Harry fell out of the fireplace of Flourish and Blotts but broke his fall with his arms. He could never get over the dizziness such a short ride could produce. His bearing slowly returning, Harry walked down the aisle until he got to the counter. Not knowing what to do or where to go he tapped the little bell on the counter top. The soft chime echoed inharmoniously through the empty canyons between the numerous shelves of books. Spencer came around the corner, glanced at Harry, and returned his nose to his book.
"Can I help you, sir?" He asked tonelessly, reading along as if Harry wasn't there.
"Spencer, you invited me for the job, working here." He glanced up again, this time examining Harry more closely.
"Oh yes. Harry, of course. I forgot you would be disguised. Well, come back here, I'll show you around. How long did we agree you'll work?"
"From eight to five, for two Galleons, every day."
"That is fine, but I'm going to change yer hours to from eight to twelve…"
"But…" Harry cut in.
"Lemme finish. From eight till twelve and from one thirty to five. That gives yeh an hour and a half to browse, shop and eat lunch here in Diagon Alley. Is that alright?"
"Yes" Harry said, ashamed of his outburst.
"Yeh'r early Harry, it's only seven forty three. Why don't yeh entertain yourself in the shop awhile. Read, do homework, sleep. Other than the lifting, and helping kids get their books at the end of the summer, it is a rather boring job, and not difficult either. Call me if yeh need anything."
"Thanks Spencer."
"No problem." Spencer went back to his office and Harry looked around warily. He looked around for a few minutes, taking down any books that seemed interesting. Starting with the hardest assignment first, he took on his potions essay.
"Explain and analyze the benefits and dangers of transfiguration potions." It was straightforward enough, and Harry smiled. This was supposed to be the most difficult assignment, but with a small bit of personal experience in the second year, it may not be so bad after all. Harry sort of zoned in on his essay, using numerous books, citing countless pages. Harry began his concluding paragraph as the bell announce it was ten o'clock. Minutes later Harry had finished, and he was happy, and ready to celebrate. He was willing to bet he finished this essay faster than the legendary and beautiful Hermione Granger herself. And of course that……wait a moment, did he just think beautiful. That couldn't be right, no, his mind was playing tricks on him. Yes tricks, just like Fred and George, but Harry's marauder father was in his head playing tricks. It was the only reasonable explanation. Alright, who said reasonable was a necessary word.
Harry forced himself to break the line of thinking. He shook his head and glanced around the shop. 'This has to be the perfect job' he thought 'getting paid for doing your homework.' He rolled up the potions essay and packed up the rest of his supplies. He fingered through some of the other books he had taken down. Animagi: The Art of Self-Animalization looked like what Hermione would call a good read. It was in-depth with few pictures, did he forget to mention the size of a large atlas and four thousand pages. Like he said, a good read. It was interesting and he decided he'd stop at Gringotts wizarding bank and pick up some spending money so he could get it. He put all the books he'd taken down back on the shelves and went to find Spencer.
He went into the hall behind the counter, and found an office cluttered with boxes and books. There were some obviously very old and worn books in the incredible stacks that seems to be teetering dangerously. Harry started walking through the mess and was hauntingly reminded of the Third Task. He felt the tears begin to build up, and he strengthened his resolve and went forward into the maze, carefully avoiding some of the more unstable looking piles. He finally rounded a corner and saw a desk with a small group of men, young and old discussing something. After only a short while they said good byes and departed leaving only Spencer with his head in his hands.
"Spencer?" Harry asked, not wanting to disrupt the man's thoughts.
"Ahh, yes Harry." He looked up. "I'm sorry I haven't gotten you doing anything yet. Here, you see that box over there?" He pointed to a clump of boxes. Harry was trying to judge the angle.
"The blue one?"
"No, the orange one there."
"Okay"
"Take it to James, he'll be near the front of the store if not at the counter. He'll tell you where to put them alright."
"Yes sir."
"What happened?" Spencer said suddenly looking behind him, at the walls of books and papers.
"Huh?" Harry was truly bewildered.
"Your face went very white all of a sud-Oh my. Harry, you're bleeding" Spencer touched his own forehead. Automatically Harry's hand went up to his. He touched it barely, he hand came away with a thin film of blood. His eyes went wide in fear. His scar had never bled before, except for the episode this morning. But that was wand induced. Harry couldn't ignore the growing pain in his head.
