Chapter 1: The Rescue From Private Drive.
Harry awoke in his room and blinked his eyes rapidly. He reached his bed side to find his glasses and once his fingers found them he placed them on his face with a tired yawn. He could hear Petunia muttering downstairs and Dudley whining about something or other. With a sigh Harry got dressed into a light blue shirt and black jacket and threw on an old hammy down pair of jeans that had once belonged to Dudley. He grabbed a belt from the wardrobe and secured it tightly, even though they were still a little big- he thought glumly.
The shirt and jacket were brand new, Mrs. Weasley had- with Harry's direct permission- used some money from his Gringott's account to pay for some new clothes to wear. His trousers, however, were torn after he bought them so Mrs. Weasley took them back to hers to mend them by hand rather than magic, she really had a lot of work to do since the shock of Voldemort's return and Cedric's death which caught her as well as everyone else by surprise.
He stroked Hedwig and walked downstairs to cook his own breakfast- as usual- he was silent as he approached the landing, he walked to the kitchen door and pushed it open- stepping into the room- Dudley could not care less about Harry's presence, not when there was food before him of course, not that Harry minded as he wasn't that fond of his cousin on a morning either.
"I see you're up," Petunia grumbled, though making it loud enough for Harry to hear. Harry almost responded until he decided that today she simply was not worth his strength. "Still moping about that prat that died?" She said harshly, her tone did not shock Harry. The only reason they knew about Diggory's death is because Albus came by to personally warn them that he may be feeling under the weather due to the death of a fellow student, though this did nothing but allow Dudley more ammo to throw his way, as it is the only thing that stopped him fighting back.
Harry did not look at her or even acknowledge that he had heard her, instead he went to the bread bin and pulled out the remaining two pieces of bread- though just before he did Dudley whined: "I WANT BREAD AND BUTTER!" Petunia snatched the bread from Harry's hands without hesitation and began buttering it for Dudley- who grinned at Harry- he did not really want bread and butter, rather he just wanted to be cruel to Harry as usual. Eventually Harry gave up; Ron had promised to owl him some sweets as he knew Harry would probably need it.
"What on earth are you wearing boy?" Barked Uncle Vernon, he eyed Harry's new clothes questionably and Harry stared straight back.
"Clothes." He replied simply. Vernon threw down his paper and approached Harry, his large pink face towering over him.
"Don't get funny with me boy! Where'd you get this and how did you pay for it?" He asked, pulling on Harry's shirt- none to gently- Dudley noticed and was appalled and jealous as he noticed Harry's clothes were better than his own.
"Mrs. Weasley bought me them and it was with my money that I got from Gringott's!" Harry yelled back as he was tired of Vernon pulling on his shirt and jacket.
"More talk about this nonsense world of yours?" Petunia spat with distain. "So glad I'm not a part of it." She turned away and went to polish the table top in the kitchen.
"You mean like my mum, your sister?" He asked calmly. He knew he should not have said that but he was more confident in standing up for himself now and as he realised from past experience, these people should never get the better of him. Dudley frowned and left the room with a tub of yogurt clasped in his beefy hands. Vernon's eyes narrowed and flames danced in them, he reminded Harry of a much fatter and uglier version of Voldemort- except with the nose and no slits for eyes. Petunia turned sharply to face him, eyes blazing.
"Excuse me?" She said quietly, though she shook with anger at the remembrance of her sister's status.
"You heard me." Harry responded coolly, normally he would have been afraid but he had literally looked danger in the face and so could no longer fear his vicious aunt and uncle. "Doesn't it bother you that the man who murdered my parents, your sister, is back and still alive?" He cried out in anger mostly. Petunia said in a low growl.
"Vernon... Get him out of my sight!" Petunia could pretend she had no heart but Harry knew that even she missed her sister at times and that was probably the reason why she hated this whole 'magic' world and anyone involved in it. He did not know exactly if they were close but they were still family.
Vernon grabbed him- viciously- and pulled him to the cupboard under the stairs, he had not been in there since he was ten and now he was almost fifteen. He was forced in and the door was slammed shut and locked. Harry's wand and spell books and letters and owl were all in his room and all that was in here were his old figures and cob webs from the spiders, dust covered the whole room and Harry had almost out grown the small space as he shifted himself into a less awkward position. He sighed to himself; maybe he should have kept his mouth shut after all.
Suddenly Harry heard a loud crack! Followed by the Dursleys screaming. "It's you, Vernon, it's them again, get them out!" Petunia roared. Harry pressed himself up against the door and listened.
