When Harry came round, the first thing he was aware of was the aches and
pains all over; it felt like every muscle in his body had been stretched to
its limit. It took him a moment or two to figure out why he was lying on
the ground and why he could hear people crying in the background, though
his hearing was still slightly muffled. When he realised he went cold form
the inside out as though he had been submerged in icy water. The sudden
realisation of what had happened brought him back to his senses and he
bolted up with a sharp intake of breath.
Dumbledore, Sirius and the Weaslys were all crouched around him, and looking slightly stunned to see him sit up so fast. "Harry! Oh my goodness! Are you all right?" fretted Mrs Weasly. Her shrill, shaky voice made Harry's already groggy head swim, "I'm fine. If not slightly sore," he said lightly, kneading his scar, it still burnt sharply.
Harry suddenly became aware of a series of clicking noises, as did the others as they all turned to see Rita Skeeter's photographer happily snapping away. Mr Weasly turned to him, "Not now. In fact not at all. Go on, go away! I'll not allow you to take anymore photographs!" However, he carried on. Click, click, click. "Now really," said Mrs Weasly, who promptly whipped out her wand, and using a well aimed spell melted the camera. "You'll have to pay for that Mrs! " She ignored him.
Harry's eyesight was still a little blurry and he still felt aches all over. "Where's Ron?" he asked urgently, suddenly remembering Voldemort had flung all the Weaslys out of his way. "I'm here," came his reply. Harry thought Ron looked as bad as he felt, all pale and shaken. In fact he looked as though he was ready to throw up. "Are you OK? All of you. Did he hurt you?" Before Ron could answer, Mrs Weasly said, "Don't worry dear," Mrs Weasly placed a hand on his shoulder, "We are all perfectly fine."
Sirius, sensing Harry's tension placed his head onto Harry's lap. This made Harry feel more at ease and his stomach didn't feel as though it was churning quite as much. Dumbledore placed a hand on Harry's other shoulder, "I think it is time I was taking Harry home," said his warm but serious voice "Home! You can't possibly be taking Harry back to those awful muggles. They won't be able to protect him! Let us take him home Dumbledore," pleaded Mrs Weasly. "I can't allow that just yet Molly, you remember what I said at the end of term?" "Yes, yes of course," she said sullenly "I appreciate your concern but Harry should return home tonight, he needs some rest," Harry doubted very much that the Dursleys would let him rest, however he continued to listen, "But if you will both consent I will allow Harry to stay with you as of this time next week."
Dumbledore pulled Harry up and supported him. Harry's legs were still very shaky and he needed the support Dumbledore gave him, or he would be back on the ground pretty quickly. "Well that sounds like a plan. What do you think Harry?" asked Mr Weasly. "Yeah that sounds great." Harry's spirits couldn't help but lift slightly; at least he could enjoy the rest of the summer holidays.
Harry looked at Ron again. To his surprise Ron was gaping at him with his mouth hanging open. George, who had noticed it to said, "What you trying to do Ron, catch as many flies as you can?" It was intended as a joke, but it felt out of place and the humour was stifled as though covered in a blanket. Ron shut his mouth, though continued to stare at Harry. "You all right Ron?" he asked. "Yeah..ah...fine" He was in a daze, totally dumbstruck at what his friend had just done.
Dumbledore started to pull Harry away. His head pounded with every step and his vision was still cloudy around the edges. Dumbledore was directing them away from the crowd, which was now more subdued and smaller in numbers, as many had disapparated at the first available chance. Couples were hugging each other and children were crying. Harry's gaze swept over them all and began to realise Voldemort's power for causing fear and sorrow, and he became filled with a hatred for Voldemort and all his supporters. He now knew exactly what Sirius had been describing in that cave last year, and realised with a fall that this was only the beginning, there was so much more to come.
