Harry Potter
And the Black Days of Bolderwesh
Year 5 at Hogwarts
Chapter One: Mystified Muggle News Reports
Vernon Dursley wasn't kind a man…he wasn't very tolerant of anything he found strange. Magic was one of these "strange" things. As luck would have it, his nephew, Harry Potter, was one of the most famous wizards in the magical world. Mr. Dursley tried his very best to stamp the magic out of Harry from his early years, but that had failed. On Harry's eleventh birthday he set on to go to Hogwarts School of Witchery and Wizardry. Every summer when Harry came back to Privet Drive the Dursley's were more horrible to him than the summer before.
This summer Mr. Dursley was even more cruel than usual. Harry was more submissive…he had a lot on his mind. Voldemort's beginning ascent to power the previous school year was worrying him to no end. There was no point in discussing his worries with any of the Dursleys; they'd more likely lock him up for years than try to even understand his problems.
One sweltering summer day in early July, Dudley was lying on a lopsided couch looking very dilapidated himself. Mr. Dursley was fanning himself with his newspaper, his bushy mustache drooping slightly.
"Get the mail, boy," growled Uncle Vernon. Naturally, he was speaking to Harry. He wouldn't talk to his precious "Dudder-kins" that way. Usually Dudley would have flashed a smug smile Harry's way but it was simply too hot for him to even bother. With a sigh, Harry heaved himself up off of the floor and sulked to the door. His mind was preoccupied with thoughts of the coming term. He opened the door to pick up the bulging pile of mail on the Dursleys' doorstep but stopped in midair. There was something large flying towards him, whom he recognized as his beautiful snowy owl, Hedwig. She'd been gone for a few days, and Harry was glad to see her back safely. He was surprised to see a small roll of parchment attached to her leg. She fluttered onto his arm and nipped his ear affectionately. He took the parchment off of her leg and read it. It was a letter from his godfather, Sirius.
*** *** ***
Harry, things aren't going too well here. Voldemort is getting more powerful, the signs are clearer. Karkaroff has been murdered, Voldemort's Death Eaters caught up with him somewhere in Norway. Do your best to stay indoors, and don't bother going to Ron's this holiday. Dumbledore wants you with the Dursleys until you come to Hogwarts. You should be getting a letter from Hogwarts soon; I don't know all the details yet. As I said, try to stay safe and indoors, Voldemort's spies are evertwhere. Keep your eyes open, and keep me posted on anything unusual. Don't go looking for trouble, and don't worry too much.
Sirius
*** *** ***
Harry couldn't help but worry. Voldemort's Death Eaters were vicious…and they could be anywhere. Knowing the Dursleys (and he did), they would hand him over to any old cloaked stranger who seemed particularly murderous. I'll probably stay in my room for most of the summer. At least it's a little safe in there, Harry thought. He wasn't scared, he'd faced dangerous stuff before this...his years at Hogwarts were nothing BUT strange, so he was accustomed to everything being a bit dodgy. Something inside him was feeling just a bit more cautious; he had never really faced Voldemort fully powerful.
Engulfed in his own world of thought, Harry picked up the Dursleys' mail...not noticing the thick parchment envelope bearing the Hogwarts emblem, sticking out of the pile. He walked into the house and tossed the mail on a side table near the damp-looking Mr. Dursley. Harry walked up to his room very slowly, barely paying attention to where he was going.
As he flopped onto his bed, a loud sound erupted from downstairs. It sounded very much like a roar. In particular, a roar from Mr. Dursley. Harry knew this sound only too well.
"Brilliant. I'm getting into trouble yet again. Wonder what it is this time," muttered Harry as he sulkily walked down to the sitting room. His dejected gait resembled that of Viktor Krum's, the world famous Bulgarian Quidditch Seeker.
"YOU EXPLAIN THIS RIGHT NOW," fumed Mr. Dursley. His beefy neck and sweaty face were redder than usual. His right eye had developed a queer twitch. It took almost all of Harry's willpower to keep from snickering. In Mr. Dursley's hand was the large Hogwarts envelope. It was also twitching angrily.
Harry grabbed the envelope and tore it open. He recognized the handwriting on the top piece of parchment as Dumbledore's. This bothered Harry before he had even read the letter. Why had Dumbledore himself written Harry a letter? He unfolded the parchment and read the message.