"Whoa Relax!" Came Ron's shocked voice. That's when Harry remembered that Ron wrote Harry saying he and the twins would pick him up from the Dursleys the next day, which was today. He could hear Vernon throwing swear words at them but he could not be sure where Ron was. "Where's Harry?" Ron asked. Harry was about to speak when Vernon said.
"He's not here!" Harry could hear Ron as he scoffed.
"Then where is he?"
"How should I know?" He responded, sounding slightly nervous. Harry chose this moment to act as he banged on the door with all his might, screaming out Ron's name.
"Ron, Ron, I'm in here let me out!" He bellowed as loud as he could, he heard shuffling feat and could tell Ron had come closer. "Ron, I'm under the stairs!" He called out and he heard Ron and two others gasp.
"You locked him under the bloody stairs?" Screamed a voice that belonged to one of the twins, Harry could not tell from their voices who had spoken but he knew it was one of them. "Move back Ron, MOVE BACK HARRY!" The twin called out, Harry obeyed and leaned away, instantly the lock had broken and the door swung outwards, Ron turned white as he rushed to help Harry out of the cupboard. Harry gasped for breath as he just realised how little oxygen there was in there.
"Bloody hell, Harry, are you alright?" Ron asked, eyeing him with concern. Harry nodded quickly. George turned to the Dursley's and glared as did Fred.
"Wait, you guys apparated here?" Harry asked, they all nodded. Fred smiled and said.
"George and I just got our apparating licence last month!" He beamed.
"Yeah and guess what!" George exclaimed, forgetting about the Dursleys. "We got a place on Diagon Alley for the store!" He laughed and high fived his brother. Harry smiled brightly at them.
"You gotta show me where!" He laughed.
"Well we all can," Said Ron. "They've agreed to show us when we go get our stuff for school."
"Is Hermione at the Burrow?" Harry asked. Ron nodded enthusiastically whereas the twins grinned and Harry knew exactly what they were thinking. "Well should we go?" George clapped his hands.
"Oh yeah I forgot, I wondered why we were still in this rat whole." He said walking up to Harry and Ron.
"Excuse me?"Flared Vernon.
"Oh he said this place is a rat whole." Responded Fred, causing Harry to laugh.
"Oh wait!" Said Harry suddenly. Ron turned to him. "I need my school stuff, Hedwig, my wand, my broom you know!" Ron nodded.
"I'll come with you, you two better come as well; dad's not here to fix your mess if you do something to those muggles." Said Ron, jerking his thumb to the Dursley's who had frozen in the kitchen doorway. The twins snickered and everyone followed Harry upstairs. "Hey, Harry, you'll never guess who's been chosen for the team leader in Quidditch for Gryffindor!"
"Who?" Asked Harry as he heaved his suite case onto the bed.
"You!" Ron burst out happily. Harry stood in shock for a moment and was about to ask Ron how he knew when suddenly Fred said.
"Way to ruin the surprise Ron!" Ron shrugged his shoulders and helped Harry find his wand.
"Angelina came around in the summer and said that she was a little pressured when she was told how much work went into coaching, she was worried she wouldn't have enough time to study for her N.E.W.T's so she passed it onto you instead, she said she'd tell you during the feast when we got back." George explained and Harry nodded and eyed his stuff worriedly.
"How are we gonna apparate with all this stuff?" His suite case, broom and owl were all laid out before him and eventually Ron decided.
"Well... You take Hedwig, I'll take the broom and those two can take the trunk." Ron said.
"Can you guys apparate with this stuff?" Harry asked and the twins nodded, his heart gave a leap of joy as he grabbed Hedwig and stood beside the twins, Harry beside George and Ron beside Fred. They all joined hands and instantly Harry felt sick as the colours of his room blended and moulded before his eyes as he felt as though he was speeding through time, he felt momentarily blind and for a second was nervous that the twins had done something wrong, yet he felt George's grip on his hand tighten and so Harry tightened his grip, his stomach lurched and then... They fell.
Ron held out a hand and Harry smiled as he took it and drank in the sight around him, they were in the Burrow and it was as beautiful and creative as always, he felt at home, for a moment all was peaceful until. "Oh you made it!" Harry was caught in a famous back crushing hug given to him by none other than Mrs. Weasley, a lovely plump woman who treated him so sweetly that he felt it would be impossible to ever get angry or annoyed by her.
"Let the kid breathe!" George laughed as he patted his mothers back, Molly pulled away and instead pulled all three boys into the same crushing hug at once, banging their heads together in the process. The three groaned but Harry could not help but grin.
