Harry Potter looked at his reflection was unease; his appearance had changed dramatically over the past few weeks of summer and it seemed to be a rather familiar look though he couldn't place it. He ran a hand through his hair and frowned it no longer resembled an unkempt bush but sat neatly and straight atop of his head. His eyes where the same shade of emerald but his face had changed rather dramatically, instead of been the carbon copy of his father his was sure he looked a lot more like his mother. His cheekbones seemed higher more defined but yet his face had a more softer and fairer look. He pulled a comb through his hair and he had to agree it seemed to look a lot better then the unruly mess that usually graced his head.
He looked down at his clothes and couldn't help but feel a rush of warmth flood over his body at the sight. Mrs. Weasly had sent him a package full of Charley's old clothes and as much as he hated accepting gifts, or hand-me-downs, the fact he was now wearing clothes that fit him made him a lot more confident then he was. It seemed that although Charley's shoulders where quite a bit wider than his the rest of their body shape must be relatively the same. The t-shirts seemed to cling in the right places or at least that's what he thought, he'd never had really been into fashion. Glancing again at the reflection he couldn't help but admire his new clothes and although they looked worn but it knowing they fit him and that he didn't look like he was wearing a sack made him feel a whole lot better about himself. The only thing that had stayed the same over the past few weeks were the battered pair of trainers he had, had since he was thirteen. He wasn't too bothered; he didn't think many people really looked down to see what people where wearing on their feet.
Quickly washing his face and brushing his teeth his headed back to his bedroom at the Dursley's. They too had been shocked over Harry's change in appearance whenever they had seem him, which wasn't often, however it seemed this had caused them to keep an even bigger distance between themselves and Harry. He actually preferred this, at least he was left alone to his own devices instead off been forced to clean and serve the bigoted family.
He closed his bedroom door quietly behind him and looked around the cramped space. It seemed he'd spread out a lot of his school things this year instead of keeping them confided to his case. Collecting everything he knew was needed he shoved them untidily in his case, including the few pieces of second hand clothes Mrs. Weasly had sent to him. He checked the time on his beside clock that Dudley had broken years before, Harry had fixed it out of boredom one summer, and noticed he only had to wait five more minutes until he left the Dursley's for another year. He felt his heart beat a little faster with anticipation, the arrival of his friends had been something he had been counting down since he had left Hogwarts for the summer and he couldn't wait to see his two best friends again.
There was a clatter and squeak downstairs, which caused Harry to look up at the clock again. He had gotten lost in thoughts of his two longest friends and he knew that the sound of breaking china must have been the arrival he had been waiting for. He grabbed the empty owl cadge that was sitting on his desk and began to lump his case downstairs, he could hear raised voices in the sitting room which caused Harry to chuckle. The Durlsey's hated anything magical and the idea of having anything to do with 'his lot' in their house. It become a withstanding joke since the summer of fourth year between the twin Weasley's and Ron to cause as much havoc as they could when they came to pick him up.
Leaving his case and the empty cadge in the hallway he appeared in the doorway of the living room to see four red haired men, a rather large man and a girl with short multi-colored spiked hair stood in front of the Dursley's. It appeared they had caused the three only family members he had left a lot of distress as they sat whimpering squished onto one sofa.
Harry had entered the room unnoticed but it was Tonks who saw him first letting out a wolf whistle and her usually greeting, "Wotcher Harry!" She eyed him up as she made her way towards him and hugged him tightly, "You've changed haven't you."
It was Ron and Hermione who embraced him next with Ron grumbling in his ear, "Blimey mate."
It was Mad-Eye hurried everyone along groaning about time for cozy tea parties later. He gripped onto Harry's shoulder and leant, "Was going to be Dumbledore who picked you up, sure you heard, change plan we're apparting from outside the barriers. That's why there are a good few of us, to protect ya."
Harry nodded he heard about the change of plan two days ago, he hadn't questioned it. Dumbledore had told him at the end of last summer he was preparing for certain things and he understood the Headmaster was busy. Hoping Dumbledore would keep his promise of informing Harry of Order business from now on he hopped he would find out soon what had stopped the Headmaster from picking him up.
It didn't take them long to organize themselves, Mr. Weasley and Tonks was taking Harry while Fred took Hermione, George took Ron and Moody went last to make sure there was no trouble. A horrid turning feeling appeared in his stomach and all of sudden he felt like was been stretched and squeezed all different directions, a tightness closed in on his chest but before he had chance to gasp he landed safely just outside of the Burrow.
