if I do.
Hermione
Harry chuckled as he reached for the letter with the Hogwarts crest on it. It was amazing how much Hermione and Ron sounded like in letters. Merlin knew why they didn't just give up already and get together. The letter was the usual Hogwarts list of supplies. What other things he received he would ignore until tomorrow so he would have something to do. Though the Dursleys didn't lock him up anymore, he didn't much like going outside where he could feel the Aurors watching him. It creeped him out, especially when they didn't answer him when he called to them.
He set the presents and the letters on the other side of the room and made to get back into his bed, ignoring the open window. Just as he settled down into his bed a brilliantly red and gold phoenix flew into the room and landed lightly on Harry's legs. Harry stared at it for a moment before shrugging and turning away to go to sleep.
Fawkes nipped Harry's hand sharply and caused him to cry out. He turned angrily to the phoenix but stopped at the sight of the letter that hadn't been there before. He reached out hesitantly and took the letter. He waited for fakes to disappear and frowned when he didn't. He opened the letter with shaking hands, remembering what Harry's last moments alone with the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry had been like. A very big disaster.
Harry
Please listen and hear me out before you even think to crumble this letter up. It is extremely important as you can see, since I sent it with Fawkes. There has been some strange developments that I have no doubt you already know about with Tom. Severus has informed me of them and even after a guest appeared. I want you to know that I, as well as several others, will be arriving tomorrow to escort you to Hogwarts, where you will be spending the rest of your summer. Happy sixteenth birthday, Harry.
Albus Dumbledore
P.S. Fawkes has been ordered to guard you until we arrive. We wouldn't want any unwanted Death Eater attacks tonight though it is highly unlikely in their Lord's current disappearance. Doesn't hurt to prepare ahead.
Harry stared at the letter in his hands before looking to the phoenix with a quizzical look. Fawkes only stared back as if he was daft if he didn't get the letter. Harry stared a moment longer before throwing the covers back again and rising, knocking Fawkes away as he got up.
"Sorry, Fawkes," Harry said quietly as he gently picked him up and set him next to Hedwig and Errol. Hedwig hooted at him softly which he returned in a soft trill.
Harry began picking up the objects scattered around his room, packing them into his trunk. He took the presents and packed them into a different trunk which automatically shrunk when he tapped on it lightly with his hands. It had been a gift from Alastor Moody, or Mad-Eye Moody as others called him. Harry still couldn't think of one reason the old and scarred Auror would give him something like it but it made it a lot easier to pack things away without having to force it all into one small trunk.
He quickly gathered his Potions essay and stowed it away with the other essays he had completed over the weeks he had been at the Dursleys. He didn't even know why he bothered with the Potions essay. Snape would fail him either way. He didn't get it but the greasy git just didn't like him, and because of his father no less. What a pathetic reason to not like someone.
He packed up his school books, and removed the one he kept under his bed to keep the bed steady at night when he slept. The Dursleys didn't like it when he made noise so he stayed as quiet as possible. And it wasn't like he was going to use the book again anyway. It was one of Lockhart's useless books. What a waste of money. Especially for the Weasleys who really couldn't afford them to begin with.
As soon as the books and essays were put away he climbed back on his bed with the photo album in his hand. He quickly removed the pictures he had put up on the wall. He didn't know what possessed him to put them up in the first place. The Dursleys, if they ever stepped foot in the room and saw them, would tear them off the wall in an instant. He didn't know why he risked them, some of the most precious things he owned.
As soon as that was done he pried up the loose floorboard under his bed and removed the Invisibility Cloak he had received from his father, his wand, and some leftover food he had. He sat Indian style on his bed while he ate some of the candies that had been set to him from Fred and George earlier in the week. He brushed the imaginary crumbs from his hands and threw away the papers. After he had check to make sure he hadn't missed anything he locked up the trunks and set them to where they would be easily reached if in a hurry.
Fawkes trilled sharply but still softly enough that only a grunt came from his aunt and uncle's room. It was a trill that said that he had best get into bed. He had pushed the time limits enough by taking his time to look over and pack his things.
Harry nodded in defeat and smiled at the phoenix, smoothing a hand quickly down it soft feathers. "Goodnight, Fawkes, Hedwig."
Hedwig hooted softly as Harry laid down, taking off his glasses and placing them on the stand that held his clock. It was already 1:30. He knew that Dumbledore would becoming early and he would be rushed to leave. That was why he spent so much time packing so he wouldn't forget anything that could be later found and destroyed by the Dursleys.
He closed his eyes slowly and let the comforting blackness of sleep take him further away.
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