No Ones Hero

Chapter 2: Black Books And Emperors

Harry Potter does not belong to me.

Many years in the past…

Harry trailed along the sidewalk to school, he had to leave half an hour earlier than Dudley since Dudley took the car and he wasn't allowed to.

His small legs ached with each step as he drew closer and he briefly considered sitting down for a rest. But resisted the idea; he did not want to be late. Just the week before Harry had taken a small rest, and had lost track of time when he had played with the stones on the side of the road. The school had rung the Dursley's and his uncle had given a smack to help him learn. Harry was terrified of his uncles smacks, sometimes his uncle would hurt him a lot more than usual and Harry never knew when those times would be.

Harry's stomach growled at him, he hadn't had any breakfast that morning since he hadn't finished his morning chores quick enough. He hated it when he missed it; by lunchtime it hurt so much he could not concentrate. If he was being punished and had to go with out food for several days he could barely sleep at night and when he did his night times were always filled with horrible nightmares. As he neared the school gates Harry pushed him self up against a neighbouring fence and peered around. Dudley and his friends were there as usual. Waiting for him.

Harry waited until they looked distracted by something and then ran in the direction of his classroom, his feet pounding on the concert he thought he was going to make it, but then the laughter started. He was graved and pushed over, his cold hands landing on the concert painfully, the little stones digging into his hands and knees. They were all around him now, laughing and calling him names. Harry knew better by now than to try and get away, so he just sat there while they made fun of him. Sometimes one of them would kick or hit him, but eventually they would see something more interesting and run of to play with it instead.

On this morning however Harry did not get away so easily. One of the boys spat on him. Just a little bit. But it soon escalated, the boys taking turns to see who could spit the most saliva on Harry, who shielded his face with his hands but sat still through most of it just waiting for it to be over. But then one of them wiped something on his arm. There was a particuly loud cackle of laughter and Harry chanced a glimpse to see a large piece of snot on his arm. Disgusted Harry rubbed it of onto the concert. But the other boys now wanted a turn, Dudley in particular.

Harry struggled, tried to push them away, tried to get away, but it only increased their laughter. Soon his arms were being held as Dudley and several others picked their noses and rubbed it on Harry's face. Harry felt warm tears began to slid down his cheeks and hated himself for appearing so week. His uncle and aunt hated it when he cried so on most days Harry could keep himself in cheek. Today however was not one of those days.

"He's actually crying!"

"Your such a baby"

Dudley and his fellow bullies thought it hysterical; they were really enjoying themselves that day. Seeing Harry upset was something they really enjoyed. But Harry couldn't stop, his tears just kept coming out. He knew it could not last much longer, and became still again waiting even as they laughed and grabbed and wiped snot on him sometimes spitting again. The bell rang then. Harry felt himself fill with relief, Dudley swept forward and punched him hard in his stomach but then he and his friends ran of to class. Harry rose himself, rubbing the snot of his face with his raged shirt before taking of to class. He did not want to be late.

Hogwarts…

It did not take long after the announcement had been made. Hoards of people coming from the different corners of Hogwarts, all drawn out by the same news. Harry Potter was here.

This was something they had to see for them-selves to believe. The hope stirring in there body's causing them to stop what ever it was that they had previously been doing to go to the entrance hall, the closer they got the louder the noise from the growing crowd, the quicker and grater there strides. From person to person the message was passed on, until the halls and rooms of the castle were filled with that name. It was shouted and whispered and laughed at. But no mater a persons reaction they could not prevent there feet from leading them to the sauce.

The entrance hall was very soon crowded, but Harry refused to step away, to back away. He heard his name called everywhere, it echoed down the stairs and halls and of the walls to him. Even after all the fame he was used to receiving, the desperation as the people swamped forward as if he were a god unbalanced him, he had never experienced something of this extent before.

Soon he, Cullen and Matt were encircled in people that were backed up down the halls and up the stairs, people on the tips of there toes, people pushing others aside, all desperate to get a glimpse of him. The people closest were edging closer and closer as if afraid but not afraid enough to stop themselves.

The first person suddenly reached out, Harry pulled out his wand, there hand grasped his arm tightly, their hand was shaking, their eyes wide. Harry's wand was very quickly at the persons chin. He did not bother to try and speak; it was far to loud in the hall to be herd. But the old man did not let go. He grasped still tighter.

