Disclaimer: I own nothing of Harry Potter except for my alternate ideas and characters. Thank you, enjoy the story
Chapter One: Oh the Hot Days of Argument.
To the residents of a little village called Surrey, ever since that Potter boy had grown up, events with no explanation had started happening with an increasing regularity. A nice boy all in all -if a little shy- Harry Potter most definitely had the attention of some higher being. Strange looking men and women followed him around surreptitiously only to disappear off into the middle of a park, once onlookers even spied a man with a strange bowler hat and a wooden leg walking around the streets of Little Whinging constantly muttering to himself.
To his credit, Harry Potter stayed in his house mostly, only leaving once in a while to walk down to the park three blocks away from his house. Most of the neighbors turned their shades in as soon as he walked by (at least trying to be unobtrusive) while pressing their sweaty noses up to the window panes, trying to a get a good look at the boy who went to a boarding school for mischievous bullying boys.
The sun was setting and the Boy Who Lived walked out of his house with a stony face on. His fists clenched, he walked down his street, turning his head around to look for any followers. The neighbors pressed their faces to their windows wondering what had put the young man in a bad mood. He stormed across the corner and sat down on a wood-chip covered bench. He took out the letter he had just received from Professor McGonagall and crumpled into a paper ball. He read the loopy script again, hoping he had somehow misread it.
Dear Mr. Potter,
It is with regret to inform you that Hogwarts will not be reopened until December. With the loss of Albus Dumbledore, the Board of Governors have not seen Hogwarts defenses adequate to protect the masses of students. Exact dates will be provided at a later date. Enjoy your extended holiday.
Sincerely,
Professor Minerva McGonagall,
Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Bunch of bloody bull, Harry thought as he crumpled up the letter again. Here he was, sitting out in the bloody heat, reading a letter denying him entrance to a place he had called home for the past six years. He heard a crack behind him and instinctively whipped out his wand.
"Harry, you really shouldn't be out right now," a bedraggled man said, wiping sweat off of his brow. Harry snapped,
"I don't honestly give a damn right now Lupin, they've closed Hogwarts." Lupin sighed and paced around before answering, "It's only for the student's safety, Harry. You know a girl named Hannah Abbott? She got hit by a particularly nasty cutting hex to the head and is still in St. Mungos."
Harry's eyes momentarily darkened as he thought about the sweet girl who had been apart of the D.A. "Maybe if Dumbledore had listened to me about Snape it never would have happened," Harry shot out. Remus sighed and ran his hand through his hair, remarkably resembling his former friend. "Nobody knew Harry, he had us all fooled-"
"Not me! I said it from the start that I didn't trust Snivellus," Harry retorted. Remus looked at him sadly,
"Carrying along all of this hatred of Snape from Sirius is pointless Harry." Harry looked at him,
"That bastard set Voldemort on my parents and set up Dumbledore's death. I think I have plenty of reason to hate him."
Lupin swore and looked Harry in the eye, "I think I know more about hatred then you do Harry. James and Sirius and Lily were my best friends. Knowing that Snape had a hand in all of their deaths makes me want to rip him apart with my bare hands, but I'm not going to. When I find him I'm going to give him to the ministry." Harry stared back at Lupin and said,
"When I see that bastard, I'm going to kill him." Lupin stared at Harry with narrowed eyes,
"You would sink down to Voldemorts level then?"
"It's a kill or be killed world Professor. It's war. If you don't realize that then you're just deluding yourself." Lupin's back straightened and his fists clenched staring at Harry.
"I lived and fought through the first war Harry. I know what it's like to watch everyone around you fall protecting somebody. For God's sake, my fiancé died taking a curse intended for me!" Harry's eyes widened. He had never heard of Lupin's life before the war except for a few school stories. Lupin continued talking, "I know you're not a young boy anymore Harry, and that you've been forced to grow up faster than most people your age, but the fact still stands that you're not an adult yet. Taking another's life intentionally is not something determined by a flick of a wand. It-"
"I have killed a man before Professor," Harry said staring at the ground.
"What – how?"
"During the invasion of Hogwarts, I stunned a death eater that was about to kill Luna. I didn't know his name, but I was so angry after watching Dumbledore die, the spell blew him off the balcony." Harry's revelation stunned Lupin speechless for a few moments. Lupin then put his arm on Harry's shoulder.
"The first man I killed was during a surprise attack in London. I was there with your parents. A man was torturing Sirius under the cruciatus and I killed him. I was 20." Harry nodded.
Lupin checked his watch and spoke again, "It is a kill or be killed world out there right now , but make sure that you do not begin to turn less human because of it. I've seen it happen in the best of people Harry. The power of being able to take another life is a power that no human should have, but alas, we do and we abuse that right." Harry turned his head towards Lupin and spoke honestly,
"I felt sick after I hear the crack. But I knew it had to be done. I know that I'm most likely going to kill again Lupin. I don't enjoy that fact, but it's the truth." Lupin turned away this time. His voice sounded defeated,
"I have to report for the order Harry, I'll send you a letter of when the Weasleys will pick you up. Goodbye Harry..." With a crack and puff of smoke, Lupin had disappeared, leaving Harry alone to the summer skies.
Harry walked back to his house and yanked open the door to face his uncle. His uncle turned around immediately as if he had just discovered somewhere important to be leaving Harry alone in the hall again. His entire family had been doing this ever since Moody had given them a particularly threatening visit telling them that he knew 500 ways to kill muggles - which he may or may not have actually known. Bluff or not, it did the trick and Harry had had quite a peaceful summer so far, albeit it had only been three days.
Harry walked tiredly up the steps and wrenched open the door to discover a pamphlet lying on his bed. Harry stared at it curiously and plopped himself down on his bed, opening up the pamphlet.
Mr. Potter you have been offered an application for Hearthrows Magical Education in America. We would be most delighted to provide for your education until Hogwarts reopens. Please send a letter back within the next week. Have a wonderful afternoon.
-Sincerely,
Principal Dean Rowlins
Harry stared at the letter, wondering whether or not to send an immediate reply telling the school to enroll him as soon as possible. He shook his head and threw the letter in his trunk, saving deeper analysis for a later day. Staring at his room, he took out his wand from his pocket and began idly twirling it around. Hedwig's eyes stared at Harry, unmoving, asking a question that he was avoiding. "I don't know okay? It's tempting but I have friends here! What about Ron? And Hermione? And Ginny?" Hedwig still stared at him unnervingly till Harry turned his face towards the wall and his back towards the cage.
"I'm going crazy, I'm actually arguing with my owl about going to another country to learn magic." He snorted, "Even among wizardry standards that's got to be pretty loony, next thing you know I'll be looking for Crumple-Horned Snorkacks..." Hedwig just kept up her unblinking gaze at Harry's back. "I'll talk to them about it, okay?" She finally turned her head away and Harry drifted off to sleep without dinner.