AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Hey everyone! This is Zoe. I just want to say thanks for coming to read the fan fic. Hopefully you'll review and love it! (But of course, if you have any suggestions, please present them as well.)

I want to say thanks to my sister, Jessica, the editor of this Fan Fic. Thank you Jess; for giving me inspiration and putting some life into the dead spots of the FF. You rock! Jess actually has a note for all of you, that complete summary mentioned:

Jess says:

As I promised: THE COMPLETE SUMMARY

When the trio returns to Hogwarts for their 6th year, they face many changes ahead of them. These obstacles include screeching birthday hats, Quiddich Tryouts, flying accidents, a visit to Hermione's house, a Muggle Prom, and Ron joining a band because, well... he has his own reasons, (you'll see). Then there's new romances for every trio member and a new student from New York City who, like it or not, makes life even more complicated. And, not to mention an attempt at murder and the climatic defeat of Voldemort...

This FF will be H/Hr, as in the title, but their relationship doesn't start out at the beginning. Naturally, they don't jump right in, and there ARE some complications involving other students that slow everything down. But, whatever you may be thinking, THE NEW GIRL DOES NOT GO OUT WITH HARRY! (I'll say that now, before you blame Zoe for creating a Mary Sue, which she is most definitely NOT)

Rated PG13 for language, moments of violence, blood, severe peril and, some thematic elements

OK. I hope that made you want to read the story. If you decide to continue, thank you! We love any readers and hope you enjoy it!

Jess

And with no further ado, I am pleased to present,

Patches Make the Fabric Stronger; An Hhr Fan Fiction

Chapter 1: Birthday Hats and Time Zones

It was unusually cold for an early August morning in Little Whinging. Not a soul stirred as a thick mist crawled along the dark streets. It moved quickly, slithering quietly, and it seemed to strangle its victims as it wrapped itself around lampposts and trees. It squeezed little bits of life into forgotten corners, leaving them to shiver and hide as they waited for sunrise. The only sound was the creaking of a rusty swing in the play-park off Magnolia Crescent.

The swing was occupied by a raven-haired boy of sixteen. His unruly, dark hair hid a thin, lightning bolt scar on the forehead of his skinny, tanned face. From behind round glasses that were beginning to fog up from the thick mist, Harry Potter's intense green eyes stared, brooding, at the mulched ground. His hands propped his chin up over his knees, and the boy dragged the toes of his trainers through the damp earth as he swayed slowly back and forth. A few feet to his left lay a large travel trunk, as well as a slightly dented, but empty bird-cage. Off in the distance the cage's usual inhabitant pecked at the damp ground in search of some tidbit or treat that might have burrowed into the park soil. Three more owls were scattered throughout the area, executing the same search of food as the first.

Harry cursed himself for being so stupid. He should have known that something like this would have happen. Stupid owls. Stupid- bloody owls! He picked up a woodchip and flung it as hard as possible at Pigwidgeon, the closest of the birds. Harry missed by several feet but Pig gave a frightened squeak and took flight anyway.

Stupid Ron. Harry kicked at the damp ground, spewing dirt and woodchips in all directions. Hermione would have known better. It was probably Ron's idea. Or the twins. It was probably one of their horrible joke shop ideas. Harry should have never given them all that money.

He remembered the look on his uncle's face perfectly: Purple flesh, bulging eyes, that big, thick, spitting tongue. Harry had found the owls funny at first. All decked out in their little birthday hats. They'd looked like five-year-olds at a birthday party. Then he'd tried to take the hats off and the stupid, stupid things had started their stupid, stupid rendition of 'Happy Birthday'. And then his uncle had come into the room and kicked him out. "Never come back here again!" That's what he'd said. "I told you; anything unusual, unnatural or out of ordinary, you'd be out."

Harry remembered everything perfectly. After all, all this had happened less than an hour ago. He could still remember the loud clanging emitted when Uncle Vernon had thrown Hedwig's owl cage down the front steps after his nephew, as well as the quick breeze of the door of number four slamming in his face. Stupid Twins. Stupid, stupid birthday hats. Stupid Uncle Vernon.

Harry pressed his cheek against the rusty chain of the swing. He closed his eyes and slowly let all the air in his lungs. Maybe he should go talk to Mrs. Figg. Mrs. Figgy. Harry laughed at his own dumb joke. The boy sighed heavily and pulled himself up by way of the rusty chains. He gathered up his things in a somewhat lazy manor and called for the four birds to follow him out of the play-park.

