Harry Potter and the Siege

by Yoda

[Book V AU:] Voldemort holds the castle, Harry and Dumbledore are back with three new friends could hold the key to salvation, and the final battle has begun....WORK IN PROGRESS

1. Parts 1 - 3

Disclaimer: Harry Potter, his friends, enemies and all respective items and characters (beasts or beings) from the novels and novellas of J. K. Rowling are hers by moral right and legal copyright. All new creations are my own fictions by moral right.

Chapter 1: The Summer Again

Harry Potter lent back in his bed and looked ahead in time. Tomorrow he would be back at the Burrow, with Ron and his family, then he would be home…Hogwarts. He could hardly believe six weeks had passed since the end of his fourth year, sine Voldemort rose again, since…since a new friend had gone. Harry felt icy guilt within, Cedric Diggory, a fellow student and champion of Hogwarts, had been killed by Voldemort, by Peter Pettigrew, by Harry…

The trap had been for him, instead he and Cedric were caught, but Cedric had paid the price. Tears threatened to brim over and Harry's throat burned, he had also see the two innocent lives taken from him as a young baby. His father and mother had appeared as shadows during that night; they had saved his life again.

Apart from his wand, Harry had no protection against Voldemort; his scar had faded soon after leaving Hogwarts for the Dursleys. Voldemort had taken Harry's blood, his mother's protection was gone with it. Wiping his eyes clear, Harry sat upright in his bed, he couldn't sleep now.

Reaching under his mattress, he pulled out his photo album, a present from Hagrid after his first year at school. Turning the familiar pages, he came to his favourite, one of Lily and James, his parents, with Sirius, his godfather, a wizard who had taken Pettigrew's blame and spent time in Azkaban.

THUD!

Harry looked up to see a stunned Pigwidgeon reeling on his bedroom's windowsill.

Quickly he scooped in Ron's owl and removed the message from his leg. With a wobbly hop and skip 'Pig' landed in Hedwig's empty cage and promptly fell peacefully into the food bowl.

Listening to the muffled chirping of Pig's snores, he really did sound like one in the food, Harry opened Ron's letter:

Hi Harry,

I'm really looking forward to seeing you next week, although by the time Pig reaches you, it probably will be next week, he's still a hyperactive little git! Anyway I'm writing cos I've got some excellent news! Dad's no longer in the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office, he's now assistant director of the Department for International Magical Co-operation!

With all the extra he got, me and Ginny went to Rumania to see Charlie, plus Dad got an official Ministry car – we'll be picking you up in it! There is of course one spectacular bonus – Percy now works for Dad, it's driving him berserk, he keeps coming home without work!

Anyway, we're going straight to London from the Muggles' house, we got rooms from Tom at the Leaky Cauldron – speaking of them, Percy's standard thickness law was introduced last week, watch out, his inflated head is overbalancing his body!

See you about 10 on Tuesday morning!

Bye – Ron

Harry looked up a his clock, it was just after midnight, in ten hours he would leave the Dursley's for another blissful school year. Drowsily he closed Pig into Hedwig's cage, he'd give him to Ron tomorrow. Hedwig would be in London or at Hogwarts, he only sent her to Sirius yesterday. Peacefully, Harry dropped into a deep slumber, still holding his smiling parents beneath his fingers.

Chapter 2: A Narrow Escape

Harry woke at seven and threw open the curtains, August 30th, his last day of summer was a glorious one. He threw his clothes on, washed, and packed everything into his trunk; books, work, his Firebolt, the album and his birthday presents. This year he'd gained his own copy of Quidditch Through the Ages from Ron, a Chudley Cannons jumper from the rest of the Weasleys, a new set of gobstones from Hermione, a book on dragons from Hagrid, and a shiny 'P' badge from Dumbledore…Harry was a Prefect!

Of course there wasn't much Harry didn't know about being a Prefect. Control of house passwords, a later curfew, the common room, and the bathroom. Then there were the new benefits; exclusion from the Underage Wizardry Act and authority to deduct points from all houses, not just his own, Gryffindor. Harry checked his watch, only seven-thirty! He was ready to go now, how could only half an hour have gone? Sighing he went down to the kitchen to see that Dudley was already there. Dudley was no longer the mass of a small whale, he wasn't even as heavy as Uncle Vernon.