*** *** ***
Harry, I want you to come to Hogwarts early. Voldemort's present movements are very shadowed. I do not believe keeping you at the Dursleys' for the entire holiday is best and, as I said previously, staying with the Weasley's is not an option. I have decided to arrange for you to come to Hogwarts a month early with Ron and Hermione. You shall return to school on August 1st, Hagrid will meet you at King's Cross that day. From the Dursleys', Ministry of Magic officials will escort you on broom. Ron and Hermione will meet you at King's Cross as well. If you need to purchase anything for school, Hagrid will take you to Diagon Alley on July 31.
Professor Albus Dumbledore
*** *** ***
Harry looked up, eyes wide, mouth open. Even though Dumbledore sounded very worried, he couldn't get over the fact that he got to leave the Dursleys early, and a month early at that. He looked down at the letter again, just to reassure himself that he wasn't dreaming. Absorbed in a world of possibilities and things to look forward to, Harry didn't notice another two pieces of parchment under Dumbledore's letter. He started to walk to the stairs so he could write to Ron and Hermione, but a coarse grunt from Uncle Vernon stopped him.
"Wha…what is that," Uncle Vernon stammered as he pointed to the parchment in Harry's hands. He was still twitching slightly, except now he seemed a bit fearful. "You don't have to stay here do you? I won't allow it. Your aunt and I are leaving for the term. Dudley will be at school, and you can't stay here…you can't. Do you hear me?"
"Yes, perfectly. I have to report to school early this term. August 1st. The day before I have to go to Dia…I mean, where I buy my school things. You don't have to bring me or anything. Things've been arranged," said Harry mistily.
Uncle Vernon's red face cleared a little. He then became very rude again…as usual. "Can't you go earlier? Stay with one of those," he choked out, "those…people that you know?"
"No. I'm to stay here, but I'll keep out of your way," said Harry. "It's no sacrifice on my part." This he muttered walking up the stairs, Hogwarts seeming more appealing than ever before.
Up in his tiny bedroom, Harry wrote a letter each to Ron and Hermione. He couldn't wait to see them again. It will be a relief to be back in the secure grounds of Hogwarts again, thought Harry with a slight smile. Hedwig grudgingly accepted the journey to deliver the letters; she was tired after her long journey from wherever Sirius was. Harry sighed and sat down on his bed as he watched Hedwig soar out the window into a cloudy sky. It seemed more comfortable than usual. He fell back against a pillow and closed his eyes. Just as he did this, a misty blue pair of eyes popped up outside of his window and peered in quickly before disappearing into thin air. Harry drifted into a deep and, for once, dreamless sleep.
* * *
Harry woke up slowly several hours later. He glanced at his watch and realized it was broken, and had been for quite a few months. During the second task of the Triwizard Tournament, his watch stopped working because of all the swimming he did in the lake. He got up and walked downstairs and smelled a foul scent of vegetables. Dinner, he thought. It must have been around seven o'clock. The televisions were blaring from the living room and the kitchen producing and incoherent muddle of sounds. Harry opted to go for the kitchen, Dudley was most likely in the living room since Aunt Petunia was making dinner and probably watching the news in the kitchen.
The smell wafted towards Harry with increasing intensity as he walked nearer and nearer to the kitchen. It was very revolting indeed. Dudley was still on a strict diet because the school nurse said he hadn't lost that much weight, and suspected him of sneaking food at night in his dormitory. His mother and father were given specific orders to watch Dudley very carefully. The school nurse had again sent his diet to follow, and Aunt Petunia again insisted that the whole family follow the diet as well. Harry managed to get some food to hide from the Weasleys, Hermione, and Hagrid at the beginning of the summer holidays. Harry had gotten a few letters from Hagrid and Ron, but none from Hermione, aside from the parcel of food she sent early in the summer. He supposed that she probably went to visit Viktor Krum in Bulgaria, but Harry found it strange that she barely mentioned it at the end of the term.
Harry tried not to breathe very much when he walked into the kitchen. The sour smell of overcooked cabbage and Brussels sprouts was extremely overpowering. He wondered how Aunt Petunia could stand it. She was acting as if the kitchen had a very pleasant scent, not at all the foul odor that was present. Harry sat down on a chair near the scrubbed, square kitchen table. The news was screaming into his ear.
