Chapter 2

The day had begun to darkened, as Harry and Neville retreated back to their rooms. Harry's long but slow strides betrayed his fatigue for the day. The intense training with Neville in the morning then followed with that muggle mission plus that little challenge with Neville at the end of it was pretty darn exhausting. He took deep and steady breaths as he began to rearrange his thoughts while walking along the long dark corridor.

He approached his room door, tapped it with his wand as it swung open for him. Beyond that huge dark mahogany door, was Harry's private sanctuary. No one was allowed in here except for Harry. A small smile crept to his lips as the familiar setting brought some comfort to him. The king size bed with minimal ornament was set in the middle of the big room. It faced a huge full height glass window that opened to the sight of the training grounds. Harry had left it open this morning for fresh air as it was billowing softly at his face.

He stood by the window and closed his eyes, inhaling the air that had ventilated his room, trying to clear his trains of thoughts. It had almost become a ritual, of every mission that he comes back from. Somehow, it helped with his conscience.

One thing he liked about this place was the privacy he was given. That was comforting, even in the midst of lurking Death Eaters scum. Since young, Harry had hated them for their slimy guts, that annoying boasting and worthless worshipping attitude that was not meant for any honourable men. Even though they were worshipping his father, Harry never trusted any of them.

Well, unfortunately for Harry, the feeling was mutual among the Death Eaters. Harry wasn't exactly their favourite either.

His memories reeled back just hours before, when the skinny garrulous woman had blurted out the name he didn't hear for years now.

"James!" He winced at the thought.

"Why are you doing this James?" The muggle woman wailed. "Please! Leave Dudley! I promise I won't call you a jobless drunk anymore!"

Who was this woman?

Harry hadn't had any inkling on who she was and he doesn't have any intention to find out, really. The consequences that he had calculated from her words were insufferable. She wasn't worth the trouble, he tried to reason with himself. What are the odds that she was calling him the same name he had tried to forget all these years?

All in all, it was better not to look into anything she said. Afterall, she was a muggle.

And from what his father had told him, muggles are one creature they shouldn't trust at all.

Harry shook his head in attempt to rid of the troubling thoughts as he disrobed. He walked towards his left and stood in front of his full length wardrobe mirror to examine that bruise that was showing on his ribs. Despite the well built torso he had worked on for years, the bruise was a sight against his pale skin. He cursed silently as he tried to prod it delicately with his fingers.

This was the work of Neville's less than honourable move early today.

Sighing, he pointed his own wand at the large colouring and muttered the healing charm he was taught to use since young. He had come a long way since then, but Harry was too tired to conjure up nostalgic moments at the time. As soon as he healed his own wound, he dove to his king sized bed and immediately fell into one of his rare dreamless sleep.

***

Lily Potter was feeling rather anxious as she appeared with a gentle 'pop' at a meadow just off Privet Drive that afternoon. She smoothed her blouse and made sure her old jeans were appropriate for her sister's immaculate standards as she brushed off invisible dust. Her decision on visiting her sister just a couple of weeks after that disastrous visit was a decent gesture of her own since it wasn't exactly her fault that she spilled her hot chocolate on her carpet. Her nephew Dudley wasn't looking where he was going, but Lily wasn't about to blame it on him.

She had tried to use magic to clean up the mess, as it would have saved them a lot of shouting, but then again, her sister Petunia will have none of it. Her grudge against her since she had gotten the magical letter from her wise professor years ago was still fresh and Lily doubted that Petunia will ever forget about it.

However, their mother had made Lily promise that she will try and be civil with Petunia, no matter what.

She walked down the hill towards that little cottage at the corner apprehensively but then slowly noticed something was different with that quaint little town. Her eyes darted curiously at the ruined cottages, broken roofs and blackened walls.

She noticed that sullen expressions that were plastered firmly on the faces that were repairing the damages and wondered what had happened here.

However, dark thoughts plagued her mind as she quickens her pace towards her sister's cottage.

She reached in minutes when she gasped in horror.

Her sister's pride and joy garden was in ruins. The roof was partially blown off as the main door hung dangerously on one hinge when Lily noticed the hunched figure of her sister furiously scrubbing dirt off the floor. Immediately, she went to her side.

"Oh Petunia! What happened?" Lily searched her sister's face worriedly. Her arms were around her sister's shaking form, offering her some sort of comfort.

Petunia's eyes stared at Lily's green orbs blankly for a second before it darkened. "It's all your fault." She blurted through gritted teeth.

"What? Petunia, I had nothing to do with any of this!" Lily's eyes shot up as she gazed at the extensive damage in her house. It was a terrible sight. Furniture were strewn across the room, messy and damaged. Now Lily was very sure this was the work of dark magic.

"You think they'll try and cover all these up with what hurricane stories…when I know." Petunia glared at Lily. "Your kind came and changed all of our memories, but Lily…I know."

"I know it's your kind's work when I see one." She continued as Lily kept quiet.

"Petunia, please tell me what happened." Lily's expression now darkened a few shades. That terror that bubbled within her turned a different direction as she felt anger. The death eaters now turned their attention to muggles. They have destroyed her family fifteen years ago, and it wasn't enough. They have target the innocents now.

Petunia's lips thinned as she contemplated hard as to whether if she would enlighten her dear sister on the horrible things her side of the world has done to her. "They came yesterday, and … and… they attacked us!" Her voice broke into tears as Lily soothed her by rubbing circles on her back absentmindedly.

Petunia's sobs didn't subside until a while when Lily thought she was finished but her next words made her heart stopped.

"And your filthy husband was one of them."

***

Harry woke up sleepily as he turned to his side, wondering about the time. It was barely 5 in the morning and he was sure that the sun wasn't even up yet. His room bathed in darkness, when he noticed that his curtains were still not drawn. He found the darkness so soothing , and comforting...coaxing him into another round of sleep.

However, his self discipline didn't allow that. He yawned and stretched widely as he got off his bed and into the shower. It was already habit of his, to get up this early and begin his day.

It always begin with training with Neville then perhaps some lessons with the Death Eaters about whatever he needs to know about magic. Personally, he thinks he had already grasped what is needed; the strength and knowledge to win in duels. That is the whole point, isn't it?

The rest of it, like the ancient history of magic, potion brewing, theory of dark magic, they were all quite unnecessary for Harry.

They were simply, an accompaniment.

Unnecessary but yet required by his father, the Dark Lord. He had once said that it would all come in handy one day, and when it does, he had expressed his hopes that his sons would use them wisely, with him, the Dark Lord in mind. As he was the one that granted them the knowledge and knowledge was power.

Harry stepped out of the shower, wrapping the towel around his waist as he walked to his wardrobe. It was then he noticed the folded parchment slipped under his door, probably when he was sleeping. Wiping his damp hands over his towel, he unfolded the parchment and read.

It was written in simple writing, probably scribbled in a rush before it was slipped under his door.

'Harry, your father requires your presence in the main hall as soon as you are up. Don't leave the Dark Lord waiting.'

Harry sighed. He couldn't imagine what would become of him if he had missed the parchment or in rare cases, slept in. He would be in great trouble, but fate was kind to him most of the time, he sighed.

"What do father want this time..." He grumbled under his breath.