Chapter One: The Black of Night
The house stood in shambles. The floor was solid, cold concrete. There was little furniture, and a small fireplace, where a fire was crackling. A man with red eyes and a snake like nose was sitting in a red leather chair in front of it. Another man, much smaller, with beady eyes and a silver hand, was scurrying around, not really doing anything, but pretended to be busy as to make the slit-nosed man believe that he was doing something.
"Wormtail, I suggest that you sit down. You know you fool no one with your business." Voldemort said coldly. "However, the business I have been planning will be put in place soon, so perhaps we concentrate on that."
"Yes, master," Wormtail said, trying to hide his nervousness. "This plan, it is a great one my lord, but how are we going to get.All that we need to acquire?"
"You know he will be guarded." Voldemort said. "We know not yet about the other three. If Dumbledore knows, the task will be difficult. I imagine he has some idea of what will happen. Our previous duel should have warned him. I was forced to use the shield."
"Why not posses the boy. He could get everything for you." Wormtail suggested. Voldemort took a deep breath, and the warmth was sucked from the room. Wormtail knew he had made a mistake.
"Fool! Have I not explained this! I cannot posses the boy. It hurts me as much as it hurts him. He has a force flowing through him. I am unable to stay inside his mind for very long. He has the advantage here. He seems to be able to stay in mine."
"W-what about Severus? He could.get what you needed."
"Snape? I do not trust Snape. I am waiting for a slip on his behalf. And when it comes no doubt I will torture him until he goes mad. He is in league with Dumbledore. He is a spy. They knew too much about my attack in the Department of Mysteries. So either it was him, or Potter.
"No. I will not tell Snape." He paused. "If this leaks out, no doubt will all that we need be guarded with more precautions then there are allready."
Harry Potter woke with a start. The lightning shaped scar on his forehead tingled. Nothing new there. But the dream he had just had. Voldemort was planning something. He needed something. But Harry didn't know what.
It had been about two months since Sirius had died. Two months since Harry's fool hearted mistake had brought forth his death. He regretted everything about that night. Voldemort had set the trap perfectly, and Harry had bit the hook.
And then the war began. Voldemort no longer had, or needed his stealth. The prophecy was gone, and he had been spotted. Now, he was attacking. Harry read the Daily Prophet, and the casualties were mounting. Most of the death eaters that had been caught in the Ministry of Magic had escaped. Harry was pleased to see one of them was not Lucius Malfoy. However, the Dark Mark showed up over wizard's houses by the week. Aurors were constantly alert, waiting for any sign of danger. Harry knew he was closely watched all the time. He knew that Voldemort was out to kill him.
And then he fell back suddenly, as if he was knocked unconscious, and he began another dream. It was the on he'd been having regularly; he was in the department of Mysteries, in the Death Chamber. He looked down on the floor where the large archway stood. Sirius stood in front of it. He was laughing. Then he would trip and fall through the black veil behind him. Harry yelled, "NOOOO" as he ran down the stairs to the floor. He jumped into the veil after him, and immediately wished he hadn't. He was surrounded by dead people, except they were all hideous. Blood streamed down their green, deformed faces. He often thought he had seen Cedric Diggory among the mass of bleeding monsters.
He had to find Sirius. He would walk through the crowd and find him at the end, sitting with his head down.
"You shouldn't have come, Harry." He would say.
"I had to, you need to come back."
"I can't go back, and neither can you." And he would look up. His face was deformed and bloody, like all the others. Harry screamed and put his hands to his face, where a warm liquid would get on them. He pulled them away, and discovered his face was just like the rest. This was where he would wake up, screaming and sweating. He knew this was only a nightmare, but what he would give for it to stop occurring.
Tonight, however, he didn't wake up. The vision swirled. Now he was somewhere else. He was surrounded by people in black hoods. There were probably five of them. He looked to his right and realized he was in front of a house. The Death Eaters were storming it with their wands drawn. Harry tried to follow but when he got there he heard a scream. Harry saw a flash of green light come out the window. His scar burned as if on fire. A death eater walked out of the house and put his wand to the sky. Harry saw who it was: Bellatrix Lestrange. A large skull with a snake coming out of its mouth rose over the house. Harry's scar burned severely. For the second time that night, Harry awoke with a start.
