Dangerous times.
Harry was standing in front of his window. The summer had lasted for four weeks now and as of yet the weather hadn't been too good. Most of the time it had been raining. Last week there had been a heat wave but this morning it began to drizzle and now the rain was coming down in sheets.
Two school owls brought the usual letters with school supplies as well as an invitation to be prefect in his fifth year.
Harry wasn't sure what to do, but decided it would prove to be enough of a challenge to keep his mind of Voldemort.
His desk was littered with homework he had finished in the first two weeks and still he looked it over every night as if to make sure that he hadn't forgotten anything.
The birthday letters and presents from Ron and Hermione had arrived shortly after the school owls had left. Hermoine had given him (surprise, surprise) a book titled "All Quidditch maneuvers and fouls in detail" , each page showed a maneuver or foul that when touched by a wand would be projected in a sort of 3d moving slide. Harry tried to remember the feeling he had during the Quidditch World Cup but it always ended with the image of the dark mark appearing in the night sky.
Ron had sent him some sweets as well as a few samples of Fred and Georges latest 'inventions' something called lengthy licorice and everchew bubblegum. They had tested the licorice in the following manner.
Fred was holding one end standing in front of Ron's room and George pulling the other and as far as it would go. He actually managed to get to the garden but then he tripped over a gnome and during the fall the licorice snapped. It whipped back slapping the twins in their faces. As for the bubblegum… Ginny was chewing on it for week before she managed to get rid of it. Harry couldn't suppress a smile when he remembered all the pranks the Weasely twins had pulled during his time in Hogwarts.
There was no letter from Hagrid but Harry figured he didn't have the time to send anything due to his special assignment from Dumbledore. What was that assignment about? He figured that Hagrid was sent to get an alliance or at least a non-aggression pact with the giants.
Another letter and a package were from Sirius and Remus. The letter had been signed with two paw prints. Oh… if only Sirius was cleared. Despite the constant worries summer had been hell already. Dudley's diet had been tightened and he still seemed to grow bigger.
The package was from a shop called "Magical Muggle Supplies". Harry vaguely remembered it. Most wizards seemed to be avoiding it. Although he couldn't figure out why.
Inside was a brand new watch which, according to the instructions, could go 10 kilometers under water before breaking down. The watch itself had the usual digits as well as a digital clock and a wizard clock which said 'Time for bed'.
Outside it was still raining cats and dogs with the occasional flash of lightning lighting up the night sky. Harry was trying to think about something he learned about lightning.
Let's see if you start counting from the moment you see the lightning till the moment you hear the thunder and you divide that by the distance between you and the storm then you'll know exactly how fast you were counting and er… no wait that's not right.
The thought of Voldemort out there wreaking havoc drifted back into his mind. He didn't want to go to sleep, afraid more nightmares would come to haunt him.
The death of Cedric, the resurrection of Voldemort kept going through his mind.
Harry came out of his trance when he heard something tapping on the window. Another owl was hovering in front of the window.
Harry opened up the window. The owl swooped in, dropped a single envelope and immediately flew out again.
'Must be an express owl' Harry said to himself while he took a good look at the envelope.
It only said "To Harry Potter" on the front. 'No sender. Who could it be from?' Harry thought out loud while he examined it. Normally he wouldn't be so paranoid but being as exhausted he was from the constant worrying made him think everything was a trap.
He pointed his wand at the envelope and opened it with his other hand. Nothing happened. A perfectly rectangular piece of parchment was inside. The strangest thing about it was that it was completely blank.
'Who would send me a blank note?' Harry wondered. He looked at it for a moment but still nothing happened.
'Stupid thing' Harry said and he dropped his wand on it.
Harry yawned. According to his watch it was 2 o'clock in the morning. Then he picked up his wand again. He was about to put it away when he noticed a word had appeared on the parchment. It said "Identify" in pure black letters as if they were scorched onto the paper.
'Identify? Who… How… Why?' He wasn't sure what to do but then put the tip of his wand on the parchment and said 'My name is Harry Potter'
A magical shimmer went over the parchment and more words appeared.
'Harry Potter is now On Scroll' The words disappeared a few seconds later.
What does it mean I'm on Scroll? What is going on here? Harry thought.
Harry was staring at the parchment now. Then more words came up but these were different. They were written in a dark red, very neat handwriting.
'Unknown: Harry this a speakscroll just talk to it and I will read what you're saying.'
