The heat was extreme at number four Privet Drive, but the boy with
brilliant green eyes didn't seem to mind. It was nice to get away from his
aunt and uncle once in a while.
Ever since Mad-Eye Moody had come face-to-face with the Durleys, Harry Potter was left alone most of the time, which in many ways was quite an improvement. However, being alone wasn't helping him cope with the suffering he experienced in the Department of Mysteries when he lost Sirius. Now anytime he saw a dog walking down the street he was sharply reminded of who he blamed for what happened. Himself. If only he had checked to see of Sirius was still at Grimmauld Place. No, he scolded himself, don't think about that.
Harry was lying in the grass outside his Uncle's house and took a couple of deep breaths to calm himself. He had to calm himself. His bad attitude was the cause of so many injuries and deaths last year. STOP, Harry's mind was screaming, but he couldn't stop. There were just too many conflicting issues bouncing around in his head. Harry sighed. So, today was going to be like every other day that week, mellowing in the sorrow and disbelief that he would never see his godfather again.
Before he realized what he was doing, Harry began to sob. Not loud racking sobs, but silent tears streamed down his face. Before Harry could get everything he wanted to out of his system, he heard the back door open and turned around to see the last person he wanted to see when he was crying and covered in dirt from the garden. Dudley. Harry had recently christened him a whale on legs waddled towards Harry with hatred in his eyes and a swagger in his step, kind of like he was drunk which wouldn't surprise Harry.
"Why are you crying in the grass all alone," he asked smirking. "Oh, does little baby Potter not have friends anymore?" Dudley had no possible way of knowing what his words would do to Harry, but he seemed to realize that he had hit a very stressed out nerve.
Harry started to shake with anger. Dudley had just managed to use the exact same words that Bellatrix Lestrange had used after she had killed Sirius. Harry felt the rage inside of him start to rise towards the surface. He knew that Dudley did not understand the full impact of his words, but this was the final straw. All of those years Dudley had made Harry's life a living hell. It was time for Dudley to pay for his mistakes.
"YOU!" Harry shouted at the top of his lungs. "YOU HAVE TORMENTED ME SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING!" All of a sudden, Harry's voice changed to a whisper that seemed to frighten Dudley even more. Overpowered by his rage, Harry whipped out his wand and aimed it directly at Dudley's chest. Dudley, paralyzed with fear couldn't move anywhere. "You are you going to pay for what you did to me." But before he could utter the curse he had planned to, he left an unexpected wave of happiness overcome him. However, happiness was connected to the pain in his scar. It was a warning.
Harry then remembered the one person who would gain from him using magic outside of school and not to mention an illegal curse. Lord Voldemort. If Harry used an illegal curse outside of school, he would surely be expelled from Hogwarts, away from Dumbledore. That was the only real protection he had during the school year and Harry realized that he needed Hogwarts and Dumbledore in order to survive.
Harry closed his eyes and tried to calm himself, but still spoke in a very low whisper he had used before. "Go, or I will disfigure you so much that your own mother won't be able to recognize you!" Dudley dashed through the back door and Harry thinking about what had just happened, clasped onto the lawn. That was the first time he had let his anger get so bad that he felt like he was going unleash all of his magic in one uncontrolled blast. Harry realized that the only reason he hadn't killed Dudley on the spot was the presence of Voldemort's happiness in his mind, which Harry was sure was completely unplanned.
Harry stayed outside for another half hour before walking quickly back to his room. Once he reached his room, he slammed his door and flung himself onto the bed without changing or taking his shoes off. It was during this time on the bed that Harry realized that is wasn't his fault that Sirius died. Voldemort would have killed him anyway. Maybe... it was all for the best.
Harry's dreams that night revolved around all those he cared for being captured, tortured and slowly being killed by Voldemort. He saw Hermione, Ron, Professor Lupin, Dumbledore and the rest of the Weasley family, which surprisingly included Percy all meet their dooms by the hand of Voldemort. Harry could never remember being so angry or why he was angry in the first place.
Harry slowly clamed himself over the next couple of days hoping that he would be able to master occlumency when he returned to Hogwarts. It had been many weeks since he had received a letter from Ron of Hermione. Finally, Harry took the initiative and wrote his friends, demanding replies.
Ron, I'm positive Dumbledore has made you promise not to send me anything important, but would it be too much to ask for you to send me something that reassures me that you are still alive? I have not received anything from you since the start of summer vacation. It's driving me insane! Harry
He wrote an identical one to Hermione and sent them with his owl Hedwig. But as Harry watched Hedwig take off from his window, he saw a burst of green light from a distant alleyway and strike Hedwig, knocking her out of the sky.
