CHAPTER ONE
It was a hot afternoon in Privet Drive and everyone was inside trying to stay cool. One person was still outside - number 4 - a boy. His name was Harry Potter. He was supposed to be watering the plants and grass so that they didn't dry out. It was part of his punishment for mentioning the "Magic" word and for the noise that Pig had made when delivering mail from Ron and Ginny that morning. His Aunt Petunia had entered the "Best Garden In Surrey" competition and was determined that she deserved to win never mind that there was a water shortage and a hose pipe ban.
However Harry had gotten bored of watering the garden and he was also far too warm to continue. He had laid down on the ground in an attempt to cool down. His mind drifted to the events of a few weeks ago. Sirius, the veil, the prophesy, the fact he was to become either a murderer or the victim. As those thoughts came back to him his head started spinning with the different emotions that they provoked.
He was so preoccupied he didn't hear Dudley speak to him until he became aware of a shadow almost over his face. He opened his eyes and found Dudley smirking at him. He willed him to go away, unfortunately he didn't. He pretended to ignore Dudley hoping that if he did so he would get bored. It didn't work.
" You think you are such a "big man" don't u "Potter" but your not that brave at nights without your precious thingummy stick".
" Hmmm Duddykins I'm experiencing de-ja-vu here. I think we covered this last summer - just before the Dementors almost kissed you".
Harry rolled his eyes at his cousin and thought "why me?"
"Sirius come back Sirius, you cant be dead come back……………"
Quick as lightening Harry got up and punched Dudley on the nose and with the force his cousin went flying back into his aunt's favorite Hydrangea bush. His aunt and uncle rushed to their "Duddykins" side and it became apparent that they had seen at least some of what had happened. His aunt took Dudley inside to clean up his nose.
Uncle Vernon who looked fit to burst caught his wrists. He started screaming at Harry.
" You insolent, ungrateful……selfish, unco-operative…….troublemaking excuse for a human being….. How you dare to repay us in this manner for…for feeding you, clothing you…..pputting up with your "ab…nor…..mal….i…ty"…….. I should have drowned you the day you were left on our doorstep instead of letting Petunia talk me into keeping you. At least then we wouldn't have had to put up with all your "wei..rd..ne..ss" and cheek………"
Throughout this outburst Harry had focused on the now very disheveled Hydrangea bush. He was trying unsuccessfully to tune out his uncles screaming and to ignore the strange hot, prickly, staticy feeling that was running up and down all over his skin.
"Well I don't have to be concerned about the famous FREAKY godfather now do I??" Uncle Vernon laughed maniacally " He's gone now, won't come running to your rescue now will he… good riddance to bad rubbish…. One less freak in the world…."
Harry felt a bubble of anger surge from his belly to his fingertips but closed his eyes and swallowed it. However the hot prickly staticy feeling lifted off him and he didn't feel it anymore but felt exhausted.
He heard his aunt's shrieks as she ran outside. He opened his eyes and saw that the Hydrangea bush was now on fire. He took advantage of his uncles loosened grip and away from the known punishment he knew was going to happen once their shock had worn off and ran to Mrs. Figg's house the only place he could think of going. As he ran he frantically went over the events in his mind but couldn't understand how the bush had caught fire.
As soon as he reached the door to Mrs. Figg's house it burst open. Out rushed Remus Lupin and Mrs. Figg. Neither looked surprised to see him. Harry stopped dead in his tracks. "Professor Lupin? What are you doing here?" Lupin just smiled and invited Harry inside. "We were informed that you would be here shortly. I was here anyway. Voldemort has been planning your murder and the Order had decided to hire you a bodyguard." Out of the shadows of the house stepped a young woman with long, dark red curls and silver green eyes. Lupin gestured toward the woman. "This is Rose Querida."
It was a hot afternoon in Privet Drive and everyone was inside trying to stay cool. One person was still outside - number 4 - a boy. His name was Harry Potter. He was supposed to be watering the plants and grass so that they didn't dry out. It was part of his punishment for mentioning the "Magic" word and for the noise that Pig had made when delivering mail from Ron and Ginny that morning. His Aunt Petunia had entered the "Best Garden In Surrey" competition and was determined that she deserved to win never mind that there was a water shortage and a hose pipe ban.
However Harry had gotten bored of watering the garden and he was also far too warm to continue. He had laid down on the ground in an attempt to cool down. His mind drifted to the events of a few weeks ago. Sirius, the veil, the prophesy, the fact he was to become either a murderer or the victim. As those thoughts came back to him his head started spinning with the different emotions that they provoked.
He was so preoccupied he didn't hear Dudley speak to him until he became aware of a shadow almost over his face. He opened his eyes and found Dudley smirking at him. He willed him to go away, unfortunately he didn't. He pretended to ignore Dudley hoping that if he did so he would get bored. It didn't work.
" You think you are such a "big man" don't u "Potter" but your not that brave at nights without your precious thingummy stick".
" Hmmm Duddykins I'm experiencing de-ja-vu here. I think we covered this last summer - just before the Dementors almost kissed you".
Harry rolled his eyes at his cousin and thought "why me?"
"Sirius come back Sirius, you cant be dead come back……………"
Quick as lightening Harry got up and punched Dudley on the nose and with the force his cousin went flying back into his aunt's favorite Hydrangea bush. His aunt and uncle rushed to their "Duddykins" side and it became apparent that they had seen at least some of what had happened. His aunt took Dudley inside to clean up his nose.
Uncle Vernon who looked fit to burst caught his wrists. He started screaming at Harry.
" You insolent, ungrateful……selfish, unco-operative…….troublemaking excuse for a human being….. How you dare to repay us in this manner for…for feeding you, clothing you…..pputting up with your "ab…nor…..mal….i…ty"…….. I should have drowned you the day you were left on our doorstep instead of letting Petunia talk me into keeping you. At least then we wouldn't have had to put up with all your "wei..rd..ne..ss" and cheek………"
Throughout this outburst Harry had focused on the now very disheveled Hydrangea bush. He was trying unsuccessfully to tune out his uncles screaming and to ignore the strange hot, prickly, staticy feeling that was running up and down all over his skin.
"Well I don't have to be concerned about the famous FREAKY godfather now do I??" Uncle Vernon laughed maniacally " He's gone now, won't come running to your rescue now will he… good riddance to bad rubbish…. One less freak in the world…."
Harry felt a bubble of anger surge from his belly to his fingertips but closed his eyes and swallowed it. However the hot prickly staticy feeling lifted off him and he didn't feel it anymore but felt exhausted.
He heard his aunt's shrieks as she ran outside. He opened his eyes and saw that the Hydrangea bush was now on fire. He took advantage of his uncles loosened grip and away from the known punishment he knew was going to happen once their shock had worn off and ran to Mrs. Figg's house the only place he could think of going. As he ran he frantically went over the events in his mind but couldn't understand how the bush had caught fire.
As soon as he reached the door to Mrs. Figg's house it burst open. Out rushed Remus Lupin and Mrs. Figg. Neither looked surprised to see him. Harry stopped dead in his tracks. "Professor Lupin? What are you doing here?" Lupin just smiled and invited Harry inside. "We were informed that you would be here shortly. I was here anyway. Voldemort has been planning your murder and the Order had decided to hire you a bodyguard." Out of the shadows of the house stepped a young woman with long, dark red curls and silver green eyes. Lupin gestured toward the woman. "This is Rose Querida."