Harry and Dumbledore had hardly walked a few more feet with Sirius and the Weaslys following when Rita Skeeter and her frustrated looking photographer popped up. Stunning Harry out of his reverie. Sirius growled and bared his fangs at them, but Rita merely patted him on the head and said, "Nice doggy." Sirius replied with a couple of booming barks, which she tried to ignore. "Harry! Just the person! That was an amazing piece of magic! Have you done that before? How long exactly have you known that the Dark Lord was back? Do you now fear for your safety?" Her cavalcade of words made Harry's head pound. "Now Miss Skeeter! I hardly think it is the time for questions. If you contact me tomorrow I may make a statement. You are not to contact or harass Harry. Is that understood?" Dumbledore sounded calm but deadly serious and spoke in such a tone that made quite clear Rita would get no information from him. "Well all right, I'll contact you first thing in the morning Dumbledore," she said haughtily before turning on her heel and walking away, her photographer in close pursuit.
Harry heard Mr Weasly mutter, "no respect..." under his breath. Harry could see Rita trying to interrogate Cornelius Fudge, who looked rather sick. He tried to ignore her, but she kept on trotting behind him until he turned around and yelled at her. Once he had successfully managed to shake he off, the Minister for Magic came to speak to Dumbledore looking grey and much older than usual. "It appears you were right Albus," he whispered with difficulty, looking at his feet. "The matter of who is right and who is wrong is irrelevant Cornelius. What we should be concerned with now is how to deal with it. I have suspected something like this would happen," said Dumbledore calmly. In fact, he seemed to be the only calm person there. "Yes, quite. Firstly I think we should-" but Dumbledore put up his hand to silence him. "Not now Cornelius. Contact me tomorrow. I need to get Harry home." "But Dumbledore! You can't possibly be more concerned with getting him home than how to deal with... You Know Who," He said looking down at Harry.
"I am more concerned with Harry at the moment." "But Albus!" pleaded Fudge desperately. He had lost all his powerful appearance and no longer looked like the Minister for Magic, but more a tired old man who did not know how to cope. "No! I will speak with you tomorrow."
Dumbledore turned round and Cornelius Fudge was left by himself looking rather frayed and utterly lost. As Dumbledore guided Harry away, people looked curiously at him; their expressions mingled with wonder and confusion, but mainly with a fear of what had just unfolded infront of them, and what was going to happen now. Harry wanted to say sorry, to apologise. It was he who had been part of Voldemort's reassertion. If he had managed to get away Voldemort would never have been able to get his blood. How could he have let it happen?
They finally reached a secluded spot and Dumbledore said to Harry, "Do you still have the newspaper that brought you here? It should transport us to Privet Drive." Harry pulled a now very crumpled newspaper out of his pocket.
Mrs Weasly came over and gave Harry a warm hug and whispered, "We'll see you soon Harry dear." He nodded and Mrs Weasly gave him an encouraging smile. "Well, bye then." The Weasly's said a collective 'bye.' Ron still looked slightly awe-struck as he waved goodbye. Dumbledore held out the paper, Harry took hold of it at the same time as Sirius placed his paw on it. Harry quickly waved goodbye as he felt himself being whisked away at full speed by the power of the portkey. *** Harry felt his feet make contact with the soft carpet of number four's carpet, and surprisingly, he didn't fall over this time. None of the Durseys were in the living room but Harry could hear muffled sounds from Dudley's television in the kitchen. They must be having dinner, thought Harry.
"You sit down Harry, I'll go and speak to your family," said Dumbledore guiding Harry into his Uncle's favourite armchair. "No, I think I should go Professor. You might surprise them slightly. They are not used to wizards." But before Dumbledore could reply- "What the devil is going on here?" Uncle Vernon had poked his head round the door, presumably to investigate the noises from the living room. "What is it Vernon?" floated through Aunt Petunia's voice. "That's what I'd like to bloody find out!" he thundered, Harry could have sworn he saw the ornaments on the mantle place shake slightly. "Calm yourself dear man. I am Albus Dumbledore, I-" "I don't care who you are what the hell are you doing in my house?" "Well as you can see, Harry is slightly shaken. He has just been in serious, if not life threatening danger. I was bringing him home to you."