"HARRY!" Screamed Hermione, he barely had time to register that it was her until she had finally wrapped her arms around his neck; he almost fell over at the impact but eventually laughed and smiled at her bushy head. She pulled away and smiled, radiantly, at him. That winning smile was contagious as it spread to his in mere seconds. She looked down and picked up Hedwig's cage and started rubbing her feathers lovingly. Harry grinned and Hermione grasped the cage and faced Harry. "You're staying in Ron's room. It's great to see you! We should catch up later, I kinda just ran out on Ginny." She said with a little glint in her eye.
"Ok and thanks Hermione it's great to see you too! And you should probably get back to her, we can catch up anytime." She smiled and handed him the cage and disappeared up the stairs.
"C'mon then, Harry, we can catch up properly later, after dinner sound good? Ginny and Hermione have been in Ginny's room all yesterday and now this morning." Ron groaned. "Girls." He muttered. "Oh, I just remembered! You go up to the room and get sorted I need to tell mum something." Harry raised an eyebrow but saw Ron pleading for him to go and so he did, he turned back for a split second and saw Ron and Molly whispering, secretively.
He walked up the stairs and overheard Hermione and Ginny were talking in hushed tones, though Harry could hear them. "Your hair looks fine Ginny stop worrying!"
"But Michael asked me out and everything needs to be perfect for when we go back to school!" She said, slightly pressured. Hermione sighed. Harry decided this was girl talk and so left them alone, he walked past more doors when he saw Percy walk in front of him.
"Oh, hello, Harry." He said formally. Harry smiled. He had never truly seen eye to eye with Percy but that did not mean he had no respect for him at all.
"How's work? Last I heard things weren't going well." Harry asked, slight concern in his eyes. Percy eyed him for a moment and gestured to his room. Harry walked in without a word and Percy closed the door and gestured to the bed, Harry sat down and watched the Weasley boy as he sat at his desk and looked at Harry.
"Everything is going just fine. I managed to assure them that the minister himself insisted on no help for his condition and frankly everyone was so shocked over the death of that Hufflepuff student that they attempted to investigate the death further." He said coolly.
"You believe me right?" Harry asked. "That Voldemort is back?" Percy winced at the name and Harry had to resist the erg to roll his eyes, Percy removed his horn rimmed glasses and rubbed his temple in deep thought.
"I do, Harry, but the Ministry is having none of it. They say that the evidence is unclear and they will not listen to anything I say. I'm sorry." Harry nodded, at least he knew that another person believed him. Percy placed his glasses back upon his face and pushed them higher upon his nose. "Now, if you'll excuse me I have very important work to do." Harry nodded and left the room. As he left he heard nothing and saw no-one so Ron must still be downstairs. He walked up the stairs and found Ron's mess of a room. The ground was covered in pieces of parchment and letters from family and friends and also a few empty sweet rappers, Harry kicked a stray jumper out of the way and settled down on the guest bed.
"Hey Harry!" Ron panted as he sprinted upstairs. Harry looked at him and smiled. "Sorry about all that, I was told that I should tell mum that Fred and George didn't hurt those muggles like last time." He looked bored at the very idea and Harry laughed at the memory of seeing Dudley's tongue grow almost three times its natural size. "So what do you want to-?"
"Ron," Said Ginny as she appeared in the doorway.
"What's wrong, Ginny?" He asked, bored.
"Sorry to bore you," She said sarcastically. "But dad's just got back and our letters have come. We need to go to Diagon Alley." After finishing she threw two letters on the bed nearest to the door and Ron picked them up, handing one to Harry.
"I swear it's creepy how the man knows where you are!" He said as Harry opened his Hogwarts letter. The books were nothing unusual, just what you'd expect. They did wonder who their defence against dark arts teacher would be. Only one of them had actually been normal- of course if you didn't count the werewolf part of him. "Ok we better get downstairs before mum goes mental."
They walked downstairs and met up with Hermione half way down, they talked amongst themselves about mainly homework, Quidditch etc... But Harry had sort of zoned out as the topic was not that interesting to listen to. They reached the bottom of the stairs and the twins stood waiting with Ginny, Arthur walked through with Percy behind him. "Harry!" Arthur exclaimed happily. His kind face was always a pleasure for Harry to see.
"Mr. Weasley!" Harry beamed at him; they both smiled for a moment when he turned to push Percy forward and said.
"Percy will be taking you to get your things in Diagon Alley today." All the Weasley children looked put out as did Percy- most likely because of the reaction from his siblings. "Your mother and I are busy, Charlie is still away and Bill is getting himself settled so Percy is taking you."
"Why can't Fred and George take us?" Ginny whined, clearly she was more fond of jokers than goody two shoes Percy any day.
"Because I need someone responsible to watch you- now don't look at me like that I know you are not nearly as mature as Percy quite yet." Arthur walked off and Fred said.
