Chapter One: A Knife in The Darkness

Privet Drive was quiet as Harry lay in bed, half asleep. It was mid-summer, and his birthday was drawing nearer and nearer. Though the Dursley's never, ever recognized his birthday, he always looked forward to the cakes and pastries his distant friends would send him. He even looked forward to Hagrid's, even though he never dared to consume them. He guessed it was the thought that counted.

Now Harry drifted to sleep, and began a warm dream about what his fifth year would be like, and of what new people he would meet. And then his mind came to Cho, beautiful, graceful Cho. He thought of her face, so pure and silky and smooth. And then, he was there. Harry was back at Hogwarts . He was in the Gryffindor common room. He was sitting in one of the large, plush chairs, a roaring fire in the fireplace, and sitting in front of his was Cho. She was speaking to him, but he couldn't make out what she was saying. Harry saw Cho lean forward to him, and so he did the same. Soon, their foreheads were touching, and Harry felt Cho's lips on his. He embraced her with every ounce of energy he held within him as he felt her tongue slide onto his.

Then, from the back of the common room, Harry saw a dark figure emerge. Just before the full height appeared, the fire was extinguished. Harry froze with fear as his forehead began to seer with pain. There was a scream, and Cho hit the floor, falling from Harry's embrace. A blinding light flashed, and he felt his forehead burst with pain worse than he had felt, including when he was in the presence of the Dark Lord. He fell to the floor, just as Cho has done, and began to quiver, as Wormtail had done with his severed arm.

He awoke. It was not quite dawn, and yet he felt as rested as he needed to be to face another day. Odd this would happen, he thought to himself as he rubbed his forehead feverishly. This same pain had awoken him not one year ago. Suddenly, a sickening thought came to his mind. His scar only hurt when The Dark Lord was present. Harry grabbed his wand from where it lay on the nightstand. He knew he wasn't allowed the use of magic outside school grounds, but this was a matter of life and death. Dumbledore would understand.

Harry walked slowly to the door.

"Lumos!" Harry whispered, as he opened the door of his room.

Wand alight, Harry stepped into the hall. He trekked to Dudley's room, expecting to hear snores. Silence. He passed up Dudley's room and went to his Aunt and Uncle's. Silence. Harry opened the door to the room. Silence. What was going on? Why was the house suddenly void of its usual noises? Harry stepped further into the room, drew his breath, and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Hey! What's going on?" No response.

"I'm going to take the car and smash it into the neighbor's house!" He shouted. Still no response.

This was down right scary. He flipped on the light switch and ran to the bed. No one was there. He ran from the room to Dudley's. No fat boy lay there. His wonderful dream had awoken into a nightmare. He ran from the room, and down the stairs, four at a time. He leapt into the den, in complete panic, and then froze. He flipped the light on slowly, ever so slowly. There, before him, were three people lying on the floor, terrified looks on their faces. As the information of what had happened while he was dreaming of Cho registered in his mind, Harry blacked out, and fell to the floor.

Morning came, and Harry came to. He was extremely groggy, and he felt as if he has slept on Snape's dungeon floor. He moved his left leg to his left, as if to put it on the floor by his bed. But it wasn't there. There was only carpet. Harry, realizing this, fell to earth. He found himself on the den floor. He stood himself up, examined himself, and looked around. Then, once again, the information of the events of the night before registered, and there was a harsh realization.

Questions zoomed through Harry's mind as he walked back up stairs, to shaken and groggy to run. What are the Muggle police going to do? Where would he go? Where would he live? And then, Draco Malfoy popped into his head, and Harry nearly vomited on the spot. He could hear Malfoy going on about this for years to come.

Now he arrived at his destination. His room. This room held Hedwig, his snowy owl. He planned to send a letter, via Owl Post, to Ron. His father was apart of the Ministry Of Magic! Surely he could get his out of this mess. So, he went to his nightstand, pulled out a piece of parchment, and dipped his quill into an open inkbottle. He began to write:

Dear Ron,

You'll never believe the fix I'm in this time. I woke this morning with my scar hurting, just like last year, except worse. I ran to my Dudley's room, and then to my Aunt and Uncle's. They were all gone. I ran to the den, and there they lay. Dead. From the Avada Kadavra Curse I suspect, but I can't see any reason why, if this is the work of You-Know- Who, he didn't come after me. But, they are all dead, and I fear what the police will do. Your dad is pretty high in the Ministry Of Magic, so I thought I'd try him. Send help if possible as soon as possible!

--Harry

Harry rolled up the parchment, walked over to Hedwig, and tied it to her leg. Hedwig seemed unshaken by the night's events, and she nipped at his fingers appreciatively as he finished attaching the letter. Hedwig flew off into the morning, and Harry felt slightly at ease.

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Harry awaited Ron's response by pacing back and forth around his room, thinking hard at all the options and choices he will make and what will happen. Three hours after he had sent Hedwig, Harry saw an enormous bird emerge in the distance. This was defiantly not Hedwig. It couldn't be Pigwigdon, could it? But before Harry could finish his thought, the enormous bird had landed and was waiting patiently. Harry pulled the letter from the owl's leg, and read:

Harry,

I can't believe it! Anyway, here's a pouch of Floo Powder. You know how to use it.

--Ron

Harry Felt the velvet bag of Floo Powder, then put it in his pocket. His scar was still hurting, but it had become bearable. He turned around. But, instead of seeing the door of his room, he saw a black-robed figure levitating in front of him.





(a/n: This is a joint account between two friends! We are alternating chapters. So, if it takes awhile to get a chapter up, it's her fault not mine! I, Josef, have the odd numbered chapters and Ally has the even numbered chapters!)