The Next Year
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. The extra characters I create may be used by Jo if she ever write another HP story.
Harry went on to the Quidditch World Cup. He had a good time until the Death Eaters attacked. School seemed to be okay. The Bauxbatons and Durmstrang students were okay. Harry and Viktor Krum got on good terms. Ron was very angry with Viktor for taking Hermione to the Triwazard Ball. He was angry with Harry when his name came out of the Triwazard Cup.
Ron's anger over this rivaled that of Igor Karkaroff. Madame Maxime was also angry. Unfortunately Harry was not taken out of the contest. Ron forgave Harry after the First task but Igor Karkaroff did not.
Harry's real problem came when he was used as to restore Lord Voldemort. Cedric Diggory lost his life. Harry came "home" on good terms with Ron and Hermione and Viktor Krum. Dumbledore apologized for not taking him out of the contest.
Harry came back to 4 Privet Drive emotionally drained and shaken up. Vernon and Petunia were scared and they had reason to be. Harry kept Dreaming about Cedric out loud.
Aunt Petunia took Harry aside when Vernon and Dudley were not home.
Harry something very bad happened at school!" said Aunt Petunia. "You know there are no secrets between me and wizards because of your Mum, my sister. I was jealous. My parents were not cruel but they gave Lily more attention than me. She got to go to a better school. They spent money on her. What happened and who is Cedric? It will stay between us."
"First of all you need to understand what was spent on your sister," said Harry. "They only had to buy her wand. Mine was seven galleons. My friend Hermione's dad paid twelve galleons for her wand. With a Muggle-born everything else is covered, robes, books and board and tuition. The Ministry thinks its only fair they pick that up as the parents did not ask for a Muggle-born child. They can optionally buy the books and robes but the Ministry will not accept board or tuition for a Muggle-born."
"I think they bought her robes, maybe books," said Petunia. "I am sure they got the robes. She had the best looking robes."
"You asked me what happened at school and it wasn't at all pretty. I was forced into a magical tournament and a friend at school, Cedric Diggory, was murdered, on orders of Lord Voldemort, by the very wizard who betrayed my parents, your sister, Aunt Petunia!"
"My God!" gasped Petunia.
"It was not Sirius Black, he did no murder," said Harry. "It was Peter Pettigrew. He can transform into a rat so he is often called 'Wormtail'. He's dangerous, very dangerous. He's a Death Eater. Wormtail used the same spell that was used to murder you sister and your brother-in-law, John Dursley. He spoke the incantation while pointing his wand and Cedric fell dead."
"Avada Kadavra!" whispered Petunia.
"Yes," said Harry. "I take it you read Mother's books."
"Yes, secretly I'm a curious woman. I've never told anyone, wizard or Muggle till now."
"The spell is instantaneous and once done it cannot be undone," said Harry "We have no spell that reawaken the dead. Once someone is dead as far as magic goes they remain dead."
"Harry what kinds of belief do wizards have?" asked Petunia.
"All the ones you have and a few others. There is a total freedom of belief in our world," smiled Harry. "All of our intolerance is over blood purity. Some of us think blood purity is a false issue, including me, my Dad, my Mother, Professor Dumbledore and the Weasley family. We don't care what you belief is or what color your skin is. Only some are biased on blood purity like Lucius Malfoy."
"What about Severus Snape?" asked Petunia.
"He is a cruel, angry teacher," said Harry. "He is a friend of the Malfoys and godfather to Draco Malfoy. All three of them have caused me grief at school. They had nothing to do with me getting in into the tournament. That was done by the son of Bartemius Crouch."
"Bartemius Crouch was a man Lily was afraid of. He was a fanatic," said Petunia.
"He and his family are dead," said Harry. "Lord Voldemort is back in full force. Ron and Hermione are not communicating with me. The Prophet is not telling what happened."
"It says you lied!" said Aunt Petunia.
She handed Harry a copy of the Daily Prophet. A story read "The Boy Who Tells Lies."
Harry's face took on a purple look like Uncle Vernon's face.
"I hope you believe me over these people. For all I know I've lost Ron and Hermione!" said Harry.
Tears began to run down Harry's face. He wondered if he really had lost them all. He wiped his face.
