Harry Potter Earns his Kleos

CHAPTER 01

Harry Potter hadn't been home with the Dursleys on 4 Privet Drive for more than two weeks when Arthur Weasley had shown up at the front door, true to his word, to extend Harry an invitation to spend the rest of the holidays at the Burrow. Vernon, although upset that one of Harry's kind had shown up at his house again, was more than happy to be rid of him so quickly.

Arthur stood out in the Dursleys' plain home, his fire-red hair contrasting sharply with the well-planned out drapes Petunia had just bought. Harry, in the midst of dragging his trunk towards the door, stopped to gaze at Arthur for a second. Normally, he was so enraptured with any Muggle contraption he could lay his eyes on, but today was different; his mind was elsewhere, and Harry knew exactly why. Already Harry's mind was racing, eager to know what was happening in the wizarding world.

"Harry my boy, how are you doing?" Arthur said, finally realizing Harry had entered the room. He tried to flash him a smile and ruffled his hair fondly. Vernon just scowled, Petunia looked nervous, and Dudley was by all means hungry and waiting for Harry to leave so he could finish the toast left on the kitchen table. {He'd learned his lesson from Hagrid not to eat Harry's food in front of him, but when he was gone was a different story}

Arthur started to help Harry with his trunk and then realized he could carry it on his own now. He chuckled to himself, noticing for the first time that Harry wasn't a child anymore. True, he had been forced to grow up much too quickly, but to have him physically growing was startling. He resembled James more and more every day.

"All set, then?" Arthur asked, and Harry nodded. He didn't even bother saying a word to the Dursleys as he left, and didn't even cast a backwards glance at 4 Privet Drive as he loaded his trunk and Hedwig's cage into the car Arthur had borrowed from the Ministry.

The first twenty minutes of the car ride was spent in silence. Harry figured that Arthur was concentrating too hard on making all the lights change from red to green. His love for Muggle inventions was not enough to make him enjoy sitting in traffic. There was a silent understanding between Arthur and Harry: things were bad and they both knew it.

"So how crazy are things right now?" Harry finally asked.

Arthur sighed heavily and took a quick glance at Harry; he wasn't talking to a child anymore, and that only made things more difficult.

"Harry, I wish I could lie to you and tell you that everything is alright. There is a lot I still can't talk to you about, but one thing I can tell you, and Ron already knows, that Hogwarts may very well be shutting down. Parents in support of Fudge have been withdrawing their children, saying that Dumbledore is filling their heads with nonsense about You-Know-Who."

Harry opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out. Hogwarts? Shutting down? He felt a pinch in his heart at this news. Hogwarts was the closest thing he had to a home, and Dumbledore and his classmates the closest thing he would ever have to a real family. How could this be happening?

"Try not to worry. Dumbledore is taking things one step at a time. He's starting the term as usual and then seeing if enough students are there to continue the year."

"And if not?" Harry said, finally finding his voice.

Arthur was silent again for a few moments. "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it."

* * * *

The Burrow was bustling with Weasleys as usual, much to Harry's delight. Just as Arthur pulled up, a loud explosion erupted from the direction of the twins' room.

"FRED! GEORGE!" Molly Weasley yelled. "You two just wait until your father comes home!" And as soon as Harry stepped in he smelled Molly's cooking, and a warm feeling went through his body. He assumed that this is what it felt like to come home, it just felt right.

"Ginny! Ginny! Virginia! Come on now, go get cleaned up for dinner - oh Harry!" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed, finally noticing the boy standing in the kitchen doorway. She embraced him tightly and Harry blushed, still embarrassed by Molly's affection for him.

"Mum, cool it, will you? You saw him two weeks ago!" Ron yelled, sitting at the table next to Ginny, who was now silent and trying her hardest not to stare at Harry.

When everyone was settled at the table (Ron, Harry, Ginny, Fred, George and Bill, for Arthur had left immediately to join Percy at the Ministry), the silence had set in. Harry soon realized that nothing had been normal since that fatal day of the Triwizard Tournament, how could he be foolish enough to think that the Burrow would be an escape for him? He was pushed right back into the thick of it all now more than ever.

Suddenly, Hedwig flew into the room frantically flapping her wings. She went to the window and started pecking at it with her beak. Harry had never seen her act like this before, and nothing he did would calm her down.

"Let her out, Harry!" Bill suggested, and Hedwig barely waited for Harry to open the window to fly out past him.

