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Harry Potter sixth year
Thursday, July 31, 2003
On the morning of his birthday, Harry awoke to a loud bang outside his window. He looked outside and was completely shocked to see the flying Ford Anglia, which he hadn't seen since second year. And he was even more surprised to see who was driving it -- Mrs. Weasley, along with Ron.
"They've locked you up again?" asked Mrs. Weasley, a note of tension in her voice. "How dare they -- That's it! I'm going to show those Dursleys a piece of my mind!" She ran past Harry, used the Alohamora spell to open the door, and stormed down the stairs.
"Hello, Harry," said Ron.
"Oh, hi, Ron," Harry replied. "This I got to see!"
As Ron loaded Harry's trunk into the back of the car, Harry followed Mrs. Weasley downstairs to where the Dursleys were eating breakfast.
"Take that!" said Mrs. Weasley. Then she directed her wand at them, and the three of them were immediately transformed into bats.
Harry was completely bewildered. First of all, Mrs. Weasley was never one to criticize the Dursleys, at least not openly. More importantly, here was actually Mrs. Weasley, transfiguring the Dursleys into bats? He could see Mad-Eye, Lupin, or even Sirius doing something of this sort, but Mrs. Weasley? It seemed completely out of character for her. All he knew was that he had been awake for only a few moments and it was already the best birthday he'd ever had.
"They've mistreated you once too many times for my liking, Harry," said Mrs. Weasley. "Don't worry, the spell will only last an hour or so. Let's go."
So Harry and Mrs. Weasley returned to the car where Ron was waiting, and then she started to drive in the sky. But Harry had a million burning questions on his mind.
"How did you get the car back?" he asked.
"Dumbledore found it about a month ago," Ron began. "He saw it while trying to save Umbitch -- I mean, Umbridge -- from the Forbidden Forest. Though I don't see why Dumbledore couldn't have just left her for the centaurs to finish off. He honked the horn to scare them away, then drove her back to the castle."
So that's how Dumbledore had saved Umbridge from the forest, Harry thought to himself.
"Then the headmaster returned the car to its owner, my husband," Mrs. Weasley added.
"But I thought you hated this car," said Harry.
"Yes, but Dumbledore drove it, and anything that's fine by Dumbledore is fine by me. And considering the circumstances, there was no other way to fetch you."
Harry was still amazed at how Mrs. Weasley had taken on the Dursleys like that. As the car soared away from Little Whinging, he asked, "Where exactly are we going, anyway?"
"Why, to the Order of the Phoenix headquarters, of course," said Mrs. Weasley.
Harry sighed. He did not look forward to going back to Twelve Grimmauld Place. After all, the home had belonged to Sirius, and returning there would only bring back painful memories.
A few hours later, Harry looked outside the car, expecting to see the bustling streets of London at any moment. But instead, as the car began to descend, he saw the quiet streets of Ottery St.-Catchpole instead. Harry began to smile.
"We're going to the Burrow?" he asked.
"Yes," Ron answered with delight.
"But I thought you said we were going to Twelve Grimmauld Place," said Harry.
"Well," began Mrs. Weasley, "ever since Sirius, the last Black descendant, passed away, the house has sealed itself up. No one, not even Dumbledore, can get inside. So we moved our headquarters to the Burrow."
Now Harry was in a much better mood than before. First, Mrs. Weasley had given the Dursleys what they had coming to them, and now she was taking him to the Burrow. He was so grateful that he did not remind Ron that it was his birthday and that he was wondering when Ron was going to give him his birthday present.
The Ford Anglia landed at the Burrow, and Harry, Ron, and Mrs. Weasley entered. At first, the room was quite dark, reminding Harry unpleasantly of Twelve Grimmauld Place. Then suddenly, the room became bright and about a dozen voices yelled in unison, "Surprise!"
"Happy Birthday, Harry!" said Lupin excitedly.
Harry looked around the room. Apparently many wizards have gathered together to have a surprise birthday party for Harry. There were several members of the Order present, including Hagrid, Mad-Eye Moody, and Nymphadora Tonks. Ron's siblings Fred, George, and Ginny were also present. He was startled to find his classmate Neville Longbottom standing next to him.
"It's my birthday too, you know," said Neville.
