Disclaimer: Any and all known characters and situations belong to J.K.Rowling, Warner Bros. and other business partners. No money is made with this 'fan fiction'. This and any and all following chapters are written and submitted for my pleasure in writing them.
Summary: This fic is AU and Pre HBP. It follows Harry's life after the events on OotP. Harry returns to Privet Drive to find things changed. Things that shall change who he is. He will return to Hogwarts in September a different Harry Potter than he was in June.
Changes Chapter One
"Don't forget to ask the Dursley's when you can come to the Burrow, Harry!" Ron reminded his friend.
"It'll be the first thing I'll ask, Ron, I promise." Harry said.
Hermione huffed. "Oh honestly, you two! It is more important for Harry to be safe, than to go to the Burrow!"
Her two best friends had the grace to look sheepish. Harry, Ron and Hermione just finished their fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and were disembarking from the train at London's Kings Cross Station for summer break. The three of them have been best friends since their first year at Hogwarts and cared for each other deeply.
Behind them Molly Weasley, Ron's mother, smiled at the three friends indulgently. She was happy of the bond the three shared, especially after Harry had watched his godfather be murdered mere weeks ago. Harry, made an orphan by the Dark Lord at the age of 15 months, had no family to speak of anymore now that Sirius was dead - except for the Dursley's, his late mother's sister and family, who hated the boy with a passion.
"Don't worry Harry dear, we'll speak to Professor Dumbledore about it. I will not leave you with those dreadful Muggles all summer. You need to eat; you're a growing boy! Now, where are your relatives?"
Harry, Hermione, Ron and the rest of the Weasley family (Ron's mother, sister Ginny and brothers Fred and George) looked around the train station, but couldn't see the Dursleys anywhere.
"Harry look!" Ginny exclaimed. "There's a guy over there holding a sign with your name on it!"
Sure enough, at the edge of the crowd, a young man stood holding up a piece of cardboard that read "Harry Potter".
"I've never seen him before." Harry said puzzled.
"Let's go see who he is then." Fred said.
Walking up to the guy, who seemed to be about 18, Harry held out his hand.
"Harry Potter. And you are …?"
The tall young man shook his hand firmly. "Jason Smith. I'm here to pick you up, 'cause no one else could."
Mrs Weasley felt she could trust the young stranger but went to make sure.
"How do we know you're speaking the truth?"
Jason didn't seem fazed at all. "The neighbourhood gossip says Potter's a criminal, but I was told he goes to a gifted school. I'm just here to take him to Surrey, nothing else. And I do have to get going; I've got training tonight."
Harry smiled at Jason and turned to reassure Mrs Weasley. "It's okay Mrs Weasley; I'll be fine. Don't worry. I'll send you a note once I get home, okay?"
Smiling at his friends Harry made is way out of the station, never to return the same Harry Potter.
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"Where are the Dursleys then?" Harry asked Jason. The two were driving to Surrey in Jason's Mini Cooper and Harry was sure the stranger was a Muggle and no threat at all. In case he was a wizard, Harry had his wand in his pocket though.
"Listen mate, I know nothing. I was just asked to pick you up and take you to Surrey."
"Oh. Okay then." Harry didn't know what to make of that. "What sport do you play?"
"I play cricket. Actually I like all kind of sports, but I want to go pro in cricket. You into cricket?" Jason turned to look at Harry briefly.
"No, I don't know much about it actually. Rules and stuff."
Jason smiled. "Loads of people don't mate. Now listen…"
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Jason angled up his car at the curb in front of Privet Drive and kept the motor running. Harry got out and stared at the house, trying to place what was different about it. Jason helped him unload his trunk and Hedwig and gave him a hand carrying it to the door. Jason rang the bell and checked his watch.
"Bullocks!" He turned to Harry. "Sorry Mate, I gotta run or I'll be late. Tell Kate I'll give her a jingle when I get home, alright?"
Not waiting for an answer, Jason jumped in his Mini and drove off.
"Who's Kate?" Harry asked dumbly.
Just then the front door opened and a young woman smiled at Harry.
"Hi, you must be Harry. Come on in, I just put on the kettle for some tea."
Harry automatically assisted the stranger to carry his things into the hall. It looked different. Everything was changed. From the colour of the walls, to the carpet, to the furniture, everything.
"Come on, I bet you're famished."
Harry followed the woman into the kitchen, which also had transformed. He sat down at the new table and accepted the cup of tea in silence. When the young woman sat down across from him, Harry finally spoke.
"Who're you? Where are the Dursleys? How do you know my name?
