The Merlin Guard

Disclaimer: Mrs. Rowling owns Harry Potter and all devices and subdivisions thereof. I only own my mind and the characters, organizations, and spells which I have created. If any characters, places, organizations, or any other part of this fiction appears to be taken from another fanfiction, I apologize. I am not making any thing off of this story except my peace of mind.

This story takes place during the events of Book 7.

Chapter 1: Revelation

Harry sighed. He had barely been back at the Dursley's a week, and already he could not wait to leave. He had returned only due to the fact that he had promised Dumbledore he would return there until his seventeenth birthday. He was counting of the days with particular apprehension.

Harry Potter was a wizard, and when a wizard turns seventeen, he, or she as the case may be, would be allowed to use magic outside of school. The date also meant that Harry could finally leave Privet Drive behind him forever.

Harry glanced around at the room he was laying in. His school things were scattered around the room. The Dursleys had, surprisingly, allowed Harry to keep his school things in his bedroom. He figured that an Order member had spoken to them about being kinder to Harry.

Harry walked over to the cage that held his snowy owl. The one thing that they hadn't budged on was him letting Hedwig fly free outside. Uncle Vernon hadn't given his usual rants, but had been firm nonetheless.

Harry was rifling through the parchment on the floor, looking for one of the spellbooks Hermione had leant him. He was supposed to be studying various spells that might help him in the search for Horcruxes he was going to undertake once he left Privet Drive. Suddenly, a loud knocking sounded on Harry's door.

"Harry," shouted Harry's overweight cousin, Dudley, "Daddy says you are to come downstairs, pronto." Harry sighed again, rose from the floor, and opened the door. Dudley was nowhere in sight, Harry figured he had waddled off to play some video games. Harry tromped down the stairs and into the sitting room. Dudley was sitting in one of the big armchairs, while Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia were on the couch. Harry sat in the other armchair, and waited.

Vernon stood up. "Right, then. We have to talk." He sounded both excited and fearful at the same time. Harry figured he was going to talk about Harry's coming-of-age. Probably wanted assurance that Harry wasn't going to shoot sparks or catch fire when it happened. Harry opened his mouth to speak, but Uncle Vernon cut him off.

"It is about why we took you in, in the first place."

Harry stop short. He had never considered 'why' the Dursleys had taken him in. He had figured Dumbledore had said something and that he had threatened them or bribed them or something. Uncle Vernon looked hesitant.

"It is…rather hard to say. After all, it has been so long, and well…" He sighed. "It would be easiest to show you."

He stood up and reached into his back pocket. Harry was apprehensive. What was Uncle Vernon doing? Whatever he was getting, it wouldn't come out.

"Bloody pocket…still sticks…should get a new one sewn on…here we go." He pulled his hand out with something in it. Harry gasped, feeling dumbstruck.

Uncle Vernon…was holding…a wand.

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Hah, cliffhanger, review for the rest of the story. I know this chapter is short, but I want to get this story out so I can continue on my other ones.