Chapter 1: Close Encounters
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. But if I did, I would make Dumbledore alive in the next book…
"Come close, Wormtail," said a high-pitched and cold voice "I want to see you."
A short man who had a bald patch at the back of his head squeaked and very slowly, came to the view of Lord Voldemort.
"How can I be of service, my Lord?" said the man named Wormtail and bowing so low, that his head was almost touching the floor. He had spoken with a timid voice and it seemed that he would want to be anywhere but here.
"Have you done the deed that I have assigned to you?" said Voldemort coldly
Wormtail whimpered slightly before answering, "Yes, my Lord. The Potter boy won't know what hit him. I have managed to penetrate the ancient magic given from his mo - mother."
"Good…good… You have done well, Wormtail... Once Harry Potter gets hold of that necklace, I will be able to lure him back once again…
"I will be expecting Severus here tonight… I knew Draco wouldn't finish the job... He never had the guts to finish that old muggle loving fool…"
Wormtail stirred and said nothing.
"But no matter… Draco will pay for his failure…"
"My Lord, may I ask how you're going to carry out the plan?" asked Wormtail
"Patience, Wormtail… You will know soon enough. Perhaps much more sooner than you think…" replied Voldemort, his mouth curling to smile and red eyes flashing in the darkness…
The residence of Privet Drive had had enough. They curiously peered out of their windows to see what the commotion was about.
It was coming from number four. There were three teenagers standing outside of the door; two boys and a girl. They were a weird bunch. All three of them each had their trunks by their side and on top of the first two trunks, belonging to the two boys, had cages on top of them, each containing an owl. Whilst the other person, was holding her own cat.
These children were strangers in this area for they had never been seen by the people living here. Well, except for the boy with untidy black hair. His name was Harry Potter. They believe him to study in a school called St. Brutus's Secure Center for Incurably Criminal Boys. But in truth, he was a wizard studying in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry along with his two best friends. But that didn't matter anymore. The death of the Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, had shaken the whole Wizarding World greatly that no one was even sure if Hogwarts might re-open again.
Harry's startling green eyes behind his glasses were flaring but hadn't spoken anything since Uncle Vernon started ranting on him and his best friends: Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Ron had a shocked look on his face as though no one had the authority to talk to them like that whilst Hermione's face remained impassive.
"How dare you come and barge into our door step and bring those freaky friends here!" raged Uncle Vernon pointing at Harry. "You go back to that school of yours and stay there, you hear me!"
"Vernon! The neighbours!" warned Aunt Petunia, trembling from behind the threshold. Dudley, however, hid behind his mother.
"Oh… right…" said Uncle Vernon sheepishly, his face burning red "Lovely day isn't it?" he said hastily and waved to the neighbours who had popped their heads out curiously. He turned his head back to the three teenagers and whispered furiously at them, "Why have you brought them?" he pointed to Ron and Hermione
"Because they wanted to come and I let them. It'll only be for a two days, and then I'm gone. You'll never have to see me again." said Harry simply
"Never come back?" asked Uncle Vernon. He suddenly looked like he had won a million pounds. "Forever?"
Harry nodded.
Uncle Vernon smiled widely, showing his teeth, and his eyes glinting. "Well, why don't you come in!" he said in an unconvincing welcoming in his voice. He ushered all three teenagers inside. The nieghbours outside gave each other a quizzical look and returned their heads back into their houses.
Dudley was shaking terribly when he saw Ron. Ron's eyebrows shot up at the sight him.
"Hello," greeted Hermione politely and holding her hand up for Aunt Petunia to shake "I'm Hermione Granger and this is Ron Weasley." she introduced
Aunt Petunia had her lips pursed and stared at Hermione's hand as if it were contagious. She ignored it and looked at Harry.
"Why are you here so early?" she asked with a slight curiosity in her voice
Harry hesitated but it was Hermione who answered for him.
"Something – ah – bad had happened in school," she started "You see, our Headmaster, Professor Dumbledore, died…" her voice shook slightly "We were to come back home as soon as the funeral was over. So…" her voice had faded. Crookshanks purred.
"Dumbledore… Dead?" whispered Aunt Petunia, her eyes wide
Normally, Aunt Petunia would not have cared about this piece of news. But the look on her face looked like she did care.
"What is it, Petunia dear?" asked Uncle Vernon very concerned at the look on his wife's face
She ignored him and looked at Harry, Ron and, Hermione strangely.
"It was him wasn't it? The one who killed your parents… He planned it…" Aunt Petunia said softly
Harry nodded slowly completely stunned.
There was a moment of silence when Uncle Vernon burst out, "So, what time are you leaving tomorrow?"
Harry snapped out of his trance and replied, "In the evening." he said shortly and he went up to the staircase to his room with Ron and Hermione at his wake.
"This is your room?" said Hermione incredulously as they reached his room
"Yep." said Harry and dropping his trunk and placing Hedwig's cage on his desk. Ron followed suite and placed Pigwidgeon's cage beside Hegwig's.