Over the past year, Aunt Petunia's diet had had a profound effect, Dudley was now built like Harry, except slightly taller and with broader shoulders. However with his size gone, so had his power; Piers Polkiss had taken over his gang, Dudley had been rejected. 'Morning Harry,' he said, 'want some breakfast?' His new attitude was another noticeable change, it seemed he suddenly realised the benefits of a magical cousin. Over summer, he and Harry, had become good friends, they played computer games and gobstones, went into town and the cinema. Then Aunt Petunia walked into the kitchen.

'Hello Dudley, erm, go-good morning Harry' she said with a nervous smile. With Dudley, her object of affection liking Harry, she had forced herself to, but now she was softening, especially when the dishes washed themselves. Harry smiled in acknowledgement, toast hanging out his mouth, and put the kettle on while Dudley served up three plates. 'What time are you being picked up Harry?'

'The Weasleys should be here about ten Aunt Petunia.'

'I should take out the fireplace now then' she commented, remembering Mr. Weasley's ballistic approach from the year before.

'it's okay, they'll be coming in a Ministry car this year, Ron's dad was promoted.' He poured the tea and the three began to eat the hearty cooked breakfast. 'I've already packed so there won't be any delay in leaving, that'll please Uncle Vernon.'

'So Harry, what happens this year at Hogwarts instead of GCSEs?' asked Dudley. 'I hope you get a challenge.'

'It will be!' replied Harry. 'It's the Ordinary Wizarding Levels, we call them O. W. L. S. Aunt P., and I missed last year because of the Tri…' he stopped abruptly. Dudley became interested in his sauce and Aunt Petunia reached over to hold Harry's hand.

'It's gone now Harry, the past is the past.' She said quietly. 'You can't bring back your friend, but you can always remember him.' She got up and poured more tea, 'Drink up now, then you and Dudley can wash up.' She smiled softly and went out to the garden leaving the boys to drink and clean.

As they were washing, the boys heard the familiar footsteps, pounding the stairs, as Vernon Dursley came down them. 'Morning Dudders!' He roared. 'Get away from those dishes, HE can finish them.' Unfortunately for Harry, Uncle Vernon was still his usual self, except now he loathed Harry after his fireplace had blown up the year before, and his son's tongue had grown four feet long and purple. 'When are those 'Weasels' turning up boy? They can't come in mind, not after last year.'

'The Weasleys will be here at ten.'

'GOOD! The sooner you're gone, the sooner we can have normality in this house!' he roared with laughter at his joke. Harry finished the dishes and left, his uncle's laughter booming out of the kitchen behind him. He went upstairs to his room, and shortly afterwards Dudley arrived.

'I guess Dad will never open up – I'm sorry.' Harry shrugged it off.

'I'm not bothered, at least I know he's not my real family, not like you or your mum.' He smiled. 'Want a game of exploding snap? There's still an hour 'til I need to pack up everything.' Dudley agreed, and soon both boys had smudged cheeks from the blasts. 'Oh god,' said Harry, 'I remember Ron built a pyramid last year, it blew up and singed off his eyebrows!' Dudley whooped out loud with laughter.

'I wish I could meet your friends, or see your school, it must be fantastic; ghosts, passages, and the holiday feasts – wow!'

'One day perhaps, who knows? Whoa is that the time, they'll be here in five minutes!' quickly Dudley and Harry threw items into his trunk, most went in, but most noticeably a pair of socks missed and clattered onto the floor.

'Huh, why do wizard socks clatter Harry?'

Harry unrolled them, revealing his pocket sneakoscope that he'd got from Ron. 'Wow, I thought I'd lost this – help me pack and I'll explain it in a minute.' They put in the rest of Harry's stuff and lugged the trunk downstairs, Hedwig's cage balanced on top with a snoozing Pigwidgeon inside. 'Phew, it always seems to get heavier! Anyway, the sneakoscope is like an advanced burglar alarm, it lights up, spins, and sounds if someone acts in the wrong manner near it. Here take the paper and try to hit me when I turn round, do it when you think I can't tell, take a swipe at my head OK.' Harry turned and almost immediately ducked when he heard a trilling whirr.

'Wow Harry,' said Dudley, 'that's better than any of our burglar alarms!' However the sneakoscope kept going.

'Not again, it does this all the time, it never stopped in the third year.' As Harry grabbed the spinning sneakoscope, the doorbell rang.

