HARRY POTTER AND AWAKENINGS

Chapter 1

Early in the morning on the first day of day of his summer holiday something happened that surprised him more than anything he had encountered in the past four years. And that was saying something, because Harry Potter had seen more strange things and weird occurrences than any person ever had. For Harry was no ordinary person, but something more than a normal person. He was a wizard born to powerful parents who were tragically killed by the most powerful dark lord the world had ever known. Because of this he was forced to live with relatives he really wanted to get away from. The feeling seemed to be mutual because forever since he came to live with the Dursley's they had treated him like he was something evil that they had to eradicate. Either that or they just plain ignored his existence; that was the way he preferred to spend his time with the Dursley's. The Dursley's were a muggle family, with an extreme dislike of anything that was remotely linked to magic or to wizards. It was therefore not hard to imagine the way they treated Harry. Eleven years of torture and abuse caused Harry to be very careful of what he said in front of them. Anything weird would result in his being forced tot spent weeks or even months in a cupboard under the stairs, or suffer oral of physical abuse.

He got the most trouble from his uncle Vernon and his nephew Dudley. Vernon was a rather overlarge man with a big moustache, strong arms and surprisingly quick on his feet considering the size of the man. Combined with a temper to match his absolute hatred of anything that might be remotely considered weird and a very short fuse, made uncle Vernon a very dangerous person to Harry. His only son Dudley was his pride and joy, taking after his father in both size and state of mind. Dudley had achieved what he'd always threatened to become, growing even bigger than his father and thus reaching the size of roughly a killer whale. Dudley's greatest joy in life was to make Harry's life as miserable as possible and trying to get him in trouble whenever he could.

His aunt Petunia was the most agreeable of the lot, but not even she made any effort to make Harry's life any easier. Other than her husband and son, she had a very slim body, if not to say skinny. With her hawk-like eyes she noticed almost everything that Harry did, and nevertheless blaming him for everything that went wrong. Because of their extreme dislike of anything out of the ordinary and consequently hating anything that had to do with Harry, his school and even his parents, it suffices to say that Harry's life was anything but pleasant while he was staying with them.

Vernon and Dudley went out of town early that morning to visit a boxing match on the other side of the country that was happening the next day and would be arriving back home in three days, although Harry thought it was merely an excuse just to get as far away from him as possible. That was fine with him, he didn't want them to get near him anyway. This way he had a certain degree of freedom of once, if only for three days.

Well... he thought, … three days of peace is better than nothing. At least I won't be ordered around to do all kinds of tasks for Vernon, and maybe I can find an opportunity to watch something I want to see for a change on Dudley's new television.

He smiled as he thought of the trouble it would get him in if Dudley ever found out he used his television, or anything else that he thought belonged to him alone.

When aunt Petunia went out to go shopping for their evening dinner, he used the opportunity to get his schoolbooks, his robes, and his supplies out of the cupboard under the stairs and into his room. If it were up to the Dursley's he wouldn't ever be able touch his magical belongings again, but if he didn't get a hold of his stuff as soon as possible, he would be in a lot of trouble at school. Even though McGonagall was a very strict person, she might understand his reasons for not doing his homework, but what he feared most of all was the trouble he would get into with his Potions Professor Snape. Ever since he had first met Severus Snape they had held an extreme dislike for the other, to say the least. If he, for any reason, failed to do his homework, he was sure he would spent the first couple of months at Hogwarts in detention, not to mention having to make a triple amount of homework for at least the first term.

It was for that reason mostly that Harry 'liberated' his belongings from the clutches of the Dursley's, and hid them in his room so he could at least try do get his homework done on time. He hoped he would be able to get some sleep during the day, for he knew he would have to do his homework in the middle of the night to prevent the Dursley's from finding out he was studying magic under their very noses. He stuffed his robes in the back of the shabby wardrobe and hid the rest of his things under a loose floorboard under his bed.

Just as he was forcing the last of his books through the opening he heard footsteps on the stairs. He quickly closed the opening and crawling from under his bed, put it right over his hiding place so nothing could be seen. Just as he turned around to lie back on his bed and pretend to sleep, the door was hesitantly opened. A very unsure aunt Petunia stood in the doorframe looking at him with a strange expression on her face.