"I don't believe them…" muttered Hermione putting Crookshanks down and conjuring up two sleeping bags using her wand.
"So, mate," said Ron sitting down on Harry's bed "Figured out where we should start first after Bill and Fleur's wedding?"
"Godric's Hollow remember? After that, the remaining Horcruxes." said Harry turning to him with an eyebrow raised
"Yeah, but do you know exactly where it is?"
Harry froze. He hadn't thought of that…
Luckily, Hermione did. "It's a small village which is an hour away from London." she said
"How did you know that?" questioned Ron eyeing her carefully "Honestly, Harry. She knows everything…"
"I wrote to Lupin a few days ago and asked where it was located. He gave me the map of the village at King Cross. But I'm thinking that the both of you should take your Apparation tests first before doing anything else." replied Hermione scowling at Ron
"Yeah… right." said Ron glumly remembering that he had just failed his test a few months ago
"Cheer up," said Harry encouragingly "We can always take the test again if we fail. But I'm not worried about that."
"Well of course your not!" said Ron opening the window for some fresh air "You already know how to Apparate."
"But I still haven't got a license," Harry pointed out
"Well, let's not worry about that now – oh look!" said Hermione and pointed out of the window
Harry looked out and a tawny owl came flying in. It was holding a box and a letter. It was addressed to all three of them from –
"Oh!" said Hermione unfolding the letter "It's from Professor McGonagall!"
Harry and Ron joined Hermione on both sides and read the letter silently.
Dear Mr Potter, Mr Weasley, and Ms Granger,
Due to recent events, the Ministry of Magic has come to a conclusion. Until we are sure that the Wizarding world is safe, we regret to inform you that Hogwarts may not open any time soon. Please bear caution to those around you. I will be keeping in touch with the latest news.
Sincerely,
Professor M. McGonagall
P.S. Weasley – Your mother has enclosed a box of delicacies for your whole stay at the Dursley's with Mr Potter and Ms Granger.
"So… that's that…" said Hermione softly "I can't say I'm surprised about Hogwarts closing down… With Dumbledore's death and all…"
Ron walked towards the owl, untied the box and placed them beside Pigwidgeon's cage. Pigwidgeon was hooting so loudly that Ron had second thoughts about putting the box near him and placed it at the other side of Hedwig instead.
It had been reasonably quiet after the tawny owl flew into the deep blue sky.
"Shall we go down?" asked Harry to the other two at last. They nodded and set off to the kitchen.
Aunt Petunia was cooking in the kitchen when they entered. And when they did, she eyed them carefully.
"Don't expect me to cook for you three," she snapped
"And don't expect us to provide you with anything!" snarled Uncle Vernon who had just entered the kitchen with Dudley. They were highly seductive with the aroma of the roast chicken Aunt Petunia was cooking.
"Oh you don't need to worry about that." said Ron lightly "we already have our own food in Harry's room. Not that you care anyway." he added
Uncle Vernon's head turned to Ron and eyed his freckles nervously.
"We just came here to say thank you for letting us stay," said Hermione hastily "and that you won't be bothered by our presence here."
"Good." grunted Uncle Vernon and sat down at the dinning table.
"You will be -ah- staying in the room for the whole visit then?" asked Aunt Petunia
"Yes," replied Hermione
"You - you won't be taking anything from the fridge, then?" asked Dudley abruptly, to the trio
"No," said Hermione amicably "I've brought sugar-free snacks from my own house. My parents are dentists you see."
"Dentists?" said Aunt Petunia
"Yes. Both my parents are muggles, which makes me a muggle-born."
Aunt Petunia flinched at the word 'muggles' but resisted the temptation to shout at Hermione's face. "So you're like her then?"
"Excuse me?" questioned Hermione with an eyebrow up
"She means my mother," whispered Harry to Hermione's ear
"Oh!" exclaimed Hermione "Yeah…"
Aunt Petunia snorted
"OK…"
Dudley then turned on the television and faced it directly at his face as though he didn't want anyone to take away his prized possession.
"So that's a television…" said Ron curiously and cocked his head to one side.
Harry immediately saw warning on Uncle Vernon's face and ushered Ron and Hermione back to his room. But on the way to the staircase, Hermione stood frozen in the hall.
"Hermione?" asked Harry. "Oh…"
He realized that she was looking at the cupboard under the stairs which was slightly ajar. Hermione opened the cupboard and poked her head inside. It occupied a small bed fit for a house elf and several broken toys. She ran her fingers through the cobwebs and touched the bed.
"Harry," said Hermione softly coming back up "Why didn't you tell us?"
Ron looked into the cupboard and he too realized what Harry had been through. He looked aghast.
"I dunno… I just didn't think you should know…" replied Harry somehow lamely
"Didn't think we should know?" said Hermione indignantly "Harry, we're your friends for goodness sake!"
