The Rider
Chapter Four
Harry blinked down at the page. There was a feeling of shock and horror lingering inside him. The feeling reminded him of what he felt when he learned that Voldemort was in the school twice or when he learnt Sirius Black was his godfather - something he didn't feel now that he knew the truth. To imagine that a girl ruffly his age had to go through knowing that a war was coming but helpless to do anything made Harry think of the situation he was in now.
And what could kill half the clan? From what he understood of this, they clans were all hard to destroy from anything but another clan. Could it have been another clan? Would the girl find out? It was times like these that he could just read the entire journal. The lack of proper information from her was driving him crazy. With a frustrated groan, Harry pushed himself up off the bed, deciding that a trip to the library is in order. He could use some new reading material anyways.
Harry was walking down the alley between Magnolia Crescent and Wisteria Walk to the shortcut to Privet Drive when he felt a familiar chilling feeling wash over him. Knowing that he couldn't risk casting a Patronus with the Ministry of Magic after him, he rushed to number four Privet Drive. Out of the corner of his eye he could have sworn that he saw the silver mist of the Patronus charm as he turned.
He shook his head as he walked, getting rid of the odd thought. The light to number four was still on, signaling that his cousin, Dudley Dursley, had yet to come home form terrorising the neighborhood kids with Piers Polkiss. He gave a quick pray for Mark Evans, the ten year old they were talking about earlier before opening the door.
Heading straight to his bedroom, Harry grabbed a book before throwing aside his school bag. He walked to his desk flipping the pages until he came to where he left off in the library. He had finished a page when an owl tapped at his window. Letting it in, he took the letter attached to its leg.
Dear Mr. Potter,
We have received intelligence that you performed the Patronus Charm at twenty-three past nine this evening in a Muggle-inhabited area and in the presence of the Muggle.
The severity of this breach of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery has resulted in your expulsion from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Ministry representatives will be calling at your place of residence shortly to destroy your wand.
As you have already received an official warning for a previous offense under Section 13 of the International Confederation of Warlocks' Statute of Secrecy, we regret to inform you that your presence is required at a disciplinary hearing at the Ministry of Magic at 9 a.m. on on the twelfth of August.
Hoping you are well,
Yours sincerely,
Mafalda Hopkirk
Improper Use of Magic Office
Ministry of Magic
Harry read through the letter twice before it made any sense. Patronus Charm? Expelled? His wand was being destroyed? He hadn't had his wand on him all evening, how would he have casted it? He hadn't even casted the charm since the third task.
From downstairs he heard his aunts cries of distress. "Dudley? Diddy? What's wrong baby? Did Mrs. Polkiss give you another one of her teas?" Thoroughly intrigued, he decided to investigate.
Creeping to the top of the stairs, Harry could seeing aunt Petunia's back as she stood at the door. "Why are you covered in dirt? Were you Mugged? Vernon! Vernon, come quick?" aunt Petunia continued to question.
Loud footsteps came from the living room. Harry saw uncle Vernon stand beside aunt Petunia. "Who mugged you? Tell us and we'll call the police," uncle Vernon urged him.
"Er, actually Mr. Dursley, sir?" a voice Harry didn't recognize said. "I'm afraid that your son wasn't mugged." He guessed that the person talking was female judging from the pitch. Not a Dursley approved one either, from the sound of disgust aunt Petunia made.
"Well, what happened then?" he asked in a try-and-tell-me-I'm-wrong tone.
There was a pause, where the woman said something before Vernon went, "Dementoids? What are those?"
"Dementors, they guard the wizarding prison, Azkaban." There was two full seconds of ringing silence as everybody processed that aunt Petunia of all people had said that. Aunt Petunia seemed to realize what she said as she made a horrified noise. "L-lily told me about them once, said that I should avoid them."
An owl screeched as it flew through front door, flying directly up the stairs to Harry. He relieved it of its burden, letting it fly off again as he unfolded the letter.
Harry-
Dumbledore's just arrived at the Ministry and he's trying to sort it all out. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR AUNT AND UNCLE'S HOUSE. DO NOT DO ANY MORE MAGIC. DO NOT DO ANY MORE MAGIC. DO NOT SURRENDER YOUR WAND.
Arthur Weasley.
Harry scoffed at the letter. Did the people who have been keeping him in the dark all summer think that he was going to listen to them? Well if so, they were severely mistaken. It wasn't like he was planning to cast spells willy-nilly because he was suddenly expelled from Hogwarts. And he was going outside whether they liked it or not.
"Boy, there will be no owls in my house, and you'd best remember that!" uncle Vernon yelled at him. Harry rolled his eyes as his uncle turned right back around to grill the woman outside.
Acknowledging that there was nothing to be learnt by spying on them, he headed back to his bedroom only to be stopped by another owl.
Dear Mr. Potter,
Further to our letter of approximately twenty-two minutes ago, the Ministry of Magic has revised its decision to destroy your wand forthwith. You may retain your wand until your disciplinary hearing on the twelfth of August, at which time an official decision will be taken.
Following discussions with the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Ministry has agreed that the question of your expulsion will also be decided at that time. You should therefore consider yourself suspended from school pending further enquiries.
With best wishes,
Yours sincerely,
Mafalda Hopkirk
Improper Use of Magic Office
Ministry of Magic
While that was a relief, but he still didn't know why he was being accused of performing magic. How did the Ministry track who casted magic anyway? He wished that he was in access to a magical library. One place to get all of his magical enquiries answered.
Harry decided to check on his egg, hoping to distract himself with the warm feelings that it provided. Taking the cardboard box out of his trunk, he unfolded the flaps to pick up the egg. He held it on his lap as he told it what happened. The comfort he felt from it evaporated his anger, helping him feel more peaceful until he eventually fell asleep with the at his side.
A/N: All letters in this chapter come directly from Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix.
