The Chosen One's Battle
By: Neen
Author's Note:
This is merely my prediction and theories…please do not criticize me if you do not believe any of these…as I said before, these are most likely NOT going to be correct!
Please do not give me a long explanation of how you think that so-and-so shouldn't be like that…this is my story that I think is how the seventh Harry Potter novel will turn out vaguely like.
Please read this story with an unbiased (even if you pretend and still call me crazy on the side) view! Thanks.
Please be gentle (like, 'This needs some work' or something of the sort) because this is my first Harry Potter crew story…I've mostly concentrated on Lily and James (Marauder's Era) stuff…but I felt the need to post up this story because I have so many theories and thoughts…Thank you.
Chapter One: Coming of Age
Harry stared calmly at his feet. He had been thinking—plotting—what he was going to proceed to do after he turned seventeen and became of age and the protection that Dumbledore had placed upon him did not linger anymore.
He lay back on his bed, a sinking feeling swimming around in his throat as he remembered all that he had been through just a month ago. Voldemort and his followers had been striking both wizards and muggles—each attack worse than the before. To add to that complete mess, all the fatherly figures he had in the past were gone now. The people he dearly loved—all hurt.
Harry was brought back from his miserable reminiscence by a soft hooting from Hedwig, who had just flown in.
Hedwig blinked her large amber eyes at Harry as he stared at the letter in Hedwig's beak, not bothering to take it. After another moment, Harry mechanically came forward and ripped the parchment open.
"Harry--
My mum wanted me to tell you that Bill and Fleur's wedding is going to be in two weeks (August 12th) and that you're welcome to come anytime you want to our house, but I reckon you want to stay at your uncle's house until you're seventeen? I know that you'll do what Dumbledore wanted you to do so I'm not even going to try and talk you out. Mum also said that Dad and a couple other Order members will take (or in her words, 'escort') us to the Apparation site, where we can take our tests once we're of age.
Percy came back. Yeah, the lousy git. He says that he's remorseful and he was wrong blah blah, but I'm not buying it. I think he's on Scrimgeour's orders to spy on us and you when you come here, so don't say anything crazy around the world's biggest prat. Mum's excited though—I can't believe her. After all he's done..
Bill's looking somewhat better—you can see his nose is there now that the blood's all gone—nasty piece of work—damn that Greyback. Anyways, Fleur's been taking good care of him and she's making him a horrid dinner of a pound of raw steak right now…shouldn't take too much expertise, eh? Just throw the meat on the plate—so complicated.
Ginny's been locking herself in her room. I asked Mione and she reckons that you said something to her at Dumbledore's funeral. Ginny hasn't been the same since. Did you? Harry, you complete prat! Just because I gave you my permission doesn't mean that you can get on taking advantage of her like that! When she comes out of her room to eat or something, her eyes are always puffy and red! It's horrid. Just wait till you come here, Harry, I'm going to—I'm going to do something…I'm thinking of what. You wait.
Anyways, since I wrote you a long and meaningful letter, you best write me one back—I've measured it—including my sig, it's a total of sixteen inches!
-Ron"
Harry smiled sadly. Ron, his best friend that was funny—good at cheering people up in times like these. Ron had finished his letter with a large flourish—at least two inches to the parchment. He sighed, laying the paper back down on his bed and stared at the ceiling. What he wouldn't give to free himself of these missions—these Horcruxes he had to find—Voldemort to be destroyed—the love he could never let Ginny know—nothing like a normal, happy life.
His eyes drifted towards the calendar. He stared hard at it—his birthday was tomorrow. Birthdays, he scoffed. Something so—so happy in these dark times.
Tomorrow, the protection would end, leaving Harry vulnerable and defenseless.
As soon as he woke up tomorrow, he would leave the Dursleys'.
o.O.o.O.o
Harry woke up with a jolt. The sun was shining extremely brightly, lightening his dark mood up some. He flung open his raggedy pink-flowered curtains—courtesy of Aunt Petunia and laughed. He stood there by the window, laughing for the longest time, like he completely lost his mind.
He was of age.
Without a second thought, Harry flicked his wand casually, his personal items flinging themselves into a trunk that opened automatically. He waited for a minute. He grinned. No underage magic notices came whooshing in by owl. Harry grabbed Hedwig's cage, his prized Firebolt, and his bulging trunk and strolled into the living room downstairs.
"Morning," Harry greeted pleasantly as he walked past the kitchen where Aunt Petunia was slicing dried, browning apples. Dudley and his uncle Vernon had not woken up yet.
"Mor—what are you doing here?" Aunt Petunia had started to answer automatically in her strained voice before shrieking.
"I've been here for a month," Harry said coolly and stood by the window, staring outside. "Anyways, thanks."
"Thanks?" Aunt Petunia repeated, her eyes popping out somewhat.
"Yeah, you know, for letting me stay here all my life. I'm going—your wish granted—happy?" Harry said impatiently and tugged at his broomstick absently. The Burrow was a bit far away for flying, but he didn't have any Floo powder…
"Harry…" Aunt Petunia said in a hoarse whisper. Harry looked up, startled. He had never heard his aunt address him normally. Her face was stark white and her mouth was slightly open.
"What?" Harry asked, completely bewildered.
