The Stars Will Still Shine....

The muggy summer day was drawing to a close and the silence that hung over Privet Drive was as oppressive as the heat. The only sounds that could be heard were the occasional passing of a car and the barking of next door but one's terrier. As the heat wave continued, tempers became increasingly frayed. The tempers in number four were perhaps shorter then most. The Dursleys had not taken well to being threatened. Harry grinned wryly at the memory and at the relative freedom it had allowed him.

Niggles had turned in rows and were followed by sullen silences. Harry had often heard whispered arguments late at night drifting from Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia's room. He had an uncomfortable feeling that they were arguing about him but nothing was ever said in the light of day.

Maybe it was the thought of Mad-Eye or even worse, Tonks, actually entering the premises that had caused the Dursleys to allow Harry to keep his school things in his room. However, this détente had not stretched to Harry himself. Uncle Vernon could barely stand to be in the same room as his wizard nephew and treated him as gingerly as an unexploded bomb. Dudley spent as much time as possible outside with his gang of cronies but Harry often caught his cousin studying him with an odd questioning sort of look on his face. Dudley's diet had actually seemed to have done him some good and he was now the size of a small horse as opposed to a baby elephant, Aunt Petunia was the hardest to fathom since the events of last summer. Her demeanour was as brisk as ever but somehow Harry thought she seemed softer round the edges. It was almost as if she was coming closer to accepting the magical world that she had thought that she had once abandoned and was now being made a part of through her nephew.

He had spent the last weeks thinking about the events of the last term and what Dumbledore had told him about the prophecy. The thoughts kept him awake and when he eventually fell asleep, he usually had awful nightmares. Looking round the small room, Harry caught sight of hmself in the mirror. He still looked almost painfully thin despite Aunt Petunia giving him proper meals instead of Dudley's leftovers and the dark smears under his eyes were evidence of his interrupted sleep. Despite the stifling heat, Harry dozed and instead of slipping in yet another nightmare, he dreamed of the battle in the Ministry.

~~flashback~~

"Only one pair was still battling, apparently unaware of the new arrival. Harry saw Sirius duck Bellatrix's jet of red light: he was laughing at her.... The second jet of light hit him squarely on the chest. The laughter had not quite died from his face, but his eyes widened with shock."

For a few awful minutes, Harry had thought he had died. Those few minutes were now a blur-the only memories of them were of the feelings of anger and fear. What if he had lost someone else-someone he had come to view as a mixture of beloved father and adored older brother? He was lying there; half-hidden beneath the veil, but Harry could still see parts of his face which looked pale, haggard and very dead. Or at least close to death. Lupin had Disapparated with him, hadn't he? Harry couldn't remember anything clearly now. He only found out what had happened later in Dumbledore's office.

~~end of flashback~~

Harry jerked awake at this point. He scowled as he recalled finding out about all the secrets that had been kept from him - like the fact that Sirius was lying in the top security ward of St. Mungo's and Harry wasn't allowed to visit. A faint tapping at his bedroom window interrupted his thoughts and he glanced to see a large barn owl perched on the sill with an official looking envelope securely tied to his leg. It cooed its thanks as Harry fed him one of Hedwig's owl treats and flew off.

Harry ripped open the envelope and as he did so, a piece of parchment fluttered to the floor. He glanced at the top piece of parchment and smiled as he realised the letter was from Lupin.

Dear Harry,

I'm sure you are aware that Fudge has admitted that Voldemort is back and that you can be trusted. He seemed to think it important that Sirius should be questioned under Veritaserum, once he was strong enough. The Healers finally allowed the Magical Law Enforcement Squad in this afternoon and spent three hours questioning him. Amelia Bones was also present to oversee proceedings. Finally Sirius has been found innocent. Expect a front page article in the Prophet tomorrow.

Yours, Remus Lupin.

Harry stooped and picked up the other piece of parchment with trembling hands and pounding heart. It was from the Ministry.

Dear Mr Potter,

Following discussions with the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and in accordance with the wishes of your late parents, the Ministry has decided to bestow guardianship of you to Sirius Black. The transfer will take place on August 5th and we will inform your present guardians of these developments.

With best wishes,

Yours sincerely

Amelia Bones

Department of Magical Law Enforcement

Ministry of Magic

Harry's chest tightened and he was struggling to breathe. Last time Sirius offered him a home, the opportunity was cruelly snatched away from them. Now, he felt like he could produce the world's strongest Patronus with barely an effort and he felt a huge stupid grin spread over his face. Harry scribbled a note to Ron and Hermione and as he tied the letters to Hedwig's leg and muttered to her that she should deliver them to Ron and Hermione as quickly as possible, a roar came from the living room. "BOY!!! WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS? COME HERE THIS INSTANT!" Clearly Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon had just received a letter from the Ministry.

Hearing the flutter of her wings as she flew out the window, Harry bounded down the stairs and leaned against the living room doorframe. Uncle Vernon was turning an increasingly intense shade of purple as he spluttered "Is this some sort of prank? Don't try and tell me that your kind has actually some sort of government! When can we get rid of you?"

"May I read what the Ministry wrote?" asked Harry. Uncle Vernon nodded tightly and handed over the parchment. He scanned the parchment and it told him nothing new as it essentially told him the same things that Madam Bones had written him. Uncle Vernon had continued his tirade, "At long last I can say good riddance to bad rubbish and I won't have anything else odd or peculiar happening under my roof. No more owls or broomsticks and you can stay with that no-good murderer of a godfather of yours and never bother me or my family again."

Harry finally interrupted him, saying "I'll write to my friends and see if I can spend some of the time. Don't worry. I don't want to spend a minute longer here than I have to." Harry strolled out of the living room, repressing the laughter at the stunned spluttering behind him. He dragged what was left of his things from the cupboard under the stairs to his room and started packing.

About an hour later another roar interrupted Harry's packing. Harry raced downstairs and found that a tawny owl had flown down the chimney and landed on the table. Uncle Vernon snarled "And would you put a stop to all these ruddy owls flying in and out of MY house? It's bad enough that yours keeps the entire family up with her noise at night." As he untied the letter, Harry resisted the urge to say something nasty about Uncle Vernon's snoring. He opened the letter and was pleased to find that it was from Hermione.

Dear Harry,

Hedwig has just come with your news. I sent her onto Ron's house. Isn't it exciting? But the main thing is that my parents have invited you to stay until the hearing takes place I've told them all about you and they are looking forward to actually meet this person that I keep talking about. Send word with Ainia and my parents will come and pick you up on Sunday. See you then!!

love Hermione xx

Harry tore a piece off the bottom of the letter and scribbled a reply. He stroked Ainia, who was sitting quite still and looked quite serene, and attached the reply. She hooted softly and sedately flew off through the open window. "Well?"

"Hermione's parents have invited me to stay until I can go and live with Sirius. Her parents are coming to pick me up on Sunday afternoon." Harry turned to leave the room and paused "And you needn't worry about your living room this time. Her parents are Mug-normal and will be driving."