The rest of the summer past quickly for Harry, with only one serious event that occurred on his birthday. As he sat in the familiar red train and gazed out the window, the memory of that day came to him.
♠
"Good morning Harry." Mr. Weasely said as he passed him on the steps. "Happy Birthday."
Harry blinked. He had forgotten his birthday entirely in his training.
"Harry!" Hermione suddenly came running over to him. "Happy Birthday." She said with a smile.
"Yeah, Happy Birthday mate- your almost an adult, well, at least in age." Ron said with a mischievous wink.
Harry smiled at his friends as he followed them into the sitting room by the fireplace. It was filled with people from the Order and presents.
"Happy Birthday!" They all shouted at once.
Harry laughed, but a pang of guilt shot through him as he remembered Sirius in the fireplace. But Lupin was staring at him with a searching eye and he forced it to the back of his mind.
"Are these all for me?" He asked finally.
Everyone laughed. "No we only wanted you to see them," Tonks smiled. "Of course they are!"
Harry was pulled into the middle of the room and he sat with his friends at either side; opening presents.
He had a magical bottle of hair dye that changed color and cut depending on the wearers mood from Tonks, a new owl cage from Kingsley, a book on various mythical creatures and another on broomsticks from Hermione, and a home-baked cake and his own golden snitch from the Weasely.
Then Lupin quietly stepped forward and handed Harry to packages.
"The one wrapped in silver owls is from Dumbledore." He said. "And the one with the broomsticks is from me."
Harry looked at the two packages and opened the larger, rectangular one with broomsticks flying around on it first. It revealed a thick book with a velvet green cover and amber brown trimming. As Harry turned the first page he swallowed hard. Lupin's hand gently touched his shoulder.
"What is it Harry?" Hermione asked who had noticed the sudden change in her friend.
Harry passed the book to her and Ron. It was a photo album, and in it was a collage of his godfather.
They both looked up at him with sympathy and Ron murmured,
"He was a great guy."
"No time for tears Harry." Mooney whispered in his ear.
Harry nodded and opened the package from Dumbledore. It was small and circular, with magical silver owls that hooted up at him. In it was a small bottle, attached to a golden chain. The Bottle itself was clear with a golden symbol on the top, and some silver-blue liquid gently rippling around in it.
"What is it?" Harry asked.
"A bottle of phoenix tears, from his bird Fawkes." Remus answered.
Harry stared at it with interest, and thought of his phoenix. He hoped that he would see it before Hogwarts.
After the presents there was talk and Mrs. Weasley's chocolate cake. As hours passed by and finally it was evening, Tonks suddenly walked up to him.
"Hey, thanks for the hair dye." He said. Fred and George had appeared suddenly, and besides given him a new shape-shifting potion that temporarily turned you into an animal of your choice, had poured some of the dye into his hair. It was now shoulder-length and maroon.
Tonks nodded. "Your welcome." She hesitated and then said, "Will you come with me for a moment?"
Harry looked around. The party had ended and now it was only himself, Hermione, and Ron.
"Okay." He said, nodding to Ron and Hermione that he was going for a minute.
He followed Tonks into a room he had never been into. Inside, the interior was plain with hardwood flooring and dark blue walls. A bright lamp hung over a large wooden table, and seated around it were members of the Order.
Harry looked at them all quizzically and his hair shifted to a dark green that spiked up.
Lupin gave a small smile and stood up. "You are probably wondering why we called you here?"
Harry nodded.
Remus gave a small sigh and continued. "Harry you are now sixteen, and no longer a child." He began. "You have lost your parents, and now your godfather."
The hair changed to midnight black, hooding his face.
"But you have a destiny Harry. You are the only one who can defeat Voldemort."
Red streaks brushed through his hair, and it resumed his own messy style.
"And here at the Order we fight against Death Eaters. But, now that you are sixteen, we would all like to ask you to join the Order of the Phoenix."