"Well, folks, our last story tonight is one of great mystery. Down in Kent, symbols of a jeweled dagger have been crudely painted on all houses, government buildings, etc. Every attempt to wash off the graffiti has failed. Scientists and other officials have come to investigate this incident, and frankly, they're stumped. One resident claims to have sat outside on his porch all night. 'I didn't see a thing. I like the night air, and often sit out on my porch all through the night. All of a sudden, as if by, oh, magic these green daggers appeared on all the doors of the houses in my community. Even my house! I saw no vandal and I did not move from my porch all that night,' said the frightened Kent resident to a WPIX22 correspondent. Similar happenings have occurred in Manchester and secluded parts of London. In the opinion of this reporter, this vandalism was a cheeky prank of a group of children out for a little fun before the summer holidays end. And this concludes the 7 o'clock news. Tune in at 11 o'clock for a brief wrap-up of today's events including any new breaking news. Good night."
Aunt Petunia clicked off the television and looked at Harry. She peered at him for several moments and then stalked out of the kitchen. Harry suspected she was going to fetch Uncle Vernon, and perhaps Dudley, but he was too involved in his own worries to truly care.
Muggles couldn't have produced the paintings of daggers on the buildings. Rampaging thoughts crashed through Harry's mind just as Uncle Vernon crashed into the kitchen.
"Your aunt has just informed me of what was said on the news. You have something to do with it don't you? You and your abnormality? I won't have anything of the sort in this house. You've brought enough odd things into our lives and if anyone is to find out…we'll move away and not tell you where we went! You'll have no place to go!" exclaimed Uncle Vernon. His shoulders were heaving and his face developed that queer twitch again. Aunt Petunia stood a little behind Uncle Vernon, her eyes showing a mixture of hatred and fear. She was quite pale and stood very still, almost like a statue.
Harry had just about enough of them. He had to say something in his defense and get upstairs to wait for Hedwig. "Listen, I have no idea how or who did this, but it certainly wasn't me. The reporter on the news was right, this was a prank done by some vandals wanting a little fun before school. No magic-"
"DO NOT SAY THAT WORD IN THIS HOUSE!" exploded Uncle Vernon, the steam almost billowing out his ears.
"Er…sorry. Nothing I have to do with was involved, all right? I'll go back up to my room if you don't mind now," Harry said quietly as he walked out of the kitchen…right smack into Dudley.
"Oy, watch where you're going you little weasel! You're going to get it now," said Dudley, aiming a punch at Harry's head. Harry was too fast for him, however. Dudley's fat fist missed him by a mile. He ducked under Dudley's outstretched arm at the right second and tore up the stairs to his room and locked the door. He figured Dudley was too lazy and hungry to bother with a chase anyway.
Harry heard a hooting coming from the window and saw Hedwig perched on the sill. "Hedwig! That was quick," said Harry, grinning at the return of his owl. Harry, expecting two letters, only took one from Hedwig as she gratefully flew back to her cage for a long nap. He unrolled the parchment and saw Ron's scrawl on the page.
*** *** ***
Hullo, Harry. I just got Dumbledore's letter. Strange, eh? Him wanting us three to go to school early and all? Well, Hermione is coming to stay with us a few days before we have to go back, Bulgaria isn't very safe right now. Dad says Durmstrang is in turmoil with the death of Karkaroff…you heard about that right? Well, anyway, the new headmaster has been found but no one here knows who it is. A Death Eater I'd reckon. Dad thinks Voldemort's return is going to cause times like years ago, before we were born. I overheard him talking with Mum the other night. The whole Ministry is dividing into those who follow Fudge and those who follow Dumbledore. Bet Malfoy isn't coming back to Hogwarts this year, the git. Anyway, I'll see you in a bit, don't let the Dursleys get you down.
Ron
*** *** ***
Harry sighed and tossed the letter onto his bedside table. He looked over to see Hedwig fast asleep in her cage. He wondered how she got back so fast; Bulgaria (if Hermione was there at all) was a long way off. Going over these thoughts, Harry dozed off. There was a glow coming from below his window, a blue illumination. Harry seemed to be quite tired lately.
* * *
Tap, tap, tap. Tap, tap, tap. A rumpled, formerly sleeping Harry was jolted out of his little nap by a tapping at his window. He got up and went to look at what was causing the little noise. He walked over to the window and saw it was almost dawn. The Dursley's wouldn't be up for several hours. The next thing that caught his attention was a beautiful tawny owl fluttering outside his window...causing the tapping. Harry opened the window and let the owl settle onto his bedpost.
