Chapter One- Lurking so near.
Harry Potter thought his troubles from his 5th year were over. With the dreadful O.W.Ls now behind him, and the prospect of getting over the death of his godfather, and the Magical Community aware of the return of the dark lord, Harry felt that he shouldn't have much to worry about this year. But as he lay awake, in four Privet Drive, on the Morning of July 3rd, he somehow knew his troubles were far from over for a throbbing and burning scar awakened him again, as it had done two years ago.
Harry Potter was turning sixteen in a few days and he certainly felt like he was growing up faster than he thought. He was a little taller than last year, and still skinny. His Untidy Black hair never fixed itself (nor did it ever fix itself when he combed it). He had green eyes and smooth skin. He was looking forward to starting his sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He was as always counting down the days when he would return to the place he called "home" for five years in a another month or so.
The Sun rose lazily in the distance, throwing sunlight into Harry's bedroom, and causing Harry to sit up. He had not wanted to fall asleep again, because his scar was preventing that from happening. Harry wasn't sure what time it was, but he also didn't care as he looked around his room. His birdcage was empty, for Hedwig, his snowy owl was out hunting and would soon be returning. His trunk was still packed and his desk was littered with parchment and quills, and several bottles of unscrewed ink. He told himself over and over that he must finish the letter he was writing to Hermione, but he didn't find strength to do it, nor did he actually want to finish it.
Harry found it rather hard to focus on anything these days, for he was much too worried about other things. One of them, being the death of Sirius Black, Harry's godfather. Every time Harry thought about it, he found himself annoyed and irritated and his temper sometimes rose, but he told himself he much watch that temper of his, for it could do loads of damage when not controlled.
Harry found it in his mind to look at the time. 6:04am. He turned away from the clock and looked out towards the half sunlit sky, and saw his snowy owl returning not with a mouse in her beak, but a letter.
The owl landed on the desk and gave a small hoot of happiness. Harry stretched out his hand and seized the letter.
"Thanks"
Hedwig nipped his finger and settled herself on the window ledge, as she started dozing off. Harry looked at the addresser of the letter; Ronald Weasley. He quickly opened it, and found Ron's chicken-scratch on the paper. He had always hoped Ron would improve his hardly readable hand-writing, but it didn't matter much. He began to read the letter from his best friend.
Dear Harry
Hello mate! How's your summer starting off? Better than mine I hope. Mum is on a rampage here at home, because she's sick of hearing explosions from Fred and George's bedroom. Just yesterday, she seized their Ton-Tongue Taffees and chucked them into the fire. It didn't help because Fred and George just went and made some more. Mum was furious.
Mum's been upset with me too because she says I should have done more with my Prefect standings this year. I told her with O.W.Ls and that cow Professor Umbridge and the fact that I stink at Quidditch, how was I supposed to do much? But at least she's stopped crying about Percy, because well, he's back home.
It was a bad day when he showed up, because Mum had just finished giving Ginny and I a lecture about the family name and honor, and that was when Percy came in. (He's done something to his hair. Wait 'til you see it mate!) He apologized to Mum and dad and mum went into tears and started stamping her feet saying she'd forgiven Percy.
Hermione's arriving tomorrow to stay with us, and mum is trying to pursued Dumbledore into letting you stay with us for the entire summer, or what's left of it. I hope he agrees because I'd rather spend time with a couple of Hungarian Horntails than with that lot. All they do is giggle, and talk about that stupid prat, Viktor Krum. It's a bit annoying really.
Well, I've taken the chance to get you an early birthday present so that'll be arriving tomorrow, and I'm going to go listen to Percy give his report on "security around the Ministries 'elite' members". See you soon, Harry!
Ronald Weasley
Harry was more than happy to hear that Percy was back at the Weasley's but he still wasn't thrilled with Percy at the moment. Harry put the letter down on the desk and noticed that the sun had fully risen and that time was acting very strange. Before he knew what hit him, it was 7am, and he knew what was coming; The Dursley's would be getting up soon.
Harry then took this opportunity to wash early and dress so that he didn't have to be in their way when they awakened. After he had dressed, wearing a pair of Dudley's baggy blue jeans and a blue T-shirt, he sat on his bed and began to stare up at the ceiling. Uncle Vernon's loud grunting broke his concentration as he left his bedroom and entered the bathroom. Not too long after that, he heard Aunt Pertunia wake up, her tiny silent footsteps proceeding down into the kitchen. Harry's cousin, Dudley awakened sometime later (8am) to be exact and Harry caught a glimpse of him waddling down into the kitchen. With his broom bright now, and all the Dursley's awake, Harry knew his day was starting, and not a moment had gone by, when Uncle Vernon's voice thundered through the house and yelled "Harry Potter"
Harry Potter thought his troubles from his 5th year were over. With the dreadful O.W.Ls now behind him, and the prospect of getting over the death of his godfather, and the Magical Community aware of the return of the dark lord, Harry felt that he shouldn't have much to worry about this year. But as he lay awake, in four Privet Drive, on the Morning of July 3rd, he somehow knew his troubles were far from over for a throbbing and burning scar awakened him again, as it had done two years ago.
