Guilt, Cleaning, and A Bad Feeling About This
Harry finally got to rest on Dudley's birthday. He had been left behind, and forced to work, being ordered to "Get the whole house clean!" So he had been, cleaning inside and out; 5 hours of mowing the lawn, sweeping, wiping, dusting, mopping, just cleaning. Now it was finally done, and Harry had really enjoyed the look on Uncle Vernon's face when he realized that there was absolutely nothing left for him to tell Harry to do. Dudley was going to be having a huge party with all his "friends" tomorrow (Harry seriously doubted that Dudley could have friends), and he was just required to stay out of the way. That wouldn't be too hard. He just had to pass the time for a day, since it was after midnight now. He sat at his window, eagerly awaiting Hedgewig's return. Harry had sent her to deliver a letter to Sirius a few days ago, so she should be back soon. He was tired after all the work he had done today, and almost didn't move in time to let her in the window. He gave her some water to drink, and took the letter off her leg. He read it eagerly, and this is what it said:
Dear Harry,
I know that it's been a while since you've heard from me, but things are slowly returning back to normal at Hogwarts. Don't let your guard down, though. I think that since Voldemort got so close to killing you last time, he's bound to try again soon. I don't want you doing too much to endanger yourself at Hogwarts, try t be careful, and don't sneak around too much. Have a Happy Birthday! (I know it's coming up.) Love, Sirius
Harry scowled. "Lay low again. I still don't see how he can say that after all he'd done at Hogwarts," he grumbled. Oh well, he thought. I'll think about it later, I might as well do some of my homework, and then I might be able to sleep through tomorrow.
He then did just that, and worked with a will until the sun rose, when he slept all day. He even managed to sleep through Dudley's party somehow.
He got up Friday morning, and went down to help with breakfast, leaving the note from the Weasleys in front of Uncle Vernon, who was reading the paper.
"What's this?"
"It's a note from the family of my friend from school." Harry broke off, smiling as Uncle Vernon stiffened at the mention of Harry's school. "They want to know if I could go and spend the rest of the summer with them, and then they'll make sure I get my supplies and get on the school train."
"It's really beyond me why these people want you to spend time with them. You really are just a pest," Uncle Vernon muttered as he stalled, trying to decide what to do. This battle was happening more and more often, send Harry away (which is good), or make him happy (which is bad). "Well, I guess you can go, but I don't want to have to drive you anywhere. They'll have to come here." He paused, and then added, "And they're NOT coming through the chimney."
"Ok, Uncle Vernon. Thanks, I'll let them know," said Harry, turning to leave.
"When can we expect you to be gone?"
"I don't know. Probably within the week."
"Good."
Harry left to go send Hedgewig with a letter to Ron, feeling immensely glad that the conversation had stopped there.
***************************************************
"I've told you, this is not your fault. The guilt you feel is just a normal reaction. But remember, you should feel proud, too. You are the youngest Auror in history; you were especially trained once we were sure that your personality would match up with Harry's. Don't you remember the training? It's no wonder that you can easily excel in Defense Against the Dark Arts, you were already taught all of it," Dumbledore explained, trying to get through to the Auror.
"But will Harry see it that way? Will he see that I'm "doing a service to him and all of the wizarding world"? No, he'll be angry that I befriended him because I had to, not because I wanted to," the Auror replied. Sighing, and looking frighteningly small all of the sudden, Dumbledore winced as he was shown one of the Auror's few moments of weakness. Now it was Dumbledore's turn to sigh, as he began to try again.
***************************************************
"Now remember, when you kidnap the student, you must become them, and hide their body with me. Use the same spell as the fake Moody did before,and take their place. Know then inside and out, and act accordingly. We can't have a new student, that would cause too much attention. Know this, if you fail me again, you will die," Voldemort warned the Death Eater.
"I know the consequences for failure, my lord. I will not fail again, not after you spared me the first time."
The Death Eater shuddered as a chill went down it's spine, fore Voldemort was laughing in that strange, high-pitched laugh of his.
"Say your prayers, Harry Potter. You will die this time. You will!"
