Title: In The Name of Merlin

Author: Hope Potter

E-mail: ashley_rpger@hotmail.com

Disclaimer: I like many others wish I owned the Harry Potter series, but alas, I don't.

Thanks: Thanks to Phoenix Tears Type Six for the idea for this fic.

Summary: Harry returns to Hogwarts early and some strange things begin to happen. He is asked to take Animagus training and during that time begins to suspect someone he had known for years, isn't who the person claims to be.

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Harry pointed his wand in front of him as he watched the short hooded figure approach carrying in his arms what looked like baby, but upon further inspection proved to be just a bundle of robes. He slightly lowered his wand, as the figure grew nearer but never let his guard down. When the figure stopped, for a few short moments they watched each other. Harry dropped his wand when pain flooded his scar with agony that was oh so familiar. Feeling his knee's buckled he fell to the grassy ground and could see nothing as his vision was quickly clouded over. Though his sight was impaired his hearing had no faults. A voice from far away above his head, cold and harsh, was distinctly heard. "Kill the spare." The sound of a wand being snapped out was barely heard over the squeaky voice, "Avada Kedavra!" The sound of a body hitting the ground...

Harry Potter sat up, perspiration beaded on his forehead and breathing heavy he slowly began to realize it was nothing more than a dream, a dream he had ever since leaving Hogwarts. The same one repeated every night, not allowing him a decent night sleep.

The raven-haired boy looked at the glowing green numbers opposite of his bed which were brightly displaying 2:47. Groaning he lay back down, emerald eyes gazing up at his ceiling. The sound of his uncles snoring clearly heard and Harry thanked Merlin for that. He had taught himself not to scream out when waking from his nightmares so he wouldn't wake up his relatives. They had clearly told (more like yelled) him that they didn't need to hear nonsense such as what happened in his dreams, especially since they were associated with his kind.

Groaning Harry rolled over in his bed burying his face in his pillow. He just wanted a decent night sleep but his nightmares had been tormenting him for so long. He didn't want to bother neither Ron nor Hermione, afraid it would make them begin to worry and be protective of him. He also didn't want to tell Sirius, if he told his godfather of his nightmares he wasn't quite sure what the wrongly accused convict would do. Considering he wasn't on a mission for Dumbledore. Sirius had contacted him various times over the summer telling him bits and pieces of what he was doing, but nothing extremely important, afraid the owl would be intercepted.

Harry rolled onto his side, he knew he would be stuck with tons of chores tomorrow and needed some rest so he wouldn't be falling asleep and getting yelled at for doing so. Closing his eyes he quickly fell back asleep for the remainder of night.

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The next morning Harry woke to his Aunt screaming at him to wake up. Pushing the covers off himself he got out of bed and changed into the much too large hand me down clothes of his cousins. Over the school year his already overly size cousin had grown even more. The school had told the Dursley's if the boy didn't begin to loose weight they wouldn't be able to fit him in a uniform. That had finally made Vernon and Petunia realize their son was a 'bit' large so once again, they were eating fruit in the morning, and dinner consisted of salad. What his uncle and aunt didn't know was, hen they were sleeping, he snuck down to the kitchen and snuck food to his room. Harry found it quite funny, he wanted to see his Aunt and Uncles faces when they find out Dudley won't fit into a school uniform.

Once dressed Harry went downstairs and into the kitchen where he was greeted the same old way, "Get Dudley's breakfast, now boy. Can't have my baby going hungry because you want to slack off." Petunia looked the boy over, noting his messy hair before turning away to bustle around the kitchen doing things. Harry got the oranges they were to eat that morning and cut them all up before setting them on a plate. He set the plates down on the table before making himself comfortable in a chair and eating his bit of orange.

Vernon continued to read the newspaper, too engrossed in a story. Harry was quite glad to see this since his uncle always came up with snide remarks about his looks or something about him being a wizard. Dudley had himself fixed on the television, watching one of his TV programs. It looked like a cops and robbers type of show. His aunt bustled about the kitchen making everything was spotless and clean, she was always cleaning, making sure nothing was out of place, it was either her, or she would get Harry to do it. He slowly slid his chair out, trying not to make any noise, and slowly moved out of the kitchen. When he though he was home free the voice of his aunt quickly reach his ears. "Boy! Where do you think you are going? You have chores to do, don't think you were going to get away without anything to do." Groaning Harry turned and trudged back into the kitchen.

"That's the problem with him. Always thinking that life is fun and games and no work is involved. Just slacking off like I am sure all his kind do." Vernon was now tending to his orange, the paper placed on the table in front of him, and when not munching of his fruit, his attention focused on his nephew. "I tell you Petunia; this boy should be willing to do anything for use, considering how we took him in. But no, he thinks he is too good."

Harry had grown to ignore his uncle's remarks and quietly took the list his aunt gave him. He groaned when he saw he would have to tend to the garden out front. There had been a horrible heat wave the past week and still hadn't given up. He decided that getting it done sooner than later would mean it would be a bit cooler. So he stuffed the list of chores in his pocket and went outside.

The sun was already high in the sky beating down its heat onto anyone crazy enough to be outside. Walking over to a bed of flowers Harry began to tear out the weeds which had poked up through the variety of flowers. He made sure to get the roots. The better of a job he did the less he would have to do it. He moved onto another bed of flowers once the first one was rid of all its weeds. As he worked tediously he sighed in relief when a large shadow was cast down upon him. Noticing the shape of the shadow was that on a human and not just a passing cloud he looked up to see the friendly face of his Headmaster, Dumbledore. He quickly stood up to greet the aged wizard.