Spencer watched helplessly as Harry closed his eyes and began to cry quietly "Not now, god not now." And with that Harry went limp.
/\/ /\/ /\/ /\/ /\/ /\/ /\/ /\/
A man cowered at the foot of a throne ornately carved with snakes that had red rubies for eyes. The throne sat on a raised platform in a large underground hall. How Harry knew it was underground, he would never know, but he knew it was so. The walls were of a coarse and rough light gray stone, but the color did little for the minimal light in the room. The cave looked like it was quickly and carelessly carved out of the rock.
The man seated on the throne had eyes to match the rubies on his chair. He was fingering his wand and watching the kneeling man. "Lucius, are my forces ready to attack?" It was clear that the man was scared to answer.
"N-N-N-No master. I have failed you."
"I wanted to be able to attack Azkaban today Lucius, I expected more from you."
"I am sorry master, we will be ready tomorrow."
"So be it……but I WANTED TO ATTACK TODAY! DO YOU DARE DEFY THE DARK LORD!?!?"
"NO Master. I am sorry please. I would never defy you please, please, master. I will never fail you again."
"ENOUGH!! You cannot lie to me. You are a failure. Sometimes I wonder why I let you live after you never sought me after supposedly I was gone."
"If I had heard any rumors of your…"
"CRUCIO" The groveling man screamed an unearthly sound for a long fifteen seconds before he was let off of the curse. "You dared to lie to me Lucius. I know you would not have come to me. You are a coward, and you will always be a coward."
"M-m-master. Please."
"CRUCIO" This one was short, but the yells were just as desperate, just as loud. "Lucius, we attack tomorrow, and if you are not ready, then you will watch your son and wife die slowly in front of your eyes. Wait, that wouldn't mean much for you would it. Tell me Lucius, what do you cherish, that if you are not ready you should loose?" There was a brief silence.
"My wealth, master. And my life."
"Unfortunately for you Lucius, both are trivial. I feel that pain is the only way to get through to you."
"Yes master."
"CRUCIO". This one was held for much longer, until the vocals chords began emitting rivers of blood, which naturally found their way out through the mouth. The puddles began to form around the screaming body and a large black snake appeared from the shadows. It slithered to the growing pools and drank deeply while the man writhed inches away. Finally, the curse was ended and the man coughed up the blood in his throat. "Go Lucius, and do not fail me again."
"Yes master" he miraculously breathed, before crawling away and out of the chamber. The snake continued drinking peacefully, and approached the seated lord.
"Nagini" the man hissed in the language of the snakes "tomorrow we bring them back under my command. This time, we will not fail."
"Potter" the serpent hissed angrily.
"Yes, my pet, once I have destroyed him, you alone will drink him." The room faded away and Harry opened his eyes.
/\/ /\/ /\/ /\/ /\/ /\/ /\/ /\/
The world was blurry. Not because of a lack of glasses, or because of poor eyesight, but due solely to the intense pain in his forehead. He cried and seizured as the pain radiated through his body. He groaned yelled and cursed as his hand came off his forehead, covered in dark blood. As Harry was able to control the throbbing ache, he looked into the now clear world, to find Spencer with his wand out, looking noticeably nervous and confused.
"Harry?" His voice was soft and trembling.
"Spencer." Harry could barely say the words, his energy was drained, and he felt like sleeping forever. What a way to ruin the first good day since…it happened.
"Harry, are you okay, do you need anything?" He slowly approached Harry, his wand still out, his hand shaking.
"A glass of water would be nice if possible. Do you have any owls here?" Harry's voice was inconsistent and so soft, it was very difficult to hear.
"Owls? Yes, we have a number of them for deliveries." Spencer crouched and helped Harry sit up, leaning against a wall of boxes.
"I need your two fastest owls. Now. Please, it's urgent." Not delaying to ask what for, Spencer ran out of the room and left Harry alone, exhausted beyond life itself, and bleeding slowly from his scar, which ached continuously, an everlasting reminder of his connection to Voldemort. Harry rummaged through his pockets and placed his ink, quill and a blank roll of parchment onto the floor. He opened the jar of ink and set it carefully next to him, and tore the parchment into two, and began to write scarcely legibly due to the drastic shaking of his hand.
