THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM
By Penelope Clearwater
A/N: This is a story that I'm very much enjoying working on at the moment. It starts immediately after GoF ends and it's basically going to tell the story of the summer between GoF and OoTP, starting off with Harry but then branching out to show other characters too. There'll be Remus, Sirius, Severus and more…it promises to be a life-changing summer for Harry.
Hope you enjoy it…reviews welcome…go on!
Maybe the summer won't be quite as bad as Harry thinks it's going to be…..
CHAPTER ONE: Mrs Weasley.
Harry trudged miserably after Uncle Vernon, ideas flitting through his mind…ridiculous, implausible, impossible ideas…. maybe he could find himself a nice cardboard box and camp out at King's Cross for the entire summer….it'd probably be more comfortable than staying at Privet Drive for the next few months. Above all however, he couldn't stop thinking about recent events…his parents, Voldemort…Cedric. Harry was so lost in these troubled thoughts that at first, he thought he was imagining the voice calling his Uncles name. But apparently not…it grew stronger, more insistent.
"Mr Dursley…. Excuse me…. MR DURSLEY!"
Harry turned around, surprised and saw the welcome sight of Mrs Weasley barging through the crowd towards them, her handbag swinging dangerously all the while. She was pushing her way persistently through the throng of people, her strange attire earning her many a suspicious glance. People were edging away from her warily, muttering amongst themselves about wanting to stay clear of that type of people. Mrs Weasley eventually drew level with Harry and Uncle Vernon, panting and very nearly knocking out a small muggle child with her bag. The rest of the Weasley family were behind her, looking somewhat bemused. Uncle Vernon tutted loudly and very obviously rolled his eyes rudely as he recognised the Weasley's.
"What on EARTH is it, Mrs Weasel?" he snapped impatiently.
"It's WEASLEY." Shouted Fred loudly.
"Yeah…W-E-A-S-L-E-Y." bellowed Ron, equally loudly.
"Be quiet you two!" Mrs Weasley exclaimed exasperatedly, narrowing her eyes at them.
Uncle Vernon looked down his large, purple nose nastily at Mrs Weasley. "Did you want something?"
Mrs Weasley started to dig around in her handbag.
"Yes…dear me, I nearly forgot…. letter for you from Albus…. he gave it to me this morning with strict instructions to pass it on as soon as I saw you….I can't believe I nearly forgot it. Now…where on earth is it?"
Uncle Vernon tapped his foot impatiently as she continued to dig in her bag, bringing out all manner of strange things…a spell book, half an old wand, some chocolate frogs and a large potion bottle until eventually she drew out a rather crumpled envelope on the front of which was inscribed 'For the attention of Mr. V. Dursley. Urgent' in delicate silver ink.
"It's from Professor Dumbledore." Mrs Weasley said, beginning to regain her breath. "He is the headmaster of….."
"I know who he is!" Uncle Vernon exclaimed nervously, evidently not wanting Mrs Weasley to elaborate anymore, in a public place. He snatched the letter ungratefully.
"Now look Mr Dursley!" exclaimed Mrs Weasley. "Whatever your opinion of Albus, it is paramount that you READ this letter and follow the instructions in in. You MUST take Harry straight home and he must remain there. It's vital for your nephew's safety…. have you any idea what he has been through recently?" She looked fondly at Harry, who tried to smile back.
Uncle Vernon scoffed loudly and muttered something about 'a load of stuff and nonsense'.
"Now look here!" said Mrs Weasley shrilly. "You must do as the letter says! Every witch and wizard knows that you-know-who…."
"Yes, well, thank you Mrs Weasel." Shouted Uncle Vernon loudly. Passers-by were starting to look at them strangely now and he clearly didn't want to be associated with the Weasley's a moment longer. "Goodbye!"
With that, he turned around and sped off in the opposite direction. Harry tried to smile at the Weasley's. "I better go…." He said quietly.
Mrs Weasley grabbed him before he could go on and hugged him so tightly that he had difficulty breathing.
"Oh Harry….take care of yourself won't you dear?" she said, releasing him reluctantly.