Harry Potter was turning sixteen in a few days and he certainly felt like he was growing up faster than he thought. He was a little taller than last year, and still skinny. His Untidy Black hair never fixed itself (nor did it ever fix itself when he combed it). He had green eyes and smooth skin. He was looking forward to starting his sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He was as always counting down the days when he would return to the place he called "home" for five years in a another month or so.
The Sun rose lazily in the distance, throwing sunlight into Harry's bedroom, and causing Harry to sit up. He had not wanted to fall asleep again, because his scar was preventing that from happening. Harry wasn't sure what time it was, but he also didn't care as he looked around his room. His birdcage was empty, for Hedwig, his snowy owl was out hunting and would soon be returning. His trunk was still packed and his desk was littered with parchment and quills, and several bottles of unscrewed ink. He told himself over and over that he must finish the letter he was writing to Hermione, but he didn't find strength to do it, nor did he actually want to finish it.
Harry found it rather hard to focus on anything these days, for he was much too worried about other things. One of them, being the death of Sirius Black, Harry's godfather. Every time Harry thought about it, he found himself annoyed and irritated and his temper sometimes rose, but he told himself he much watch that temper of his, for it could do loads of damage when not controlled.
Harry found it in his mind to look at the time. 6:04am. He turned away from the clock and looked out towards the half sunlit sky, and saw his snowy owl returning not with a mouse in her beak, but a letter.
The owl landed on the desk and gave a small hoot of happiness. Harry stretched out his hand and seized the letter.
"Thanks"
Hedwig nipped his finger and settled herself on the window ledge, as she started dozing off. Harry looked at the addresser of the letter; Ronald Weasley. He quickly opened it, and found Ron's chicken-scratch on the paper. He had always hoped Ron would improve his hardly readable hand-writing, but it didn't matter much. He began to read the letter from his best friend.
Dear Harry
Hello mate! How's your summer starting off? Better than mine I hope. Mum is on a rampage here at home, because she's sick of hearing explosions from Fred and George's bedroom. Just yesterday, she seized their Ton-Tongue Taffees and chucked them into the fire. It didn't help because Fred and George just went and made some more. Mum was furious.
Mum's been upset with me too because she says I should have done more with my Prefect standings this year. I told her with O.W.Ls and that cow Professor Umbridge and the fact that I stink at Quidditch, how was I supposed to do much? But at least she's stopped crying about Percy, because well, he's back home.
It was a bad day when he showed up, because Mum had just finished giving Ginny and I a lecture about the family name and honor, and that was when Percy came in. (He's done something to his hair. Wait 'til you see it mate!) He apologized to Mum and dad and mum went into tears and started stamping her feet saying she'd forgiven Percy.
Hermione's arriving tomorrow to stay with us, and mum is trying to pursued Dumbledore into letting you stay with us for the entire summer, or what's left of it. I hope he agrees because I'd rather spend time with a couple of Hungarian Horntails than with that lot. All they do is giggle, and talk about that stupid prat, Viktor Krum. It's a bit annoying really.
Well, I've taken the chance to get you an early birthday present so that'll be arriving tomorrow, and I'm going to go listen to Percy give his report on "security around the Ministries 'elite' members". See you soon, Harry!
Ronald Weasley
Harry was more than happy to hear that Percy was back at the Weasley's but he still wasn't thrilled with Percy at the moment. Harry put the letter down on the desk and noticed that the sun had fully risen and that time was acting very strange. Before he knew what hit him, it was 7am, and he knew what was coming; The Dursley's would be getting up soon.
Harry then took this opportunity to wash early and dress so that he didn't have to be in their way when they awakened. After he had dressed, wearing a pair of Dudley's baggy blue jeans and a blue T-shirt, he sat on his bed and began to stare up at the ceiling. Uncle Vernon's loud grunting broke his concentration as he left his bedroom and entered the bathroom. Not too long after that, he heard Aunt Pertunia wake up, her tiny silent footsteps proceeding down into the kitchen. Harry's cousin, Dudley awakened sometime later (8am) to be exact and Harry caught a glimpse of him waddling down into the kitchen. With his broom bright now, and all the Dursley's awake, Harry knew his day was starting, and not a moment had gone by, when Uncle Vernon's voice thundered through the house and yelled "Harry Potter"