Harry sat on the edge of the lake, leaning against the rock he thought back to the last weeks, after Ron's Incident, Ron was delivered more bad news, he would have to retake the year. After hours of talking he managed to convince Professor McGonagall to allow him to retake the transfiguration and charms test. He spend most of his time working and revising, which in turn meant hours and hours in the library revising, along with Hermione, who at some points practically lived in the library . He still wasn't sure how he didn't see, yes he did know Ron liked Hermione, everyone in Gryffindor knew, but Hermione that was the shock of a lifetime.
Flashback
Ron and Hermione were yet again sat over Hermione's notes, now that Ron had to retake his tests, he had to try his best, as the other option was stay back a year, it the same year as his sister,he found to his great surprise that it wasn't as bad as he made out, yes it was dreadfully boring reading over dusty books, but the learning part, the testing with Hermione was great. Looking over the notes he looked at Hermione, she was just Beautiful, there was nobody else like her, yes Lavender was ok, but she loved to gossip, and he didn't like people who couldn't hold his secrets, not like he had many anyway. He was considering asking her out, one he had fallen in love with her, she was bossy at times but there was something about it that he liked, also he knew that if he didn't act soon Hermione may change her mind and turn to Harry, something he didn't want.
Still deciding on whether to act, Madam Pince came over and removed them from the Library, closing it for the night. As the doors of the Library's closed, he turned to Hermione, it was now ,he knew instinctively, this was the moment, and this was the time to admit it.
"Hermione?"
"Hmm…" she was still looking over notes
"Look at me please", he pressed his hand to the cheek and gently pushed her face so she looked directly at him.
"I Love you", and moved in to kiss her, Hermione who was surprised but pleased moved forward and kissed him.
Harry's View
Knowing where Ron and Hermione were, he turned the corner, to where the Library was. He stopped in shock, there in the middle of the corridor was Ron and Hermione in a tight embrace, books and notes scattered across the floor, clearly they hadn't noticed.
Pulling the camera, from his pocket, it was a present from Colin, snapped a photo, and left intending to find Colin and get the photos done, blackmail material was worth the hassle.
Flashback end
Still wondering how it happened, he noticed that the sun was about to set, getting up he stretched and walked towards the hall.
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Harry, Ron and Hermione sat in the compartment, playing chess, when a large brown bird fluttered through the window, it stopped allowed harry to remove the note before fluttering to Ron, sitting on his head. Harry opened the letter and saw it came from Sirius.
Dear Harry
I know you'll be worried about me but don't bother, I'm going to go on vacation, if you want some help or you need someone to talk to, send Hedwig, I'll be here. Oh and the Bird that came with this letter, give it to Ron seem as I lost his last 'pet'.
p.s
I Sirius Black, as Harry's Godfather, hereby give him permission to visit Hogsmeade on weekends.
"Ron, that owl, Sirius said it can be yours as he lost your last pet."
"Cool, alright I'll call you Ferdinand. Or Fed for short, now how do we do this again, oh Yeh.", Ron cleared his throat and spoke "I Ronald Bilius Weasley, hereby make Ferdinand my Familiar" a small bright white light shone from Fed, and was quickly put out, instead of dull brown owl, there was now a light brown owl, with grey streaks in it, along with black eyes.
"Err sorry, but what did you just do?" harry asked, never had he seen something like that before.
"Hmm…, oh I just made him my familiar and he accepted"
"I've never done that before" harry confessed
"Really, you're meant to as soon as you get it, otherwise the pet can just walk of and find another master". Ron explained
"Well I was never told, mind you Hedwig was bought for me by Hagrid, he might have just forgot."
"What?"
"Yeh I was in Ollivanders getting my wand, when Hagrid turns up and gives me it for my first birthday present", harry shut his mouth tight, hoping they missed his slip up but
"What do you mean, you first birthday present" Hermione questioned, piercingly. Harry mumbled something looking down. "Say that louder please"
"I've never been given birthday presents by the Dursley's" he said louder, and before they could say anything, he said loudly "I Harry James Potter, hereby make Hedwig my Familiar", Hedwig hooted as If to say 'about time' before glowed bright orange, far brighter than Ron's owl. It was a couple of seconds before the light died down, in the place of the white owl, was a White Phoenix.
"No way, that's incredibly rare, I mean super rare, you have to be more powerful then Dumbledore powerful to get one."
"I don't get it" harry said looking in awe at the phoenix perched on his shoulder
"Harry, Phoenixes aren't born, they are created, when a familiar bond is active between animal and wizard, they bond gives the animal abilities based upon the power of the bonded wizard, it is incredibly rare to get an orange, red phoenix, like Fawkes. White are even rarer, only one has been seen in the past 1000 years, it was Godric's" answered Hermione
"Godric's?" harry asked, the name being familiar.
Ron Rolled his eyes, looking at harry with a look that clearly said 'are you being stupid on purpose' then saying, "Gryffindor, Godric Gryffindor, he was the last one that had
She's Right, there has only been one other white phoenix, and that was the Familiar of Godrick Gryffindor, your ancestor. Even I am more powerful than her, you currently control 20% of your power, but even that was enough create me
Harry paled, he looked at Hedwig, in sudden shock
"What?" asked Ron and Hermione?
