Harry Potter and the Galator
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and its characters are owned by J.K. Rowlings. Story and plot are mine. Any references to Merlin and other Merlin characters and objects are owned by T.A. Barron.
Chapter 1: Discovering New Powers
Another hot summer night, but at least this year he was allowed to visit his friends without too much hassle. He laid on his bed trying to tune out his cousin Dudley's loud music and his Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon's loud discussions about drills in the living room. Sundays were always bad for him. All the Dursleys were home and they tend to turn up the volume on their new 42" television his uncle bought with his Christmas bonus. Dudley's muggle music seems extra loud on Sunday's as well.
He decided to do some sit-ups and push ups to pass his time until dinner or until they beckon him to do some odd jobs around the house. He glanced up at is calendar. 'One more week,' he thought. Ron, one of his best friends from Hogwarts was going to pick him up to stay with him and his family before school starts again. The thought made him a little calmer. Of course it was easier to convince the Dursleys to let him go this year because not only did he have Sirius, his godfather and thought to be a murderer, send them a letter, but the headmaster of Hogwarts, Dumbledore, also wrote him allowing him to perform magic in case of emergency or self defense. But they didn't need to know about the last part of the letter.
Harry, who was now sixteen years old, was not your ordinary teenager. He was a wizard and a famous one at that. He was the boy who lived. He was known to all in the wizarding world, but he was just Harry the Dursely's juvenile delinquent nephew in the muggle (non-magical) world. He barely escaped another confrontation with the Dark Lord Voldemort last term, and because of it, the rules regarding the use of magic away from his school was lifted to an extent for him. Even with all the protection Dumbledore placed on the Dursely's home and other protection, he felt it necessary for Harry to be given a conditional use of magic.
He now stood at 6 ft. tall with more tone muscles, but still had his unruly raven hair and the lightning bolt scar on his forehead, a little souvenir from when Voldemort first attacked him when he was only a year old. He barely remembered his parents, but he knew they loved him very much.
An owl suddenly flew through his opened window. The tiny overexcited owl flew around his room while he tried to catch him.
"Pig, get down here!" he yelled at the owl. He'd recognized Ron's owl anywhere. Pigwidgeon (pig for short) finally settled down in Hedwig's empty cage while Harry removed the letter from his legs. He gave Pig a snack and motioned him to drink from Hedwig's water bowl.
Harry,
Dad and I will be by on Sunday to pick you up. Dumbledore advised Dad not to use floo powder to come get you just in case You-Know-Who is watching and intercepts you. So, we're going to be using a portkey since Dad says it's harder to intercept you then. Hope you keep yourself busy until we get there. Until then.
Your best friend,
Ron
P.S. Your gift is waiting here at the Burrow for you. It was too big for Pig to carry as I told you before. Did you hear from Hermione?
Now there was someone who'd been filling his mind all summer, Hermione, his other best friend from Hogwarts. It had been weird for him. His thoughts and his dreams had been filled with her since they'd said goodbye at King's Cross.
Maybe it was because they'd also been writing to each other often this summer he thought. That would explain why she was constantly invading his thoughts and dreams. But the dreams were unusual. He kept dreaming of kissing her and not just the normal peck on the cheek that they'd been exchanging since she started at the end of their fourth year.
He glanced over at the picture frame with a picture of Ron, Hermione and himself. It was one of Hermione's birthday gifts this year along with a chain with a lightning bolt as a charm. He kept that one close to his heart and hadn't taken it off since he'd received it last July on his sixteenth birthday.
Every year his birthday had actually been better. More and more people we're sending him presents and he'd cherished each one of them. To his surprise even Cho, Susan, and Parvati had sent him presents this year. That made his birthday much more happier. He'd even received presents from Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall, his transfiguration teacher and head of Gryffindor house where he, Ron and Hermione lived.
To his surprise Hermione's present meant more to him than the others, but couldn't understand why. Just as he was thinking about her Hedwig flew in. He jumped up instantly. He knew the letter would be from Hermione. He opened it excitedly after giving Hedwig her snack.
Dear Harry,
I hope you're doing well since our last post. I'm still here in California. Mum and Dad decided to stay here a few more weeks. They were too busy with the convention and felt guilty they didn't spend enough time with me. I wanted to go to The Burrow before we went to school, but I guess I'll just see you at Diagon Alley. Owl me back and let me know when you and the Weasleys' are going. Miss you.
Love,
Hermione
Wow, did she just write she missed me? he questioned himself. Oh come on, she probably misses Ron too he silently reprimanded himself. His thoughts were interrupted by Pig flying around the room again. He'd forgotten to write Ron back. He took out a piece of parchment and wrote Ron.
Ron,
I think I'll make it. I am counting down the days 'til you and your Dad come get me. Sunday in the morning is fine. The earlier, the better.
Your Best Friend,
Harry
He put the piece or parchment on Pig and let him fly away. Just as he was about to write Hermione a response, his aunt called him.
"Harry! You get down here this instance!"
"Coming Aunt Petunia." He answered as he strolled down the stairs to the kitchen. It must almost be suppertime.
"Do take out the trash and get in here and help me prepare supper." She told him when she saw him walk in the door.
"Yes, Aunt Petunia." He answered flatly. But what he wanted to do was write Hermione back. His duties, however, had to come first or else he would get an hour-long lecture about how to be obedient. He took the trash and brought it outside. Just as he closed the cover on the trash can, his finger was cut on the fray edge of the cover. His instincts took over and he grabbed his finger with his other hand. He felt a slight heat on his finger where the cut is and when he let go, his cut had disappeared. There was no trace of his cut. No blood, not even a scar. He was so surprised. He looked around to make sure that no one was around, especially the Ministry of Magic. He rushed back in to help his aunt with supper. But he couldn't deny the question stirring in his mind about how it happened and the excitement of what he'd done. He decided he'd better tell Sirius. He'd send him an owl after dinner and write Hermione back as well.
Sirius,
A weird thing happened. I got a cut on my finger and while my finger was wrapped in my other hand, my cut was healed. What you think this means?
Your Godson,
Harry
He read it again. Satisfied with it he folded it and started on Hermione's letter.
Dear 'Mione
Got to admit, I wish you would be able to go to the Burrow too. But it's also a good thing to spend time with your parents. Hope you're enjoying yourself in California. Can't wait to hear all about it. Miss you too.
Love,
Harry
He looked at it again. He debated on whether he should leave the part where he said he missed her. Well you do, you idiot came a voice in his head. He decided to leave it alone. He folded it and gave it to Hedwig to deliver.
"Okay Hedwig, one for Hermione and one for Sirius. I'll probably be at Ron's by the time you get back, so see you there."
Hedwig nipped at his hand affectionately and took off into the night. Harry sat down on his bed and contemplated on his new powers, his new feelings for Hermione that were confusing and what Voldemort had in store form him this year.