A/N: This is the first fan fic I've posted that I may actually continue. I posted others but have removed them because I didn't like them. I hope to get some feedback on this story. I appreciate all advice given even if it is just "this fic sucks. delete it!" I'm especially grateful to those who give constructive criticism so that I can work to improve my writing which I very much would like to do. Please read and review! I hope that you will also enjoy!

Disclaimer: If you recognize it, you know it is J. K. Rowling's

No Babysitter!!

Harry sat on his bed with open envelopes and pieces of parchment. Some of the pieces were letters from his friends and Godfather and Remus Lupin others had yet to be written on. He was in the process of writing them all with an update on his summer.

It had been two weeks since he had seen either of them. Harry thought back to the last days of Hogwarts. They had been the worst days of his life. He had watched his friend die in front of his eyes and could do nothing about it.

Cedric Diggory had been innocent. He had done nothing to deserve what happened, other than be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Not a day passed that Harry didn't regret suggesting that they both take the cup. Why didn't Harry listen to Cedric? At least then his friend would be alive.

Everyone insisted that it wasn't his fault, but Harry knew better. Cedric had been killed for the sole reason that He was with Harry. His Godfather and friends could tell him otherwise all they wanted, but he knew the truth. Cedric's death was his fault.

Every letter that he received had some reference to Cedric's death and it not being Harry's fault. In an attempt to ease their worry and stop their reassurances, Harry told them what he knew they wanted to hear.

...Don't worry. I'm okay…

He wasn't, but he wasn't going to tell them that. He didn't believe a word of what they said and wanted nothing more than to slaughter Peter Pettigrew, Barty Crouch Jr. and VOLDEMORT!

Harry refilled his drying quill and began to write his usual very general reply. It was hard to keep his letters from becoming too impersonal while also trying to stay away from any response that would cause them to suspect that he was being untruthful about how he was doing and his feelings. Harry mostly relied on the Dursleys for help. He had never thought they would come in handy one day, but they served as a great distraction. He spent so much time complaining about them that, paired with questions about the recipient, his letters seemed full even though they never said more than three sentences about himself.

Dear Snuffles,

Don't worry about me I'm fine. My scare has been fine as well.

Hermione says that I should start my summer projects soon, but I told her you wouldn't approve. I hope that's alright. Remus would probably kill you if you wrote that I should relax and enjoy my break, but, don't worry, I take your stern instruction to get my work done early as a…light suggestion. I don't know how she expects me to get it done though. All of my school stuff is locked under the stairs where I can't get to it. Uncle Vernon is such a git! He even put a lock on Hedwig's cage. He is so cheap, though, that the pad-lock he put on the cage was so old I could have broken it without steeling the hedge clippers from the shed after I finished trimming the bushes. Oh yeah! And Saturday uncle Vernon and aunt Petunia are taking Dudley to a museum. I don't know why. He is only going to get bored. They won't let me go. Said I'd probably just break something with my freakishness. Prat! Oh, well. Guess I'll be at Ms. Figg's. They don't leave me alone in the house. It seems they think I'm going to blow up the place.

How are things going with your 'Harry thought for a moment' vacation? Are you getting much relaxing done or are you keeping busy? Any health problems? Will you return before I catch the train?

Harry

Harry stared at his handy work and smiled. He'd been speaking in code so often lately it was becoming much easier than it used to be. 'vacation'was whatever project Dumbledore had him working on, 'relaxing and busy' was asking how much action it entailed, 'health problems' meant was he alright, and when will he return meant when will he get to see him.

Harry folded the letter and put it in his ready-to-go pile. After he'd finished writing the rest of his letters and sent them off with an excited Hedwig, who was always happy to connect her master with those who she knew made him happy, Harry lie down on his bed and was instantly asleep.

Sirius read his Godson's letter with a critical eye. He scowled at the treatment Harry received from his guardians but at least it was only temporary. Sirius was really looking for an indication of how his godson was really doing. He knew better than to believe that what happened only a few weeks before wasn't bothering Harry. The boy had a capacity for guilt that could hold all of Hogwarts' secrets. The rushed dismissal at the start of the letter was only to throw him off. Sirius smirked. Nice try Harry.

