The Essence of Gryffindor

The sun was setting on the horizon as a single boy wandered down Privet Drive. Harry had done this almost every night since he came home in June.

His thoughts were of Sirius and why he had to go the way he did. He thought of Hermione and Ron as well. His two best friends and he didn't know what he would do if he ever lost one or both of them.

It was a nightly routine. Every night after dinner he would walk down to the park and sit on his favorite swing for a while thinking about things. Than as the sun started to get really low he would slowly wander back to number four where there would be and owl waiting for him in his room with a letter from either Ron or Hermione.

Tonight however there were three owls. One was carrying letters from both Ron and Hermione who were both at 12 Grimauld Place. Another was his Hogwarts letter, which he was expecting soon so he wasn't shocked. The third was from Hagrid along with a package. He opened them one by one starting with his Hogwarts letter since he already knew what it was about. He then opened Hagrid's.

Harry

Happy Birthday! Blimey your sixteen already. Kind of hard to believe. Hope yeh like yer present. Thought yeh might be getting old enough for something like it. See you in a few days!

Hagrid

Wow it was already his birthday. Harry had been so caught up in thinking about other things that he plum forgot. And of course the Dursleys did nothing to remind him of it. Harry's day also got better when he realized that there were only three days left until he got to go to Grimauld Place. He didn't know how he was getting there yet but he'd find out soon enough and he didn't really care. All he cared about was getting to be with his friends again. Hopefully it would help get his mind off of Sirius.

He opened the package Hagrid had sent him. It was a ring. A gorgeous ring. It looked much like the class ring that Dudley wore. It had Harry's birthstone in it with swirling red mist inside. On top of the stone was the Gryffindor Lion. Around the sides it said 'Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.' Along the left side of the band was the word 'year' and on the right side was a 6. On the inside of the band was engraved: H. Potter in very neat slanted handwriting.

In the box with the ring was another note from Hagrid.

The red mist is the essence of Gryffindor. It will stay that way as long as you stay true Harry. As for the 6 it will change to a 7 next year and when you graduate it will say Graduate and have a Hogwarts crest on the band. I hope you like it.

Harry was speechless. He immediately put the ring on his finger and put the box in his trunk in a safe spot. He would cherish this gift forever.

~*~*~*~*~

Ron and Hermione's letter's said pretty much the same thing. Happy birthday, have your gift here; you have to wait, see you in a few days.

Harry fell asleep that night with a smile on his face. Thinking about his friends and his gift from Hagrid. About how he would see them in only a few days. And how he was finally sixteen. He dreamt pleasantly for the first time in a while.

~*~*~*~*~

Saturday rolled around. The day Harry was going to number 12. He spent all morning packing the last of his things. He was informed the night before that Mrs. Weasley along with Hermione and Ron would be along at 1 o'clock to retrieve him and he counted the minutes until the doorbell finally rang.

He literally jumped five feet off of the couch and ran towards the door. Unfortunately Uncle Vernon got there first.

"Oh it's you. Good. Take him and be gone."

Harry was a little shocked when Uncle Vernon had no nasty comments but paid little mind, as he was so excited to leave.

Mrs. Weasley offered to wait in the car while Ron and Hermione helped Harry with his things. Harry ushered them in and up to his room and could hardly control himself he was so happy to see them.

When they got to his room and he closed the door he threw his arms around the both of them. And, not thinking anything of it, as he was their best friend, they hugged him back.

"Oh it's great to see you guys. I don't think I've been this happy to see you in my entire life."

"We've missed you too mate," said Ron.

"That's right, Harry. And you know it. But we really should hurry. I've only been here ten minutes and I already hate it. How you could live with these people, Harry, is beyond me."

So they went around his room checking for anything he might've missed and then they all grabbed something and were off.

~*~*~*~*~

Harry still couldn't stop smiling. He couldn't really understand why he was so happy. It was just Ron and Hermione after all. Maybe it was relief. Then again maybe it wasn't. He just had the feeling that things were turning around.