Warning: This chapter contains a rather explicit swear word *shock horror*… if you do not like that particular word. *I'm sure you know of which I am referring?* Then skip that particular word *grins* …
A/N: Right… back for a 4th instalment of ……. 'The Life of Harry' ……… and if you see words spelt incorrectly in speech like 'sort of' = 'sorta' then that's just how the person talks ….thank you! *lol*
Disclaimer:
I do not own anything to do with Harry Potter. Any characters that do not appear in the Harry Potter series belong to me. Unless there is someone in this world who bears an exact resemblance to said character, and has the same name and personality…then I apologise and take back what I just said!?!
…moving on…
Chapter: Letters and a strange gift.
**// Two asterisks and 2 slashes, joined with italics equals a flashback //**
Italics equals a letter or message.
Letters and a strange gift.
As the days passed on Privet Drive, they also got extremely hot. It was almost as bad as the summer before, though this time they got away with using hosepipes.
Harry had been working in the garden every day to keep it 'in tip top shape in the disgusting conditions', in the words of his aunt Petunia.
The day was July 30th and as Harry was busy pulling out a rather stubborn weed on the front lawn, he did not notice when a certain brown haired girl snuck up behind him. He could not however ignore her presence when she grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it at him resulting in him jumping a foot in the air. This sudden action also caused the weed in which he was tugging at, to come out with ease and also fly a few feet behind him, hitting his aunt's window (leaving a trail of dirt) and falling into the hydrangea bush underneath. After staring at the mess for a few seconds he pulled himself together and turned to look at the girl with whom he had been getting well acquainted with during the past few days in which they had met, with a faint smile. Their second visit was even more…unusual, should we say than their first ………
**// Harry had been on his way to the shops after his aunt had threatened him with the usual 'If you aren't back in 10 minutes then you won't get a dinner break today'. Knowing that his aunt fully well meant to carry out that threat if he not be back in 10 minutes, he had set off at a brisk walk. On his way he had bumped into a group of locals from the town. The fact that they were rather largely built, more in fat that in muscle. And that they did not take too kindly in being bashed into by the 'dweeb', they made to go after him. Harry, not wanting to be made into a bloody pulp, (he may have produced some muscle over the summer, but he really was nothing compared to these) he quickly ducked under the enormous arm and had thought he was out of their way when he felt a sharp tug on his collar and was pulled roughly back into the arms of what seemed to be the leader of the 'gang'. He was turned around and a swift punch landed in his stomach knocking the wind out of him. As he gasped for breath and saw the 'leader' go for another punch. A voice was heard through all the sniggering grunts of the other 'members',
"Hey, leave him alone you stupid idiot!" Rene was revealed as the others moved out of the way to let the leader get a better look at her. Her brown hair was tied up in a short ponytail and her eyes were blazing in fury. Her face was rather flustered as she stood there staring defiantly at him. He let out a low chuckle and asked,
"Oh yeh? And what are …" he laughed again, and then added mockingly "You…going to do about it?"
Distracted by the sudden appearance of Rene, and laughing with his comrades, his hold on Harry had become that much weaker. And with a deep breath he quickly grabbed the guys hand and twisted it sharply. Thus causing the boy to swear out loud and cry out in pain. After the sudden attack from Harry he let go altogether and cradled his wrist. Harry met Rene's eyes as she tilted her head to the direction of the shop he nodded in understanding and slowly backed away. He joined Rene and they set off walking down the road. They had just started laughing about the whole thing and Rene had started to ask if he was alright, when they heard a shout of,
"Come back here, were not done with you yet, you fucking prick!" And after watching them all run, or should I say …stumble towards them all at once, Harry and Rene looked at each other. Both thinking, 'We can beat them, bring it on you stupid bullies' then both deciding against it, they set off at full speed. They could hear them panting behind them after just 10 seconds of running and they both turned a corner and hid behind a car parked on the street. After waiting there a good five minutes, with Harry thinking 'oh great, that's my break gone now then.' They got up and went through the shop together. They talked about their school days and how stupid their nicknames and the people who gave them to them were. They were also talking about their friends nowadays. Harry was shocked to find that Rene didn't infact have many friends at all. Save her best friends Becky and Stephanie and now Harry. Harry arrived home after being gone for nearly an hour and had worked a hard 'shift' that day…//**
He was brought out of his trance by a hand waving frantically in front of his face…
"Harry, hello? Are you ok? You sorta dozed for a minute!" shaking his head to clear himself of those thoughts he smiled and said,
"Sorry… I'm just not quite there today. So how are you? Is you're mum any better?" he had been told that her mum was in hospital, suffering from a very rare cancer. Rene's face fell into that of a pained frown and she replied in a drained voice.