Soon others were reaching out, taking a hold of him, the crowd was rushing in forcefully, pinning him in the middle, it had all happened so quickly. He had been pulled forward into the crowds embrace before he could react. But it took less than a moment more for him to act, his wand pointed into the air, there was another second when nothing happened and then a force knocked all those around off there feet, it was so forceful that the huge doors of the entrance hall were thrown open and a number of people found them selves pushed out the doors and onto the steps below.

Silence ensured for several moments as the crowd slowly rose again to there feet taking several steps back from Harry who stood with his wand raised and at the ready.

Suddenly a noise from the crowd trailing down the steps to the dungeons began to travel up to them, people were shouting to one another "let them through!" "Let them past" "its them" and then through the parting crowd emerged four wizards looking tiered but otherwise well. Harry looked at them, and the way the crowd was parting for them and realised they must be important.

The first one to emerge was a solemn looking man with brown hair and a beard; he was of a muscular build and was looking at Harry with an intense stare as he moved forward towards him. Closely followed by him was a women who looked much younger than the first man, she looked to be only a few years older than Harry himself. She was lovely, with long black hair, the way she moved spoke of elegance. The second to last was a younger man who was very tall and had short brown hair and a boyish face. Then last was an even taller man, he was very dark and bald, and Harry thought he looked a very mysterious man.

He felt Cullen and Matt beside him and noticed a broad smile on Matt's face. Suddenly the stranger's faces (with exceptions to the last one) were lit up with smiles also.

"Harry Potter, these are the others responsible for your release from the box" Cullen said, "This is Andor…" and the first man lifted out his hand and placed it gently on Harry's shoulder, the smile reaching his eyes, creating little crinkles that made him seem very warm. "Welcome Harry Potter" he said then moved aside for the women.

"And this is Verity" her smile seemed sad as she touched his shoulder lightly (he was beginning to realise that the grasping of shoulders was some sort of welcome) "welcome" she said and moved aside for the next man.

"Markus, his father is the leader of the Order…" The young man grasped Harry's shoulder tightly and was looking at him as if he could hardly believe his eyes "you have no idea how pleased I am to finally meet you… I loved hearing the stories about you as a child" Harry nodded unsure of what to say but pleased that his hood was still pulled up to hide his face; he was feeling younger and younger with every passing moment.

"And last but not least this is Spiro…" the last man unlike the others did not reach out to take Harry's shoulder straight of but just stood still in front of him, looking at him with his dark eyes. Finally he raised his hand and grasped Harry's shoulder tightly, he did not know why, but he felt wearier of this man than any of the others. He reminded him a little of Snape.

"I do hope that the lives of our comrades have not been lost in vein" he said grasping still tighter to Harry's shoulder and pulling him forward to get a better look under Harry's hood, but Harry quickly brought up his wand "let go" he said calmly (a lot more calmly than he felt). Spiro lifted his eyebrows, but let him go all the same. "Welcome to the Order Harry Potter" he said and then stepped to the side also.

He glanced back at Cullen and noticed Verity give Matt a hug. The group greeted Matt, clasping his shoulder in a friendly manner. And Harry was surprised to see a smile on Spiro's face as he grasped Matt's shoulder "well done my friend" he herd him say. Maybe not so Snape like then he thought, he could not imagine Snape making friends with a Muggle.

"Well!" said Cullen suddenly turning to the watching crowd "what are you all standing around for? Harry Potter has just arrived at Hogwarts! Its time for a celebration"

It took only a few moments more for the crowd to begin talking avidly amongst themselves and not long after that different groups of people rushed of to organise different things. With a growl of his stomach Harry hoped it would involve food at some point. Feeling very tiered and with his headache still not letting up he turned to Cullen and his companions "is there some where I can have a rest?" he asked.

"Yes… certainly" Cullen said then turned to the others "and I expect you all have many questions… so let us retire to my rooms shall we?"

There was a mummer of agreement before the group turned and began to head up the steps onto the first floor.

They rounded the corner at the top of the stairs and began down the familiar corridor.

Harry looked around himself and found that the hall had not changed much, the same paintings were hang on the walls, the same suits of armour lined it at intervals. Even so it was obvious that time had taken its toll on Hogwarts and Harry wished there was something he could do to bring back the energy the castle always seemed to have.

The figures in the portraits followed them with their eyes, but other than that they were unnervingly still. It just did not feel right.

They were about to round another corner when Jonathan Weasley (the leader of the Order) and a large group of uniformed order members appeared in front of them.

With out needing to be told the on duty Order guards quickly surrounded the group.

Jonathan stood stiffly, his eyes running over the group his eyes pausing on the clocked figure and his son. Sighing he rubbed his hand through his hair in what Markus recognised as I sign of stress.

