Chapter Two - A Way Out
Harry lay in bed that night, thinking. If there was a way to leave, he was going to think of it. Preferably sooner rather than later.
Ron and Hermione would surely help him, but he really didn't feel like paying Mrs. Figg another visit. He would just have to resort to magic.
It was mad. It was totally mad. But that was alright. He had done more than his share of mad things in his life. And as Dumbledore had said, as long as he called Privet Drive home, he would be safe.
It's home. I'm home now. He knew that home would never be here, but where people accepted him for what he was. And if he was a freak by the Dursleys' standards, well, he just hoped that they'd never meet Luna Lovegood.
Magic. bewitching his trunk. he wouldn't get expelled, no, they wouldn't dare expel him. He should've been expelled last year. Then he could've prevented that foul, cheating, stinking, evil, CENSORED CENSORED (AN: what the heck, I've got to keep this PG, haven't I?) from killing Sirius.
Stop thinking about it. Just stop. It's over.
No, even if he broke the law, that wouldn't stop Dumbledore from letting him attend Hogwarts. Now that all those Educational Degrees had been discontinued, the Ministry had no control over him anymore. Though they had, just a few short weeks ago, admitted that Voldemort had returned, they remained firmly on their seats. No, they could disapprove, but as long as Albus Dumbledore was alive, Harry knew he would not be expelled.
A loud screeching noise interrupted Harry's thoughts. Turning towards his bedroom window, he saw a large tawny owl carrying a letter bearing the Hogwarts school crest tapping the window impatiently with its beak. Harry's own snowy owl, Hedwig, ruffled her wings in her cage beside him. Ignoring Uncle Vernon's equally loud cry of "Ruddy owls!" from downstairs, Harry hurriedly opened the window and untied the parcel from the owl's leg. He then opened Hedwig's cage, and the owl ate a bit of her food before flying off into the night.
His fingers shaking, Harry turned over the envelope. This envelope contained his O.W.L. scores. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and opened it.
Four pieces of creamy parchment fell out and dropped to his bed. The first one read:
Dear Mr. Potter,
This is to inform you that the new term begins on September first. The Hogwarts Express leaves at eleven o'clock from Platform 9 ¾ at Kings Cross Station. Enclosed is a list of required supplies for next year, as well as your O.W.L. scores.
Sincerely,
Professor Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Harry took a brief glance at his list of new books, and then picked up a third piece of parchment. The bold heading read "O.W.L. SCORES - HARRY POTTER". Due to the fact that he had not really thought about a career as anything except an Auror, a Dark Wizard catcher, Harry knew that he needed top O.W.L. scores to even be accepted to train as one. He scanned the parchment.
O.W.L. SCORES - HARRY POTTER
Theory of Charms - E
Practical Charms - E
Theory of Transfiguration - A
Practical Transfiguration - E
Theory of Defense Against the Dark Arts - O
Practical Defense Against the Dark Arts - O
Theory of Potions - A
Practical Potions - E
Care of Magical Creatures - O
Theory of Astronomy - A
Divination - P
Practical Astronomy - A
Herbology - E
History of Magic - P
Key: O = Outstanding; E = Exceeds Expectations; A= Acceptable; P= Poor; D =
Dreadful
That wasn't too horrible. Though, when he had had to meet with Professor McGonagall to discuss his career, she had said that to begin training as an Auror, he needed N.E.W.T.s in Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, and, of course, Defense Against the Dark Arts. Only those who received an E or higher in Transfiguration would be accepted into Professor McGonagall's N.E.W.T. classes. And he had gotten and E in practical Transfiguration, hadn't he? And he had gotten and E on both Charms exams. And double Outstanding marks in Defense Against the Dark Arts. But then Potions. Snape wouldn't take anything less than Outstanding, and he was hanging in between Acceptable and Exceeds Expectations. On the other hand, Harry remembered Professor McGonagall saying something. "Potter, I will assist you to become an Auror if it's the last thing I do! If I have to coach you nightly I will make sure you achieve the required results!" Harry leaned back against the wall and smiled. Even if she had only said that to contradict Umbridge, Harry was sure that Professor McGonagall would not go back on her word. And despite the fact that he wanted to drop Potions, being an Auror was the only thing he had ever thought about doing. he thought he'd be good at it, and had even been told so, even if that was by a mad Death Eater impersonating Mad-Eye Moody. That very same imposter had told Hermione, too, that she would make a good Auror. Ron was furious that he hadn't told him the same thing, but after they found out that he wasn't the real Mad-Eye Moody, he was much happier ("Knew there was something funny about him; didn't think I'd make a good Auror.").
As Harry was about to take of his glasses and go to sleep, he noticed a fourth piece of parchment that had come in the envelope. He overturned it and read:
Four Points.
What was that supposed to mean? Four points.. He knew that the wizarding world was on guard, and everyone was afraid to include too much information in their letters, in case they got intercepted, but this was ridiculous. Unable to, at the moment, fathom the mysteries of the letter, Harry slumped back on his pillow and fell asleep.
***
He had very strange dreams. First he was spinning horribly, down, down, and unable to stop. It felt like he was travelling by Floo Powder. Then with a soft thump, he landed on a cloud and fell through it, drenched to the skin, and landed on his broomstick. Next thing, Malfoy too was flying through the air on a broomstick. He was taunting him. "Come and get it, Potter, come on, what are you, scared? Come and get it, Potter you know you want it! Come and get it!" He charged at Malfoy, then fell off his broom and landed on a maroon and tawny Hippogriff, which was wearing the Sorting Hat. and then he was spinning again, but he had to get to Malfoy, Malfoy had something he needed, something his life depended on. which way was Malfoy? He was heading East, Harry could see him. and then he was spinning again..