Sirius glanced up at his friend who sat across the table from him reading his own letter from Harry with a frown of concentration. Sirius noted that Remus couldn't keep a small smile from his lips either as he read what Harry had to say. He knew his friend cared for Harry as much as he did. Poor Remus. It had to be hard for you all those years knowing he was right there and you could do nothing about it. Stupid Werewolf laws! He shook himself out of his thought to inquire about something more important.

"Moony?" Remus glanced up from his parchment, with a look of seriousness.

"Yes?"

"Does it strike you odd that Harry complains so much about his relatives now?"

Remus' raised an eyebrow. He nodded slowly, "I was just thinking that in all the time I've known him, he has never really complained about them, and never in detail. Usually he avoided the topic entirely."

Sirius nodded, scratching his head in thought. "I thought so too."

Remus sat down his letter and stood to retrieve the tea pot that had begun to whistle from the stovetop.

"I suppose neither of us have known him long. It could be possible that he is just growing more used to us. However, I never noticed him complain to is friends either." Remus continued as he poured each of them a cup.

"How can we know for sure?" Sirius asked wishing again that he hadn't missed so much time with Harry.

Sitting back down in his seat, Remus brought his tea to his lips with his usual thoughtful expression. Then Remus' soft amber eyes et Sirius' "I suggest we write a letter to his friends to learn their take on the topic."

"Boy!"

"Coming, Uncle Vernon!" Harry rolled his eyes. What did the man want now? He stood up and whipped his forehead and walked back into the house.

His aunt gasped and glared at him. Harry quickly took off his dirty shoes before he stepped onto her clean floor. His uncle sat at the table with his briefcase and a stack of documents. Great! He had to bring work home. That usually meant he was grumpy and THAT usually meant he was extra mean to Harry.

"Yes, uncle Vernon?" Harry asked purposefully staying a little more than a porky arms length away from his uncle.

His uncle turned to look at him with disgusted annoyance. Harry could nearly feel the man's malice. "Well, boy, you've done it again!"

Harry could only stare in confusion. "You've ruined Dudley's birthday."

Harry was more confused still. "How? I haven't done anything."

"There is no one to watch you, boy! We can't very well go with you running around the house."

"I'm old enough to stay alone." Harry suggested, trying to avoid the anger that would be directed at him the second Dudley found out and threw a huge fit.

Uncle Vernon let out a bark. "Leave you here!?" Vernon made to stand up, and Harry took an instinctive step backwards. "Absolutely NOT!"

Harry shrunk back again. "I promise I won't mess up anything!"

"I'm not bringing you with us not after what happened at the zoo!" Vernon yelled. He was right infront of Harry's face now. His hot breath was slapping him in the face with a lace of alcohol. "We just can't go!"

"What!?" Came Dudley's voice from the doorway. Harry's heart sank. Well, so much for avoiding anger. "What do you mean we aren't going!? You PROMISED!!" Dudley screamed running away.

Vernon rounded on Harry as Petunia ran out after her Whale of a son.

"This is YOUR fault!" Vernon raised his hand in the dreaded way that was usually followed with pain. Harry lifted up his own arms in protection.

"Wait!" He cried backing away. His uncle followed.

"Uncle Vernon, wait!" Harry's voice cracked as he dodged his uncle's hand. He reached a wall and realized he had nowhere to go.

"I have an idea!" He cried out desperately.

His uncle stopped. "what?"

"I have an idea." Harry didn't know where the idea came from. All he knew was that his mouth had begun moving before he even knew what was coming out. "Take me with you but leave me in the lobby area. I don't have to go in the exhibits just leave me out front. I cannot mess up anything from there!"

Vernon seemed to consider it a moment then nodded his head slowly. Harry sighed with relief.

SMACK!

Harry gasped, the force of the blow knocking him to the floor. He stared in disbelief at his uncle as the man walked away to tell his son the good news without a second thought.

Hermione scaned the letter from Remus with a curious stare. So she and Ron hadn't been the only ones who noticed that there was something weird going on with their friend. She sighed and wrote out a reply.

Dear Professor Lupin,

Yes I do think it odd that Harry has been complaining so often. Ron and I have noticed as well. We fear that he may be using it as a decoy to what is really wrong, which, unfortunately, means that whatever is wrong is worse to Harry than the Dursleys. He has been telling us over and over that he is fine, but we know Harry. He won't admit when he is not, and there is no way he wouldn't feel guilty for what happened to Cedric. That just wouldn't be Harry.