"Do you know what you have done? How many people you have sentenced to death?"

"And the people we have saved?" Markus asked his father.

"Don't be a fool" Jonathan said critically "you have achieved nothing but blood shed by your acts of rebellion"

"I don't know what your talking about" Markus said.

"Of coarse you don't! You never think things through." Jonathan said an angry glint in his eye.

"We are all listening" Andor said "so why don't you enlighten us" his voice stony.

Jonathan frowned at him "not now" he said and began walking backward and forward "first I must decide what I am going to do with you"

"You're not going to do anything Jonathan" Cullen said.

"Oh?" Jonathan asked.

"As I'm sure you already know there was quite a commotion at Harry Potter's arrival here at the castle – the news is well out and beyond denial. The ramifications of locking up their hero would be severe"

Jonathan snorted, "I think that you forget that…"

"A leaders power is reliant on the loyalty of his or hers followers" Cullen cut in, and Jonathans eyes narrowed and he stopped passing immediately turning his eyes back on the group of traitors.

"And I can tell you now that if you force them to chose between their leader and their hero you would tear the Order down the middle… it's not worth it"

"Hmmmm" Jonathan said staring intently at Harry "so this is our Hero?"

"No" Harry scowled.

"Yes this is him," Cullen said over Harry.

Jonathan rose his eyebrows at Harry "he sounds young and somewhat reluctant – are you sure he could command the orders loyalty"

"Of coarse"

The order leader stepped closer so that he was standing a mere foot from Harry.

Peering under the hood he looked to Cullen "this is just a child" he said.

"I am aware" Cullen replied as the group surrounding Harry stirred.

"Well." Jonathan said looking again at Harry "what do you have to say for yourself boy"

"You're all deranged," he said.

"He has power Jonathan" Cullen said "we have seen testament to that… child or not he is still Harry Potter and at least some of what has been said about him is true"

Suddenly Jonathan turned away from them and began walking back down the hallway "very well Cullen, we shell see where this leads… but mark my words" he said turning again and gesturing for the uniformed group of Order members to follow him. "When things go wrong, when this boy can not save us - I will be waiting"

London…

Arden was watching his brother closely.

"You are following orders from a diary?" he asked

Cecil suddenly looked uncomfortable "I do not follow orders, I have simply been taking suggestions"

"And this man that it suggested you keep – what of him?"

Cecil narrowed his eyes at the other man "He appears to be some sort of idiot, he barely speaks at all and is only ever vaguely aware of what is happening around him… it's as if he is in some sort of trance"

"What reasons did the diary give for keeping him?"

"Tom said he would have his uses"

Arden leaned back in his chair "you have changed brother" he said.

"I have had to, you do not know what - "

"You will visit me again tomorrow and bring me the diary" Arden said, his eyes glanced over his brother "not that there is any need, as you have it with you now – tell me… why the lies?"

Cecil's eyes widened in surprise, his hands quickly falling to cheek that the diary still lay hidden in the folds of his robes before swiftly standing up "I could ask you the same thing!"

Arden raised his eyes at the sudden change in mood to where Cecil stood glowering at him "you want it for you self don't you Brother"

Arden turned his head to the side as if looking at something fascinating "I think this diary has addled your mind"

Cecil angrily pulled out his wand and pointed it at Arden "you will not speak to me like that! I am to be announced, I am going to be emperor. Together Tom and I are going to rule the world. We will be unstoppable" he sneered at his brother, who like usual, was showing no emotion, no uncertainty. He had always found the way that Arden kept his face void of all feeling impressive, now however he was finding it unnerving, like all the fools before him who had tried to destroy the man and it angered him, his brother should not have the power to unnerve him.

"I am to be emperor and what will you be but a disgusting sqwib. Just another Muggle" he hissed.

Arden looked with interest at his brother's diluted eyes, his chest was heaving and there was sweat on his forehead. In his usual graceful way he slid from his chair and slowly made his way towards him.

"No closer Arden" Cecil said griping his wand threateningly.

But Arden did not stop "I am not your enemy," he simply said as he stepped right in front of the frightened man who he had never seen quite like this before. Cecil was always so in control of himself, but not now. Lifting his hand he griped the shorter mans wand and began pushing it away from him.

Cecil had gone pale and was shaking slightly. His rage slowly disappearing he lowered his head wondering at his own behaviour "I am sorry" he quietly chocked out, never had he pointed his wand at Arden, and he had always believed that he never would.