Harry saw the letter attached to its leg, and removed it. Unrolling the parchment, he saw it was from Hermione. Before he could read it though, the owl was nipping at his fingers so he let it into Hedwig's cage who for some reason gladly obliged to the new owl. Ron's owl, Pig, was never accepted with such hospitality. That was Hedwig for you. Harry sat himself on the floor by the cage and began to read his letter.
*** *** ***
Harry, I just received Dumbledore's letter. It was quite a shock, wouldn't you say? I am in Bulgaria visiting with Viktor, although I must say he has gotten slightly boring over this holiday. I've learned a lot about Bulgarian magic though. It's so different from Britain. Dumbledore has signed Viktor on to help against You Know Who, since he graduated from Durmstrang and all. Speaking of which, Durmstrang supposedly found a new headmaster (have you been informed about Karkaroff?), and you simply won't believe who it is. I won't say anything now. I'll be staying with Ron for a few days before we leave, Dumbledore thought it would be best if I didn't leave from Bulgaria. I'll see you in Diagon Alley soon, but hope to receive a letter from you soon. Ah, there's Hermes...that's odd. Percy never lets Ron use his owl. Well, anyway, before I read the letter or letters rather, I'll close up. Be safe and try to survive those Dursleys.
Love from,
Hermione
*** *** ***
Harry put down the letter, and looked up at the owls. They were sleeping, quite content in fact. "So Hermione did go to Bulgaria. I wonder why Dumbledore doesn't want her leaving from there," Harry thought. He walked over to his window to close it when in the Dursley's front yard he saw a shadowed figure with vibrant, almost glowing, blue eyes.
Harry opened his mouth to speak but as soon as he did this, the eyes blinked and the shadowed figure was gone.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters, ideas, etc in the Harry Potter series written by JK Rowling. If I have taken another author's previously published idea, please inform me.
A/N: Please review my little fic. It shall have more chapters added on as time goes by. Depends on how much work I have to do. Feel free to e-mail me at any time!
And the Black Days of Bolderwesh
Year 5 at Hogwarts
Chapter One: Mystified Muggle News Reports
Vernon Dursley wasn't kind a man…he wasn't very tolerant of anything he found strange. Magic was one of these "strange" things. As luck would have it, his nephew, Harry Potter, was one of the most famous wizards in the magical world. Mr. Dursley tried his very best to stamp the magic out of Harry from his early years, but that had failed. On Harry's eleventh birthday he set on to go to Hogwarts School of Witchery and Wizardry. Every summer when Harry came back to Privet Drive the Dursley's were more horrible to him than the summer before.
This summer Mr. Dursley was even more cruel than usual. Harry was more submissive…he had a lot on his mind. Voldemort's beginning ascent to power the previous school year was worrying him to no end. There was no point in discussing his worries with any of the Dursleys; they'd more likely lock him up for years than try to even understand his problems.
One sweltering summer day in early July, Dudley was lying on a lopsided couch looking very dilapidated himself. Mr. Dursley was fanning himself with his newspaper, his bushy mustache drooping slightly.
"Get the mail, boy," growled Uncle Vernon. Naturally, he was speaking to Harry. He wouldn't talk to his precious "Dudder-kins" that way. Usually Dudley would have flashed a smug smile Harry's way but it was simply too hot for him to even bother. With a sigh, Harry heaved himself up off of the floor and sulked to the door. His mind was preoccupied with thoughts of the coming term. He opened the door to pick up the bulging pile of mail on the Dursleys' doorstep but stopped in midair. There was something large flying towards him, whom he recognized as his beautiful snowy owl, Hedwig. She'd been gone for a few days, and Harry was glad to see her back safely. He was surprised to see a small roll of parchment attached to her leg. She fluttered onto his arm and nipped his ear affectionately. He took the parchment off of her leg and read it. It was a letter from his godfather, Sirius.