"Perfect prefect Percy!" Percy glared, Ron was chuckling- even Harry had to suppress a grin- but Percy had never done anything bad or mean towards him so he felt guilty about laughing along with the others, though no-one seemed to notice whether he did or did not.
"Right then. Ron, Harry, Hermione, Ginny I suspect you are all aware how to floo to Diagon Alley?" He said in his ever pompous tone.
"We're not idiots!" Ginny grumbled, though no-one appeared to have heard her.
"Alright then, Fred, George and I will apparate there. See you in a moment." With that the three boys had disappeared with a loud Crack! Which pierced the air like a gun shot. In silence they moved- one by one- to the fire place, grabbed a handful of powder and clearly said 'Diagon Alley' and disappeared behind the emerald flames.
-0-
"Ah, there you all are!" Percy said as he saw his brother and sister approach along with Hermione and Harry of course. The group were in Flourish and Blotts; everyone split up and started searching for their books. Percy had met Penelope in the corner; Fred and George were by a bookshelf near the window- both peering into one book- Hermione and Ron went to get their books from somewhere in the back and Ginny had met up with a Michael Corner and gone to the fourth years section to collect Ginny's books. Harry, however, went to the main desk to request his books.
"What can I get you?" A man asked from behind the desk.
"5th yearbooks please." Harry replied, he handed over the list and the man read off the paper.
"Advance book of spells grade 5, Into the future level 2 Divination, Fantastic beasts' volume 5, Muggle studies VI." Harry nodded and the man walked through a door behind the desk to find the books on the list. Harry waited patiently when who should walk in but the very boy Harry was least pleased to see. His silvery blonde hair and piercing- cool gray- eyes entered the shop. Draco Malfoy.
"Well, well, well if it isn't the famous Harry Potter." He mocked as he approached Harry even closer. Something wasn't right, Harry's scar start to ache a little.
"Get lost, Malfoy!" Harry spat at him. There was a small hint of green outlining Draco's, usually gray, eyes. The longer Harry looked into his eyes the more his scar throbbed. Draco smirked and moved in closer, the green in his eyes grew until grey was no longer visible. Harry let out a sharp gasp against his will. Draco chuckled to himself and whispered.
"Problem Potter?" Harry leaned back against the desk in an attempt to get away from Malfoy. Draco only sneered at him and said. "See you at school." Suddenly the green in his eyes disappeared and all that was left was the cool gray orbs that were familiar to Harry. His scar started to feel better but Harry watched Draco's back as he left, something was odd... Draco cast a side glance at the twins- one of which was glaring at Malfoy coldly- as if out of nowhere a small green light flashed and then Draco left the shop. Harry was confused at what the light could have meant but when he looked to the twins he got an idea. George was clutching his chest as though his breathing had suddenly been halted, he was coughing heavily but Fred helped him remain standing.
"George, you alright mate?" George nodded quickly but did not look out of the window at Malfoy. George seemed fine, but then what did the flash of green mean? Harry's scar had never hurt before when Draco had come near and never before had Draco's eyes turned emerald either.
"Alright there lad, here's your books." Harry jumped as the man behind the desk returned with a stack of books. Harry eyed them and realised that he hadn't brought a bag with him and so would have to carry them around. Upon lifting them he realised they were not nearly as heavy as he thought they'd be, he turned around only to come face to face with his friends- with the exception of Michael and Penelope.
"Alright c'mon everyone-" Said Fred.
"-The time has come to show you the location for-" Continued George.
"-Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes!" They chorused together. Percy moaned but did not ruin anything. They all followed behind the twins as they led the way towards a certain street in Diagon Alley, moments later they arrived at number 93 where a large- colourless- building stood with a half finished model on the top.
"This is it?" Percy questioned. Everyone ignored him and Ginny said.
"How did you afford this place?" The twins caught Harry's eye, though it was very subtle, then looked away. Harry didn't tell anyone about giving his winnings to the twins because he did not think Mrs. Weasley would approve and with all that money he could have helped the whole family... Not just blow it all off on a joke shop for two seventeen year olds.
"That's for us to know and for you all to never find out." Fred said slyly.
"You didn't steal it, did you boys?" Percy asked uneasily. The twins and the others snapped their eyes on him.
"They may be many things," Said Hermione.
"But they're not thieves!" Ron finished. Percy acted as though he had never spoken and this time Harry really did role his eyes.
"We can't go in yet though, it's not finished." Fred said.