Harry, thinking that he was caught in the act, had his mind racing to find some sort of acceptable excuse for his actions. Looking up at aunt Petunia's face and opening his mouth to tell her that he didn't do anything wrong and merely took what was already his, he froze as he recognized the look in her eyes. Aunt Petunia looked at him with concern and great discomfort in her eyes and something akin to shame and worry. He quickly closed his mouth and got up from his bed. Walking over tot Aunt Petunia, while looking her in the eyes, he asked her if anything was wrong. She shook her head hesitantly and politely asked if she could sit down. To say that Harry was dumbfounded that she asked him anything, let alone asking him something politely instead of ordering him around, would have been a great understatement. "Ehh…sure, have a seat" he replied. Petunia sat down and stared him in the eye with a look on her face like she was asking herself whether or not to do this.

"What is it you would like to talk to me about?" he asked.

Aunt Petunia continued tot look at him and seemed to be gathering her courage.

After taking a deep breath she said "Well…I wanted to ask you how things were going at…that school you go to, what's its name again, 'Hogwarts' of something?"

It was a good idea to have sat down too before she replied, because he was sure he would have lost all feeling in his legs and crashed to the floor in a heap from surprise. With a look of utter surprise on his face he tried to keep his indifferent composure, but failed miserably.

While pondering what might possibly make her take an interest in his life, he gathered his wits and asked her "Well, its okay I guess…but why are you taking a sudden interest in my school, or in my life in general for that matter? You've never asked anything about myself, and you didn't seem to want to know anything about me for fear of me infecting you with something."

Aunt Petunia's face contorted at that and to Harry's uncomfortable surprise she closed her eyes and cleared her throat trying to hold back the tears that were forming in the corners of her eyes. Harry quickly held out his arm to her.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked that. You don't need to answer me, I guess my temper got the best of me again and I tried tot take out my own difficulties on you. I apologize..."

She looked up surprised and opened her tear-filled eyes to see whether or not he meant what he was saying to her. Looking him in the eye, she asked, "Do you really mean that, I mean…, are you really apologizing to me because you feel sorry for me?"

"Well..." Harry replied, "…I never meant to hurt you. I just lost control for a second. I shouldn't take out my problems on you, even if you haven't been giving me the best of times for the past 15 years."

Hearing these words from Harry, all the mental barriers she had build over the years caved in and all her suppressed emotions and mental anguish finally took control of her. She closed her eyes and as her hands came up to her face she started sobbing. She started shuddering trying to hold in all back, but it was no use, and after a moment complete gave up trying to restrain herself.

Harry sat next to her and felt very uncomfortable. Inside of his mind a great battle was taking place between the side of him that cared greatly for all persons and creatures no matter what they did to him, and the side of him that wanted nothing more that to see all the Dursley's suffer for all the pain and embarrassment they had caused him. In the end his good side prevailed, for he couldn't stand sitting next tot someone who obviously suffered greatly from something, while he sat right next to her doing absolutely nothing. His mind made up, he gently put an arm round her shoulder and pulled her close to him. They sat like that for what turned out to be a mere half hour but what felt like hours before aunt Petunia finally got some control over her emotions and managed to find her voice. Pulling back a bit she looked up and told him the words that would remain with him till the end of his days.

"Harry, I…I want to apologize to you for all the things I did to you and for all the things I forced you to do. I'm sorry for making you live a lie for eleven years by telling you your parents died in a car crash and were nothing but horrible people. Harry, they were the most kind hearted people I've ever known, always looking out for everyone and helping them in times of need. I've always loved my sister and always will. I can't ever make it up to you for all the grief I caused you and in doing so I have hurt the memory of my sister beyond repair. I've been living a lie for the past fifteen years and I always tried to make you feel as miserable as possible."

"But I won't do it any more, I can't bear seeing you come back from Hogwarts looking more and more burdened with something each year. I know you are suffering from something, I can see it in your eyes, but I knew you would never confide in me and tell me what's troubling you, because I tormented you for so long or letting Vernon or Dudley torment you. I want you to know Harry, that I never wanted to do these things to you, but I couldn't help finding myself doing it to you anyway. You see, I loved Vernon very much before I met you, and I knew he hated anything weird or out of the ordinary. I was so much in love with him that I couldn't do anything that would displease him. Even though I loved Lily, and James to for that matter, they were so much alike, I couldn't help but agree with everything Vernon would say about them and eventually you. When he heard Lily and James were killed by that Lord Voldemort person or whatever his name is, and found you on our doorstep the next morning he freaked out."

