Harry Potter and the Power of the Prophecy

Chapter 1 – Summer Beginnings

The one thing that Harry Potter of Number Four, Privet Drive, wanted more than anything else in the world was to be normal. Sadly, he was anything but. Even from his birth he was the target of a murdering megalomaniac styling himself Lord Voldemort, defeated by his reflected killing curse.

Ever since Harry was thrust into the weird but wonderful world of magic, he had never gotten a day's rest save for his brief stints at the Dursley's during the summer holidays. And that's where he was now. Not at the Dursley's exactly, but at the park a distance away from Number Four, sitting morosely on a swing and thinking about the events that had transpired last school year.

Sirius was dead. And Harry was to blame. Or rather, that's how Harry felt. After all, how could he not feel that way? It was his idea to go to the Ministry to save Sirius... if he had thought of the mirror... he cursed himself then for his stupidity. How could it have slipped his mind so completely? The risks Sirius took in flooing him, and the risks Harry took in fooling Sirius, could have been avoided if he had only remembered the mirrors...

And guilt, along with overwhelming sorrow, washed over him once more. Harry bowed his head, feeling tears rising in his eyes. He did not want anyone to see him cry, but he just missed Sirius so much. Sirius was the man who was like a father and a friend rolled into one. He was the person appointed by his parents to be his Godfather; he was the man who brought could always cheer him up when he needed someone to fill the role that his two best friends could not... A tear tracked its way down his face, glistening in the bright sunlight. Another followed. Harry wiped them away angrily with the back of his hand.

"My fault," Harry muttered. "It's all my fault."

"It wasn't."

Harry whirled around, falling off the swings as he did so. Landing on the ground, he scrambled to his feet and whipped his wand out. At the end of it was... Nymphadora Tonks.

"Tonks?" Harry said, lowering his wand slowly.

Tonks, her hair spiked and bubble-gum pink, gave him a small smile. There was a hint of sadness in it. "Wotcher, Harry."

"What are you doing here?" Harry asked, confused at the sudden appearance of the perky Auror and Order member.

"Professor Dumbledore put me on today's rotation. We're supposed to keep an eye on you." Tonks answered.

"But I've been here in... this place for almost a week. Why haven't I seen any of you before now?" Harry asked.

"Professor Dumbledore's orders," Tonks answered. "We're supposed to keep out of sight. I'm breaking the rules by talking to you, but... I had to."

Harry looked at Tonks, wondering what she meant.

"It wasn't your fault." Tonks said, looking at him steadily. "It's not your fault, Harry!"

"But my friends got hurt because of me. S-Sirius... he died because of m-me." Harry couldn't stop the tears from coming. "If I hadn't... If I remembered..."

"Listen to me. It's not your fault." Tonks repeated forcefully, reaching out and putting a hand on his shoulder. She led him to a bench and sat, pulling him down with her. "You may have gone to the Ministry, but Sirius was the one that chose to come after you, to help you. And I'm not saying it's his fault either. The only person to blame here is Bellatrix Lestrange." The name was spat out.

"He wouldn't have been there-"

"He chose to come, Harry, and that's what's important! It wasn't anyone's fault but Bellatrix's that he died!"

"We wouldn't have needed saving if it wasn't for me." Harry whispered, looking at the ground. The yellow grass remained stationary in the dry summer heat. "He's dead. The only person that was like true family to me. My Godfather. And now he's gone."

"Oh, Harry." Tonks looked at him sadly, her heart going out towards the suddenly vulnerable looking boy. She took his hand in hers. "I miss him too."

"That's right, he was your cousin." Harry muttered thickly. "I forgot. I'm sorry."

"Don't be, Harry." Tonks squeezed his hand. "Sirius is gone, I know. All we can do now is to honour his memory. Cherish the times we had with him. Remember the good times, but not wallow in misery. It's what he would have wanted for us."

"You're... you're right, Tonks." Harry said, wiping away his tears. "Thanks. I needed that."

"Me too," Tonks replied. At Harry's look of confusion, she clarified. "I've been feeling guilty too. I keep thinking that I could have watched out for him better in the fight, but I didn't. And I miss him a lot too. He could always make me laugh when he wasn't being moody. Talking to you helped me sort out my emotions too."

And she pulled Harry into a hug.

"Don't forget, Harry, we'll always be there for you. Me, your friends, the whole Order. All of us."

Harry said nothing, simply nodding, letting himself feel the comfort that Tonk's hug provided.

When she finally let go, Harry asked tentatively, "Will I... will I be able to talk to you again?"

"That wouldn't be a good idea, Harry. My orders were to watch you and not be seen. I've already disregarded my orders today." Tonks looked at him apologetically.

"T-That's okay." Harry said quietly. "I suppose I'll be out of here in another week or so anyway. It'd be nice to have someone to talk to for once though."

Tonks' heart went out to the dark haired teenager sitting beside her. She wished that she could do something, but... wait.

"Harry!" she exclaimed. "I might not be able to talk to you, but what about Hermione?"