"She's doing a bit better. But the doctors say she only has… One year at most to live and…" she trailed off with tears forming in her eyes. She let out a small sob and sat on the ground beside Harry. He set down his gardening things and made himself more comfortable.
"I'm sorry Rene. I know what it feels like to not have a mum. But I spose that doesn't help much, considering you got to know yours and I didn't." he looked down at the ground and when he looked back up he was met with Rene's intense but pitying gaze.
"No, I'm sorry. It must be dreadful to know you never got to know you're parents at all? But I do know that death is a part of everyone's life and I spose we just have to deal with it when it comes around, I just wish it didn't have to come so soon." She said all this very softly while keeping his gaze. He felt a new kind of respect coming to the surface for Rene that he had only ever felt towards his friend Hagrid. Hagrid had said words very similar to that at the end of his 4th year and they had always stuck with him. Feeling that the atmosphere among the two was getting rather depressing he tried to lighten the mood.
"So… how about we go to the lake down the end of wisteria drive?" at seeing her sudden smile he silently congratulated himself silently and stood up. He dusted himself off and offered his hand to her. After helping her up they set off down the path chuckling at hearing his aunt's faint shrieks of, 'Oh my goodness….who did this to my lovely window? And my beautiful hydrangeas?'
They sat by the lake, while Rene took off her trainers and socks and rolled up her jeans to dangle her legs in the water not before giving Harry a good splash. They talked for hours. She had asked him if he had any embarrassing pictures of himself as a little kid from primary school days, as she had one where her face was covered in paint and her clothes were cut up from where she tried to make a bag. He had told her rather dejectedly that the Dursleys had never taken a photo of him as a child and they had never bought any of the class photo's that were taken by the school.
Deciding to move on she asked him about what he got up to at this 'boarding' school of his. She didn't believe one word that he had gone to St Brutus' and haggled him into telling her where he really went (save a few details, obviously) with a bar of his favourite chocolate…a kinder bueno! (A/N mmmmmmm *drools* Yummy…. *cough* anyway…) He told her about all his night time wanderings while barely avoiding his least favourite teacher, professor Snape. Rene visibly shivered when he described him to her. And angrily stated that he was 'an unfair bastard', when Harry told her about his grudge towards him because he went to school with his father and didn't like him. And that he took house points off him for every little thing.
After telling Harry about her least favourite teacher, Mr. ward, and how he always gives detentions to her because she 'doesn't pay attention in class', She gave Harry one last splash and put her footwear back on again and got up, she said,
"I don't like the sound of you're teacher Snape, but believe me having to stay behind every day of the week gets very annoying. It's not so bad for you because you have to stay there anyway." She went to the end of the footpath and waited while he scrambled up and joined her…
On their walk back he offhandedly informed her that it was his birthday the next day and was rather shocked when she turned to him with a great big smile on her face and began waving her hands as if trying to say something, while keeping in her excitement. In the end she gave up and stood there silently staring at him appraisingly, (A/N: Thanks to Loucat101 for that word… I couldn't think of it :-D cheers) as if wondering if she should tell him something. At his questioning glance she simply smiled and walked off. Harry ran after her and pulled on her arm…
"What are you planning Rene?" he asked accusingly…When she replied with,
"Oh nothing, just you know…what to get you" Harry began to grow rather scared. Nothing more was said on that subject as they walked back. As he dropped her back off at her house she gave him a swift, friendly hug and went inside. Walking back to his house he felt a warm tingly feeling in the bottom of his stomach and closed the door.
