Harry Potter: The Awakening
Summary: Harry Potter is in his 7th year at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He is lost and confused after the death of Albus Dumbledore and he vows to avenge his headmaster's death. But will one girl help along the way and reveal her love for him? Harry X Ginny, Ron X Hermione. HBP spoilers!
Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to Harry Potter or its characters. All I own is this plot line and perhaps some new characters of my invention.
Chapter 1: Emerald Eyes
Harry uttered an inarticulate yell of rage; in that instant, he cared not whether he lived or died; pushing himself to his feet again, he staggered blindly towards Snape, the man he now hated as much as he hated Voldemort himself…
"Kill me, then," panted Harry, who felt no fear at all, but only rage and contempt. "Kill me like you killed him you coward…"
"DON'T…" screamed Snape, and his face was suddenly demented, inhuman, as though he was in as much pain as the yelping, howling dog stuck in the burning house behind them, "-CALL ME A COWARD!"
And Snape slashed at the air: Harry felt a white-hot, whiplike something hit him across the face and he was slammed backwards into the ground. Spots of light burst in front of his eyes and for a moment all breath seemed to have gone from his body…
Harry struggled to his feet, looking around groggily for his wand, hoping to give chase again, but even as his fingers fumbled in grass, discarding twigs, he knew it would be too late, and sure enough, by the time he had located his wand he turned only to see the Hippogriff circling the gates. Snape had managed to Disapparate just beyond the school's boundaries…
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Dumbledore's eyes were closed; but for the strange angle of his arms and legs, he might have been sleeping. Harry reached out, straightened the half-moon spectacles upon the crooked nose and wiped a trickle of blood from the mouth with his sleeve. Then he gazed down at the wise old face and tried to absorb the enormous and incomprehensible truth: that never again would Dumbledore speak to him, never again could help…
Harry Potter sat upon the burnished windowsill of his bedroom, staring out into the black sky which held only a few stars amongst its vast void of emptiness. The memories of the death of Dumbledore flashed across his mind vividly; that scene of Snape escaping and seeing Dumbledore's body lying motionless upon the ground had haunted him in his dreams for the past two months.
Tears leaked silently down Harry's face but he vigorously wiped them away on the corner of his sleeve. He didn't want it to be this way; he didn't wish for his friends and loved ones to be in so much danger. There was so much destruction going on in the world these days, everything just seemed hopeless without Albus Dumbledore there to guide him.
Harry had pondered on whether to stay at the Weasley's after school had finished. But he decided against it…after all he didn't want to put his closest friends in more danger. Voldemort was after him…but Harry himself was only looking for revenge, revenge towards Severus Snape, the evil corrupting man whom had killed the best headmaster Hogwarts had ever seen; all because Draco Malfoy hadn't been brave enough to do it.
When Hogwarts had been announced closed for a short period over the summer holidays, Harry had gathered his belongings and moved into Grimmauld Place, which now rightfully belonged to him. Kreacher had shut himself up in one of the rooms, ignoring Harry because he was: 'A nasty master…mistress would always be the true owner of the house…"
He didn't give a scrap about the Dursley's and their safety…he was relieved to move into a place of his own…even if it did become a bit lonely and depressing, after all the time he spent brooding and thinking of Dumbledore's death.
Harry spotted Hedwig, his pet owl, flying towards the window through the darkness, an envelope clamped in her beak. With a soft clump the snowy white owl landed next to him and ruffled its feathers. Harry smiled weakly, pried the letter from Hedwig's beak and stroked her gently. Opening the letter carefully, he noticed he tidy writing from his best friend Hermione.
It read:
Dear Harry,
Just hoping Hedwig finds you and that you get this message soon. We're all really worried about you here at Ron's. I just hope you haven't run off and done something silly, like gone to fine him. Lupin and Tonks are here too and they've all agreed that you should come and stay. After all, it is your birthday in a week and we're all dying to see you.
How are you going? I know everything must be hard; Dumbledore was a great man and his loss hurt us all…
Just reply soon and please come and stay…we've set a room up and everything.
Love always
Hermione and the Weasley's
Harry put the note down and got up off the windowsill…heading for the chest of drawers in the far corner. Once there, he pulled open the top drawer and rummaged around inside…at last pulling out a bottle of ink and a slightly damaged quill. Then he returned to the note, flipped it over and wrote:
Doing just fine. Will come as soon as I can – miss you too.
Harry
Hedwig hopped over obediently and took the letter in her beak, before flying out the window and into the night with a little squeak.
With a sigh, Harry turned and scuffled up the dusty, creaking stairs to his bedroom; which was in a disastrous mess from him not cleaning it for days, intending on packing his things to head to the Weasley's by morning…