Chapter 1- Gracious Hosts

All the houses on Privet Drive look exactly the same on the outside. They each have the same number of windows and the same number of outer walls. Each have a small black mail box on the right hand side of the front door. Some have families, and others have a single resident. Some have cats, some have dogs. But only one house on Privet Drive has a wizard.

"Have you written that letter, BOY!" yelled Uncle Vernon.

"I've already sent it with Hedwig one hour ago!" screamed Harry in reply.

"That bloody owl better have not been seen," Uncle Vernon bellowed. "or you will be out of this house in a blink of an eye!"

Harry did not respond. He slammed his bedroom door shut and sat on his mattress. The mattress that had become too short for him to lie on. This was the mattress that once belonged to his cousin Dudley. Dudley was a few inches shorter than Harry now, however, Dudley won the measurement contest when it came to roundness.

Can't he get a break, Harry thought to himself. Every few days Uncle Vernon and Harry would get into a heated yelling match over the letter he was to send to the Order of the Phoenix. Members of the Order, Mad Eye Moody, especially, requested a letter every three days to see if Harry is doing well. His Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon made sure that he send one before noon every three days. Other than that, the Dursleys did not bother Harry much. They feared that members of the Order would draw too much attention if they came up the walk way. Harry would love to see Aunt Petunia's face if Mad Eye Moody came knocking at the door.

Harry sat in his room contemplating how mundane his summer has been going. He still felt the guilt of his godfather's death earlier that summer. "I'm sorry Sirius." Harry would say out loud every night before turning to bed. Some nights he would not sleep. He replayed the scene of Sirius falling through the arch at the Department of Mysteries over and over again in his mind. Harry thought if he had not to fell for Voldemort's trap, Sirius would still be here.

Even though it would be a few weeks until he returned to Hogwarts, Harry received his first letter a few days ago. He knew it must have been from one of the Weasleys when he saw Pigwidgeon at his bedroom window. He untied the letter and gave Pig a something to eat as he read the letter.

Harry,

All is well here. Not much news about You-Know-Who or his Death Eaters. Dad thinks its because he has been outed earlier than he wished. We're all at Padfoot's place. Hermione just arrived a few days ago. Neville and his grandma are also here. I am not suppose to be writing you but I thought I would give you a heads up. Some one from the Order will be arriving at your uncle's later this week. You will be staying here for the rest of the summer. It will be good to see you again. Don't write back or they will know I wrote to you. Send Pig back ASAP.

Ron

PS.

Ginny and I have a bet weather or not you will have better O.W.Ls then I would. So let me see them before you let Ginny see them.

"OWLs?" Harry said. He hadn't thought of them at all this summer. He believed that Ron would have done a lot better in Transfiguration but not in Defense against the Dark Arts. He was sure Hermione would have gotten all 12 O.W.Ls. Harry wondered if he would be able to take all the courses required to be an auror. He hadn't thought much of it after leaving Hogwarts. Potions was his biggest hurdle, Professor Snape would not allow a student in his N.E.W.Ts class if they received anything besides an "O". It was very unlikely that he got an "O" in Potions, Harry believed. Professor McGonagall might be a little disappointed in Harry if he could not become an auror as she had planned, but becoming an auror was the least of Harry's worries.

Harry dosed off for a brief nap when he was awaken by a peculiar knock at the front door. It reminded him of the Hogwarts school theme. He thought it was a coincidence until he heard his uncle scream, "What the hell! In front of my house…in the plain of day!" Harry raced out of his and down the stairs to see Albus Dumbledore standing at the Dursley's doorsteps in full wizarding robes.

"Excuse me, I am here to see Harry." Dumbledore said politely. "May I come in..."

"I told your lot not to come here," Veron said growing redder than Harry had ever seen him.

"Especially when the whole neighborhood could see you."

By this time Dudely was hiding behind the kitchen door as Aunt Petunia walked in from her backyard garden to see what all the fuss was about.

"Oh my!" Aunt Petunia gasped as she discovered who the visitor was. "Please come--come in sir…"

"What?" Uncle Vernon asked, as he kept Dumbledore in the corner of his eye. "I don't want his kind in my house anymore…"

"Uncle Vernon, please, let the man come in." Aunt Petunia said in a haste, rushing to the door.

Harry saw her whispering something into Uncle Vernon's scarlet colored ear. After Uncle Vernon took a second to process what she said, Harry could not believe what was coming out of his uncle's mouth.

"Please s-sir, come in" Uncle Vernon said looking downward at his feet. Dudley's mouth flew open not believing that his uncle would let this man dressed in a purple robe with golden star s into their house.

Aunt Petunia began to speak up, "My husband did not know who you are sir. Umm- we had problems with wizards in our house before." She embarrassingly said. "Please understand…"

"No problem, Petunia." Dumbledore said with an amused grin on his face. "I too might have reacted that way if I was in Mr. Dursley's shoes'

Harry knew that Dumbledore would never have treated a visitor like that. He was one of the kindest men Harry has ever met. Dumbledore would more than likely greet a visitor by offering them sweets, instead of yelling at them. Harry met Dumbledore at the bottom of the staircase. "Hello sir," Harry smiled, "what are you doing here?"