On his entry into number four he was met with the furious whisperings of his aunt and uncle and the pathetic whining of his cousin Dudley. Even though Dudley had been the junior heavyweight inter-school boxing champion of the south-east (A/N: Thanks again to Loucat101 for that) and acted all hard around his mates. He still managed to whine like a baby in front of his parents, and left Harry wondering how they put up with it. He walked into the living room and every member of the Dursley family's eyes swivelled round to him and gave him a glare. He was just about to go and get a glass of water when his aunt furiously whispered,
"Was it you who destroyed my beautiful hydrangeas?" Raising an eyebrow, Harry thought she was going a bit too far with this. The weed had only landed in the bush she only had to take it out again. But seeing how her eyes were silently blazing and her thin pale fingers were clenched into tight fists he chose not to inform her of his thought and simply shook his head.
"You mean" she whispered again, looking ready to blow her top with lava flowing out of that long neck of hers. "That you were not weeding the garden this morning and you did not choose to vandalise my property, which I work very hard to keep clean and…" Harry stopped listening at that point. He had heard her, 'I work so hard and how do you repay me' speech one too many times. As she finished, looking ready to have a mental break down, he nodded and said his apologies and quickly ran upstairs.
It was 11:30pm and Harry had decided not to go downstairs for the rest of the night. Therefore resulting in the abandonment of his exercises.
He was currently sat at his desk trying to writing a short poem. After 10 minutes of scribbling out and paper throwing, Harry gave up. It was hard enough to write a poem when it's quiet. Let alone when there's a dog barking repeatedly from across the road with his uncles ground-shaking snores travelling through the wall. It was not helped with the fact that the lamps fast dying light bulb kept flickering and he could hardly see the paper.
At 11:55 he changed out of his trousers, (which had been made very dirty and very wet earlier in the day, due to kneeling on the ground and Rene splashing him) leaving himself clad only in his black boxers from the waist down. He opened his window as wide as he could due to the immense heat building inside his room and took off his shirt.
He looked over to his alarm clock and saw that it was 12:01. He smiled at himself and thought …'Ah…sweet sixteen!' and jumped out of bed at hearing the screeching of an owl. Instead of fluttering in and landing on his desk like any normal owl would do. This owl decided to flutter round his room a few times and give him a few good pecks on the head before getting caught by Harry in one swipe of the hand. He quickly ripped off the small package and the letter, let go of the owl and sat at his desk to read it;
Heya Harry,
How are you? HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAN! Sweet sixteen. *wink* My mum keeps pestering me to ask you if the muggles are feeding you ok. She says you're too skinny!
Harry laughed at this, trust Mrs Weasley to worry about his health, when she has all those other mouths to feed. He read on…
Anyway I was just wondering if you would be able to come round this year? Me and Hermione had a little chat, and we think that Dumbledore told you something about why you have to stay at those muggles? Did he? If he did why didn't you tell us? We used to tell each other everything. I suppose that's changed since last year now. I'm sorry about Sirius Harry.
At this point Harry began feeling depressed again …
I know how much he meant to you and everything mate but…he can't come back you know, try to remember that and cheer up.
Well anyway, I hope you have a great birthday, god knows you deserve one and I'll hopefully see you before school starts. Oh and by the way Fred and George have made new 'cold crunchies'. If you eat one they make you go really cold. But their trying to figure out how to stop you getting hot flushes every hour after the effects have worn off. Mum's been going ape with worry because they have both been so 'ill'. It's quite funny. Well see you
Ron
P.s. I hope you like you're present, I got it the other day in Diagon Alley, the guy said it would be perfect for you.
P.p.s. Pig's been acting even weirder than normal lately, and I know by this point he's probably pecked you're eyes out…
Ron was not far off in this insinuation. Pig was now pecking at every inch of Harry's scalp, and was just about to peck his nose when he snatched him out of the air again.
So just give him the treat attached on this bit of parchment and he should calm down.
Without hesitation, Harry ripped the piece of corn, (it looked like corn anyway) and gave it to Pig. To his immense relief, he stopped fluttering and pecking as soon as he had swallowed and set himself on the desk. Just as Harry set to open Ron's present he was met with another screeching owl and after quickly telling it to be quiet ripped of the piece of parchment and the rectangular parcel and began reading;
Dear Harry,
Happy birthday! I hope you have a great day. How are you holding up? I really hope you're ok. I'll get to the point; Do not feel guilty about Sirius's death Harry, it was not your fault. Remember that. I know you Harry, you're probably thinking that it was you're fault, please don't berate yourself over this.