"Perhaps everyone in my world is against me," said Harry. "Maybe I should just disappear. I could go to another country and see if the wizards there accept me."
"Harry I know we have not been good to you. I have to obey
Vernon! You have not told me everything yet. How was Lord Voldemort restored?" asked a frightened Aunt Petunia.
"My blood, his father's bone and Peter Pettigrew's hand!" said Harry, "It was an ancient dark ceremony. Voldemort tried to kill me but there is something about our wands. Had I run away from school it would not have happened! I almost did to get out of that cursed tournament. I'd really be better off in the United States. I can slip down to the Ministry of Magic and talk to American wizards at the Department of International Magical Cooperation there. I know it's under the Parlement Building.
Unknown to Harry or his Aunt Petunia Arthur Weasley had been flying around 4 Privet Drive on a broom and under and invisibility cloak. He was disturbed to see Harry down and was concerned that he might try to leave Britain and flee to the United States. He decided he better talk to Harry.
Arthur took off the Dissulutionment charm and made himself visible to Harry and Aunt Petunia.
Harry did not know whether to be grateful or angry.
"Harry you seem to be bitter!" said Arthur.
"I haven't exactly been treated well at school." said Harry. "The Prophet is printing lies about me. I should have run away and then Voldemort would not be back or do you also disbelieve me?"
"Professor Dumbledore and I believe you. Harry I need to speak with you, alone!" said Arthur.
"Sorry, Aunt Petunia this is for me and Arthur," said Harry.
Arthur took Harry a ways from Aunt Petunia and Cast some silencing Charms so she would not overhear.
"Harry has Professor Dumbledore ever told you why you must stay with your aunt and uncle?" asked Arthur.
"Because they are all the family I have. But they aren't much of a family and the worst one is my Uncle Vernon. I could work things out with Aunt Petunia. She's going to lose Dudley to Prison," said Harry.
"Why?" asked Arthur.
"Dudley is heading a gang that specializes in beating up ten-year olds. I can't get her to believe me on that and I've stopped trying," said Harry bitterly.
"I'm going to talk to that uncle of yours myself. If I cannot put some sense into his mind -"
"No!" said Harry.
"Has he hit you again?" asked Arthur.
Arthur checked Harry for welts. He found some.
"Did Vernon do this?" asked Arthur.
"Dudley's gang of thugs did it! said Harry
Arthur went back to Petunia shaking with rage.
"Petunia, your son's gang has beaten Harry. Your son is on his way to Muggle Prison. Are you ready for that? I know what he has been doing. Harry says he cannot talk to you about so I shall. The Muggle prisons are little better than our Azkaban and I know you know about the creatures that guard it from Serverus Snape and Lily!"
"You need to speak to Vernon, not me!" said Petunia coldly.
"I shall!" said Arthur. "When do you expect Vernon?"
"About six o'clock."
"I'll be back. I still have not finished speaking to Harry." said Arthur.
He took Harry as ways off and cast the Silencing Charms.
"Harry, if I had my way and I don't, I'd hand deliver your Uncle for a short-term is Azkaban. Your cousin would get a grand tour. Stay with them. If you run off to the States all three of them will die!" said Arthur.
"If I stay with them I do not know whether I'll kill myself or Uncle Vernon!" said Harry. "I want to go to International Magical Cooperation and meet with American wizarding representatives. You know the way into the Ministry of Magic. Would you prefer to see me in Muggle Prison for killing my uncle? Take me there now!"
"Harry you will condemn all three of them to death and will be more at risk yourself. Think about what Voldemort said. It was old magic, he could not touch it!" pleaded Arthur.
"He can touch me now!" said Harry.
"Harry you get a hold of yourself now!" said Arthur. "He cannot touch you at your aunt's home because she is your mother's sister."
"If I stay you talk to my uncle and my cousin!" demanded Harry.
"That is reasonable," said Arthur.
Dudley came home being Dudley, he and his gang were laughing.
"That one was no man!" said Piers. "He cried like a baby. We know what his old man is like! He got another beating for letting himself be taken, that is, if he was dumb enough to tell."
Arthur's face turned red. He grabbed Piers roughly.