Harry stood, stunned for a moment. "W-what?"
"Harry, just listen for a moment. You need to know about Voldemort's whereabouts, and we need to protect you. You are an intelligent and mature person and we voted to let you into the Order, if you wish that is."
Harry thought about this all. He did not want any more responsibility, but being on the Order could help defeat Voldemort faster. He would no longer be in the dark, but being protected twenty-four-seven didn't appeal to him. But surely, they would not bother him at Hogwarts. And then they're where no more Dursely's...
"I'll do it." Harry said slowly. "I'll join."
The people in the room nodded grimly and Harry was allowed into the meeting.
§
When night came Harry crept up to his room and was greeted by a friendly visitor.
The phoenix had silently flown to his shoulder and rubbed against his cheek, comforting him with its lightweight.
Harry didn't try to talk; he just slumped onto his bed and stroked the slender neck, feeling numb and used-up. Sleep seemed useless.
Finally, after an unknown number of hours, the creature gave him a light peck on the hand and nosed him down into his bed. Harry fell into the soft cushion and was only half-aware of the sound of the phoenix flying gracefully out of his room
§
"Harry?" Hermione called softly.
Harry turned quickly and saw Hermione and Ron eying him worriedly.
"Sorry, I was just...thinking."
"About the Order?" Ron asked.
"Stupid people, as if you didn't have enough to do with exams and training!" Hermione said angrily.
"I choose to join Hermione." Harry replied gently.
"Oh, as if you had a choice. I mean, what were you supposed to say? Oh, I am sorry. I don't feel like joining you in your fight against Voldemort?" She vented.
Harry shook his head. "You can't understand Hermione. I did it because of the prophecy, because it is my destiny." His voice sounded hollow to him.
"It's not fair!" Ron exclaimed. "It is all because of that bloody Professor Trelawny! See into the future, open your inner eye! Bloody lunacy! You don't have to go fight Voldemort. Let Dumbledore do it or someone else, someone stronger!"
"No Ron, I do. I have to do it and I know I have to. Don't you see? If I don't defeat Voldemort then he wins! He goes on and destroys everything! He has already killed Sirius and my parents! If I don't kill him then everyone who died will never be avenged. He will kill everyone- you, Hermione, your family, Lupin, everyone! I have to do this!" He yelled.
A sudden noise made all three hush, as the compartment door slid open.
The person who entered wore a long, scarlet cloak that fell to their feet and had a golden feather latch on the hood, which covered their face. So, all you could tell was that the person was medium-height and relatively slender. The stranger seemed to glance at the three teens before turning around and sitting on the seat across of them.
"Who is that?" Ron whispered to his two friends.
Harry shrugged, and Hermione eyed the person warily.
"Not many people come onto this train wearing that." She said softly.
Ron shifted uneasily and Harry watched the person for any signs of movement.
The rest of the train ride commenced in almost complete silence, with Ron and Hermione whispering to each other and Harry gazing out the window. The stranger didn't move or talk to them until it was time to change. As Hermione left for her compartment and the boys exchanged glances of whether to leave or not; the person stood swiftly and strode out of the compartment.
They never came back in.
§
"Harry we're here." Ron called to him as they loaded off the train. Harry shook himself from his thoughts and grabbed Hedwig with his suitcase; following Ron and Hermione into a carriage. He saw the skeletal-horses again and thought instantly of Sirius, but forced it to the dark depths of his mind.
"Who was that?" Ron asked as they stepped into the carriage with Ginny.
"Who was who?" She asked.
"We saw a hooded stranger on the train. Did you notice him?" Harry asked.
Ginny seemed to think for a moment before saying, "Yes. They passed through our compartment, but it was full. Why?"
"They came to ours and it was creepy." Hermione said. "I have never seen anyone dress like that on the Hogwarts Express."
"You don't think it is a spy do you?" Ginny asked, wide-eyed.
"I don't know." Hermione replied grimly.