"At first he wanted nothing to do with you and wouldn't think of taking you in. The letter that we found on you explained what had happened and what would happen if we took you in. Vernon wouldn't think of taking you in because the letter also said that if that Lord Voldemort ever returned, he would undoubtedly come after you and try to kill you. Vernon just wouldn't take the risk of that ever happening, and that's beside the fact that he wanted nothing to do with anything weird. Just look at his reaction last year when those Dementors showed up here and attacked you. I found that my love for Lily and my desire to care for you greater than my feelings for Vernon and I managed to persuade him to take you in, after I told him I would ask the sender of that letter to provide whatever means of protection he could. It took a while but he took you in eventually for my sake."

"I'm sorry to say that he never found any love for you in his heart. I've always loved you Harry, but I couldn't bear to do anything that might make Vernon angry with me for fear of loosing him too, like I lost Lily and James. That's why I at first agreed with Vernon when he wanted to through you out last year. But that talking letter I got last year, I guess I can tell you… it was from Dumbledore, he's now your Headmaster I believe... opened my eyes again to see myself as I had become over the years."

"I don't think you will ever understand why I did it, nor do I think you will ever be able to forgive me. But I hope that you will find some consolidation in this, and maybe one day you will find it in you to forgive me. No matter what you're decision is, I will never again allow Vernon or Dudley to hurt you in any way, nor will I myself ever hurt you again. Harry, I beg of you…please accept my sincere apology for my own actions and those of your family. I'm so sorry for ever letting all this happen to you. Forgive me, please…!"

He sat stunned by the sincerity of aunt Petunia's words, and felt overpowered by the intensity of the emotions that came over him while he was listening tot her words. His own eyes started watering en soon found tears rolling down his cheeks. Something caught his throat and he couldn't find words to express what he what he was feeling at that very moment. Emotions and memories screamed for release inside of him. Memories of him being forced in the cupboard…being chased by Aunt Marge's black dog Ripper…recognizing a big black dog Padfoot as his godfather Sirius for the first time…spending a summer vacation with the Dursley's locked up and terrorized…spending a couple of weeks with the Weasley's being loved and cared for…hear Sirius singing "God Rest Ye, Merry Hippogriffs" at Christmas only six months ago…seeing Sirius fall through the Veil in the Department of Mysteries in the Ministry of Magic only a week ago…hearing the prophecy that had so far cost him his family, his godfather and held only more sadness in store for him.

All the emotions he had worked so hard to suppress during the last couple of days resurfaced. His grief for Sirius, fear for the implications of the prophecy for his own future that tormented him so, it all came out in a rush. He wanted to blame in all on the Dursley's, on Aunt Petunia, but he found that he couldn't. He couldn't hate her for all of this; she had no part in it. It was all Voldemort's fault; he was to blame for all of this. He realized that he couldn't find himself able to blame the Dursley's because everything he had went through here was all a consequence for the war with Voldemort. In comparison with the implications of the prophecy all of this was meaningless. Realizing this he started to remember times when he had seen momentary flickers of pity and worry in her eyes when Vernon or Dudley mouthed him down. As he calmed down a bit a regained control of himself he found himself analysing what she had just said and accepting her words as the truth. He knew he believed her explanation and searching inside himself he found pity for the life that she had chosen and lived for all these years.

As he accepted her apologies a voice called out from within him telling him to forgive her and to give in to his heart. Deep inside he had wanted her to love him and care for him and he now knew all she wanted was to have someone that loved her back, loved her as a mother like her own son couldn't. He reached out inside of himself and sought to find his calm centre. Finding it he took away all his feelings of anger and revenge and replacing them with the embracing feeling of love that flowed through him in such abundance. Regaining full control of his emotions he removed the tears from his eyes and took the glasses from his eyes to wipe them clean.

