Harry Potter and the Soul At Risk

Chapter 1 - Best Summer Ever

Harry Potter, a teenage boy who was about to turn sixteen, sat patiently in the living room wondering where his Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, and his cousin Dudley were. He was sitting there in the comfortable living area, watching the news on the thirtieth of July at about a quarter to twelve, waiting for his birthday to come.

Harry Potter was not usually sitting in the comfortable living room, in his aunt and uncle's house, watching the news. In fact last year, he had to hide under the window to actually listen to the new. Last year... it brought painful memories to Harry, starting to make him angry. "Why did Sirius have to fall through that veil?" thought Harry angrily. He still wondered if he could ever go back to the Department of Mysteries in the Ministry of Magic to have another look at the veil, and maybe, behind it. He still thought he could possibly talk to Sirius behind the veil because he recalled hearing voices, and also Luna Lovegood said she could hear the voices, too.

Harry looked at his watch. It was only one minute away from his birthday.... Suddenly he heard a voice in the kitchen calling, "Harry would you please come into the kitchen?"

Harry waited a moment before he got up and headed toward the kitchen. He thought it might have been his Aunt Petunia's voice, but the tone didn't sound like hers. In a matter of fact, it actually sounded like...

"Tonks!" screamed Harry in surprise. He saw that the whole kitchen had been decorated with streamers, balloons, and a huge banner that read, 'Happy Sixteenth Birthday Harry!', right in the middle of the room. He also noticed that a large amount of people were there. He saw his Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, his cousin Dudley(which surprised him that he would even want to be there), Professor Flitwick, Professor Minerva Mcgonagall, Remus Lupin, Alastor Moody(also known as Mad-Eye Moody), Tonks, and most of the other people in the Order of the Phoenix. He also saw his best friends Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and his other friends Neville Longbottom, Ginny, Fred and George Weasley, and surprisingly Luna Lovegood. To surprise Harry even further, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, and an unfamiliar young woman was there.

All of a sudden everyone started singing "Happy Birthday", even his aunt, uncle and cousin. After the singing finished, Harry was forced to blow out the candles.

Hermione came running toward him and gave him a hug. She said, "Oh Harry! Happy birthday!"

Then Ron came and gave his friend a handshake. He replied, "Yeah, Happy Birthday Harry! Blimey you got taller!"

That was true. Harry had sprouted that summer and grew to be about six feet tall. After he came home from King's Cross, he had noticed a great change in his aunt, uncle, and cousin too. They had actually started being nicer to him. One day his aunt actually took him shopping and bought him new clothes. He ate better and received better privileges in and outside the house. He was starting to like his aunt, uncle, and even his cousin.

After everyone had congratulated Harry on a happy birthday, he still wondered who that young lady he saw was.

Lupin went up to Harry with the woman he saw, and said, "Harry I want you to meet Athena Pamalis. She had joined the Order and is going to be your new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

"Hello there," replied Athena, shaking Harry's hand. "It's a pleasure to me you."

"Hi, and I'm please to meet you," answered Harry. He was surprised that she didn't even look at his scar, but was very grateful that she did not.

"I am excited that I am going to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts at Hogwarts. It was always my favorite subject. I heard that you are very good in that area, right?" Athena asked.

Harry replied, "Well, it is my best and favorite subject. SO I guess you could say that I'm s-skilled at it."

"Oh stop being so modest, Harry," said Remus Lupin. "You are the best in your year."

Harry couldn't help but blush at that statement. "Hermione is not that far behind."

"Did someone say my name?" asked Hermione. Harry noticed that Hermione had also changed too. Instead of her usual dorkiness, her hair was tamed and brought out her charm.

Harry answered, "No, well, yes because I was saying how you were also good at D.A.D.A."

"Be quiet Harry. We both know that you are the top one in that class," said Hermione.

Later when everyone had left, except for Hermione and Ron because Harry's aunt and uncle actually let them stay, they were sitting in the living room. They were talking about Voldemort and the war.

All of a sudden a couple of owls flew into the room. Well more like six of them. Four came to Harry, and one each for Hermione and Ron. Harry opened the first letter finding it sent from Hagrid. He wished him a "Happy Birthday" and apologized that he couldn't come for the party. The next letter was from Dumbledore, it read:

Dear Harry,

I am sorry that I could not attend to your birthday party. I'm preoccupied with some important matters. I wish you a happy sixteenth birthday. See you back at school. And also Harry, please try to stay out of trouble.

-Albus Dumbledore

Hogwarts Headmaster

"I've received a letter from Dumbledore," said Harry. "It wasn't anything important. He wish me a happy birthday and that he was sorry for not coming."

"Okay, that's good," said Hermione.

Harry opened the third letter. He saw that it was the usual Hogwarts letter giving the date the train leave and the list of all the books. He took the last letter and opened it. He noticed it was another Hogwarts letter, and wondered why he received another one. He started to read the letter. It stated:

Dear Mr. Potter,

We are please to inform you that you have been selected as the new Quidditch captain. Inside this envelope you will find a badge. In the package that you received with this letter is a new quidditch robe.

