Harry Potter
and the
Secret of Lord Voldemort
Year Five at Hogwarts
Chapter 1: The Mysterious Summer
Harry Potter sat on his bed at number four Privet Drive. He stared down at the book open in front of him, Hogwarts, A History. He was doing his homework for his school, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He looked down at the parchment. He saw nothing but his name written at the top. He sighed and yawned, looking at the clock. It was three o'clock in the morning. Harry put his books underneath the loose floorboard.
Harry lay down on the bed and pulled the covers around him. His eyes wandered to his desk, where there was one birthday card, from his friend Hermione Granger. He supposed he should have been happy about this, after all, he had spent years of his life without any sort of birthday recognition at all. But still… What had happened to Ron Weasley, his best friend? And his godfather?
But then his mind fell upon the events of last summer. What if Lord Voldemort had already taken over the wizard community? He would never know. In fact, he hadn't received anything from the magical community at all this summer. Hermione had a subscription to the Daily Prophet, the wizarding newspaper, but she told him she hadn't got it all summer. Something was majorly wrong.
Harry had been looking forward to the start of a new school year, but now he was uneasy. What was happening? Although Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster, had told him he was safe at the Dursleys, Harry couldn't help worrying about his friends.
Harry rubbed his eyes and turned over in his bed. "No use in worrying about it now. As Hagrid said, 'What will come will come…'" Harry whispered. And with that, he fell asleep.
The next morning Harry woke abruptly with a knock on the door. It was his Aunt Petunia, trying to tell him breakfast was ready. Harry sighed, but got up anyway to dress. Then he went down to eat.
When Harry got downstairs, everyone was already seated at the table. Dudley, Harry's enormous cousin, was complaining, as usual. "Why can't we ever have bacon for breakfast anymore?" he whined.
"Remember your diet, Dudley," said Aunt Petunia. Dudley pouted but began to eat his toast anyway.
Uncle Vernon was reading the newspaper. He looked up as Harry entered the room. "So," he said, "in three days I have to take you to that train station?"
"Yeah," said Harry gloomily. The thoughts of the night before hadn't been forgotten. Although, he was surprised that Uncle Vernon was the one to bring it up.
"You haven't got a letter from them yet," Uncle Vernon continued. "Maybe they don't want you anymore."
Oh, it was only an excuse to tease me about it, Harry thought. He started to get angry, but then thought better of it. Let him think what he wants, he thought. He had gotten angry before and run off, but this time there might not be any Ron or Leaky Cauldron to take him in.
A while later, Harry went up to his room to finish the essay for Professor Binns, the History of Magic teacher. He went up to his room and found Hedwig, his Snowy owl, sitting on his bed waiting for him. Harry eagerly snatched the note off Hedwig's leg. He had sent a note to Sirius and this was probably his reply. But when Harry opened the letter, he found it was his own. Hedwig hooted sadly at not being able to do her task.
Harry immediately picked up his quill and parchment to write a quick note to Hermione.
Dear Hermione,
Haven't heard from Ron lately have you? I tried to send Sirius a letter, but Hedwig just brought it right back to me. I hope nothing bad has happened. Have you been getting the Daily Prophet? What does it say in there? I haven't heard from Hagrid either. I also haven't got a school letter. Did you get one? What's going on here?
Write back as soon as possible,
Harry
Harry took the letter and tied it to Hedwig's leg. Hedwig looked like she could have done with a little rest first, but this was important. Harry watched Hedwig fly out the window, then went back to him homework.
The day before Harry was due to get on the Hogwarts Express, Hedwig flew in the window with an answer back from Hermione.
Dear Harry,
No I haven't heard from Ron, or gotten any issues of the Daily Prophet. I also didn't get the school letter. I assume we should go to platform nine and three quarters at the normal time. If there is no train, maybe I can convince my parents to let you stay a while. I hope that we are wrong about anything bad happening. I hope everything is okay.
See you September 1st,
Hermione
Harry was even more worried now, but Hermione's letter cheered him a bit. He gave Hedwig a bite of ham from dinner and continued to pack.
The next morning, Harry found himself in the car with Uncle Vernon, driving to King's Cross Station. Hedwig was flapping about noisily in her cage. Harry's trunk was secure in the trunk of the car. Uncle Vernon grumbled every minute about Hedwig, and Harry worried more and more as he approached the station.
When they got to the station, Uncle Vernon tossed Harry's trunk out of the car and sped off. Harry was left to himself. He hoped the train was there, because if it wasn't, he would be in deep trouble. He got a cart for his luggage and set off to find Hermione.
Harry had, in past years, had gotten many stares from Muggles about his owl, so this year, he had covered Hedwig's cage with his jacket as he strolled through to platform nine.
When he got there, he saw Hermione waiting anxiously for him. "Hi, Harry!" she called nervously.
"Hi," Harry said back. "The barrier didn't work?"
"Oh, I didn't try it yet," said Hermione.
"Let's go together." They counted to three and walked up to the barrier. The walked right through, as usual, and, as usual, found the scarlet engine waiting for them at the platform.
"It worked!" shouted Hermione. She walked quickly back through the platform to say goodbye to her parents. Harry scanned the crowd for Ron.
The Weasleys were not heard to find. Five flaming red haired people were standing at the train door. Harry ran over to them. "Ron!" he called.
A tall, thin, freckly boy that was Ron turned around. "Hi, Harry!" Ron said. Hermione came up behind them. "Hi, Hermione," Ron added.
"What happened?" asked Harry.
"Happened when?" asked Ron.
"Why didn't you answer any of my letters?"
"Oh, that," Ron said, and to Harry and Hermione's surprise, Ron laughed. "Dad needed all our owls, so I had to give up Pig for the summer."
"But I sent Hedwig to you."
"Well, I got your letter, but the other Ministry owls Dad had around chased Hedwig away. And Dumbledore kept on telling us not to ask you to come. Said you were safer with the Muggles."
A short blast from the train told them it was time to board. "Have a good year!" Mrs. Weasley called to the trio, and also the twins and Ginny, Ron's brothers and sister. "Be careful," she added to Harry. Harry nodded and said goodbye.
"Come on," said Hermione. "I think I see an empty compartment."
They got on the train and it lurched forward. They walked into the empty compartment. There was someone in it.
