Dear friends, taking into account the events of these last weeks, we cannot wait anymore. Only through our union will we be able to compete with the force of Voldemort, we must reconstitute the Order of the Phoenix. I have already sent some of our followers/supporters on a certain mission. But it is not enough. New Muggles are murdered, and the wizards are tracked down. Even if the ministry refuses to recognize it. The hour is serious, we must act. It has become too dangerous for the young Harry Potter to remain in his family. You all know as I do, at which point he must survive, otherwise...we must be ready to give our life for his, if it is necessary. This agreement unites the Order. I thus await your reply during the next full moon at our usual place. I hope that you will all be faithful to your duties.
Albus Dumbledore signs, and the quill stops. Dumbledore's weary hand waves his magical wand and the letter duplicates eleven times. Moments later, eleven owls fly away from Hogwarts. By the glow of the bright moon, he is about to leave then he returns, gently caresses the feather of his phoenix, who looks back understandingly.
"It is time, Fawkes, for the Order of the Phoenix to be re-established."
The Phoenix left his hand, blinked its eyes and flew away with its parcel...
****************************************************
Deatheaters altogether lower their heads before their master. Harry suffers as he is tied to the tombstone. the clouded spirit and the exhausted body, he no longer has strength to fight. Cedric's body lies on the ground. The blood flows from his arm. Always the blood. The feeling of the end. Then Voldemort point his wand at his arm and murmurs under his breath "Avada Kedavra", a green glimmer escapes and advances itself toward Harry. Depriving its force, he can no longer move. He feels the green smoke enter his lungs, unable to do anything. He suffocates. The laughters of the Deatheaters echoes in his mind, then his can no longer hear it...
Suffocated, Harry wakes up with a taste in his mouth. After last night's struggles, the guiltiness returns of Cedric's death and Voldemort's return. Each night, the same anguish returns, and every night it seems stronger and more real. This month he comes back to Privet Drive and the life that always seemed so gloomy.
Dudley had yet succeeded to lose a gram and his mother thought it was an unexplainable mystery. She suspects that Harry had cast a spell on his cousin, so she used this as an excuse to her son. Of course this is not the case, for Dudley has bribed all the children on the street to secretly bring him food. The house was never empty of Dudley's "friends." This made Aunt Petunia very happy, blinded by the trick, she thought her son was the most liked one of the whole neighborhood. Dudley's game did not amuse Harry, for he was worried enormously, for it was not possible for him to know the situations of the wizarding world. He would have written to Sirius, Hagrid, or Ron to know if Voldemort had acted again, but he didn't dare to confess to them his anxieties. As every evening, Harry awakes from nightmares, the scar always more burning.
He hears Hedwig's beating wings by his window. Fortunately, she did not forget Harry's birthday, today he's 15 years old. Pigwidgeon, Pig for the close friends, Ron's owl, whirled around in a way that only he could. Harry approaches the window and realized that Pig is not alone. He's accompanied by two other owls, one carrying the initials of Hogwarts, the other with dark and bushy feathers. Hedwig, shows him her leg majestically. Harry found a letter and a small leather purse. Harry reads the letter, written by Hermione:
Dear Harry,
First of all, Happy Birthday! I hope that you were able to rest and forget the past events.
Harry has a thin smile, for his nightmare did not go away.
I've learned a big news that makes me very proud. I hope you won't laugh at me, because Ron does not cease making fun of me since I told him. Well here it is-I was chosen to be a prefect by Professor McGonagall.
Harry smiles, the news absolutely did not surprise him. Who would be a better prefect than Hermione? Even Percy couldn't compare to Hermione! Harry had imagined that in some years she'd take after McGonagall herself. He would bet at his chocolate frog card collections that it was a dream to Hermione.
My parents are very proud. The accompained me on holiday at Viktor's country. His country is sublime, but I'm still anxious to return, it's very cold here. After all, I've discovered a lot of practices and legends that aren't studied at Hogwarts. I do not know if you will be able to come to the Weasley's, but I am sure that Ron will do everything he can so that we can all finish the holidays together.
Yours truly,
Hermione
In the small purse, he found four small, round stones, one dark red, the other blue, the third green, and the last white. Harry wondered what they were. At the bottom of the letter Hermione had written an explaination:
These stones represent the four elements: fire, water,earth, and air. A legend tells that the knights used them, centuries ago, when they were in very perilous situations. If their intentions were pure, then they obtained an incomparable force, enabling them to overcome any opponet. In this case they must squeeze very strong while repeating the name of the four elements. I do not know if it works, but considering your enemies, you can be sure that one day that will help you.
Hermione
Harry was not in a hurry to try them out right away. He then detached a letter from the owl with thick bushy feathers. He too had a purse that's identical to Hermione's. He wondered from whom it came from, and the answer was in the letter. It is a moving postcard of Hagrid and Madame Maxime in front of an immense forest.