As Harry looked around at the decorations, including a banner reading "Happy Birthday, Harry (and Neville)," he was reminded of Voldemort's prophecy and Dumbledore's explanation that he and Neville shared a birthday. Both were born sixteen years ago, "as the seventh month dies."
Neville was not the only classmate from Hogwarts at the party. Many of Harry's friends from Gryffindor, including Seamus Finnegan, Dean Thomas, Parvati Patil, and Lavender Brown, were also at the party. Even the house-elf Dobby was there.
"I put up the decorations myself," said Dobby in his usually wheezy voice. That explained why "(and Neville)" was written in much tinier letters than the rest of the banner.
But Harry noticed that, with so many friends present at the Burrow, that one person was conspicuously absent.
"Ron," said Harry suddenly, "where's Hermione?"
"I dunno," Ron replied. "I've been sending owls to her the last few days, but she hasn't been answering them."
Harry felt slightly concerned for Hermione's whereabouts. But that all changed when Mrs. Weasley announced, "The meal is ready!"
As Harry had been fed only table scraps from the Dursleys the past few days, he was famished and eager to eat a big meal. There was a great big ham with all the trimmings. As he ate he chuckled as he thought about the Dursleys' being turned into bats. For dessert there was Harry's usual favorites, fruitcakes, chocolate frogs and Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. Then it was time for him to open his gifts.
"Mine first," said Ron. Harry opened them to find tickets to Ron's favorite Quidditch team, the Chudley Cannons.
"Thanks," said Harry. It had been two years since he'd last seen a professional match.
Among the many gifts Harry recieved, Dobby gave him the usual mismatched socks, Hagrid the book "Quidditch Through the Ages," Parvati eau de cologne, and Neville a Remembrall.
"Thanks, Neville," said Harry, "but I didn't get anything for you."
"That's okay," Neville insisted. "I mean, the way the Dursleys treat you, I know you didn't have the opportunity to go out and buy me anything."
"Who's up for some Quidditch?" asked Fred and George together.
So Harry and Ron grabbed their brooms and started outside. Ron asked, "Would you care to join us, Ginny?"
"No thanks," said Ginny. She was holding hands with her boyfriend, Dean Thomas. "Dean wouldn't want --"
"Let's both play Quidditch," said Dean.
And so they played three-on-three the rest of the afternoon, sans the snitch, of course. At the end of the day Harry went back inside, a little depressed. Sure, he had enjoyed his birthday gifts, but no one could give him the one thing he wanted most. All he really wanted was to see his godfather Sirius live once again.
He sat alone in Ron's room. A little later, Lupin entered.
"One last present, Harry," he said. Harry opened it. It was an old Hogwarts yearbook, from the year Lupin, Sirius, and his father had graduated.
"I know it's not the same as having Sirius back," said Lupin.
Harry opened the book. He saw Sirius smiling and waving at him, standing next to Lupin, Pettigrew, and his parents.
"Thanks," said Harry slowly as Lupin left. Harry was in a slightly better mood. As he prepared himself for bed, he realized that no number of old pictures of Sirius, no matter how happy Sirius was in the photos, would ever bring back his godfather from the dead.
"They've locked you up again?" asked Mrs. Weasley, a note of tension in her voice. "How dare they -- That's it! I'm going to show those Dursleys a piece of my mind!" She ran past Harry, used the Alohamora spell to open the door, and stormed down the stairs.
"Hello, Harry," said Ron.
"Oh, hi, Ron," Harry replied. "This I got to see!"
As Ron loaded Harry's trunk into the back of the car, Harry followed Mrs. Weasley downstairs to where the Dursleys were eating breakfast.
"Take that!" said Mrs. Weasley. Then she directed her wand at them, and the three of them were immediately transformed into bats.
Harry was completely bewildered. First of all, Mrs. Weasley was never one to criticize the Dursleys, at least not openly. More importantly, here was actually Mrs. Weasley, transfiguring the Dursleys into bats? He could see Mad-Eye, Lupin, or even Sirius doing something of this sort, but Mrs. Weasley? It seemed completely out of character for her. All he knew was that he had been awake for only a few moments and it was already the best birthday he'd ever had.
