The Half Blood Prince Revealed
Summary :
Harry's summer before sixth year is no different from the others. Around every corner surprises, good and bad, and adventure of all kind await. And it looks like the gods have finally granted Harry a possibility for a nicer life. What will this mean for his 6th year at Hogwarts ?
General Disclaimer :
I am just playing in the sand of JKRowling's literary produced beach and am attempting to build my own sandcastle for others to enjoy.
02 Surprise at 4 Privet Drive
The idea had sounded great at first but in reality the almost Dursley free life made for a really boring and lonely existence. Nobody talked to him and for the first time in his life at the Dursleys there was no list of chores to be undertaken. He did get three good meals a day and nobody complained if he took a second helping. Harry's offers to help in the garden or with the dishes was always met with a resounding "No thank you" from the two elder Dursleys. Only Dudley had wanted to welcome his help at first but his parents did not budge and Harry was not allowed to help. At all. It left Harry with a lot of spare time.
But there were always school assignments, right ? Well. Not so this summer. After the OWLs students didn't get any assignments. It left plenty of room for revisions. He got through all of his first to fifth year course books in two days. It was hard to revise Transfiguration or Defense against the Dark Arts when you're not allowed to use magic. And he could image his aunt's face should he set up his cauldron in the kitchen to start on potions.
That left him with "Hogwarts, a history". Most parts were boring to read but a few chapters had interested him. Especially the entries on the Hogwarts founders had been fun to read. Harry had a special interest in Godric Gryffindor and found to his surprise the man had not only survived a normally deadly curse but when he returned two weeks later he had a lovely tan and a completely healed new scar on his chest in the shape of a lightning bolt.
But Harry was sure that even Hermione would not go so far as to do nothing but revise and read so together with the latest mandatory every-three-day-I'm-fine-note he'd added a little PS to please provide him with some interesting advanced reading materials and the occasional friendly visitor to talk to if they wanted him to survive the holidays.
Now a week into the holidays he wasn't feeling too bad. He would take a daily walk around the estate Privet Drive belonged to. Sometimes it would be a brisk fifteen minutes tour of the streets, sometimes a leisurely stroll to the park. And with a view to Mad Eye's constant vigilance he never did the same tour two days in a row and neither did he go out at the same time as the previous days. To the Dursleys he remained invisible, never spoken to or asked a question.
The nights were the best however. Harry could sleep without being disturbed by nightmares, or from his scar hurting of visions either sent deliberately or by accident by Voldemort. The only thing he kept dreaming about was the Department of Mysteries in the Ministry of Magic, where he would stand by the Veil, call out to Sirius and a smiling Sirius would always pop back from behind the Veil, looking better every day. Sirius would talk about Harry's parents, James' parents who'd taken him in when he left his own family at sixteen or about the marauders at Hogwarts, his uncle Alphard who'd chosen the Light side as Sirius had done. Sometimes Harry would talk about his adventures and about some of the things the Weasley twins had come up with.
Harry would wake up refreshed and in a good frame of mind but with so much time on his hand to think he would sometimes slip into a slight depression. And whenever his thoughts would stray to Voldemort, the Prophecy and Harry's future task and any indication came that Harry was feeling guilty or sad he'd start to feel a warmth coming over him, a bit like a reverse Dementor effect. He'd vaguely hear a soft woman's voice singing a lullaby or cooing as if talking to a baby, or he'd hear a man's voice telling him what a strapping little lad he was and how he'd buy him a baby broom come spring. He wasn't quite sure but he reasoned these could be his parents in better times. He'd check it with Remus, maybe he could tell …
Harry returned to his reading. In the chapter on Godric Gryffindor that man's personal life was much talked about. A fortnight's absence, later claimed as a relaxing holiday to faraway places, even made the big book centuries later ! Harry could almost see the future version of Hogwarts a history, where Harry was mentioned and his extra large hand-me-down clothes from his cousin would be twisted into a fashion statement.
Still chuckling to himself he quickly grabbed his wand out when he heard a strange sound, but just as quickly relaxed as he realised Fawkes, Professor Dumbledore's beautiful phoenix was announcing his impending visit with phoenix song. And indeed the next moment Fawkes alighted at the end of Harry's bed and deposited a letter in Harry's lap.
Harry looked down at the letter and then lifted his head and beamed a thankful smile at the bird.
"Hello Fawkes, if Professor Dumbledore sends you, it must be important."
So he quickly opened the letter and Harry had his suspicions confirmed.
Dear Harry,
I have little time to explain as your presence is urgently required at the Ministry. Mrs Malfoy is claiming the Black estate for her son and she is helped by someone in the ministry by setting this up quickly and quietly. However Sirius left a will and your presence is needed to claim it.
We are however concerned this might just be a plot to get you out in the open, so please accept the lemon drop I'll offer you upon your arrival here. Should anything happen you can use it as a portkey to my office. It will activate when you say "wormtail".
As time is of the essence, please grab your wand in one hand and take Fawkes' tailfeathers in the other. Don't worry about changing clothes Harry, for the time that we'll need I'll change your clothes upon your arrival. Don't bother putting this letter away, as it will destroy itself in a matter of seconds.
See you in a moment Harry
Signed in haste
Professor Albus Dumbledore
Harry looked up again, scrambled off the bed and walked towards Fawkes.
"Thank you Fawkes, for helping like this. I'm sure you know where we're going so lead on." At this he grabbed Fawkes' tailfeather and closed his eyes in anticipation of the ghastly feeling of magical travelling.