"You've beaten a boy. You'll promise to stop or I'll make you experience more pain than you think possible! The same goes for you Malcolm! Both of you get out of here now!"
"Dudley you're next!" said Arthur, grabbing Dudley roughly. "Any new welts on Harry and I'll throw you and your dad in wizard prison!"
Vernon happened by next. Arthur grabbed him roughly and gave him the same warning he'd given Dudley.
Vernon said he and his son would do better by Harry.
Petunia looked upset.
They all went inside.
"Why is Arthur Weasley here? You know how he destroyed the living room last year and what his son did to Dudley!" demanded Uncle Vernon.
"He's been the father you never have been!" said Harry angrily.
"Don't smart mouth me like that, boy!" bellowed Vernon.
"You'll call me Harry or Potter!" snapped Harry. "Don't call me 'boy' again!"
"Potter, why do you keep disturbing us with dreams about some Cedric character," asked Uncle Vernon.
"Cedric was a young man at school," said Harry. "I saw him get murdered by a dark wizard after Lord Voldemort told him to 'kill the spare'. My blood was used in a dark ceremony and Voldemort has full power. He summoned his followers and Lucius Malfoy was one of them."
"Voldemort's followers killed the headmaster of a school for my kind over in Bulgaria. Voldemort tried to kill me but there is some relationship between our wands and his wand cannot kill me if I have mine. I escaped wounded. Look at my left forearm. That is where the blood was taken."
Harry showed Vernon the healing wound. Vernon was shocked. His face went from purple to white. Aunt Petunia and Dudley also looked pale.
"That Dumbledore is a crackpots and he got you hurt. I want to see Minister Fudge. I can contact him. We got know each other when Marge was rescued!" said Vernon.
In a few hours Fudge came to the Dursley home. Harry was ordered to show him his wound. Fudge went pale.
"Minister why is everyone against me?" asked Harry.
"How did you get that wound? I want the truth!" demanded Fudge.
"I told you and you disbelieved me," said Harry. "Lies are being printed about me in the Daily Prophet. You make that stop or let me go the United States!"
"Harry your tales are getting wilder!" said Fudge.
"I'm not lying!" yelled Harry angrily.
"Potter, keep a civil tongue with your leader!" ordered Vernon.
"If he wants that he'll stop lying about me and tell the truth! Voldemort is back! His Death Eaters are mobilizing and hurting wizards and Muggles He's killing your kind, Uncle Vernon! He can print that or let me leave the country!"
"Potter you stop this or I'll send you to Azkaban for the rest of the summer!" threatened Fudge.
Harry lost it! He angrily drew his wand.
"Minister retract the lies or we duel to the death!"
There was a loud crack and then a knock at the door. Dumbledore was there and he was angry.
"Harry you are losing your head?" yelled Dumbledore.
"I'm sick of the lies and the torture! You get me to the States of I'll duel Fudge to the death!" yelled Harry.
"Fudge, after the way you treated us in the Hospital wing, I want you to leave and not come back here while Harry is here and I mean it!" barked Professor Dumbledore.
Dudley came running down the stairs with Vernon's rifle.
"Here's your gun, Dad!"
Several other loud cracks were head. Arthur Weasley, Lupin, Snape and Mad Eye came.
Petunia became enraged at Snape.
"Petunia, are we losing our head?" asked Snape.
"You leaked information to Voldemort that got Lily killed and us landed with Harry!" said Petunia.
Harry's face went white.
"Before I knew better, I was a Death Eater but not any more!" said Snape. "I never had anything against Muggles except my father. He beat me into being a Death Eater! Tell me who cried when your sister died besides me!"
Harry gasped and turned whiter. Petunia wept.
"You do not know what it was like not even you, Potter!" said Snape. "He'd get drunk and beat me and my mother. She made healing potions for herself and me."
"Lupin, I know from the Daily Prophet that you are a werewolf!" sobbed Petunia.
"What you do not know there is a potion to control that and Professor Snape can make it!" said Harry.
Professor Lupin how has it been since Snape let leak the nature of your condition?" asked Harry.
"I have potion from another source," said Lupin.
"Where is Sirius Black, Potter?" demanded Fudge.
