J.K. Rowling owns all of Harry Potter. We're glad she doesn't mind sharing.
Chapter One: Ruddy Owls and Reflections
"Boy! Get down here and make our breakfast!"
With a yawn, Harry rolled his eyes and started down the stairs. "Yes, Uncle Vernon."
His uncle glared at him when he entered, but didn't say anything. He gathered the family's breakfast foods and quickly started cooking. Within minutes, he was done, and breakfast was on the table. Dudley got the largest portion, of course, despite the "diet" he was on.
Harry was stuck with a piece of dry toast and the smallest egg. Harry rolled his eyes as Dudley quickly devoured his meal and then glanced hungrily at Harry's. His appetite suddenly gone, Harry pushed his plate towards Dudley and turned to flee back to the quiet of his room.
"Not so fast, boy," his uncle's voice rang out.
Harry paused and turned to his uncle.
"Yes Uncle Vernon?" he asked.
His uncle's face broke into a sneer as he held out a long list. "You're not going back up to that room of yours until you finish your chores." he answered.
Harry groaned to himself as he took the paper and skimmed it. Water the plants, cut the grass, and vacuum the sitting room were among the multitude of chores on the list. Vernon glared at him, as if daring him to say something. Harry simply nodded and walked outside, intending to start on the chores. Before he reached the door, however, a handsome brown owl swooped into the kitchen and dropped a parchment on the table.
The vein in Vernon's neck began to pulse.
"WHAT IS THAT RUDDY OWL DOING IN MY HOUSE?" he bellowed. "I'LL NOT HAVE ANY MORE OF YOUR CREATURES IN MY HOUSE!"
Harry quickly grabbed the letter, his heart pounding faster as he saw the Ministry seal on the front of the envelope. Tearing it open, his uncle still bellowing in outrage, he read the contents.
Dear Mr. Potter,
You are hereby summoned to appear at the hearing for one Ms. Dolores Umbridge on the 20th of August. You and several others are being called to provide testimony against the defendant. The hearing will be held at the Ministry of Magic under the jurisdiction of the Wizengamot. You are asked to appear at 10 a.m. on the aforementioned day.
Yours sincerely,
Cornelius Fudge,
Minister of Magic
Harry's eyes widened in shock. Umbridge had been arrested? And he was going to get to testify against the toad? A small smile spread onto his face. This was the first piece of good news he had heard all summer.
Suddenly, another owl swooped in and collapsed on the table. It was Errol, the Weasley's ancient owl.
" FOR GOD'S SAKE!!! ENOUGH BLOODY OWLS!!! I'LL NOT TOLERATE THIS, BOY!!" Vernon roared.
Harry rushed to fill a small dish with water for Errol to drink from. He then grabbed the parchment and read.
Hey Harry!!
Did you hear about Umbridge? The old toad's been arrested by the Ministry!! I guess some people found out about her trying to curse you and all that stuff, and she used a Blood Quill on one student in detention. I think it was Lee Jordan.
With a grim smile, Harry glanced at the white scarring on his hand. Lee wasn't the only one terrorized by Umbridge. He turned back to the letter.
So, the lot of us have been called to testify. I think it's you, me, Lee, and a few other students. Oh, and McGonagall! She's testifying about the Stunner attack!! Makes me almost feel sorry for Umbridge, having to face McGonagall's temper (only almost, though)!
Anyways, since you have to come to the Ministry anyway, Dad says that you can just stay with us the rest of the summer! We're coming to get you on Monday, so you can stay with us before the trial and until school starts.
Harry's thoughts spun. He was thrilled to be getting away from the Dursleys, but he wasn't sure he was up to being around the cheery Weasley family. Not in the mood he was in.
Write back to tell me if is okay with the Muggles! Alhough, even if it isn't we're still coming. Mum's been worried sick about you, fretting about "poor Harry being stuck with those dreadful Muggles". Got to say mate, I can't say I blame her. Bloody Muggles….
Harry grinned in spite of himself. He could always count on Mrs. Weasley to worry and fret over him.
So, I'll see you Monday, mate. We're coming around 9:00 a.m., so be ready!
