A/N: Well, it looks like it's going rather well… Let's see how the rest goes then. Things are about to change in the hp-verse. Enjoy!
Reminder to avoid confusion: Harry talking
Dark Talking
Chapter 2: A Peck… wait, one owl?
Harry's POV:
They're going to be wondering where you were, Harry.
We… We'll be able to talk again, right? I still have some questions.
Yes, now go.
Harry quickly rounded the corner Dark had slipped behind and headed towards Mrs. Figg who was currently deep in discussion with Mundungus. She had her shopping bag poised to swing and the dirty man eyed it warily while trying to listen to what the old woman had to say.
"You report back to Dumbledore and explain how you left your post," The shopping bag finally swung and collided with Mundungus's shoulder. "And how you left Harry to dementors," It flew again, hitting the man's chest. "AND a possible death eater!"
"Ouch, ow, get off you old bat!" Mundungus lifted his arms to shield himself from the blows that continued coming, one connecting with the side of his head with a resounding thunk.
"Mrs. Figg!" Harry's shout froze the next blow which gave time for Mundungus to step out of the old woman's reach. Mrs. Figg spun around, her speed incredible for one of her age, and stared at Harry for a brief second before running towards him. Her slippers nearly flung off her feet and the shopping bag still in her hands nearly collided with Harry's ribs as she grabbed him. She clung to his shoulders as she gave him a severe look.
"Are you all right, boy? Did the dementors attack you?!"
Remember, you're not supposed to know she knows…
Harry feigned surprise, shaking his head. He felt bad that he was lying to the only person on his street that had been remotely nice to him, but it needed to be done.
"No, I was still in the park when they left. How do you know…" He didn't have to finish the question.
"I'm a squib, Harry, but that's not important right now. We may have just encountered one of You-Know-Who's death eaters. Dear Merlin, we led him all the way here and on the top of that I can't even remember what he looked like save for that strange hair…"
She's talking about you.
I see that. I can't believe she called my hair strange… What's a death eater?
A follower of Voldemort.
There's that name again… You'll have to explain that later.
Harry came back to himself in time to avoid Mrs. Figg's shopping bag as she swung her arms in wide gestures. She was still ranting. Harry grabbed the grocery bag easily on its' return swing, which caught the attention of Mrs. Figg. She settled down, apologizing before turning to Mundungus with a keen eye. The man flinched at the look.
"You, report to Dumbledore and inform him of what's happened, quickly!" Mundungus quickly obeyed the command, looking relieved that he was leaving the hazardous company of the old squib. With a resounding crack he dissaperated, leaving Harry, Dudley and Mrs. Figg alone. Mrs. Figg gave a loud, unlady-like snort before turning back to Harry.
"Harry, you need to take your cousin into the house and don't come out. Dumbledore's going to have a fit when he finds out dementors were here, and I imagine the ministry is going to get involved in this…"
"The ministry? They haven't even admitted that Voldemort's back!" Figg flinched at the dark lord's name before shaking her head, looking even more worried.
"I'm afraid this won't have anything to do with You-Know-Who if the Ministry finds out, and mark my words they will. Magic being used in a muggle area…"
"But it wasn't me; it's only underage magic that's not allowed, and somebody had to get rid of them." Harry thought back to the fight. He hadn't seen much since as soon as Dark touched the dementor, he'd slipped into a world where his mother was screaming and the green light of the killing curse flashed. Near the end though, he'd witnessed Dark's powers. He hadn't used a wand and it didn't look like anything Harry had seen before. Surely, the ministry wouldn't mistake that for him?
"It's doesn't matter to the ministry. You're supposed to be the only wizard in this area and they'll just assume it was you. That must have been the death eaters plan," Mrs. Figg grew more worried and distracted by the thoughts that flew into her head. Her grip was tightening on the handles of her bag and she muttered under her breath, the words 'kill' and 'mangy thief' springing up occasionally. She then abruptly turned, heading in the opposite direction.