"All in good time Harry, first let me see that cousin of yours."

Dumbledore motioned for a pale Dudley to come closer. Only with a nod from Aunt Petunia, did he start towards that oddly dress man in his living room.

Harry noticed a green bag in Dumbledore's hands. It had red lettering on its sides that read, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Harry let out a small laugh as Dumbledore gave Dudley the bag.

"Now, Dudley I don't want you eating anything from that bag." Uncle Vernon said while attempting to look into the bag itself.

"There is nothing wrong with, I got Non-Magical and Muggle Friendly Goods isle at this fabulous store." Dumbledore cheerfully said handing the bag to Dudley, "nothing will harm him, I can promise you that."

Before Uncle Vernon could reply, Aunt Petunia chirped, "That is very good. Sir, would you like some tea?"

"A spot of tea would be nice, I have had a long trip." Dumbledore said to a now very nervous Uncle Vernon, "But let me help you with that."

Harry saw Dumbledore take out his wand as whisper something he could not hear. After small blue spark from his wand, the living room coffee table had Aunt Petunia's tea kettle and serving dishes for all of them. There were even cubes of sugar in the Aunt Petunia's silver plated sugar bowl. Uncle Vernon's face went from pink to magenta it two seconds. Harry couldn't imagine what Aunt Petunia said to quiet him down. Also, how did Aunt Petunia recognize Dumbledore.

"Um, my wife says your names is Dumbell- door?" Uncle Vernon said gritting his teeth.

"Ah, I must have forgotten to properly introduce myself," Dumbledore realized, after scooping six cube of sugar into his tea, " My name is Albus Dumbledore. You can call me Dumbledore, I am the headmaster of Harry's school…"

"Is that it?" Uncle Vernon yelled, looking to Aunt Petunia, "Is that what makes him the most powerful wizard in the world?"

"Vernon, dear, wait-- I'll explain…" Aunt Petunia replied horrorstruck.

"Mr. Dursley please calm down." Dumbledore said quietly, "Petunia was just being gracious, I am no way the most powerful wizard in the world…in this house, maybe." Dumbledore said with a wink to Harry.

"I am here to take Harry away for the summer. Your family has fulfilled their obligation to him for this year. He will be back next summer. I hope that his absence does not put out you terribly. I will…" Dumbledore stopped to look down at his lap. He grabbed the chocolate frog that had just landed there and handed it back to a very nervous looking Dudley. "Ah, you have to be careful with these. They are quite tasty, but if you let them hop off and can't find them before they melt, you will have a hard time scrubbing the stain out."

"This is you, isn't it? Dudley held out a card with Dumbledore smiling and waving back.

"Ah, yes. I was quite embarrassed when they asked if they can put me on the card, but several Hogwart's professors convinced me to do it. It is quite a good picture of me, I think" Dumbledore said with a laugh. Dudley began to search the rest of the bag for goodies after chompping into the chocolate frog.

"We should get going, Harry." Dumbledore motioned for Harry to stand up after finishing his cup of tea with one long sip. Harry looked as at his dazed uncle and his nervous aunt as he walked toward the staircase. He was tempted to laugh at the whole situation.

"I need to get my things Professor." Harry said holding back a smile.

"I will take care of it Harry," Dumbledore replied pulling out his wand. Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon winced as Dumbledore said a charm that had all of Harry's possessions gently fly down the stairs and neatly stack themselves in front of the door. Hedwig hooted in her cage as it was placed on top of Harry's school trunk.

"Mr. Dumb-ley-der, please don't have those things fly outside," Uncle Vernon said with anger building up in his voice.

"You won't have to worry about that. I will put a charm that will make Harry's things and ourselves invisible to everyone outside this house." Dumbledore said attempting to calm Uncle Vernon down before he turn another shade of red, "I was under the same charm when you answered the door earlier."

Uncle Vernon gave a look of relief to Aunt Petunia. He was about to open the door when a look of terror stuck his face.

"Mum, Dad!" yelled Dudley. He was now covered in yellow feathers and had what appeared to be a half eaten custard cream in his hand.

"Dudley!" Petunia screamed, "What happened!"

"What did you do to my boy!" Uncle Vernon roared at Dumbledore.

"Oh my, that must be Fred and George's handiwork." Dumbledore said calmly, "Harry do you know counter-charm?"

"Just wait a few more seconds and all the feathers should fall off." Harry said laughingly. Sure enough, all the bright yellow feathers fell off of Dudley and on to the floor below him.

"Don't get up Petunia, I will clean that up." Dumbledore flicked his wand and the pile of feathers a foot high vanished into thin air. "I do apologize. I was guaranteed that all the items in the bag would be safe for muggles." Dumbledore said to Uncle Vernon with a twinkle in his eye, "I do believe there was no actual harm done."

"GET OUT!" yelled Uncle Vernon, "GET OUT RIGHT NOW!"

"Again, I do apologize for your inconvenience. Harry will be here next summer. I wish you all well until then." Dumbledore quickly opened the door motioning Harry to car in the driveway.

Harry smiled as he realized he was walking toward Arthur Weasley's old Ford Anglia.