Dear Professor Dumbledore,
I had another vision/attack just now. Voldemort is mobilizing against Azkaban for an attack tomorrow. Lucius Malfoy is gathering the forces. Something else happened. This morning, when I was trying to put the concealment charm on my scar, my wand touched it. It hurt a lot. When I looked at it, it was open and bleeding, as it is now, following this attack. I don't know what to think of it. Do what you can. I am informing Mr. Weasley as well.
Take care,
Harry Potter
Harry pushed it aside and began on the second parchment. He heard footsteps a distance away, and by the speed he assumed Spencer was coming soon. He dipped his quill, after three attempts to get it in the ink jar, and started on the second parchment. He heard Spencer arrive as his quill hit the parchment, but continued regardless.
Dear Mr. Weasley,
I had a vision from Voldemort. Lucius Malfoy will be leading Voldemort's followers against Azkaban tomorrow. I know you have always wanted to capture Malfoy, and here is your chance. However, do not go if you cannot gather enough of a counter offensive. Voldemort is counting on no resistance. Let us make him regret his arrogance.
Fare thee well,
Harry Potter
Harry saw that Spencer had read his letter to Dumbledore, and appeared a little anxious towards Harry, but lent him the owls. Harry secure the notes on to their legs and rubbed each of them warmly
"I know you're both delivery owls where you just drop it off and go. I need you to wait for responses. Alright guys, off you go," were his first words that weren't neighboring silence. The owls seemed to comprehend and with an affectionate hoot the flew up and out the window. An ill at ease silence fell between them as Harry closed his eyes and tilted his head back, after blood found it's way to his eye sockets. Spencer silently passed a glass of water to Harry, who nodded a thank you before draining the glass in few large gulps.
"I'm guessing you want an explanation." Harry said after five minutes passed, and his energy restored itself slowly. He opened his eyes and saw the man nod and make a noise of encouragement. "I can see what Voldemort is doing sometimes…" Spencer grimaced at the name but didn't interrupt. "Dumbledore thinks I have these fits, attacks, visions, whatever you want to call them, when Voldemort is feeling particularly murderous and angry, or when he is nearby. He was obviously angry this time. Lucius Malfoy didn't prepare Voldemort's army to attack Azkaban today, so they're going to do it tomorrow. I warned Dumbledore and Mr. Weasley to see if it can be prevented. Are you going to tell me why you really wanted me to work here this summer?" The was another uncomfortable silence.
"It was a personal favor to Dumbledore. He wanted me to watch over you, make sure you were safe, and keep you busy, away from your slump, I think he put it. That's why I offered you so much to start, so you would join in. Also it would allow you to do you homework in peace. It isn't busy here at all. The school book rush every August supports us year round, so you would have a comfortable quiet. Plus here, with so many wizards around, you'd be pretty safe………I'm sorry about opening your scar this morning. I didn't know that…"
"No one did. It may have to do with the fact that my wand has the same core as Voldemort's. My bloody scar may have thought that my wand was his, and rejected it like a virus. No one knows how or why, and no one probably will. It's one of those things." He sighed and felt his legs may be able to support him. He returned the ink and quill to his pocket before toiling to his once again unsteady feet. Spencer stood next to him and offered him support. Harry declined and walked slowly through the maze of books and boxes of books to the doorway of the office.
"Harry, why don't you go get washed up in the bathroom, at the end of the hall, then I am forcing you on a break. Sit down, get some rest. You need it." Harry smiled forcefully and made his way to the bathroom. He staggered in and turned on the cold faucet. He looked up into the mirror and saw a pale face, thin and bony. The hair color was gone leaving greasy looking wild black hair, but the one truly scary trait was that the blood changed the colors of his eyes.
He looked closer to see his eyes were red. It was an uncanny resemblance. He spat at his reflection "Tom Riddle."
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Well, well, well, it seems the happy little summer as gone a bit awry, and trust me it'll get worse.(Snickers) It's not that I don't like Harry, but to become the best hero, he has to overcome the greatest odds, which includes taking a few too many steps down a rarely traveled path know as the Road of Voldemort. I hope you enjoyed. Thank you to all of my reviewers. I always thought that thanking your reviewers was lame and unnecessary, that was until I got my first review. Change my entire outlook. I'm glad for those who enjoyed my little story so far, and for those who don't there's plenty of other fan fiction out there for you somewhere.
Thanks to – Taracollowen – lella – Otaku freak – Stoneheart – renoldo9 – Bill Weasley – Caitlyn –
