Harry Potter and the Dark Mark, by Carrie

Summary: Harry's fifth year at Hogwarts and how he deals w/ the rising power of Lord Voldemort CHAPTERS 1 and 2 ONLY!!!

Rating: G

Disclaimer: None of the characters used belong to me, no profit is made from this story and no infringement is intended.

Feedback can be sent to me at: Carremel42@aol.com and please be nice, this is my first attempt at fanfiction.

Harry woke with a start, he had been reliving the night at the third task of the Triwizard Tournament last year at Hogwarts.  When the Goblet of Fire had been turned into a Portkey that had sent Harry and the now late other champion Cedric reeling into a graveyard where he had met Lord Voldermort and saw him rise again.  He had deuled with Lord Voldemort and won, but just barely.  He had been having this dream since the start of the summer and each time his scar burned even more.  He glanced over at his alarm clock and saw it read 5:00 AM, he decided there was no use trying to fall back to sleep again.  Harry got out of bed and opened up the loose floor board underneath it, he pulled out his Hogwarts books and started at his homework.

            He was halfway through his Potions Homework (Harry was just thinking about what type of curse he could send upon Professor Snape for assigning so much work over the summer) when he heard a soft hooting and saw a snowy owl fly through his open window.

"Hello Hedgwig, do you have something for me girl?" said Harry softly, stoking Hedgwig affectionatley.

Hedgwig hooted lovingly and droped a small letter onto Harry's lap.  Harry excitedley opened it up and was quite happy when he saw it was from his friend Ron Weasley.  Ron had befriended Harry in his first year when Mrs. Weasley had helped Harry get through the barrier into platform 9 ¾ and since then he and Ron had been the closest of friends.  Harry opened the letter swiftly and read:

Dear Harry,

            How are you? Are you still having nightmares about You-Know-Who? Maybe it's time to write Dumbledore.  Have you heard from Sirius lately? What did he say about the nightmares?  Anyway, Mum said that your welcome here for the last month of vacation and that we'll gladly take you to Diagon Alley to buy books and then bring you to the Hogwarts Express.  We'll pick you up on July 31st (in 3 days). In other matters, Mom found the 1000 galleons that you gave Fred and George for their joke shop and started crying about how kind your heart was and stuff. Anyway, she suprisingly let them keep it and they've been acting strange all summer. Write back with you answer. We'll be picking you up at 10:00 in the morning on July 31st.

See ya soon!

-Ron

P.S. Keep the Chimney clear because we'll be arriving by Floo powder.

Harry hastily grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill and scrawled a small note telling Ron that he would gladly come and that he would try to talk Uncle Vernon into unblocking the chimney. He remembered the last time the Weasley's had come to "pick him up" and they had arrived by Floo powder down his chimney, quite a disaster and in the end every square inch of the Dursley's living room had been covered in dust and wood and Dudley had grown a 4 foot tounge on an "accidently" dropped wizard candy from Fred and George Weasley.

Harry heard talking from the kitchen and quickly tied the note to Ron onto Hedgwigs leg, gave her a pat and sent her flying through the open window.  Harry slipped downstairs and saw his Uncle Vernon, cousin Dudley and Aunt Petunia sitting around the table eating toast.  Harry slid into his seat and started gulping it down (he was quite hungry). 

"Er, Uncle Vernon" Harry said delicately after a few moments of debating inside his head

"What?" he snarled

"I was wondering, you see…"

"Spit it out boy!" Uncle Vernon shouted

"Well, you know my firend Ron Weasley, he invited me to stay at his house for the rest of the summer and offered to take me to buy my school supplies and to take me to the Hog- I'm mean my schools train."

"They would take you for the rest of the summer and even take you off to your school?" he growled back

"Yes, and you know Sirius Black wouldn't be very happy if I didn't get what I wanted, and if you didn't let me go… he might even come looking for me!"

"Fine!" Uncle Vernon snarled hastily spitting bits of his toast everywhere.

"Oh, and do you mind unblocking the chimney, they'll be arriving by Floo powder on July 31st at 10:00 AM, and I'll be sure notify Sirius if they aren't able to get in!" Harry yelled as he sprinted merrily up the stairs to his bedroom.  He heard the distinctive noise of large hands pounding on the table and Harry snickered very happily. 

            The next few days drawled by very slowly  and finally July 31st had arrived.  Harry was busy in his room packing up his things in his trunk and putting away his broomstick polishing kit (he had just been polishing his Firebolt) when he heard a thud and then a scream downstairs and went to investigate.  There sprawled on the floor was Ron, Fred, George, and Mr. Weasley.  Uncle Vernon, Dudley and Aunt Petunia were cowering in the corner.  While Fred and George went to go get Harry's trunk, Mr. Weasley (looking more pale and old than usual, probably because of long hours in the office, caused by the gowing power and strengnth of Lord Voldermort) went to go talk to Uncle Vernon, as he had a strong intrest in muggles.  But Uncle Vernon shyed away drawing his family behind him and shouted some profusly absurd and rude remarks and threats.  Fred and George came clunking down the stairs again carrying all of Harry's things.  Each of them took a pinch of floo powder and went whirling up the fireplace as he muttered good-bye to his family and yelled "the burrow" loudly.