Your deputy headmistress,

Minerva McGonagall

Harry just noticed the package and said awestruck, "Whoa, I have just been announced that I am the new quidditch captain for Gryffindor."

"Congratulations Harry," said Ron. "I knew you would be quidditch captain. I'm proud of you."

"Yeah Harry," replied Hermione. "I am proud of you too."

Later that night, Hermione went to the guestroom to sleep and Ron went into Harry's room to sleep in a sleeping bag. After a while, Harry wanted to go upstairs for bed and got up, but his aunt came him and asked to talk to him. He was a bit surprised but he agreed, and sat down where he had sat before he got up to go to bed.

"Okay, listen Harry," his aunt started. "I know that we've never really gotten along, but ever since those wizards warned your uncle and I to treat you better, I've actually found out you are er... rather...okay. I'm starting accept you as a member of this family. I know that I said I thought you mother, Lily, was a freak, but the truth is that I was jealous of her. I've always wanted to experience being a witch, but I couldn't, and I expressed my anger that had been bottle up, on you.

"You see Harry, I have never actually hated you. And I do regret being harsh to you. I've realized that the choice I made wasn't a smart one. So I just wanted to say that I'm sorry Harry for causing you misery."

After she had finished, Harry had noticed that she had started to cry. Harry was shocked, he hadn't really expected this. For a few moment they just sat in silence until Harry finally spoke.

"Aunt Petunia," Harry started to say. "I forgive you. I understand that you had been angry at my mom because you couldn't be a witch, too. You are... er... okay too."

After Harry had told his aunt this, he got up embraced her. He told he was tired. He wished her a goodnight and went upstairs to bed.

The next morning, Harry told Hermione and Rom what had happened before he had went to bed last night. They listened patiently, until Harry had finally finished. Hermione was starting to cry and Ron just looked shocked. Hermione was the first one to speak.

"Wow," said Hermione speechless. "That's so sweet. I'm glad that you and you aunt have a better relationship than before."

"Yeah I agree with Hermione, Harry," replied Ron. "I'm happy that they aren't going to starve you anymore."

"Thanks guys," Harry laughed.

While Harry and Ron were playing wizard chess and eating their last supply of wizard sweets, Hermione was finishing reading a new book she had gotten. 'Same old Hermione,' Harry thought.

"Hermione, why do you always have to read a book?" asked Ron. "It's summer for Merlin's sake! You're suppose to have at least some fun!"

Before Ron knew what happened, Hermione had threw a book that she wasn't reading, at him. But he had ducked in the nick of time or else he would have been hit in the face with a one thousand five hundred paged book.

There was a knock on the door. Harry got up from the game he was having with Ron to open the door. When he had opened the door, he saw his aunt standing there with a tray with all sorts of muggle sweets.

"Thank you, Aunt Petunia," Harry said.

"It's no problem Harry," replied his aunt. "Oh yes, I almost forgot. Tomorrow you are going to go with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley to buy your school supplies, and then after that you are going to go stay the rest of the summer with them."

Harry thanked his aunt for the information. His aunt left the tray of muggle sweets, closed the door, and started to go around the house doing chores. Harry continued playing with Ron wizard chess, while Hermione, who had apparently stopped reading her book, was watching. They stopped playing their fifth or sixth game at ten o'clock, to go to sleep earlier, so they would be able to wake up earlier the next day.

Ron and Harry said goodbye to Hermione as went to the guestroom. When Harry's head hit the pillow, he fell fast asleep into a dreamless slumber.

The next day Harry woke up and saw that Ron was still heavy with sleep. He looked at the clock to see what time it was, and it was about six forty five in the morning. He got out of bed and changed. He went downstairs to check if his aunt was up and making breakfast and saw that she was. He also noticed Hermione reading a magazine, sitting at the table. Dudley was sitting across from her, watching her read. Aunt Petunia was also smothering Dudley. It never surprised Harry that some things with his aunt never changed, unlike his uncle. His uncle was pretty much the same but a bit nicer.

"Hello everyone," said Harry. "What are we having for breakfast?"

"Well," replied his aunt. "We're having bacon, eggs, ham, sausage, and some salad."

Harry went to wake up Ron. After Ron had changed, they went down for breakfast. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, and Dudley all ate quietly. After everyone was finished, Harry, Hermione, and Ron went to get their trunks. When they had their trunks ready downstairs, they waited patiently for Mr. and Mrs. Weasley to arrive to pick them up. Harry heard a car engine and turned to see where the car was. He turned around and saw a sixties style car with Mr. Weasley driving and Mrs. Weasley sitting next to him.

Ron, Harry, and Hermione said goodbye to Harry's aunt, uncle, and cousin. The car was exactly the same as Mr. Weasley's old Ford Angela except it was from and the sixties and that it couldn't fly. Inside, Harry can tell it was magik to have a tremendous amount of space. They got into the car after they made sure their trunks were secure in the back.

"Hi Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Weasley," said Harry. "Thanks for inviting me to stay at the burrow for the rest of the summer holiday."

"No problem Harry dear," replied Mrs. Weasley. "We always like when you visit. I think we're ready to go to Diagon Alley.