Chapter 1: A First Time for Everything

The End

Chapter 1: A First Time for Everything

Harry Potter rolled out of his bed, landing hard on the floor. He mumbled in pain and touched his scar. It was practically smoking from the pain. His eyes watered, and he tried to get back on his bed. He gave up, feeling like the pain was driving all the energy he had away. Finally, the pain stopped and Harry managed to make it back to his bed. He looked up at the clock and noticed it was seven in the morning.

It'd been one month and three weeks since the summer holidays had started. His birthday was just not coming fast enough, even though it was just three days away. He longed to just hex his aunt, uncle, and cousin to hell. But, then he would end up in Azkaban for Muggle torture. Sighing, Harry got up and dressed. Then, he heard a tapping at his window. Whirling around and throwing his wand out, Harry noticed it was just Pigwidgeon, Ron's owl. He trudged to the window. He took the letter out of his beak. It was from Ginny.

Harry,

Ginny

Harry smiled and folded the letter. He was surprised most of all that Bill, of all people, got married. Plus, he had a child, AND it was a girl. Harry knew that Ginny was the first Weasley girl to be born in several generations. That's amazing. He'd half-expected Charlie or Percy to beat him to it. He also realized that "You-Know-What" was the Order of the Phoenix. Just the mention of it made Harry angry. Since Ginny wasn't allowed to say anything through the letter, it meant that he'd be left in the dark until August. He scribbled a note back to Ginny and gave it to Pigwidgeon. The tiny bird flew out at top speed. Harry turned toward the door and went downstairs.

Harry made himself breakfast. He was determined to stay as far away from the Dursleys as possible. If they didn't realize he was there, he wouldn't have to deal with them. Then he heard the thundering footsteps that could belong to none other than Dudley Dursley. Rolling his eyes and sighing, Harry tried to finish before Dudley came in. Too late.

"What are you doing up so early?" Dudley asked. He almost sounded polite. Almost. This shocked Harry. He looked at Dudley with suspicion in his eyes. Dudley stared back at him. "Well?" he asked. Harry snapped back into reality at that last question.

"I'm eating breakfast. What does it look like?" he spat. Dudley "hmphed" and opened the refrigerator. Harry smirked.

"Why are you eating so early?"

"Because I'm trying to avoid you lot. I don't want to have to work for you. I'm not a slave, Dudley. So, I figure if I stay out of your way, you'll forget I'm here and just leave me be," Harry said, taking his bowl over to the sink and rinsed it out. Dudley grabbed a few cookies and looked at Harry as he was washing the bowl.

"This is your last year of school?" Dudley asked through a mouthful of chocolate chip cookie. Harry sighed. He did not really feel like conversating with his cousin. Since Dudley was actually being civil towards him, he felt he should at least oblige him with half-assed answers.

"Yes."

"So, you'll be leaving here after?"

"Hopefully."

"You really want to go?"

"Dudley, if you were in my position, wouldn't you want to leave this place too? I can't stand it here. For the past sixteen years of my life, you've all treated me like shit. So, of course the first chance I get to leave the horrid place for good I'm going to take," Harry said forcefully. Dudley stuffed another cookie into his mouth. Then something dawned on Harry. "Why are you up so early? Normally I'm the only one up this early," Harry said. Dudley almost choked on the cookie he was eating.

"I can't stand that food Mum makes me eat. Normally, I get up earlier than this, but for some reason I felt the need to sleep. Then I found you," Dudley said. Harry realized that this was the longest conversation that they'd ever had. "Aunt Marge is supposed to be coming tomorrow," Dudley said. Harry sighed.

"That's definitely the LAST person I need to see on my birthday. The VERY last. I'm definitely hiding up in my room for the next three days." Harry turned to go upstairs.

Elsewhere, Head Magus Cyril Jones sat at the head of a table. Twenty other people surrounded the table. They all wore robes of white and had stern faces. Dumbledore and Cornelius Fudge walked in the room. They sat on either side of Cyril Jones.

"Albus, it is nice to see you again. Fudge, welcome. These people are the Magi. We have Dewei Camara, Bruis Eamon, Zyoko and Yul Long, Kali Vallari, Ferris Winfred, Dylan Hamish, Kenneth Druce, Artan and Freya Ferguson, Aiden Gillespie, Aiko Sheng, Darrion Shamus, Aislin Douglas, Fionnula Onsu, and her brother Drake. They are ready and willing to aid you," Jones said. Dumbledore nodded. Fudge looked out at all the faces.

"Albus, I understand that you trained the eight youngsters to be part of the Magi, also," Fudge said. Dumbledore nodded.

"Yes, Cornelius. They are well trained, but they still need a lot of work. As of right now, I think we have all the help we can get. I still have many Aurors on my side in the Order," Dumbledore said. Then Fudge looked at a woman with dark brown hair that was in a long braid. She stared back at him.