Anyway, how has you're summer been so far? Mine's been great. I went up to Gloucestershire to visit my grandparents, because I havn't seen them in ages. And they gave me this gorgeous necklace. It's a silver chain with a silver and blue topaz tear drop pendant hanging at the bottom. Anyway I hope you like you're present. I bought it because I think you could use it on the academic side of things…
'Oh no' thought Harry with a groan. Another book… He read the last paragraph.
Ron and I were talking about going round his house this summer, and how we wanted you to come. Are you going? Did Dumbledore tell you why you had to stay at you're aunt and uncle's? I hope you can, we will have a great time and I really hope you aren't as snappy as last year…
Love Hermione xx
P.s. If you're wondering where I got the owl, I borrowed Ginny's. She got an owl for her birthday last year and she said I could use it for a while.
Harry gave a small chuckle at this and put the letter on his desk. He looked out the window and was met with the usual Hogwarts owl. Which took flight immediately after he had removed the letter and flew off? He opened up the letter and a slip of parchment fell out.
Dear Harry,
I believe you have a lot on your mind lately, and when you return to school you will be busy with your academic work.
That is why I give you the choice of whether or not you wish to be made one of Gryffindor's prefects?
I believe you would make a fine prefect and would amount to the job perfectly.
I do also know however that you do not wish to deprive your friend,
Ronald, of being a prefect and standing out in his family.
As I thought about this I thought it wise to
make you all prefects, you work well
as a team, there's countless
evidence of that.
What do you say?
Sincerely yours Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts.
Harry stared in disbelief at the note. Never had there been three prefects. (A/N: Not that I know of anyway?) 'Do I really want to be a prefect though?' he thought. 'It's rather boring, and a bit cliché, considering I'm Harry potter, youngest quidditch player in a century. Then I escape Voldemort countless times. Me and my friends figure out all the clues to every mystery, every year. And now I'm going to be made the first, third prefect ever?' He shook his head tiredly. 'I would have to face all the taunting from Malfoy and the grunts from his goons. No… I'll leave it up to Ron and Hermione.' And with that he scribbled a quick reply to Dumbledore with Hedwig and started opening Ron's gift. He found an oddly shaped gem, made of what looked to be amethyst. It also came with a small silver stand on which to put it and had instructions. Confused Harry picked up the instructions and read;
The Amethyst gem is known for its exquisite qualities:
Worn to make the wearer gentle and amiable.
Amethyst powers include: Dreams, healing, peace, love, spiritual upliftment, courage, psychism, protection against thieves and happiness.
To activate the stone in a time of great need. Just hold it in your hand and say, 'Amythey activey, urgentei'.
*Pronounced* Am-e-they- acti- vey- urgent- ay.
The stone should heat up for approximately 5 seconds and shine red, then go back to its original purple.
'Wow' thought Harry, as he carefully placed it in its silver stand. 'This is really thoughtful.' He smiled and opened Hermione's present. He came face to face with yet another…book. This one however did look more interesting than the others.
How to react when the worst happens; Physical fighting - charms - curses and how to surprise your opponent!
That was the title written in fancy gold writing on an emerald green velvet front. 'I'll read that when I get sent to my room for doing something, in the next few weeks.' He thought as he pulled open his draw and slid the book in. He heard another screech and turned to his window. It looked like yet another Hogwarts owl, but as soon as he saw the name 'Harry' written in the familiar scrawl on the front of the envelope, he snatched it off excitedly. He hadn't communicated much with Hagrid last year and even though the gift was bound to be some cooking or other, he opened the letter and began to read.
Hey Harry,
Happy birthday. How does it feel to be sixteen? You're all grown up now; it seems like yesterday you was in my arms as a little baby. Cute thing you were. Anyway, those muggles better be treating you right, or they'll have me to answer to. Enjoy you're holidays and keep your head up high.
Hagrid
He felt a rush of emotion towards Hagrid and after taking a deep breath as he could feel tears prickling those deep emerald eyes, he opened the parcel. Inside was the usual. Rock cakes made by Hagrid himself. Harry laughed and put them on the floor.
