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Harry Potter and the Unbreakable Circle Chapter One: Siblings

Harry stood looking at the front door to number four Privet Drive. He had stayed at Hogwarts for over a week after Professor Dumbledore's funeral. He wandered Gryffindor Tower trying to decide what to do next. Finally, when it became clear that soon only he and Filch would be left, he moved on. His first stop was Godric's Hollow, his parents' graves. He thought going there would give him a new direction, an idea where to start. It only made him more angry and confused.

He looked up at the door again and knew this was the last time he would ever see the Dursleys' house. He wasn't quite sure why he was here. There were a few quills, parchments, newspaper articles, and books of his up in his room, but nothing he really wanted. Those could go into the dustbin for all he cared.

Maybe he was there to tell the Dursleys he would not be living with them until his seventeenth birthday. Great news for all concerned. But he had no real need to tell them. Quite possibly he had to walk out of that house one last time before he could start his journey. Before he could walk out of it, he first had to walk in. Harry stepped up to the door. He could just walk right in, take his things, turn around and leave. However, he decided to knock.

Dudley answered the door. Although still oversized he did not look nearly so much like he was going to explode out of his clothes as he did last summer. "Oh great, you're back." He sneered.

"Don't worry, I'm not staying." Answered Harry.

"But I thought that crazy old…"

Harry raised his hand to stop him. "I will be gone in a few minutes, and then you will never see me again." A look that combined confusion and happiness spread over Dudley's face. Harry brushed past him and dashed up the stairs two at a time.

He looked around what had been his room the past five summers. He would never have to escape from here again. He would never get to leave here for Hogwarts again, either. He quickly gathered up his few remaining belongings then looked for something to put them in. With few choices, he grabbed a pillowcase and stuffed them inside. It was then he noticed a figure standing at the door.

It was his Aunt Petunia; she quietly took a step into the room. "Dudley tells me you are not staying." She said softly. "I'm not surprised." Harry had never seen this kind of look on his aunt's face before. "If you have just a minute before you leave, I would like to talk to you… to tell you something." Harry felt himself soften then nodded silently. "When your Professor was here to collect you last year, some of the things he said brought back memories. Memories I thought I had put behind me. When I was a girl, my parents presented me with a baby sister. A younger sister who grew up to become the beautiful one and the brilliant one, and I became average. One day she got an invitation to join your world. She accepted and became more exceptional. I found the more average I became, the less people expected of me and the happier I was. I married an average man and lived in an average house, but I kept in touch with Lily."

Harry was not sure what to make of all his aunt was saying. He had never heard her speak like this before. She was interrupted by the sound of the doorbell. He heard Uncle Vernon's voice, at first loud and angry, then it quieted down. His aunt continued. "When things started getting dangerous in your magic world, I begged her to leave it behind. She wouldn't even consider it and I broke off all contact. I never wanted that world to harm my family, so to me she no longer existed. Then you came."

A roar of uncle Vernon's laughter could be heard below. His aunt hesitated then started again. "What I'm trying to say is I could have been… no, I should have been a better aunt. I was just afraid. Since last summer I've heard a few of the happenings in your world. I know things are bad again. I…" she wiped a tear. "Be careful Harry."

At that moment Dudley's thundering footsteps could be heard coming down the hall. As he looked into Harry's room he yelled, "Hey, there's somebody here to see you. Some man named Dumbledore."

"It can't…" Harry stuttered.

Dudley broke in. "Not that crazy old coot who came last summer. This man is normal. Not one of you magic nutters." Too stunned to respond to Dudley's comments he looked at his aunt, who seemed just as stunned. She shrugged her shoulders. Harry ran down the stairs. Reaching the bottom he could see his overstuffed uncle sitting in the overstuffed chair. He took a step into the living room and saw to whom his uncle was talking.

There sat someone who was dressed oddly even for the wizarding world. He was an older man; kind of short and thin, wearing a robe that had been patched multiple times with assorted fabrics. It looked more like a quilt than a robe. The wizard spoke in a raspy voice. "Ah, nice to meet you, kid."

Harry looked over at his uncle again who seemed to be having a fine chat with this wizard. "Where are your manners, boy?" said Uncle Vernon.

Harry's brain was trying to make sense of this. "Who are you and why are you here?"

Before the wizard could answer, Uncle Vernon bellowed, "Don't be rude boy, this could be your one chance to have a real life!"

The wizard made a quick flick of his wand, then spoke. "You can feel free to talk now, your uncle won't hear you. He will just think you are standing there quietly listening to us."

"What's going on here?" Harry demanded.

"Let me see if I can make it easy for you kid. First, my name is Dumbledore, Aberforth Dumbledore. I believe you knew my brother. Second, your uncle is under one of my favorite spells: oculus spectatum. When he looks at me he is seeing a very portly man in an ill fitting suit."