Ever since Mad-Eye Moody had come face-to-face with the Durleys, Harry Potter was left alone most of the time, which in many ways was quite an improvement. However, being alone wasn't helping him cope with the suffering he experienced in the Department of Mysteries when he lost Sirius. Now anytime he saw a dog walking down the street he was sharply reminded of who he blamed for what happened. Himself. If only he had checked to see of Sirius was still at Grimmauld Place. No, he scolded himself, don't think about that.
Harry was lying in the grass outside his Uncle's house and took a couple of deep breaths to calm himself. He had to calm himself. His bad attitude was the cause of so many injuries and deaths last year. STOP, Harry's mind was screaming, but he couldn't stop. There were just too many conflicting issues bouncing around in his head. Harry sighed. So, today was going to be like every other day that week, mellowing in the sorrow and disbelief that he would never see his godfather again.
Before he realized what he was doing, Harry began to sob. Not loud racking sobs, but silent tears streamed down his face. Before Harry could get everything he wanted to out of his system, he heard the back door open and turned around to see the last person he wanted to see when he was crying and covered in dirt from the garden. Dudley. Harry had recently christened him a whale on legs waddled towards Harry with hatred in his eyes and a swagger in his step, kind of like he was drunk which wouldn't surprise Harry.
"Why are you crying in the grass all alone," he asked smirking. "Oh, does little baby Potter not have friends anymore?" Dudley had no possible way of knowing what his words would do to Harry, but he seemed to realize that he had hit a very stressed out nerve.
Harry started to shake with anger. Dudley had just managed to use the exact same words that Bellatrix Lestrange had used after she had killed Sirius. Harry felt the rage inside of him start to rise towards the surface. He knew that Dudley did not understand the full impact of his words, but this was the final straw. All of those years Dudley had made Harry's life a living hell. It was time for Dudley to pay for his mistakes.
"YOU!" Harry shouted at the top of his lungs. "YOU HAVE TORMENTED ME SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING!" All of a sudden, Harry's voice changed to a whisper that seemed to frighten Dudley even more. Overpowered by his rage, Harry whipped out his wand and aimed it directly at Dudley's chest. Dudley, paralyzed with fear couldn't move anywhere. "You are you going to pay for what you did to me." But before he could utter the curse he had planned to, he left an unexpected wave of happiness overcome him. However, happiness was connected to the pain in his scar. It was a warning.
Harry then remembered the one person who would gain from him using magic outside of school and not to mention an illegal curse. Lord Voldemort. If Harry used an illegal curse outside of school, he would surely be expelled from Hogwarts, away from Dumbledore. That was the only real protection he had during the school year and Harry realized that he needed Hogwarts and Dumbledore in order to survive.
Harry closed his eyes and tried to calm himself, but still spoke in a very low whisper he had used before. "Go, or I will disfigure you so much that your own mother won't be able to recognize you!" Dudley dashed through the back door and Harry thinking about what had just happened, clasped onto the lawn. That was the first time he had let his anger get so bad that he felt like he was going unleash all of his magic in one uncontrolled blast. Harry realized that the only reason he hadn't killed Dudley on the spot was the presence of Voldemort's happiness in his mind, which Harry was sure was completely unplanned.
Harry stayed outside for another half hour before walking quickly back to his room. Once he reached his room, he slammed his door and flung himself onto the bed without changing or taking his shoes off. It was during this time on the bed that Harry realized that is wasn't his fault that Sirius died. Voldemort would have killed him anyway. Maybe... it was all for the best.
Harry's dreams that night revolved around all those he cared for being captured, tortured and slowly being killed by Voldemort. He saw Hermione, Ron, Professor Lupin, Dumbledore and the rest of the Weasley family, which surprisingly included Percy all meet their dooms by the hand of Voldemort. Harry could never remember being so angry or why he was angry in the first place.
Harry slowly clamed himself over the next couple of days hoping that he would be able to master occlumency when he returned to Hogwarts. It had been many weeks since he had received a letter from Ron of Hermione. Finally, Harry took the initiative and wrote his friends, demanding replies.
Ron, I'm positive Dumbledore has made you promise not to send me anything important, but would it be too much to ask for you to send me something that reassures me that you are still alive? I have not received anything from you since the start of summer vacation. It's driving me insane! Harry
He wrote an identical one to Hermione and sent them with his owl Hedwig. But as Harry watched Hedwig take off from his window, he saw a burst of green light from a distant alleyway and strike Hedwig, knocking her out of the sky.