Parents These Days - A Tale of Time Travel

Christmas Carols By Day

By Morgan Le Fay

Chapter 1: Harry

Harry James Potter was starting his fifth year at Hogwarts in a few weeks. Right now he was lying in bed with a headache, and trying to go to sleep. Actually, it wasn't what we'd call a headache. More likely, it was a scarache. That was why Harry had been kept up for about 3 hours, but it felt much longer, and Harry couldn't be certain, because hadn't known what time it was when he had gotten up. It felt, though, as 10 times the actual amount (which probably was 3 hours). Everyone else, were sleeping peacefully in the next room. "Everyone else" was Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and Dudley Dursley. Harry's family was dead, but we'll get on with that later. Soon, an owl came swooping in, a large snowy owl. It was Harry's Hedwig. But it wasn't alone. There came another owl. The owl Harry didn't recognize was holding three letters, Hedwig two. Harry knew instantly whom they were from. They were from Ron and Hermione, (his best friends at Hogwarts), Hagrid, the gamekeeper, and Sirius Black, his godfather, who he had met in his third year, and was thought to be a murderer. The only people who thought (or knew) otherwise were himself, his Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at the time, Professor Remus Lupin, The headmaster Dumbledore, Ron, and Hermione. Harry's worst enemy was Draco Malfoy, who was in Slytherin. All Harry's friends were in Gryffindor. The other letter was obviously from Hogwarts. Harry opened Ron's first.

Dear Harry,

Happy Birthday!! (LATE)
Harry, what's up? I haven't heard from you in a while. You sure everything's okay?

--Harry sighed, no, everything was not okay, especially after Dudley's diet--

Want to come to Diagon Alley with us? We're going August 18, 2 weeks before Hogwarts opens....Fred and George have been visiting Zonko's a lot lately, (they know how to Apparate now) so Mum's more than a bit upset.

Also, Percy's reached another rank (not that you'd be interested to hear..) in the Ministry of Magic. When he's not shut up in his room (which keeps us all happy, especially Fred and George), he's strutting around the house. At least we don't have to worry about him being at Hogwarts, eh?

How's Hagrid? Heard from him lately? What about Sirius? Are he and Buckbeak okay?

--Ron

Harry tore open Hermione's letter.

Dear Harry,

So....can you believe how little homework we have this holiday?--"Are you kidding?" thought Harry--Only a few essays from each teacher. How's Hedwig? Sirius is okay, too?

I really miss you, Harry...I'm going to Diagon Alley with Ron and his family August 18. Can you come? I really hope you can, Harry! Also, I'll probably see you at King's Cross and the Hogwarts Express anyway.

How's Hagrid? Does he miss Buckbeak? He's been without him for a while now, but...I don't know...I guess Hagrid must miss Buckbeak! Happy Late 15^th Birthday!!

Love from

Hermione

Next Harry opened Sirius'.

Harry--

I still can't tell you where I'm hiding, and you know why.

Ron and Hermione are okay? Are you okay with the Muggles?

Buckbeak and I are fine.

--Sirius

Harry thought, "That was short." But he didn't think it was too short. One letter he'd gotten from Sirius was one sentence long.

Next he opened Hagrid's.

Dear Harry,

How's it goin'? I hope the Muggles aren't being mean to you.

Beaky should be back by now, but no luck. I'm glad, of course, he escaped though.

Cheers, Hagrid

Harry sighed. Now he opened Hogwarts'.

Dear Mr. Potter,

You have been made a Prefect. Unfortunately, any more "trouble" about sneaking out in the nights, and you won't be a Prefect anymore.

Your booklist is also here for you.

The start of term is September first.

Signed,

Professor M. McGonnagall

Deputy Headmistress

Enclosed, Harry slowly pulled out another piece of parchment. It read:

The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5 By Miranda Goshawk

Quidditch Through the Ages by Author Unknown

The Invisibility Book of Invisibility By Author Unknown

The Animals Book of Animals by Author Unknown

Hogwarts: A History

Harry took out some parchment and a quill.

Ron--

Yeah, I can come August 18^th.

Tell Hermione for me, will you?

--Harry

Harry rather reluctantly climbed back into bed. He checked his watch. It was 2:00 AM.

He sighed again. His scar still hurt. The other owl flew off into the night, reflected on the golden moon. Hedwig, on the other hand, was still in her cage, silently gulping her water.

Harry quickly fell back asleep, and the last thing he saw before he fell asleep, was Hedwig, tucking her head underneath her wing.