Uncle Vernon didn't seem to quite understand what Dumbledore had said, Harry could see him trying to comprehend, and come up with something else insulting to say. Aunt Petunia and Dudley had also peeked around the corner, curious to see what was going on. "What did you bring him back for? He was gone so long we thought he wouldn't be coming back." "He very almost wasn't. Ever," said Dumbledore quite calmly. "We would have been better off if he didn't! He's far more trouble than he is worth!" "My good man-" began Dumbledore, but he stopped because Sirius had just turned into a man.
Uncle Vernon's eye nearly popped out of his head, Aunt Petunia looked close to collapse, Dudley just looked like he was going to be sick. "You-you, what are you doing here?" "I've been staying with Harry since I came to visit. And I couldn't stay as a dog and let that comment pass. Do you know what you nephew has just done? He has saved a crowd of people from the most evil wizard that has ever existed! Single handed! And you say he is 'more trouble than he is worth'! It's quite clear to me that you don't know Harry at all. Do you know what he has done? What he's been through!" Sirius looked angrier than Harry had ever seen him, he looked like he did when Harry had believed him a murderer. "Sirius, it's fine. It's all right. I don't mind, really," said Harry trying to calm the situation.
"Uncle Vernon looked livid, "How dare you. You get out my house now. Both of you. Before I call the police." "You move towards that telephone and I hex you before you even get close," threatened Sirius, sounding strangely dog like. "Sirius, no," said Dumbledore, he sounded calm, but Harry could see that blazing in his eyes that was present when Dumbledore was angry, "I think it is clear we have outstayed our welcome-" "Quite!" snorted Uncle Vernon.
Dumbledore turned to Harry and said, "Be ready to leave by noon on this day next week." Harry nodded. Dumbledore turned back to the Dursley's. "I will leave now. But Sirius is to stay. I will have no argument!" he said noticing that Uncle Vernon was about to protest. Harry saw his eyes dart quickly to the wand tucked in Dumbledore's belt. His eyes narrowed and after that he remained quiet. "I will not leave Harry unprotected. I will return next week to take Harry away. It has been good to meet you at last. Goodbye for now." He turned to Harry, gave a quick smile and then, with a swish of his robes and a small pop, he disappeared from the Dursley's living room.
A/N: Stay tuned, in the next instalment we see the Burrow, Diagon alley and possibly the Hogwarts express. Chapter seven should be up in a week or two, but meanwhile, please feel free to review!
Dumbledore, Sirius and the Weaslys were all crouched around him, and looking slightly stunned to see him sit up so fast. "Harry! Oh my goodness! Are you all right?" fretted Mrs Weasly. Her shrill, shaky voice made Harry's already groggy head swim, "I'm fine. If not slightly sore," he said lightly, kneading his scar, it still burnt sharply.
Harry suddenly became aware of a series of clicking noises, as did the others as they all turned to see Rita Skeeter's photographer happily snapping away. Mr Weasly turned to him, "Not now. In fact not at all. Go on, go away! I'll not allow you to take anymore photographs!" However, he carried on. Click, click, click. "Now really," said Mrs Weasly, who promptly whipped out her wand, and using a well aimed spell melted the camera. "You'll have to pay for that Mrs! " She ignored him.
Harry's eyesight was still a little blurry and he still felt aches all over. "Where's Ron?" he asked urgently, suddenly remembering Voldemort had flung all the Weaslys out of his way. "I'm here," came his reply. Harry thought Ron looked as bad as he felt, all pale and shaken. In fact he looked as though he was ready to throw up. "Are you OK? All of you. Did he hurt you?" Before Ron could answer, Mrs Weasly said, "Don't worry dear," Mrs Weasly placed a hand on his shoulder, "We are all perfectly fine."
Sirius, sensing Harry's tension placed his head onto Harry's lap. This made Harry feel more at ease and his stomach didn't feel as though it was churning quite as much. Dumbledore placed a hand on Harry's other shoulder, "I think it is time I was taking Harry home," said his warm but serious voice "Home! You can't possibly be taking Harry back to those awful muggles. They won't be able to protect him! Let us take him home Dumbledore," pleaded Mrs Weasly. "I can't allow that just yet Molly, you remember what I said at the end of term?" "Yes, yes of course," she said sullenly "I appreciate your concern but Harry should return home tonight, he needs some rest," Harry doubted very much that the Dursleys would let him rest, however he continued to listen, "But if you will both consent I will allow Harry to stay with you as of this time next week."