"They've mistreated you once too many times for my liking, Harry," said Mrs. Weasley. "Don't worry, the spell will only last an hour or so. Let's go."
So Harry and Mrs. Weasley returned to the car where Ron was waiting, and then she started to drive in the sky. But Harry had a million burning questions on his mind.
"How did you get the car back?" he asked.
"Dumbledore found it about a month ago," Ron began. "He saw it while trying to save Umbitch -- I mean, Umbridge -- from the Forbidden Forest. Though I don't see why Dumbledore couldn't have just left her for the centaurs to finish off. He honked the horn to scare them away, then drove her back to the castle."
So that's how Dumbledore had saved Umbridge from the forest, Harry thought to himself.
"Then the headmaster returned the car to its owner, my husband," Mrs. Weasley added.
"But I thought you hated this car," said Harry.
"Yes, but Dumbledore drove it, and anything that's fine by Dumbledore is fine by me. And considering the circumstances, there was no other way to fetch you."
Harry was still amazed at how Mrs. Weasley had taken on the Dursleys like that. As the car soared away from Little Whinging, he asked, "Where exactly are we going, anyway?"
"Why, to the Order of the Phoenix headquarters, of course," said Mrs. Weasley.
Harry sighed. He did not look forward to going back to Twelve Grimmauld Place. After all, the home had belonged to Sirius, and returning there would only bring back painful memories.
A few hours later, Harry looked outside the car, expecting to see the bustling streets of London at any moment. But instead, as the car began to descend, he saw the quiet streets of Ottery St.-Catchpole instead. Harry began to smile.
"We're going to the Burrow?" he asked.
"Yes," Ron answered with delight.
"But I thought you said we were going to Twelve Grimmauld Place," said Harry.
"Well," began Mrs. Weasley, "ever since Sirius, the last Black descendant, passed away, the house has sealed itself up. No one, not even Dumbledore, can get inside. So we moved our headquarters to the Burrow."
Now Harry was in a much better mood than before. First, Mrs. Weasley had given the Dursleys what they had coming to them, and now she was taking him to the Burrow. He was so grateful that he did not remind Ron that it was his birthday and that he was wondering when Ron was going to give him his birthday present.
The Ford Anglia landed at the Burrow, and Harry, Ron, and Mrs. Weasley entered. At first, the room was quite dark, reminding Harry unpleasantly of Twelve Grimmauld Place. Then suddenly, the room became bright and about a dozen voices yelled in unison, "Surprise!"
"Happy Birthday, Harry!" said Lupin excitedly.
Harry looked around the room. Apparently many wizards have gathered together to have a surprise birthday party for Harry. There were several members of the Order present, including Hagrid, Mad-Eye Moody, and Nymphadora Tonks. Ron's siblings Fred, George, and Ginny were also present. He was startled to find his classmate Neville Longbottom standing next to him.
"It's my birthday too, you know," said Neville.
As Harry looked around at the decorations, including a banner reading "Happy Birthday, Harry (and Neville)," he was reminded of Voldemort's prophecy and Dumbledore's explanation that he and Neville shared a birthday. Both were born sixteen years ago, "as the seventh month dies."
Neville was not the only classmate from Hogwarts at the party. Many of Harry's friends from Gryffindor, including Seamus Finnegan, Dean Thomas, Parvati Patil, and Lavender Brown, were also at the party. Even the house-elf Dobby was there.
"I put up the decorations myself," said Dobby in his usually wheezy voice. That explained why "(and Neville)" was written in much tinier letters than the rest of the banner.
But Harry noticed that, with so many friends present at the Burrow, that one person was conspicuously absent.
"Ron," said Harry suddenly, "where's Hermione?"
"I dunno," Ron replied. "I've been sending owls to her the last few days, but she hasn't been answering them."
Harry felt slightly concerned for Hermione's whereabouts. But that all changed when Mrs. Weasley announced, "The meal is ready!"
As Harry had been fed only table scraps from the Dursleys the past few days, he was famished and eager to eat a big meal. There was a great big ham with all the trimmings. As he ate he chuckled as he thought about the Dursleys' being turned into bats. For dessert there was Harry's usual favorites, fruitcakes, chocolate frogs and Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. Then it was time for him to open his gifts.