"I know" Arden said his hand resting on Cecil's shoulder. Cecil looked up in surprise it was the greatest sign of affection Arden had ever shown to him, or any one for that matter.

"Listen to me carefully Cecil for this is very important." Arden said letting go of the other mans shoulder and returning to his chair as Cecil did the same. "You have two choices" his brother was listening carefully although he could see even now an inner battle being fought "give me the diary or die"

Cecil shifted back slightly in shock his eyes looking at Arden as if he had never seen him before "you would kill me?" he asked.

Arden remained silent for a while his eyes flickering from Cecil's form to the only picture in the room, a beautiful women with long black hair and large blue eyes "no"

Cecil frowned "for once would you…"

"I would never kill you. But Tom Riddle will" Arden said his eyes moving back to his brother.

Cecil found his hands clutching the diary in his hands. Tom Riddle had offered him everything he had ever wanted, and more so the chance to do it by himself with out Arden's help. He had also become a friend of sorts and Cecil found himself being powerfully drawn to him. Like a part of him was slowly becoming a part of Tom. And he liked it; he wanted to be a part of Tom. It was almost as if he loved Tom. Even more so than his own brother at times. With his hands resting on the book he felt it pulsing as if Toms very heart lay in his hands. He did not think that Tom would ever hurt him. But Arden had never lied to him and he had yet to be wrong.

Letting his eyes run over the black book he spoke "I will think about it." He said

"The time for thinking is over" his brother's voice had turned slightly aggressive, he knew that tone. He was being warned.

Pulling his eyes from the book he found his brothers blue eyes settled on him so intensely that for the first time in his life he could not bear to meet them and he looked away "Just until tomorrow" he said.

"Then you decision has already been made" Arden said with out emotion "you are dead" then he stood up then and left the room, never once turning back.

Cecil watched after his brother for a few moments. For some one who accused him of behaving not like himself Arden was certainly behaving strangely. Admittedly he had truly not been feeling himself lately and his emotions had become a lot more … exaggerated. But Arden was obviously becoming paranoid and his thoughts less and less rational.

Looking down at the diary he felt a sudden strong affection for it. Hugging it close to his chest and breathing in its scent he felt him self relax again. Everything would be fine, he was sure of it.

They needed to keep their wits about them if everything was going to turn out as Arden had planned now more than ever patience and cunning was critical. He would be emperor and Arden would come to his senses again he would see to it. Then Cecil would make sure they both got what they deserved.

Standing up he pulled a piece of parchment from a near by desk and wrote out a quick note to his brother.

Turning around he left, his robes bellowing out behind him.

He would be back tomorrow with his decision. A decision he had already made and no doubt Arden would not agree to. But now he was in charge, not Arden and he was going to do what was best for them both.

Arden remerged just minutes after his brother had left. He immediately spotted the note, which he read before tossing to the ground in anger.

Storming to his piano he flung up the lid and found his fingers filling in all the spaces that it should. It sounded just like her. Like she was there with him. Like she had never left. He played and played and played and in his mind he could see her next to him, his small fingers only just reaching from note to note "your doing so well Arden" she said smiling at him "my little prodigy… what an emperor you will one day be" she smelled so nice, like lavender. He reached out for her, and found himself in her arms. They were so warm as she held him tight. But then he opened his eyes and found himself alone. Leaning forward his hands slipped off the keys.

"I have failed you," he whispered.

Hogwarts…

"He is still fast asleep," Verity said coming back into the living room where Spiro, Markus and Cullen were sitting "I think we should give him at least another hour of sleep, they will have to wait a little longer for him to make an appearance"

"Another hour then" Cullen said after a moment "but then an appearance must be made"

Andor entered the room closing the door behind him "how are the celebrations?" Cullen asked.

"Better than I thought, despite Harry not being there yet" he said taking a seat "they've even got some instruments out and some people are dancing… I've never seen anyone so lively… it's amazing" he said a weary smile on his face.

"What do you make of the boy?"

"He's younger than we thought," Verity said, "I just cheeked on him" she said for Andor's sake "he looks like a kid… its so sad"

"Um why exactly?" Markus asked

Verity looked at him sternly "he's just lost everything, every one he ever knew will be dead. Considering everything I'm actually surprised at how well he is doing"

Markus frowned a bit at her.

"What?" she asked

"Nothing" he said quickly losing his frown "its just for a moment there… you just reminded me a little of Alde"

Markus instantly regretted saying anything, the room suddenly turned cold and awkward.