He panicked. That had not happened yet. He hadn't seen the deaths like that. That either means that it was just a coincidence, or some one was killed that Voldemort despises. He stood up and looked out the window. For a second, he thought he saw a black dog crossing the street. Knowing it was too good to be true, he looked closer and realized it was a black cat.
Harry realized there was a green glow in the distance. He looked to where it was. Fear crawled up his spine. A few blocks down, shimmering against the black sky, was the dark mark. Harry's dream had occurred just half a mile away.
He looked down Privet Drive, knowing what he'd see. Sure enough, five hooded people appeared in the shadows. He was suddenly very hot. He leapt across his room to his school supplies. He dug through his books and robes and finally found his robes. He ran out of his room. Despite his dislike for them, he knew he should warn them. Then he stopped as relief swept over him as he remembered Dumbledore's words: he could not be harmed by Voldemort in this house. However, he realized these were Voldemort's followers coming. He was not ready to take the risk of acting calm.
A loud crack sounded downstairs. He ran down into the living room to see members from the Order of the Phoenix. Remus Lupin, Arthur Weasely, Tonks, and Kingsley stood there with their wands drawn. This only half surprised him. He expected they'd have realized this before he had. It was the same group that had come into the Department of Mysteries. Then, with a sickening feeling, Harry realized that he had forgotten about Sirius.
"Stay here, Harry." Lupin said.
"Where's Arabella. She should be here by now." Kingsley said.
"Sorry, Apparated in Harry's room." She said, coming down the stairs. "It's rather hard for a Squib to dissapparate perfectly." She said.
"We need to work quickly. Clear the Death Eater, get the mark out of the sky, and make sure the muggles don't remember this in the morning." Remus said. "On the count of three, run outside and launch every curse you can think of down at them."
Harry looked around. Bellatrix was out there. The murderer of his godfather roamed the streets. He was going out with them. He didn't care what they had said. He hated her. He would kill her. Hatred boiled inside him.
"One," Lupin said, "Two.THREE!"
The five ran out the door, Harry followed them. Curses were flying down Privet Drive. Harry was about to get outside when he was pulled back.
"No, Harry!" Said his Aunt Petunia. He was shocked. He turned and looked at her. "Don't fight them." She said
"Let go of me!" Harry shouted struggling.
"I know he's back. I know he's dangerous. They'll take care of them. You were ordered to stay here."
"What do you care?"
"Just because I dislike you does not mean I want you dead. He killed my sister. I know she was a powerful witch, and the same was with that Potter. I disliked them. But I hate that man for doing what he did." She said. Harry was not sure what to think.
"What the ruddy hell is going on here!" Harry heard Uncle Vernon say while walking down the stairs. He looked out the living room window to see the order launching curses. "What the-"
"Vernon, stay back. They're keeping them away from our house." Aunt Petunia said, motioning her head down the street.
"Keeping who from our house?" He looked out the other window in the living room and saw the death eaters. "Who are they."
"Death Eaters. Evil wizards. They work for the man that killed the Potters." Aunt Petunia said.
Harry was in awe. His Aunt had surprised everybody last year by showing her knowledge of Dementors. And now this?
Dudley came stomping down the stairs.
"Get back upstairs, boy!" Vernon screamed.
The chaos that had erupted in the Dursely house was one that Harry had never seen. Vernon was as confused with Petunia as Harry was.
"I have to get out there." Harry said calmly.
"He.that headmaster of yours.Said you were to stay here in the event of danger." Petunia said. "I will not allow you to go."
"But she's out there!" Harry pleaded.
"Who's out there." Vernon said angrily.
"The one that killed my godfather."
"This is not a time for revenge." Petunia said.
Harry pointed his wand at her.
"Let me go." He said.
She stared at it as if it were about to explode.