"I created Hedwig with 20% of my power"
Day to day you can only use 5%, but when you are in dire need like on the lake, you can use all 20%. I suspect that when you have unblocked your power you will have the equal amount of power to Merlin, but no one is sure, not even me.
Harry repeated this to Ron and Hermione who paled if possible more than Draco. Before Ron summed it up perfectly "damn, your one powerful wizard." They all started to laugh, it was several minutes before they noticed that the corridor outside was filled with people.
"Err who's is that Phoenix?" asked Fred
"Because it can't be" said George
"Ickkle Ronnikins"
"Because he isn't that powerful"
"Well its mine, I've just activated my Familiar bond with Hedwig, something I should had done a long time ago."
"You mean that Hedwig was your owl for three years and you didn't activate your bond." Asks Katie, who had also turned up
"Yes but, I've only just realised that I hadn't activated the bond
"Well damn that's one faithful owl, sorry phoenix." Said Alicia
Well you would be if you knew you could ascend
Harry Smiled at the comment, while Katie, Alicia, Angelina, Fred and George left the compartment
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It was another 4 hours before the next visitor entered, it was a fifth year Ravenclaw prefect, he didn't know her, but she was pretty, long brown hair with blue eyes, following her was another perfect, holding a stack of folders. When the Ravenclaw saw who was inside she tapped the stack of folders in her companions hand and said Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Three Folders flew out of the pile neatly and landing her free hand. Once the files had been removed, the boy with the remaining folders continued down the train, followed by two or three more prefects behind him, some of which he recognised. When they left, she turned to Harry, Ron and Hermione all of which were still looking at the new compartment member in curiosity. When she shut the door she spoke up "you each have one folder, which is linked directly to another from another international school, you homework is to write a letter to student with the other folder, over the summer you have to write three letters, any questions?"
"Do we have to do it?" said Ron before Harry or Hermione could even consider choosing a question
"Well no you don't but if you don't you gain one month of detentions and no Hogsmeade visits for a whole year."
"Just great, more homework"
"Who are we corresponding with?" asked harry, before Ron could complain more
"Not sure, we aren't told, ask them, that will give you one of the letters"
"Are we limited to just three?" asked Hermione who like usual looked like Christmas had just come early with the new folder in her hand.
"No, but you only need to do three"
"Alright thanks" spoke harry quickly before Hermione could ask more about homework.
The perfect got up, and left without another word
"Just Great got a phoenix, as punishment, more homework" Harry muttered, Ron chuckled sourly.
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The train slowed into the station a couple of hours later, Harry who had been talking to Hedwig, had agreed to go to Gringotts and remove the binding, as well as getting a new wand using one of Hedwig's Feathers for the core. When they arrived, they allowed the other students to leave before descending to the platform, moving along the platform they spotted a group of red heads at the far end of the platform, pulling their trucks with them they made their way to the redheads, who were Mrs Weasley, Ginny who had arrived before them, a redhead who had his hair pulled back in a ponytail, Dragon hide boots and armour, the other redhead was deeply scarred, this had to be Charlie, who worked with Dragons, which meant that the other redhead was Bill, the one who worked at Gringotts.
"How are you? Had a good year?" asked Mrs Weasley, when they got close and she'd given them a hug.
"Yes Thanks Mrs Weasley", said harry and Hermione together
"Yes Mum" Ron spoke late, because he was still talking to Fed.
After Fred and George arrived and humiliated Ron more about his love life, they all left, to make sure he didn't have to carry around his case, he asked Hedwig to transport it to his room back at Privet Drive, Hermione who was going straight to the Burrow, had told her parents via Hedwig back at Hogwarts, so they didn't arrive for no point. Harry who had secretly hoped the Dursleys never arrived each year, was yet again disappointed, the Dursleys who year after year slowly backed from the Platform were now sat in the car out the front, coming close Vernon opened his door and spoke "Come on boy, I got a holiday to go to".
"When you going? harry asked hoping he would say now
"When you I get you to Privet Drive" Vernon Spoke Gruffly
"In that case, go straight to your holiday, I've got things to do before going home"
At this Vernon pulled a face that clearly resembled glee, pulled a object from his pocket and threw it at harry, Harry who wasn't the youngest seeker in a century for no reason, caught the object, it was a key, realising this was the door key he turned to thank his uncle, saw that they had gone. Smiling bigger he had ever done when he thought about the Dursleys he summoned the knight bus, as the Weasleys, Hermione and Harry boarded, Harry spoke "Diagon alley for me, and the Burrow, outside Ottery and Catchpole for them.", when harry paid, waving away Mrs Weasleys Money, they sat down, Percy who had been busy with his badge, didn't sit down in time and fell over when the bus speed off suddenly. Swearing under his breath, Percy got up, and sat down next to Ron, who was stroking Fed absentmindedly.