"Wait, where are you going?"
"Back home, and that goes the same for you. I expect someone will contact you soon enough."
"Wait, I still…" She was already out of sight though. Harry sighed feeling his previous frustration come back in a wave. He'd forgotten in all the excitement what he'd been brooding over in the park, and now that he had found someone that might help relieve the tension they were gone. Now, he was left behind still and more confused than before. Why had there been dementors in Little Whinging? Why had Mrs. Figg never told him who she was? Why was he being watched? And why did he suddenly find himself sharing his body with a thief? Harry jolted when he heard a low chuckle in the back of his mind and blushed when he realized Dark must have been listening in.
Don't worry. It's the truth, isn't it?
Yes, but…
I think you should get inside like the old woman said. You're going to have to help your cousin to the door too.
Harry grimaced at Dudley. He still lay where Dark had dropped him but at least now he no longer whimpered. His bottom lip trembled slightly as Harry approached him, and his face turned a light shade of green as he was pulled up from the ground. Harry couldn't help feeling sorry for him, but the weight of Dudley against his shoulder was quickly squashing any thoughts of sympathy. He was grateful that Dark had carried Dudley most of the way. He rang the bell once they reached the door and waited as the shadow of Aunt Petunia came to the door and opened it.
"Diddy, about time too. I was getting qui-quite… Diddy?" Aunt Petunia stared in shock. Harry quickly dodged from under the weight of Dudley at this point and the large boy swayed on his feet, the tint of green increasing in his face. He'd ducked out of the way just in time as Dudley vomited all over the front door.
What's up with him? You'd think he'd be taking this a little better than that.
I don't know.
Harry managed to slip into the house undetected while the Dursley's fussed over Dudley. They brought him into the living room, mopping up the vomit on his front while asking him questions at split speed. Harry took this distraction to sneak towards the stairs unnoticed and he had his foot on the stairs when Dudley finally stuttered out a word.
"H-Him." Harry's escape plan was ruined as Uncle Vernon's eyes locked on him, face suddenly purple with rage. Harry's foot was still frozen on the stairs, his mind racing. He hadn't done anything. And "him" didn't necessarily mean him right? Apparently it didn't matter to Uncle Vernon though.
"Boy, what did you do?!"
"Nothing," Harry said indignantly.
"Diddy darling, did he do you know what? Did he use that… thing?" There was no reply from Dudley. His eyes seemed to be clearing though and Harry waited, hoping his cousin at least remembered it wasn't him that had attacked anyone. After a moment Dudley finally shook his head.
"No, but…" Dudley seemed to be trying to find the words to describe what he'd experienced.
"What is it darling? What happened?" Dudley opened his mouth once more to answer but was interrupted by an owl swooping in through the kitchen window. It barely missed Uncle Vernon as it made its way to Harry. It stuck out its leg to reveal a rolled up bit of parchment which Harry took before it set off once more through the window. He stared at it for a moment in confusion before opening it.
Harry,
Dumbledore is checking into the situation. Stay where you are and try not to do any magic.
Sincerely,
Arthur Weasley
Harry reread it again and again, but it still said the same thing. It gave him no information on the situation, which only made him more frustrated. He should have expected this though. They hadn't let him in on anything else this summer after all. That hadn't changed with the sudden events. The fact that Mr. Weasley had warned him not to use magic made it even worse. What if the dementors came back? He couldn't just sit back while those things were around.
"What was that ruddy owl doing here, boy? Are they expelling you from that school of yours?" Uncle Vernon seemed hopeful, his beady eyes glimmering at the thought of Harry's expulsion from the one place he called home. Harry wasn't paying attention though. His uncle had raised a question in his mind. There hadn't been a letter from the ministry yet and it seemed odd that Mr. Weasley's note would reach him first.
I don't think you'll be receiving any letters from the ministry, Harry.
But Mrs. Figg said…
That you're supposed to be the only wizard in this area. I don't think my powers are like the wizards of this place so I doubt it was detected.