"I—I'm sorry. I hated L—Lily…she could do magic and I couldn't. It wasn't fair—you wouldn't know…every child's fantasy is to be able to fly or be magical. I believed magic existed. We didn't know it was actually real at the time, but—one day, Lily's letter came…but mine didn't—it never did. You couldn't imagine how I felt when she died because of the magic she had gotten blessed with and left you for me—magicless me to take care of you—I was so scared that V—Voldemort would come back and kill me," she breathed out, glancing upstairs at times, in fear of Vernon suddenly stomping down the stairs.
Harry stared at her for a long time, as if seeing her in a new light. "Must have been tough for you."
Aunt Petunia did something Harry had never seen her do. She gave him a smile—thin, but definitely a smile.
Harry grinned back at her, fully appreciating Aunt Petunia as his mother's sister. "Well, see you."
"Wait—you shouldn't travel by b-broom—I—I have some of that fireplace powder—Lily gave me some in case I wanted to ever—ever visit her at Godric's Hollow. I don't know if it still works though," Aunt Petunia dug out a small bag out of the kitchen cabinet and handed it to Harry.
"Thanks," Harry said, tugging his belongings in the cramped fireplace and pinched a bit of it inside the now-blown-out fireplace, thanks to Mr. Weasley. "The Burrow!"
He caught one last glimpse of Aunt Petunia staring at him with an expression he could not quite place as the room swirled out of view.
o.O.o.O.o
"Harry! He's here! Harry's here, Mione!" Ron grinned at Harry, who was coughing up some soot and brushing the ashes off his clothes. "I knew you would come today. Nice, isn't it? Being able to do magic—any magic." Ron sighed blissfully.
"Ron!" Hermione glowered disapprovingly at him and ran up to Harry. "Oh, Harry, you don't know how good it is to see you—everyone—" Hermione paused. Ginny had walked down, her face a mess.
"Hi, Harry," Ginny said in an awfully high-pitched voice. "How are you?"
"Ginny—"Harry made for her to try and talk things out, but Hermione tugged at his shirt, shaking her head no.
"What d'you mean? I need—where did she go?" Harry struggled and looked at the spot where Ginny had been.
"Give it time, Harry," Hermione said softly and released her grip on Harry's shirt.
"'Arry! 'ow wonderful eet eez to see you once more! Come, come—we are just preparing for deener," Fleur entered, her long silvery sheet of hair flowing smoothly behind her, smiling at Harry after swooping down to kiss Harry on the cheek.
Harry followed her and saw that nearly twenty people were seated at the squished table. He saw most of members of the Order there, some of them acknowledging him by smiling or waving at him, and all of the Weasley family—including Percy.
Percy immediately walked up to him pompously, adjusting his horn-rimmed glasses. "Harry! How good to see you again! I hope I find you well?" Percy shook Harry's hand with a forced grip.
Harry grimaced, freeing his hand from Percy's. "As lovely as you can be with Voldemort trying to do you in at each corner, thanks."
Ron grinned at Harry and then brushed it off his face as Hermione glanced at him, scowling.
"Happy birthday, mate!" Fred called out, breaking the temporary silence. He was dressed in a bold red dragon-scaled suit, complete with goblin steel boots. George wore the exact thing, sitting next to him, wearing an identical grin.
"Thanks," Harry smiled, glad not to be thinking about deaths and Voldemort.
"Yeah, happy birthday, Harry!" the rest chorused and presents began zooming towards Harry as some hands ushered him into a seat.
"Er—thanks, thanks—now really, I can seat myself, thanks," Harry said, grinning, noticing Fleur and Bill seat him.
"Open up, Harry, dear!" Mrs. Weasley said, beaming brightly.
Harry smiled. He knew it would be one of the last days of his life being completely happy and without worries.
Soon, wrapping and ribbons were scattered everywhere as Harry finished opening up. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley had given Harry a most useful Magic Tracer that he knew at once would help him greatly at finding Voldemort's hiding places for his horcruxes. Most of the Order members had given him a wonderfully large mound of chocolate and sweets. Moody gave Harry the photograph of the Order he had shown Harry before. Harry did not feel that revolted at it anymore—in fact, he wanted to see Dumbledore in the picture again. Remus and Tonks gave Harry an enormous scrapbook full of Dumbledore's pictures (including the Chocolate Frog cards) and his great accomplishments that they had managed to compile. "It's not much," Remus began hastily, but Harry was deeply grateful. He also received an interesting letter that no one knew where it came from.
"Harry—
You must return to Hogwarts soon to retrieve the newly yours belongings that once was possessed by Albus Dumbledore. He has passed a few items to you in his will."
Before he had time to ponder who the addressor was, someone interrupted his train of thoughts.
"Here, Harry," a cloaked figure gave a final gift to Harry.
Harry stared hard at the person. "Mundungus?" he asked, disgusted. He hadn't quite forgotten that Mundungus had stolen Sirius's things right after he died.
The cloaked figure gave a slight dip of its head. Harry hesitantly opened the bulky package.
Sirius's things. Mundungus had given them back.
"Sorry," Mundungus mumbled while Harry stared at the items.
"Thanks," Harry said, staring at the silver pile. A glimpse of gold caught his eye out of the midst of silver and somewhat tarnished items. He held it out, not believing his eyes. It was a locket.
Harry slowly turned it over, not daring to believe it. It was unmistakable. The Slytherin mark with the elaborate 'S'. One of Lord Voldemort's horcrux.
Author's Note:
What did you think? If you don't agree with me but thought my story was good, please say so…but please don't flame me if you don't think that my theories are correct (which I doubt they are…but I have this gut feeling thing…)!
Thanks for trying this out…I really appreciate it!