Remember: Peace, Love, and be a Marauder! I mean, why wouldn't you be?
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Chapter 10- Hailstorm of Owls
The next day dawned bright as Harry walked into the living room, yawning wide. He took one look at the dining table and gawked.
"They're all for you," Severus smirked, waving his arm at the group of owls. Harry rushed to the table and grabbed the letter from Hedwig first. The owl hooted gratefully and flew to perch on the back of his chair. Harry plopped down and slit the envelope open. It was from Hermione.
Dear Harry,
Are you alright? Ron told me you weren't at the Dursleys any more; did something happen? His dad didn't seem to know, all he knew is that you weren't there any more and that your things were being sent to Hogwarts. Harry I hope you haven't done anything to get yourself in trouble, with the Ministry or Voldemort.
How's your summer so far? Mine's great, it's nice here in Bulgaria. Yes, my parents /actually/ allowed me to go, I was really surprised! As it turned out my parents knew the Krums or at least my dad did. He and Mr. Krum were pen pals when they were younger isn't that a coincidence? Well he convinced my mum that the family would take good care of me and here I am! Viktor is really nice, were good friends. Though I don't think the boy friend and girlfriend thing is going to work out, were really too different. But that doesn't mean we can't be good friends! He's been playing tour-guide mostly but I think he likes being able to show me around. You should see all the people fawning over him, it's disgusting! I guess that's why he likes me because he knows I won't do that. Oh Harry you should see some of the places here, it's wonderful! The libraries are enormous, though Hogwarts really puts them all to shame.
Write back to me as soon as you can, if you can. You had better tell me what's going on and why you aren't at the Dursleys since Dumbledore was so adamant about keeping you there. Oh and tell me where you are if you can. Stay safe Harry.
Love from,
Hermione
Harry smiled at the motherly tone of his friend's letter. He sat it aside and made a grab for Pig who was currently twittering around his head. He finally caught him and took his letter.
"Energetic little thing isn't it?" Severus said innocently. Harry snorted.
"Very," he replied dryly as he opened Ron's letter.
Dear Harry,
I hope you get this and that you're alright. It's been weeks since Hedwig left and she hasn't returned; I hope she's with you.
Things have been chaotic around here this summer, let me tell you. Dad's always busy now a days and we hardly ever see him. Mum knows what he's doing but when the twins asked he said that it wasn't any of their business. Of course that's never stopped them before. I've seen dad a few times with some papers and he always locks them in this safe that was delivered at the beginning of the summer. When the twins tried to break into it, it started shrieking so loud I thought my eardrums were going to bust. They got caught and boy was dad mad, there still under punishment. You've seen my mum mad at them, but not dad. He's never mad at them. Let's put it this way, take my mum's normal reaction and put that with my dad and times it by two. After seeing their punishments Ginny and I have decided to keep our noses where they belong.
Any way I hope your summer is going good where ever you are.
Your friend,
Ron
PS: Fred and George bought me some new dress robes to replace my old ones. They said it's because they don't want me to look like a dork again. They're really nice, black silk! But I can't figure out where they got the money. I guess that business of theirs is booming more than we thought. If you have any ideas where they got the money tell me.
Ron
"Sounds like Mr. Weasley has taken up his work for Dumbledore," Harry commented as he sat the letter aside and grabbed a piece of toast. Severus nodded.
"He's our informant inside the ministry, and he's good. So far Fudge doesn't have a clue who's leaking information to Albus, all he knows is that it's some one inside the ministry. Of course that would have been obvious to anyone," Severus said. Harry munched thoughtfully.
"I just hope he's careful, I'd hate to see what Fudge would do to him if he got caught," he said finally. Severus winced sympathetically and nodded. Harry finished his toast and looked at the two remaining owls. Deciding on the gray one first, he untied the letter from it's leg and unfolded it. It was from Lupin.
Dear Harry,
Are you alright? I hope you are because if you're not I'm sure Padfoot would have a fit. (Harry laughed at that)
So how's your summer? Mine's busy, Hogwarts business. Padfoot and I are currently traveling in Spain at the moment, in Madrid no less! The view from the hotel room is great. Of course Padfoot can't stand the fact that he has to be a dog all the time, he's posing as my pet. We're going to be down here for at least another week, just enough time for me to find you a gift for your birthday, hint, hint. Maybe we can throw you a party at Hogwarts. Yes, Albus did tell us you're at Hogwarts. Padfoot says it's not fair, you get full run of the castle like we never had, and not a teacher in sight! He's terribly jealous let me tell you.
Only three more weeks until your birthday, and you'll be fifteen, can you believe it? I don't think I'll be able to make it to Hogwarts in time, so if I can't happy birthday!
Love from,
Remus
PS: I need a clue as to what to get you, had anything special in mind? Let me know.
Remus
"They're in Spain," Harry sounded incredulous. Severus looked up from the Daily Prophet.
