An Unexpected Situation

Harry Potter sat up in bed very quickly, the fear fading away from his mind. He breathed heavily for a moment, then closed his eyes and took a very deep breath. At remembering the dream, the tears came almost immediately. Harry buried his face in his hands and sobbed quietly.

It was not the first time for this occurrence. Since he had returned to Privet Drive after his fourth year at Hogwarts, he had cried at least every other night. The events of the Triwizard Tournament and its aftermath had changed Harry so much. The feelings of guilt and sadness over the death of Cedric Diggory tormented him, as did the feeling of despair knowing that he had unwillingly helped Voldemort to return. His friends, and even Professor Dumbledore, had told him that he had no reason to feel this way, as he had no control over the situation. But it did not help him feel any better about what had happened.

After he stopped crying, he put on his glasses and looked at the clock. Seeing that it said 5:36 AM, he knew he wouldn't be able to get back to sleep. He got up, went to his desk and took out a few books. He had a few homework assignments and, unusually, was almost done with all of them. He did his homework as often as he could because it took his mind off Cedric and everything else. He picked up a scroll of parchment and opened his ink. He opened his book on Astronomy and began to read. He had to write a summary of planetary movements for the month and had been keeping track as best he could, considering he didn't have a proper telescope. He had been given a small one that used to be Dudley's, but he couldn't see much through it. Still, he did his best and had the summary done by the time the Dursleys had woken up and gone downstairs.

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After taking a quick shower, Harry went downstairs into the kitchen. He was greeted by the usual ignoring of the Dursley's. He had not raised any fuss since returning, so they showed the same courtesy. Aunt Petunia was busy cooking breakfast and Uncle Vernon was reading the newspaper. Dudley was sitting across from him, waiting for the food to be done. The diet he had been on last year actually worked, causing Dudley to lose over 100 pounds. He was still a bit chubby, but he could actually walk around without knocking things over. Harry got a glass from the cupboard. He put some ice in it and filled the glass with water before sitting at the table. Uncle Vernon shot him a quick, unemotional glance and went back to his newspaper.

"All right, eat quickly," Aunt Petunia said as she put plates in front of Vernon and Dudley. She shot a callous glance at Harry before turning back to the stove. She fixed a small plate and set it in front of Harry. The portions were much smaller than Dudley's, but he did not say anything. He wasn't feeling too hungry anyway. Petunia came over and sat with her own plate across from Harry. She ate more quickly than usual, as did Vernon and Dudley. When Dudley had finished, he put the empty plate in the sink and ran upstairs. Vernon finished and stood up. He looked at Harry.

"Come with me, boy," said Uncle Vernon to Harry, who had just finished his meager breakfast. Harry stood up and they went into the living room. Vernon looked at Harry with a mounting seriousness.

"Your aunt and I, along with Dudley, are going into London for most of the day," he said, looking very strained about something, "I was going to send you to Mrs. Figg's house, but it seems she has taken ill. Since we don't want you to come along for this and since we can't find anyone to stay with you, I have decided to let you stay here."

Harry couldn't believe his luck. He turned and faced Uncle Vernon again, noticing he was red in the face. "My only condition is that you remain in your bedroom while we are gone. You may use the bathroom, of course, but you are to go nowhere else in the house. Understood?"

"Yes, sir," said Harry plainly. Vernon looked at him with a curious glance.

"If I find out you have been anywhere else in this house, I will lock you in the cupboard under the stairs for the remainder of the summer!"

Harry looked Vernon right in the eye. "I promise I will stay in my room," said Harry, sadly, "I don't want to go anywhere else."

"Fine, fine," said Vernon. Harry stood there, contemplating. "Well, what are you waiting for?! Get going!"

Harry didn't need to be told twice. He walked up the stairs and entered his bedroom. He shut the door and listened as the Dursleys scuttled around. It felt unusual that everything had gone so quickly and without incident. He didn't even get taunted by Dudley. He wondered what was going on, but then decided that he really didn't care about his relatives' business. He heard the front door shut and the car door opening. He looked out the window and saw Vernon shut the car door. The engine started and the car drove away.

Harry turned and looked around. He didn't expect to be left in the house all by himself. He was very sincere when he told Uncle Vernon that he would stay in his room. He didn't want to wander around the house, he didn't want to go outside... or do anything, for that matter. He sat on his bed and thought about his friends. He missed Ron and Hermione terribly. More than anything, he wanted to go to Ron's and spend the rest of the summer with them. He then thought that he would soon return to Hogwarts for another year of magical study. Then, as usual, his thoughts went back to Cedric. He lay down on the bed and cried himself to sleep.