"Protective charms," Tonks explained, "No one can apparate in or out of the Burrow grounds."
It made sense that if Harry were to stay with them for the summer that there home would need to be protected, not for his sake but for theirs. If the Death Eaters came looking from him they wouldn't pass up on an offer to kill a few order members along the way It was for there own safety.
"So what's with the change Harry?" Tonks asked ruffling his hair, "not that it doesn't suit you, you look hot," she muttered into his ear giving him a wink before tripping over her own foot and almost falling flat on her face.
She grinned up at him as she balanced her self and stood up straight, "I don't know, it just happened," He told her shrugging,
Tonks nodded, "That's what happens when you start growing."
They'd finally made there way up the long path of the Burrow and the front door when Mrs. Weasley swung it open and pulled Harry into her arms. The sixteen year old felt himself relax and he wrapped his arms around the women, she had been more like a mum to him over the past few years then he could ever have hoped for. She could hear her muttering that he was ever so skinny and that a bowl of stew would be ready for him in a minute as she let go, not once did she appear to notice Harry's knew appearance but the ragged man at the table did. It seemed Remus Lupin looked even more disheveled then the last time Harry had seen him and thick black circles rested under his eyes. Harry was unsure whether or not embrace his old mentor, after Sirius had passed away at the end of the school year the werewolf wrote to Harry often, it appeared his Dad's only friend left felt he needed to take up Sirius' place.
It turned out the decision was made for him as Lupin wearily stood up and embraced the young man in front of him, "You look different Harry, different but well."
Harry didn't answer but as he pulled away offered the greying man a small smile. He felt well, in fact he felt on top of the world. He couldn't decide if it was because he was back in a place he felt loved and welcomed or because of the new change in him but either way he sat with a full heart. The rest of the collection party sat down around the table as Mrs. Weasley placed steaming hot bowls of stew in front of them all, it appeared it was that moment the older Weasley witch noticed Harry's new appearance. Her eyes took a second look over the boy and he suddenly felt extremely embarrassed, as she looked him up and down.
"Oh Harry I knew Charlie's old clothes would fit you," she mumbled patting his head before smiling gently at him.
Unfortunately Harry had chosen this moment to stuff a rather large spoonful of stew in his mouth and had to swallow before he could reply, "Yeah thanks again Mrs. Weasley it really means a lot."
The red-haired Mum beamed at him but didn't say anymore on the subject as she fussed over her three sons that where sat at the table.
With a full belly Mrs. Weasley sent them all up to bed, Harry bid goodnight to everyone and followed Ron up the stairs. He felt comfy and at home in Ron's room. It was welcoming to see the tattered posters of the Chuddley Canons and the makeshift bed on the floor. It was almost as if he was coming home, he noticed his case had already been brought up and Hedwig was sat with Ron's owl Pig on top of the wardrobe.
"So mate what's happened to you?"
Harry began raking for some pajamas as he explained to Ron how he wasn't sure what had happened but over the last few weeks his appearance was changing rather fast. Pulling on the blue bottoms with snitches on that Hermione had gotten him last year he climbed into his bed.
"Must be puberty and all that," Ron mumbled into his pillow embarrassed a red tint to his cheeks, Harry only barley understood it. The light began to dim as Harry's eyes began to shut and before he knew it he was fast asleep.
The next morning Harry awoke to Hermione shaking him rather roughly, her face peering down on him. Her wild hair had been pulled back into a ponytail and a look of concern was etched on to her face. Harry knew almost at once he must have been having a nightmare but as he tried to think back to what he had been dreaming off all he could see was vivid dreams of him flying and there nothing hellish about that.
"What's going on 'Mione?" Harry slurred as sleep was still calling to him.
Hermione handed Harry's his glasses, which caused a frown to form, he could see Hermione quite clearly and assumed he'd fell asleep with them on last night. Holding the glasses to his eyes his frown deepened when he realized he could hardly see out of them, in fact Hermione was incredibly blurry through the lens of the glasses. He noticed Hermione was watching him waiting for him but he couldn't wrap his head round the fact he didn't need his glasses. He knew that Hermione wouldn't explain why she had roughly awoken him if didn't put them on and so he shoved them onto his face and looked up at the brunette witch hoping that he looked attentive.
She sighed, "I don't know Harry, you was tossing and turning in your sleep gripping hold of your face but you didn't seem distressed, in actual fact you had smile on your face."
Harry didn't think the look of confusion helped at all and the fact he could hardly see a thing with his glasses on made his head hurt, "Oh well I wasn't having a bad dream."