Ron muttered something quietly, looking at the rickety cupboard
"It really isn't a big of a deal, Hermione!" said Harry "It's all in the past and it's not really important. Just drop it…"
"No, I will not!" said Hermione, her brown eyes flashing with anger. She swung her bushy hair around and flounced back towards the kitchen.
Harry and Ron glanced at each other before coming after her.
"How dare you!" shrieked Hermione at the Dursleys who were all seated at the dinning table "How dare you make him sleep in a cupboard for eleven years! This is outrages! Absurd! A scandal! What kind of human beings would do such a thing to their own nephew!" at this point, Hermione was breathing fast. She looked furious.
"Hermione…" said Harry
"Don't you start with me now, Harry! How could you keep something like this?" said Hermione with her wet eyes almost pleading
"Now look here Missy!" said Uncle Vernon standing up and pointing threateningly at Hermione "You have no right, what so ever to tell us off like that! We were merciful enough to provide him with shelter and clothes! And he was very lucky that we didn't decide to put him in the orphanage!"
"Orphanage!" said Ron contemptuously, who had been very quiet for a while "You're mad! The whole lot of you! And to think I was ashamed of my own house… Do you know that people have teased me on the way I live? I thought that living in this kind of house was heaven. But I guess I was wrong wasn't I? It's you that was making Harry's life so miserable in this hell hole! I've been so stupid to think that I was the unfortunate one with being poor and all and Harry being the fortunate one! I have six older brothers and I've been over shadowed by them for years! But Harry here never had a proper family ever since Vo-Vol-Voldemort killed his parents! He has been through a lot these past six years at Hogwarts! And so have we!" Ron pointed at himself and Hermione "We've been through a three-headed dog, hundreds of acromantulas, and those terrifying dementors!" he said counting down his fingers "And that's not all! Harry here had to go through the Triwizard Tournament in our fourth year and he had to face a huge ugly dragon, a bundle of grindylows, and even Hagrid's Blast-Ended Skrewts. And if that's not enough, he had to face Vo-Vol-Voldemort, what? Four times? You should be ashamed of yourselves! Harry is the bravest person I know and you people are blind to see that! I am proud to have Harry Potter as my best friend and not just because he's famous or rich, but because he was the only one who accepted me as his friend when I first met him! Regardless of my tackiness! And you know what? None of those things matter right now because I'm trying to think of a jinx to curse you with!" he then drew up his wand to full length.
An eerie silence had met them right after Ron's outburst. The Dursleys were eyeing the tip of Ron's wand nervously.
Harry stood there beside Ron, touched at what his best friend had said. If he could choose the only thing that had made him happiest was the moment he had managed to say Voldemort. But he still could do a bit more practice…
"Well, I think Ron had just finished on what I was about to say," said Hermione evidently satisfied with tonight's program. She had a small smile perched onto her lips "I have only this to say though… Lily and James Potter would not have allowed this to happen if they were still alive. After all, they did sacrifice their lives for their only son… I am disgusted with you people who call yourselves humans." and with that, she left the room with Ron, still fuming, and Harry at her heels leaving the shocked Dursleys behind them.
As they reached the bedroom, Harry turned to face them, "Ron… Hermione… Thanks…" he couldn't express how grateful he was to them.
Ron sighed. "No problem mate. Just thought of bringing them back to their senses. Blimey… What a night. I don't think I feel hungry anymore. I really can't believe them…" he wrapped himself around his sleeping bag and instantly fell asleep.
Hermione smiled at the already asleep Ron before turning to face Harry.
"You're not alone in this world, Harry. You still have the both of us. I think Dumbledore wouldn't want you to face this all by yourself. The Order is by your side too, even if we are losing our members. The Weasleys too…"
At the mention of the Weasleys, a girl with red hair and brown eyes popped into his mind. Hermione seemed to be reading his mind when she said, "Don't worry about Ginny, Harry. She's a strong girl. She can take care of herself. But I think breaking up with her was a bad idea."
"I don't want her to get hurt, Hermione. I really care about her…" said Harry
"Didn't Dumbledore tell you that by destroying Voldemort completely is by the act of love?"
"There's still the remaining Horcruxes out there and I don't even know where to start." said Harry and lay on his bed
"You need Ginny. I know you do." continued Hermione "I can see it in your eyes that every time you're with her, you're happy. Don't give up on her Harry. She needs you to be by her side to… like me, I need someone by my side too…"
Harry sat up and caught his best friend glance at Ron before turning back to him. He smirked. Hermione gave him a twisted smile before covering herself with her sleeping bag.
I must be very lucky, he thought, to have friends like Ron and Hermione. And with Ginny's face fading away, he fell into a dreamless sleep…
A/N Please review! You know.. Keep me inspired.. I'm ready for flamers. I have an extinguisher by my side..
Cheers!
-Phoenix Owner