"I wonder what that was all about," Harry said, thinking out loud to the Weasley family.

"Maybe she just wanted some fresh air, dear. More potatoes?" Molly said, taking Harry's plate and piling it with extra helpings, rambling on and on how that wretched Petunia Dursley should obviously know more about feeding a growing boy, making subtle hints towards Dudley.

Two days later and still no sign of Hedwig anywhere. She'd been gone longer before, but the way she had acted made Harry worry.

But there were also many other things of much greater importance that had been plaguing Harry's mind since that horrible tournament -- Cedric, Voldemort. The thought of him getting stronger by his own blood was so sickening.

It was late, Harry was used to thinking then. He'd been at the Weasley's for three nights and right on cue, Harry watched quietly each night at 3 am, when the eldest of the Weasley children, Bill, would sneak out of the house, dressed in dark robes. What could he possibly be doing at such an odd hour? He tried to think, but lately all that produced were severe headaches. And Ron was snoring much too loudly to be of any assistance what so ever.

The next morning at breakfast, Bill was amongst them as each of the children received their Hogwarts letters.

"We have to ... pick all our classes?" Ron asked dubiously.

"Obviously you git, to prepare for your N.E.W.T.S - which, we will, of course, do very well on..." George said, adding the last part hastily due to his mother's glare. Fred nodded in agreement.

"Oy, imagine Hermione's load then..."

"I'd think she's learned her lesson by now," Harry said, reminding him subtly of the Time-Turner incident.

"Okay Harry, you pick two classes, and I'll pick two, that way we have all the same ones..."

"Ronald!" Molly exclaimed.

"Kidding, mum, just kidding..."

Arthur and Percy entered the house just then, both looking extremely exhausted.

"Were you two gone all night?"

Percy nodded and the two joined the rest of the table.

"Don't even think about it, it's straight up to bed for the two of you..." Molly replied firmly. Even Harry knew not to argue with that tone.

"Come on Harry, let's go play some Quidditch in the yard. Think I can have a go on your Firebolt?" George asked. Harry, Ron, and the twins ran off to find their respective brooms, and Harry thought cheerfully that at least he'd always have Quidditch to look forward to.

They were flying in the little clearing, low enough so people wouldn't see, when Harry caught sight of something small and white. It was almost like seeing the snitch. When Harry realized what it was, he raced after it. His speed and quick reaction startled the other boys. When he had gotten low enough the ground, he jumped off his broom and made for the Burrow's front yard.

"Hedwig!" Harry cried. The owl was perched on the Weasley's mailbox, her left wing in a sling. She had a note caught in her beak. Harry tried to check if she was alright, but she kept forcing the letter into his hand. By now, the others had flown down to join him, and Harry finally gave in and opened the letter.

Mr. Potter -

Meet me in the trophy room after the welcoming feast. Alone. I have information for you. Sorry about your owl. She got into a fight with the locals. That should explain her delay.

Harry stared at the parchment, and then looked back at Hedwig.

"If only you could talk to me!" Harry whispered, and she looked somewhat offended, almost as if saying that they did talk all the time.

Just then, Molly Weasley came outside to see what all the noise was about. She saw the letter and instinctively grabbed it from Harry's hands. Never once, until now, had Harry ever been angry with Mrs. Weasley. He was sourly reminded of Vernon trying to stop him from reading his letters back before his first year had even started.

"Harry, don't look at me like that, it's for your own good. Now promise me you won't go!" she looked almost panicked.

"I promise," he replied, and Molly eyed her boys as if to say "make sure he keeps his word."

Harry suddenly felt irritated by all the fuss. It was his letter and his problem, and a sudden surge of frustration filled his thoughts. He picked up his Firebolt, with Hedwig perched on his shoulder, and walked up to Ron's room, no doubt to think some more.

He sat down and wrote two letters. He looked at Hedwig and her wing. "Can you make it, girl?" he asked, and his owl nipped his hand affectionately as if saying yes, and took off with the letters attached to her claws.

The first response came back within a couple of days, and Harry was very glad to hear it.

Harry!

It is so good to hear from you! I'm happy to know you're safely away from those wretched Dursleys. I'm leaving soon to Bulgaria, tell Ron not to get upset. Now down to business! If you'd read Where There's a Wand, There's a Way, you would know that Hedwig was summoned for, which explains her crazy behavior. It's a stronger version of Accio, and has something to do with controlling the mind. Someone very powerful would have had to do it to cast such a strong effect, because we both know Hedwig is a very strong-willed owl. I hope I helped some, you never did mention to me what she brought back. See you in a couple of weeks in Diagon Alley! Send the Weasleys my love.