"Don't point that ruddy thing at her!" Vernon said.
"Tell her to let me go then."
Petunia's grip lightened, and then she let it go completely. Harry ran outside.
"No, Harry!" Yelled Mr. Weasely. "REPELLO!" He shouted, pointed his wand at Harry. Harry was shot back through the doorway. With another flick of his wand he closed the door. Harry stood up to open it, but it wouldn't budge.
"Alahamora." Harry said, but the door remained locked.
Harry ran to the window to watch. One of the Death Eaters was down, and Figg was limping, but it was the Order that was advancing. Harry watched for ten minutes. Lupin was stunned, but Kingsley had quickly shouted "Ennervate!" And they continued marching forward. Finally, the death eaters dissapparated, but not without each of them launching the killing curse.
The five wizards dove out of the way and the curses flew over their heads. They hurried back to the Dursely's house. Mr. Weasely opened the door with his wand and they walked in. Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon were a nervous wreck, sitting on the floor clinging to each other.
"It's okay, they're gone." Kingsley said.
"Good, then get out!" Uncle Vernon screamed.
"We need to talk to Harry." Lupin said.
"Let's go, Vernon." Petunia said. Pulling Vernon up the stairs as he gawked at her, completely confused at how she was acting around these people. The Order and Harry took seats around the living room.
"Are you okay, Harry?" Mr. Weasely asked.
"How could I not be. You wouldn't let me outside." Harry replied angrily.
"Don't be angry about that Harry. You must understand that you cannot come too close to the death eaters. You know Voldemort is after you." Lupin said. Some of the others cringed at the name.
"Lestrange was out there." Harry said. The group was silent, staring at him with pity.
"How do you know?" Asked Tonks.
"That Dark Mark down the block.She put it up there. I dreamed it." Harry said.
"You can't go hunting for her, Harry." Lupin said. "I hate her as much as you do. But you must see the danger of searching for her."
"Who was killed?" Harry asked. "Why was the dark mark there? Why could I see it in my dreams?"
"It was a muggle." Kingsley said. "They did it for fun. Sort of a warm up for you. I suppose you could see it because it was so close by, and you were in danger. You-know-who wasn't there, as he is usually in your dreams like that, so I assume you see his plans if they are close, even if he is not there."
Harry remembered his first dream.
"He's planning something. He says he needs things that are closely guarded. I assume I am one of them. That's what this was about." Harry said.
"No." Lupin said in thought. "He would have sent more, and he would have come. I think, maybe, that this was a distraction."
"For what?" Harry asked.
"I don't know. No doubt, if they could they would have taken you. But that didn't seem to be the main plan."
"We left aurors in every major place. They couldn't have gotten in. We even had some at the gates at Hogwarts." Kingsley said.
"Well, then he may have succeeded. Surely you know there are more ways then gates to get into Hogwarts." Lupin said.
"Yes, but surely.surely they didn't use one of the passages. How could he know?" Mr. Weasely said.
"Because Peter Pettigrew was once my friend." Lupin said calmly.
* * *
It turned out they were correct. However, it was not Hogwarts that was broken into; it was the museum of Wizard History. Nothing was taken except a very large role of parchment that merely contained a family tree of famous wizards. The Daily Prophet and the Ministry seemed to think this was no big deal. Harry thought differently. If Voldemort went through that trouble to get it, it was more important then people realized.
It was now the beginning of August, a few weeks after the attack on Privet Drive. Harry was now 16. He was a tall, thin young man (although his uncle still called him 'boy') with the same untidy black hair that he had had all of his life. His lightning shaped scar on his forehead was now much more prominent since Voldemort's definite return to power. His green eyes, the same green eyes his mother had had, were very distinguishing through his glasses.
Right now he was in his room writing his letter to Alastor Moody, assuring that the Dursleys were treating him okay. The summer had been considerably better; treatment-wise. The Dursleys had been forced to treat him well by Moody at the end of last year. It was the best summer Harry had had since before his first year when his aunt and uncle were afraid of Sirius. Harry paused thinking of Sirius. He wondered if the guilt would ever leave.