"And no-one is seeing the inside until we're done." George concluded. This was understandable; Harry was ever so much looking forward to seeing the store once completed. They walked back through the shops of Diagon Alley, searching for more of their school supplies. Harry could not get the incident with Draco out of his mind, the year had barely begun and yet strange things were already making themselves known. Could it be possible that George's strange reaction had nothing to do with Malfoy at all? But if that were true then what would the flash of green mean?
-0-
Later that day everyone arrived back at the Burrow and went their separate ways. Ginny went to her room, Fred and George went to theirs, Arthur went to work, Molly stayed in the kitchen, Percy went to his room and the trio escaped to Ron's room. Here Harry was going to speak to them about the mysterious events about his encounter with Malfoy in Flourish and Blotts.
"Wait a minute, so... Malfoy's eyes turned green?" Hermione questioned. Harry nodded but did not speak a word. "I don't understand. What happened when he walked away?"
"He left and started to glare at George, there was a flash of green light and then George started coughing while Malfoy left. It looked like he couldn't breathe for a minute." Said Harry. Ron went pale as his face held deep concentration.
"Ok, that's dodgy," Ron said, bringing the silence to an abrupt end. Hermione scowled at him and he gave her a small shrug to which she sighed. "Did you ask George if he was ok?" Harry thought for a moment as he recalled that it was Fred to ask his brother that question and that the answer had been a quick nod of the head, this could not truly either confirm or deny the truth as it is possible and much more likely that George was lying so as not to arise any worry, that certainly has been Harry's method in the past. Ron confirmed the silence and guessed that Harry never did ask if he had been ok.
"And this happened in Flourish and Blotts, are you sure, Harry?" Hermione asked him, he was slightly annoyed at this because he had already told her that it was in that shop and asking him again was pointless and unnecessary. Regardless he nodded. "But he seemed fine since then, he was his usual self at the shop and back home." Harry could not wrap his head around it, had this all just been Harry's mind fooling him? After all it was just last year when Cedric had died and the green flashing light was clear as day and Cedric's pale complexion had haunted his dreams... Maybe this was his fear that someone else would get hurt if Harry was around. He shared this theory with no-one.
"Maybe I should talk to him." Suggested Ron.
"No!" Said Harry suddenly. Ron and Hermione looked at him, confusion dripping over their faces. "It was probably nothing." Harry did not believe his own words but then Hermione said.
"You said your scar hurt, you saw a green light and that George reacted, Harry, doesn't that sound weird?" She spoke matter of factly.
"I know Hermione!" He snapped. He was not even at Hogwarts yet and already something was happening and Harry had the uncomfortable feeling that it had something to do with Voldemort, even though it would be impossible for the dark lord to rise to power so quickly, Harry was still nervous. "I'm sorry. Can we talk about it later?" Hermione nodded, though she did not agree that they should drop the subject so quickly but then again she did not know how Harry truly felt. He wasn't the same since Cedric's death. She quietly slipped out of the room and right now Harry did not care where she went.
"Don't let Malfoy get to you mate." Ron said quietly. Harry nodded his head and did not even watch as Ron pulled out a box of every flavour beans and began to eat. Harry just needed rest and so he did.
Harry had fallen into a deep sleep that night and the dreams he had scared him. Cedric stood before him in an empty room with no windows, the walls where an icy blue and it was freezing, Cedric approached, his eyes blazing as he spoke.
"You killed me Harry. You told me to grab the cup with you, you killed me!" Harry took a step back and shook his head but Cedric kept repeating this phrase and then said. "You're the reason Voldemort's back!" Harry stopped and it was as if he was witnessing Cedric's death again. The blinding flash of green and Cedric flying through the air and to the floor, eyes staring without seeing and his last breath stolen from him forever.
Then there was a shift and Harry found himself in the great hall, the tables and seats were all gone and the room was completely empty- apart from one fireplace and the bewitched ceiling that continued to glow bright with the twinkling stars of space. Draco approached him, his eyes were the darkest shade of green- much darker than when Harry saw him in Diagon Alley- he walked to Harry and stopped three feet before him. A blinding flash of green and someone appeared behind Malfoy. It was George, Fred, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and a girl Harry had never seen before. Draco waved his wand and the Weasleys' and the girl fell to their knees. Hermione was stood still, her eyes wide and distant, her skin pale and mouth wide open. She was petrified and then... She dropped.
Harry woke up with a start, there was sweat on his forehead and his breathing quickened. Why did he have such a dream? Why did he see the Weasleys' and Hermione in such a state as Malfoy made his move? And who was the mysterious girl that he had never before seen? The eyes. Harry realised the green eyes were the same as the day in Diagon Alley followed by Harry's scar hurting which then was followed by a flash of light and one of his friends- seemingly- in pain. But what did it all mean?