Removing his arm from aunt Petunia's neck, he placed his hand gently on her shoulder and made her look in his eyes. He found happiness in the knowledge that he was able to forgive her and his eyes sparkled once again. This time not from the tears that he could only just hold back, but with the happiness of knowning that she cared for him once again.

He looked at her and said "Aunt Petunia, I…I never knew any of this. I never knew you cared for me as a mother would for her child. Just as you said, I've had a very difficult time here with you. But as much as I might like to hate you for what you've all done to me, when I look in my heart I can't bring myself to hate you even the slightest bit. The only person I can really blame for everything is the one that started all of this; that sorry excuse for a wizard called Voldemort. I understand that your love for uncle Vernon would overcome the love you had for my mother and for me, for fear of again loosing someone you love and care for. I understand this because something similar has happened to me too. Therefore I can do nothing else but forgive you, aunt Petunia. I want nothing more than to live a normal live with people who care for me. If uncle Vernon and Dudley ever find it in themselves to come to me and apologize just as you did just now, maybe I would be able to forgive them too. But I doubt they will ever apologize to me like you did. I really want to be able to live a normal life with you, and I will try to keep my temper in check and not give uncle Vernon another reason to dislike me, but I can't change what I am. If you try to get uncle Vernon to change his mind about me, who knows, maybe one day we will all be able to live a normal life."

At this aunt Petunia found no words that would express her joy at his forgiveness. Never had she felt more like a loving mother that at that very moment. Her eyes started to shed tears of joy of his forgiveness. She reached out with her arms and hugged him tightly. Holding him close to her she kept whispering "Thank you" and "I love you, Harry. I'll never hurt you again" in his ears. Harry just held her and tried to comfort her as best as he could, while revelling in his own happiness.

After a while Aunt Petunia regained control of herself and decided to get up and get something to drink downstairs. Harry sat down on the couch and tried to compose himself as much as possible, while aunt Petunia went to the kitchen to make some tea. She returned after a short while with the tea and sat down next to him. She wanted to talk to him about what had happened at his school in the past few years, because she knew something very radical must have happened to him. She had noticed the lost look on his face when he arrived home last night, and it didn't take a genius to figure out that something was greatly disturbing him.

While they were enjoying their cup of tea they were having a nice conversation talking about Harry's parents when they were young and the fun Petunia had had every time Lily had come home with all kinds of magical candy and enchanted objects. After a while aunt Petunia steered the conversation towards Harry's own life at Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry. At first Harry didn't want to tell her to much about what happened there, but after a while of thinking it all through, he decided to tell her everything that had happened to him in the past four years, because it became to much to bare for him alone. He reasoned that by telling her everything he might finally find peace within himself. So he told her everything, starting in his first year with the adventures of the Philosopher's Stone, his dealings with the Basilisk in his second year, finally meeting his godfather and helping him to keep him alive from the Dementors, his adventures in his forth year with the Triwizard tournament and his recollection of Cedric's death.

He also told her of Voldemort's return almost a year ago and expressed his worry that he was almost sure Voldemort would try to attack him again sometime soon. Reliving the events from the past year proved to be the most challenging for him, but he forced himself to tell her everything including that what was troubling him the most. So he recounted the events that had come to pass this year. He told of his frustration at the reactions the students gave him because of all the negative press he had gotten ever since Dumbledore had announced to the school that Cedric was killed by Lord Voldemort, who had been returned to his body a few moments after the murder. He also told her of the secret defence group they had started due to the unimaginable stupidity of the Ministry of Magic or more precisely the Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge and his second-in-command Dolores Umbridge for not wanting to believe that Voldemort was back.

The part about Sirius' death because he fell through the Veil after being hit by a curse from Bellatrix Lestrange, was the most difficult thing he had to have off his chest. He decided not to tell her about the prophecy that was made about him before he was born because so far he hadn't told anyone about it, not even his best friends Ron and Hermione. Instead he told her that the sphere containing the prophecy was destroyed in the ensuing battle.

Whilst deliberating whether or not to tell her the prophecy, the thought popped in his head that he might have to keep the prophecy to himself and not even telling Ron and Hermione about it. After all Voldemort had shown only days ago that he would stop at nothing to get the knowledge the prophecy contained. Voldemort had off course found out long ago that the person to whom the prophecy was given was none other but Dumbledore. Harry hadn't been told who had overheard part of the prophecy and told Voldemort, but that was one of the things he intended to find out this year.