He made the note short and to the point: "Everything is fine. I'm just checking in." He sealed it and tied it to Hedwig's leg. He opened the window to send her off when a brown barn owl flew in. The envelope had the Hogwarts seal on it. Harry's stomach lurched. His O.W.L. results were here, and later then expected. He sent Hedwig off, and ripped open the Hogwart's envelope. Two letters, a report card, and a badge fell out. Harry wasn't surprised to find it a prefect badge. He had assumed, after the end of last year, that Dumbledore might do this. He read the first note.
"We are pleased to tell you that you have been selected to be a prefect for the Gryffindor house. Please note that the younger students." Harry knew what this was saying: 'be good, obey the rules,' so he went down to the handwritten part at the bottom.
"Harry, I do not expect you to be the, so to speak, perfect prefect. I know you have a lot on your mind now. This is just letting you know that you deserve to wear this badge." It was signed by Dumbledore. "P.S. Don't worry, Ron and Hermione are still prefects. We made an exception for you." This phrase relieved and bothered Harry. He was glad that he hadn't replaced any one, but he was getting tired of people making exceptions for him. After all, he was a normal boy, or at least tried to be. Things would just always.Get in the way.
He then picked up the second letter. Not surprisingly, it was his booklist for his sixth year. Then, his hands shaking slightly, he picked up his O.W.L. report card and read:
Dear Mr. Potter,
You will find the results of your Ordinary Wizarding Tests at the bottom of this sheet. We hope you are pleased with your results, and are looking forward to the N.E.W.T.S you will be taking in your seventh year. Enjoy the rest of you summer,
Sincerely,
The Examination Committee
P.S. We apologize for the late arrival. We've been very backed up.
~Transfiguration: O
~History of Magic: E
~Divination: D
~Potions: O
~Defense Against the Dark Arts: O
~Care of Magical Creatures: O
~Charms: E
~Astronomy: P
~Herbology: E
The only grade that half-surprised Harry was potions. He knew it was much easier when Snape wasn't breathing down your neck as you made your potions, but he never expected an 'Outstanding' grade. He winched as he thought of Professor Snape's NEWT classes.
Then, a thought occurred to him. He, Ron, and Hermione would be split up for classes. He might be taking higher classes while Ron and Hermione, he laughed, while Ron would be taking some of the lower classes. Well, he could have gotten into the same classes as Harry, except for potions. Harry did not like the idea of a Ron-less potion class.
Relieved that he did fine on his O.W.L.s, and glad that he didn't have to take NEWTs until next year, Harry tossed the report cards down. He lay back on his bed, and slowly drifted off to sleep.
Harry was back in the old house. He turned to see Voldemort pointing his wand at Pettigrew, who was squirming on the floor in pain as the Cruciatus curse writhed through him. Harry remembered what Lestrange had said to him last year. "You have to enjoy it." Harry noticed Voldemort did have a pleased look on his face.
He lifted his wand.
"Do not tell me what can or cannot be done, Wormtail." He said coldly.
"I'm sorry my Lord, I just did not understand." Wormtail replied, his voice shaking.
"The tree branched off years ago, Wormtail, nobody would suspect this."
"Yes, forgive me my lord. But, they are friends at Hogwarts. How do we get them?"
"We are still working on that. There is one thing for sure within this plan, Wormtail. Now is my chance to kill Harry Potter.Right after he delivers the weapon into my hand." Voldemort said with an evil half smile and a manic glint in his eye. Then, as Harry scar felt as if it would burst, Voldemort clutched his forehead.
"Potter is here." He said. Harry felt a hatred flow through him. It was anger as Harry had never known.
He woke up sweating.
'He felt my pain.' Harry thought as he sat up in his bed, panting like a tired dog. Something warm was running down his cheek. He brushed his hand against it and looked at it. He had wiped up a stream of blood. He looked in the mirror and gasped. The bottom of his scar had opened, and blood was slowly dripping out of it.