'RIGHT' boomed Uncle Vernon, 'I'LL ANSWER THE DOOR BOY AND YOU GET YOUR STUFF AND GET LOST!' He tramped past Harry as the doorbell rang again. 'AND TURN THAT BLOODY THING OFF.' He jabbed at the sneakoscope as he opened the door and swung it open, 'THE BOY'S COMING, JUST WAIT A SECOND' he turned back to Harry. 'OH, SHOWING YOUR TRUE COLOURS AGAIN ARE YOU.' Harry looked astounded, his true colours?

'Harry,' exclaimed Dudley, 'your scars back! And it's green!' Then the Death Eater walked in, wand raised at Uncle Vernon's back.

'MOVE!' Harry shoved his uncle aside, whipping his wand out of his jeans. 'Expelliarmus' he cried and shot the other wizard who cursed as his wand went flying. Instead he tried to grapple away Harry's wand, but was greeted with a solid punch from Dudley. 'Are you okay Uncle Vernon? Did he get you?' His uncle just mouthed wordlessly, pointing at the fallen Death Eater.

'AIIEEE' Harry heard a scream as his aunt ran in from the garden. Then another wizard in Death Eater robes stalked into the house

'Avada Ke–'

'Accio door!' cried Harry, and the back door slammed into the dark wizard before the lethal curse was released, he stumbled forward, and this time Uncle Vernon released a mighty blow that sent the wizard through the kitchen window. In the distance, Harry saw another Death Eater walk through the hedge. 'Quick, into the living room, before they recover.' Herding in his relatives, Harry ducked as a spell slammed into the wall behind him. Inside the room he turned around, facing the empty doorway, waiting for the Death Eaters to enter.

'Harry, who were those people?' asked Aunt Petunia.

'Death Eaters, they work for the wizard who killed Mum and Dad, and Cedric, and other wizards and Muggles.' Just then the trio of Death Eaters rushed in. 'GET DOWN' Harry shouted and his relatives ducked behind the furniture. 'Impedimenta' he cried, freezing the first Death Eater, then he threw himself behind the couch as the other two shot red beams at him.

Then with a crash the window caved in as two spells punched through from outside. Rising to the new threat, Harry raised his wand to jinx the wizards, only to see Ron and his father, Arthur Weasley. Behind him he heard a groan as the two death eaters collapsed. 'Ron, you're on time'

'Hi Harry, lets go!'

'What about the Dursleys?'

'You'll have to bring them' said Mr. Weasley. 'Percy's waiting with the car, hurry before any more Death Eaters arrive.' Gathering his relatives, Harry led them with Ron to the car, while Mr. Weasley kept his wand trained on the house, when everyone was in, Percy accelerated the car away.

Chapter 3: News from the Weasleys

Breathing heavily, Harry took in the back of the Ministry car, unsurprisingly to him it was size of a super-stretch limousine. He sat on a seat, watching Mrs. Weasley fussing over a shaking Aunt Petunia, the Weasley twins were talking to Dudley, and Uncle Vernon was slumped with his head in his hands while Mr. Weasley spoke to him.

'Hello, Ron to Harry!'

'Wha…oh, yeah, hi…'

'Hi? C'mon, we just saved your skin! Could we possibly have a hello?' Ron's mock tirade became muffled as Harry enfolded him in a hug. 'Gerrof, gerrof! No hugs, please!'

'Hello Har–' Ginny Weasley was cut off as she fell victim to a hug. 'Nice to see you too.' Ginny was in her third year at Hogwarts, 'I finally returned the favour huh?' She was referring to her almost death at a young Tom Riddle in her first year at Hogwarts.

'How did you know?'

'About the Death Eaters?' said Ron. 'Well your house kind of put up a mark, y'know like a lightning bolt. Hey, your scars back!'

'Yeah it happened when they arrived, I guess it still is an early warning system. By the way, that sneakoscope really works, in year three it was detecting Wormtail, and it went off when the Death Eaters arrived as well.' Ron nodded in silent agreement, then turned to Harry's family being attended by the rest of his own.

Dudley was now sat grinning, illustrating his roundhouse to Fred. Uncle Vernon was now in discussion with Mr. Weasley, both wearing serious faces, it was amazing how quickly he'd overcome his prejudice. Mrs. Weasley was pouring Aunt Petunia a sherry, and George was rummaging in the fridge. 'Here Harry, have one of these cakes' George threw it from the fridge. Harry took a bite from the cake, it was so…creamy.

SQUAWK!