He was thankful for the knowledge that he wouldn't be in much of a risk of Professor Dumbledore telling Voldemort the rest of the prophecy if he ever came for him. It gave him some peace of mind after a year of turmoil. Not even Voldemort would be able to get something like that from him. But it was very reasonable to assume that Voldemort knew Dumbledore would have had some explaining to do to Harry, in the aftermath of the attack on the Department of Mysteries. He would probably also guess that sometime in the future Harry would tell his best friends about the prophecy and it's implications for his future. He decided there and then that he would keep the knowledge of the prophecy from them for the time being. At least until he had a way of protecting them from Voldemort and had some assurances that the prophecy would not be forced out of them too easily.

Aunt Petunia's mind was reeling with the dangers Harry had faced in the last couple of years and the courage he had shown while facing them. She never had a clue of this and she couldn't even imagine the way he had felt all this time. She was shocked to hear of Voldemort's return, but she managed to hide her fear so she wouldn't upset Harry. She would keep this knowledge from Vernon, because if he knew he would throw Harry out on the streets to live on his own without ever thinking of the dangers it would pose for Harry. He had told her about his dreams and the pain they gave him almost continually now, preventing him from getting a good night's sleep, and that explained a great deal to her. She vowed that she would do everything she could to make him as comfortable as she could.

When Harry was through with his story he kept his eyes fixed on the ground. He didn't want to know how she reacted to his recollection of the events that haunted him. Aunt Petunia saw what he was trying to do and recognized it for what it was, fear to be cast out again because the risk he posed to them and once again losing someone he cared for. She reached out to him en held him close so he would know he would never have to feel alone again. She told him that he must fight Voldemort with everything he had and keep on going, no matter what happened. She told him that would be exactly what his parents would have done.

Harry heard what she was saying and knew in his heart that from this day forward he would fight to achieve his new goal in life, to rid the world of Voldemort once and for all so that all the people that he cared for would be save. He pledged to all that he cared for that he would fight for life, the most precious gift of creation. He would do whatever it takes to kill Voldemort or he would die trying. He released aunt Petunia and looked her in the eyes. His emerald eyes were burning with newfound purpose and resolve.

"Aunt Petunia, I promise you that I'll do whatever it takes to bring Voldemort down. I'll not rest until the world is once again free to live without the fear of death. If there is a way to get rid of him I will find it and use it to bring his reign of terror to an end."

"I know you will do your best, Harry." she replied. "I know that because your parents would have done the same thing and I expected nothing less from their son."

"Thank you" he said. "Not just for being there for me when I needed it, but also for believing me. I know most of the things I told you are kind of hard to believe, even for wizards. If I told everything I just told you to students at Hogwarts in sure most of them would believe one word of it."

Aunt Petunia grinned at that "Well, I've heard my share of weird stories when I was still living at home with Lily. She used to tell us all kind of stories about what happened at school. The adventures they had had, the pranks they played, and the gossip they had heard. Believe me when I say that very little seems weird to me anymore after that."

"I guess we have some stories to exchange them." he smiled. "Anyway thank you for believing in me. It has been a long time since anyone except my best friends believed in me. Especially with things like this."

"Don't mention it. You know, you've probably been told many times over that you are remarkably like your parents; not only physically, but also in your mindset. When something needs to be done, whatever it is, you don't hesitate to take it on and give yourself a hundred percent or more. You truly take after your parents always looking after the well-being of others, never caring for yourself until afterwards." she replied.

"So I've been told...," he muttered with a face glowing with pride and embarrassment. She smirked.

Looking at the clock on the wall aunt Petunia was surprised to see that it was already close to half past five in the afternoon and she hadn't even gotten the groceries yet. She stood up and told him that she would be out for a while getting the groceries and reminding him with a smile that he could use the opportunity to relax a bit and watch something he wanted for a change on the telly. He grinned and said that he was already planning to something like that. She laughed at that.

"As long as were home alone you can do what you want, just don't tell Vernon or Dudley about it or there'll be hell to pay… for the both of us…but I think such a thought wouldn't have crossed your mind now would it?"