Hermione Granger

Hermione sent the owl back out with a hopeful stare.

"Boy, get in the car!" Uncle Vernon's voice trailed up the stairs.

Harry grabbed his bag that he had filled with a book and some food and headed down stairs. He knew it was pointless to think his aunt and uncle would give him spending money while he waited, even if it was only enough for lunch. When Harry reached the bottom of the stairs, he 

found his uncle waiting impatiently for him. He could hear the car horn sounding and realized that Dudley and Aunt Petunia were waiting inside. He was alone with his uncle who obviously had the intention of just that. Harry took a cautious step back from his uncle.

His uncle stood stiffly in front of the door, glaring at him angrily as if it was all his fault they had no one to sit for them. Maybe if you hadn't told everyone that I went to saint Brutus' school for incurably criminal boys they might be willing. Seeing as they are terrified of me, you're stuck with me. Harry smirked to himself without revealing any of his thoughts on his face.

Uncle Vernon screwed up his face and pointed fiercely at Harry accusingly. "If you so much as look like you are thinking about any funny business, I'll personally see that you don't eat for a week.Don't you dare mess up Dudley's birthday! You will wait in the lobby! If anyone asks, you are to tell them that we had brought you to the place to have fun, but that in your delinquency, you refused to go in. Understand?!"

Harry nodded, hoisting his bag over his shoulder and waiting for his uncle to lead him outside. Instead his uncle waved for him to pass, cuffing Harry hard on the back of the head as he did so.

The museum was amazing! All around the entry of the building were tables set up and Harry wondered what they were. Stepping close to the nearest one, Harry discovered that they were ancient artifacts. Thinking he might have at least a little fun learning about those, Harry stood with his aunt and uncle in the line for tickets to the exhibits, not wanting to risk looking entertained. Dudley might throw a fit and then Harry would go hungry for a week.

"Two adults and one student, please." Uncle Vernon told the woman in the ticket booth. The Woman in the booth started to reach for tickets, but her hand froze on the way there.

"You mean two students?" The brown eyed woman asked, glancing curiously from Uncle Vernon to Harry as if she had merely misunderstood.

"Oh, no-" Harry began, waving his hands and shaking his head in protest, but Uncle Vernon cut him off.

"No thank you, just three." He corrected with tight lips.

The woman continued to look confusedly at Harry.

Harry, knowing that he had better fix this situation if he planned on eating that night, took a small step forward to stand next the rest of the family. "I don't like museums, ma'am. I think they're boring." He crossed his arms in a board with just a hint of bratty motion.

The woman clicked her tongue at him and shook her head. "In that case you need to go. If at least to gain an appreciation for them since you are so uninterested. Wouldn't you agree?" The last question was directed at the Dursley's in a way that made Harry think she didn't believe his act for a second.

His aunt and uncle hesitated, but finally his aunt recovered. "Well I do believe you're right. I'm afraid you'll just have to come with us."

He looked appropriately outraged in keeping with his act.

When they stepped inside, the main exhibit, Uncle Vernon's large hand snaked around Harry's upper arm and Harry gasp as it closed painfully. "If you do anything remotely suspicious, you'll not eat for a week."

"Yes, Uncle Vernon." Harry grunted, trying to ignore his screaming arm. His uncle let go, and Harry rubbed his arm, falling into step behind the Dursley's.

Surprisingly Dudley didn't protest once. He actually seemed to be sticking pretty close to Harry. Though Harry knew he would pay for it later, he was enjoying himself immensely. The artifacts in the lobby were nothing compared to what they had on the inside. Harry read the little cards next the objects, and often answered Dudley's questions with a smile on his face. Why Dudley had chosen today of all days to be nice to Harry, he didn't know but he wasn't about to complain. He was actually enjoying the conversation with his cousin.

"A cannibal is a person that eats other people." Harry answered his cousin's latest question and wondered what kind of relationship he would have had with his cousin had his parents not put the idea of hating him in his head. Dudley had started to rebel from most of his parent's beliefs; Harry wondered if that included his opinion of him.

Harry's thoughts were interrupted by a flicker of light from the end of the long corridor. Harry turned to stare, stepping toward it without worrying about the Dursley's leaving him. They had been completely booted out of his mind entirely.