The brunette just laughed. "Well, I'm Katie MacLeod. The Dursley's are in Spain and Petunia told me your name. Now," she held up a slender hand, stopping any interruptions. "Let me explain things first, aye?"
Harry nodded and took a sip of tea.
"My Aunt Sue's best friend goes to the same church Petunia went to and heard her saying they were selling the house. She told my Aunt, who informed me and I drove over to look at the place and talk to the Dursleys. Vernon was being relocated to Spain and Petunia had a hard time selling the house. I got it for less than they initially wanted, all thanks to you." Katie smiled and took a sip of her tea.
"Aunt Sue had heard many rumours about you from her friend, but didn't believe any. You see, Alyce, Aunt Sue's friend, works at St Brutus' and her husband is a teacher at Sacred Heart Primary. He knew you from afar and was adamant you were a good boy being mistreated and bullied at home and at school. Alyce, naturally had never heard of you at St Brutus'. After Petunia told me all these stories about you, I rang my Uncle Simon, who used to be a police man. He put in some calls and found out you don't have a record, so I knew Petunia was lying about you being a rebel. Mrs Figg, from down the road, told me you went to a gifted school and that gave me an idea. You see, I have a friend who has a gifted cousin and he said you went to his school. I told the Dursleys I'd pay less for the house and keep you and they jumped for it. So here we are."
Harry's head was spinning. This Katie knew about Hogwarts? Who was she?
"Are you… ehm… 'gifted', too?"
Katie smiled at him. "No I'm not. I do have an amazing capability of speed reading and memorizing everything. I read the bible in twenty minutes straight once and I can still recite every single word of it. With page and paragraph and everything. I'm 21 in August and just handed in my paper for my PhD. Good, eh?"
Harry shook his head to rid himself of his shock. Hermione once told him about this talent: A talent only Rowena Ravenclaw and her descendents possessed, but had been lost when the line died out. But this woman was no witch; she never went to Hogwarts.
"Why.. Why'd you want me?"
Katie's face grew earnest. "I read up on you. I squeezed the real story about your life here from Petunia and know you need help, if you want to succeed. I subscribe to The Daily Prophet now, too and you need as much help as you can get, Harry. Real help."
The way Katie stressed the word 'real' caught Harry's attention.
"What do you mean 'Real' Help?"
"It's simple really." Katie sipped her tea. "I've signed you up for some Martial Arts classes and dancing lessons. I didn't know what sport you'd like to pursue, so I left that up to you. There are some thing son your desk for you to read. My Aunt Sue does public speech training and she could help you with some things, too."
"Why would I need public speech training?" Harry asked puzzled.
"You don't. Aunt Sue would teach you how to mask your thoughts and feelings and such. It will help you in battle. I will teach you some things, too, but I don't want to stress you out. It is summer break after all."
Harry smiled at the young woman. This summer was going to be great.
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"I've had some changes made to the house, mostly paint jobs and such. As you can see, the kitchen is new and I had the fireplace replaced, so we can make real fires now. The basement is liveable now and the closet under the stairs holds a small loo and sink. I've made the second largest room into your room, but if you want to keep your old room that's fine. The other two rooms are guestrooms. You can have some friends over if you want."
Harry just stared at Katie. She was like an angel. Not only did she save him from the Dursleys, but she was treating him like an adult or at least a younger brother. He knew he should feel bad about the Dursleys abandoning him, but there was no love lost between him and his relatives. He just couldn't bring up the energy to hate them for leaving him behind; he would have hated going with them. He mentioned as much to Katie.
"Don't worry yourself too much, Harry. They didn't have any qualms in leaving you behind, and I can see you don't hold them too high in regard either. If you do start developing some feelings of loss or some such, we can look into a psychologist to help you, okay?"
Harry nodded at the young woman. She seemed genuine about her feelings towards Harry and he felt like he was at home. He couldn't explain it, but he felt secure at the house for the first time.
"The wards!" Harry scrambled from his seat. "I'm not safe here! I have to owl Professor Dumbledore! Where -"
"Harry!" Katie's voice broke through his clouded mind. "What is he going to do? Send you to Spain? Would you like that? Think about it Harry!"
Harry stopped in his tracks. Would Dumbledore do that? Yes, yes he would. Didn't he send him here, even though the Weasley's would have taken him in? The old wizard didn't even let him stay at Grimmauld Place. Katie was right.
"You're right. I just won't tell him about the Dursleys moving away. He'll be never the wiser. I'll just have to be alert."
Katie placed a hand on his shoulder. "Come on, let me show you your room and you can rest 'til dinner, aye?"
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