"Mine first," said Ron. Harry opened them to find tickets to Ron's favorite Quidditch team, the Chudley Cannons.
"Thanks," said Harry. It had been two years since he'd last seen a professional match.
Among the many gifts Harry recieved, Dobby gave him the usual mismatched socks, Hagrid the book "Quidditch Through the Ages," Parvati eau de cologne, and Neville a Remembrall.
"Thanks, Neville," said Harry, "but I didn't get anything for you."
"That's okay," Neville insisted. "I mean, the way the Dursleys treat you, I know you didn't have the opportunity to go out and buy me anything."
"Who's up for some Quidditch?" asked Fred and George together.
So Harry and Ron grabbed their brooms and started outside. Ron asked, "Would you care to join us, Ginny?"
"No thanks," said Ginny. She was holding hands with her boyfriend, Dean Thomas. "Dean wouldn't want --"
"Let's both play Quidditch," said Dean.
And so they played three-on-three the rest of the afternoon, sans the snitch, of course. At the end of the day Harry went back inside, a little depressed. Sure, he had enjoyed his birthday gifts, but no one could give him the one thing he wanted most. All he really wanted was to see his godfather Sirius live once again.
He sat alone in Ron's room. A little later, Lupin entered.
"One last present, Harry," he said. Harry opened it. It was an old Hogwarts yearbook, from the year Lupin, Sirius, and his father had graduated.
"I know it's not the same as having Sirius back," said Lupin.
Harry opened the book. He saw Sirius smiling and waving at him, standing next to Lupin, Pettigrew, and his parents.
"Thanks," said Harry slowly as Lupin left. Harry was in a slightly better mood. As he prepared himself for bed, he realized that no number of old pictures of Sirius, no matter how happy Sirius was in the photos, would ever bring back his godfather from the dead.
Monday, July 28, 2003
To most students, summer was the best season of the year. Summer meant no more schoolwork, which meant more free time to have fun. But to one particular boy who lived at Number Four Privet Drive, summer couldn't end soon enough. Harry Potter was the only boy in England who longed to go back to school. And who would blame him? Living with the Dursleys was certainly no picnic. Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and cousin Dudley were Muggles who hated anything and everything that was out of the ordinary. Harry would much rather be with his own kind, with wizards.
Harry spent most days in his bedroom. Every night, he would have recurring nightmares about the death of his godfather, Sirius Black, who was the closest Harry ever had to having a real family. He kept seeing the room with the veil, Sirius's cousin Bellatrix Lestrange dueling with his godfather, Sirius falling through the veil, and Sirius's best friend Remus Lupin insisting that no one could ever return from behind the veil. Whenever Harry woke up from these dreams, his scar began to sting. Harry vowed that someday, somehow, he would avenge Sirius's death and kill Bellatrix Lestrange.
Harry would spend each day doing one of two things. One, he would read the Daily Prophet from cover to cover. He hoped to read that the whereabouts of Bellatrix Lestrange would be discovered. But each day he would be disappointed. Neither Bellatrix nor Lord Voldemort have been seen since that fateful night Sirius was killed at the Ministry of Magic.
The other thing Harry busied himself with was writing letters to his friends in the Order of the Phoenix. He had promised Mad-Eye Moody at the end of the school term that he would write every three days. In each letter, Harry would ask whether the Order knew where Bellatrix Lestrange may be, and each time one of the order members would write back to say that no one knew where she was.
One day Harry heard an owl screech outside his window. At first, he thought that it might be Hedwig, back with another letter from the Order. But it was actually one of the owls from his school, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The first was the annual letter informing him what books would be needed for his sixth year. The second letter was labeled, "Harry Potter, Results of the Ordinary Wizarding Level Examinations."
Harry had not thought about the O.W.L.s at all. In fact, he had almost forgotten that he had taken them, his mind still preoccupied with Sirius's death. He opened the letter and read it to himself:
Harry was glad that he wouldn't have to take Potions with Professor Snape, since he only took students who achieved an "O" on the O.W.L. into his class. But he wished that someone else, anyone, would teach Occlumency besides Snape.
At that moment Hedwig flew in with another letter. She dropped it into Harry's hands. But Hedwig's screeching was loud enough to alert the Dursleys.