"You're Kali Vallari?" he asked. The woman nodded. "You were engaged to that fellow... What was his name...?"

"Troi Wallace. He died two years ago when he, my sister, Devi Cuyler and her husband, Galvin Cuyler, were attacked while in the line of duty. Galvin and Troi were killed. Devi was driven into insanity," Kali said in a dry monotone. Fudge nodded. Jones cleared his throat.

"The Italian Minister of Magic, Ricardo Assante, sent some of the most powerful Magi he has to our aid. They are Isi and Kieran Sonnagh and Chrissy and Clyde Tremaine. They are the best of the best in their country. The others had to stay and aid their country in case of disaster there also. Albus, will you allow his granddaughter and the Potter boy to attend Hogwarts this year? Or will you let them continue on in their training?" Jones asked.

"Harry and Aurora will attend school, and hopefully they will not need to be taken out. I suspect that Voldemort does not have the aptitude to try and attack while certain Magi working at the school. Catriona Onsu will continue as the Defense teacher, and Aislin Douglas will be our new Potions mistress. Plus, we will have special guards in the school at all times."

"I thought Severus Snape was the Potions master at Hogwarts," Fudge said. Dumbledore shook his head.

"Yes, he was. But, last year he was captured when Bellatrix Lestrange raided the school. During his imprisonment, he was tortured with the Dolore Curse. By the way, I really believe that should be made an illegal curse, Cornelius. It's a dreadful curse," Dumbledore replied. Fudge shook his head. Jones nodded.

"If I might be able to speak, Signore Jones?" Chrissy Tremaine said, standing up. Jones nodded. Chrissy looked at Dumbledore. She was a relatively tall woman and had short brown hair.

"I have five daughters that will be attending Hogwarts this year. The two eldest, Celerina and Catalina, have had intense training since they were ten. I believe that the twins will be able to assist you in anyway, as they are as powerful as Aurors," Chrissy said. Dumbledore nodded.

"I will be sure to place them in the right house then, Mrs. Tremaine," Dumbledore said. Chrissy nodded.

"Please call me Chrissy, Signore Dumbledore," she said.

"Then you may call me Albus, Chrissy." The old wizard's eyes twinkled as Chrissy smiled. Fudge was examining some papers. He looked over at the Tremaines.

"It says here that you have nine children. I only have heard of eight," Fudge said. Chrissy looked at her husband, Clyde. His facial expression had changed dramatically.

"Our second daughter, Chaylse, was kidnapped after she graduated from Meloni three years ago, right before we had our second set of twins. She was never found. She disappeared at the train station on her way back. No one even saw her leave. She was just gone," Clyde said dryly. Fudge nodded.

On Harry's birthday, he opened his eyes. The sun was shining brightly. Hedwig hooted delightfully at him, as if to say happy birthday. Harry smiled at her. He was seventeen and of age. That meant it was time for some payback for the Dursleys. He got up and sauntered downstairs as if he owned the place. Aunt Marge was talking with Aunt Petunia in the TV. room. Aunt Marge looked in his direction.

"Hey, you, boy. Bring Petunia and me some tea," she said in her disgusting voice. Harry turned toward her. At first, he was going to say something horrible to her. Then he decided on a much better payback. He got the tea as he was told. Aunt Petunia was watching him.

"Here you go," Harry said almost a little too kindly. Aunt Petunia took her cup and Aunt Marge took hers. She kept looking at Harry as if he was nothing more than a bug.

"You never comb that disgusting hair of yours, do you? You look like some sort of hooligan. Petunia, why don't you make him do something with it?" Marge complained. Harry smirked and moseyed back towards the kitchen. He leaned on the counter, watching the two women with a smug look on his face.

"I've tried, Marge. Believe me, I've tried. I gave up years ago, though. Every time I make him cut it, he doesn't comb it, and it just grows back the way it was. It's no use," Aunt Petunia said. Aunt Marge just smirked and took a sip of her tea. That was when Harry decided to strike. He sent a jet of air directly at her cup. It shattered, and hot tea poured all over her. Aunt Marge stood up, shrieking in pain. Aunt Petunia was trying desperately to wipe it off of her. She then glared at Harry, who was openly laughing his head off.

"You did this, didn't you?" she asked. Harry looked at her with big sweet eyes.

"How could I? I'm all the way over here, and I'm not allowed to do magic outside of school, remember? Plus, it's my birthday. I don't have time to mess around with that ghastly old bat. I've got better things to do." Harry then turned on his heel and walked upstairs.

In his room, there were about five owls hooting loudly. Hedwig was going mad, having to share her space with unwanted guests. Harry smiled at all the packages. Then, Uncle Vernon's heavy footsteps were heard.