Harry walked the way to Mrs. Figg's house in a dazed fashion, pulling his tired feet along the sidewalk. A strange procession of owls followed him, and before long Harry reached Mrs. Figg's home; Number 24, Privet Drive. It was large, tan and slightly grotesque looking, just like the building to the left, as well as the house to the right and the one after that, and all the others that followed. The only difference between her house and the others was the large cat flap in the front door, and the brown, cat patterned curtains hanging in the windows. Harry grimaced and rang the doorbell.

……………………………

Three thousand miles away, on a different continent, and in a different time zone, a digital clock blinked "11:32 PM." Alexis Garcia, owner of the digital clock and occupant of the different continent, pushed the heavy front door of the apartment closed and twisted the lock. She turned her back to the door and slid along the roughly painted wood until she hit the cold linoleum floor. The girl didn't bother to smooth her black dress as it caught along the chipping green paint of the door behind her. It didn't matter anyway. The dress had been her sister's and had never fit either of them right to begin with, having been bought second hand at some flee market.

It was July 31st, a cool, summer night in New York City and Alexis had just come home from a party. Sitting on the floor and staring into the dark depths of the apartment, she recapped the night's events.

Monica had invited her to a local address and told her that she and lots of other people would be there. But, whatever Monica had said, she had been wrong. There definitely had been other people there. There had also been lots of music, dancing, probably some drinks, but no Monica. Alexis had walked through the whole house looking for her best friend, but couldn't find her anywhere. Then, after asking around, she realized Monica had been there, but only for about ten minutes before she decided to split and go off with some guy.

Feeling hurt and slightly disappointed, Alexis had then taken a muggle taxicab home, where she was now. The girl bent down and took off her heels, which had been killing her feet all night. Sighing, she set the shoes on the cold floor next to her and ran her hands through her shoulder-length layered brown hair with bright, peachy-orange streaks. Her lids were heavy over gray-brown eyes. How many times had Monica done this to her?

Alexis's thoughts were interrupted by sounds coming from across the flat. Her American Eskimo Dog, Nieve, came bounding towards her and the girl let the miniature husky lick her fingers.

"How are you tonight?" Alexis said softly, picking up the dog and hugging it to her chest as she stood up and walked into the small, but livable kitchen. Nieve wined when Alexis got near enough to her food bowl and she jumped out of the girl's arms to lap at the water provided. Alexis pulled open the door of the refrigerator and surveyed its rather sparse contents.

"Milk, soda, grape jelly-" she murmured to herself. "Leftover pizza, canary cream- yesterday's mail."

Alexis sighed and removed both the milk and the day-old post, leafing through the latter, but replacing it next to the jelly when she accumulated that there wasn't anything for her. After taking several gulps from the carton of milk, she returned it to the fridge and walked over to the couch, where her older sister, as well as legal guardian, lay asleep. After watching her sister for several long moments, Alexis bent down and kissed the girl on the forehead.

"Good night Steph," she whispered, and patted her leg for Nieve as she walked to her bedroom. She turned on the light and looked out her only window into an alleyway. It was dark and gloomy. Alexis pulled on the cord to make the shade go down and cover the window. She could still hear the loud muggle streets below, a sound she had become very accustomed to in the last few months. Feeling depressed, Alexis decided she'd hit the hay, and after changing into her pajamas, she fell asleep on her mattress without even pulling the covers over herself. Nieve curled up in a ball at the foot of the bed. This was an average day in the life of Alexis Garica.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: So, that's the first chapter. I hope that you liked it. You might find the 'Alexis' segment a bit confusing as of now, but if you keep reading it'll all make sense a bit later. Ninety-nine percent of the story is from Harry's point of view, but once in a while I stick in something from another character, since Harry isn't present. Just keep reading, you'll get it during the next chapter.

And not to mention, I LOOOOVVVEEEE reviews. Hehe. Keep reading! And to Jess: Thanks for MAJORLY helping me with the dead spots in this chapter. If you want to see the first version of this chapter, please see The Chrionicles of Harry and Hermione, another story on this username by Jessie, that is not likely to be continued but is still worth the read! Bye for now!