A/N: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters you recognize from the Harry Potter books.

Harry Potter and the Search for the Heir

Chapter one: Escape from Privet Dive

"No! Not Hermione, please don't let her be dead! Please"

"Its all over Harry, you'll be next", cried a cold high-pitched voice. A voice that had haunted Harry Potter's dreams for almost 5 years, the very same voice belonged to the man that had killed his parents almost 15 years before. This voice belonged to the cruelest man to ever breathe. This voice belonged to a man who murdered countless souls before without flinching. This voice belonged to Lord Voldemort.

"Avada kedavra", cried the dark lord.

"NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!"

A dark haired boy of 15 woke up screaming in the dark of his room in number 4 Privet Drive. This boy's name was Harry -

"POTTER!" yelled Vernon Dursley, a grumpy man with hardly any neck but a lot of fat.

Harry knew he was in trouble now. This was the 3rd time in a week that he had woken up screaming. Uncle Vernon rapped hard on Harry's door shaking the foundation. Harry slowly slipped out of bed and opened the door. Uncle Vernon was as pink as the watermelon he was forced to eat for breakfast the previous day as part of Dudley's diet, and the watermelon he was promised to have this morning.

"BOY." Vernon bellowed. "I told you to stop that nonsense yesterday and this is how you repay me? Yelling about your freaky abnormalities?! Surely the neighbors must have heard your racket! After Petunia and I let you into our house, out of the kindness of our hearts, when we could have given you a good kick, something that I regret to this day, this is how you treat us. One more time and I'll tan your hide with Dudley's smeltings stick!"

"Fine, can you go now? I have to write a letter to my friends. You know the ones you talked to at the platform last year?" Harry fought back a smile at the effect of these simple words.

"I forbid you to write to them—as a matter of fact I forbid you to write to anyone when you're living under my roof!" Vernon said as the blood rushed to his face.

"I don't know Uncle, they said if they don't hear from me every three days they'd send someone to check on me. Now if you want them to come here and inquire as to why I didn't write, go ahead. I'll see you at breakfast, g'night," said Harry, and with that he tried to close the door but Vernon put his hand in the way.

"Well all right, then go ahead, but if you wake up screaming again I'll personally make sure it stops." Then Vernon went back to his room.

With his spirits high Harry plopped down on his bed and laid in silence for a while. "Wait a second," Harry muttered, "Why is it so quiet? Something's missing." Harry, realizing what it was, got out of bed and walked over to his cousin's bedroom door and whispered, "Dudley, I didn't get in trouble you can go to sleep now." Harry left leaving Dudley to moan to himself, and a few minutes later the house was filled with the sounds of Dudley Dursley's snores. "That's more like it"

Harry decided he should reward himself with some sweets that Mrs. Weasley had sent him. (Harry sent everyone pleas of help because of Dudley's horrendous diet) Harry was just starting to feel content with the world when reality decided to pay him a visit. The fact was that he hadn't heard from his friends all summer except for when they sent sweets and he was hoping to go to number 12 Grimmauld Place where there would always be work to get done and friends to keep him busy.

The reason Harry Potter wanted to be kept busy was because he was desperate for anything to take his mind off of the death of his godfather Sirius Black. It was his fault that Sirius died; at least that's what Harry thought, even though Albus Dumbledore told him otherwise. Also, the shock of knowing that you are the only thing standing in the way of lord Voldemort and years of destruction is a pretty big burden.

But just when Harry thought all hope was lost and he would be spending the rest of the summer at Privet Drive, a person he knew all to well, appeared right in front of his very eyes.

"Hello, Harry", said Remus Lupin excitedly.

"Er... Hi," came his response not yet over the shock of seeing his father's and Godfather's best friend materialize in front of him so suddenly.

"Well, what are you waiting for?" Lupin asked, but at the look on Harry's face he continued, "Get packed; you're coming back to headquarters."

The blank look on Harry's face disappeared and was replaced with a grin from ear to ear he packed his trunk and grabbed Hedwig's cage and was ready in a matter of minutes. Lupin decided it was best to leave a letter even after Harry assured him the Dursleys could care less as long as he was gone. When Lupin finished Harry asked him how they were traveling, portkey was his answer and with that he extracted an old McDonald's cup and told Harry to grab on. "We should be leaving in 5… 4…. 3… 2…1…", and Harry felt the familiar jerk beyond his navel and was swirling around and around until he felt his feet touch solid ground.

Author notes: did ya like it? My first fanfic so go easy on me. R&R and in the next few chapters I plan to have romance and the reason for the title. I'll update real soon, cya.