Disclaimer: I own nothing and I don't see why we need one of these when the site it's on is called But, alas, it is not my opinion that counts after all; just the people with the big money that can sue the poor people like me.
The Curse of Albus Dumbledore
By Patilaputra Jeanne
Chapter One
Harry dove behind a display in front of Flourish and Blotts to avoid being hit with a curse or a hex, or whatever that caster was using. Harry heard a cry as the spell hit some poor unsuspecting shopper that was running for the Leaky Cauldron; the safest place to be as it was the farthest from Harry.
"Come out and play Harry!" shrieked one of the masked figures. Harry didn't need to think twice about which one it happened to be, he had heard her voice over and over again in his nightmares every night since that fateful day last June where he had lost his Godfather and found out his place in the world: to save it.
Harry leaped from behind the display and shouted a nasty hex that he'd found in a book that Hermione had sent him for his birthday. It was perfectly legal, but sent Bellatrix Lestrange flying onto the roof of one of the neighboring shops. When she got up, some minutes later, she sent the Dark Mark into the sky and disappeared.
Harry shot curses at every robed and masked Death Eater he could see, and they weren't too hard to find as they were trying to surround him. Harry was fighting as hard as he could, stunning everyone around him (whether by a stunning spell or by his skill) and did not even notice the Aurors arrive until he had stunned one of them by accident. However, with the Aurors, the Death Eaters were out numbered and soon all that could disapperate, did so.
"You did alright on your own that time Harry," said a voice behind him. He turned around so suddenly he saw Tonks jump and trip over a stunned Death Eater. "Maybe we should just let you handle them all next time," she added as she took Harry's hand to help her up. It was her way of a compliment, but Harry, in his present mood, would have none of it.
"Yes, well next time Voldemort could be with them and I am not ready for him yet." Harry said darkly. "Where is Professor Dumbledore?" he asked suddenly, unaware of the people still gawking at him from his little display.
"Where else would he be with only two days until term starts?" she asked cheerfully. Harry glared at her. "He's at Hogwarts but--" Harry cut her off.
"I need to talk to him right away." he ordered. "I trust you can do something where that is concerned since I am still unable to apparate."
"Right away Harry," she said scuttling off to find some way to get him to Hogwarts.
As soon as she had left, Harry wandered over to Remus who had been Harry's main source of comfort and consolation since June.
"Are you alright Harry?" he asked, every line on his prematurely aged face was outlined in concern for his best friend's son and other best friend's godson.
"Remus, this is the second time they've attacked me this month." Harry said, his face and voice unreadable. "They know where I am at every moment, they know when I'm going to be where more than I know myself. This is getting too far out of control."
"You held your own out there though Harry, you should be proud of that." Remus pointed out. "You alone stunned four of them. Four out of the six that were captured." Remus put his had on Harry's shoulder, wishing that he would show some type of emotion, but Harry was completely void of any.
"Yes but what if I had been out shopping with the Weasleys and one of them is killed or captured?" Harry asked heatedly. "Voldemort knows by now that I would come after him like a hound and not stop until he's gone once and for all, but if I'm not prepared for it, I'll be killed giving him the power to control the entire Wizarding world."
"Harry, I believe you have enough common sense to do what is needed to be done, when it needs to be done." Remus said trying to calm Harry. "I know you wouldn't do something as bull headed as that."
"The only problem is that I know I would." Harry said uneasily, looking Remus directly in the eye. He had the look of someone who had just been defeated, not someone that had won a duel with four Death Eaters at once.
"Harry, you are to Floo the Headmasters Office from the Leaky Cauldron." Tonks said who had rushed over to the two of them. "Remus is to accompany you in case they try to alter your course." Harry nodded his thanks and strode quickly down the street, vaguely aware that Remus was asking him about the visit to the Headmaster.
Harry knew he couldn't say anything just yet, but he knew why the Aurors had been late and he knew why Dumbledore had made him go shopping in the middle of August for his school supplies instead of the last week of vacation like what Harry normally did.
"Harry, wait!" he heard Remus shout in the distance, though he was only a couple feet behind him. Harry didn't stop until he was in front of the hearth at the Leaky Cauldron. Tom, the innkeeper, was waiting there for Harry with a small pail of Floo Powder.