"Hello sir, Why are you here?" Harry noticed the usual twinkle in the Headmasters eyes was missing. Harry's spirits dampened quickly.

"I believe you better come inside, I'll explain everything later. Right now I need to speak to your relatives." Dumbledore gestured to the house and Harry led the way inside.

When they entered the house Harry had to blink a few times to get his vision back to normal. Compared to outside in the sun, the house was like a dungeon. Noting that no one was in the parlor he led Dumbledore to the kitchen where he found his relatives still inhabiting. Vernon looked up to see the old man and turned pale. Harry just realized why. The Headmaster was dressed in royal blue robes and wore his usual hat. His Uncle had come to relate this to Harry's kind of people.

"Uncle Vernon, aunt Petunia this is the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Professor Dumbledore." Harry grinned as his Uncle and Aunt both turned another shade lighter.

Dumbledore placed a hand on Harry's shoulder before continuing, "I am afraid I am not here on good news and I don't have much time, so I will be quick about this. "The wards, which were hiding this house from a dark wizard, have somehow been destroyed. I must now take young Harry here back to Hogwarts where he will be safer. You are all welcomed to join him at Hogwarts, but let me make one thing clear, if you stay here, you are putting your lives in great peril."

Harry was just as shocked about all of this as the Dursley's were. After a few moments Harry could see his uncles face begin to turn a dark shade of purple. "We will not be leaving this house. You can take him, but he won't be welcomed back here ever again." Petunia who had been standing by her husband slowly moved to stand behind her son as if she could protect him in some way from the wizard.

Dumbledore sighed and nodded. "That is your choice. Harry, go and collect all your things." Harry did as he was told and hurried to his room. He had managed to convince his relatives to let him have his school supplies in his room over the summer. He hurriedly packed everything and turned to Hedwig who was watching him curiously from her cage. "Could you fly to Hogwarts? I am not sure how Dumbledore plans to take me so I think you better go ahead." Hedwig flew on his shoulder and he pet her gently. Nipping his finger softly before gliding out his window.

Harry picked up her cage and grabbed a handle of his trunk and lugged it out of his room and managed to drag it down the steps. Dumbledore had been in the kitchen the whole time trying to convince the Dursley's to go to Hogwarts but knew Harry knew that it was a loosing battle. Dumbledore finished the conversation and turned to Harry and smiled. "Lets make that a bit easier to carry." He waved his wand and the trunk and cage both shrunk small enough to fit in Harry's pocket. "Ready to go?" Harry nodded.

The two of them left 4 Privet Drive and the Dursley's behind. Dumbledore led him down a small alleyway away from prying eyes. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a muggle pen, Harry had a funny feeling what that was. "This portkey will take us to Hogwarts. Now grab hold, it should be activated in a few seconds."

Harry reluctantly took hold of the portkey and within moment felt a pull at his navel. He soon found himself in Dumbledore's familiar oval office. All the usual things found on their shelves or on the walls, and Fawkes, Dumbledore's Phoenix reading on his golden perch. It looked as if he had just went through a burning not long ago.

Dumbledore sat down in his chair and looked at Harry. "I guess you're wondering why I brought you here and not to the Weasleys."

Harry took a seat in a chair placed in front of the Headmasters desk. "Well yes, tere are only a few more weeks left of summer. I was hoping I'd get to see Ron before the holiday was over."

"I am afraid you wouldn't have been safe at the Wesley's. The protection over your house extends to wherever you were on the Holidays, but now that those wards have been taken I am afraid you are no longer safe anywhere else but Hogwarts. I have sent word to Mrs. Weasly of your whereabouts and she will inform Mr. Weasly who I am sure will tell Miss Granger. Well, now that you are here at Hogwarts you are allowed to perform magic without the danger of the Ministry knowing. I also must ask you if you are willing to go under the extensive training to be an Animagus. Professor McGonagall and I have discussed this and we both think being and Animagus will benefit you in many ways."

Harry swore his jaw dropped. He couldn't believe he was being asked if he wanted to try and become and Animagus. It was a dream of his ever since he had found out his father had been one. "Of course I would! When can I begin?" Harry nearly leapt out of his seat in anticipation.

Dumbledore chuckled, "I thought you would like the idea. Sirius was just about enthusiastic about it as you are. We can begin tomorrow as I am sure you would like to rest up and do some of your homework."

Harry inwardly groaned he wanted to start right away, but he knew Dumbledore was right. He hadn't been able to do much of his homework. With all the chores he did and not getting a proper night sleep because of his dreams he had just been too tired to do anything. So he nodded in agreement.

"Wonderful, now you will be able to eat breakfast whenever you wake, but lunch will be served at noon and dinner at 6. You are free to roam wherever you wish, I just ask that you don't go any further out of the school than the Quidditch field. I am sure you will like to practice now that Quidditch will once again resume this year." Dumbledore smiled as he saw Harry's spirit rise more. "The password into Gryfindors common room is 'bouncing ferret'." (Harry nearly started laughing)

Composing himself Harry thanked the Headmaster before exiting the oval office and making his way up to his common room. "This year will definitely be interesting."

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AN: Well hello there! What do you all think of chapter 1? Yes, I know... not THAT exciting but believe me it will pick up the pace a bit in the next chapter where Harry begins his first Animagus training. So make sure to check back for the next chapter.

2nd AN: Please leave a lovely review. :0)