Finally Verity spoke again "thank you" she said, "it is an honour to be compared to some one so kind and brave"

The silence turned uncomfortable for a few moments, when Andor spoke "she had a lot more guts than most people knew, they saw her kindness and how she cared for people and misinterpreted that as weakness… but she was the bravest friend I have ever had the privilege of knowing… she didn't deserve… she was a better person than I"

It was the first time they had talked about her. They just hadn't really talked about there dead friends. Not Anneliese, Toivo, Alde or Larry. It wasn't that they didn't want to. But they hadn't had the chance. They had been on the move, there own lives in danger. It felt strange to suddenly stop now. To be in the safety of Hogwarts. But now more than ever it was really starting to hurt. Their friends should have been there with them.

The silence dragged on even longer. No one with the words to express anything more about their fallen friends and no one willing to change the subject – it seemed insensitive to do so.

"Do you think he can be trusted?" Spiro suddenly asked breaking the silence.

"He's just a boy," Andor said

"None the less I think we will need to keep a close watch on him. One of us should know where he his at all times." Cullen replied.

"I don't think he is going to like that," Andor said taking a sip of a warm watery drink.

"He doesn't have to" Spiro said

They fell into silence again until Matt came back from the celebrations looking thoughtful.

Sitting down he sighed heavily.

"We're all here now" Markus said looking around at his friends "and I know we all want to know what happened in the ministry"

"Where do I Start" Cullen said looking over at Matt "we made it to the Ministry without misshape and were lucky to gain the help of hundreds of ghosts"

"Hundreds?" Markus asked

Cullen nodded "hundreds of ghosts who knew of the box and helped us get to the veil behind which the box was hidden – which is wear Matt stepped in"

"But why me?" Matt asked

"Ah yes – I knew this would come up."

"Well?" Markus asked.

"The veil is a curious artefact; I expect even when the Ministry governed not much was known about it. The little I know of it was knowledge I gleaned from the diaries of Lucius the first. The veil it self appears to be similar to a gate way between life and death if you will. On one side there is life, this world and all that is in it. On the other is a place that exists beyond life. But the Veil is not simply a door. It is a magical device. A Wizards or Witches magic is bound to them, it is part of there very soul and flows through there veins. Take the magic from a magical creature and it will die."

"But why is that?" Verity asked, "Muggles live fine with out it"

"Your right, Muggles do, but that is there design. There blood will flow with out it; their hearts will keep on beating. There minds work in mysterious ways beyond the realms of magic. But a magical being has a different design; with out the magic in them there bodies cannot function. In order for a magical being to travel beyond life there magic must be striped of them as it binds them to life itself. If a magical being travelled through the veil there magic would be ripped from their very being. They may travel through but they will never be able to come back."

"And what of squibs?" Andor asked, "a lot of them are said to have no magic but under enough pressure incidences of accidental magic have shown up"

"This is a tricky question as so few squibs live very long today. But yes there are recordings of squibs that were lucky enough to be born into the order displaying acts of magic when there lives depended on it. Study's by far greater men than me have suggested that squibs are both magical and non-magical. Their bodies exist like a Muggles and yet magic still resides in them, weak it lays dormant, a by product of the parents that bore them. Is a healthy guess to assume that if a squib went through the veil they could return but would do so stripped of there dormant magic"

"But a Muggle could go back and forth with out dieing or losing anything" Verity said.

"That was my theory which seemed to be proven by the ghosts reaction to Matt"

"Matt's still with us and we got the box so I think its safe to say that your theory was proven right" Markus said.

"We shall see in time," Cullen said elusively.

"What do you mean by that?" Matt asked.

"That we have no way of knowing what the long term effects of the Veil will be on you. No one has ever gone through the veil and returned"

"What about Harry?" Verity asked, "he returned with his magic"

"The box is another very mysterious item, all that I have learnt of it I did so from the diary's again"

"Have you read all of them?" Verity asked suddenly looking with awe at Cullen.

"No, only the parts that I needed to, though rest assured that I will"

"So what do you know about the box?" Markus asked.

"It was created a very long time ago by a man called Salazar Slytherin. Lucius talks about it as if it is an ancient artefact even back then. Who ever this Slytherin is he also had a lot of respect for him, as did his master who he refers to as only 'my lord' or 'our lord' but it can be guessed that he is the Dark Lord in the Legend of Harry Potter"

"Not a very nice man then I take it" Andor said.

