Harry
Potter & The Door of Dimensions.Chapter
1:
In
Which Harry Finds Things Unsettling
Harry ran into a post. Not a particularly badly placed post, and not one that blended into it's surroundings so one would be prone to run into it. Simply a post, with a few coloured posters taped rather specificially to it's black metal skin. The top, like regular street posts, was adorned with a street light, which glowed dimly in the balmy air above Harry's head.
So what reason had Harry, the gifted boy magician and possibly most cursed individual in this Wizarding world, to run his face into this post?
Well, no reason in particular. To be honest, which Harry tried his best to be even if it meant being brutally so, the post had nothing to do with the current situation. However, the foggy, sticky hot weather, lead to this minimal catastrophe.
"BLAST!" Harry shouted, letting out a string of curses which were thankfully muffled by the squelching fog. He rubbed his nose and tried in vain to straighten his now crooked glasses. One side sagged downwards, making his already impaired vision all the more impaired.
"What the bloody hell is the meaning of this FOG!" He shouted at no one, kicking the post, which didn't fairly deserve the abuse. Harry, for those who weren't aware, had been developing a rather hot temper that usually steeped just below the surface. Of course, no one could much blame him, it was more of an outlet to him than anything else. Years and years of pent up frustration were bound to break through his calm British facade eventually. Loosing one of your only hopes to escape an abusive life didn't help either. Especially when that only hope was also you're beloved Godfather.
Over the summer Harry had tried to be reasonable, tried to be patient, but even with his added efforts it wasn't enough to stop himself from exploding at the Dursleys.
"Cursed post..." Harry muttered under his breath, and contiued on his way, reaching out vainly with one hand and trying to grope for the next obstacle that might come his way. He just prayed that a car wouldn't happen to run him over on his mislead journey.
Dragging the heavy luggage behind him he thanked the inventor of wheels as it bumped and rolled along. Every so often he would hear Hedwig soar above his head, calling out to him, or to herself. He often wondered what kind of language the owls had, if any at all. Hedwig was on of his favorite creatures, and even more so to talk to.
He sighed heavily, envying her wings.
She could always go wherever she pleased whenever she pleased. Harry on the other hand was constantly being monitored.
At least this time he was being ordered to leave the house, meaning he might make it a bit further than his first attempt.
He had barely gotten a few houses from the Dursleys the last time he'd try to go outside when a random wizard had marched up to him, announced he was forbidden to leave the Dursleys, and quickly sent him straight back. This has disturbed Harry greatly and for a few weeks he didn't make another attempt to escape. So he had waited, sitting broodily in the living room, staring out the window, waiting for the last day of summer to arrive so he could finally make his way back to Hogwarts. It was not a pleasant summer. He spent most his time threatening his only blood kin with hexes and curses so they would have the sense to leave him alone.
The last week was the best, for the three of them had gone on a week vacation, and said that he had better be gone when they got back. Harry was, to put it mildly, overwhelmed with relief. An entire week with no one but himself and Hedwig.
So the last day had arrived, and Harry finished packing his things. He had been contacted by the Order and told a specific location (the end of his street) and a specific way to get there (walking down the street). Harry thought this to be all very elaborate for such a simple plan but conceded to their wishes anyways. He knew that they were just looking out for him, and however bizaar, he trusted their judgment. At any rate, if it let him get out of this house and into school, all the more reason to go along with whatever they asked.
And so he trode, in a trudging hopeless way, he practically had to swim through the murky fog.
It was hot. The fog was hot. It had been all over the tele for days now, about record setting heat waves and the even more peculiar fog that had descended. Harry had absolutely no doubt in his mind that this was either some plot from the Order, or a plot from Voldemort. He hoped the latter was wrong.
A figure emerged out of the fog in front of him and Harry stopped in his tracks, a sick feeling hitting his stomach. What if the call from the Order had been a ruse? The voice on the telephone had sounded like Lupin, but Harry knew there was a spell for just about every kind of disguise and with this in mind he remained still, weighing his options extrememly quickly. If it was a trap, he had just walked blindly, literally, into it.
