Disclaimer: I'm only going to say this once more, I'm not Jkr I'm not making money off this story, this is a work of fanfiction based on the writings of JKR with ideas from 1 or 2 other fics but the plot and any OC's are mine.

A/N: Sorry sorry sorry for not updating forever, I have no better excuse than laziness. I'm giving you 3 chapters today to make up for it.

Chapter Eight

That Dreaded Piece of Parchment

Harry thought a lot about that strange Occlumency lesson during the next few days. He tried doing as Snape suggested and filling his mind with different

images, trying to find which was the right one for him, but he had no luck with that so far. He could fill his mind with water but Snape didn't want him

to use that image because it was his own and Voldemort would see it next time he tried searching Harry's mind and would know that Snape was teaching Harry to occlude. Harry tried filling his mind with the image

of the stag that was his Patronus, or with the image of the black dog Sirius transformed into but it didn't work because they didn't stay still and his

mind followed them. He tried to fill his mind with the blue sky, but little white clouds kept floating across his vision and distracting him. He hoped he

would find the right image sooner rather than later, Snape was being reasonable but that would stop quickly enough if he thought Harry wasn't trying.

Something happened two days later that took his mind right off Occlumency. Lupin arrived in the afternoon and walked out to where the three of them were

resting in hammocks that Sirius had conjured. Harry was almost asleep when he heard the voice of his former professor.

"Hello Remus, what's that you've got?" he asked, noticing the parchments in Lupin's hand.

"Something you and Amelia have been waiting for," he answered. Harry drowsily wondered what Lupin was on about, but Amelia, who was more awake than he was,

got it first.

"O.W.L results?" she asked tremulously.

"Yes," Lupin affirmed. Harry and Amelia were out of their hammocks in an instant and were taking the two rolls of parchment from Lupin's hand. Harry's hands

were shaking so that he could hardly unroll his but at last he had it open and he read his results. He read them, re-read them and read them again. Over

all he was quite happy with them, he had an "Outstanding" in Defence Against the Dark Arts, with a score of 115 and he had "exceeds expectations" for

Transfiguration Charms Care of Magical Creatures Herbology and potions. He had expected the "Poor" in Astronomy and Divination, that didn't bother him,

but the one thing that did bother him was the E he got in Potions, because he knew Snape wouldn't accept him into his N.E.W.T Potions class and he needed

potions to become an Auror, which was the only thing he wanted to be. He tried not to think about that and wondered instead how Ron and Hermione had fared

with their results. Hermione would have got "Outstanding" in everything he thought, but he guessed Ron's results were similar to his. Then he thought of

Amelia and looked over at her.

"How did you go?" he asked.

"Fairly well," she said, "I was surprised with the "Outstanding" I got in potions though, I thought I did badly in the practical. I got an O in Charms

too and an E in most other things except for Care of Magical Creatures, I got a P in that, but it was because I only knew the theory, I didn't have much

chance to see many magical creatures, I don't suppose I will be allowed to continue it now," she said a bit sadly.

"an O in Potions, wow!" Harry said, wishing his result was as good, "but you needn't worry about Care of Magical Creatures, Hagrid will let anyone in who

wants to join I think, I don't guess he'll have many of us this year."

"Will you be doing it?" she asked.

"Hagrid wouldn't forgive me if I didn't," Harry joked, but truly he felt his big friend would be offended if he didn't go on with his subject.

"How did you sit for your exams?" Harry wondered. He knew Amelia had been home tutored and wondered if they sent out an examiner to test her.

"O we did them in the Ministry, there were a quite a few of us, we flooed into the Ministry every day for the tests and back home at night."

Harry thought that would be a bit daunting, doing the tests at the ministry itself.

"Do you know what you want to be when you finish school?" he asked curiously.

"Yes, I want to be a healer, and you?"

