Chapter One:Letters from Loved Ones

It had always been hot in Little Whinging in July, but this summer was becoming unbearable. But no matter what the temperature, Harry Potter was outside in the blazing sun doing yard work for his aunt and uncle. He had always been mistreated by his relatives, ever since he was brought to their house as a baby and left on the doorstep in the middle of the night. It was past lunch time and Harry had been out in the sun for at least five hours working, but knew he would not be allowed inside for a drink or lunch until the lawn was mowed and watered, the weeds were pulled from the garden, the new rose bush was planted, and all of the hedges were perfectly even. As Harry snipped at the hedges he heard the front door open and the clink of a glass on the step. By the time he looked around the front door was shut again, but there was a glass of ice water waiting for him. The sight of the glass was all it took for Harry to set down the shears and race to the water. Trying not to gulp the water down too fast, he took a minute to wiped the sweat off his face and body with his shirt that he had taken off over 2 hours ago. Harry Potter had done a lot of growing up over the past year, although school robes tended to hide it. But now in the blistering July sun doing yard work with no shirt on, any teenage girl passing would probably stop and stare at Harry's nicely toned, sweat glistening body. And it didn't help the fact that he was growing out of his boyish features and his face was becoming that of a very handsome man.

He'd only been back from Hogwarts for a fortnight, and as usual, he already wished it were time to go back. He hadn't much news from his friends from school. Ron was with his family in Egypt again for one last trip before Bill transferred back to England for good, and Hermione was on a trip with her parents to the States, but should be back any day now. He'd been hoping that her injury from the Department of Mysteries had healed okay. He didn't even get any letters from Lupin, probably busy doing something for Dumbledore.

He had never felt more alone this summer. Just a year ago he watched Cedric Diggory die before Voldemort returned to flesh and fought him. Then just a few weeks ago he watched his godfather, Sirius, die during the battle at the Department of Mysteries, which he blamed himself for. If he had just done better in Occlumency, he wouldn't have seen the trap vision that Voldemort sent him, and he wouldn't have gone to try to save Sirius. Sirius wouldn't have come to help rescue Harry and he would still be alive. The nightmares Harry had been having were even more terrifying than ever, causing problems between him and the Dursleys since he cried out often during the night. Dudley had taken it to a morning routine to tease Harry about anything he'd been crying in his sleep about, whether it be Sirius, Cedric, his parents, seeing Hermione get nearly killed at the Ministry, or Voldemort torturing or killing one of his friends.

Harry finished his water and returned to the rest of his yard work. He spent the next hour thinking about how everyone was going to act around him once school was back in and what the Ministry was going to do now that they're admitting Voldemort has returned. As he finished the last of the yard work his Aunt Petunia called him inside.

"You should hurry up and eat so I can start dinner- but get in the shower first, I don't want you smelling and dirtying up my kitchen!"

Harry rushed up stairs and jumped right in the shower, turning on as much cold water as he could stand. Luckily his aunt allowed him to put on sun block so he wouldn't burn while working outside. He rushed through his shower, dressed, and was back downstairs in the kitchen within ten minutes. On the table was, for the first since Harry could remember, a plate full of food, and a letter for Harry sitting on the kitchen table. Knowing his aunt must be in a good mood and he shouldn't take it for granted since Dudley and his Uncle Vernon weren't due home until later this evening, Harry sat down to start eating and decided to open his letter. Wondering why Hedwig didn't deliver it, he started reading.

Dear Harry,

I know this must be quite odd having a letter come from me, especially since we've never really truly met, but I felt that I needed to contact you. However, I guess first, an introduction is in order. My name is Jane Granger, Hermione's mother. I've heard so much about you over the years I feel as if I know you already. I wanted to talk to you about Hermione. Don't worry, she's fine, she's just…different. Ever since we picked her up from the station a few weeks ago, she's been slightly withdrawn. We thought a trip through the States would be something she'd love. She's never been here before and there's a lot of history in the colonies that have to do with wizards, we thought we'd never be able to get her to do anything other than learn history once we were out here. But I can barely get her to decide what she wants to eat, if she even wants to eat. She's been so out of it, her father asked her to go to some baseball game and she agreed, not even paying attention. She hates sports! She's wondered about you a lot since she's been here. She misses you terribly. Harry, what happened last year at school that has caused my little girl to act like this? I'm just worried about her. She's even been displaying odd spots of accidental magic without realizing it, like pushing us and locking us out of her room, and flooding the bathroom when she cries. We were worried that she might be in trouble with your Ministry, but apparently we're in such a magically populated area, it's undetected, but we are worried about when we get home.

I'm attaching our number at the hotel we're staying at until Friday. If you want to you can call to talk to Hermione or either myself or my husband, or you can always respond by letter, we should be back home by the time anything you send gets to us. I'm sorry to trouble you with this, but I don't know whom else I could ask. Maybe when we get back we can arrange for you and Hermione to see each other, maybe that will help cheer her up.