The figure moved closer and it's dark sillouette seemed to become more and more pitch as it weaved out of the layers of mist.
Harry readied his wand in front of him, his hand level and steady.
"Potter!" Barked a voice from the figure. Harry jumped and his wand went to his side instantly, "What in blazes do you think you're doing with that wand in my face? Put that thing away this instant." The voice cut through the fog and all of Harry's doubts. However, a new fear emerged.
It was mingled with disgust, "Professor Snape!" Harry exclaimed as the crooked nosed man loomed over him.
"No.. the tooth fairy." He said in a completely humourless tone.
Harry stared.
"Oh for heaven's sake... Stop staring like a medusa and hurry up. We haven't got all day, and believe me, babysitting you is the last menial job I would like to be doing at the moment." His snappish tone hadn't changed in the least from the previous year, except for maybe becoming more peevish.
Harry shut his mouth and nodded, stuffing his wand back into his pocket and following the quickly retreating Snape.
'Why did it have to be SNAPE... of ALL people..' Harry thought bitterly. He was hoping he would be able to talk to Lupin before school started, but that was dashed now. He hadn't even been able to speak to Lupin about Sirius... it pained Harry to be so cut off from the world, he couldn't share his sorrow, frustration, or even find a shoulder to cry on. He tried to keep the thought far from his mind. He would have a chance to speak with Lupin eventually. Until then, he forbade himself to think about it.
"Where're we going?" Harry inquired.
"Don't ask questions, Potter.. You should know by now that the walls have ears." Snape drawled, turning to the right sharply, as if he knew exactly where he was headed. Harry found it strange how Snape could see in this mess, but he followed none the less.
After what seemed like only a few minutes of walking Harry heard voices and bustling noises of feet. When the fog cleared he looked around and was nearly astonished to find himself standing on the Platform 9 3/4, the Hogwarts train sitting in the station puffing passive clouds of smoke from it's chimney. Harry turned to ask Snape how he had gotten here so quickly, but when he turned Snape had gone, along with the fog.
Harry has mixed feelings of relief and dissappointment. Snape was never there when you needed him, and always there when you dreaded his presence above all else.
'...good riddance.' Harry thought, glancing around the quickly emptying platform. It was too late now to find Ron and Hermione... He would have to try and find them on the train.
He quickly found the nearest door and to his surprise Tonks stood uffishly in conductor garb. She grabbed Harry's suitcase and hauled it up effortlessly. Today she had bright aquamarine hair with a few navy hatpins holding the conductor hat on her head.
"Harry!" She cried jubilantly, "Long time no speak! How was your summer? I don't suppose very good, I mean, how could anyone enjoy themselves with the hideous Dursleys around. Boy, if I could I would take you under my roof in an instant. Bugger those Dursley pig-dogs! They're nothing but thoughtless layabouts. Come on now Harry! Hurry it up, I've got a room already reserved for you. Don't trip on your way up here... watch your head!"
Harry felt a little overwhelmed by her at first, although she was very nice looking, she talked in copious amounts, drowning Harry's senses. After not speaking to anyone in a week and most of the summer except to exchange scalding remarks, he didn't know quite how to respond. So he nodded and made little "mm hmm!"s to satisfy her.
He was kindly escorted to his cabin by the Hurricane Tonks, "Now I couldn't find your red haired friend or your poofy haired girl, but there was a boy who was looking rather lost when he arrived, so I bunked you with him for the duration of this trip." She smiled boardly at that statement, obviously feeling quite proud about helping out a lost soul. Harry smiled nervously to her, half expecting her to crush him in a bear hug before leaving. Thankfully, she did not.