"Yeah…I will." Harry replied. He gave a wave to the rest of the Weasley's and then headed after his Uncle without a back-ward glance. If he looked over his shoulder, he couldn't trust himself not to cry.
*
Harry caught up with Uncle Vernon in the car park. He found him standing beside a litter bin, tearing up the un-opened letter and cursing violently. Uncle Vernon flung the letter in the bin, turned, rounded on Harry and started shouting, his massive purple face mere inches from his nephews.
"NOW….we'll see if some demented old idiot who teaches third-rate magic tricks is going to tell me how to run MY life! Head straight home indeed! HA!"
He smirked nastily at Harry who blinked back at him…unsure if he was hearing correctly.
"Now hurry up boy!" he bellowed, flecks of spit landing on Harry's face. "Get your stuff to the car….your Aunt and Dudley are waiting….we've wasted enough time talking to that stupid, fat woman!"
Harry bristled with anger and struggled to keep his voice calm.
"Why are Aunt Petunia and Dudley here?"
"Idiot boy…we're going shopping."
Harry raised his eyebrows incredulously….had Uncle Vernon heard nothing that Mrs Weasley had said? His Uncle evidently interpreted Harry's expression somewhat differently as he snorted loudly.
"You're not going! I don't care what you do now, but you'll be back here at the end of the afternoon or we'll be going without you! Now come on…get your stuff in the car and get lost!"
Dumbfounded, Harry loaded his belongings into the boot of the Dursley's gleaming red estate car and watched, as if in a daze as they drove off. Harry gazed at the car until it faded out of sight, with Dudley pulling faces at him out of the back window.
Harry felt suddenly panicked. If Dumbledore had said he should go straight to Privet Drive, there must be a very good reason why. He felt nervous and jumpy and he began viewing every passer-by with suspicion.
Wiping his sweaty forehead with a shaking hand, he tried to pull himself together. There was only one thing for it. Feeling the hot summer sun beating mercilessly down on the back of his neck, he headed in what he hoped was the direction of the only place in London he knew….Diagon Alley.
*
Exactly how he found his way to Diagon Alley, Harry would never be sure. Perhaps fate did have a hand in it because he had never before found his way there by himself. All he knew was that he had never felt more relieved in his life than when he was finally standing outside the tiny, dusty pub he knew so well, bearing the sign 'THE LEAKY CAULDRON'.
Pushing the old-fashioned swing door open, Harry was glad to escape the glaring sunlight. The pub was gloomy, cool and somehow very comforting. It was much quieter than he had previously known it. The dozen or so customers chatted quietly among themselves, a far cry from the usual jovial pub atmosphere. It seemed that news of recent events at Hogwarts had travelled fast. Swallowing hard and trying not to think about Cedric, Harry made his way to the bar and cleared his throat. Tom the owner turned round on hearing the noise.
"Hi Tom." Harry said listlessly. "Can I have a butterbeer please?"
"Hello Harry!" exclaimed Tom. "What brings you….." the barman trailed off, his eyes opening wide as if in dreadful recognition. "Oh my GOD! Harry…..what on earth…..you shouldn't be….it's not safe….come here."
Feeling confused and alarmed, Harry obediently followed Tom behind the bar and back into the hallway beyond, trying to ignore the curious stares of the other customers. Tom beckoned him into a cosy sitting room, lined with comfy-looking arm-chairs and with a crackling fire in the middle.
"Sit here and drink this." Tom said, handing him a bottle of butterbeer. "And don't move a muscle….I have to send word to Dumbledore."
"Dumbledore? Why? What's going on?"
"Just wait here Harry…please….I won't be long."
With that, Tom left hurriedly. Harry sighed and sank down into one of the squishy arm-chairs. Despite the heat of the day, the fire was comforting and he soon found himself drifting into a troubled doze.
A/N: That's all for now….second chapter should be up very soon…it just needs to be typed up. Please read and review….I'll gladly return the favour!
Disclaimer: You know the drill….none of the characters belong to me (unfortunately)…but you knew that anyway so enjoy!