"What do you think they used that for?" Dudley asked motioning to a funny looking stick with the split like a weird fork.

When he received no answer, Dudley glanced around at his cousin. He stared curiously at the skinny boy. He was walking slowly down the hall an odd glazed look over his eyes. "Harry?"

His cousin didn't seem to hear him. Dudley followed his gaze to a strange looking amulet at the end of the hallway. "Harry!" he repeated. Harry continued to stare but had at least stopped walking. The dazed look in his cousin's eyes was making him nervous. He didn't like it at all. "Harry!" he demanded louder, successfully breaking Harry's trance. His cousin looked around and his eyes settled on him.

"What?" Harry asked he'd only been staring for a second. Hadn't he? Why was he halfway down the hall?

"You were in a daze or something, staring at that thing." Dudley pointed to the amulet.

"Let's go see what it is." Harry suggested with blatant curiosity. They walked over to the amulet and studied it. It was silver with a copper outline with rubies and emeralds circling the outside just inside the copper. In the center was a cluster of diamonds that formed the unmistakable form of a serpent with a lion over it in champagne diamonds.

"The Supprimo Letum Amulet. Origin unknown. First discovered by the Algonquian Indians and was brought back to England by the Colonist, John Smith. It was said to be used by the Indians as a way to ward off enemies. The enemies feared the amulet because it was said to have magical powers and would kill the one who touched it and anyone else in the blast." Dudley read from the small plaque next to the amulet.

Harry reached his hand out to touch the amulet, but to his surprise Dudley stopped him.

"What if it really is magic?" Dudley asked with his eyes wide.

Harry considered this for a moment, staring curiously at the shining amulet. He was getting a strange vibe from the object and wasn't quite sure if the legend was true or not now that he thought about it. Something about the amulet was making him nervous.

"Yeah I think you're right. I'm not too sure, but this thing is making me nervous. I don't know what kind but I'm pretty sure I can feel some magic coming from it." Harry nodded glancing at Dudley who was staring at the amulet as well.

"What did I just hear you say?!"

Harry's stomach dropped in his gut as his uncles angrily strained whisper reached his ear. He closed his eyes, knowing that he would pay for it.

"It was me, dad. I am the one who brought it up, not Harry." Harry stared at his cousin in surprise.

Vernon Dursley glanced at his son before turning to his nephew. "How dare you make him take the blame, you insolent child?!" The large man glanced around for any onlookers and grunted in annoyance when he noticed people around.

Just when Harry thought he was safe Uncle Vernon shoved him in all his might into the wall. In his attempt to catch himself, Harry hit the amulet's stand and knocked it to the ground where the clear case around it shattered, causing many heads to turn. Harry, who had been trying to keep his balance, lost it, plummeting to the floor. He let out a small cry but froze when he felt what was under his hand. He slowly stared down in disbelief at the amulet under his hand before looking to Dudley in shock. Dudley looked terrified. The amulet had started to glow an eerie green color. A force was now pulsing through his hand and beginning to spread through his body. Harry tried to pry his hand away but it wouldn't budge. Harry didn't know how, but he knew what was going to happen.

"Run!" Harry cried to everyone around. "It's going to blow!"

"Harry!" Dudley's voice cried out as he attempted to get to his cousin. He was grabbed by both parents as they dragged him away.

Petunia made a dash to her nephew when a surge of unexpected fear shot through her as she watched him struggle to get away from whatever that THING was. Her arm was caught by her husband.

"Leave him, petunia!" he yelled.

Harry pulled with all his might but, he could feel himself weakening. He felt as though his very life was slowly seeping from him to the glowing abject. A sickening feeling lurched in the pit of his stomach as he realized he couldn't free himself. There was no hope. For reasons he didn't know he found himself instinctively looking for his guardians. Sirius…Remus…His friends…they would be so upset…Harry's thoughts were interrupted as he felt the amulet's power calm. Terrified, he knew what was coming next.

Petunia stared into the boy's fear filled eyes as they lifted to meet her own but never had the time to stop the blast as it hit them all with a force so strong it knocked everyone to the other end of the hall, all but one.

Amongst the piles of debris and dust, amidst the screams and cries of the onlookers who were sporting nothing more than scratches and a few minor broken bones, underneath the largest pile of rubble was Harry.