The house stood in shambles. The floor was solid, cold concrete. There was little furniture, and a small fireplace, where a fire was crackling. A man with red eyes and a snake like nose was sitting in a red leather chair in front of it. Another man, much smaller, with beady eyes and a silver hand, was scurrying around, not really doing anything, but pretended to be busy as to make the slit-nosed man believe that he was doing something.
"Wormtail, I suggest that you sit down. You know you fool no one with your business." Voldemort said coldly. "However, the business I have been planning will be put in place soon, so perhaps we concentrate on that."
"Yes, master," Wormtail said, trying to hide his nervousness. "This plan, it is a great one my lord, but how are we going to get.All that we need to acquire?"
"You know he will be guarded." Voldemort said. "We know not yet about the other three. If Dumbledore knows, the task will be difficult. I imagine he has some idea of what will happen. Our previous duel should have warned him. I was forced to use the shield."
"Why not posses the boy. He could get everything for you." Wormtail suggested. Voldemort took a deep breath, and the warmth was sucked from the room. Wormtail knew he had made a mistake.
"Fool! Have I not explained this! I cannot posses the boy. It hurts me as much as it hurts him. He has a force flowing through him. I am unable to stay inside his mind for very long. He has the advantage here. He seems to be able to stay in mine."
"W-what about Severus? He could.get what you needed."
"Snape? I do not trust Snape. I am waiting for a slip on his behalf. And when it comes no doubt I will torture him until he goes mad. He is in league with Dumbledore. He is a spy. They knew too much about my attack in the Department of Mysteries. So either it was him, or Potter.
"No. I will not tell Snape." He paused. "If this leaks out, no doubt will all that we need be guarded with more precautions then there are allready."
Harry Potter woke with a start. The lightning shaped scar on his forehead tingled. Nothing new there. But the dream he had just had. Voldemort was planning something. He needed something. But Harry didn't know what.
It had been about two months since Sirius had died. Two months since Harry's fool hearted mistake had brought forth his death. He regretted everything about that night. Voldemort had set the trap perfectly, and Harry had bit the hook.
And then the war began. Voldemort no longer had, or needed his stealth. The prophecy was gone, and he had been spotted. Now, he was attacking. Harry read the Daily Prophet, and the casualties were mounting. Most of the death eaters that had been caught in the Ministry of Magic had escaped. Harry was pleased to see one of them was not Lucius Malfoy. However, the Dark Mark showed up over wizard's houses by the week. Aurors were constantly alert, waiting for any sign of danger. Harry knew he was closely watched all the time. He knew that Voldemort was out to kill him.
And then he fell back suddenly, as if he was knocked unconscious, and he began another dream. It was the on he'd been having regularly; he was in the department of Mysteries, in the Death Chamber. He looked down on the floor where the large archway stood. Sirius stood in front of it. He was laughing. Then he would trip and fall through the black veil behind him. Harry yelled, "NOOOO" as he ran down the stairs to the floor. He jumped into the veil after him, and immediately wished he hadn't. He was surrounded by dead people, except they were all hideous. Blood streamed down their green, deformed faces. He often thought he had seen Cedric Diggory among the mass of bleeding monsters.
He had to find Sirius. He would walk through the crowd and find him at the end, sitting with his head down.
"You shouldn't have come, Harry." He would say.
"I had to, you need to come back."
"I can't go back, and neither can you." And he would look up. His face was deformed and bloody, like all the others. Harry screamed and put his hands to his face, where a warm liquid would get on them. He pulled them away, and discovered his face was just like the rest. This was where he would wake up, screaming and sweating. He knew this was only a nightmare, but what he would give for it to stop occurring.
Tonight, however, he didn't wake up. The vision swirled. Now he was somewhere else. He was surrounded by people in black hoods. There were probably five of them. He looked to his right and realized he was in front of a house. The Death Eaters were storming it with their wands drawn. Harry tried to follow but when he got there he heard a scream. Harry saw a flash of green light come out the window. His scar burned as if on fire. A death eater walked out of the house and put his wand to the sky. Harry saw who it was: Bellatrix Lestrange. A large skull with a snake coming out of its mouth rose over the house. Harry's scar burned severely. For the second time that night, Harry awoke with a start.