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The dream came fitfully. He was running through a wooded area. He did not look over his shoulder, but kept running at a steady pace. He finally came into a clearing and slowed down. He looked over his shoulder and saw no one. He finally stopped, panting desperately for air. He looked around and realized where he was. Gravestones were everywhere. The air suddenly turned foul. A slight fog came seemingly from nowhere. He walked carefully among the gravestones, looking at few here and there. Most had names he did not recognize. He then came to a gravestone that made him stop quickly. He looked at the name & dropped to his knees.

CEDRIC DIGGORY

He let out a scream. He got up and started running again. He tripped over a hole in the ground and came to another gravestone. He looked up and shuddered.

JAMES AND LILY POTTER

LOVING HUSBAND AND WIFE

He screamed louder and got to his feet. He started running again and did not look back. He turned a corner and promptly fell into an open grave. He shook his head and looked up. There was a dark hooded figure standing next to a dark tombstone. A lightning bolt flashed and he could see the name clearly on the stone:

HARRY JAMES POTTER

He cringed as the figure raised his hand & a green light shot at him.

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Harry woke up startled. He'd had terrible nightmares, but this one was worse than usual. The only difference was that his scar didn't hurt him one bit, which he found unusual. He thought back on the dream thoroughly. He had never seen Cedric's grave before, or his parents' for that matter. After a few minutes of soul searching, he started crying again. All the emotion he held in for the past few weeks finally came to the surface. He buried his face in his pillow & let it all out, punching the mattress as hard as he could. When the crying stopped, he felt better than he had in months. "Maybe this is what I needed to do," he thought, "I've been holding everything in for so long. I just wish Ron & Hermione were here. I want to talk to them so bad."

After a few minutes, Harry raised his head and wiped his tears on the sleeve of his shirt. He reached for his glasses and put them on. He looked out the window and saw that it was dark. He looked at the clock, which said 4:00 AM. "Damn," he said to himself, "They came home and didn't wake me up. They just let me sleep." He suddenly felt grateful. It meant he didn't have to deal with them.

Feeling hungry, he crouched to the floor and slid under his bed. He pulled up the loose floorboard and turned on the flashlight he had hidden away. He shined it into the hole and looked at what he had put in there for the past few weeks. He had sweets from his friends, as well as treats from Mrs. Weasley. He took a few treats and thought of Ron's mother fondly. She was the only person in the world who treated him like a son. He was thankful for this, to have someone that felt like a mother to be concerned about him. She had her off days, but had never yelled at him in the slightest way, unlike Ron and his twin brothers when they got in trouble.

Finishing his snack, he stood up & went to the mirror in his room. "God, I look terrible," he thought as he looked at himself. His hair was sticking up everywhere and would never flatten, no matter what he did to it. He was not too thin, even though the Dursleys did not feed him well, thanks to the food that his friends had sent him. His face however looked slightly pale and sullen. He felt older than he looked - a boy that had been through so much in the last four years.

He stood at the mirror so long that his attention was only broken by a sound from the other side of the small room.

"Hedwig! Pig!" said Harry happily, looking at the bed. Hedwig was Harry's snowy owl that he gotten has a birthday gift from Hagrid just before his first year at Hogwarts. Pig, Ron's owl, looked tired and worn out. "And no wonder," though Harry as he saw the two packages sitting on the bed. He watched as both birds went to Hedwig's cage to get some well deserved rest.

"Good grief," he thought as he sat on the bed, "It's my birthday and I've been so grief-stricken that I completely forgot that I'm 15 today." He picked up the smaller package and recognized the handwriting as Hermione's. He took the envelope off the package and read the letter it contained.

Harry,

I hope this letter finds you well. I have noticed that you haven't written much since my last letter to you. I hope that you have somewhat come to terms with what happened a few months ago. I hate to think of you being sad, but I understand that you will deal with it in time.

I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to deliver your present to you since I am finally getting the chance to go to Germany in a few days. But Hedwig showed up yesterday, so I am sending your present. I hope you like it, since I couldn't think of anything else.

I also received an owl from Ron yesterday. He told me that Mrs. Weasley had written to Dumbledore to try and convince him to let you go to The Burrow for the rest of the summer. I hope he lets you, considering you could use some time around friends. I know the Dursleys are not the best of company at times like this. I hope they are not treating you badly.

I'm leaving for Germany in 2 days. I will be back a week before term starts to get my supplies from Diagon Alley. Hope to see you then!