*** *** ***
Harry, things aren't going too well here. Voldemort is getting more powerful, the signs are clearer. Karkaroff has been murdered, Voldemort's Death Eaters caught up with him somewhere in Norway. Do your best to stay indoors, and don't bother going to Ron's this holiday. Dumbledore wants you with the Dursleys until you come to Hogwarts. You should be getting a letter from Hogwarts soon; I don't know all the details yet. As I said, try to stay safe and indoors, Voldemort's spies are evertwhere. Keep your eyes open, and keep me posted on anything unusual. Don't go looking for trouble, and don't worry too much.
Sirius
*** *** ***
Harry couldn't help but worry. Voldemort's Death Eaters were vicious…and they could be anywhere. Knowing the Dursleys (and he did), they would hand him over to any old cloaked stranger who seemed particularly murderous. I'll probably stay in my room for most of the summer. At least it's a little safe in there, Harry thought. He wasn't scared, he'd faced dangerous stuff before this...his years at Hogwarts were nothing BUT strange, so he was accustomed to everything being a bit dodgy. Something inside him was feeling just a bit more cautious; he had never really faced Voldemort fully powerful.
Engulfed in his own world of thought, Harry picked up the Dursleys' mail...not noticing the thick parchment envelope bearing the Hogwarts emblem, sticking out of the pile. He walked into the house and tossed the mail on a side table near the damp-looking Mr. Dursley. Harry walked up to his room very slowly, barely paying attention to where he was going.
As he flopped onto his bed, a loud sound erupted from downstairs. It sounded very much like a roar. In particular, a roar from Mr. Dursley. Harry knew this sound only too well.
"Brilliant. I'm getting into trouble yet again. Wonder what it is this time," muttered Harry as he sulkily walked down to the sitting room. His dejected gait resembled that of Viktor Krum's, the world famous Bulgarian Quidditch Seeker.
"YOU EXPLAIN THIS RIGHT NOW," fumed Mr. Dursley. His beefy neck and sweaty face were redder than usual. His right eye had developed a queer twitch. It took almost all of Harry's willpower to keep from snickering. In Mr. Dursley's hand was the large Hogwarts envelope. It was also twitching angrily.
Harry grabbed the envelope and tore it open. He recognized the handwriting on the top piece of parchment as Dumbledore's. This bothered Harry before he had even read the letter. Why had Dumbledore himself written Harry a letter? He unfolded the parchment and read the message.
*** *** ***
Harry, I want you to come to Hogwarts early. Voldemort's present movements are very shadowed. I do not believe keeping you at the Dursleys' for the entire holiday is best and, as I said previously, staying with the Weasley's is not an option. I have decided to arrange for you to come to Hogwarts a month early with Ron and Hermione. You shall return to school on August 1st, Hagrid will meet you at King's Cross that day. From the Dursleys', Ministry of Magic officials will escort you on broom. Ron and Hermione will meet you at King's Cross as well. If you need to purchase anything for school, Hagrid will take you to Diagon Alley on July 31.
Professor Albus Dumbledore
*** *** ***
Harry looked up, eyes wide, mouth open. Even though Dumbledore sounded very worried, he couldn't get over the fact that he got to leave the Dursleys early, and a month early at that. He looked down at the letter again, just to reassure himself that he wasn't dreaming. Absorbed in a world of possibilities and things to look forward to, Harry didn't notice another two pieces of parchment under Dumbledore's letter. He started to walk to the stairs so he could write to Ron and Hermione, but a coarse grunt from Uncle Vernon stopped him.
"Wha…what is that," Uncle Vernon stammered as he pointed to the parchment in Harry's hands. He was still twitching slightly, except now he seemed a bit fearful. "You don't have to stay here do you? I won't allow it. Your aunt and I are leaving for the term. Dudley will be at school, and you can't stay here…you can't. Do you hear me?"
"Yes, perfectly. I have to report to school early this term. August 1st. The day before I have to go to Dia…I mean, where I buy my school things. You don't have to bring me or anything. Things've been arranged," said Harry mistily.
Uncle Vernon's red face cleared a little. He then became very rude again…as usual. "Can't you go earlier? Stay with one of those," he choked out, "those…people that you know?"
"No. I'm to stay here, but I'll keep out of your way," said Harry. "It's no sacrifice on my part." This he muttered walking up the stairs, Hogwarts seeming more appealing than ever before.
