Chapter Three
"And in headline news tonight, a terrorist struck today, bombing a small section of road and sidewalk at the corner of third and Magnolia. No one was injured, in fact, it appears as though no one was even around at the time of the bombing. The police are investigating-"
"My goodness, Vernon!" Aunt Petunia crowed over the shattering that had now moved into the hallway between the kitchen and the living room. "The streets aren't safe anymore! I don't want my Dudleypoo out there with some maniac on the loose!" Dudley was sitting next to his dad, playing some hand held game that had actually managed to survive his birthday, smiling to hear that he wouldn't have to go out for any stupid exercise walks for a while. Aunt Ptunia served them some carrot sticks, forgetting Harry all together. No surprise to him. Without a word Harry got up and walked into his bedroom, shutting the door behnd him.
Hedwig clicked her beak expectantly at Harry, fluttering to the closed window. Harry opened it, watching his only friend at the moment vanish into the dwindling twilight. He supposed he should write to Hermione and Ron, let them know about the explosion, but it would only worry them. Plus, they'd insist he write to Dumbledore and Sirius, all of whom were most likely busy anyways with the crisis of Voldemort's rising again. He'd just have to stay inside for a while. Better unhappy for three weeks then dead forever.
With a heavy sigh he trudged downstairs for a trip to the market with his Aunt and cousin, not by his choice either. While pushing the cart down isle after isle, Harry felt the hairs on his neck stand up, and the air around him seemed to become colder even though they were nowhere near any of the refrigerated or frozen goods. Even his aunt and cousin seemed to notice the sudden chill.
"Harry..." The little girl had appeared again, but this time her voice wasn't a mere whisper. There was a sadness in it, a sadness that seemed to penetrate right into the his soul. "Harry...NO!" On sudden instinct Harry sprung froward, knocking his Aunt Petunia down as the entire isle behind them exploded. Dudley had also been knocked to the ground, and though slightly smoked, was fine. Looking around Harry saw a silver flash, the girl had fled the scene once more.
Two hours later they returned home, and for once both Aunt Petunia and Dudley were silent. Mostly because they were angry at the fact that they now owed Harry a debt, because Harry had saved THEIR lives. Harry was more preoccupied with the ghost he kept seeing. Who was she? And why had he felt a strange feeling when she'd called out? As soon as they got home he retreated to his room, not emerging for anything.
At around three in the morning Hedwig returned, carrying a letter tyed to her leg. 'She must have met up with someone along the way' Harry thought, untying the note.
"Harry, I saw the articles in the muggle papers about the two explosions. Those were caused by wizards, as you might have guessed already. Looks like the Death Eaters are getting desperate to kill you for their master. I've spoken with Dumbledore and he agreed that it'll be best if you stay with the Weasleys for the remainder of your vacation. The whole lot of you will be staying at the Leaky Culdron where you can be kept watch over. The Weasleys will be coming for you sometime tomorrow evening. Be ready. And don't leave the house!
Sirius."
Harry couldn't help but smile. Sure he was in danger, but he'd be spending the next three weeks with the family he loved the most in the entire wizarding world. And he'd be able to see Ron.
"Harry?" This time Harry wasn't even surprised when she appeared, her long hair plastered around her face and neck, most of it hanging loosely though, around her shoulders. She was standing in his doorway.
"Who are you?" Harry questioned. "How do you always know when they're about to attack me?"
"Find me, Harry," she said sadly. There was that feeling again, Harry thought. Like they were connected by something. "Help me." Slowly, her silver light faded out and became nothing. With a sigh, Harry lied down, closing his eyes while he thought.
Twice this ghost had saved him. Now it wanted something in return. She wanted him to find her. But what did that mean? How was he supposed to find a ghost, one who seemed to be following him! Usually ghosts haunted a specific place or person; like Moanong Myrtle. She'd tried to haunt a person who'd teased her all Myrtle's life, but Myrtle was forced to haunt the place of her death, a Hogwarts bathroom, after a complaint was put in to the ministry. So...was he supposed to find her haunting place? But how would that help her? Harry was confused, and still being so, he fell asleep.
..."CRUCIO!"
The little girl's screams peirced the night air as her body contorted from the pain the curse was inflicting.
"McNair, finish her off!"
"What's wrong Lucious, no longer enjoying the kill?"
"Avada Kedara!" The body fell silent and limp. "Do you want us all to go to Azkaban?!"
... Harry sat up in his bed, wide eyed with shock. The dream had seemed very real, not a dream though, a night mare. And the little girl...she looked like the ghost! He already knew who McNair and Lucious were, Death Eaters serving Voldemort, but the little girl...who was she? Suddenly a new idea came to mind. The library kept old newspapers on microfilm, papers that could tell him about missing people, and a missing child would definately be on the headlines of one of them. There was just one problem. He'd have to disobey Sirius' order; he'd have to leave the house. But something deep inside told him he had no other choice.