"When hell freezes over…" he replied grinning widely, as Aunt Petunia got her coat and went outside considerably relieved now that the relationship between her and Harry had been mended.

After returning with the groceries she went to fix dinner. She made all of Harry's favourite things, at least for as far as those things could be made with muggle ingredients. Together they enjoyed the first real dinner Harry had had in all the years he spent with them and they made sure that they enjoyed every bite. Meanwhile they were having an animated conversation about al the spells en enchantments he had learned in school so far and their uses in a household. To Harry's surprise she even remembered a couple of enchantments and spells that he had never heard of, because Lily used them while she was at home in the holidays after she came of age.

As the conversation turned to his friends at Hogwarts he couldn't help but mention the spirited effort of the Weasley twins to play pranks on everyone they could. She seemed to remember them and recalled a certain prank they had played on Dudley two years back. Harry was taking a deep mental breath to prepare him for what he thought might be the risk to their newfound understanding. He too recalled that hilarious event where Dudley had swallowed a Ton Tongue Toffee, purposefully left there by the Weasley twins, resulting in Dudley screaming with fear as a six-foot tong grew out of his mouth. He sighed with relieve and a big grin appeared on his face as aunt Petunia told him with a grin to match his that she was taken aback and a bit scared at first, but that once the problem was fixed by Mr. Weasley, and Vernon and Dudley had went outside to get some air to calm down, she had had a good laugh because it was one of the funniest thing she had seen in a long while. Grinning widely he assured her that none of the pranks the Weasley's played would have a lasting effect, although he had to confess that he never took anything they offered him and gave her the same advice.

"I've been meaning to ask you…you told me about that letter being from Dumbledore… Well, I know he send you that letter because he told me so only a few days ago… But … do you know Dumbledore?" he asked.

"Well, I know of Dumbledore. His name was on the letter we found on you the night you were left on our doorstep. But I knew of him already. Lily and later also James told many stories about him. He is the most powerful wizard in the world isn't he, and kind of weird, or so I've heard?" she replied

Harry had trouble hiding a grin while he replied "Yeah, I guess he was the most powerful wizard, although I guess Voldemort holds that title now. But he is kind of…well, I wouldn't call it weird, more like eccentric."

She smiled and continued "Anyhow, that's about all. I've never met him personally before."

"I guess that explains it then..." he replied.

Later that night he went back to his room with the wonderful feeling of a full stomach and a happiness in his heart that he didn't know he had in him, knowing that for once he wouldn't have to lock the door. He had released Hedwig before he came here yesterday evening so that she would have the opportunity to spread her wings a bit and go on a hunt, before she too would come to the Dursley's to join him in his imprisonment.

Returning to his room he was glad to find her flying in front of his window and he went to the window to open it and let her in. Hedwig immediately came to him and sat on the window seal looking at his with her big eyes and nibbling his fingers affectionately.

"Had a good time?" he asked her.

She hooted affirmatively and jumped on his shoulder.

"I don't think that were going to have to do everything in secret again this summer. Now that Aunt Petunia is on our side we might be able to let you go out whenever you want," he said while feeding her some owl treats.

Hedwig hooted hopefully and gently squeezed his shoulder with her claws.

"I'm going to work hard this summer, studying whatever I can get my hands on. I need all the knowledge and training I can get, so that I can face Voldemort and be able to stand a chance when the times come. I want to apologize beforehand for me ignoring or neglecting you while I'm working. I'll try to keep that to a minimum, but I hope you understand that my training will have to come first if I want to stand a chance against him," he said.

She jumped from his shoulder to stand on the small table in his room and turned to look him in the eye. She gave him a piercing but calm and resigned look as if she wanted to say she understood and would do what she could to help him. She ruffled her feathers importantly to show that she was ready to take her responsibility and would do her best to take care of him. He smiled at that.

"That's my girl, … thank you for understanding."

He held out his hand and she jumped on it. He carried her to her cage and put her on her perch. He cleaned out her cage and refreshed her water, throwing in a couple more owl treats for her.

He was tired and yawning widely told her goodnight as he turned to switch off the light. Jumping in his bed he fell asleep almost immediately, having slept very little the past couple of weeks due to his dreams about Voldemort. That night Harry slept peacefully for the first time in a very long while.