Up in his tiny bedroom, Harry wrote a letter each to Ron and Hermione. He couldn't wait to see them again. It will be a relief to be back in the secure grounds of Hogwarts again, thought Harry with a slight smile. Hedwig grudgingly accepted the journey to deliver the letters; she was tired after her long journey from wherever Sirius was. Harry sighed and sat down on his bed as he watched Hedwig soar out the window into a cloudy sky. It seemed more comfortable than usual. He fell back against a pillow and closed his eyes. Just as he did this, a misty blue pair of eyes popped up outside of his window and peered in quickly before disappearing into thin air. Harry drifted into a deep and, for once, dreamless sleep.
* * *
Harry woke up slowly several hours later. He glanced at his watch and realized it was broken, and had been for quite a few months. During the second task of the Triwizard Tournament, his watch stopped working because of all the swimming he did in the lake. He got up and walked downstairs and smelled a foul scent of vegetables. Dinner, he thought. It must have been around seven o'clock. The televisions were blaring from the living room and the kitchen producing and incoherent muddle of sounds. Harry opted to go for the kitchen, Dudley was most likely in the living room since Aunt Petunia was making dinner and probably watching the news in the kitchen.
The smell wafted towards Harry with increasing intensity as he walked nearer and nearer to the kitchen. It was very revolting indeed. Dudley was still on a strict diet because the school nurse said he hadn't lost that much weight, and suspected him of sneaking food at night in his dormitory. His mother and father were given specific orders to watch Dudley very carefully. The school nurse had again sent his diet to follow, and Aunt Petunia again insisted that the whole family follow the diet as well. Harry managed to get some food to hide from the Weasleys, Hermione, and Hagrid at the beginning of the summer holidays. Harry had gotten a few letters from Hagrid and Ron, but none from Hermione, aside from the parcel of food she sent early in the summer. He supposed that she probably went to visit Viktor Krum in Bulgaria, but Harry found it strange that she barely mentioned it at the end of the term.
Harry tried not to breathe very much when he walked into the kitchen. The sour smell of overcooked cabbage and Brussels sprouts was extremely overpowering. He wondered how Aunt Petunia could stand it. She was acting as if the kitchen had a very pleasant scent, not at all the foul odor that was present. Harry sat down on a chair near the scrubbed, square kitchen table. The news was screaming into his ear.
"Well, folks, our last story tonight is one of great mystery. Down in Kent, symbols of a jeweled dagger have been crudely painted on all houses, government buildings, etc. Every attempt to wash off the graffiti has failed. Scientists and other officials have come to investigate this incident, and frankly, they're stumped. One resident claims to have sat outside on his porch all night. 'I didn't see a thing. I like the night air, and often sit out on my porch all through the night. All of a sudden, as if by, oh, magic these green daggers appeared on all the doors of the houses in my community. Even my house! I saw no vandal and I did not move from my porch all that night,' said the frightened Kent resident to a WPIX22 correspondent. Similar happenings have occurred in Manchester and secluded parts of London. In the opinion of this reporter, this vandalism was a cheeky prank of a group of children out for a little fun before the summer holidays end. And this concludes the 7 o'clock news. Tune in at 11 o'clock for a brief wrap-up of today's events including any new breaking news. Good night."
Aunt Petunia clicked off the television and looked at Harry. She peered at him for several moments and then stalked out of the kitchen. Harry suspected she was going to fetch Uncle Vernon, and perhaps Dudley, but he was too involved in his own worries to truly care.
Muggles couldn't have produced the paintings of daggers on the buildings. Rampaging thoughts crashed through Harry's mind just as Uncle Vernon crashed into the kitchen.
"Your aunt has just informed me of what was said on the news. You have something to do with it don't you? You and your abnormality? I won't have anything of the sort in this house. You've brought enough odd things into our lives and if anyone is to find out…we'll move away and not tell you where we went! You'll have no place to go!" exclaimed Uncle Vernon. His shoulders were heaving and his face developed that queer twitch again. Aunt Petunia stood a little behind Uncle Vernon, her eyes showing a mixture of hatred and fear. She was quite pale and stood very still, almost like a statue.
Harry had just about enough of them. He had to say something in his defense and get upstairs to wait for Hedwig. "Listen, I have no idea how or who did this, but it certainly wasn't me. The reporter on the news was right, this was a prank done by some vandals wanting a little fun before school. No magic-"
"DO NOT SAY THAT WORD IN THIS HOUSE!" exploded Uncle Vernon, the steam almost billowing out his ears.
