Harry Potter and the Half Blood Phoenix
Chapter 1: Broken
Harry Potter, supposed hero of the wizarding world was not feeling particularly heroic as he stared vacantly out his bedroom window. His reflection seemed foreign to him, once luminous green eyes gifted from his mother Lily stared back at him now dull and lifeless. Dark rings encircled his eyes, a reminder of his many nights of torturous nightmares. Not a single night had passed since Harry had returned to number 4 Privet Drive that he had not dreamt of his recently departed Godfather Sirius Black. He was not the only visitor in the night though; Cedric, his parents and all the others deaths caused by his existence plagued his conscience. It seemed that even before Harry's birth he was destined to have death surround him and in fact it was all thanks to the prophecy.
The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches... Born as the seventh month dies... Born to those who thrice defied him... And the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal... But he will have power the Dark Lord knows not... and either must die and the hands of the other for neither can live while the other survives... The one with power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies.
While the Daily Prophet continued to print headlines proclaiming Harry as the "Chosen One" only Harry and the Headmaster knew of the full prophecy and its implications. Harry had always known that in the end it was between himself and Riddle but to have his suspicions confirmed as fact was almost too much pressure to handle. If he failed then it was all over, Voldemort would rule the magical world and all those he loved would perish.
Harry grimaced at the thought and leant his forehead against the cool glass of the window. The chill helped ease the discomfort of his stinging scar which had become more and more unsettled since Voldemort's resurrection. Most Witches and Wizards saw Harry's scar as a symbol of triumph and hope while to Harry it was just a reminder of past tragedies and an unwanted magnet for fame. Harry wished that he was normal (or as normal as a wizard could be) and that his childhood had been a happy one and not filled with danger and neglect.
A flash of lightning followed by booming thunder tore himself from his troublesome thoughts. Even the elements seemed to be at odds as Harry gazed at the stormy weather outside. The flashes of light high up in the night's sky illuminated the menacing shapes on the ground below. Twisting limbs of trees swayed threateningly in the wind and shadows danced between buildings. Harry could not remember a more ominous night in his 15 soon to be 16 years in Surrey. Unaware to Harry this would also be his last night residing here.
Suddenly an ear shattering boom rocked the house throwing Harry across to the far wall. 'That was no lightning' he thought and quickly leapt to his feet wand in hand. Harry tentatively pushed open his bedroom door and was shocked at what he saw. Half of the house's roof had collapsed falling onto what had of been the rest of the Dursley's bedrooms. Harry stared numbly as the carnage unable to process that his last remaining relatives were most likely dead. No matter how unjustly he was treated at the Dursley's Harry would never have wished that upon his forced caregivers. Steeling himself Harry looked away into the now open view of the front lawn. Over ten of Voldemort's inner circle was admiring the show as their Dark Lord rained spell after spell on the house.
"Come on out Harry and let us finish what we started that Halloween night." Said Voldemort raising his wand to where Harry stood.
Harry not stopping to contemplate how Voldemort had breached his supposedly impenetrable wards dove down the now caved in stairwell. Landing painfully on his shoulder Harry was showered with debris as the remains of the floor above him exploded violently. A shard of timber pierced his shoulder but he did not take notice, adrenaline was what fuelled him now the pain would come later.
Harry swiftly made his way to the window adjacent to the front door and peered out. 'Surely Dumbledore and the Order of the Phoenix would be here by now' Harry thought. He then realised that Voldemort had probably dismantled any of the wards that would raise the alarm. Harry was all alone, outnumbered and for the first time in his life he froze, unable to see a way out of this. Luck had carried him far but his current situation seemed hopeless no matter what he did. His only options seemed like dying inside on his knees or outside on his feet.
"I am growing impatient Potter, perhaps we should move on to that mudblood girl you're so fond of. My Bella has some special ideas for her." Voldemort sneered causing laughter from the surrounding Death Eaters.
Without hesitation he made his decision. Shaking Harry gripped the cool crystal door handle and turned. He felt like he was in a dream as he walked out into the cold breeze of the night. He thought of his friends from Hogwarts, the place he really called a home. Their memories gave him courage. If he was going to die tonight then let it be like a Gryffindor, like his parents.
"Ah so predictable young Harry" speaks Voldemort softly "you're so called love continues to be your greatest weakness. One just has to mention one of Harry Potter's friends and you come running."
"Let's just get this over with Tom" Harry wanted this done quickly while he still had some fight in him.
"So eager to die Harry? Very well I will grant you your wish I am a merciful Lord after all. Lucius your wand." Said Voldemort, palm outstretched.
Lucius quickly but reluctantly gave up his wand to his master and stepped back as did the other Death Eaters. They were ordered not to interfere in the coming duel and formed a ring around the two wizards.
"Now let us bow Harry" Voldemort said lowering his snakelike face down a fraction.
Harry however was not going to play out Voldemort's twisted game this time and immediately went on the offensive firing out three stunners in a row. Voldemort casually batted them away with a flick of his wand and fired a sickly yellow curse back at him. Rolling out of the way Harry backed into a Death eater who eagerly pushed him back into the fray. Voldemort sent a varied group of spells in his direction. Unable to dodge another volley of curses Harry erected a strong protego charm to deflect them. The first two spells bounced harmlessly off of Harry's shield but the third pierced straight through it causing a deep gash to appear on his left arm.
"Serpensortia!" Harry yelled in retaliation causing a Boa constrictor as thick as his arm to slither out of his wand. "Attack him." Harry hissed at the snake.
The snake advanced at the black cloaked figure but was quickly decapitated by a severing charm. An amused smirk broke out on Voldemort's face.
"Ah parseltongue a magnificent gift is it not? If only you had chosen to join me Harry I would have enjoyed speaking the tongue of our ancestors to one of my ranks. But fate has chosen differently crucio!" He snarled with relish as Harry fell to the ground writhing in agony.
Red and black dotted his vision but through the haze of the pain Harry rose to his knees to the astonishment of all who surrounded him. The Death eaters had never seen anyone get up from one of their Lords cruciatus curses before.
"Is that all you have Riddle?" Harry said gritted through his teeth "Reducto!"
Voldemort's own astonishment and subsequent anger meant he was slow to react and was blown into a group of his own Death Eaters. His servants eager to earn favour hurried to help their master but were pushed aside in his rage. He rose from the ground covered in dirt and what he suspected was his own blood and screamed in anger. No one except Dumbledore had ever drawn blood from him in a duel and this was but a mere boy. His slanted red eyes focused on the one who had caused him so much trouble in the past.
"Enough! It is time for you to die Potter!" And with a flash of green light Harry was blasted through the front wall of number 4 Privet drive and into the remnants of the kitchen.
Surprisingly Harry did not immediately die as he lay there broken staring through the gaping hole in the roof. The clouds had parted enough for him to gaze at the stars and in his shock filled euphoria he marvelled at their beauty. He saw the dark mark hovering in the air and the unmistakable sound of the Death Eaters apparating away. 'At least they hadn't taken his body for their sadistic amusement' he thought. He almost welcomed the pain numbing cold he felt creeping from where the killing curse hit his chest. As the coldness spread throughout his body Harry once again looked towards the stars following one exceptionally bright star in particular. As darkness encroached on the edges of his vision he watched the star glow brighter and brighter almost as if it was getting closer. Through the ringing in his ears he managed to make out a familiar song. A small smile graced his face as the sound grew louder and reached a crescendo. The light also had intensified blocking out everything from his vision. And as soon as it came the light ceased and sound ended and Harry Potter, hero of the wizarding world was dead.