Tribute to Broomstick flyer

We can't go home!

Severus Snape was in a real bind, He had helped Harry get away. For the first time since that horrid day in his fifth year at Hogwarts, he felt Lilly would be proud of him.

The dark Lord had just summoned him. He placed his fake mind ahead of his real one and prepared to meet the Dark Lord. As he left the castle, he took one look back and hoped this would not be the last time he saw it.

Severus Arrived at the old Riddle home in a cloud of black smoke, and walked past the burned down gatekeeper's house. The old mansion still smelled of decay from half a century of emptiness. He entered what could best be called a thrown room. Only one seat was in this room a thrown made of bones that held the Dark Lord. Severus felt a shiver run down his spine as the Dark Lord called him forward. "Severus my slippery friend, come we have much to discuss."

These were the last words Severus wanted to hear. The Dark Lord continued. "I understand the boy and the mudblood bitch left the school….is this true?"

Severus Had moved forward knelt down and kissed the hem of the dark lord's robe.

"Yes my Lord. They escaped the castle three nights ago. No one I know of has seen them since."

The Dark Lord sneered at Severus. "What of the Weasley boy, surely he must have given some indication where they went. After all it seems he is Dumbledore's spy."

Severus was not sure if he should feel relief or not. "The boy was tortured to near insanity by Delores Umbridge, it will be some time before we will get any information from him."

The Dark Lord was beginning to seem upset.

"Do you think, He may have sought out Dumbledore?"

"I do believe he has lost trust in the old man, so I doubt he would seek him out." Severus was sweating this conversation internally but holding his mask of indifference.

"Why would you think this?" Sneered the Dark Lord.

"Harry from all accounts recently read his parents wills, Dumbledore apparently ignored their wishes, the boy was more than upset by it." Severus did not dare let the real reason out, It would have the Dark Lord on a rampage ripping his mind to shreds.

"Severus, keep a very close eye on his friends, I want to know immediately should you learn any thing."

Snape Bowed before the Dark Lord. "Will there be anything else my Lord?"

"You may go, but send in Rudolphus before you leave." The dark Lord then waved him away.

Snape left the room slowly and respectfully.

-=o0o=-

Back on the ranch things were beginning to settle in to a routine. It was summer, though Harry and Hermione did spend most evenings studying, The days were filled with learning to ride, helping with chores around the ranch, and the occasional romantic picnic.

The days went by all too quickly, they were informed the tutors would be there on the first of September and what they would need to acquire. Hermione of course was beyond excited. They went to the wizarding district in town. It was nothing like Diagon Alley. It was back rooms of normal stores that only witches and wizards could see or enter.

The bookstore was amazing and Hermione was in pure nirvana. If it were not for shrinking and feather light charms Harry was afraid they would have needed both pickups just for the books.

Harry's Birthday came and the ranch threw him a barbeque. The food was Great and Dobby and Winky made an enormous cake. The ranch hands got Harry a new Stetson hat. It was white, they told it had to be for the good guys. He also got a colt 45 revolver and a Winchester 30-30. he was informed they would teach him how to shoot both of them.

Sirius got him a plethora of gifts. Harry was a truly decked out cowboy by the end of his birthday. After dinner they went to a country western bar down the road where Harry and Hermione Learned to two-step. Harry thought it was his best birthday ever.

-=o0o=-

Petunia Dursley was not a happy woman. The owner of Grunnings instated a full company wide audit, the first in over fifteen years. It turned out her husband had been cooking the books and had a heart attack. He died on July first when he was informed that every farthing he had stolen must be paid back and he was looking at fraud, theft, and racketeering charges. The saving they had, had been wiped out. The insurance they had on the mortgage paid off the house but it was being sold to pay back the debt. The car was repossessed and feeding Dudley was next to impossible. They also were no longer receiving the two thousand pounds a month for her nephew. Her credit cards were cut off; nothing was going right for the Dursleys.

Of course she blamed everything on her freakish nephew who never appreciated all they had done for him.

Albus was back in his cave brooding over how bad things had become. He thought one Madame Umbitch was forced from the Castle they would summon him back, not give Minerva his job. How was he to mold young minds to his version of the light, and willingly follow his precepts of always forgive everything. Some how he felt Harry had done this to him. The boy had gone dark and must be stopped it is all for the Greater Good according to Dumbledore.

-=o0o=-

Dudley was not happy at all. His birthday went by and his mother acted like it wasn't even important. They were also having a garage sale and almost all his possessions were up for sale. He was told he would not be going to Smeltings this year and would be back in public school. The house had a for sale sign out front, and his mother told him that was going to live with his aunt Marge. It wasn't that he didn't love the woman but the house stank of ammonia from the kennels and if it hadn't been for his father she would not have afforded to keep going. Dudley had a feeling his cousin had it easier when he lived there than he would have it with Aunt Marge.