Harry watched her walk briskly down the hall, she turned on her heel at the end and looked back at him, "If you need anything just holler! I'll be close by!" She winked and the dissappeared down the hall. Harry pondered about how one could vanish so naturally in a completely empty and straight hallway. She hadn't left through a door, window or any other visible exit. She just did. This unsettled him a little, but was reassured by the thought that she was mostly harmless.
Harry sighed and opened the door to the cabin, wincing at it's whine on the rails. When Harry opened his eyes to the cabin there was indeed a boy sitting there, just as Tonk's told him. He sat in the corner near the window, gazing out it's dewy glass with a misty expression on his face. His hair was a chestnut brown colour, but when the silvery light from the fog hit it right it took on a reddish glow, highlights usually hidden shining through. It looked much like polished bronze. His skin was smooth and simple and pale which allowed his stranglely bright blue eyes to carry all the attention.
The fog outside hid the trees from sight and anything else that might be interesting to look at but the boy seemed to be staring fixedly and almost worriedly at something outside. Harry raised an eyebrow and wandered over to him after storing his bags, none of which the boy noticed.
"Hi, I'm Harry...Guess we'll be sitting together for the next.. little while.." Harry waited for the initial shock of surprise and then the agasp look of awe at his forehead. This usually threw off any natural first impression that people made about him. All assumed he was a fearless leader, or a creepy boy in league with evil...
But the reaction never came. The boy simply turned his head, a bit slowly and looked up at him, blinking once.
They stared at each other and finally the other boy flinched, as if just waking up from a dream, "OH! Sorry! Must've... dozed off completely. Sorry.. What was your name again? I missed that.."
Harry narrowed his eyes a little. What an odd kid... And he had an American accent, or maybe Canadian.. He couldn't quite place where exactly it might be from, but it certainly wasn't British.
"Harry. Harry Potter." He repeated with clarity.
"Oh, nice to meetcha Harry. My name is Markl. Just Markl." He offered a hand for Harry to shake, but to be quite frank (not that Frank would do such a thing) Harry just stood still and tried to judge whether this boy was simply hiding his knowledge about Harry's notoriety, or if he was simply just a really dull Muggle-blooded wizard.
"uh, yeah... good to meet you too.." Harry said, a little unsure about this kid. He looked at the kid's hand before taking it. He had a strong handshake. He looked to be the same age as Harry... but there was something off about him.
"This is my first time going to Hogwarts, though I'm in sixth year, I believe. What year are you in?"
"...sixth as well..." What this guy going to be another annoying pest, like Colin?
At this the boy grinned, a little mischeiviously, "Grand." His eyes glowed in an impish manner that Harry had never quite seen before in anyone, "Want to show me around maybe?"
"...Uh... suuure..." Harry said, looking out the window.
"Excellent." He declared, letting the mysterious grin turn into one of confidence. He radiated boyish good looks and charisma, which made Harry feel a tinge of jealousy. Harry lacked even the slightest bit of charisma to make his looks even worth mentioning.
Now Harry had always thought of himself rather peculiar, people commented on just how peculiar he was, and he realized it even more when he was listed to the roster of a prestigous Wizarding School, but he never once thought of himself completely daft. That is to say, insane. Sure, many muggles probably thought he was off his rocker, but Harry knew he was still driving on all four wheels. However, what he saw next made him seriously question all he had come to believe about the sanity of his mind.
Outside the window, flying along side the train at about the same speed but with less grace than the train, was the most massive peice of poorly constructed castle he had ever laid eyes on. Dangling from it's rounded bottom were four spindly legs. Large wings beat the air heavily, causing mini whirlwinds of mist to cascade over it's bulk. Harry stared and pressed his face to window, watching it swoop in and out of the clouds. He glanced at the Markl, wondering what he thought of it, only to find the boy was watching the castle just as he was, but not with a look of surprise.
He was grinning wildly, watching it with excitement, "Oh good! I was worried for a while there..." He said happily. Apparently he knew what the thing was.
Harry found all this a bit too unsettling and had a sinking feeling that this year was going to be a very unsettling one indeed.
