Welcome Home, Potter

"Hello Professor," Harry replied. "Not that I'm complaining but how come you brought me back so soon?"

"Didn't you read the letter from the Ministry Harry?" Dumbledore asked with a smile on his face and his deep blue eyes dancing behind his half-moon spectacles. "I suggest you read it Harry, we can't tell you what it says."

"Why not," Harry shouted at his Headmaster, "Why won't anyone tell me what is going on?"

"It is simply not for any of us to tell you," Dumbledore said with a smile, "you will find out soon enough Harry."

"Ok Professor," Harry said when Hermione and Ginny both threw their arms around him. Ron was patting his back while he tried to loosen the death grip Ginny had around his neck. No matter how upset Harry was at being kept in the dark again, he was happy to be back with the people that cared about him. Mrs. Weasley finally separated the girls from Harry and gave him a hug. Harry looked around the kitchen and couldn't believe all the people he saw. His guard was there, Professor Dumbledore, Mrs. Weasley, Ron, Ginny, Hermione who had already greeted him. Mundungus Fletcher, Professor McGonagall, Bill and Charlie Weasley, Fleur Delacour, and Hagrid were all also there. Harry walked around and shook all of his friends hands or hugged them as they said welcome home and congratulations.

By the time Harry got to Hagrid he was so tired of hearing congratulations that he was ready to explode. He wanted to know why and he wanted to know now, before he yelled at anyone again Harry began heading to his room. Mrs. Weasley announced that tonight they were going to have a celebration dinner and that it would start at six o'clock. Ron helped Harry grab his trunk and Hedwig's cage and carried them up to their room with the twins, Hermione and Ginny in tow. They got to their room and Harry saw Hedwig sitting on her post, she hooted as he came in.

"Fred, George, I wish you could have left Dudley like that," Harry said as he set down his trunk. "It is a very fitting look for him, and the ears were perfect."

"Thanks Harry, its nice to be appreciated," Fred said.

"Yeah thanks Harry, it was actually Ron's idea though," George added.

Ron's face turned bright red, while Hermione shot him a reproachful glare. Then she realized that she didn't know what they were talking about.

"Wait what ears?" Hermione and Ginny both asked in unison.

"You guys should have seen it, my cousin running through the house squealing with his snout in the air, just wish that they could have got a tail on him, then it would have been perfect! It was wonderful," Harry explained enthusiastically. Then he explained what happened the rest of the morning. When he was done talking they all looked at him in amazement. None of them could believe he actually got as angry as he did without causing some unintended magic.

"Well at least you didn't use magic Harry," Hermione finally spoke up. "You would have probably been expelled this time for sure.

"Yeah I know," Harry said then remembering that he wanted to read his letter he started looking for it. "I can't find it, help me find it please."

"Find what mate?" Ron asked.

"My letter from the Ministry, I dropped it when my guard showed up and then I picked it up," Harry said while tearing through his trunk, "At least I thought I picked it up". After all of them thoroughly searched through his things and didn't find it he gave up and dropped down onto the bed. "So, since we can't find it will you all tell me why I am being congratulated and why I have to go to the Ministry tomorrow?"

"Sorry mate, we have all been sworn to secrecy and cant tell you," Ron said waiting for Harry to blow up at him. "But we are all going to the Ministry tomorrow with you. We had to go buy new dress robes and everything, Mum picked some up for you too."

"Great so I have to wear dress robes but I can't know why! Thanks a lot," Harry shouted.

"Harry it is nothing bad I promise you, it is a good thing," Ginny said, then blushed as Harry gave her a smile.

"Thanks Ginny," Harry said feeling himself start to calm down. They spent the rest of the day playing Wizard Chess or watching Crookshanks chase after corks that they rolled across the floor. At 5:45 Mrs. Weasley came and told them to wash up for dinner. When they walked down the stairs Harry saw a huge banner that said Congratulations Harry and the table was set for a huge feast. There was a large cooked turkey on the table along with mashed potatoes, a large chocolate cake, pumpkin juice and butterbeer. They all gathered around the table and prepared for their feast. Before they started Harry stood up and asked if he could say something. Professor Dumbledore nodded his head and smiled.

"First I want to say thanks to everyone for this dinner and all of your kind words, although I am not sure I deserve it after the Department of Mysteries last week," Harry said this with a frown and everyone lowered their heads. "Next, I would like to say something for Sirius. I miss my Godfather more than words can describe. It still hurts knowing that he is gone and not coming back to us, and it is my fault. I have a feeling Sirius wouldn't want us to forget how to live on without him. I was looking forward to the day that we could prove his innocence and then live with him. Now I look forward to proving him innocent and avenging his death. I also want to say thank you to all of you, you are the greatest friends anyone can have, and I consider all of you as my family." Harry finished his speech with a tear in his eye while everyone at the table nodded at him. He caught Professor Dumbledore's eyes and smiled, Professor Dumbledore gave him a small smile at him and then reached forward to scoop some potatoes onto his plate.

The celebration went on late into the night, slowly the party goers began leaving the house until all that were left were Harry, Hermione, Remus, Fleur and the Weasley's.

"Ok, upstairs kids, we have to be up early tomorrow," Mrs. Weasley announced. They all shuffled upstairs and as soon as Harry's head hit his pillow he was asleep.