The big yellow canary where Harry had been gave George a murderous stare, then with a WHOOSH Harry reappeared in a cascade of yellow feathers. Uncle Vernon gave a short 'HA' and then everyone was started. Over the cacophony of laughter Harry spoke to George, 'Canary Creams still on the go then guys.' Fred and Dudley had collapsed on each other laughing while Mr. Weasley and Uncle Vernon pounded their seats appreciatively. Mrs. Weasley and Aunt Petunia were both giggling five minutes later, although Harry thought this could be more to do with the drink they'd consumed.

'Harry, come here for a second' said Mr. Weasley. 'Your uncle and I need a word.' Harry left Ron and Ginny to go to Mr. Weasley and Uncle Vernon.

'What's up?'

'We've been talking, firstly we're all going to Diagon Alley, Percy sent his head to Tom earlier. Secondly your family is moving in with us from now on, I'll order two new floors later. Finally, if Dumbledore allows it, Dudley will go to Hogwarts with you, we'll get a Muggle Studies tutor to help him with his work.'

'Excellent'

'That's the news, now we need to talk about what happened, would you excuse us Vernon?'

'Yes, I might just try something from your minibar…and Harry, I-I'm sorry how I've been, you saved my family…, thankyou.' Fifteen years of shame seemed to slide off him as he smiled warmly at Harry.

'Well done, now Harry, tell me exactly what happened..' as Harry related everything to Mr. Weasley the car drove onwards until:

We're in London everyone' Percy's voice came over the intercom. 'I'll be at the Leaky Cauldron in five minutes.' At this point the Dursleys looked out to see how this would happen, and were amazed when the wizard car seemed to slip and slide through the traffic, never hitting a red light. As Uncle Vernon and Dudley continued to gawp, Aunt Petunia came over to Harry.

'Could I borrow my nephew? Thankyou.' She steered Harry to a side seat. 'I was wondering dear, are we going to meet your godfather?'

'I suppose he could be around, he's still not been cleared by the Ministry of Magic yet.'

'It's just, he won't really turn us into bats after all that's gone wrong, you know, you living with us before…' Aunt Petunia looked so concerned Harry gave her a massive hug.

'I'm sure he won't Aunt Petunia, I wrote him already saying I was much happier the other day, besides he'd only turn you into rats!' Harry ducked her swipe and ran away as she laughed to herself. George and Fred were now watching the Muggle news with Ginny, so Harry went over to Ron and Dudley.

'Hey guys, what's going on?'

'Just catching up' said Ron 'Dudley's only ever run away from me before!' They all laughed remembering the meeting last year, when Dudley had feared the growth of a new tail.

'Guess what, your dad says Dudley could come to Hogwarts this year.'

'Excellent!' said Ron and Dudley in unison. 'Hey, do you think we've got a new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher yet?' Ron continued.

'Is this the one who only lasts a year?' asked Dudley.

'Yeah,' said Harry, 'We keep wearing them out! We've had Quirrel, Lupin…, Moody and Lockhart.'

'But only Lupin and Moody taught us anything.' Ron interjected.

'And Moody was really Crouch…' Harry stuttered as the previous year snuck up on him, he remembered his confrontation with the Dark Wizard after escaping Voldemort.

'Dammit,' Ron swore, 'Sorry Harry I wasn't thinking.' He quickly explained the final events of the previous year, Dudley only vaguely knew what had happened, that Harry's friend had died.

'So Crouch was one of Voldemort's men?' asked Dudley. Ron flinched at the name, he would never be used to it, so just nodded in affirmation. 'Wow, I could never imagine it before, you guys must have gone through hell.' Harry slowly nodded, remembering clearly the year before, the Triwizard Tournament, his stupid fight with Ron, Voldemort's rise and Cedric's death.

'We're here' Percy's voice sounded again 'Dad, Minister Fudge is there too…' Everyone exited the limousine and Mr. Weasley introduced Fudge to the Dursleys before going to talk out of the way. Meanwhile everyone else removed the luggage from the boot, which was an impressive twelve feet by twelve feet square. 'Right let's go in then,' said Percy, 'Here Ginny, let me help you.'

Harry was nudged by Uncle Vernon as he and Dudley lifted his trunk. 'Erm…where's the pub Harry? I see a record store and a book shop.'

'Try looking in between them,' Harry said, and was rewarded by a round of gasps from the Dursleys as the Leaky Cauldron leapt out at them.

'Whoa' Dudley whispered as everyone moved inside the doors.