Further conversation was stalled as the carriage opened and the four-some walked up to the great castle.
"Home." Harry whispered to himself.
§
They went down into the Great Hall with the twinkling stars on the celling and the sorting hat on the chair. They all sat down on the Gryffindor table and Harry saw Draco and his cronies sit at the Slytherin table.
As the first years lined up, with scared eyes and pale faces, the Sorting Hat began to sing.
Times darken now again,
Evils rise and spirits stir outside the great walls of stone.
Yet even inside, shadows lie,
That no fire can ever break through.
For it lives inside the whispering moans,
Of all who remember the tale,
Of the four who built your home.
Gryffindor, bravery to boast, loyalty to all.
Yet, supreme justice was his downfall.
Ravenclaw, a sharp mind to whip, resourceful and cool.
It was uncompassionate that brought her fall.
Slytherin, cunning and powerful, quicker then the rest.
Still pride and darkness weed through this gate.
And Hufflepuff, dear Hufflepuff, charming and sweet.
My dear your foolish love brought down the grave.
A story of tragedy weaves within this rock.
And it comes to knock again, but it must be stopped.
Though I must divide you know, go and beware
The shadows of your own heart,
Are no better then the rest.
So go into your separate houses and remember this,
All houses belong to one Home."
§
The song ended and no one moved for a time, and then finally; Professor McGonagall stood and called for the shaken first years to take his or her turns, and still there was silence only penetrated by the Sorting Hat's calling.
As the line went by, another name was called; which belonged to a strange person.
"Celia Magnatine."
"Hang on, isn't she to old to be a first year?" Ron asked as he noticed the next person to step under the hat.
She was a tall girl, with wavy, dark chocolate hair and pale skin. Her eyes were midnight blue and almond-shaped, set in an oval face with high cheekbones, arched eyebrows, and full, glossy lips. Her skin was flawless and her body was slim and curved.
"Haven't you heard?" Ginny asked.
Ron gave her a blank stare.
She sighed. "She was an orphan and Draco found her passed out by his door. With his father on the run with you-know-who he is in control of his riches. He paid off someone in the ministry to let her enter Hogwarts. She is a witch, so it wasn't that hard. He let her come live with her and cleaned her up. She is going to be in sixth year, and he pretty much owns her."
"So she is Malfoy's personal possession?" Hermione said with disgust.
Ginny shrugged.
"SLYTHERIN!" The Sorting Hat exclaimed.
Celia walked gracefully down and sat by a smiling Draco, with much glaring from other Slytherin girls.
The other first years where sorted and Dumbledore stood up.
"I have a few announcements before we feast." He began. "Firstly, I would like to welcome all of the new students to Hogwarts."
There was a round of applause.
"Second I would like to remind you that the Dark Forest is off bounds, along with a various selection of items that Mr. Filch has listed for you if you wish to go and check…."
He looked around with his twinkling eyes.
"There is also, of course, a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. Her name is Professor Kryeen. I am afraid that she is unable to attend tonight due to a last arrival so she has to prepare for tomorrow. Now then, without further to do; let us feast." And with a snap of his fingers the tables filled with food and the relative silence broke.
"I hope Professor Kryeen is nice." Harry said.
"I hope she doesn't give us to much homework." Ron muttered between mouthfuls of food.
Hermione gave him an exasperated glance. "Well I hope she is a good teacher. We all need to learn to defend ourselves this year." She didn't need to say why.
As the feast ended Hermione gave Ron a gentle tap. "Come on, we have to go help the Head Boy and Girl."
"What- Oh, right." Ron made a face as he looked down at his prefect badge. "Sorry mate got to go."
Harry nodded gloomily and trudged up to the Fat Lady.
"Lionheart." He said before she could ask.
"Very well." She said testily as she swung open.
Harry headed up to the sixth-year room and collapsed into his bed.
"I'm back."
§
A/N-Alright, this is my longest chapter and it took me the most time to write. So, please review!