A/N: I'm writing this one right after I wrote chapter three, so they'll probably be posted at the same time. Probably. Anyway, it's Harry's birthday, next. He receives a few gifts, and one very strange one. The poem down there is mine. I thought of it, thinking of the tittle of this story, which I guess will be Black Rose. Sorry if it seemed kind of rushed. I couldn't think of anything that rhymed with 'surpass'. ::sighs:: -_-"

Of Emeralds and Dragons

Black Rose

Black rose as dark as night,

Your simple beauty cannot be surpassed,

When the world is not right,

I will look to you in the gloom-filled mass…

A maze. He was in a maze. He was in the same bloody maze. A boy. Cedric. A cup. He and Cedric grabbed it. Motion. A graveyard. A voice. "Kill the spare." Cedric. A flash of green light. Cedric. A dull thud. Cedric. Lifeless, surprised, fearless gray eyes. Cedric! A high laughter. A cauldron. A snake. Nagini. Wormtail. A bundle. A knife. A flash of silver. A scream. A knife. A stab. Blood. Voldemort.

A talk. Death Eaters. A challenge. A duel. Gold. Brother wands. Phoenix song. A dome. Priori Incantatem. Ghosts. Cedric. A Muggle. Bertha Jorkins. James. Lily. Dad. Mum. Reassurance. A request. A broken link. A body. A tug. Motion. Safe.

Cruel laughter.

"You will never be safe."

Darkness…

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Harry shot up in bed, his eyes wide, and his breath shallow. He brought a weary hand up to the fading pulses of his scar, and wiped the sweat off his brow. He slowly got up.

He had that dream again. He couldn't help but shudder at the memories. He wanted desperately to forget, but the dreams came like a plague. A virus that couldn't be eliminated.

He got out of bed and got dressed. He looking out the window to see if Hedwig had come back with a reply from Ron yet, but saw no sign of her in the room. With a sigh, he got to work with his chores.

________________________

When he arrived back upstairs a few hours later, he nearly yelled in surprise. On his bed, in a nice row, were seven owls. Four of them he recognized right away.

One was his very own Hedwig. The other was a surprisingly quiet Pigwidgeon, who belonged to his friend Ron.

The third was a beautiful tawny that belonged to another of Harry's friends, Hermione. Although she had Crookshanks, a very large ginger cat, she decided to get her parents their own owl for owl post. She was Muggle-born, so her parents didn't know much about the wizarding world. But they wanted a way to communicate with Hermione while she was at school. So they bought Melody.

The fourth was the rainbow colored Zaera, that belonged to Sirius. Remus had kept her all those years while Sirius was in Azkaban. At Harry's questioning, Sirius said that in his third year, he was practicing coloring potions at home for some new pranks, and accidentally put some of it in Zaera's water bowl. They weren't able to turn her back.

With a small smile, he went first to Hedwig, who was nearest. After removing her bundle, she nipped his finger lovingly, and flew to her cage. After seeing that the owls weren't in a rush to go anywhere, he sat down on his bed, and opened the letter.

Harry-

Happy birthday! So, you’re a Prefect too? Hermione says she's one also. (I wouldn't doubt it.) I wonder who the forth Prefect is. Oh well, we'll find out on the Express.

Anyway, no, I haven't overheard anything from Dad or Percy. They're always quiet. I reckon that they don't know much either. The Daily Prophet is quiet too. I bet Fudge is keeping them that way. Funny how You-Know-Who hasn't done anything yet. Probably sulking in a corner somewhere because you escaped him again.

Dad talked to Dumbledore, but he won't let you come to the Burrow this year. Can you make it to Diagon Ally on the thirty-first?

Mum sends her love.

Ron

Harry grimaced. He had to spend the rest of the summer with the Dursleys. He turned to Ron's gift which was a box of Chocolate Frogs. He then turned to Pig, wondering why he was there, as Ron had used Hedwig. He removed Pig's bundle and letter. Pig, now looking very relieved for some reason, flew around the room, before perching on Hedwig's cage. Looking at the package, Harry could understand why. The gift was from Fred and George.

Harry- the letter read.

Thanks for the money. We did what you said, and bought Ron a nice set of navy dress robes- without lace. The joke shop plan is working great. This year is going to be the best!

Guess what! Ludo Bagman paid us what he owed, and in real money! Mum wasn't too happy when she found out we were sort of gambling, but when she saw what we won, she pretty much stop complaining. With that and the money you gave us, we're doing great. Dad even got a new car.

We're sending you our newest inventions. In other circumstances, we wouldn't bother with it, but this time we'll be nice. Watch out for the Gaggle Gumdrops. They'll make you sound really weird when you talk.

Gred and Forge

Harry laughed a true laugh since a while. He warily put aside their gift and turned to Melody. Hermione's letter was short and to-the-point.

Harry

Happy birthday. I do hope you've been staying out of trouble. You never know what could happen, now. In times like these, you must be extra careful. My gift should help you in case of an emergency.

Hermione

Harry unwrapped the small parcel. It was a jar of Floo Powder.

Harry turned to Zaera. He didn't find a note, but a strangely shaped package. Harry unwrapped it and gasped. He read the note that was wrapped with it.

Harry

This should be extremely useful. Keep it with you all times!

Love,

Remus

Harry looked at the miniature Foe Glass. The shadowed figures were moving, but not in focus. He turned to the other owls. Two of the last three were tied to the same, rather large, package. They looked to be school owls. He took relived them of their burden, and, with hoots of gratitude, flew out the window. The letter was from Dumbledore.

Dear Harry,

I though that you would need this. Your head will be filled with much thought, this year, and you can relieve them with this. The liquid thoughts you put into it will never spill from the bowl. I trust you know how to use it.

Albus Dumbledore

Harry picked up the Pensieve, examined it, and put in on his desk. He would look at it more closely later. The last owl he didn't recognize at all. It was a normal sized, pure black owl, who looked like it was glaring at him. Harry warily took the letter from it. It turned up it's beak in a haughty way, and flew out the window. Harry watched it. When it was out of sight, he looked at the letter.

It was rolled, and had a dark green ribbon around it, with silver edges. He unrolled it. Inside was a perfectly normal rose. Except that it was black. It didn't seem like it was damaged in any way, despite been having been rolled up in a tight cylinder and flown somewhere. He set it aside, and looked at the parchment. On it was a simple poem.

Some say love, it is a river, that drowns the tender reed,

Some say love, it is a razor, that leaves your soul to bleed,

Some say love, it is hunger, an endless aching need,

I say love, it is a flower, and you it's only seed.

It's the heart afraid of breaking, that never learns to dance,

It's the dream afraid of waking, that never takes the chance,

It's the one who won't be taken, who can not seem to give,

And the soul afraid of dying, that never learns to live.

When the night has been too lonely,

And the road has been too long,

And you think that love is only,

For the lucky and the strong,

Just remember in the winter,

Far beneath the bitter snow,

Lies a seed that with the suns love,

In the spring becomes a rose.

Right underneath the poem, was a single, simple word.

Bloom.

________________________

A/N: Kudos and a hundred Galleons to you if you get it. And thank Lily Potter for posting the poem in her story for me to find.

Disclaimer: As much as I wish, I can not take credit for the poem motioned above. It's from the song "Rose" by Bette Midler. I think.