"The Box itself will suspend what ever is in it in time, how this is accomplished though is well beyond my understanding of magic. Which comes back to how Harry Potter was able to go back and forth through the veil with out being stripped of his magic and dieing – he never did"

"Of coarse" Verity said with interest "he was suspended in time, technically he hasn't been any wear these last hundreds of years"

"In his Diary Lucius mentions throwing the box through the veil before blocking of the ministry and letting lose hundreds of beasts with in it… arrogant as he was he states that even if any one was to know where it was it would be impossible to retrieve. He of coarse did not even consider taking Muggles into account. He goes on to say that 'even if my master wishes to seek out the box to bring Harry Potter back he will find it impossible. The brat will not burden any of us again"

"I don't understand. He is speaking of his master as if he was still alive when Harry was in the box. Wasn't Harry Potter supposed to have defeated the Dark Lord of their time?" Andor asked.

"He did - Lucius seemed to think it was possible to bring him back however. Though he never did manage to"

Suddenly a scream burst though from the room in which Harry was sleeping. Rushing to there feet they burst into the room with there wands all raised to find Harry twisting and screaming in his sleep apparently in the clutches of a disturbing nightmare. Rushing forward Spiro grabbed his shoulders shacking him "wake up boy" he said loudly.

Harry's eyes flew open and found Spiro immediately. Harry flung himself back and away from his reach "don't touch me!" he screamed. Spiro backed away to give him distance. Harry had plastered himself against the wall by the bed his chest heaving, his eyes looking at the blurry figures before him, with a shaky hand he reached out to the bedside table and grabbed his glasses, slipping them on his face.

"Are you alright?" Markus asked gently.

"Peachy" Harry replied after a moment before feeling around for his wand.

"Ok. We'll leave you to it then" Andor said feeling awkward at how they had all burst in.

Turning they all filed out Cullen was last, he watched as Harry straitened him self up "when your ready to go down to the celebrations we are waiting for you in the main living area"

"Right" was his only answer as Harry turned away from him. Slowly Cullen left and closed the door.

"Sirius?" Harry asked, "Where are you?" he turned around but he was alone, where was his godfather?

"Sirius?" he called as he made his way through a dark forest that was vaguely familiar.

The trees were tall and ancient, but it was not a friendly forest, it felt unsettled and threatening. Harry felt a growing sense of fear as he clambered up a small incline. But he could not stop himself. His legs carried him still further onwards and upwards towards something he did not want to see.

And there it was, the dark castle, terror welled up inside of him as he turned to run. He did not want to go back there. He would do anything. He ran but felt like his legs would not move as fast as they should. Pushing as hard as he could he made his way in the opposite direction.

"Harry?" he heard his name called.

Turning slightly he rushed towards his godfathers voice "Sirius!" he called back.

"Harry?"

"I'm coming!" he screamed back "I'm nearly there".

Around the bottom of a small cliff he ran and up the other side, and there he was! His godfather. Relief filled him as he ran forward into the mans arms.

"Sirius" he said in relief.

"Its ok" the man said "its all going to be ok" but then the mans hands loosened form where they had been holding Harry and he sank to the ground screaming.

"Help Me," he yelled desperately as Harry crouched down beside him "IM BURNING"

"No your not!"

"IM BURNING! CANT YOU SEE!"

"I cant! I'm sorry!"

"HELP ME!"

"I don't know what ahhhh" he fell backward as Sirius erupted in flames.

"NO!" Harry screamed and leapt on top of Sirius trying to use his own body to put out the flames. But nothing happened. Sirius did not stop screaming, the flames continued to engulf his charring body and Harry could do nothing to stop it.

Then Harry felt a burning pain in his forehead and began screaming himself, terror froze his body. Slowly he turned around to see Voldemort standing not ten feet away. "NOOOOOOOOOOO!" he screamed.

Terrorised he was on the ground his face in the dirt his hands over his eyes but then some one grabbed his arms shacking him, terrorised Harry opened his eyes…

There was a man holding him, a large dark man. Struggling he backed away, a moment later reality coming back to him, "don't touch me" he yelled shakily.

Many years in the past…

Harry was running home, a great scary black dog was following him. He had first noticed it around some bushes at his school. It was huge and seemed to him to be twice his size. Rushing around the corner into privet drive his eyes on the dog he ran head first into a man wearing a strange black dress.

Backing away he looked up at the man who was scowling at him "sorry" he said quietly before turning back around to find the dog had disappeared. "Why were you running" the man asked him.

"A – a big dog was chasing me"

"Is that so?" the man said steering back the way Harry had come.

"Yes" Harry said stubbornly before covering his mouth with his hand "sorry!" he said before running around the man towards number four.