Title: A Place to Call Home
Author: RuthErin
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, or any of the characters, places, names, etc. associated with the Harry Potter series.
Summary: The war is over. Harry leaves the Dursley's to spend one last summer at the Burrow, but things get off to a rocky start, as secrets are revealed and old grudges are brought to light. Time is running out for Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny: they must ultimately decide what to do now that school is finished, where they will spend their futures-and who they will spend them with.
Author's Notes: This is it. the first part of my first fan fiction. As always, reviews are more than welcome. This prologue, "Fulfilling the Prophesy" is exactly that. one simple take on how it could happen. Don't get too caught up in the prophesy. it's what happens later on that I hope will capture your attention.
A Place to Call Home, Prologue- Fulfilling the Prophesy
~*~
The war had begun. The gateway to Platform 9 ¾ had been irreparably damaged during the first string of attacks, and Hogwarts was closed down immediately. All of the students had been sent home and only Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny had remained. Dumbledore had gathered the four friends together in his office under the protection of the members of the Order of the Phoenix. It was then that Dumbledore revealed to them what was happening in the wizarding world beyond.
"It seems that Voldemort is on a rampage." Ron and Snape both flinched at the mention of the Dark Lord's name.
"He will remain quiet no longer. It seems that he has heard rumors that the old prophesy, which was destroyed during your fifth year here at Hogwarts, will soon be fulfilled."
Harry shivered violently and sat down. Dumbledore approached him and put a hand on his shoulder before continuing.
"He has assembled a group of over 300 followers, and almost all of the old- order Death Eaters have joined them. Under his direction, they have begun a campaign to purge the wizarding world of all but pureblood witches and wizards; their ultimate goal is to destroy the two people whose very existence threatens their master;"
He paused and Mrs. Weasley laid a reassuring hand on his trembling arm.
"Myself," Dumbledore continued, and this time Remus Lupin took hold of his other hand.
"And Harry Potter." Hermione gave a sob, and Ron put one hand around her shoulder. Ginny had gone pale as a sheet, and her father took up one of her small hands in his. Harry felt someone take his right hand, and then his left. When he looked up, every person in the room had joined hands, creating a circle-the ancient symbol of strength and eternity. Harry cleared his throat and the others looked at him.
"I know what needs to be done. But I can't do it alone. If Sirius." his voice broke, and he looked heavenward, imploring the tears not to come.
"I'm going to need your help. Dumbledore and I have been working all year;" Dumbledore nodded reassuringly, giving Harry the strength needed to continue.
"We have been working all year on crafting the spell that will be used-that I will use-to bring about the down-fall of Voldemort and his followers. It is called 'Vis vires orbis'-The power of the circle."
The war had been long and devastating. The attacks had begun in January of their sixth year and continued through May. The Death Eaters acted through stealth and surprise, and every attack was worse than the last.
Hogwarts was still considered one of the safer places in the wizarding world, and the Order of the Phoenix lived there and worked from Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore remained the secret-keeper, and as he and Harry never left the school grounds, there was no danger of any attacks on the group. Dumbledore and Harry, with assistance from Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and the others, worked day and night on the spell they were creating. It was difficult to craft, and even more difficult to test.
The essence of the spell was a close-knit group of wizards and witches united in power through the ancient authority of the sphere. In order to work properly, a group of 12 witches and wizards must volunteer a portion of their own power to the 13th member of the group. A complicated incantation would bind them eternally to one-another and to the 13th wizard. It had been simple to find 12 volunteers. Every member of the order, as well as Harry's own friends, had been only too willing to oblige: Professor Dumbledore, Remus Lupin, Tonks, Dedalus Diggle, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley as well as Charlie, Ron, and Ginny (much to Mrs. Weasley's consternation), Hermione, Professor Snape, and Mundungus. Harry, of course, was the 13th wizard, and the one who would carry the spell. There was only one thing left to do: find Voldemort before more innocent people were killed. And before Voldemort found Harry.
Weeks passed and Harry's birthday was quickly approaching, but this was the last thought on anyone's mind. Despite the constant vigilance of the Order, it was becoming increasingly difficult to trace the attacks to their source: Lord Voldemort. Hundreds had died in battle, thousands more had been devastated; the all-wizard village of Hogsmeade had been destroyed. Every day the lines of worry and age deepened in Dumbledore's face, and every day Harry felt that the war might never end.
Harry awoke, on his birthday, to the insistent burning of the scar that marked his forehead. Something was going to happen, and Harry could feel that Voldemort knew it. The throbbing of his scar had once rendered him almost incapable of thought or action-but today, each throbbing of his scar seemed to strengthen Harry and lend him diligence he had never known. Harry could feel that Voldemort was near, and he knew that now was the time to face him. It would not be long until the prophecy that bore both his name and the Dark Lord's would be fulfilled.
After breakfast word came from Bill: he and his small team of spies had managed to track the death eaters to their next victims, but for some reason they had not attacked yet. Bill was certain that Voldemort was hoping to attract Harry to the place and then spring an attack on him instead.
"Why would he think that?" asked Ron looking confused. "Why these people? Why now?"
But Harry knew. He caught Dumbledore's eye, silently begging him to change the inevitable. But, like the rest, Dumbledore simply waited. Finally, Harry spoke.
"He knows that I will go, because the home his death eaters are about to attack." he paused and turned away, willing it to change, but at the same time knowing that the time had come; there was no way around this.
"It's Hermione. It's her home they're surrounding." He rushed on as the horror of his words registered in their faces.
"But it is time. I think-I think it has something to do with my birthday. I feel stronger every minute, and I know-I feel-that the spell is complete. It will work. And Voldemort will be there when we arrive."
And so the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter left their safety and their friends and went to fight the Dark Lord.
