Disclaimer: I Do NOT own Harry Potter.

Chapter 1

Invitation is it optional?

Harry laid on his bed, tired. There was nothing to it, he missed Sirius and it was his fault he was dead. The same way it was his fault Cedric was dead and the same way it was also his fault his own parents, Lily and James Potter, were dead. Well, thanks to him and thanks to the prophecy. The wretched, dreaded, cursed and bloody prophecy had been the main occupant of Harry's thoughts that summer.

When he first heard it that night at Dumbledore's office, Sirius' death had been too fresh for him to care, but now, in his cold and boring room where he had been left to stew all summer, it was all he could think about. And now, after days of endlessly going over it again and again in his head, he was starting to get scared. He couldn't defeat Voldemort. He knew he had no special power, no way to win. The words of Tom Riddle from his second year rang in his head: "There's nothing special about you."

Sighing loudly, Harry turned to look himself over in his mirror. Even though the Dursleys had been better to him this summer than all the others put together it had been the worst one of his life. The only positive thing about it had been his physical changes. With the threat at King's Cross, the Dursleys had been feeding him constantly and buying him new clothes that actually fit. Harry knew it was because they were terrified the Order would come and turn them into something foul, but he enjoyed it nevertheless. At the beginning of summer vacation he hadn't really eaten much due to the fact that he was extremely depressed. His aunt and uncle had actually punished him for not eating.

"We will NOT have some freaks at our house simply because you don't want to eat your food. I DON'T CARE IF YOU'RE NOT HUNGRY! EAT IT OR I'LL STUFF IT DOWN YOUR THROAT!" Uncle Vernon had yelled at him one night he'd refused to touch the duck Aunt Petunia had cooked up.

With a headache Harry ate his food and to his surprise he found out that eating was a good way to distract himself from thinking about Sirius. Another measure Harry had taken to stop himself from brooding too much was working out. On his spare time he would either jog around the neighborhood or do push ups in his room. He figured he needed to get in shape for the next time he ran into Voldemort. The chores his relatives made him do helped as well. They were still gruesome and tiresome but at least now he was rewarded with tasty treats and when he did a really good job a even a bit of money.

In between all this Harry didn't look like Harry anymore. His hair was still as messy as ever but unlike before, when it looked like a black ragged mop, It was actually making Harry look healthier and even if he was the only one who thought so, more like his father. What was more, his eating habits hadn't made him fat like Dudley but instead stopped him from looking like a walking skeleton. The muscles he had always had, thanks to quidditch, but were always hidden in his bone-tight skin were finally starting to show. Harry had even grown several inches. Fact of the matter was that he was now extremely handsome. Something he was totally oblivious to but the polite muggle mirror in his could see it even if it did not say anything since muggle mirrors could talk, but chose not to.

Harry stared at his reflection scowling when Uncle Vernon's voice sounded around the house. "BOY! GET DOWN HERE".

Harry sighed deeply and dragged his feet downstairs. He really wasn't in the mood for chores today. When he reached the bottom of the stairs his uncle stared him over.

"What's the matter with you boy? You haven't been sleeping".

He didn't say this out of concern for Harry but because he was worried that Harry's freaky friends might think him abused. Harry just shrugged making Uncle Vernon scowl.

"Wash your hands for dinner. I don't want you dirtying the silverware". He told Harry and walked of leaving him alone.

The truth was that Harry had been trying his best not to think about Sirius during the daytime. At night, unfortunately, he didn't have a choice. He had constant nightmares and woke up sweating and screaming. Eventually, he decided that the only way not to get nightmares was not to sleep. He had black ring around his eyes and he spent half the day yawning. He barely had energy to exercise anymore.

After washing his hands, Harry headed for the dining room. When he entered, the Dursleys continued eating and pretended he hadn't arrived. Harry grabbed a plate and filled it up. He sat down and quietly began eating his dinner.

Harry didn't say one word throughout the meal and when he finished, he stood up excusing himself but was stopped by Uncle Vernon before he could leave. "Hang on for a second boy. Yesterday this came in the mail for you and Dudley." He said holding a piece of paper.

Harry grabbed it from him and studied it. The envelope looked like some sort of invitation.

"It's an invitation for a school reunion of your elementary school. We weren't planning on taking you but since your freaky friends probably don't want you locked up you're going. Its tomorrow at six. Be ready by then. And dress properly" Uncle Vernon said with distaste.

Harry thought about arguing but decided against it. He didn't have the energy. Nodding slightly, he hurried and trotted upstairs. He pulled out Quidditch Through the Ages and got ready for another sleepless night.