Disclaimer: See previous chapter. Or in other words: Most of the characters belong to J.K.R., only a few other ones belong to me!

A/N: Eventually I managed to post Chapter 6 of this fanfic. I hope you don't kill me for taking so long... I know, the prologue was posted back in March and now it's September, but hey, I promised not to let this fic unfinished, so here's the new chappie. But first, review responses...

Ferokeroberos: Thanks for your suggestion for this certain sentence. I never liked adverbs (as in German we don't have them... Wait, we do have them, but they are exactly like adjectives...) but I'll change it. I promise. And about Rachel... hmm... I really like her and for the time being I won't say more... Only that Harry will like her too. Lol. Maybe – but only maybe – she'll appear again before she's off to Hogwarts, dunno yet. But you may hope!

FSI: Thanks, if I need Chinese names, I'll take one of yours, but I didn't intend to introduce more Asian people and the ones we know (like Cho's mother) have already got a name.

Sheen Rox: Hey, you privileged one, I think you already got enough extra information, and we don't want to confuse the other readers, do we?

HoshiHikari4ever: I'm sorry to disappoint you, more about Rachel on 1st September, MAYBE I'll put her in before, but only MAYBE. And about Jake, I think we won't hear from him for a long time now... He doesn't have much to do for the plot now.

eLmOs WoRlD828: Hey, here's your update! Enjoy!

marshmallow-orc: If you don't know it yet, I like suspense! Lol. Enjoy the new chapter with even more suspense!

Special Thanks: as always to Sheen Rox and ER Monkey for doing beta-ing! #gives you cookies#

Chapter 6

A Bunch of Letters

Actually, Harry was still asleep, but his mind was already awakening, remembering what day it was today: Wednesday, 31 July, Harry's 16th birthday. He opened his eyes and noticed that it was still raining lightly outside, but a few owls sat outside his window.

He opened it and let the birds fly in. There were more than Harry had first guessed, and he was happy that his friends hadn't forgotten him. He took the letters and small parcels and was amazed that he had received several letters from Hogwarts.

Harry got birthday cards from most of the Gryffindors in his year, from Luna Lovegood and also from Hagrid and Remus Lupin. They had attached some small gifts, like sweets or in Hagrid's case, stony cookies.

Then he took the official looking letters from Hogwarts, which were sealed with the Hogwarts crest. He opened the first one, and while he was reading, a smile appeared on his face.

Dear Mr. Potter,

I am pleased to inform you that with this letter your prohibition of playing Quidditch at Hogwarts is abolished. This means that I am awaiting you to play in the following school year as the seeker again, and to make your contribution to lead Gryffindor to the victory and to win the Quidditch Cup in fair games.

Besides, I wish you a happy birthday.

Yours sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall

Deputy Headmistress

Harry could have jumped up and down in his room, but he didn't do it because he didn't want to wake up the Dursleys. So he grinned mischievously, feeling utterly joyful and delighted.

Then he took the next letter. It was just the usual message that the new school year begins on 1st September. A booklist was enclosed, and as Harry read the titles of the three new books he needed, he noticed that not one of them had something to do with Defence Against the Dark Arts. Why this? he asked himself. Does this mean that Dumbledore hadn't found somebody to teach DADA this year?

When Harry opened the next letter from Hogwarts, he knew immediately what it had to be about. The results of his OWL tests. And he was right. First he read over the text without memorising anything, because the large letters in the middle of the document caught his attention.

Harry James Potter, born on 31st July 1980, has reached the 10th Ordinary Wizarding Level.

He couldn't believe it. Never ever he had believed in such an incredible result. The best of all would be the 12th OWL, and to reach it you had to be really, really good.

Slowly his gaze drifted downwards. In Defence Against the Dark Arts he had reached an Outstanding of course, as well as in Transfiguration, Charms and... Potions? Yeah, he really had an Outstanding in Potions. Harry really couldn't believe it. His lips tucked into a smile of triumph.

"I knew it, I'm not the loser Snape wants me to be!" he whispered into his quiet room. He knew very well that Snape only continued teaching those students who had an Outstanding in Potions. And Potions was really important to him, because he needed it to become an Auror.

This birthday couldn't be better, could it?

Finally he turned to the fourth and final Hogwarts letter and his smile faded again.

Dear Mr. Potter,

On 1st September after the opening feast I'm going to be awaiting you in my office because I have to discuss some important matters with you. Parchment is very patient, though I think that it will be better for you and for me to explain you my plans in person.