'Who are you? What is happening?' Harry whispered as a loud snort came from uncle Vernon's bedroom. Harry's words appeared on the speakscroll as well in a Harry's typical handwriting. However his words were emerald green.
'Unknown: Who I am is not important right now. What is important is that you are in danger.'
'Danger from what?' Harry was starting to get nervous.
'Unknown: Just stand up and see for yourself.' How does he know where I am and how does he know what my room looks like?
'What now?'
'Unknown: Yes… now. Do it… slowly. The front lawn.'
As Harry stood up from his chair and looked down he could see three Death eaters looking at the house. Just then a lightning bolt illuminated the sky and the Death eaters looked up, looking straight at him. Harry immediately picked up the speakscroll and hid behind his desk.
'Oh…s***.' He said.
'Unknown: Yes…'
'What do they want from me?'
'Unknown: I don't know but if you don't want to find out I suggest you get out of there.'
'How?'
'Unknown: I can guide you but you must do exactly as I say.'
'Okay.' Harry said okay but suddenly he realized that he didn't know the person behind the scroll. Why should I trust him, I have never even met him. Still anything is better then falling in their hands.
'Unknown: Harry I need you to make a magic tag behind them so I can make a diversion.'
'Alright. How do I do that?'
'Unknown: Just point your wand behind them and focus energy to that spot.'
'No way, they would see me. Besides I am not allowed to use magic yet. I would get in trouble with the ministry.' What am I saying. Using magic against them wouldn't by a bad thing, would it?
'Unknown: Harry you're safe as long as you stay inside and I work for the ministry I will take care of this. Look Harry there's only two ways out of this. Either you make that tag or you'll be taken into their custody. Either way you take a risk I leave it to you.'
'Unknown is no longer On Scroll'
'Great, what have I done to deserve this. I am nobody important. I am just the boy who lived.' Harry said to himself. He looked at his wand and thought to himself. How am I going to do this? Energy projection is one of first things taught as it is the basis of all magic, however it requires there to be no obstructions, including windows.
He stood up and opened his window. The three Death eaters were still standing on the lawn in front of the house.
The one in the middle was still watching the window when Harry opened it.
'There he is. Let's get him now. STUPEFY.' He said. The beam got to the window but then bounced off into the night sky. 'What the…?!' The puzzled Death eater said.
'You idiot! Don't you remember the briefing. The house is protected. We can't get in and we can't use magic on it.' said the Death eater on his right. 'We have to lure him out.'
'Great. This was one of your bright ideas wasn't it. He is not going to come out of there voluntarily.' The middle one said somewhat pissed off and crossed his arms.
'Will you two stop bickering?!' said the one on the left.
Harry watched the scene outside for a moment. He couldn't make out what they were saying but understood that they were having some sort of an argument.
Ha… that will make this easier. He thought and he pointed his wand 2 meters behind them on the sidewalk. The argument the Death eaters were having flared up.
'Well, mister Know-it-all. How are we going to get him out?' said the angry one in the middle to his colleague on his right.
'Well… We could set the house on fire.' Was the counter from the right Death eater now known as brainy.
'Set the house on fire. Which is protected from magic… IN THIS RAINSTORM!?!' the angry one bellowed.
Meanwhile Harry was focusing magic at the sidewalk. He knew that if it was working the spot on the sidewalk would light up. But nothing happened. Harry wondered what was wrong when he remembered that he was too far away from the sidewalk to effectively use this type of magic.
I can't get any closer... No wait what if I extend my arm, that might get me in range.
Harry started to lean out of the window and extended his right arm as far as he could. Then suddenly he felt very light and began to hover out of the window. He could see that the Death eater on the left was pointing his wand at him.
Ohh… stupid. You're only safe inside of the house. Was the only thought going through his mind.
The other two Death eaters stopped arguing and gave their colleague a helping wand. Once on the ground Harry was immediately paralyzed.
'We got him. WOOHOO. We got him' The angry one said a little too loud. 'Our Lord will be so pleased.'
'Will you shut up!!!' The leader yelled. His voice sounded eerily familiar to that of Lucius Malfoy. Harry was trying to move, to yell and basically to get away but spell prevented that. Why haven't they killed me yet. Perhaps they want to leave that particular "honor" to Voldemort.
The leader began to speak to brainy 'Hold out his left arm and hold it still'. Brainy was not sure what his superior wanted. 'Luci…' He began but stopped abruptly when his boss gave him a mean look.