Love,

Hermione

Harry re-read the letter and smiled. He knew Hermione would learn a lot in Germany. He put the letter down and opened the package. As he removed the paper stuffed in the oblong box, he realized what it was. "Another damn book," he muttered. But then he turned it over and his eyes opened wide when he saw the title: Animagi: a Detailed History and How to Become an Animagus. Harry wanted to shout with glee, but he held himself seeing as it was only 4:30 AM and didn't want to endure the wrath of Uncle Vernon. He thumbed through the book, looking at the detailed pictures and history surrounding the subject. He immediately thought of Sirius, his Godfather, who was an unregistered Animagus. He wondered where he was and how he was doing. He hadn't heard from him in sometime. "Probably still doing work for Dumbledore," he thought.

He then turned to the send package, which was huge. He knew that it was from the Weasleys, as their packages always tended to be this big. He took the envelop and opened it, unfolding the letter inside.

Happy Birthday Harry,

I know you are probably still grieving about Cedric, but I hope our gifts will take your mind off things for a while. I know you can use a break from it all.

Mom wrote to Dumbledore about you coming to stay with us. She wrote a few weeks ago and again two days ago. He said no, but she's not going to give up. You know how she is. Hopefully, Dumbledore will give in and let you stay with us. I know you could use some friendly company around you. It would give me someone else to talk to beside Fred and George.

Hermione wrote and says she's going to Germany. (She's so lucky!) She sent me your gift, so I'm sending with ours. She hopes that your gift will cheer you up. She didn't sound too confident, though, which is very unlike her.

Anyway, if I don't see you at The Burrow, I'll see you in Diagon Alley before school starts.

Your friend always,

Ron

This cheered him up more than anything. It was always good to hear from Ron, who he considered his best friend. He opened the package, which was filled to the brim. "No wonder Pig and Hedwig are tired," he thought. There was a small cake from Ron's mother, a few new treats from Fred and George, one box of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, a few Quidditch pictures and small versions of the various balls (Quaffle, Bludgers and one Golden Snitch, regular size).

The last thing in the box was a picture of himself surrounded by Ron and Hermione. He guessed it was taken before the end of last year. As he looked at the picture, he saw that they had their arms around him. He smiled and thought of how close they had gotten. He hoped that nothing would ever break the friendship they had.

A soothing sound made Harry's head turn. He looked at the windowsill & saw a bright red bird looking at him thoughtfully. Harry recognized it at once, but couldn't believe he was seeing it.

"Fawkes?" he said as he went to the bird. He had only seen the phoenix a few times, but this was the first time at the Dursley's. He saw a small note attached to the bird's leg. He took it and patted the bird on the head thoughtfully. He also saw what looked like a small wallet sitting beside the bird. He went to pick it up but Fawkes blocked his way and looked at him. Harry was confused for a moment but after looking into the bird's eyes understood what he meant. He opened the note and read it.

Dear Harry,

As you know, I sent you back to your aunt & uncle because I felt it would be the safest thing for you to do, considering Voldemort is probably hell-bent on finding you. I also know that you still have feelings of guilt about Cedric Diggory. I could continuously tell you not to feel that way, but I know that it will not help you in any way, so I will not.

Mrs. Weasley has constantly asked me to let you come to The Burrow for the rest of the summer. I have resisted, but her efforts are as strong as any I would put forth. After much consideration, I have decided to let you go, with a condition that you will not do anything rash during your time there. I am sure that I will have less worry than I usually would during these times.

You have probably already noticed the small leather item next to Fawkes. It is a portkey that I specially charmed for your use only. It will take you right to the Weasley's front door and cannot be used again. This will ensure that you arrive there without delay and that it will not cause any trouble for your aunt and uncle. Leave a note for them on your bedroom door and don't forget your things.

The reason I sent Fawkes is because he can disappear and reappear at will, something an owl cannot do. I did not want this message intercepted by the wrong people and I have full confidence in the phoenix's abilities to get this to you.

I have also taken the liberty to rent rooms for you and the Weasley's at the Leaky Cauldron the week before term starts. You will receive your letters there and can buy your supplies at Diagon Alley. I have also arranged your transport to the King's Cross so you may catch the train to Hogwarts.

Enjoy the rest of your summer and see you on September 1st,

Albus Dumbledore

Headmaster, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Harry read the letter twice and could not believe his good fortune. He wrote a thank you note to Dumbledore and sent Fawkes on his way. He quietly packed up all his belongings in his trunk. He made sure to pack his books and homework, since he would not be coming back until next year. After shutting the trunk, he sent Hedwig and Pig to The Burrow. He placed the cage carefully on top of his trunk. He wrote a short note to the Dursleys and tacked it to the bedroom door.

He looked at the clock, which said 7:00 AM. "All that took longer than I thought," said Harry to himself as he got out of his pajamas and into a t-shirt & jeans. He then grabbed his things and took a deep breath. He touched the portkey and felt the familiar sensation. A few seconds later he found himself standing in front of the Burrow.