Disclaimer: The characters and setting from this story do not belong to me, they belong to the great author J.K Rowling. The ideas that do belong to me I wish not to be used elsewhere.

Harry Potter and the Tunnel of Darkness

Privet Drive

The light of dawn trickled down the wall as Harry walked up the stairs. Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia had taken Dudley out and had told Harry that he was to stay at home. Vernon had threatened that if anything should happen he would see to it. Harry knew that that meant spending the rest of the holidays in the cupboard under the stairs.

Once in his room Harry poked his head outside the window to look if Hedwig had come. Yesterday had been his birthday, there had been no message from Hermione or Ron. The Dursleys of course, hadn't even recognised that it was his birthday, but this was the least of Harry's worries. Harry couldn't understand why he hadn't recieved anything from his two best friends. He had sent Hedwig away with a message two weeks ago, maybe Hedwig had been caught in a storm and couldn't get to her destination, maybe Hedwig had lost herself, but no, she knew where Harry lived and where Ron and Hermione were staying. Harry's mind filled with nerves as he thought of the possible tragedies that could have occured. But even if Hedwig had not reached Ron or Hermione's place they would certainly not have forgotten his birthday.

Harry looked again but still no owl in sight. He trudged to his bed and lay flat staring at the roof. He was hungry but the Dursleys had only given him a minimum amount of money. He would spend it on breakfast the next morning. The Dursleys would be away for 2 days. They had told Harry that he would not be going to Mrs Figgs'. For a moment Harry had thought that he would be going with them but ofcourse they wouldn't do that untill the day they died! Harry was actually quite pleased that they had thought him old enough to take care of himself. It was better this way. He was not to cause any disturbances or show his head outside the door. Aunt Petunia had left two pieces of fruit. One for lunch and one for dinner and then at night he would creep out of the house and buy himself something.

The curtains were all shut, the windows closed and the door bolted. He was forbidden to watch tv or play with any of Dudley's toys. Despite Dudley's diet there had been no weight loss. Harry on the other hand had remained the skinny boy he had always been.

Harry had had a dream last night, Ron and Hermione had been taken away. He had seen the Weasley's crying and even the Granger's although he could not remember how they looked. Harry had had several nightmares since the last year, it had not finnished off nicely. Cedric Diggory had been killed by the dark lord, Lord Voldemort. In another dream he had seen his godfather, Sirius Black, taken away in the same place as Ron and Hermione. Harry had written to Siruis recently but had had no reply.

Harry turned around and saw a large owl, bigger than Hedwig, fly through the window. He was holding a large piece of parchment. Harry took the piece of parchment and pushed the owl out of the window. It was too big for his room.

Harry read the parchment, it read as follows:

If you seek thee,

You shall find those that you will miss,

Come to the Tunnel of Darkness and see,

Careful of the Dementor's kiss!

Harry stared, eyes wide and his mouth wide open. He reread the letter to make sure he had read correctly. He could not make any sense out of it.