He panicked. That had not happened yet. He hadn't seen the deaths like that. That either means that it was just a coincidence, or some one was killed that Voldemort despises. He stood up and looked out the window. For a second, he thought he saw a black dog crossing the street. Knowing it was too good to be true, he looked closer and realized it was a black cat.
Harry realized there was a green glow in the distance. He looked to where it was. Fear crawled up his spine. A few blocks down, shimmering against the black sky, was the dark mark. Harry's dream had occurred just half a mile away.
He looked down Privet Drive, knowing what he'd see. Sure enough, five hooded people appeared in the shadows. He was suddenly very hot. He leapt across his room to his school supplies. He dug through his books and robes and finally found his robes. He ran out of his room. Despite his dislike for them, he knew he should warn them. Then he stopped as relief swept over him as he remembered Dumbledore's words: he could not be harmed by Voldemort in this house. However, he realized these were Voldemort's followers coming. He was not ready to take the risk of acting calm.
A loud crack sounded downstairs. He ran down into the living room to see members from the Order of the Phoenix. Remus Lupin, Arthur Weasely, Tonks, and Kingsley stood there with their wands drawn. This only half surprised him. He expected they'd have realized this before he had. It was the same group that had come into the Department of Mysteries. Then, with a sickening feeling, Harry realized that he had forgotten about Sirius.
"Stay here, Harry." Lupin said.
"Where's Arabella. She should be here by now." Kingsley said.
"Sorry, Apparated in Harry's room." She said, coming down the stairs. "It's rather hard for a Squib to dissapparate perfectly." She said.
"We need to work quickly. Clear the Death Eater, get the mark out of the sky, and make sure the muggles don't remember this in the morning." Remus said. "On the count of three, run outside and launch every curse you can think of down at them."
Harry looked around. Bellatrix was out there. The murderer of his godfather roamed the streets. He was going out with them. He didn't care what they had said. He hated her. He would kill her. Hatred boiled inside him.
"One," Lupin said, "Two.THREE!"
The five ran out the door, Harry followed them. Curses were flying down Privet Drive. Harry was about to get outside when he was pulled back.
"No, Harry!" Said his Aunt Petunia. He was shocked. He turned and looked at her. "Don't fight them." She said
"Let go of me!" Harry shouted struggling.
"I know he's back. I know he's dangerous. They'll take care of them. You were ordered to stay here."
"What do you care?"
"Just because I dislike you does not mean I want you dead. He killed my sister. I know she was a powerful witch, and the same was with that Potter. I disliked them. But I hate that man for doing what he did." She said. Harry was not sure what to think.
"What the ruddy hell is going on here!" Harry heard Uncle Vernon say while walking down the stairs. He looked out the living room window to see the order launching curses. "What the-"
"Vernon, stay back. They're keeping them away from our house." Aunt Petunia said, motioning her head down the street.
"Keeping who from our house?" He looked out the other window in the living room and saw the death eaters. "Who are they."
"Death Eaters. Evil wizards. They work for the man that killed the Potters." Aunt Petunia said.
Harry was in awe. His Aunt had surprised everybody last year by showing her knowledge of Dementors. And now this?
Dudley came stomping down the stairs.
"Get back upstairs, boy!" Vernon screamed.
The chaos that had erupted in the Dursely house was one that Harry had never seen. Vernon was as confused with Petunia as Harry was.
"I have to get out there." Harry said calmly.
"He.that headmaster of yours.Said you were to stay here in the event of danger." Petunia said. "I will not allow you to go."
"But she's out there!" Harry pleaded.
"Who's out there." Vernon said angrily.
"The one that killed my godfather."
"This is not a time for revenge." Petunia said.
Harry pointed his wand at her.
"Let me go." He said.
She stared at it as if it were about to explode.