"He does not tell me where he is and even if he did I'd never tell you, Fudge!" snapped Harry. "There are three reasons I'm angry with you. The first one is you ordered Sirius's soul sucked by a Dementor. The second one is for calling me and Professor Dumbledore liars. The third one is you neither stopped the Triwizard Tournament nor took me out. Had you done so you and Professor Dumbledore would not be fighting."
"Potter, calm yourself!" ordered Fudge.
"If I told you where Sirius was you would have him kissed just like Crouch's son. You never gave Sirius a trial. It's just too dangerous for him to surrender so don't ask!" demanded Harry.
"Harry you are too young to decide the guilt or innocence of someone," said Fudge.
"You're too blinded over blood purity to be trusted!" said Harry.
"Sirius is a very guilty pure-blood wizard and I'll pressure Ron and Hermione and you until you do tell!" threatened Fudge.
"Cornelius do not take your differences with me out on my students or you will deal with my wand!" said Dumbledore.
"I demand Black!" blustered Fudge.
"NO!" yelled Harry. "Don't you make any trouble for me or we will duel to the death!"
"Harry you are Underage!" said Fudge. "I can not accept such a duel with you."
"I demand to see International Magical Cooperation! I demand status as an abused Underage wizard under the Abused Underage Wizard Treaty of 1985! We signed it. So did the States, Bulgaria and Germany. I have the right to demand it. As Minister of Magic you must allow me to execize that right."
"Potter you are within your rights!" said Mad Eye. "However if you leave your Muggle family they will die. Dumbledore should have explained that. I can see he has not. It is for him to explain. Trust us. Vernon treat this boy better. If you do not we shall know and there will be consequences."
"Do we agree?" asked Dumbledore. "I want a commitment from the three Muggles."
The the three agreed and the wizards left.
For a time things did improve. Harry even got a few treats by way of tropical birds from Sirius. He was sent only very short notes with them, notes that only told Harry Sirius was alive and uncaptured. The floor-boards made an excellent hiding place.
Slowly it all went down hill. One day Piers and Malcolm worked Harry over without Dudley's knowledge. Harry was a wizard and he'd knicked and been given a few potions by Professor Snape. He easily healed the injuries.
Harry began to Owl Professor Dumbledore and complain bitterly. Hedgwig always came back with no response. He knew that unless the letters were intercepted he had contacted Professor Dumbledore. Usually intercepted birds showed some trauma but Hedgwig was not traumatized. The same thing happened with Ron and Hermione. Harry had decided to flag the Knight Bus, go to Hogwarts and force Professor Dumbledore to speak with him and explain.
Before he could do this an incident happened with Dudley.
Harry was sitting in a playground in a bad mood and the gang came bragging about beating up another ten-year old. Dudley asserted he had deserved it. Then he taunted Harry about his mother being dead. The wand came out.
Harry said the rules had been changed and he could use magic away from school. It was a bluff but Dudley, though he suspected it to be a bluff, could not be sure.
Suddenly there was a lot more to worry about. The sky blacked. It became mysteriously cold. Dudley became frightened.
The cold was like winter and the darkness ominous. Harry fled and Dudley with him. Two Dementors of Azkaban attacked. One had Harry by the throat and the other had Dudley. With Harry's greatest effort he was able to produce a Patronus. He drove the two Dementors away.
Mrs Figg came and told Harry she was a Squib and that she was in contact with Dumbledore. She took a sack of cans of cat food to a wizard named Mudungus Fletcher.
Dudley had fared very badly in the attack. He was semiconscious and demanded to be left alone. Harry and Mrs Figg pulled the semiconscious Dudley to his feet and slowly walked him home. Mrs Figg did not go into the house but told Harry to go inside and remain there. On the doorstep Dudley emptied his stomach.
Inside the house Vernon blamed Harry and accused him of being on the run from the law among his own kind.
An Owl came saying Harry had been expelled and someone from the Ministry would come to destroy Harry's wand. Harry was about to go on the run when another Owl from Arthur Weasley told him to stay at his aunt and uncle's home and not to surrender his wand.
Vernon was yelling at Harry and accusing him. Unknown to either there was a very bitter row at the Ministry of Magic.