Yours sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore

P.S.: Have a nice day, Harry! Happy birthday!

Strange, really strange. What did Dumbledore have to tell him that couldn't be explained in a letter, but wait until the 1st September instead? Harry shook his head to get rid of this thought, as a tiny owl was still flying around in his room: Pigwidgeon with a message from Ron. After some attempts Harry eventually managed to untie the letter from Ron's owl.

Hello Harry,

First, Happy Birthday! I think I'll have the chance to congratulate you in person. You will come to Mrs. Figg's this afternoon, won't you? Nearly everyone of my family will be coming, as well as Hermione, and we'll celebrate with a little birthday party for you. I'm telling you now because – hopefully! – you can get away from the Dursleys. And we have another surprise for you, but I'll tell you later.

Cheers,

Ron

Birthday party. Harry couldn't believe it. Today he would have his first birthday party ever, his best friends would be there... Now he only had to escape the Dursleys for a few hours to be present at his party. At his party.

He spent the whole morning in some kind of a 'floating condition', everything seemed to be wonderful to him. Today he only had to do the dusting in the house, Dudley still avoided him and eventually the cute chestnut coloured owl knocked against his window. Until now Marron had only brought anonymous letters, except for this one.

Harry read the letter several times and was simply amazed. Cho Chang, the first girl he had ever fallen in love with and with who he was still in love was still interested in him. He didn't think long about it – for he would be way too lucky today – but wrote his response. Instinctively he knew what he wanted to write and found the right words immediately.

Cho,

I don't know what to say. Why didn't you tell me that it was you who wrote all those letters? I'm just astonished.

You say that you love me. Is it true? I'm so sorry for breaking up, I was an idiot. On Valentine's Day I was just so happy, because you were with me and I was hardly able to think straight. So I messed everything up. I'm so sorry.

Would you give me a second chance? Would you give us a second chance? Would you be my girlfriend again?

Harry

So poor Marron had to fly back again and left Harry, being all excited and anxious. Would Cho want to be with him again?

In the early afternoon Harry felt as happy as ever before. He just had to change his clothes and sneak out of the house, before Aunt Petunia could give him some work to do. Uncle Vernon was still at Grunning's.

Harry searched in his clothes for something appropriate to wear. Eventually he decided to put on the black trousers of his school uniform and a polo shirt that wasn't too worn out. He couldn't do anything with his messy, black hair, but he was used to it.

Suddenly Marron returned with an answer from Cho. Harry was pleased to see her again, taking the sheet from her, putting Hedwig's water container in front of her. Hedwig scowled at him and hid in a far corner of the room.

"Here, Marron, relax a bit. I won't send you out again today, this means you can stay here, if you like. And now I know who you belong to."

He patted her head and she cooed. Harry thought that he could see gratitude in her eyes. Eventually he opened Cho's latest letter.

Dear Harry,

You have no idea how relieved I was when Marron returned with an answer from you. Thank you. I'd love to be with you again, so… is it official? Are you my boyfriend?

Yours, Cho

Harry took a new piece of parchment and a quill, scribbling hastily an answer. He had to hurry because he had to get to a birthday party.

Dear Cho,

Yes, you are my girlfriend, and I'm your boyfriend. If you want it. But you said you love me, so I reckon that you do want it. However, it feels a bit strange to have this certainty when we haven't seen each other for so many weeks. I'd love to meet with you, but I'm afraid I won't have the chance to get away from Little Whinging. I'll talk to you later!

Harry

He was quite confident with his letter and looked after Hedwig. She was still sitting in a corner, having her head put under her wing.

"Hedwig, would you please deliver a letter for me?" he asked carefully.

The barn owl didn't move an inch. She was still jealous of Marron.

"Please, Hedwig, I need you!" Harry said theatrically.

Hedwig moved a bit, Harry continued. "You do know that you're the only owl for me, don't you? No-one could replace you ever, Hedwig."

Eventually she flew to him and stretched her leg slowly and reluctantly. Harry fastened the letter and patted her head for a long time.

"Find Cho Chang and take my letter to her, will you, Hedwig?"

She cooed loudly, turning around, flying out of the window. Harry smiled and stood up to go to Mrs. Figg's, to his birthday party.

A/N: Sorry to stop here, please review, then you'll get the next chapter very soon! (Okay, within the next month...)