"Don't point that ruddy thing at her!" Vernon said.
"Tell her to let me go then."
Petunia's grip lightened, and then she let it go completely. Harry ran outside.
"No, Harry!" Yelled Mr. Weasely. "REPELLO!" He shouted, pointed his wand at Harry. Harry was shot back through the doorway. With another flick of his wand he closed the door. Harry stood up to open it, but it wouldn't budge.
"Alahamora." Harry said, but the door remained locked.
Harry ran to the window to watch. One of the Death Eaters was down, and Figg was limping, but it was the Order that was advancing. Harry watched for ten minutes. Lupin was stunned, but Kingsley had quickly shouted "Ennervate!" And they continued marching forward. Finally, the death eaters dissapparated, but not without each of them launching the killing curse.
The five wizards dove out of the way and the curses flew over their heads. They hurried back to the Dursely's house. Mr. Weasely opened the door with his wand and they walked in. Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon were a nervous wreck, sitting on the floor clinging to each other.
"It's okay, they're gone." Kingsley said.
"Good, then get out!" Uncle Vernon screamed.
"We need to talk to Harry." Lupin said.
"Let's go, Vernon." Petunia said. Pulling Vernon up the stairs as he gawked at her, completely confused at how she was acting around these people. The Order and Harry took seats around the living room.
"Are you okay, Harry?" Mr. Weasely asked.
"How could I not be. You wouldn't let me outside." Harry replied angrily.
"Don't be angry about that Harry. You must understand that you cannot come too close to the death eaters. You know Voldemort is after you." Lupin said. Some of the others cringed at the name.
"Lestrange was out there." Harry said. The group was silent, staring at him with pity.
"How do you know?" Asked Tonks.
"That Dark Mark down the block.She put it up there. I dreamed it." Harry said.
"You can't go hunting for her, Harry." Lupin said. "I hate her as much as you do. But you must see the danger of searching for her."
"Who was killed?" Harry asked. "Why was the dark mark there? Why could I see it in my dreams?"
"It was a muggle." Kingsley said. "They did it for fun. Sort of a warm up for you. I suppose you could see it because it was so close by, and you were in danger. You-know-who wasn't there, as he is usually in your dreams like that, so I assume you see his plans if they are close, even if he is not there."
Harry remembered his first dream.
"He's planning something. He says he needs things that are closely guarded. I assume I am one of them. That's what this was about." Harry said.
"No." Lupin said in thought. "He would have sent more, and he would have come. I think, maybe, that this was a distraction."
"For what?" Harry asked.
"I don't know. No doubt, if they could they would have taken you. But that didn't seem to be the main plan."
"We left aurors in every major place. They couldn't have gotten in. We even had some at the gates at Hogwarts." Kingsley said.
"Well, then he may have succeeded. Surely you know there are more ways then gates to get into Hogwarts." Lupin said.
"Yes, but surely.surely they didn't use one of the passages. How could he know?" Mr. Weasely said.
"Because Peter Pettigrew was once my friend." Lupin said calmly.
* * *
It turned out they were correct. However, it was not Hogwarts that was broken into; it was the museum of Wizard History. Nothing was taken except a very large role of parchment that merely contained a family tree of famous wizards. The Daily Prophet and the Ministry seemed to think this was no big deal. Harry thought differently. If Voldemort went through that trouble to get it, it was more important then people realized.
It was now the beginning of August, a few weeks after the attack on Privet Drive. Harry was now 16. He was a tall, thin young man (although his uncle still called him 'boy') with the same untidy black hair that he had had all of his life. His lightning shaped scar on his forehead was now much more prominent since Voldemort's definite return to power. His green eyes, the same green eyes his mother had had, were very distinguishing through his glasses.
Right now he was in his room writing his letter to Alastor Moody, assuring that the Dursleys were treating him okay. The summer had been considerably better; treatment-wise. The Dursleys had been forced to treat him well by Moody at the end of last year. It was the best summer Harry had had since before his first year when his aunt and uncle were afraid of Sirius. Harry paused thinking of Sirius. He wondered if the guilt would ever leave.