'Boss, why do I need to do that. We can just take him to our Lord now…' Brainy said to his boss. The leader then pointed his wand at him 'CRUCIO'. The not so smart death eater was now convulsing in a fetal position. After he recovered somewhat he stared at his boss with a why-did-you-do-that look.
'Next time I give you an order you'll obey it as if it was issued by Lord Voldemort himself. Do I make myself clear or do you need another lesson in obedience.' Said the leader and pointed his wand at brainy again.
'Yes, sir your perfectly clear.'
'Good, then hold out Potter's left arm and keep it still.' In the mean time Harry regained some movement and started squirming. The leader bared his left arm showing the dark mark. What is he going to do? Harry's hart was racing with fear. This is not happening. This is not real. I am going to wake up any moment now. The leader Death Eater bended over and pressed his arm against Harry's. His arm was searing like it was on fire. He tried to scream but he couldn't.
'So that's over with.' the leader said as he pulled his arm back. Harry tried to look at his arm to see what happened to it but he couldn't move his head that way. He tried to ask the leader what he had done. "What did you do to me?" is what Harry was trying to say but it came out like : 'Whadome?'
The leader seemed to understand though and said 'You will never know Potter, OBLIVIATE'
Harry woke up as from a nightmare. Covered in sweat and panting wildly he tried to remember what had happened. It must have been a dream. It didn't really happen. I just fell asleep and dreamed everything. What time is it? His watch said half past 2, the wizard part said "still time for bed". Harry was about ready to fall asleep again when he noticed a piece of parchment on his desk lighting up. He stood up and walked to it. Three words were flashing on the parchment, "Wake up, Harry". His memory was still blurry, was this scroll actually trying to wake him up.
'I am awake' Harry said sleepily, not sure why he even bothered to talk to it.
'Unknown: The Death eaters got hold of you…'
What Death eaters is he talking about.
'What?'
'Unknown: We are being watched Harry. We have to meet to figure this out.'
'Who are you?'
'Unknown: One of your fans.'
'eh… what?'
'Unknown: Never mind that. Just get over here.'
'Very well, but only because I want some answers.'
'Unknown: Okay. Go outside summon the Knight Bus and go to the Leaky Cauldron. Ask the innkeeper to speak to the man in room 303.'
'Unknown is no longer on Scroll'
'Session has ended'
The scroll self combusted and shriveled away. Harry doubted he should go out this late but his curiosity got the better of him.
He put on some clothes pocketed his and sneaked downstairs almost stepping on last step when he remembered that it creaked. He tiptoed towards the front door, opened it and shut it without making a sound. He was about half?way the path when he noticed to front lawn looked somewhat ruffled, like there had been a fight.
That's strange he didn't remember it. If Dudley an he had a fight, aunt Petunia wouldn't have allowed him to go bed until the lawn was repaired. He shrugged it off. Explaining to himself that he was tired and didn't think or see clearly.
When he reached the street he pulled out his wand and held it out like he was flagging down a car.
A loud bang erupted in the street and the familiar triple-decker bus was standing in front of him. As the doors opened the conductor immediately recognized Harry.
''Ey, if that ain't Harry Potter. What are you doin' out this late?'
Harry wasn't quite sure what to say for a moment. 'Err… I have to get to the Leaky Cauldron immediately.'
'Why?' The conductor asked. Harry was taken aback by the question. He looked for something to say but he knew that it had to be a good lie.
Why would I need to go to London at this hour? If only my parents were still alive they would have made this easier. I am not in think mode right now. What could be important enough?
'Well…?' The conductor asked a little bit more impatient than before. 'We have places to be Harry. Perhaps you best be goin' to bed and go to the cauldron tomorrow.'
'No wait, I er.. I have to meet Dumbledore there. Something has come up with You-Know-Who.' Harry made up. Come on believe me, I have to go there.
'Very well Harry, tha'll be 11 sickels.'
YES!!! Harry paid him got in and took a seat near a window. The bus resumed it's course with a bang. And Harry watched as objects in front of it began to jump out of the way. He looked around. Apparently he was the only passenger, although he couldn't say anything about the upper floors. He began dozing of again, and heard the driver and the conductor talking in the distance.
'Ye know. I heard that the Minstry is covering up the resurrection of You-know-who.'
'You hear things but you don't listen. He ain't resurrected at all. I read in this magazine that those bloody Death eaters staged the whole thin'. Making it look like 'e was raised.'
'I dunno sounds kinda fishy to me.'
'You just watch where you're drivin'. Ye mist the turn.'
