A/N: Shorter than I would have liked but here nonetheless. Review if you wish.
I own none of the Harry Potter canon.
Chapter 1: For the Last Time...
Harry sat at his desk in the hated Privet Drive, waiting for someone to come along and shake him from his lethargy. He was staring out the window, not particularly glancing at anything. Hedwig was currently sitting on her perch, sleeping away the late evening hours. His school trunk sat unpacked at the foot of his bed, his Firebolt dropped on the floor haphazardly. Harry was essentially feeling numb, and had the entire time since the funeral.
It was just now beginning to dawn on him that his last line of defense, the last guardian he had in this world that stood between him and the enemy that he had to kill or be killed by, had himself been struck down by a man he implicitly trusted. The feelings of anger and sorrow burned inside the pit of Harry's stomach.
The train ride home on the Express hadn't helped matters either. Though he had shared the cabin with the people who had essentially saved him from a horrid life with the Dursleys, the uncomfortable feeling he had at the back of his mind that it could be the last time he would be gathered with any of them gnawed at him greatly. One in particular, the feelings of anguish over the possible loss of one Ginny Weasley had been particularly difficult to deal with. The fact that he had pushed her away himself did nothing to aid this feeling.
He wanted her to be safe. It was a perfectly noble, and logical thing to do he kept reminding himself. All his life the people around him had been getting hurt. His parents. His godfather. Cedric. Dumbledore. Therefore, it would make sense that with as much as he cared for Ginny for him to keep her at more than arm's length. Ron and Hermione he could do nothing about, Ginny he could at least try and protect this way.
The small sound of a car door slamming shut had awoken him from his revery. He winced as he realized that his Uncle Vernon had returned home from work. He had been partially dreading this moment. He hadn't informed his Aunt and Uncle about his early return from Hogwarts, and his Aunt had been more than a little upset when he showed up on his doorstep with Arthur Weasley and Remus Lupin as insurance that she would allow him to re-enter the home. The charm had been activated for the last time at that point, and it would protect him for a couple months longer until he turned 17. Surprisingly Petunia had been less adamant than he had thought she would be, especially after she learned of the death of Dumbledore. He figured once she, and by proxy Vernon, knew about that they'd throw him out on the street for sure. Perhaps she hadn't because of the two wizards who had accompanied him to Privet Drive that afternoon. Yes, that must have been the reason, Harry told himself firmly.
He listened closely for his cousin and Uncle to come storming up the steps the moment they learned of his arrival. To his knowledge Petunia had already told them. To his surprise the ominous barreling steps never came, at least not for a good while. He could hear them setting up down below in the kitchen, getting ready to eat dinner. His stomach growled at this realization, but he quickly quashed that idea mentally. Last thing he needed to do was go barging in expecting something to eat.
Turning back to his school trunk that had faithfully served him for 6 years running, he opened it up and began emptying its contents. He threw his invisibility cloak over the edge of his bed, making certain to pick up his broom and set it in the corner. The Marauder's Map he stuck firmly inside his school robe pocket and then placed that next to his cloak. As he did, a small plink of metal alerted him to something falling out of the pocket. He leaned over to pick it up, and paused when he saw what it was.
The fake locket of Salazar Slytherin. One thing above many that had led to the death of his beloved headmaster. Grimacing at seeing it again, he threw it back in his robe pocket and went back to his things. He made a mental note to have Hermione find out more about "R.A.B." as soon as it was convenient.
Next he placed various school books that he had acquired over the years on his desk, making a note to go through them all and try and piece together anything that might give him an edge over Voldemort when the final battle came. He knew he would have to face him in the end, and that he would have to face him alone, and he wanted to be prepared. And with Professor Dumbledore dead, and his return to Hogwarts virtually non-existent, he would have to prepare himself. He promised himself that any edge, no matter how small or out of the way it might be, would be exploited in order to achieve victory.
He quickly corrected that statement in that mind. He wouldn't resort to the darkness, no matter how tempting the thought might be. A reminder of deciding between what is right and what is easy popped into his head, eliciting a small grin from his otherwise stoic face.
Next to his books he threw a small pad of parchment and a quill that would be required for his research. Finally he stopped near the bottom of his trunk and pulled out the tattered book that had belonged to the Half-Blood Prince. Grimacing at what that meant, Harry placed the book at the bottom of the stack of his schoolbooks and planned to go through that. He might make an exception on the dark curses as far as the 'Prince' and his platinum-blonde cohort were concerned.
Satisfied that his trunk was as clean as it was going to get, he replaced the lid and went back over to his desk chair and sat down. Removing his glass to rub his eyes, he was startled a bit by a tapping at the window. Looking over he saw a plain gray owl, one of the many that were used in the Hogwarts owlry, sitting on the sill. He replaced his glasses and opened the window a bit for the owl to come in. Removing the note from the bird, he stroked it gently on the head and the bird went on its way. He glanced down at the envelope addressed to him, and then cracked open the seal, which he noticed was now a stylized "M." Inside he found a simple letter, addressed to him by name.
Dear Mr. Potter,
I fear that the events of the last few weeks may have shattered all faith in the magical community. Prof...Albus' death is perhaps the single greatest shock to befall our world since this Second War began and things seem to be falling apart at the seams. The Ministry is reverting back to its old ways of delusion, saying they're winning when quite obviously they are not. Azkaban prison was raided a few days ago and several Death Eaters, including Lucius Malfoy, were set free. And now the school is in very serious danger of closing.