* * *

On entering Harry noticed that the pub was mostly deserted, normally it would be bustling, in fact there were only five other people there. Tom, the pub owner, gave Harry a little wave and then disappeared beneath the bar to get drinks for a gesturing Cornelius Fudge. From one booth the giant form of Hagrid emerged, grinning at Harry and causing Uncle Vernon to step backwards. 'Harry, how yeh doin'?' Then to Harry's delight and Uncle Vernon's shock, Hagrid grasped and warmly shook his hand. 'Hello Dursley, I hear yeh punched out a Death Eater, good on yeh…'

Harry's hearing was then interrupted by Hermione Granger as she ran from the second booth and enfolded him in a colossal hug. 'Harry,' she cried, 'We were so worried when we heard.' In the background Mr. and Mrs. Granger waved sheepishly at Harry, he suspected they had just slightly more of an inkling then his own family about what was happening. 'Hey!' Hermione interrupted his thoughts again. 'Your scars back!' and so as Harry explained everything to Hermione, everyone split into groups. Minister of Magic Fudge, Mr. Weasley and Percy went to a booth, the Grangers and Harry's uncle and aunt went with Hagrid to two tables, one for him, and one for them. Ginny, Fred and George disappeared upstairs with their trunks leaving Harry, Ron, Dudley and Hermione with a booth to themselves.

'Wow!' said Hermione for what seemed like the third time in five minutes. 'You've changed since last letter!' Dudley looked up to see that it was him, and gave a suitably puzzled look. 'That's the only way I know you,' Hermione explained, 'from Harry's summer letters.' After this Ron pulled out a sack of gobstones and the four began to play. Soon only Hermione and Dudley (who had an uncanny skill at marbles as well) were the only ones left unspattered by the inky liquid until SPLAAT! Hermione's face turned green. 'Bleeurgh!' as Ron and Harry laughed she pointed her wand at her face: 'Scrubbo!' with a quick flash it became ink free.

'Hey, you'll get warned for that!' Ron cried.

'Oh will I, and what pray then is this…' pulling out her purse, Hermione displayed a silver 'P'. 'Gotta love these new rules.'

'I agree,' said Harry, 'Scrubbo'

'Me too! Scubo!' instead of becoming clear, Ron's face was encompassed by frothy bubbles of green. 'Blast, forgot the 'r', Scrubbo!' This time his face was cleaned off.

'Cool' said Dudley, 'You're all Prefects, but I thought there was only two in a house Harry?

'New rule Dudley,' Ron explained, 'Each house now gets four Prefects from the fifth year.'

'Who is number four then' asked Harry.

'Probably Lavender' Ron muttered gloomily. 'Or Parvati.' Harry was amused that Ron still remembered the Triwizard ball. Then Hermione threw a curve ball into the conversation:

'It could be Viktor'

'What! How?' Ron and Harry blurted.

'Is he the bloke from Dumstrong' asked Dudley.

'Durmstrang actually,' Hermione replied over Ron's sniggering, 'and yes Viktor is from there, he joined Hogwarts, in Gryffindor actually, he wrote me all summer.'

'Is that why I didn't get a letter?' Harry simpered cheekily, before bursting into laughter. But before a flushed faced Hermione could respond-

'Ladies and Gentlemen,' Tom bellowed, 'Luncheon is served', then he laughed out loud at his posh composition. Harry checked his watch, only twelve o'clock, it seemed like dinner, but only two hours had passed since he'd left the Dursleys. Good job though, he still had to do some shopping in Diagon Alley, still, first things first 'Roast Lamb Dinner' he said to his plate, then tucked in as the delicious meal appeared.

Halfway through, Uncle Vernon nudged Harry 'I spoke with Minister Fudge, they've been to the house, and they brought out our belongings, well the non-electric ones at least. He said they're making the house disappear, he called it unplote…unplottable or something, only we will know where it is and so those Death Eaters can't find us now. Anyway, are we going shopping this afternoon, I want to buy Dudley some wizard clothes so he can fit in more easily at your school.

Soon after everyone finished and they all drifted to the courtyard at the back of the pub. 'Just wait until you see this Vernon, it's an ingenious idea' said Mr. Granger. Taking his wand out, Mr. Weasley tapped the brick three up and two across from the dustbin. The brick grew a small hole and slowly opened into the doorway to the cobbled streets so familiar to Harry, winking at Hagrid, he uttered the same words to his family for the first time:

'Welcome to Diagon Alley.'