'Well' he thought, 'that's the usual load. And after turning off his lamp he got into his bed…
He was just dozing off when he heard yet another screech of an owl. Blinking blindly in the darkness he threw the covers off of him and stalked over to the window, he could just make out a rather large owl heading straight towards him in the glow of the streetlamp. Standing aside he let the owl pass by him and he went and turned on his lamp, the light flickering constantly now. The owl was a very large owl indeed. Its big yellow eyes were staring at him and he had to look away. It had a small parcel in one claw and a small note in the other. As Harry moved closer it held out its leg expectantly. 'Smart bird'. Harry thought as he took the parcel first, inside was a small figurine of a griffin biting the tail of a basilisk. It was made out of pure crystal and shimmered in the darkness. There was a switch on the bottom. Harry, hoping that it didn't make any noise, pushed it. He jumped in shock as the model moved and the basilisk turned and bit the griffin. A light suddenly shone from the core of the figure, 'Yes' Harry thought, 'finally a decent lamp'. It projected the prophecy of which had been told to Harry only a month ago. After Harry and read the prophecy the figure changed again, back to how it was originally and projected another message:
You, my young griffin have been set apart by lies.
You have not been shown the true powers, of which you have to hide.
But fear not my young griffin, for I shall show you the way.
I shall unleash the power inside you, upon you're 16th birthday.
You shall show evil what the light is made of.
You will shine as if from above…
And you shall fight hard to survive.
But know that I believe in you,
And I'm always by you're side.
After Harry had finished reciting the message for the 5th time. The crystalline figure's light shut off and the figure moved, so both animals were posed as if to strike, opposite one another. Harry was left there thinking it all through in his head. His first thought was 'what the hell did that mean?' But as the words sank in, he began to realise exactly what it meant and he did not want to be involved in it at all. His second thought was, 'what does it mean, young griffin?' he frowned slightly and then his eyes widened in shock, 'no…no no no no… It can't mean that I'm gryff'…' he couldn't even bear to think about it. The ruffle of feathers and the slight squawk of the owl brought Harry out of his thoughts and into reality.
The note attached to its other leg lay forgotten when it was dropped and the owl flew out the window. He moved over to his desk and placed the figure onto it. He stared at it for a while and just as he turned around his lamp finally gave out plunging him into total darkness. 'Great' he thought as he felt his way around the room. 'Just what I need right now, a power outage'. After stubbing his toe on the cupboard and swearing out loud he found his bed and lay down. Just as he was about to ponder over what he had just read his mind was cleared of all thoughts and sent into oblivion…
A/N: Soooooo what do you think? This chapter is over 4,000 words …. I hope that satisfies those of you who wanted longer chapters. I just hope I didn't bore you and you stuck until the end to read the letter?
I would really like feedback on this …. So that means… *grins* ……… Review!!!!!! Please review …. I really want to hear (or read?) about what you think?
Make me happy and inspire me to write more… if you want more that is?
Thanks to…
Somekjljsdlfjn *if that's your name?* ~ Woah double! Um…why are you confused? I didn't think the last chapter was confusing? Was I wrong? Oops if ne1 else is confused sorry! I hope this chap is not to confusing! Anyway thanks for reviewing.
Mella deranged ~ Don't worry …it isn't going to be one of those; some parts are quite the opposite!
A member? ~ Thanks for the info on that site…sounds fun…I might join…! Keep reading.
Kurbani ~ Lol…thanks…I didn't think it was a puzzle? Ah well thanks you for reading!
Blueberrie ~ I hope I updated soon enough? Hope you like *grins*.
Raven Dragonclaw ~ Thanks…Yay a long review *smiles* I'm glad you like Rene. There is more of her! I'm not so bothered about the number of reviews any more. I've had 71 reviews so far for the first 3 chapters, about 40 of which were for the first one! I'm quite pleased though I would like for the reviews to go over 100 soon? Ah well who knows? The group thing sounds interesting. I might join like when I've got time! Thanks for reviewing…keep reading…*grins*!!
Jess16 ~ Thanks um…future chapters should be a bit longer…is this one ok? Thanks for reviewing though!
Jess16 *again* ~ Lol…thanks …Glad you liked the bit about piers and Dudder's girlfriend…Lol!
I'm sorry if I missed anyone out…I think that I wrote down some of the reviews and I lost the sheet of paper….*slaps forehead* silly me!! Thanks to you all anyways *grins*
Next chapter: Fights and suspicions
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LuvaboyDan*Hesmyman ~*XxX*~ \/
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