Yours,

Hermione

* * *

Harry woke up one morning at the Burrow to find three owls staring him in the face. It was his birthday, and the thought of presents made him smile. He looked around and found no parcels laying anywhere.

"Mum and Dad have 'em downstairs, Harry," Ron explained. Harry jumped and noticed Ron sitting up in bed. "They were in here quite early to get 'em, too."

Harry scowled. "I'm sure they're just checkin' to see that they're harmless and all that. Here's mine, though! It's not hexed, I swear it."

He thanked his best friend and opened the package {wrapped rather messily}. Harry smiled when he realized what it was. In his hand he held a small ball in the shape of a Snitch. Its wings flittered and it flew around in circles in his palm.

"It's not real gold or anything, but I was in Quality Quidditch Supplies, and..." Ron flushed.

"I love it, thanks!"

Ron beamed. "Happy Birthday, Harry!" The two of them went downstairs to find a guilty pair of Weasley parents rummaging through Harry's birthday cards. The scowl on his face returned as Molly and Arthur looked at one another for explanations.

"Harry, you know you're a target, please don't be upset with us if we're just concerned for your well being," Molly started.

"We have to be sure we know whom your mail is coming from, that's all," Arthur assured him. They handed him all the parcels but one, and he eyed it curiously.

"It came without a card, I have to check it for hexes first."

Harry said nothing through this all, although he tried to smile appreciatively. He knew the Weasleys were only looking out for his best interest, but after handling Voldemort Harry was confident enough to believe he could deal with his own post in the morning.

He opened the rest of his presents. Hermione had sent him a book on Ancient Bulgarian sports - no doubt she was enjoying herself. Hagrid sent him sweets, although they didn't seem to be from Honeydukes. He shared them with Ron as soon as he opened them. There was a third package from Sirius, and he'd saved it for last on purpose. He unwrapped the package carefully, afraid of what he'd find. It appeared at first that Sirius had sent him two books, but a closer look proved him wrong.

"Harry what is it?" Ron questioned. He was sitting cross-legged on his bed watching Harry's face change from confusion to awe.

"It's my dad's and Sirius' journals, from when they were becoming Animagi..." Harry replied, looking at the covers. Both books were red, one with the name Prongs embedded in gold and a picture of a beautiful stag, and the second with the name Padfoot and a picture of a big, black dog. Harry was wistfully reminded of his Patronus, and the night where his entire life changed. He almost had gotten to leave the Dursleys' for good, and it was painful thinking of what could have happened if he had gotten to stay with Sirius. His life had taught him, though, that nothing productive came from self-pity, and he quickly pushed the thoughts from his mind.

"Whoa, wicked. Reckon you can learn?"

Harry nodded, his eyes not leaving the journals. "I think I have to, Ron." Harry finally noticed the note Sirius had attached and couldn't help chuckling.

Don't do anything I wouldn't do! Long live the Marauders! Happy Birthday, Harry! Wish I could be there to celebrate with you.

Love, Snuffles

* * *

That night, while Ron was snoring - or sleeping, rather - Harry quietly crept into his trunk and retrieved his invisibility cloak. He felt a twinge of guilt for betraying the Weasleys, but no one was going to tell him what he could and could not do. It was part of that Gryffindor stubbornness that none of the other houses could stand.

It wasn't very hard to think like Molly Weasley. He went into the kitchen immediately and found what he was looking for, hidden in a deep pot. Harry pocketed it and darted back upstairs, just as the clock struck 3 a.m.

He couldn't help but feel curious now that he was out of bed, and hung back in the hallway to wait for Bill. Surely enough, he emerged from his room, and Harry got the first good look at him. Under the cloak, Harry could see a pair Muggle jeans and sneakers. Bill looked as guilty as ever, checking that no one was around, and exited the house. Harry was more confused than before, but decided that tonight was not the night to follow him. He put both the cloak and the package back into his trunk, and quickly fell into a dreamless sleep.

The next morning, the reply to his second letter came, and luckily Hedwig had been smart enough to scare off the messenger owl and hide the note from Molly. It simply read:

Good choice, Mr. Potter. See you then.

And Harry smiled. It was going to be an interesting year.