𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐅 𝐖𝐈𝐒𝐃𝐎𝐌

Chapter 11

Before he even opened his eyes, Harry smiled. He could hear birds afar out the open window singing their little morning minuets perched high on some distant branch. Harry could feel the warmth of the sunbeams through the window on his shoulder. His eyes fluttered open and he put his hand on his shoulder to feel the warmth. He was reminded of his Aunt Petunia’s old records that she occasionally played in the family room while she and Harry cleaned the house or folded laundry. There was a song that Harry remembered as being one of his favorites and he lazily sang a few lines…

‘…sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy,

sunshine in my eyes can make me cry,

sunshine on the water looks so lovely,

sunshine almost always makes me high…’

Harry always like that song. He looked up at the clock and it was 7:18 a.m. Breakfast would be in awhile and the first class of the day. The summer was going so quickly with the classes with Dumbledore, building the gazebo, and spending time with Draco.

Draco Malfoy. Harry grinned as he shook his head in realization that he was in love with Draco Malfoy of all people. It was very strange to look back now at how they were before this summer. They had always been fighting, insulting and humiliating the other at every opportunity since they met. Even from that first day at Hogwarts, there was always something between them like an invisible force drawing them to each other. It was strange.

Harry rolled out of bed and made his way to take a quick shower and he toweled off his raven hair and dressed. While brushing his teeth he looked into the mirror at his reflection. He was thin and tan, but muscular and toned from years of Quidditch. He was about the average height for his age standing at about 5 foot 6 inches. At sight of his hair, Harry sighed. Useless to try and tame it. Draco had commented that Harry’s hair had always looked like he just got off his broom after sprints across the pitch. Grabbing a comb he tried to comb the towel dried locks into place. Yep, useless, it always looked the same. Harry shrugged and made his way down the winding corridors to the Dining Hall.

Professor Snape and Draco were already at the table in conversation. When Harry entered, Draco glanced his way and smirked his greeting and turned back to his teacher. Breakfast appeared and the three began to eat. Noting Dumbledore’s absence but not wanting to interrupt Professor Snape’s explanation of some complicated potion to Draco who seemed very interested, Harry thought that maybe he could tap into the energy of Hogwarts and locate the Headmaster. Harry lay his hand on the table and tried to draw energy from it as he had done before. He closed his eyes and tried to focus his mind on locating the man. At once Harry envisioned himself in Dumbledore’s quarters and saw the old professor sitting at his desk reading the Daily Prophet with a grave expression on his face. Harry concentrated on moving around and standing behind the man and glared down at the headline. Harry gasped as his hand covered his mouth. The headline read:

Azkaban Breakout Baffles Ministry

Harry concentrated on the first few lines of the text in Dumbledore’s hands and he squinted to read further.

Ministry officials report that three Death Eaters arrested several months ago after the break in at the Ministry of Magic have disappeared from within Azkaban. The escapees are Antonin Dolohov, Walden Macnair, and Lucius Malfoy….

Harry didn’t read any further than that. Draco’s father had somehow escaped Azkaban. ‘Oh no,’ Harry thought. Seemingly immersed in reading the story of the paper, Dumbledore’s head shot up as though he’d heard Harry’s thought and sensed his presence.