"Ah ha!" said Uncle Vernon as he scooped the owl with a net. "Now you can't write letters to that lot of yours anymore and tell them how bad we treat you."
"No!" yelled Harry.
Uncle Vernon then put Hedwig in her cage and took the cage away. "Dudley, your aunt and I will take turns guarding the cage so that you won't be able to get the owl."
After Uncle Vernon left, Harry stared at the letter in his hands and wondered which member of the Order had written him. It turned out that this letter was not from an Order member but rather from Ron Weasley, his best friend at Hogwarts.
Harry had almost forgotten that his birthday was just three days away. After all, he had never had a real birthday; in fact, it would be a miracle if the Dursleys even acknowledged his birthday. Of course, what Harry wanted more than anything else was to finally have a real party, to be anywhere else but Privet Drive on his birthday.
But now that Uncle Vernon had his owl, he wouldn't be able to send Ron a return letter. Vernon was right in that he wouldn't be able to write to the Order at all --
Then something clicked in Harry's mind. If he went three days without writing to the Order, then they'll know that something is wrong. Moody had said that after three days, they'll come in and take him away. That would mean that finally, after sixteen long years, he would have a real birthday! He wondered where the Order would take him after rescuing him from the Dursleys. Hopefully the Burrow, he thought to himself.
So Harry started packing right away. For the first time all summer, Harry was in a great mood as he thought about leaving the Dursleys until next summer. As he packed all of his school supplies into his suitcase, he saw an unopened letter from Hogwarts. He suddenly remembered that the Hogwarts owl had delivered three letters, but he'd only opened two of them. He stared at the name on the letter and was greatly surprised:
Harry couldn't believe it. It was apparently a letter from Hogwarts to -- Hedwig? Why would they send his owl a letter?
Suddenly Harry heard Dudley scream from his bedroom. Harry ran towards Dudley's room.
"The owl, it, it --" Dudley said as he pointed at what was left of Hedwig's cage.
"What happened, Duddykins?" asked Aunt Petunia.
"The owl, it turned into a human," said Dudley, still frightened. "She broke out of the cage, then turned back into an owl and flew away."
"That's it!" yelled Uncle Vernon. "Harry, go to your room!"
Harry ran into his room as Vernon locked him in again. The third Hogwarts letter was gone. Apparently, Hedwig must have been an animagus, and she had transformed into a human, grabbed her letter, then changed back into an owl and flew away. There was no other explanation.
As Harry went to bed that night, a million ideas crossed Harry's mind. How could Hedwig have been an animagus? Was that her first-year Hogwarts letter? If so, how could she have learned how to become an animagus before attending Hogwarts? Wouldn't she have been too young. It would be several hours before Harry finally dozed off to sleep.
Harry spent most days in his bedroom. Every night, he would have recurring nightmares about the death of his godfather, Sirius Black, who was the closest Harry ever had to having a real family. He kept seeing the room with the veil, Sirius's cousin Bellatrix Lestrange dueling with his godfather, Sirius falling through the veil, and Sirius's best friend Remus Lupin insisting that no one could ever return from behind the veil. Whenever Harry woke up from these dreams, his scar began to sting. Harry vowed that someday, somehow, he would avenge Sirius's death and kill Bellatrix Lestrange.
Harry would spend each day doing one of two things. One, he would read the Daily Prophet from cover to cover. He hoped to read that the whereabouts of Bellatrix Lestrange would be discovered. But each day he would be disappointed. Neither Bellatrix nor Lord Voldemort have been seen since that fateful night Sirius was killed at the Ministry of Magic.
The other thing Harry busied himself with was writing letters to his friends in the Order of the Phoenix. He had promised Mad-Eye Moody at the end of the school term that he would write every three days. In each letter, Harry would ask whether the Order knew where Bellatrix Lestrange may be, and each time one of the order members would write back to say that no one knew where she was.
One day Harry heard an owl screech outside his window. At first, he thought that it might be Hedwig, back with another letter from the Order. But it was actually one of the owls from his school, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The first was the annual letter informing him what books would be needed for his sixth year. The second letter was labeled, "Harry Potter, Results of the Ordinary Wizarding Level Examinations."