Harry finally got to rest on Dudley's birthday. He had been left behind, and forced to work, being ordered to "Get the whole house clean!" So he had been, cleaning inside and out; 5 hours of mowing the lawn, sweeping, wiping, dusting, mopping, just cleaning. Now it was finally done, and Harry had really enjoyed the look on Uncle Vernon's face when he realized that there was absolutely nothing left for him to tell Harry to do. Dudley was going to be having a huge party with all his "friends" tomorrow (Harry seriously doubted that Dudley could have friends), and he was just required to stay out of the way. That wouldn't be too hard. He just had to pass the time for a day, since it was after midnight now. He sat at his window, eagerly awaiting Hedgewig's return. Harry had sent her to deliver a letter to Sirius a few days ago, so she should be back soon. He was tired after all the work he had done today, and almost didn't move in time to let her in the window. He gave her some water to drink, and took the letter off her leg. He read it eagerly, and this is what it said:
Dear Harry,
I know that it's been a while since you've heard from me, but things are slowly returning back to normal at Hogwarts. Don't let your guard down, though. I think that since Voldemort got so close to killing you last time, he's bound to try again soon. I don't want you doing too much to endanger yourself at Hogwarts, try t be careful, and don't sneak around too much. Have a Happy Birthday! (I know it's coming up.) Love, Sirius
Harry scowled. "Lay low again. I still don't see how he can say that after all he'd done at Hogwarts," he grumbled. Oh well, he thought. I'll think about it later, I might as well do some of my homework, and then I might be able to sleep through tomorrow.
He then did just that, and worked with a will until the sun rose, when he slept all day. He even managed to sleep through Dudley's party somehow.
He got up Friday morning, and went down to help with breakfast, leaving the note from the Weasleys in front of Uncle Vernon, who was reading the paper.
"What's this?"
"It's a note from the family of my friend from school." Harry broke off, smiling as Uncle Vernon stiffened at the mention of Harry's school. "They want to know if I could go and spend the rest of the summer with them, and then they'll make sure I get my supplies and get on the school train."
"It's really beyond me why these people want you to spend time with them. You really are just a pest," Uncle Vernon muttered as he stalled, trying to decide what to do. This battle was happening more and more often, send Harry away (which is good), or make him happy (which is bad). "Well, I guess you can go, but I don't want to have to drive you anywhere. They'll have to come here." He paused, and then added, "And they're NOT coming through the chimney."
"Ok, Uncle Vernon. Thanks, I'll let them know," said Harry, turning to leave.
"When can we expect you to be gone?"
"I don't know. Probably within the week."
"Good."
Harry left to go send Hedgewig with a letter to Ron, feeling immensely glad that the conversation had stopped there.
***************************************************
"I've told you, this is not your fault. The guilt you feel is just a normal reaction. But remember, you should feel proud, too. You are the youngest Auror in history; you were especially trained once we were sure that your personality would match up with Harry's. Don't you remember the training? It's no wonder that you can easily excel in Defense Against the Dark Arts, you were already taught all of it," Dumbledore explained, trying to get through to the Auror.
"But will Harry see it that way? Will he see that I'm "doing a service to him and all of the wizarding world"? No, he'll be angry that I befriended him because I had to, not because I wanted to," the Auror replied. Sighing, and looking frighteningly small all of the sudden, Dumbledore winced as he was shown one of the Auror's few moments of weakness. Now it was Dumbledore's turn to sigh, as he began to try again.
***************************************************
"Now remember, when you kidnap the student, you must become them, and hide their body with me. Use the same spell as the fake Moody did before,and take their place. Know then inside and out, and act accordingly. We can't have a new student, that would cause too much attention. Know this, if you fail me again, you will die," Voldemort warned the Death Eater.
"I know the consequences for failure, my lord. I will not fail again, not after you spared me the first time."
The Death Eater shuddered as a chill went down it's spine, fore Voldemort was laughing in that strange, high-pitched laugh of his.
"Say your prayers, Harry Potter. You will die this time. You will!"