Dear Harry,
Even if I'm hundreds of kilometers away, I would not miss your birthday. I left with Olympe into the forests of the East according to the wishes of Dumbledore. It is marvellous here, the countryside is so beautiful. I have even crossed wild colonies of dragons. Once I return, I would bring back one from there but I do not think that the customs would agree. Once I return, I'd have a lot of new creatures to show you. You'll see they're magnificent.
With all my affections, Hagrid
Harry wondered what Hagrid meant by "magnificent," for he had an odd opinion of beauty. In an attached purse, Harry found small stones, some, maroon, the others gray.
The are used to change size: the chestnuts makes anything grow, the gray makes them shrink. They are used a lot in this region!
Harry supposed that the giants made use of it to appear normal. Perhaps it's a practical joke, said Harry to himself, it'll be neccessary for me to show these to Fred and George.
After a long struggle, Harry managed to catch Pigwidgeon. Pig was very small and nimble.
Dear Harry,
Happy Birthday! Did you hear the news? Hermione is a Prefect! What a surprise. Plus, she is on vacation with her Vicky. If she thinks I'll forgive her for that! To sell herself to the enemy! What nerve! And after she wants to carry the symbol of intgrity to Hogwarts! We can say that she chose his side. I will try to get you to come to the house at least two weeks before the new term. My father asked for authorization from Dumbledore, but there are many problems in the ministry, I do not see him as much as I used to. I do not know if he gave his agreement. Mom is even more irritated and anxious than usual. Fred and George put more atmosphere to the house, they invented a heap of funny tricks, and they're testing them all! I hope that you will come soon.
Ron
Ron had enclosed a package full with delicious cakes from his mother and a subscription to a Qudditch magazine.
Finally he took the letter from Hogwarts, which he imagined to be the list of supplies. He found a letter from Professor McGonagall, but this one seemed longer than usual.
Dear Mr. Potter,
You will want to take note that the new school year will began on September 1st. The Hogwarts Express train will leave the station of King's Cross, from Platform 9 and 3/4, at precisely eleven o' clock. In addition, as the head of the Gryffindor house, I must take care of the constitution of the Qudditch team. Indeed, the Inter-House tournament will take place again this year and our team is not complete any more, since, the departure of Oliver Wood, our Keeper and trainer. I thus see myself in obligation to name some new members. Being given your experience in this sport, I have chosen you to be the captain of the Qudditch team. I hope that you will accept this position, while, being aware of the responsibilities that it implies. Owl me your reply quickly. I await your response.
Sincerely, Professor McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress
Harry did not reply right then. He read the letter for the second time to make sure it wasn't a dream. Captain of the Qudditch team! Him! He hesitated to catch a piece of parchment and a quill. He was so happy that he could barely write and broke two quills before being able to reply.
Dear Professor McGonagall,
I accept your offer, and thank you. I would love to be the Captain of the Gryffindor team. I hope I'll do well and that we'll win the Cup.
Thank you again, Harry.
What a birthday! His nightmare was far out of his mind. Harry was so excited. He replied by the Hogwarts owl and sat in front of his window, reading again the letter for the 20th time. He could see himself already winning the final as the Captain. Best of all Malfoy's ears would smoke in rage and Cho would look at him with sparkling eyes...Harry started thinking about Qudditch, of potential moves and tactics even subtler than the Wronski Feint.
Suddenly, he saw something that by the opening of his window that had slipped over to rub against him. A cat! It was a cat! It purred. Harry picked it up on the pretense of taking it outside. The Dursleys would surely not accept that it(Aunt Petunia hated animals). But by picking it up, Harry felt a bit of paper rolled up around a leg.
"Strange, a postal cat! I've never hear of that before." Harry looked at it carefully. This cat could not come far...Which meant that a wizard was in Privet Drive...Harry's heart skipped a beat. But if it were Voldemort, Harry's scar would have burned atrociously. Besides, Voldemort would not write to him with a cat! Harry looked at the cat again. He then took the end of the parchment and read:
Dear Harry,
I very wanted to celebrate your birthday with you, before leaving on a mission. I found refuge with an old witch friend, Madame Figg. She lives near you, and I believe that you know it already. Well yes, she is of our world. I await you tomorrow. Ask the Muggles to go to visit her, I do not think that they will be opposed to it. We will have finally the time to discuss everything together.
Until tomorrow, Sirius
Harry rose then and went to the window. He thought he saw two yellow eyes to shine in the dark. He squinted at them. A large dog left the shade and barked gently. Harry waved to the dog. The cat left and the dog moved away. Harry watched it moving away with his throat tight. He was in a hurry for it to be the next day.