Harry had not thought about the O.W.L.s at all. In fact, he had almost forgotten that he had taken them, his mind still preoccupied with Sirius's death. He opened the letter and read it to himself:
Dear Harry Potter,
Here are the results of your O.W.L.s taken last month at Hogwarts:
Transfigurations: E
Charms: E
Herbology: E
Care of Magic Creatures: E
Defense Against the Dark Arts: O
Potions: E
History of Magic: P
Astronomy: A
Divination: D
Keep up the good work.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
Headmaster of Hogwarts
P.S. I expect you to resume Occlumency lessons with Professor Snape this year.
Harry was glad that he wouldn't have to take Potions with Professor Snape, since he only took students who achieved an "O" on the O.W.L. into his class. But he wished that someone else, anyone, would teach Occlumency besides Snape.
At that moment Hedwig flew in with another letter. She dropped it into Harry's hands. But Hedwig's screeching was loud enough to alert the Dursleys.
"Ah ha!" said Uncle Vernon as he scooped the owl with a net. "Now you can't write letters to that lot of yours anymore and tell them how bad we treat you."
"No!" yelled Harry.
Uncle Vernon then put Hedwig in her cage and took the cage away. "Dudley, your aunt and I will take turns guarding the cage so that you won't be able to get the owl."
After Uncle Vernon left, Harry stared at the letter in his hands and wondered which member of the Order had written him. It turned out that this letter was not from an Order member but rather from Ron Weasley, his best friend at Hogwarts.
Dear Harry,
I know your birthday's coming up in three days. What would you like as a gift? Last year I got you some Honeydukes candy, but maybe you'd like something else this year.
Oh, and by the way, did you get your O.W.L. results back yet? I can't believe I actually passed Divination! I also got O.W.L.s in Transfiguration, Herbology, Care of Magical Creatures, Astronomy, and DADA -- thanks to you and the DA! So that makes six O.W.L.s, which is twice as many as Fred and George, but only half as many as Percy. Hope to see you soon!
Your Friend,
Ron
Harry had almost forgotten that his birthday was just three days away. After all, he had never had a real birthday; in fact, it would be a miracle if the Dursleys even acknowledged his birthday. Of course, what Harry wanted more than anything else was to finally have a real party, to be anywhere else but Privet Drive on his birthday.
But now that Uncle Vernon had his owl, he wouldn't be able to send Ron a return letter. Vernon was right in that he wouldn't be able to write to the Order at all --
Then something clicked in Harry's mind. If he went three days without writing to the Order, then they'll know that something is wrong. Moody had said that after three days, they'll come in and take him away. That would mean that finally, after sixteen long years, he would have a real birthday! He wondered where the Order would take him after rescuing him from the Dursleys. Hopefully the Burrow, he thought to himself.
So Harry started packing right away. For the first time all summer, Harry was in a great mood as he thought about leaving the Dursleys until next summer. As he packed all of his school supplies into his suitcase, he saw an unopened letter from Hogwarts. He suddenly remembered that the Hogwarts owl had delivered three letters, but he'd only opened two of them. He stared at the name on the letter and was greatly surprised:
Marla Hedwig
Harry Potter's bedroom
4 Privet Drive
Little Whinging, Surrey
Harry couldn't believe it. It was apparently a letter from Hogwarts to -- Hedwig? Why would they send his owl a letter?
Suddenly Harry heard Dudley scream from his bedroom. Harry ran towards Dudley's room.
"The owl, it, it --" Dudley said as he pointed at what was left of Hedwig's cage.
"What happened, Duddykins?" asked Aunt Petunia.
"The owl, it turned into a human," said Dudley, still frightened. "She broke out of the cage, then turned back into an owl and flew away."
"That's it!" yelled Uncle Vernon. "Harry, go to your room!"
Harry ran into his room as Vernon locked him in again. The third Hogwarts letter was gone. Apparently, Hedwig must have been an animagus, and she had transformed into a human, grabbed her letter, then changed back into an owl and flew away. There was no other explanation.
As Harry went to bed that night, a million ideas crossed Harry's mind. How could Hedwig have been an animagus? Was that her first-year Hogwarts letter? If so, how could she have learned how to become an animagus before attending Hogwarts? Wouldn't she have been too young. It would be several hours before Harry finally dozed off to sleep.
Disclaimer: Rowling, not me.
