Title: HP and the Final Battle
Disclaimer: don't own a hair on Harry's head
Chapter 1: The Truth is Out
Sirius is free!
Harry collapsed on his bed with a grin. He held tight in his hands a small piece of parchment and read it over and over.
Dear Harry,
As of today, I am a free man. Dumbledore has cleared my name. I've been living in the Shrieking Shack. It's been quite cozy to an old dog. I have met a lovely woman by the name of Rosmerta in the Three Broomsticks here in Hogsmeade a few weeks ago. She's going to allow me to work there and share her small apartment. Yes, we're dating. And you, my fine godson, is looking at your final year at Hogwarts. Make it a memorable one. Come visit me soon, and bring Ron and Hermione along.
Your Godfather,
Sirius
Harry grinned. Sirius did seem to sound fine--- he even had a girlfriend! As what seemed to be the case. Ron had his eye on Lavender Brown, and Harry heard her giggle every time Ron walked by. Harry seemed to be catching quite a few girls eyes lately himself. Playing Quidditch for six years was bound to give you some muscle. Parvati Patil had winked at him a fair few times and Ginny Weasley fainted whenever he entered the room. Which was extremely annoying, but kind of sweet in its own way. But the one girl's eye that he wanted to catch was always in a book. Harry had been crazy about Hermione the last year, but was too embarrassed to tell her. She never seemed that interested in him, or any guy for that matter until fourth year and the Yule Ball. He had wanted to ask her to dance, but couldn't get up the nerve. Plus, he was really into Cho back then. He had kicked himself ever since.
For the first time in his life, Harry wasn't counting the days until he returned to Hogwarts. The majority of this was because of Hagrid's death at the end of his fifth year. Last year, he had managed to avoid looking at his vacant, lonely cabin. In his fifth year, The Order of the Phoenix was brought to life again, Mrs. Figg, Dumbledore, Sirius and Remus were a force constructed by the Ministry to dispose of Voldemort. Things hadn't gone as planned. Death Eaters attacked the school, and in the tirade, Hagrid was killed while they were searching for Harry. The Order took care of the Death Eaters, but not before Harry had another go with Voldemort. Harry only escaped because Lupin had sacrificed himself for him. Just as Voldemort raised his wand and muttered the words that couldn't kill him fifteen years ago, Lupin dove in front of Harry. Outraged, Voldemort fled, vowing to return. Why Voldemort didn't just kill him right then and there kept him awake at night for about two months.
If it weren't for Hermione and Ron, Harry would have probably went mad. They too kept out of view of Hagrid's cabin. Hermione occasionally would burst into tears in the Gryffindor common room, but they rarely spoke of him, they didn't need to really, they all remembered him in their hearts, and there wasn't anything more to say. And now, the time drawing near again. The late August breeze rustled in through the window. Harry walked over to it, staring up at the starlight sky. Ron would be here any minute with the Ford Anglia, ready to take him to the Burrow. As on que, the car came shooting towards the house. Harry leapt back in fright. Ron put on the brakes just before crashing through the window.
"Harry!" he grinned from the driver's seat.
Harry stuck his head out of the window. "What's up?"
He heard grunting and screeching from the passenger's seat. She hit her head on the glove box, screamed and scrambled back into the seat. "Thanks for the graceful stop, Ron."
"Should have worn your seat belt," Ron said, patting his own.
Hermione ignored him and turned to the Emerald eyed boy at the window. "Harry!"
"Hey," he said. "Come inside and help me get my trunk and stuff." He helped Hermione climb through the window and into his room.
Ron put the car in park and climbed in himself. Fifteen minutes later, the car was packed and trio was just about to climb inside. Hedwig soared around the car, patiently waiting for them.
Hermione wriggled on the spot.
"New kind of dance?" Ron asked.
"Noooo," she moaned. "I have to pee."
"Like a little kid!" Ron exclaimed. "I asked you before we left!"
Harry grinned.
"Oh, shut up!" she snapped and turned to Harry. "You… don't think that they'd mind?"
"Probably they would," Harry said. "But, they're asleep. Hurry up. Second door on the right."
Hermione flashed him a thumbs up and sprinted out of the room.
Ron shook his head. "Women."
Harry walked to the window. Hedwig flew down and perched herself on his arm. "Go ahead, girl. We'll met you there."
Hedwig hooted and took to the sky. Harry stood and watched her for a few minutes. He was interrupted by Hermione's shriek. He glanced at Ron, and they both jogged into the hallway. Dudley was awake, in the threshold of the bathroom. Hermione was at the sink, washing her hands.
"MUM!" Dudley screamed.
Before Harry knew what he was doing, he had whipped his wand out and pointed it at Dudley. "Out of the way! Out of the way, or I swear---"
Dudley, terrified backed up against the wall. In an instant, Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon arrived on the scene.
"What's going on here?" Uncle Vernon bloated, rubbing his eyes. He looked at Hermione, to Ron and then to Harry. "Boy?"
Harry glared Uncle Vernon dead on. "Forget it. We're leaving," he grabbed Hermione's hand and pulled her from the bathroom.
"Not so fast," Uncle Vernon said, clutching Hermione's other arm.
"Let her go," Harry demanded, positively sneering. He was sick of the Dursleys shit. He didn't have to put up with it anymore. After this year at Hogwarts, he'd probably be living with Sirius or Ron.
"What did you say to me?" Uncle Vernon hissed, squeezing Hermione's arm hard. She whimpered.
"I SAID LET HER GO," Harry said, taking his wand off Dudley and pointing it square between Uncle Vernon's eyes.
He laughed. "You can't do your hocus pocus here," he said. "You'll be kicked out of that freak school."
"Uncle Vernon, I mean it, if you don't let her go, you'll regret it."
Uncle Vernon sneered back. "How dare you. Now, I demand answers." He pointed to Ron and Hermione. "What are they doing here?"
"You can demand all you want. I have put up with this far too long," Harry said. "I'm through. You can threaten to kick me out of here, I don't care anymore! After this year, I'll never see you again." He grinned.
"Watch your mouth," Aunt Petunia snapped. Harry had forgotten she was there. She was against the wall, consoling Dudley. "I'm your mother's sister,"
"A sister you hated!" Harry cried.
"I NEVER hated Lily!" Aunt Petunia shrieked.
"Right," Harry said. "You just lied to me for eleven years about her."
Hermione kicked Uncle Vernon in the gut. He gulped and let her go and ran behind Harry.
"We've kept you all these years…" Aunt Petunia started.
"YOU NEVER LOVED ME!" Harry shouted. "Sure, you kept me here, threw me a scrap of food or two and barely kept me alive."
" I HATED YOUR FATHER!" Aunt Petunia scolded.
Ron, and Hermione gasped and turned to Harry.
"You look so much like him…he stole my sister away! He changed her! Didn't even work, the lazy fool!" Aunt Petunia cried.
"You leave my father out of this," Harry hissed. "He loved my mother and she loved him."
"You horrible people!" Hermione cut in. "You hurt Harry all of these years just because you hated his father…!" she shouted directly to Uncle Vernon.
"Harry, let's go," Ron said, putting a hand on his shoulder.
Harry sneered at the Dursleys. "Yeah, let's go. There's nothing left to say."
End of chap 1! Revieeeeeeeew!