'No, I didn't… See we are there already.'
The bus stopped with a bang waking Harry instantly and also causing him to fall from his seat.
'We've arrived Harry.' Said the conductor as he helped Harry to his feet. 'We hope to see you again.' There was a certain finality to his words.
Behind him the Knight Bus disappeared again while he was staring at the Leaky Cauldron.
'I wonder if it still open.' He said to himself. 'Ah… what the heck I have to get in anyway.'
Harry walked up to the door and knocked on it. Behind it there was some noise as if someone was walking into chairs.
'Who is it?' Tom the innkeeper said in a sort of dark voice.
'Harry Potter… sir.' The door opened up a bit.
'What?! You.' He was clearly expecting someone else.
'I have to speak to the person in room 303. Please' Harry pleaded. Tom now opened the door completely.
'You shouldn't be involved in this. ~SIGH~ Follow me Harry.' He gestured to the stairs.
They walked up three stairs till they reached an attic trapdoor with the numbers 303 on it. The numbers appeared to be attached recently.
'Are you sure you want to do this?' Tom asked as he opened the trapdoor and pulled down a very decrepit looking ladder.
Harry seemed to be having second thoughts about this. But he finally decided that he wanted answers.
'Yes. I have to know what he wants.'
'Alright, if you need help. I will be down here.'
What is he so afraid of?
Harry walked up. Every step creaked. Once upstairs, the ladder retracted itself. The trapdoor closed and gave a familiar fizz of a locking spell being activated.
He looked around the room. There was only one lamp shining a cone shaped beam of light onto the floor.
Outside of that cone he could make out that were some boxes stacked on top of each other but the rest of the room was simply to dark. Then he noticed the round window which looked out over diagon alley. There was no sign of movement out there. I guess all the smart wizards are in bed right now.
'Step into the light Harry.' A deep voice from somewhere in the darkness boomed.
'WHO are you?' Harry replied not really intending to do anything that voice said. Especially because he couldn't see where it was coming from.
'Harry please. Just do what I ask of you.' The voice skipped from deep to a high pitch back to deep again. Whoever the voice was, he was straining to maintain composure.
'No, first you tell your name. Then I'll consider it.' Harry said defiantly into the darkness.
'Very well. I suppose I can give you that much. You may call me… Marus.'
'Is that your real name?' Harry was quite sure that was a lie.
'It is right now. Harry will you please step into the light. NOW.' The voice skipped again. Deciding he shouldn't anger the voice any further, Harry complied.
'At last we meet. You're difficult to track down when you're not at school.' The voice seemed to be coming from everywhere now. The light was now preventing Harry from seeing anything beyond it.
'So. Marus. Why have you been trying to find me?'
'Because it is my job to protect you.'
Protect me?!? He should be fired immediately.
'Sorry for the elaborate secrecy. But these are dangerous times.' Marus continued.
'Step into the light. I am too exhausted to handle secret situations.' Harry said rather agitated.
'Okay. You've earned that much.'
A figure in a fairly worn brown cloak stepped forward. He was slightly larger then Harry. The hood of the cloak covered his face.
'Why are you hiding your face? You're not a Death eater are you.' Harry shifted in a defensive position and pulled out his wand.
'If I was… Then why would you still be here. Alive instead of dead. And why would three others have attacked you earlier tonight, let you go only to be caught by me.'
'WHAT?'
'You don't remember, do you?' Harry looked extremely puzzled. Was I attacked? Then why don't I remember it? And why aren't I dead or captured for Voldemort's pleasure?
'Harry listen. Did you experience some time loss?' Marus asked.
'No… No wait. I lost about half an hour after talking to you.'
'Hmmm. Sounds like a standard Memory charm.' Marus pulled out his wand. 'Too bad I am better at making them than breaking them.'
This didn't reassure Harry in the slightest.
'Perhaps, you better leave it alone then.' Marus seemed to be thinking this over for a moment and decided that Harry was right.
'You're right. I wouldn't want to hurt you.' Harry sighed 'But I do have to know what those D.E's did to you.'
Marus tucked his wand away.
'How did you know what was happening at the house?' Harry asked to no avail. 'What are we going to do?'
Still no answer.
'Say something!' Harry ordered. Marus unsheathed a blade and held it in front of him somewhat clumsily in his left hand. The blade was glowing with an inner light.
'What… are you going to do with that?' Harry asked him, while he took a defensive stance.