Author: RuthErin
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, or any of the characters, places, names, etc. associated with the Harry Potter series.
Summary: The war is over. Harry leaves the Dursley's to spend one last summer at the Burrow, but things get off to a rocky start, as secrets are revealed and old grudges are brought to light. Time is running out for Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny: they must ultimately decide what to do now that school is finished, where they will spend their futures-and who they will spend them with.
Author's Notes: This is it. the first part of my first fan fiction. As always, reviews are more than welcome. This prologue, "Fulfilling the Prophesy" is exactly that. one simple take on how it could happen. Don't get too caught up in the prophesy. it's what happens later on that I hope will capture your attention.
A Place to Call Home, Prologue- Fulfilling the Prophesy
~*~
The war had begun. The gateway to Platform 9 ¾ had been irreparably damaged during the first string of attacks, and Hogwarts was closed down immediately. All of the students had been sent home and only Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny had remained. Dumbledore had gathered the four friends together in his office under the protection of the members of the Order of the Phoenix. It was then that Dumbledore revealed to them what was happening in the wizarding world beyond.
"It seems that Voldemort is on a rampage." Ron and Snape both flinched at the mention of the Dark Lord's name.
"He will remain quiet no longer. It seems that he has heard rumors that the old prophesy, which was destroyed during your fifth year here at Hogwarts, will soon be fulfilled."
Harry shivered violently and sat down. Dumbledore approached him and put a hand on his shoulder before continuing.
"He has assembled a group of over 300 followers, and almost all of the old- order Death Eaters have joined them. Under his direction, they have begun a campaign to purge the wizarding world of all but pureblood witches and wizards; their ultimate goal is to destroy the two people whose very existence threatens their master;"
He paused and Mrs. Weasley laid a reassuring hand on his trembling arm.
"Myself," Dumbledore continued, and this time Remus Lupin took hold of his other hand.
"And Harry Potter." Hermione gave a sob, and Ron put one hand around her shoulder. Ginny had gone pale as a sheet, and her father took up one of her small hands in his. Harry felt someone take his right hand, and then his left. When he looked up, every person in the room had joined hands, creating a circle-the ancient symbol of strength and eternity. Harry cleared his throat and the others looked at him.
"I know what needs to be done. But I can't do it alone. If Sirius." his voice broke, and he looked heavenward, imploring the tears not to come.
"I'm going to need your help. Dumbledore and I have been working all year;" Dumbledore nodded reassuringly, giving Harry the strength needed to continue.
"We have been working all year on crafting the spell that will be used-that I will use-to bring about the down-fall of Voldemort and his followers. It is called 'Vis vires orbis'-The power of the circle."
The war had been long and devastating. The attacks had begun in January of their sixth year and continued through May. The Death Eaters acted through stealth and surprise, and every attack was worse than the last.
Hogwarts was still considered one of the safer places in the wizarding world, and the Order of the Phoenix lived there and worked from Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore remained the secret-keeper, and as he and Harry never left the school grounds, there was no danger of any attacks on the group. Dumbledore and Harry, with assistance from Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and the others, worked day and night on the spell they were creating. It was difficult to craft, and even more difficult to test.
The essence of the spell was a close-knit group of wizards and witches united in power through the ancient authority of the sphere. In order to work properly, a group of 12 witches and wizards must volunteer a portion of their own power to the 13th member of the group. A complicated incantation would bind them eternally to one-another and to the 13th wizard. It had been simple to find 12 volunteers. Every member of the order, as well as Harry's own friends, had been only too willing to oblige: Professor Dumbledore, Remus Lupin, Tonks, Dedalus Diggle, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley as well as Charlie, Ron, and Ginny (much to Mrs. Weasley's consternation), Hermione, Professor Snape, and Mundungus. Harry, of course, was the 13th wizard, and the one who would carry the spell. There was only one thing left to do: find Voldemort before more innocent people were killed. And before Voldemort found Harry.
Weeks passed and Harry's birthday was quickly approaching, but this was the last thought on anyone's mind. Despite the constant vigilance of the Order, it was becoming increasingly difficult to trace the attacks to their source: Lord Voldemort. Hundreds had died in battle, thousands more had been devastated; the all-wizard village of Hogsmeade had been destroyed. Every day the lines of worry and age deepened in Dumbledore's face, and every day Harry felt that the war might never end.
Harry awoke, on his birthday, to the insistent burning of the scar that marked his forehead. Something was going to happen, and Harry could feel that Voldemort knew it. The throbbing of his scar had once rendered him almost incapable of thought or action-but today, each throbbing of his scar seemed to strengthen Harry and lend him diligence he had never known. Harry could feel that Voldemort was near, and he knew that now was the time to face him. It would not be long until the prophecy that bore both his name and the Dark Lord's would be fulfilled.
After breakfast word came from Bill: he and his small team of spies had managed to track the death eaters to their next victims, but for some reason they had not attacked yet. Bill was certain that Voldemort was hoping to attract Harry to the place and then spring an attack on him instead.
"Why would he think that?" asked Ron looking confused. "Why these people? Why now?"
But Harry knew. He caught Dumbledore's eye, silently begging him to change the inevitable. But, like the rest, Dumbledore simply waited. Finally, Harry spoke.
"He knows that I will go, because the home his death eaters are about to attack." he paused and turned away, willing it to change, but at the same time knowing that the time had come; there was no way around this.
"It's Hermione. It's her home they're surrounding." He rushed on as the horror of his words registered in their faces.
"But it is time. I think-I think it has something to do with my birthday. I feel stronger every minute, and I know-I feel-that the spell is complete. It will work. And Voldemort will be there when we arrive."
And so the Order of the Phoenix and Harry Potter left their safety and their friends and went to fight the Dark Lord.