Harry frowned. "Hermione? Writing letters is great but... it's slow and -"

"No, silly, I meant - she's a muggleborn, she can visit you! She won't need to use magical transportation so it would be safe!"

Harry's eyes lit up. "Tonks, you're wonderful! I never thought of that. It would be nice to see her again."

Tonks smiled, glad that she could cheer him up. She stood up and said, "Well, the end of my shift is approaching. Someone else will be taking over soon, so I'll see you... when I see you, I guess."

Harry stood up as well. "Thanks, for everything, Tonks." His tone was sincere.

"Anytime, Harry." She gave him a small salute, draping an invisibility cloak over herself as she walked away. A few moments later, a distant crack signalled the sound of Tonks' Disapparition.

Harry headed back to Number Four with a quicker pace than usual. He looked forward to hearing from Hermione again. Once in his room, he rummaged around his trunk looking for a piece of paper Hermione had given him summers ago. His trunk's contents were arranged haphazardly, with things everywhere and in no particular order. Harry dug around the edges and the corners of his trunk until he finally pulled out the scrap of paper upon which was written Hermione's phone number.

He went downstairs and into the living room. Uncle Vernon was on the couch, looking as usual like an overgrown walrus, except this walrus was reading a newspaper. Harry cleared his throat. "Er, Uncle Vernon?"

His only reply was a grunt to indicate that he had heard him.

"I need to use the telephone, is that okay?"

"What do people like you need a telephone for?" Uncle Vernon said nastily, lowering his newspaper and narrowing his eyes at his nephew. "Can't you just use that blasted owl of yours?"

"I just need to call a friend." Harry replied calmly. "It's quicker this way."

Uncle Vernon's face turned red, his lips twisting into an ugly scowl. "If it's that freak idiot friend of yours who yelled into the phone -"

"No, she's muggleborn. Her parents are both dentists. She was raised... normally."

Uncle Vernon paused, considering Harry's words. "Dentists..." he muttered. "Respectable profession I suppose... probably rich..."

"Yes, well... I need to call her." Harry said.

Uncle Vernon waved a hand at him. "Fine, use the telephone then. I suppose I'll give you some ruddy privacy as well; I don't want to be around to hear any freakish conversation." Uncle Vernon heaved himself off the couch, leaving a large imprint on the seat, and went into the kitchen presumably to fix a snack for himself.

Harry picked up the telephone immediately, punching in the numbers Hermione had given him, and waited. On the fourth ring, a woman's voice answered.

"Hello?"

"Er, hello, can - may I speak to Hermione please?" Harry ventured, suddenly feeling nervous. What if it was the wrong number? What if Hermione didn't want to talk to him after she was injured because of him insisting on going go the Ministry?

His first fear was assuaged as the woman - Hermione's mother, Harry supposed - said, "I'll go get her. Can I let her know who's speaking?"

"Harry, Harry Potter."

Harry heard a soft intake of breath on the other end of the phone. "Just a moment please."

"Thank you." Harry waited for Hermione to pick up the phone.

"Hello?" Hermione's voice came on over the telephone after what seemed like an impossibly long stretch of time.

"Hi Hermione, it's me."

"Oh my god Harry! I can't believe it's you! Well I know mom said but - how did you get my number? Why are you calling? Is everything okay? Are you okay? I was so worried about you - oh, I still can't believe it's you!"

"Calm down, Hermione!" Harry said, chuckling, relief washing over him as his second fear disappeared. "Everything's fine! I kept your number from a couple summers ago, and I'm calling because I just realized I could. Can you visit? I'd love some company."

"Number Four, Privet Drive? Oh... it's kind of far..." Hermione said, hesitating, "But yes, yes of course, Harry! I'd love to see you again! Can we go somewhere else though? I don't really want to meet your horrid aunt and uncle and that cousin of yours."

Of course," Harry said, happy at the prospect of Hermione visiting. "There's a nice restaurant a bit away from here; we can have lunch there."

Harry told Hermione the address. "So when can you visit?"

"I can come tomorrow; I'll take the bus - the regular one, to be safe. I can't wait to see you again, Harry!" Hermione exclaimed. "It's great hearing from you!"

"You too, Hermione. Tomorrow at 1:00 PM then?"

"That works. I'll see you then! We have a lot to talk about, Harry!"

"Yeah, we do." Harry replied. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye Harry!"

"Bye Hermione."

Harry hung up, feeling a curious sense of loss. Hearing Hermione's voice felt great. It was nice hearing from his best friend (beside Ron, of course) again, and on top of that, he would get to see her tomorrow! But for now, life would have to return to the dreary monotony that was his stay in Number Four, Privet Drive.

As what seemed to be usual now, Harry was mostly left alone by his relatives. Both Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon largely ignored him, and aside from a few odd, indecipherable glances from Dudley, nothing of interest happened. However, that gave Harry far too much time to think. It was the only complaint he had about his situation, but on the whole he was rather grateful that he was left alone.

Harry slept that night fitfully, although he had trouble falling asleep at first because of his anticipation of the next day.

For once, he didn't dream.