Harry Potter and the Shadow Grade
By: Ian Davis
Disclaimer: JK Rowling owns all characters in her books that appear in my own, and I take no credit for using any of them or the world they live in. Any additions to her world as far as characters, enemies, and the world itself belong to me, and anyone who wants to use one of my characters has to contact me for permission to do so in any form. Thanks, I LOVE PIE:D
'0000'Thoughts
"0000"Speech
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'How often?' I mused, 'How often have I missed counting down the seconds to my birthday, even when I'm awake?' I wanted to say it didn't matter; I just turned 10, big deal. Even so, the interminably pernicious pains in my chest refused to subside. I knew that deep inside, it mattered. I rolled over, unaware of the spiders crawling on my body as I disturbed their rest. Spiders were normal, I overcame any potential fear of the little creatures long ago, I had to. I lived in a cupboard after all. I rolled over again, restless as I wondered how long ago I turned 10.
'I should have paid attention to the sounds of the clock in the living room,' I berated myself. The old grandfather clock that rested more comfortably than me created soothing bass tones each hour on the hour, and could have told me the time. I thought of my captors that forced me into the cupboard each day. Those supposedly normal abusers of children that were determined to see me as nothing but a freak.
I once again wished that my parents hadn't died in that car accident all those years ago. I focused on my captors again: the evil had a name. Dursley. I couldn't begin to wrap my mind around the thought that my mother and the evil were related. I never knew my mother, but I believe she was kind, and loving. Petunia Dursley was the Anti-Thesis of everything my mother was. If one looked at her they'd see a thin, blond woman with too much neck. When I looked at her, I saw a cold-hearted woman. She forced me into labor each day, never gave me complements, or showed me love. She was also my blood aunt.
Vernon Dursley -my uncle- worked for Grunnings, a drill making company. He was a portly man who took pride in his mustache, his lawn, and being normal. I laughed as I thought about my old theory once again. I believe that Petunia received more and more of Vernon's neck as they grew older, after all, she had twice the neck of a normal person, and he couldn't claim an inch. "He has a lot of chins though," I chuckled at my own joke.
Their beefy son, Dudley, completed the evil trinity. I assumed they could have gone toe to toe with the axis powers if such a battle was ever set up. He was everything they wanted, they loved and fed him for it. More than they'd ever do for me. He was normal, and I was a freak. End of story.
Knock, knock My head bolted in the direction of the sound, my heart already going out to anyone foolish enough to knock on the Dursley's door this late at night. Ding…Ding…Ding… The knocking became more forced as there was no reply. Ding…Ding…Ding… as the knocking became slightly louder I could have sworn I caught the sounds of two men talking. Ding…Ding…Ding… The Grandfather clock continued as my heart beat in time to it, 9 rings so far. The knocking became more incessant now, as if they were about to burst through the door. Ding…Ding…Ding…Crash! "Crap!" I cussed. Somehow I had a feeling the Dursleys would find a way to blame me for what was going on outside my cupboard. I leaned my ear to the door, hoping for a scrap of sound. Anything that could help me understand what was going on outside. "Mr. Potter, where are you dear boy, we need to be on our way!" exclaimed a high-pitched, squeaky noise. I bent down to the bottom of the door, seeing if I could hear better from the crack beneath it. "He may have fallen asleep minister, he's still young after all, we'll just go find him and wake him up," a grandfatherly voice dictated. "Fine, fine. Right you are Albus, now where could he be?" the man with the squeaky voice inquired.
"What in the bloody blazes are you doing in my house?" Vernon's voice cut off any potential reply the grandfatherly voice might have offered. I leaped away from the door in shock from hearing Vernon's voice, but went back to my original position just as fast. I couldn't, I wouldn't miss a second of what they were saying. No one ever inquired about me, I was just Harry. Just Harry Potter, no one cared about my well-being. "We're here to pick up Mr. Potter," the grandfatherly voice offered, seemly unaffected by Vernon's rage. "Wait a second…you're one of them, aren't you? Well I'll have none of this, this is my house and you'll get out right now if you know what's good for you" Vernon threatened. I pressed harder against the unyielding wood, hoping to get a better angle with which to hear the conversation. 'Who were these them he was referring to?' "We've tried to squash the freak out of him for years now and we won't have any of his kind fowling things up. Get out I say, or I'll call the cops on you, out, out!" 'What has he been trying to squash out of me? Who were these people?' I wanted to scream out in frustration, but was afraid of what Vernon would do to me once the men left. I didn't want to make what he was planning for me any worse if I could help it.
"There's been a change of plans in Mr. Potter's future, and we'll be taking him tonight. The process is going to be long and arduous as it is so there's no need for you to hold us up. It would be in both parties best interests to just give us the boy, and we'll take our leave" the squeaky voice announced. 'People have been planning my life?' "You freaks…do u promise to never bother us again if we give you the boy? He'll never visit, and we'll see no more of your kind ever again?" Vernon asked, as if he might receive the largest Christmas present ever this year. "While I must insist that you not call us freaks, I promise you that we'll never impede or your residence again. You have our word that this will be the last time you ever lay eyes on Mr. Potter if you hand him to us," the elderly voice promised.
'Please god, say yes, anything's better then here!' Creek The door opened before me, I stumbled back and tried to pretend my ear wasn't pressed against it just a second ago. "Boy! Get out here and say hello to your new freak family, now get out of my house already!" "What about Mr. Potter's things is there anything you wish to take Mr. Potter?" I turned to look at the source of the grandfatherly voice to find a man with half moon glasses, a long grey beard tucked beneath his belt, and billowing purple robes. "Uh…" Great job on showing them your intellect, I reprimanded myself. "Um, I'm fine, really. I have everything on me right now. There's nothing to take." As I said this I saw the man's brow furrow in…was it confusion? Or Anger? I couldn't tell, but the next thing he said caught me off guard. "You're a wizard Harry, I assume that your uncle never told you that?" "I'm a what? That's impossible! I'm…just Harry, just Harry…" "Well, just Harry," he said with what I could've sworn was a twinkle in his eye, " You've been chosen for a very…unique experience. Initiation starts in just 2 days, we better get your supplies before then." "That's all bloody well and fine, but I told you freaks to leave! I'll be having none of this talk under my roof, and never come back!" Vernon spat. "Well see here!" the man with the squeaky voice exclaimed. "Let it go Cornelius, it's his house, and his choice to eject us as he desires.
I turned to the man he called Cornelius; at least I had a name now. He was a short, slightly chubby man. He didn't look to bright, but it wasn't like you had to be to take a child from a home where he wasn't wanted. "Of course Dumbledore. Well, c'mon Harry, it's best that we be on our way." So the older one is Dumbledore, interesting. I decided to follow, after all, how much worse could these two be? The older one seemed to be in charge, and was an angel compared to Vernon any day. Then again, I'd take a rampaging lion over Vernon with little delay. At least the lion would have the courtesy to make it quick, unlike Vernon's prolonged beatings.
"So, where are we going?" I asked the Dumbledore. "To Daigon Alley, the best place for magical supplies, which you'll be using plenty of. Then, we'll be off to DWAG for your training." He informed me, the twinkle was much more obvious this time. 'DWAG,' I mused, 'what could that be? Ah well, I'll find out soon enough if I'm initiated in two days.'