"And in headline news tonight, a terrorist struck today, bombing a small section of road and sidewalk at the corner of third and Magnolia. No one was injured, in fact, it appears as though no one was even around at the time of the bombing. The police are investigating-"
"My goodness, Vernon!" Aunt Petunia crowed over the shattering that had now moved into the hallway between the kitchen and the living room. "The streets aren't safe anymore! I don't want my Dudleypoo out there with some maniac on the loose!" Dudley was sitting next to his dad, playing some hand held game that had actually managed to survive his birthday, smiling to hear that he wouldn't have to go out for any stupid exercise walks for a while. Aunt Ptunia served them some carrot sticks, forgetting Harry all together. No surprise to him. Without a word Harry got up and walked into his bedroom, shutting the door behnd him.
Hedwig clicked her beak expectantly at Harry, fluttering to the closed window. Harry opened it, watching his only friend at the moment vanish into the dwindling twilight. He supposed he should write to Hermione and Ron, let them know about the explosion, but it would only worry them. Plus, they'd insist he write to Dumbledore and Sirius, all of whom were most likely busy anyways with the crisis of Voldemort's rising again. He'd just have to stay inside for a while. Better unhappy for three weeks then dead forever.
With a heavy sigh he trudged downstairs for a trip to the market with his Aunt and cousin, not by his choice either. While pushing the cart down isle after isle, Harry felt the hairs on his neck stand up, and the air around him seemed to become colder even though they were nowhere near any of the refrigerated or frozen goods. Even his aunt and cousin seemed to notice the sudden chill.
"Harry..." The little girl had appeared again, but this time her voice wasn't a mere whisper. There was a sadness in it, a sadness that seemed to penetrate right into the his soul. "Harry...NO!" On sudden instinct Harry sprung froward, knocking his Aunt Petunia down as the entire isle behind them exploded. Dudley had also been knocked to the ground, and though slightly smoked, was fine. Looking around Harry saw a silver flash, the girl had fled the scene once more.
Two hours later they returned home, and for once both Aunt Petunia and Dudley were silent. Mostly because they were angry at the fact that they now owed Harry a debt, because Harry had saved THEIR lives. Harry was more preoccupied with the ghost he kept seeing. Who was she? And why had he felt a strange feeling when she'd called out? As soon as they got home he retreated to his room, not emerging for anything.
At around three in the morning Hedwig returned, carrying a letter tyed to her leg. 'She must have met up with someone along the way' Harry thought, untying the note.
"Harry, I saw the articles in the muggle papers about the two explosions. Those were caused by wizards, as you might have guessed already. Looks like the Death Eaters are getting desperate to kill you for their master. I've spoken with Dumbledore and he agreed that it'll be best if you stay with the Weasleys for the remainder of your vacation. The whole lot of you will be staying at the Leaky Culdron where you can be kept watch over. The Weasleys will be coming for you sometime tomorrow evening. Be ready. And don't leave the house!
Sirius."
Harry couldn't help but smile. Sure he was in danger, but he'd be spending the next three weeks with the family he loved the most in the entire wizarding world. And he'd be able to see Ron.
"Harry?" This time Harry wasn't even surprised when she appeared, her long hair plastered around her face and neck, most of it hanging loosely though, around her shoulders. She was standing in his doorway.
"Who are you?" Harry questioned. "How do you always know when they're about to attack me?"
"Find me, Harry," she said sadly. There was that feeling again, Harry thought. Like they were connected by something. "Help me." Slowly, her silver light faded out and became nothing. With a sigh, Harry lied down, closing his eyes while he thought.
Twice this ghost had saved him. Now it wanted something in return. She wanted him to find her. But what did that mean? How was he supposed to find a ghost, one who seemed to be following him! Usually ghosts haunted a specific place or person; like Moanong Myrtle. She'd tried to haunt a person who'd teased her all Myrtle's life, but Myrtle was forced to haunt the place of her death, a Hogwarts bathroom, after a complaint was put in to the ministry. So...was he supposed to find her haunting place? But how would that help her? Harry was confused, and still being so, he fell asleep.
..."CRUCIO!"
The little girl's screams peirced the night air as her body contorted from the pain the curse was inflicting.
"McNair, finish her off!"
"What's wrong Lucious, no longer enjoying the kill?"
"Avada Kedara!" The body fell silent and limp. "Do you want us all to go to Azkaban?!"
... Harry sat up in his bed, wide eyed with shock. The dream had seemed very real, not a dream though, a night mare. And the little girl...she looked like the ghost! He already knew who McNair and Lucious were, Death Eaters serving Voldemort, but the little girl...who was she? Suddenly a new idea came to mind. The library kept old newspapers on microfilm, papers that could tell him about missing people, and a missing child would definately be on the headlines of one of them. There was just one problem. He'd have to disobey Sirius' order; he'd have to leave the house. But something deep inside told him he had no other choice.