Yet none of this worries me as much as what your future plans are Harry. Albus' portrait won't give me much information concerning your mission, other than it is likely that you won't be returning to Hogwarts for your 7th year. I personally feel this is a grave mistake, but I understand your desire should you choose this course of action and will support you.
I must ask you to reconsider though. Having you here will provide people with a sense of security, whether it is real or perceived. Like it or not Harry, with Albus gone you are likely the most influential person outside of the Ministry of Magic. People will look to you for guidance and leadership in these dark times. I apologize for trying to use you in this manner, I know the Ministry's attempts to do so in the past have been met with rather angry rejections on your part.
Regardless of your future plans with Hogwarts, I do request that you see me after your birthday. There are a number of items that Albus left to you in his will that I have in my possession, and you are to receive them at that appropriate time.
Dark times are here Harry, I only hope that you can help us steer through them.
Sincerely,
Professor Minerva McGonagall
Headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Harry stared at the letter for a good long while as he read it again and again. He had no plans to return to Hogwarts for his seventh year, and to be truthful a small part of him was annoyed that McGonagall would try to use him like a charm. He considered it a moment longer before shrugging the thought out of his head. The fact that the Ministry had gone back into damage control mode didn't surprise him in the slightest. It looked as if Scrimgoeur was going to turn out almost as bad as Fudge.
He stopped to consider the remainder of McGonagall's words for a moment. Apparently the death of Dumbledore had shaken her as well, perhaps even moreso than it had him. McGonagall had never appeared to be easily shaken or disturbed, but even she seemed to have given up, at least in some respect.
"He's back?!?" The loud booming voice of one Vernon Dursley brought Harry back to his reality. He frantically dropped the letter on his desk and rushed over to the corner. Hedwig was startled awake as Harry placed her in his arms and let her fly out the window. She sat on the sill for a moment, not sure what to do, but at his urging she flew out to stretch her wings. Whatever Vernon was about to do, Harry didn't want the owl getting hurt.
He could hear the thud-thud-thud of Vernon stomping up the stairs, closely followed by his cousin Dudley and more than likely just behind them was Petunia. Consciously he slid his wand up his sleeve, ready to call it into service should it be needed. To be quite frank in his current mental state he felt he was practically capable of anything against his constant tormentors.
Quickly the door to his room slammed open and a red-faced walrus with a mustache stood in front of the door staring at Harry. "What are you doing back here!" he shouted, his gaze never once leaving Harry, "You weren't due back for another three weeks! And showing up with those two...freaks...you nearly scared your aunt to death!"
"Like I told Petunia," Harry replied, trying to remain as calm as he could at this moment, "School was let out because the headmaster was killed."
"That old crackpot! Serves him right after what he did last year, treating Dudley like a doormat!" Harry winced at this and felt his anger rising up. Slowly, he approached his uncle, the logical part of his mind fighting with the part that wanted to subject this man to the cruciatus curse. Fortunately, the logical part of his mind won out for now.
"He died protecting me...and the school. He sacrificed himself just like my parents did and just like my godfather did." Vernon raised an eyebrow at this.
"You? Why would anyone want to protect a horrible little worm like you?" The years of verbal abuse at the hands of the Dursleys had made it easier for Harry to allow it to roll off his back, normally. But given the rather volatile state of his emotions right now, he simply stared ahead and allowed the anger to build up. He just merely listened as Vernon continued. "Anyway, now that he's dead, you're going to be out on your arse. I don't care if that Voldymot character shows up and blows you to Timbuktu anyway. He'll have done the world a favor, killing off you freaks." Harry didn't notice the slight wince the passed over Petunia's face in the background, and if he had he likely wouldn't have cared. In that one instant, all the anger and frustration he had felt over the last week or so, and all the anger he had for this man boiled over the surface, and Harry decided to act on it.
In no short amount of time the fat man was sent falling to the floor, his jaw loosened quite significantly from the right cross that Harry had planted there. Harry stood in the doorway, staring down at the stunned walrus. He glared hard, and made certain that his voice was filled with venom.
"I don't give a damn what you think of me. But don't you EVER disrespect my parents, my godfather, or Professor Dumbledore in my presence again." Vernon just kept a close eye on Harry, apparently too stunned to speak. Petunia was apparently holding Dudley back, trying to keep him from rushing his cousin. Harry looked up at his Aunt, less forceful than he had been with his Uncle, but still quite firm."I intend on staying here for a few weeks to work on a few things and collect my thoughts. When I'm finished I'll leave and you'll never see me again. Do us all a favor and just stay away from me."
On that note, Harry slammed the door in all of their faces and silently placed the strongest locking charm he could on it. He didn't really care if the Ministry showed up about him using magic at home or not, they had bigger fish to fry anyway. He silently waited for Vernon to try and undo the lock, but smirked when he knew it wouldn't work.
Suddenly however, he heard a telltale click and the door slipped open just as quickly. He barely had time to catch his cousin coming at him with his full muscular bulk. Years of Quidditch training kicked in and he dodged his cousin's blows, before sending him reeling with a slight but firm knee to the midsection. Without fail Harry picked up his cousin by the cuff of his neck and pushed him out of his room. He looked up and saw Petunia staring at him...and at the door, and finally at Dudley, before shutting the door herself and locking it from the outside. Harry didn't consider it but for a moment, and simply placed his wand on his desk and fell to his bed. The adrenaline he had acquired from his confrontation with his uncle was beginning to fade, and the anger and sadness over everything was taking its toll. Before long tears were flowing unbroken from his eyes, and day had turned to night long before he had finished crying himself to sleep.