Uncle Vernon roared with laughter. "That's a good one Mr. Dumbledore. Can't wait to tell that one at work."

Dumbledore continued. "Your uncle just heard me tell a rather insipid joke about drill bits." Aunt Petunia could be heard coming down the stairs. Another flick of the wand. "Your aunt is seeing a rather handsome older man with wavy gray hair. She is hearing me explain how I am taking you under my wing. Your uncle however is hearing me talk about how you are going to work hard long hours in my factory to make your way in life."

Harry looked over to see his aunt and uncle, who were both smiling and nodding. Dudley was still upstairs moving furniture to reclaim Harry's room two months earlier than planned.

"Now you want to know why I'm here. Well kid, we just need to have a little chat. After that, it's up to you."

Harry had been searching his memory. Professor Dumbledore had never spoken to him about a brother, but he had seen a photo of him two years ago. It was an old photo of the Order of the Phoenix.

"How do I know you're who you say you are?" Harry questioned. "You could be casting a spell on me. Maybe you're actually a Death Eater here to take me to your master."

"Ha!" Dumbledore belly laughed. "You got me, kid. That's pretty funny, me working for old Moldymort. Besides, this house is still protected until your birthday. I'm getting a little tired of keeping this spell going. Muggles are pretty easy to fool but it's taking a bit of effort now. Let's walk and talk. First we will say our good-byes." Another small flick of the wand, and he addressed the Dursleys. "It's time for us to be off." He stood up, shook Uncle Vernon's hand and kissed Aunt Petunia's. He turned to Harry and tilted his head toward the Dursleys. "Anything you would like to say before we go?"

There were many things Harry would like to have said, but right now he decided playing this game was his best exit strategy. "Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, I'm sure this is what is best for me. "

Uncle Vernon grunted as Aunt Petunia said, "If you are sure this is what you want. Alright then, take care of yourself."

"Oh, for goodness sake Petunia, best thing that ever happened to the boy!" bellowed Uncle Vernon.

"We will say farewell. Thank you for your time." Aberforth started to put his hand on Harry's shoulder then pulled it back. He walked to the door and opened it. Harry stepped through. This is not how Harry thought his last view of the Dursley's household would go. He didn't like sneaking out under a lie. This wasn't how his journey should start. As he headed down the walk he heard this Dumbledore exchange another parting pleasantry. He waited by the street. As the older wizard stepped beside him he asked, "What happens when they start talking about this and their stories don't match?"

"Who cares, kid, we'll be long gone. Keep walking, we will have our little chat once we are away from the house." They continued around the corner. Aberforth gesture to a bench and they both sat down. Harry thought it a rather public place for a private "chat".

"Don't worry, the bench is cloaked. No muggles can see or hear us. You must have a few questions for me. Shoot."

Harry hesitated a moment then blurted out "How come he never mentioned you?" He was unhappy with both Dumbledores. Why had Professor Dumbledore kept his brother a secret? If this was his brother, why was he so completely different?

"I'm not surprised my name never came up. I'm not exactly the kind people brag about. Not like Albus. It wasn't exactly easy being the little brother of 'one of the greatest wizards of all time!' When old Moldymort was in power before, Albus asked me to stay hidden. He was afraid I would be used as a pawn to get to him. The others in the order thought I just ran scared. Since then I've kind of drifted between the muggle and magical worlds. Next question."

"What do you want from me…" He hesitated, not knowing how to address him, "Mr. Dumbledore?"

"It's Aberforth. You can call me Abby, both my friends do." After a brief pause he added, "That's a joke kid, you can laugh."

Harry looked at him harshly.

"Alright, to tell the truth it's kind of true. I don't have many friends in either world. Now to answer your question, I don't want anything. I'm here to help you."

"To help me what?" Harry was increasingly annoyed with this conversation.

"I'll make this simple. Albus and I weren't close but we kept in touch. He made me promise that if anything happened to him, I would do what ever I could to help you. Aperire mirus," He added with a flick of his wand. Harry saw a shimmer behind them, which quickly faded. "Come out, come out, wherever you are." Aberforth chanted to the air.

The shimmer reappeared and suddenly Mad-Eye Moody was standing behind them. Aberforth looked over his shoulder smiled and said "Mad-Eye," turning back he continued, "Kid, you should be honored. They sent the big gun to follow you."

"Professor Moody, what are you doing here?"

Before he could answer Dumbledore chimed in "Don't be naive kid, did you think the Order was just going to let you leave Hogwarts and wander around on your own? Of course not. Whether or not they believe all that 'Chosen One' talk you're still their best bet. No way they wouldn't cover your back."

