Author's notes: Wow, first chappy! And it isn't going too badly. Go me! Please review, I want to know what you guys think! Is it good or bad? Ah, I feel so much better now I'm writing this down! J
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter! So don't sue!
"…"= Speech
(…)= My notes and random comments.
/…/= Thoughts
~*~*= Beginning and ends of chapters, scene changes.
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Chapter 1.
Sunlight slanted down between the small crack in the drawn curtains.
Harry watched the dust whirl slowly round.
He had kept his curtains drawn ever since he got back, and he hadn't turned on his light. He sat in the darkness, only moving to go to the toilet, to eat and send the daily owl to a member of the Order. He spent endless hours just sitting in the dark.
It felt as though there was a large hole, just below his stomach, and it wasn't healing. It still hurt, causing him to relive that night in the Ministry.
Harry shuddered, and the backs of his eyes prickled. He fell back onto his bed and closed his eyes.
He had matured a lot, but he still assured the others that he was fine. He knew perfectly well that he wasn't, and that they would worry even more if he told them what was on his mind.
A sound on the stairs made him sit up again.
His Aunt and Uncle had hardly spoken to him since he had come back, so why Aunt Petunia was now knocking on his door was a complete mystery. He got up and answered the door.
She glared at him,
"There's an owl downstairs for you." She said stiffly. Harry nodded, pushed past her and ran downstairs as she yelled after him, "Just be glad that your Uncle is away!"
A large Barn Owl was waiting for him on the kitchen table. It held out its leg, and when the letter was removed, it gave a dignified hoot and flew back out the window.
Harry recognized Hermione's handwriting at once.
Dear Harry,
I hope you're ok. Nothing much is happening at the moment, as far as I know. Obviously I can't give you the fine details in a letter, but I don't know very much because I'm staying with my parents and Ron's with his.
I really do hope that you're all right, after all that's happened. I'm sorry I can't come and see you, but I've just had a visit from Dumbledore. How odd?
He didn't stay long, but he told me to write to you, which I was going to do anyway, and say this,
"Curiosity has its rewards." He also said to remember this and not to stay in the house too much. Getting out a bit never hurt anyone. I have no idea what use this is going to have, but he's planning something.
I do agree with him though, don't lock yourself up (I know that your doing this, even if you're telling the order otherwise!) try and have a little fun, please?
Love Hermione, xx
He read the letter through again, totally ignoring Aunt Petunia bustling about around him.
Why the hell did Dumbledore want him to get out and about? Surely that was the worst possible thing for him to do? What was he planning?
He sat on a chair, trying to think of a possible explanation.
Aunt Petunia looked over at him,
"What does it say?"
"None of your business…"
"Fine."
Harry glanced over at her, when had she become concerned about what his letters said?
She was taking things out of the dishwasher and putting them away. Something was going on, she looked nervous.
She straightened up and turned to look at him.
"Dudley and I are going into town, I…was wondering…weather you would like to come as well?"
Something was defiantly going on, but then again, what had Hermione and Dumbledore told him?
By the taunt look on aunt Petunias face, it was obviously not her idea to ask him. Maybe this was part of Dumbledore's plan?
"Ok, what time?"
"When Dudley gets back from his friends house, in a few minuets, so go and smarten up. Go on!"
He turned and sprinted up stairs.
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Harry was now regretting his decision to go into town. Lagging behind, he had been dragged through cloths shops, watching Dudley and aunt Petunia choosing clothes.
Harry was getting fed up of Dudley, who kept shooting looks at him over his shoulder.
Finally, Aunt Petunia had had enough of him dragging his feet behind them. She turned to Harry and hissed,
"Go off on your own and meet me back at the car in two hours. Don't be late!"
Harry didn't need telling twice.
The streets were busy, and no one took any notice of him.
A shop on the other side of the street caught his eye. It was an old bookshop; the door had just swung shut, as someone entered it. He crossed over the road and opened the door.
The air was thick, musty and old smelling. Everything was covered in dust. An old mad was just distinguishable in the dim light, sitting behind a till. It looked like a small, disused library, with all the books stacked on bookshelves that reached up to the low ceiling. It wouldn't have looked out of place in a horror movie. An old radio spluttered out some crackly jazz music.
He began to walk between the cases. There was a strange sensation of expectance, as if he was waiting for something to happen.
As he turned a corner, he spotted a teenage girl, reading a book. He dodged out of sight, breathing hard. He peered around again, to look at her more closely.
She had long, dark blond hair that fell gracefully over her back. She wore a casual pair of Jeans and a white tank top.
She held a large black book, and appeared to be skim reading.
A strange sensation came over Harry, a mixture of de-ja-vois (Sp?) and something else he couldn't explain. His stomach twisted and squirmed, but not in an unpleasant way. It was almost like what happened whenever he was near Cho, only stronger.
The girl shut the book and began to walk up the isle away from him. Before he realized what he was doing, he was following her, silently.
She turned a corner and disappeared from sight.
Harry stopped in his tracks, what was he doing? He stood there, confused.
A sound behind him made him turn, and to his horror, there was the girl, smiling at him. He gulped.
"Why are you following me, Mr. Potter?"
He started, how did she know his name…unless…he looked her in the eye, and got a shock. Those piercing blue eyes reminded him of some one. She leaned closer and whispered,
"Yes Potter, I'm a witch."
Harry was feeling very unnerved. Could she read his mind?
"I have a message for you, hold out your hands."
He hesitated, and then slowly held them up. She pressed a something into them then spoke,
"Good bye, Mr. Potter. Remember, curiosity has its rewards."
And she walked off, nodded to the man behind the desk, who nodded back, and left the shop.
Harry looked down at what she had given him. It was a small, red, leather bound book. He looked closed and saw the corner of a piece of parchment sticking out. He opened the book, to reveal a letter, addressed to him in thin, spidery writing. In fact, it was Dumbledore's writing.
He placed the book back on the shelf and left the shop.
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He didn't open it until he got home. He switched on the light, flung himself onto his bed and unfolded it.
Dear Harry.
I am sorry I didn't send this by owl, although it may have been easier, this way is safer. There has been a change of plan. I feel that it is no longer safe for you to be staying with your aunt and uncle. Too many people know where you are. That is why I want you to pack you bags and be ready to leave in three days (Thursday), I will be there to pick you up at 10 am. I will explain more about the people you will be staying with when we meet, but they are very friendly, in fact you have already met one of them. They are all the same age as you, and I feel that it would be safer. Your school list and examination results will be sent to you there.
I have sent a letter to your aunt, so she already knows. I would also advise you not to tell your friends, as it could jeopardize the whole thing.
See you on Thursday.
Dumbledore.
Harry blinked in shock. He was being moved?
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So…tell me what you think!