'Relax, Harry. This is a bright blade or light blade. I use it to locate, detect and remove Dark magic.' Marus took a step towards Harry. 'Just stand still a moment.'
The procedure was quite simple. He held the dagger in close proximity to Harry and moved it all over his body. The dagger briefly lost its light as he held it over Harry's scar.
'At least that proves it works.' Marus said and moved on down.
Nothing else happened until he reached Harry's left arm. The dagger lost its light again just above his wrist.
'There it is. Harry please roll up your sleeve.'
'What?'
'Harry… We don't have time for this.'
'…'
'Are you gonna do it yourself or do I have to do it for you?!?' Marus was sounding deadly serious.
'I, er… I. Sure.' And Harry rolled it up.
'Okay. Let's have a look at it.'
Harry held out his arm and looked at it. He wasn't too happy about what he saw. A black scull with snake was grinning at him.
'WHAT? I am not… I didn't… Get it of me. GET IT OF ME!!'
Harry panicked. This is not happening. This isn't real. I'm gonna wake up any moment NOW!!
Marus grabbed his arm and held it tight. This only added to Harry's anxiety.
'LET ME GO.' Harry yelled.
From below the floor came some muffled shouting followed by even louder banging against the trapdoor. Harry struggled to free himself from Marus's grip but only managed to exhaust himself trying.
'Are you quite finished now?' Marus asked way to calm for Harry's liking. Harry was panting from exhaustion and tried to think of something mean to sneer at him. Nothing useable came to mind.
'Good. Now. Harry, explain to me why you panicked at of this… this… mark?'
Doesn't he know that this is the mark of a Death Eater? What did those bastards do to me?!?
'This mark. It's called the D…' Harry began.
'The Dark Mark. Yes I know Harry. That wasn't what I was asking. Why does the mark scare you?'
'Because it identifies Death Eaters. And since it is on me that means that I am… a…' He began to shudder at the thought of those words.
'You must be really tired to be thinking like that. The mark on your arm isn't even real.' Marus turned around and coughed loudly. To Harry it sounded like he was hiding a laugh.
'How would you know that it isn't real?' Yawn. Harry tried to stay focused and alert, but exhaustion set in and his eyelids began to drop.
'It's a rub-on. A replica of an original, but it most certainly isn't real. Did you really think you could be converted to darkness without YOU knowing it.'
'Err… Perhaps they used the imperio curse on me. Yeah, that's probably what happened.'
Harry looked from his arm up to the darkness that hid Marus' face under the hood. Hoping to be proven wrong he stared up for while. But instead of saying anything Marus merely stared back and then chuckled softly.
'It doesn't quite work that way. Your ignorance of the darkness is staggering. So it is true that you didn't have any good dark arts teachers at Hogwarts.' Marus now sounded something between amused and pitiful. However that remark about the dark arts teachers was too wrong to remain uncorrected.
'I did have one who was on the level. Not all of them were that bad.'
'Just ONE good teacher? Heh. Alright. Mr. Lupin wasn't so bad. I'll give you that. But the rest were rather lousy, weren't they?' Marus took out his dagger again. 'But enough about this. Let's get rid of this, shall we?' He said whilst pointing at the mark.
'What do you need the knife for?' Harry asked partially knowing the answer already.
'I have to… ahem… I have to carve the curse out of your arm.'
At his answer Harry cringed and pulled his arm back. Marus put a step forward.
'Are you sure that's the only way? If this thing isn't real… than perhaps we should just leave it alone.'
'I cannot do that.' Marus said while nodding his head. 'The fact that it isn't a genuine mark doesn't mean that it isn't dangerous. Now just hold still willya.' He tried to grab Harry's arm again but Harry managed to dodge him.
'No, first you explain why this is dangerous. I am not letting you anywhere near me with that knife.' Harry drew his wand and pointed it straight in Marus' face.
'It's a dagger. Do you really think you can stop me and I don't have time to explain. Now hold out your arm.'
'NO. First tell me why it is dangerous.'
'Harry I… We… Arrrgh. Alright. Fine. That mark is dangerous because during Voldemort's first reign these were used on Death Eater wannabees and on prize targets. The wizard that put it there is able to track the person it is on. In other words the Death Eater that gave you that is able to find wherever you go including Hogwarts.'
Marus paused for moment to catch his breath. In the meantime Harry was trying to absorb all of this.
'Furthermore, the fake mark also allows the wizard to apparate next to the tagged person no matter how much interference or how many wards there are. So he can apparate right next to you in the great hall and kill you before anyone can react. Guess what that would do for your cause.'