Moody spoke. "Hello Harry and…hello Aberforth. Yes, we are concerned with Harry's safety."

"Would someone please explain to me what's going on?" demanded Harry with increasing irritation.

"Not hard to follow," said Dumbledore, "Mad-Eye is tailing you to make sure you don't get into trouble. Have to make sure a whole flock of Death Eaters, dementors, and werewolves don't jump you."

"Don't make light of the situation," growled Moody. "You may not understand this, Aberforth, but the danger is increasing by the day since Albus's death."

"Believe me, I get it. You think taking up with this kid is my idea of fun? I'd much rather be back in my muggle flat making up useless spells. Now, you can take a hike. I'll cover him until we get to the Weasley's. Then we can discuss how the Order can be put to good use."

"Some things never change," sighed Moody. "Harry, you O.K. with this?"

Harry looked back and forth between the two wizards. For some reason he couldn't understand, it seemed a good idea to stay with Aberforth. "I'll see you later, Professor Moody."

"Keep your wits about you. We will all see you tonight." With a pop, Moody was gone.

"Now," said Aberforth quickly, "Let's continue our talk. My turn. Let's see if I have this straight. Your plan is to find the remaining horcruxes, figure out how to destroy them, get to the Dark Lord, kill him and if you are lucky take out a bunch of the death eaters on the way. Brave kid, very brave."

"I suppose so."

"You know what the difference between bravery and stupidity is?"

"What?"

"In your case, not very much."

Harry's temper started to rise. As he felt heat growing behind his face he said, "I thought you were supposed to help me, not belittle me!"

"There is nothin' says I can't do both at the same time. Stop and think about your plan. You want to face off against the most powerful dark wizard of all time and all his lackeys, toadies, and henchmen, all by yourself. You, a wet behind the ears wizard."

"I suppose you have a better plan?"

"Yes, I believe I do."

"The two things you seem to be best at are lying and hiding, I don't think either of those will help me!"

"You might be surprised!"

As the tension between the two increased, Harry responded, "Your brother didn't lie or cheat of hide his way out of anything!"

"Your right. Albus was always honest and straightforward. There is one other big difference between us. I'm alive and here to help you."

Harry's mind flew to the edge of fury, and stopped. Reason started to return as his goal came back into sight. "Alright," he said coldly, "What do you suggest?"

"There are a lot of people out there willing to help you. Let them. You can't do this all alone."

"I'm not alone. I have friends I can count on."

"Oh, yes. Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. Two more novice wizards."

"I've had just about…"

Dumbledore cut him off. "O.K., but stop and think. What are their strengths? How can they best help? Granger's a smart one. You need someone to research what and where the remaining horcruxes are. She can serve you best at Hogwarts. Weasley is a loyal friend. Almost like a brother to you, but not very cautious. That makes him a target for Voldemort. He'll need to be somewhere safe. Again, he may be the biggest help at Hogwarts. I'm sure he and Granger will do well as a team." Aberforth gave a knowing smile.

"How do you know all this?" Harry demanded.

"Just keep my eyes and ears open. So, we'll have your friends at Hogwarts. The Order will pretty much do whatever we…I mean you… ask. A stop at the Ministry might be in order."

"The Ministry! What kind of help do you expect to find there?"

"They may be a bunch of nitwits, but they might prove to be a useful bunch of nitwits. Let's not forget your friend Hagrid. Never underestimate the value of a strong back."

"Hagrid is more than just a strong back! He's a great…"

"For goodness sake kid, get that chip off your shoulder. I never said he wasn't a great man or a great friend. I simply meant his strength could come in handy."

Harry relaxed a bit. "What else is in your grand plan?"

"First order of business is to get to the Weasley's. We can discuss what we are up against on the way."

"Are we flying or apparating?

"Neither, let's take a drive." He pointed across the street to one of the most beat up cars Harry had ever seen.

"I hope it flies better than it looks."

"It doesn't fly at all. Ever drive one of these? They can be a lot of fun. In one of my muggle jobs I was the best used car salesman in Biggin Hill."

"Why doesn't that surprise me?" Harry murmured under his breath.

"Come on. Hop in."

They walked over. As Harry climbed into the passenger side he noticed the inside was in perfect condition. Aberforth jumped in, after looking at Harry's face he smiled. "The engine is in top shape and the interior is mint. It's just the outside that, well, leaves a little bit to be desired. I keep it that way so nobody will want to take it. What do you think kid?"

"I think…my name is Harry, not kid. You can call me Harry."

"Whatever you say, kid." The engine roared to life.

Bic: Should we post more chapters?

(Johanna says to say YES! I act as his beta and assistant, so any little technical mistakes can be blamed on me.)