Dumbledore pulled Harry up and supported him. Harry's legs were still very shaky and he needed the support Dumbledore gave him, or he would be back on the ground pretty quickly. "Well that sounds like a plan. What do you think Harry?" asked Mr Weasly. "Yeah that sounds great." Harry's spirits couldn't help but lift slightly; at least he could enjoy the rest of the summer holidays.
Harry looked at Ron again. To his surprise Ron was gaping at him with his mouth hanging open. George, who had noticed it to said, "What you trying to do Ron, catch as many flies as you can?" It was intended as a joke, but it felt out of place and the humour was stifled as though covered in a blanket. Ron shut his mouth, though continued to stare at Harry. "You all right Ron?" he asked. "Yeah..ah...fine" He was in a daze, totally dumbstruck at what his friend had just done.
Dumbledore started to pull Harry away. His head pounded with every step and his vision was still cloudy around the edges. Dumbledore was directing them away from the crowd, which was now more subdued and smaller in numbers, as many had disapparated at the first available chance. Couples were hugging each other and children were crying. Harry's gaze swept over them all and began to realise Voldemort's power for causing fear and sorrow, and he became filled with a hatred for Voldemort and all his supporters. He now knew exactly what Sirius had been describing in that cave last year, and realised with a fall that this was only the beginning, there was so much more to come.
Harry and Dumbledore had hardly walked a few more feet with Sirius and the Weaslys following when Rita Skeeter and her frustrated looking photographer popped up. Stunning Harry out of his reverie. Sirius growled and bared his fangs at them, but Rita merely patted him on the head and said, "Nice doggy." Sirius replied with a couple of booming barks, which she tried to ignore. "Harry! Just the person! That was an amazing piece of magic! Have you done that before? How long exactly have you known that the Dark Lord was back? Do you now fear for your safety?" Her cavalcade of words made Harry's head pound. "Now Miss Skeeter! I hardly think it is the time for questions. If you contact me tomorrow I may make a statement. You are not to contact or harass Harry. Is that understood?" Dumbledore sounded calm but deadly serious and spoke in such a tone that made quite clear Rita would get no information from him. "Well all right, I'll contact you first thing in the morning Dumbledore," she said haughtily before turning on her heel and walking away, her photographer in close pursuit.
Harry heard Mr Weasly mutter, "no respect..." under his breath. Harry could see Rita trying to interrogate Cornelius Fudge, who looked rather sick. He tried to ignore her, but she kept on trotting behind him until he turned around and yelled at her. Once he had successfully managed to shake he off, the Minister for Magic came to speak to Dumbledore looking grey and much older than usual. "It appears you were right Albus," he whispered with difficulty, looking at his feet. "The matter of who is right and who is wrong is irrelevant Cornelius. What we should be concerned with now is how to deal with it. I have suspected something like this would happen," said Dumbledore calmly. In fact, he seemed to be the only calm person there. "Yes, quite. Firstly I think we should-" but Dumbledore put up his hand to silence him. "Not now Cornelius. Contact me tomorrow. I need to get Harry home." "But Dumbledore! You can't possibly be more concerned with getting him home than how to deal with... You Know Who," He said looking down at Harry.
"I am more concerned with Harry at the moment." "But Albus!" pleaded Fudge desperately. He had lost all his powerful appearance and no longer looked like the Minister for Magic, but more a tired old man who did not know how to cope. "No! I will speak with you tomorrow."
Dumbledore turned round and Cornelius Fudge was left by himself looking rather frayed and utterly lost. As Dumbledore guided Harry away, people looked curiously at him; their expressions mingled with wonder and confusion, but mainly with a fear of what had just unfolded infront of them, and what was going to happen now. Harry wanted to say sorry, to apologise. It was he who had been part of Voldemort's reassertion. If he had managed to get away Voldemort would never have been able to get his blood. How could he have let it happen?