Hermione sighed, "I didn't think you where Harry in fact I think you should take a look in the nearest mirror."
Irritated my Hermione's lack of an answer he pushed himself up from the bed but almost tripped over the clothes he'd taken off last night. There was no way he was going to be able to see a thing wearing these glasses he'd probably do himself an injury. He took them off and glanced at Hermione to see her give him a questioning look, worry was etched on her face. Ron had no mirror in his room and so he made he way to the next level of Burrow where the bathroom was, Hermione following closely behind him.
Perhaps it was because he had hardly slept properly in the last few weeks, plagued with dreams about his Godfathers death and the return of Lord Voldemort but anger was bubbling up inside of him as Hermione continued to stare at him was worry and confusion. He opened the bathroom door but before Hermione could step inside he slammed the door closed in her face. He knew he would probably regret it later but right now he needed to compose himself and see what all the fuss was about.
He could smell the bacon cooking downstairs as she strode over to the mirror and knew that must be where Ron was and almost debated about leaving and heading straight for breakfast but whatever Hermione had seen had spooked her. Curiosity had gotten the better of him and when he glanced in the mirror it was at all what he expected. In fact it wasn't even him who was looking back at Harry, he did not recognize the face in the mirror at all, and if it wasn't for the fact his hair had been pushed back in his sleep and he could see the lightening bolt scar on his forehead he wouldn't have thought it was him at all. Staring back at him was a face that he must admit seemed quite handsome, it had prominent cheekbones and a pointed nose, sunken eyes but where still the same almond shape and emerald color and his hair was now dead straight, there wasn't even a kink. It was rounded around his face, with a swish and heavy bangs, when he pushed his fringe down, covered his forehead.
Harry hadn't realized that his breath had caught in his throat until he let out a gasping breath. He noticed he didn't resemble his father at all in fact the pale skin, emerald eyes and high cheekbones resembled his mother in everyway. He clutched on to the sink to steady himself, he felt slightly dazed as he continued to stare at his reflection. His thoughts turned to his glasses that where still clutched in his hand and he wondered why the sudden change was upon him, why over the last few weeks had changed his appearance in everyway possible, in fact as his eyes raked over his whole body in the mirror he was pretty sure his whole body had. He seemed taller, his arms more gangly and as he pulled at the t-shirt the covered his chest his shoulders where wider too. They almost fit into the oversized pajama top, although it was still massively loose on him around the middle.
His heart started racing and his thoughts where wild and once again he felt himself going slightly dizzy. What on earth was happening to him and why the hell was it happening to him? He pushed himself away from the sink and turned his back on the mirror he couldn't see his appearance any longer without loosing his mind, he was sure of it.
A knock on the door and small voice carried through the wood, "Are you all right Harry? I think I should fetch someone."
Harry didn't respond at first, he needed to think. He thought over all the people he knew and closed his eyes in frustration trying to think of someone who could help him? Dumbledore could, he could probably explain it he always knew the answer but he was busy. He couldn't even collect Harry from the Dursley's there was no way Dumbledore would have time to answer stupid question about Harry's appearance when it was probably down to puberty like Ron had said. He thought of anyone else who wouldn't embarrass him over needing to ask questions every teenager went through. That's when it hit him, Remus. Remus had sent him quite a few owls over the summer and he felt safe with werewolf.
Harry must haven taken to long to answer because Hermione knocked again. Swallowing slightly he managed to bark out Remus' name and he heard Hermione's footsteps disappearing.
He hoped Remus had stayed for breakfast instead of leaving last night after Harry had gone to bed. When he heard footsteps approaching he noted there where two different sets and he felt relief flood through him. The old Professor was still here. He heard Remus' voice through the door and Harry told him to enter hoping to God Hermione wouldn't follow him. She must have known that he need to speak to his old mentor alone because she didn't appear and Remus had closed the door behind him.
Harry didn't have to explain Remus gasped as he took a look at the boy in front of him. He could understand why Hermione was so distressed. This wasn't usual puberty behavior at all. It was almost as if someone had cast a glamour over Harry.
The werewolf said nothing as he raked his eyes over the sixteen year old and Harry almost felt naked under the gaze. It was as if Remus was x-raying his whole body and he was tempted to cross his arms over his chest, he was irritated again. Why wasn't Remus saying anything?
"I think we need to get you to the Headmaster. Immediately."
Harry let the words sink in and his heart sunk, deep down he knew this was normal puberty behavior but hearing Remus' words had made it real. His head hurt, he felt sick this was the last thing he needed. Why couldn't he ever just be normal?