"I wanted to be an Auror, but Snape won't let anyone into his Potions class unless they get an "Outstanding" in their O.W.L.s so I guess that counts me

out." Harry was still trying to come to terms with that. He had been hoping that somehow he would scrape and "O" but he knew that Potions wasn't exactly his best subject. He felt disappointed and unsure about his future now, and he prayed to whoever might be listening that somehow some way he could continue with potions and do well enough to get into the Auror programme, but he knew he didn't have much hope with the way Snape was. If he was Draco Malfoy Snape would make an exception for him Harry felt sure, but Snape wouldn't lift a finger for Harry Potter.

"O I'm sorry about that," Amelia said sympathetically.

"Thanks," he muttered.

"Well I think it's time for a celebration, I have a surprise for you inside, come and see," Lupin said. They followed him inside, leaving Sirius who

was still sleeping in his hammock. On the table was two large peanut butter and chocolate icecreams from Florean

Fortescue's, and piles of cauldron cakes, pumpkin pasties, sweets and a flagon of Butterbeer.

"O this is nice," Amelia said happily.

"Yeah, thanks Remus" Harry said. They sat down and began to eat and drink.

"We should get Sirius," Amelia said, beginning to get up, but Lupin rose and said that he would go.

"O by the way I have these for you Harry," he handed two letters to him and Harry saw they were from Ron and Hermione. Harry opened the letters gladly and

began to read.

"Harry, I heard Mum and Dad talking about Sirius, the good old Extendable Ears still come in useful, so I knew he was still alive somehow and that you were

with him. It's incredible, bloody brilliant of Sirius to think of the Portkey when he fell through that veil thing.

"Percy apologised to Mum and Dad and he's moved back home, the git. Ginny and I still don't trust him. He says he couldn't believe that you and Dumbledore

were telling the truth about you know who, but he knows now because Fudge saw him. He really is the world's biggest prat.

"Mum sends her love and says if it's ok with Sirius I can come and visit you in a few weeks time.

"ron"

Harry didnt' know what to think about Percy, he certainly didn't trust the way he had tried to get back into his family's good books now, maybe he was still spying for the ministry. Harry thought the Weasley's should be more careful. He opened Hermione's letter.

"Dear Harry:

"Wow I can't believe that Sirius is really still alive, you must be so happy to be with him again. It's good that Dumbledore has let you spend the summer

with him, and Sirius must be happy to be away from that dark house in Grimmauld place.

"Ron and I will come to visit you but I think we should give you more time with Sirius first.

"Keep in touch, Harry.

"Love from Hermione."

Harry smiled. It was so good to hear from his friends. He thought about Amelia and wondered if she had any friends. It sounded like she had lead rather

a quiet life with just her parents. he could remember what life was like having no friends at all, and he felt sorry for Amelia if she had no friends.

He remembered all the times Ron and Hermione had helped him, and been there for him and he resolved to continue the friendship that was growing between him and Amelia and be there for her too.

Sirius and Lupin came inside and Sirius clapped Harry on the shoulder and smiled at Amelia.

"Well done the both of you," he said, happy for them, "But how could you start partying without me?" He and Lupin sat down. Sirius waved his wand and two glasses came zooming out of the cupboard, the

flagon of Butterbeer lifted itself up and filled the glasses, before floating to Harry and Amelia's glasses and refilling them. Then the flagon settled

back in the middle of the table. He took a chocolate frog from a pack and tossed the card to Harry. The picture on the front was Enid's.

Enid Llewellyn, keeper of Merlinswood.

Enid has travelled the world seeking traces of ancient magic. She lives in the south of Wales and earns her living by making and selling harps.

Enid enjoys visiting old Churches, music and reading.

Harry read the card and tossed it to Amelia who thanked him with a smile.

A/N: I wanted to say thanks for all the reviews each of them are much appreciated. I also want to make a comment in reply to one of the reviews I received, yes Snape is in this story and he's much nicer than he is in JKR's writing but well this is an AU story and I like to think that Snape has a human side. This isn't going to be one of those snape adopts Harry fics, but he does have a part to play. Also someone else asked me about Dudley, he will appear again in chapter 14. As for the Chrystal Cave influence I don't know where that all comes into the story yet but it will eventually I'm just following where the inspiration leads. Thanks again to those who have read and reviewed this story.