"Who?" he asked curiously.
"Remus and Sirius, they're in Madrid," Harry informed him. Severus wrinkled his nose. "In the weather /that/ place has been having? I certainly don't envy them. I like it nice and dry here at Hogwarts thank you very much."
"Rainy weather isn't a bad thing," Harry argued.
"It's bad when it's monsoon season," Severus countered. Harry's eyes widened.
"You know what, I agree with you, I like it here at Hogwarts." Severus smirked and went back to reading the paper, sipping a cup of tea. The last letter was attached to a large black owl. Harry took it and began to read.
Dear Harry,
How are you doing kid? Dumbledore said he took you from the Dursleys and that you're staying at Hogwarts, care to tell me why?
It's pretty boring around here right now, with all the rain. We're in Madrid if you haven't read Moony's letter yet, I know he's sending you one too. Don't be surprised if you see a few drops of water on this thing even though Moony swears it's water proof. (I personally don't believe him) See we just got back in from gathering information and I haven't had a chance to properly dry myself. Moony says I smell like a wet dog so I told him he smelled like a wet werewolf. What did he expect, I just spent the day roaming in places no sane man would go if he ever wanted to smell normal again and he expects me to smell like a bed of roses? He's dreaming. Listen at me, I'm babbling. Of course that's a good thing, I haven't done it in a while and that tells me I'm returning even more to my normal self.
Now on to more serious stuff. Has your scar been bothering you? Any dreams? You can tell me if you want, you know that. Write me back and tell me what you want for your birthday so I can get it for you.
Love,
Sirius
Harry sat the letter aside with the rest and sighed. Severus looked at him again.
"Something wrong?" he asked, concern peppering his tone. Harry shook his head and finished his breakfast in silence. Severus didn't press him on the issue but did look up at him from time to time.
"They all ask if I'm alright and I don't really know how to reply," Harry said finally. Severus sat the paper down and put his full attention on the boy in front of him.
"Well, the only way to answer that is to figure out if you're alright. Are you?" he waited tensely for the reply. Ever since Harry had had that nightmare he had tried his best to be a.....father. This was his first test to see if he was doing it right. Harry looked up at him, his eyes full of uncertainty. The look of concern and dare he say caring he saw in the other's eyes made him think. Severus was taking care of him, something no one else had ever done before.
"Yes, I am alright," he answered truthfully. Severus graced him with a smile.
"Good, then why don't you write them back and then we can start your lessons," he said. Harry nodded and went into his room to get a quill and parchment. Severus watched him go the smile still on his face. He sat back and grinned to himself, he'd passed! The boy felt alright and comfortable in his presence, something not many teenagers could claim.
Harry came back in, fully clothed and carrying the necessary writing utensils. He re-read the letters again then answered each one in turn. Yes he was alright. He was safe at Hogwarts. There had been a problem at the Dursleys and he couldn't stay there any more, at least not this summer. No, he would rather not talk about it. His scar had hurt a little but nothing major. A few dreams but nothing important. As Harry wrote something nagged at the back of his mind. Would he have to return to the Dursleys next summer? He didn't think Dumbledore would allow it. Would he have to go to an orphanage then? He sincerely hoped not. He was enough like Tom Riddle as it was, no need to add the orphanage too. Maybe he could stay at Hogwarts. Then he shook his head. No, the Ministry wouldn't allow that. The only reason they were probably allowing it now was other arrangements couldn't be made on short notice. Harry sighed again and finished the letter to Sirius.
"You done?" Harry looked up at Severus, trying to hide the depressed expression and nodded. Severus, however, was sharp and caught it. He ignored it for now, but put it away for investigation.
"I'd like to get a bird from the owlery to deliver the one to Hermione," he said. Behind him, Hedwig hooted indignantly. He turned and stroked her soft chest.
"You need to rest girl, I don't want you to tire yourself out. You did a good job going all the way there and then bringing it back. You've earned yourself a nice big dinner of raw meat and a long sleep," he soothed her injured pride. Hedwig hooted her forgiveness and flew back out the window.
"Well lets go do that first then we'll start." They headed out of the apartment and up to the school's owlery.
"What's on the list first today?" Harry asked curiously as they walked.
"I thought we'd start on your Ancient Runes, you've got a lot of catching up to do considering you haven't taken it for two years like most normal students."
"Who ever said I was normal," Harry said sarcastically, under his breath. Severus still heard him and looked him over again. Something was bothering the boy and he intended to find out what it was.
A/N:*shakes collection tin* Review.
NOTICE: I NEED IDEAS!!!! That's right, I need ideas. And I'd like you, the readers, to give me a few. Just a few things that could happen to them during the summer and during the school year, I need to fill in some gaps. I posted this in my last chapter too. Just put them in with your reviews. THANKS IN ADVANCE.