Hoping you are well,

Jane Granger.

"I don't know whether to be furious at you or congratulate you on getting such a great friend," Aunt Petunia said from the kitchen door, holding a similar letter in her hand, along with a photograph.

"I'm sorry?"

"You had a friend write to me. She asked me to give you this," she said as she slide him a photograph as she sat down across from him. It was a picture of Hermione, with the Statue of Liberty behind her. Harry was confused as to why Hermione sent his aunt a letter, especially one with a picture of her. "She told me what happened at that school of yours the past two years. She said last you were forced to participate in some competition that you were too young and inexperienced for, something you could have died in, and ended up having to watch someone else die. She also said that thing that murdered Lily is back and you had to fight him. And just a few weeks ago you fought in some battle and watched your godfather die. Is this true?"

Harry had to agree. "All of it. You know that's the first time in my life I've ever heard you speak my mother's name? Why did you hate your sister so much?"

"Don't push it, it's neither the time nor the place for that. Is this whole thing that happened at school the reason you have been having nightmares?"

"Yes. I don't mean to have them. Trust me, I wish that I didn't have them."

"I know you don't," Aunt Petunia said softly. Harry was even more surprised than ever at this. "Who is this Lord What's His Name, what does he want with you?"

"Lord Voldemort. He's like a wizarding world's version of Hitler. He hates all muggles and muggleborn and even half bloods like me. Not only does he hate them, but also he wants them all dead or to be slaves. He can torture with a curse so it feels like every nerve in your body is on fire or like a thousand knives are being dug into your body. He can control your mind and body, make you do and say things you'd never do. He could make you kill all of your friends and family and wouldn't even blink. Any of his followers can do this as well. They're called Death Eaters. He'll also probably use Dementors-"

"Dementors? That's what attacked you and Dudley last summer. Soul suckers?"

"Yes," Harry said, surprised that he had heard of them. "And that's just the start of things. Dumbledore thinks he'll be getting the giants involved and any other manner of dark creatures."

"So what does he want with you? Are we in danger?"

"No, as far as I've been told you're not in danger, specifically because I live here. Since my mother's blood runs in both of us, and her blood protects me, as long as I'm here he can't come near you. As to what he wants with me? There's a prophecy. I just found out about it before I left school. It was made before I was born. It's up to me to destroy him. This is the 5th time I've come across him in my life and gotten away alive so I know to count my lucky stars because I'm not ready to defeat him."

"How many other people have had to go up against him?"

"Loads. But I'm the only one besides Dumbledore to come out alive, but Voldemort's also afraid of Dumbledore."

"He did say you would be a powerful wizard one day."

"Who? Dumbledore? When did you talk to him?"

"He left me a letter when he left you here after your parents died. He told me what happened to Lily and what needed to be done about you, that I needed to take you in. I had only met your father a handful of times, but I can tell you are exactly like him, but you have Lily's kindness. You were a daily reminder of her. I couldn't bare it. I know it's no excuse for how we treated you. I'm an adult; I should have been able to act as one. I can't change your uncle or your cousin. But I can change how I act. Although it would be best to not let Vernon or Dudley know…" Aunt Petunia trailed off looking at the letter she had in her hands.

"What else did Hermione say?" Harry asked, wondering what exactly she said to make his aunt act this way.

"Besides informing me of what happened the past two school years, she told me about you. About who you really are. About what you have done and accomplished the past 5 years. She said that if you hadn't been a wizard I would have probably been more proud of you than I am of Dudley. And she's almost right. In all honesty, after reading everything you'd done, and reading about the kind of man you're becoming. I am proud of you. I am more proud of you than I am of Dudley; though don't ever tell him that. How can I not be? After how we've treated you growing up, you're kind, and nice, and more of a gentleman than Vernon ever was or more than Dudley could ever be. Dudley thinks beating up 10 year-olds is okay. Although for him, I am partially to blame," she admitted. Harry said nothing, but just looked down at the picture of Hermione in his hands and then to the letter from her mother next to him. He wondered what Hermione was doing right now, and if there was any way he could help her. He hadn't been himself much lately either, but he couldn't bear the thought of Hermione being sad.

"She really is quite a remarkable girl, your friend, Hermione," Aunt Petunia said, interrupting his thoughts. "She seems a lot like Lily."

"She is, from what I've heard. She's the smartest in our year. I think she's actually the smartest witch in a century. I'd be dead if it weren't for her. I probably would have failed out of Hogw-, er, school, if it weren't for her. I think she's like to live in the library if it were possible," Harry said smiling at the thought of Hermione in her stack of books, chewing on the end of a quill while trying to write twice the amount asked for on an essay.

"She's very pretty too," Aunt Petunia remarked at Harry's smile.

"Yes, she is…" Harry said looking at the letter again.

"Who was your letter from? You have never gotten a letter by normal mail, stamp and everything."