"Harry!" Remus shouted at him as soon as he stood still for a couple of seconds. "What were you thinking running off like that? There could have been another Death Eater lurking any of those shops that you passed!"
"What I am thinking I will tell you as soon as we get to Hogwarts." Harry said almost pleadingly. "As for the other Death Eaters I think I've proved my ability to handle surprise attacks already and anyway the Aurors would have already combed the surrounding area for them before letting me go anywhere as part of Dumbledore's orders. Now can we go?"
Remus stood silently there for a moment as if he had no idea how smart Harry was, after all it was life or death for him to know these kinds of things. Remus said absolutely nothing after Harry's explanation, just grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him into the fireplace after shouting "Headmaster's office, Hogwarts!"
Remus was about to ask why he had to see the headmaster when he found that Harry was already rounding on the headmaster, his face livid with anger.
"YOU KNEW!" Harry shouted at the Headmaster who was now standing and trying to calm Harry down. "You knew that I wouldn't be safe at the Dursley's! You knew about the attack on Diagon Alley and you KNEW that Voldemort would be on Privet Drive!"
"Harry calm down, there is no reason to be upset," Dumbledore said to Harry, knowing that staying calm would not help the situation any.
"What happened to them? What happened to the only living family I have?" Harry asked. Little did he know, Harry's wand was waiting patiently at his side, a gold spark emitting from it every now and then.
"One, they are not your only living family. Two, the Aurors positioned around the house did their job and kept everyone inside safe so your aunt and uncle are fine but your cousin being held ransom for 300 Galleons. Three, you better put that wand down before you do something you might regret." Dumbledore said, his patients leaving but not fully replaced with anger.
Harry, on the other hand did not know what was more startling; the fact that he had other family or that his cousin was being held ransom instead of being tortured or killed. One thing clicked before the other though.
"You stuck me with the Dursleys even though I have other family?" Harry asked incredulously. "After Voldemort had my blood flowing through his veins for the past summer and this summer, you still stick me with them? What other family member do I have? Where are they?"
"The only other family you have is a cousin named William. He is James's sister's son. He has been an orphan since he was three years old and graduated from Hogwarts five years ago," the Headmaster said, resuming his calm exterior. "And I must admit that I didn't see the problem with the blood detail with the protection charm until it was too late, but as for the last question, William is down it the Great Hall, enjoying dinner with some of the faculty."
"What about Dudley?" Harry asked, not registering the fact that his only other relation was in the school. "And why would the Aurors be ordered to answer an attack at the Dursley's instead of in the middle of Diagon Alley?"
"The Minister of Magic is personally paying the ransom tomorrow morning, the whole thing is scheduled. However, before you go accusing everyone connected with authority, I must explain that the attacks were poorly planned as the attack on Privet Drive started almost ten full minutes before the attack in Diagon Alley." Harry was still absolutely fuming, but at least his wand was no longer emitting sparks as he held it loosely in his hand.
"Sorry," he muttered so softly that the two adults could barely hear. It looked as if he meant it too. "I guess I get to irate with all of these attacks, and then with everything that's happened last year doesn't help in the least..."
"It is completely understandable given the state of things at the present time Harry," the Headmaster said soothingly. "Now however, there is a perfectly good dinner awaiting us all in the Great Hall."
The Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry led the two of them down to the Great Hall. They walked silently in the wake of the Headmaster until they entered the hall. There were murmurs of why Potter and Professor Lupin were at Hogwarts, but Dumbledore quickly diminished the mutterings as if the faculty were all just a bunch of boisterous students.
Harry looked around and realized that most of the Hogwarts faculty were here, the only one that looked to be missing was (possibly Harry's least favorite person at Hogwarts) Professor Snape. Harry was soon being seated between Dumbledore and Remus and across from someone he had not noticed on his way in, someone who looked strangely familiar.
Well people, the story I have been writing for nearly the past year is not turning out the way I have wanted it too, so I decided to occupy my time with something new that I will keep me going for a while. Don't hold up too much hope though.