The summer holidays were the best Harry could remember in both his lives.
From day one until he was to leave for School, Harry was very happy, contented and safe. Though it was still a debate whether his mother's protections were still there or not, Dumbledore in this time had taken it to mean the protections were no longer applicable. Harry always had thought that the protections would hold against Voldemort, but when Dumbledore was in doubt, he was not going to say anything.
Harry had been possessed by Voldemort in his fifth year in the Department of Mysteries and then, Dumbledore had concluded the protections held. Now he was not so sure. That was another change from the other time, and one Harry did not mind at all. Harry was happy because he felt he could not take the risk by going back to the Dursleys and killing them in the process too, in case he was possessed by Voldemort while at Privet Drive and was not able to gain control. That would have been dangerous to say the least.
Harry spent his time reading, pranking and going to many places with Sirius and Remus. They took him to Ireland and France for week-ends and Harry thoroughly enjoyed seeing the magical world of those two places. He had been to both muggle and magical Ireland and France before and had enjoyed it then and he enjoyed them now too.
He wrote letters to everyone and was not surprised when he never received any back. The second year had started and Harry assumed Dobby was keeping letters from him.
Harry did not remember the date he had been to Diagon Alley and so when he went to shop for his books, he did not meet the Weasleys or the Malfoys or any of his friends there. Harry, Sirius and Remus had a normal shopping day without Lockhart and the others.
Sirius had commented about the lack of letters but had left it when Harry had shrugged and told him that he had he had sent the letters first, but would wait for a reply before writing again. So that was that.
Harry had also spoken to Sirius and Remus about getting permission to make the expensive potion to know his mother's blood status and to find out which family she had descended from. Sirius had not been able to refuse but he did not like the fact that Harry would be meeting Snape almost on a daily basis for the potion.
They had never spoken about Harry's behaviour when Dumbledore, McGonagall and Snape had come to Grimmauld Place for lunch, though Harry was well aware that Sirius did not like it. Harry made sure he never spoke about Snape, if he could avoid that particular topic. He did not want another fight on his hands.
They spent his birthday in Ireland and there was no reason for Harry to call over any of his friends. Sirius and Remus had got him many books, robes and other small trinkets. Sirius also got him a nice watch.
Sirius and Remus did go to office everyday, but in the holidays one of them made a point to come back early. Harry had been given permission to floo to The Leaky Cauldron and visit Diagon Alley, if he got bored during the day. Knockturn Alley was banned for now. Sirius promised to take him when he was older.
On one of these days Harry had flooed to The Leaky Cauldron and had gone into Diagon Alley. There he had stepped into a small alley and after changing his face and making himself look older, Harry had walked swiftly to Borgin and Burkes. He had entered the dingy shop and had browsed around. No one asked him anything; he looked like a dubious person after all.