"Hermione's mum. They're vacationing in the States, but Hermione's been very down and depressed and her mum's worried. She's also apparently been doing accidental magic without realizing it. Which is really odd, because once you have a wand that doesn't happen unless you're under extreme emotional distress. Her mum didn't know who else to talk to so she asked me to call or write."

"You two must be very close."

"She's my best friend."

"What about that red hair bloke? The one whose father destroyed the living room last year?"

"Ron's my best friend too. Only when he doesn't get jealous of me," he muttered the last bit.

"Why would he be jealous of you?"

"I'm a celebrity of sorts in the wizarding world. I hate the attention, but it happens. And I'm apparently really rich. Mum and dad left me with a ton of money, and things just happen to me. Like being entered in that tournament. Ron is the youngest boy out of 7 kids, so he's never been the first to do anything. He's not really able to stand out. He would have love the 'eternal glory' and money that came with the tournament the other year. He doesn't understand I would trade all of the money I have just to have my mum and dad back. He doesn't realize how lucky he is."

"What about Hermione?"

"She's really close to her parents. They're both dentists, and she's an only child. It's a little harder for them I think because Hermione's so into the wizarding world, and she's so smart, and she loves our world, that I think her parents feel left out. But they still vacation every year and they talk all the time. She doesn't care about my fame or my money. She was the only person who stuck by me when I was entered in that tournament. Practically the whole school was against me because I was too young to enter yet I somehow managed it. They didn't believe I didn't enter my name. And there Hermione was, waiting for me the next morning with a stack of toast in hand so I didn't have to face the school during breakfast. She puts up with so much ridicule too because she's a muggleborn. She's a better witch than any pureblood I know, and I know it really angers them."

"You said you haven't had any training to defeat this Voldemort?"

"No, and I don't know how much longer I have until he comes for the final battle."

After hearing this, Aunt Petunia thought for a bit before saying, "I don't know how much it will help, but one of my childhood friends is a military man. He trains the Special Forces. I may be able to arrange for him to train you, teach you how to fight. Would it be something that you'd like?" Harry looked in shock, he knew it was strange enough that he'd been having an entire conversation with his aunt, which was weird enough, the fact that it was about the wizarding world, was just unbelievable, but now, she's offering to help train him to battle Voldemort?

"I guess that would be great. Death Eaters loathe anything muggle, so they probably wouldn't be prepared to any type of muggle combat. And maybe I can ask Mad-Eye for more wizard training later…" he trailed off.

"Well, that settles it then. Go put your dishes in the sink and I'll give my friend a call. I have to get dinner started. If you think you can wait until after we eat, I'll send up a plate when Vernon and Dudley are occupied." And with that, she was gone.

Later that night, Harry lay in his bed going over the long talk he and his aunt had had. True to her word, after dinner she left him a plate full of steak and potatoes, some of the best Harry had had outside of Hogwarts. He pinned up the picture of Hermione next to his bed and made a mental note to ask his aunt of he could call Hermione the next day. He fell asleep wondering what she was doing at the moment, wondering if she was doing any better.

He was having the most wonderful dream. His parents were alive, and he and his dad were playing pick up Quidditch with Sirius and Remus while his mum and Hermione watched on from the back patio. The sun was shining and Harry had never felt more free and happy in his life. Hermione looked practically radiant too. He wanted everything to stay like this forever. Then the sky darkened and it began to pour down raining. Green flashes of light came from what seemed to be every direction. By the time he landed on the ground he saw his mother, father, Sirius, and Remus dead on the ground, the blank faces looking up in shock. He started screaming for Hermione. Voldemort starting laughing from behind him. Harry spun around to see Voldemort standing there holding Hermione by the hair with his wand pointed at her.

"What are you going to do Potter? Do you think you can save her? Can you save the pathetic little mudblood? You couldn't save your parents. You couldn't save your blood-traitor godfather, or the werewolf. What makes you think you can save her? Do you really think you can defeat me? What powers do you think you have that compare to mine? You haven't even finished your schooling! You are no match for me. I will destroy everything you hold dear, ripping apart your world until you have nothing left, not even your sanity. I will torture you to the brink of death. In fact, I think I'll start practicing on your little friend here. Crucio!" Harry couldn't move. Couldn't think, couldn't breathe. Hermione was writhing and screaming in agony. Blood was starting to pour from her ears and her mouth. Voldemort started to laugh again, Harry started screaming. Finally Harry was able to move and he ran towards her, Voldemort let her fall to the ground. Harry caught her and held her as the curse started to wear off but it was to no effect. Hermione was dead. Voldemort was gone. The rain poured down on him and Hermione's body, but the blood wouldn't was off his hands. He was screaming Hermione's name, begging her to not be dead.

"HERMIONE!!"

He sat straight up, gasping for breath. It was raining outside. It had only been a dream, even though it seemed so real. He realized he was crying, but he didn't care. The pain was just too real. Curling back up on his bed he heard a soft pop.

"Harry!!"