"If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times, Potter. Keep that bloody pidg...What's all this?" He stopped, seeing all the packages and owls in Harry's room. "I told you that I'll not have anymore owls in this house! It is bad enough you've got that one." Harry sighed and looked at the parcels. He picked up one and took the note from it.

Harry,

Hermione G.

Harry smiled and ripped open the package. A golden book that felt like it was as heavy as gold shone in the light. It said Curses, Barricades, and Charms for the Soliopathic Witch or Wizard. Opening it, he saw pictures of old wizards that were shooting spells out of their hands. Harry smiled.

"Trust Hermione to give someone a book for their birthday." He then turned to two packages that Pigwidgeon had brought with him. One was marked for Ron, George, and Fred and the other was from Ginny. He picked up Ron's first. He squinted at his best friend's sloppy, minuscule handwriting.

Harry,

Ron

Harry smiled and looked at the package. Sure enough, there were enough items from Fred and George's joke shop to expel him from school. Plus, Harry never really ran out of the items from last year. Ron had given Harry enough candy and sweets to rot his teeth. Hermione would happily confiscate everything that the Weasley brothers gave him. Laughing, he looked at Ginny's note.

Harry,

Ginny

Harry smiled and tore the package open. It was a camera. Harry knew instantly that it was just not any camera. There was also a picture underneath it. In it were Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, Aurora, Neve, Draco, and himself. Draco was staring off to the side, trying with all his might to look sullen. Aurora was pulling on his arm. Ron was rolling his eyes as Hermione yelled at him. Harry and Ginny were staring at each other, occasionally looking at the camera. The only people who actually were paying attention to the camera were Neve and Neville. They were waving and smiling at the camera.

Harry looked at the fourth package. It was wrapped in black paper. A note was attached to it. He recognized the elaborate handwriting immediately. He was pleasantly surprised that this particular person even knew when his birthday was.

Potter,

Draco W. Malfoy

Harry blinked twice. He looked at the package, almost afraid to open it. After staring at it for about two minutes, he opened it. A wooden box fell out. It was engraved with the words "My Beautiful Flower Lily." Harry took in a sharp breath. He opened the box. Two rings were in it. One had a green emerald and diamonds in it. There was also a picture of his parents, Sirius, Remus, Wormtail, Aunt Petunia(!), two women Harry'd never seen, and four people he deduced were his grandparents. His parents, Sirius, Remus, and the two women were laughing maniacally and in their wedding attire. They kept clanging glasses together. Harry deduced they were all very drunk. He smiled. This was the best present he'd ever gotten, even if it was from Draco. He made a mental note to thank him. He then turned his attention to the last package. It was from the Assante sisters.

Harry,

Neve

Harry opened the tiny package. There was a box of chocolates inside. Harry picked one and ate it. First, all he tasted was chocolate. Then it tasted just like a cherry jellybean. He looked at the box, then found that he couldn't read what it said. He touched it and the words changed.

"'Oksana Slavinski's Jellybean Chocolates.' There's an idea if I ever heard of one." Harry said. He ate two more before he heard a soft knock on his door. He walked to it and opened it. Aunt Petunia stood there with Dudley. She held a small cake with seven candles in it, and Dudley held a rather long box. Harry just stood there, looking at them with wide eyes. Aunt Petunia cleared her throat.

"I know you're leaving for good soon. Plus, it is your seventeenth birthday. Since we've never given you anything special for your birthday, I feel that now is as good a time as any. Happy birthday, Harry." Aunt Petunia gave him the cake. Harry took it numbly, too shocked to even mumble a thanks. He turned and sat the cake on his desk. He turned back to face his aunt and cousin. Dudley gave him the box. Harry opened it slowly. What was in it literally made him almost faint. He blinked twice as he stared at it. Then he removed it from the box. It was a broomstick. A Firebolt 500, the newest model. Harry looked back up at his aunt, finally finding his voice.

"Thanks. How did you get it?" he asked. He knew that his aunt liked to pretend that the wizarding world didn't exist.

"I gathered from your room that you liked that game your father use to play when he was in school. Lily told me about it one day when I asked. So, I contacted that man. Weasley, I think his name was. I gave him some regular money, and I told him what I wanted to buy you. He sent it by owl a couple of days ago. Do you like it?" Aunt Petunia said. She sounded almost hopeful.

"Of course. I love it. But, I thought you'd be the last person to buy me anything," Harry whispered the last part. Aunt Petunia appeared to not hear him. She nodded and began to walk away. Before she turned the corner to go downstairs, she looked back at Harry.

"I don't hate you or your mother, Harry," she said softly. Then she went downstairs. Harry nodded and turned back inside his room.

I guess there's a first time for everything, he thought, smiling to himself. Then he heard a loud knock on the door downstairs.