"Er…sorry. Nothing I have to do with was involved, all right? I'll go back up to my room if you don't mind now," Harry said quietly as he walked out of the kitchen…right smack into Dudley.
"Oy, watch where you're going you little weasel! You're going to get it now," said Dudley, aiming a punch at Harry's head. Harry was too fast for him, however. Dudley's fat fist missed him by a mile. He ducked under Dudley's outstretched arm at the right second and tore up the stairs to his room and locked the door. He figured Dudley was too lazy and hungry to bother with a chase anyway.
Harry heard a hooting coming from the window and saw Hedwig perched on the sill. "Hedwig! That was quick," said Harry, grinning at the return of his owl. Harry, expecting two letters, only took one from Hedwig as she gratefully flew back to her cage for a long nap. He unrolled the parchment and saw Ron's scrawl on the page.
*** *** ***
Hullo, Harry. I just got Dumbledore's letter. Strange, eh? Him wanting us three to go to school early and all? Well, Hermione is coming to stay with us a few days before we have to go back, Bulgaria isn't very safe right now. Dad says Durmstrang is in turmoil with the death of Karkaroff…you heard about that right? Well, anyway, the new headmaster has been found but no one here knows who it is. A Death Eater I'd reckon. Dad thinks Voldemort's return is going to cause times like years ago, before we were born. I overheard him talking with Mum the other night. The whole Ministry is dividing into those who follow Fudge and those who follow Dumbledore. Bet Malfoy isn't coming back to Hogwarts this year, the git. Anyway, I'll see you in a bit, don't let the Dursleys get you down.
Ron
*** *** ***
Harry sighed and tossed the letter onto his bedside table. He looked over to see Hedwig fast asleep in her cage. He wondered how she got back so fast; Bulgaria (if Hermione was there at all) was a long way off. Going over these thoughts, Harry dozed off. There was a glow coming from below his window, a blue illumination. Harry seemed to be quite tired lately.
* * *
Tap, tap, tap. Tap, tap, tap. A rumpled, formerly sleeping Harry was jolted out of his little nap by a tapping at his window. He got up and went to look at what was causing the little noise. He walked over to the window and saw it was almost dawn. The Dursley's wouldn't be up for several hours. The next thing that caught his attention was a beautiful tawny owl fluttering outside his window...causing the tapping. Harry opened the window and let the owl settle onto his bedpost.
Harry saw the letter attached to its leg, and removed it. Unrolling the parchment, he saw it was from Hermione. Before he could read it though, the owl was nipping at his fingers so he let it into Hedwig's cage who for some reason gladly obliged to the new owl. Ron's owl, Pig, was never accepted with such hospitality. That was Hedwig for you. Harry sat himself on the floor by the cage and began to read his letter.
*** *** ***
Harry, I just received Dumbledore's letter. It was quite a shock, wouldn't you say? I am in Bulgaria visiting with Viktor, although I must say he has gotten slightly boring over this holiday. I've learned a lot about Bulgarian magic though. It's so different from Britain. Dumbledore has signed Viktor on to help against You Know Who, since he graduated from Durmstrang and all. Speaking of which, Durmstrang supposedly found a new headmaster (have you been informed about Karkaroff?), and you simply won't believe who it is. I won't say anything now. I'll be staying with Ron for a few days before we leave, Dumbledore thought it would be best if I didn't leave from Bulgaria. I'll see you in Diagon Alley soon, but hope to receive a letter from you soon. Ah, there's Hermes...that's odd. Percy never lets Ron use his owl. Well, anyway, before I read the letter or letters rather, I'll close up. Be safe and try to survive those Dursleys.
Love from,
Hermione
*** *** ***
Harry put down the letter, and looked up at the owls. They were sleeping, quite content in fact. "So Hermione did go to Bulgaria. I wonder why Dumbledore doesn't want her leaving from there," Harry thought. He walked over to his window to close it when in the Dursley's front yard he saw a shadowed figure with vibrant, almost glowing, blue eyes.
Harry opened his mouth to speak but as soon as he did this, the eyes blinked and the shadowed figure was gone.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of the characters, ideas, etc in the Harry Potter series written by JK Rowling. If I have taken another author's previously published idea, please inform me.
A/N: Please review my little fic. It shall have more chapters added on as time goes by. Depends on how much work I have to do. Feel free to e-mail me at any time!