'My cause? What do you mean? I don't have a cause.'
'Sure you do. Everyone does. Yours is to stay alive.' Marus grabbed Harry's arm with his right hand.
'Now hold still and whatever you do, do not scream.'
'Why? Would that disturb the process?'
'No, I have a splitting head-ache. And if you were to scream, I might push the blade through your arm instead of just in the mark.'
He raised the dagger to just over the and then pushed it hard into the mark. Harry felt a shock going through his entire body. Almost instantly the mark began to burn. He tried not to scream although his body demanded it.
'Try to focus on a pleasant memory. It will make this easier.' Marus said. Harry looked down at the blade. It had turned pitch-black.
'I…I can't. I hurts too much.' He whimpered. 'STOP IT. Please.' Harry cried out.
'Harry please. Keep quiet. I have to focus for this.' He looked Harry straight in the eyes. 'Tell you what. I'll start talking and you will focus on the sound of my voice. Okay?'
'O-okay.'
'The prison we made. By L… by someone I know.' He took a deep breath.
'Good night. I'd like to thank everyone for showing up. To be honest I didn't expect this many people to come.' Marus began energetically.
'Who---who are you talking too. We're alone.' Harry rebuked through the pain.
'I am telling this. Not you. Just keep in mind that I'm doing this from memory. Anyway… Let me tell you why you're here. You're here because you know something but what you know you can't explain. You feel it. You felt it your entire life. There is something wrong with our world. You're not sure what. But it's there like a splinter in your mind. Driving you mad. It's this feeling that has brought you all here. Do you know what I am talking about?' Breath pause.
'This prison thing you mentioned earlier.' Harry guessed. As a response Marus twisted the dagger slightly causing another surge of pain to go through Harry's body.
'Do you want to know what it is?' Harry only nodded, unable to speak because of the pain.
'The prison is everywhere it's all around us even now in this very room. You can see it when you look out window or when you activate a crystal ball. You can feel it when you go to work, when you go to church, when you… as soon as you have to, when you pay your taxes. It's a prison made of rules and regulations, a prison made by people who do not suffer by these rules. Sporting the idea that it is for your benefit in such a way that you are blinded from the truth.' Marus stopped to breath again. In the mean time Harry had been listening intently to the speech. He wasn't sure what it was all about but from the tone of voice he could hear that Marus was 100% behind whatever point he was trying to make. Only one question remained.
'What truth?' In response Marus pushed the blade a few more millimeters further into Harry's arm.
'That were-creatures are slaves, Harry. Whether born or bitten, they are forced in chains they cannot break. Forced in a prison they cannot smell or taste or touch. A prison made by ignorant rich for innocent and sentient beings. Most of you here don't know what it is like to life like that… It is done.'
As he pulled the dagger out of Harry's arm the pain lifted immediately. Upon close examination Harry saw that the mark was gone, replaced by a light burn. Much to his surprise he didn't see a large gaping hole where the dagger had been.
Marus had turned around and had walked out of the cone of light. From the sound Harry figured he was rummaging around in the dark looking for something. Harry was quite intrigued by the speech Marus had given him, he didn't think that there was such an adamant supporter alive within the magical community.
'Nice speech.' Harry began. 'I didn't know there were types like you out there.' A brief silence.
'I'm glad you liked it. The crowd it was told to wasn't as enthusiastic as you. But then there were only 5 wolves present and over 500 "normals".' The word normals struck Harry as a bit, well weird to be used to describe non-were people.
Why does he care so much about were-people. Perhaps he is one too.
'Anyway, it's time to get you home, Young Potter. It is way beyond your bedtime.' Marus called from the darkness. 'Here, catch.'
A book came flying at Harry's face. But thanks to his seeker reflexes he caught it in midair. The title up front was written in golden letters on a brown background. It read "The history of the Order". The book looked like an oversize dictionary.
'Consider that my birthday present to you, Harry.'
'What do I need with…' But Harry was interrupted by a familiar pull at his navel and he braced himself for impact. He landed right next to his bed back at the Dursley residence. The thud of his landing caused a loud snore to come from his Aunt and Uncle's bedroom. He quickly got up. Put the book in his trunk and then wearily crawled into bed.
For a while he just lay there trying to make sense of what had happened. As he could feel the comfy drowsiness before sleep come over him just one word kept coming to mind.
'Weird!' He said before passing into a dreamless sleep.