He made the note short and to the point: "Everything is fine. I'm just checking in." He sealed it and tied it to Hedwig's leg. He opened the window to send her off when a brown barn owl flew in. The envelope had the Hogwarts seal on it. Harry's stomach lurched. His O.W.L. results were here, and later then expected. He sent Hedwig off, and ripped open the Hogwart's envelope. Two letters, a report card, and a badge fell out. Harry wasn't surprised to find it a prefect badge. He had assumed, after the end of last year, that Dumbledore might do this. He read the first note.
"We are pleased to tell you that you have been selected to be a prefect for the Gryffindor house. Please note that the younger students." Harry knew what this was saying: 'be good, obey the rules,' so he went down to the handwritten part at the bottom.
"Harry, I do not expect you to be the, so to speak, perfect prefect. I know you have a lot on your mind now. This is just letting you know that you deserve to wear this badge." It was signed by Dumbledore. "P.S. Don't worry, Ron and Hermione are still prefects. We made an exception for you." This phrase relieved and bothered Harry. He was glad that he hadn't replaced any one, but he was getting tired of people making exceptions for him. After all, he was a normal boy, or at least tried to be. Things would just always.Get in the way.
He then picked up the second letter. Not surprisingly, it was his booklist for his sixth year. Then, his hands shaking slightly, he picked up his O.W.L. report card and read:
Dear Mr. Potter,
You will find the results of your Ordinary Wizarding Tests at the bottom of this sheet. We hope you are pleased with your results, and are looking forward to the N.E.W.T.S you will be taking in your seventh year. Enjoy the rest of you summer,
Sincerely,
The Examination Committee
P.S. We apologize for the late arrival. We've been very backed up.
~Transfiguration: O
~History of Magic: E
~Divination: D
~Potions: O
~Defense Against the Dark Arts: O
~Care of Magical Creatures: O
~Charms: E
~Astronomy: P
~Herbology: E
The only grade that half-surprised Harry was potions. He knew it was much easier when Snape wasn't breathing down your neck as you made your potions, but he never expected an 'Outstanding' grade. He winched as he thought of Professor Snape's NEWT classes.
Then, a thought occurred to him. He, Ron, and Hermione would be split up for classes. He might be taking higher classes while Ron and Hermione, he laughed, while Ron would be taking some of the lower classes. Well, he could have gotten into the same classes as Harry, except for potions. Harry did not like the idea of a Ron-less potion class.
Relieved that he did fine on his O.W.L.s, and glad that he didn't have to take NEWTs until next year, Harry tossed the report cards down. He lay back on his bed, and slowly drifted off to sleep.
Harry was back in the old house. He turned to see Voldemort pointing his wand at Pettigrew, who was squirming on the floor in pain as the Cruciatus curse writhed through him. Harry remembered what Lestrange had said to him last year. "You have to enjoy it." Harry noticed Voldemort did have a pleased look on his face.
He lifted his wand.
"Do not tell me what can or cannot be done, Wormtail." He said coldly.
"I'm sorry my Lord, I just did not understand." Wormtail replied, his voice shaking.
"The tree branched off years ago, Wormtail, nobody would suspect this."
"Yes, forgive me my lord. But, they are friends at Hogwarts. How do we get them?"
"We are still working on that. There is one thing for sure within this plan, Wormtail. Now is my chance to kill Harry Potter.Right after he delivers the weapon into my hand." Voldemort said with an evil half smile and a manic glint in his eye. Then, as Harry scar felt as if it would burst, Voldemort clutched his forehead.
"Potter is here." He said. Harry felt a hatred flow through him. It was anger as Harry had never known.
He woke up sweating.
'He felt my pain.' Harry thought as he sat up in his bed, panting like a tired dog. Something warm was running down his cheek. He brushed his hand against it and looked at it. He had wiped up a stream of blood. He looked in the mirror and gasped. The bottom of his scar had opened, and blood was slowly dripping out of it.