Harry nodded in agreement, thinking back to the fight. It had seemed different. If that was the case, then all they had to worry about was the fact that Mrs. Figg thought Dark was a Death Eater.
"Boy, are you listening? What on earth are you nodding about?" Harry's eyes focused on his uncle again. Hope still danced in the large man's eyes, joined by annoyance that Harry had been ignoring him this entire time. The look on his uncle's face made up Harry's mind and he moved towards the stairs again.
"Right then, I'm going to my room. See you in the morning," he said wearily. The evening had taken its toll on him and he felt the fringes of his mind haze as he yawned.
"See you in the morning," Uncle Vernon asked incredulously. "Get back here boy, and explain what's going on!" A meaty hand reached towards the back of Harry's neck but never reached its destination as Harry whirled around. His leg came up of its own accord, darting towards the larger man's neck only to stop inches away from connecting. Harry's eyes glinted for a moment, seeming darker in that second and a grimace different than his own played on his lips. Uncle Vernon stared at the smaller boy warily, frozen by the unexpected action. Harry then lowered his foot back to the ground after a moment, a guarded look on his face as he quickly turned around and ran up the stairs.
88888888888888888888888888888888
Location: Headmaster's Office
Headmaster Albus Dumbledore sat behind his desk, just staring at the empty space before him. The occupants of the magical portraits hanging about his office fidgeted impatiently in their frames and, those that weren't merely pretending to sleep, stared at the current headmaster with blatant annoyance. Finally, an especially sour looking wizard yelled out from his picture.
"For Merlin's sake, Dumbledore! What is going on?" This brought the wizened wizard out of his pensive state. The twinkle of his eye that he was most noted for, however, did not return as he attempted to shake the melancholy from his mind. He looked up at the portrait that had shouted, taking in the others as they all glared down at him with full attention now. He sighed, letting the weariness of the situation flow through that single sound. This only seemed to make the portraits even more impatient.
"Come now, Albus," said a particularly plump witch on the opposite wall to the sour looking wizard. She seemed to be more sympathetic towards Dumbledore and his current state as she gently prodded the issue. "What is it?"
"I'm afraid it has to do with the young Mr. Potter."
"That young man seems to get into a lot of trouble for one his age."
"Just like his father, that one." Dumbledore smiled slightly at the last comment, thinking back to the many exploits of the Marauders led by none other than Harry's father, James Potter. It was true that Harry showed the same spirit as his father, but with the trouble that seemed to find the boy rather than him finding it, the boy hadn't followed his predecessor's foot steps as a prankster. That thought quickly wiped the smile from his face. Albus shook his head.
"I'm afraid that his safety may have been compromised by one of Voldemort's followers."
"A Death Eater? What happened?"
"We're not sure, unfortunately. The man disappeared after warding off dementors in a muggle area."
"Well," came the voice of the sour wizard. He puffed up his chest, looking down his nose. "If the man is fighting dementors, what is there to worry about?" Dumbledore shook his head again.
"I believe it was an attempt to have Harry expelled from Hogwarts and his wand destroyed, leaving him more vulnerable to an attack."
"An attempt, you say? I take it that the plan didn't go so well." All the portraits, previous headmasters and headmistresses, gazed at the current Headmaster now with interest. Albus slowly nodded, looking up at the collection of magical paintings.
"That would be correct. According to the Ministry there is no record of magic being used anywhere near the attack."
"Then there's nothing to worry about."
"I'm afraid it isn't so simple. The Ministry hasn't registered any reports of dementors appearing in any muggle area at all, and there is still the issue of the supposed Death Eater."
"How is it that dementors found there way into a muggle area and the Ministry doesn't even notice?"
"That," Dumbledore slowly said, drawing out the words as he brooded over them. "Is exactly what I would like to know."
A/N: Not much happened, but there should be more in the next chapter... whenever it's written... and whenever it's posted... Sorry, school means little time to write fanfics. Review please!
