Foreword:

This story is based on and loosely follows the plot of the canonical 'Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'. It is also the first part of my HP pentalogy, which I had started writing in Czech in 2006. I used and altered some themes, characters and beasts from the first five parts of the original series, with greater focus on unicorns and vampires.

It´s been a long time since the first lines of this tale popped up in my head. Out of a curious impulse, I´ve decided to give it a chance and translate it into English to make it available for more HP fans. In case you´d like to accompany me on this journey, I hope you´ll enjoy it as much as I do.

Warning:

I´ve got no beta-reader, so any mistakes, typos or grammar errors are purely my responsibility and I apologize for each and every one of them.
I also admit that the first part of this story leaves a lot to be desired. I was just a beginner-writer back then and it corresponds to that. I´m sorry if it lets you down. As comes to the following parts, I´m a lot more confident regarding their reading quality.

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Chapter one

A broken portrait

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A gloomy summer day could be seen outside the windows. It rained again. At least Harry didn't feel sorry that he was not allowed to leave the house at the Grimmauld Place. No one would want to go out in such nasty weather, which did not even a bit look like the end of July was near. Along with it, of course, Harry's birthday was behind the corner as well, but he didn't like to think about it. In the near future, only Ron or Hermione would be able to pull him out of his gloomy mood, but only Merlin knew when they would appear.

Naturally, he was not alone in the house. Like never. Wizards and witches took turns on patrolling him like on a merry-go-round. Remus Lupin often came to see him too, but Harry didn't want to talk with him either. The only place he felt more balanced and calm was the attic where Buckbeak resided. Most likely it was because the hippogriff was in the mood identical with his... He didn't even want to eat for thewhole first week of summer.

First, Harry was quite relieved to be transferred to Order of the Phoenix headquarters shortly after the holidays had started. Yet now, while he usually spent most of the day wandering aimlessly around the dark house with memories of Sirius running through his mind, he thought if he would not be better off on Privet Drive with Dursleys.

Out of boredom, and also in order not to dwell on painful thoughts, he had already completed almost all the homework assignments that certain professors were happy to assign to them.

The worst were the late evenings, when he tried to fall asleep and not think about the fact that he would dream again. Because at night, he would wake up from nightmares covered in sweat and often toss and turn in bed until the morning when he could not get back to sleep. However, the scar had not hurt him for a long time...

/

One late afternoon he brought food to Buckbeak, and then made some toasts and scrambled eggs in the kitchen. That was how he always did it. When he got hungry, he went to prepare something himself. He preferred to completely ignore Kreacher, who was always snooping around the house, otherwise he would have kicked him out the window long ago for his nasty remarks.

Exceptionally, Remus cooked for him and he was already quite good at it. Harry always appreciated his creations more than those from the house elf.

That evening, as Harry was listlessly tucking into his simple dinner, his former teacher appeared at the door once again.

The day before yesterday was a full moon, Harry realized instantly when he saw Lupin's pale face with dark circles under his eyes.

"Hello, Harry."

Harry hummed something in response with his mouth full.

Lupin took a seat across from him at the table, "I came to warn you of something."

"Didn't you come on patrol?"

"I did, but I won't be here tomorrow night. Not even Mundungus."

Harry narrowed his eyes suspiciously, "Who´ll be here then?"

"Severus Snape."

The young wizard froze, "Is this a joke?"

"Unfortunately not," the werewolf denied shaking his head. "I know you're not exactly in love, but you will have to put up with him for one day. Nobody else is available."

"Can't I be alone then for a while?" snapped Harry. "Yeah, I know – NO," he replied to himself before Lupin could react. He took a deep breath as he tried to suppress his anger. Remus didn't deserve to bear his frustrations. "Would you like to eat something?" he asked, nodding toward the food on the table.

"Maybe later, thanks… By the way, Harry, where did that damn painting from the hall go?"

Leaning back comfortably, Harry looked up at the ceiling as if there was something interesting and calmly replied, "It's probably shattered down under the gutter."

"How did it get there for Merlin?" Remus asked in astonishment.

"I threw it out the window," Harry replied in the same tone.

Lupin was dumbfounded for a moment. "How did you manage to get it off the wall?"

"I don't know myself," said Harry with a shrug.

"And why did you do that?" Remus asked, feeling like he didn't recognize his former student at all.

"I've had enough of that screaming hag," he snapped, standing up abruptly and starting to clear the table.

Kreacher was listening to their conversation under the table and began muttering sullenly to himself, but Lupin heard him anyway, "Oh, that was terrible, yes. That nasty scumbag dumped my beloved lady. Abominable, evil, impure…"

"Shut up, Kreacher!" Lupin shouted at him grumpily.

"I didn't say anything, sir," the elf bowed and crawled into his dark corner.

Right at the beginning of the holidays, they made it clear to him that the new masters of this house were Lupin and Harry, to whom Sirius bequeathed his house. He had to obey them now and was forbidden to go anywhere without expressly permission.

"Don't you want to talk, Harry?" Remus tried to reach out to the leaving son of his long lost friends.

With his back to Remus, Harry kept quiet for a long moment.

"No," he finally answered. "But thanks..." and then he quickly left the kitchen.