Ron
Harry folded the letter and stuck it in the pocket of his baggy pants. He turned to his uncle, who was still glaring at him. He looked at the dangerously throbbing vein again, and decided to withhold the information of the Weasley's visit until as late as possible. Like when the Weasley's had already arrived, perhaps.
He smiled weakly at his uncle. "I'll… just go and do my chores now, Uncle Vernon."
His uncle glared menacingly. "You do that, boy."
Harry hurried out, breathing a sigh of relief when he reached the safety of the outdoors. He could hear his uncle stomping around the house, muttering about "bloody freaks who keep sending bloody owls".
He wandered over and sat on the curb, reading the letter again. He was torn between wanting to avoid contact with all his friends, and between getting as far away from the Dursleys as possible. He knew his friends were worried about him, and would bombard him with questions as soon as he arrived. They thought he blamed himself for what happened at the Ministry. Not that they were wrong in their assumption, but he didn't want to think about what had happened, much less talk about it.
"Oh well. Its not like I really have a choice in the matter," Harry muttered to himself, a spark of irritation igniting in him. He never had a choice in anything, not really. No one ever let him have a say in anything, no one ever told him anything.
His mind drifted to the end of his fifth year and his conversation with Dumbledore. Well, not so much a conversation as a one-sided screaming match.
Harry felt a twinge of guilt at the way he had treated the older wizard. It wasn't really Dumbledore's fault; he had just done what he thought was best. That didn't mean Harry was happy with his headmaster, but he wasn't as blinded by anger as he had been last year.
He just wished people would deign to tell him some things once in a while. It was, after all, he who had to defeat Voldemort. He, and only he.
Now Harry's thoughts turned to the prophecy…
"AND EITHER MUST DIE AT THE HANDS OF THE OTHER, FOR NEITHER CAN LIVE WHILE THE OTHER SURVIVES…"
The prophecy weighed heavily on Harry's mind. He had always known, in some part of him, that he would be the one who had to defeat Voldemort. Why else would the madman have gone after him so many times? But to have it confirmed, and to be told he would either become a murderer, or be murdered, was a thought that followed him around, looming over his shoulder
He idly picked a few stray blades of grass from the cracks in the sidewalk. He glanced around, wondering who his "babysitter" was. Harry knew that the Order was watching him. He never saw them, but he knew they were there. He hoped if they could see him, they thought he was miserable. Because he was.
"Best get on with it," he thought as he prepared himself to tackle the list of chores. Glancing back into the house, he saw his uncle glaring at him through the window. Hoping to prevent his uncle's wrath, Harry ran over to the shed where the gardening tools were kept. He pulled out the hedge clippers, and got to work.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Several very long and boring hours later, an exhausted Harry collapsed in his room, having finished the chores he'd been given. He'd run upstairs before his uncle could give him another list of wretched things to do.
He was reminded of something when he heard paper crumpling. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out Ron's letter.
"I forgot I put it there…" he murmured. "Guess I should write back…"
He pushed himself off his well-worn comforter and sat at his battered desk.
Ron-
Sounds great!! Staying with you wins hands down over staying with the Dursleys)… of course, nearly everything beats staying with the Dusley!
Harry chewed the end of his quill before writing the next line.
The Muggles say I can come. Just, er, don't Floo here again; remember last time?
It wasn't really true: he hadn't asked the Dursley's if he could go, but… he'd deal with that when he had to. He continued writing.
Can't wait to see you, and I'm guessing Hermione will be there too? Tell everyone hi from me, and I'll see you Monday!!
Harry
Satisfied that he sounded appropriately cheerful, he pulled out a fresh piece of parchment and dipped his quill into his ink well. He figured that while he was at it, he should write a letter to Hermione as well.
Dear Hermione,
Just got a letter from Ron, and it turns out I'm going to be staying at the Weasley's the rest of the summer. Are you coming too? Hope you are, it wouldn't be the same if you weren't there to nag us about doing our homework (which by the way, I've almost finished).
Hope to see you soon!
Harry
After reading over both letters, he folded them and walked over to Hedwig's cage.
"I need you to take this to Ron's, girl. And this one to Hermione."
Hedwig gave an enthusiastic hoot. He tied the rolled-up parchments to her leg, and with an affectionate nip of his finger, the owl flew off.
Harry could only contemplate, What have I gotten myself into?