They finally reached a secluded spot and Dumbledore said to Harry, "Do you still have the newspaper that brought you here? It should transport us to Privet Drive." Harry pulled a now very crumpled newspaper out of his pocket.
Mrs Weasly came over and gave Harry a warm hug and whispered, "We'll see you soon Harry dear." He nodded and Mrs Weasly gave him an encouraging smile. "Well, bye then." The Weasly's said a collective 'bye.' Ron still looked slightly awe-struck as he waved goodbye. Dumbledore held out the paper, Harry took hold of it at the same time as Sirius placed his paw on it. Harry quickly waved goodbye as he felt himself being whisked away at full speed by the power of the portkey. *** Harry felt his feet make contact with the soft carpet of number four's carpet, and surprisingly, he didn't fall over this time. None of the Durseys were in the living room but Harry could hear muffled sounds from Dudley's television in the kitchen. They must be having dinner, thought Harry.
"You sit down Harry, I'll go and speak to your family," said Dumbledore guiding Harry into his Uncle's favourite armchair. "No, I think I should go Professor. You might surprise them slightly. They are not used to wizards." But before Dumbledore could reply- "What the devil is going on here?" Uncle Vernon had poked his head round the door, presumably to investigate the noises from the living room. "What is it Vernon?" floated through Aunt Petunia's voice. "That's what I'd like to bloody find out!" he thundered, Harry could have sworn he saw the ornaments on the mantle place shake slightly. "Calm yourself dear man. I am Albus Dumbledore, I-" "I don't care who you are what the hell are you doing in my house?" "Well as you can see, Harry is slightly shaken. He has just been in serious, if not life threatening danger. I was bringing him home to you."
Uncle Vernon didn't seem to quite understand what Dumbledore had said, Harry could see him trying to comprehend, and come up with something else insulting to say. Aunt Petunia and Dudley had also peeked around the corner, curious to see what was going on. "What did you bring him back for? He was gone so long we thought he wouldn't be coming back." "He very almost wasn't. Ever," said Dumbledore quite calmly. "We would have been better off if he didn't! He's far more trouble than he is worth!" "My good man-" began Dumbledore, but he stopped because Sirius had just turned into a man.
Uncle Vernon's eye nearly popped out of his head, Aunt Petunia looked close to collapse, Dudley just looked like he was going to be sick. "You-you, what are you doing here?" "I've been staying with Harry since I came to visit. And I couldn't stay as a dog and let that comment pass. Do you know what you nephew has just done? He has saved a crowd of people from the most evil wizard that has ever existed! Single handed! And you say he is 'more trouble than he is worth'! It's quite clear to me that you don't know Harry at all. Do you know what he has done? What he's been through!" Sirius looked angrier than Harry had ever seen him, he looked like he did when Harry had believed him a murderer. "Sirius, it's fine. It's all right. I don't mind, really," said Harry trying to calm the situation.
"Uncle Vernon looked livid, "How dare you. You get out my house now. Both of you. Before I call the police." "You move towards that telephone and I hex you before you even get close," threatened Sirius, sounding strangely dog like. "Sirius, no," said Dumbledore, he sounded calm, but Harry could see that blazing in his eyes that was present when Dumbledore was angry, "I think it is clear we have outstayed our welcome-" "Quite!" snorted Uncle Vernon.
Dumbledore turned to Harry and said, "Be ready to leave by noon on this day next week." Harry nodded. Dumbledore turned back to the Dursley's. "I will leave now. But Sirius is to stay. I will have no argument!" he said noticing that Uncle Vernon was about to protest. Harry saw his eyes dart quickly to the wand tucked in Dumbledore's belt. His eyes narrowed and after that he remained quiet. "I will not leave Harry unprotected. I will return next week to take Harry away. It has been good to meet you at last. Goodbye for now." He turned to Harry, gave a quick smile and then, with a swish of his robes and a small pop, he disappeared from the Dursley's living room.
A/N: Stay tuned, in the next instalment we see the Burrow, Diagon alley and possibly the Hogwarts express. Chapter seven should be up in a week or two, but meanwhile, please feel free to review!