Harry woke with a start and grabbed his glasses off his bedside table, put them on and grabbed the fourth piece of parchment.
Four Points.
He knew what it meant now, or at least, he thought he did. The Four Point spell he had used in his fourth year, during the third task in the Triwizard Tournament.
He rolled of his bed, opened his trunk, and began searching for his wand. He couldn't find it, and, for a fleeting instant, he though he'd lost it. Then he realized it was in his back pocket. He pulled it out, tapped the parchment, and said, "Point Me."
The parchment began to spin very fast. It got hotter, very, very hot, until a blinding white light blazed from it, and it lay still once more.
There was a window in the parchment. A window. And there were people inside, and a jumble of voices. Harry hesitantly poked his finger inside the window. At once, his bedroom began to spin. He was being sucked into the window in the parchment. And all at once he landed. He had had an experience like that only three times before. Twice, it was being sucked into a Pensieve, and once, it was being sucked into an enchanted diary. But for some reason, he was sure that this was not someone's memory.
AN: Cliffhanger!! Where is he? Any guesses? It's really quite obvious. Do you like it? Please review!!! :D -Juli
Harry lay in bed that night, thinking. If there was a way to leave, he was going to think of it. Preferably sooner rather than later.
Ron and Hermione would surely help him, but he really didn't feel like paying Mrs. Figg another visit. He would just have to resort to magic.
It was mad. It was totally mad. But that was alright. He had done more than his share of mad things in his life. And as Dumbledore had said, as long as he called Privet Drive home, he would be safe.
It's home. I'm home now. He knew that home would never be here, but where people accepted him for what he was. And if he was a freak by the Dursleys' standards, well, he just hoped that they'd never meet Luna Lovegood.
Magic. bewitching his trunk. he wouldn't get expelled, no, they wouldn't dare expel him. He should've been expelled last year. Then he could've prevented that foul, cheating, stinking, evil, CENSORED CENSORED (AN: what the heck, I've got to keep this PG, haven't I?) from killing Sirius.
Stop thinking about it. Just stop. It's over.
No, even if he broke the law, that wouldn't stop Dumbledore from letting him attend Hogwarts. Now that all those Educational Degrees had been discontinued, the Ministry had no control over him anymore. Though they had, just a few short weeks ago, admitted that Voldemort had returned, they remained firmly on their seats. No, they could disapprove, but as long as Albus Dumbledore was alive, Harry knew he would not be expelled.
A loud screeching noise interrupted Harry's thoughts. Turning towards his bedroom window, he saw a large tawny owl carrying a letter bearing the Hogwarts school crest tapping the window impatiently with its beak. Harry's own snowy owl, Hedwig, ruffled her wings in her cage beside him. Ignoring Uncle Vernon's equally loud cry of "Ruddy owls!" from downstairs, Harry hurriedly opened the window and untied the parcel from the owl's leg. He then opened Hedwig's cage, and the owl ate a bit of her food before flying off into the night.
His fingers shaking, Harry turned over the envelope. This envelope contained his O.W.L. scores. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and opened it.
Four pieces of creamy parchment fell out and dropped to his bed. The first one read:
Dear Mr. Potter,
This is to inform you that the new term begins on September first. The Hogwarts Express leaves at eleven o'clock from Platform 9 ¾ at Kings Cross Station. Enclosed is a list of required supplies for next year, as well as your O.W.L. scores.
Sincerely,
Professor Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Harry took a brief glance at his list of new books, and then picked up a third piece of parchment. The bold heading read "O.W.L. SCORES - HARRY POTTER". Due to the fact that he had not really thought about a career as anything except an Auror, a Dark Wizard catcher, Harry knew that he needed top O.W.L. scores to even be accepted to train as one. He scanned the parchment.
O.W.L. SCORES - HARRY POTTER
Theory of Charms - E
Practical Charms - E
Theory of Transfiguration - A
Practical Transfiguration - E
Theory of Defense Against the Dark Arts - O
Practical Defense Against the Dark Arts - O
Theory of Potions - A
Practical Potions - E
Care of Magical Creatures - O
Theory of Astronomy - A
Divination - P
Practical Astronomy - A
Herbology - E
History of Magic - P
Key: O = Outstanding; E = Exceeds Expectations; A= Acceptable; P= Poor; D =
Dreadful
That wasn't too horrible. Though, when he had had to meet with Professor McGonagall to discuss his career, she had said that to begin training as an Auror, he needed N.E.W.T.s in Transfiguration, Charms, Potions, and, of course, Defense Against the Dark Arts. Only those who received an E or higher in Transfiguration would be accepted into Professor McGonagall's N.E.W.T. classes. And he had gotten and E in practical Transfiguration, hadn't he? And he had gotten and E on both Charms exams. And double Outstanding marks in Defense Against the Dark Arts. But then Potions. Snape wouldn't take anything less than Outstanding, and he was hanging in between Acceptable and Exceeds Expectations. On the other hand, Harry remembered Professor McGonagall saying something. "Potter, I will assist you to become an Auror if it's the last thing I do! If I have to coach you nightly I will make sure you achieve the required results!" Harry leaned back against the wall and smiled. Even if she had only said that to contradict Umbridge, Harry was sure that Professor McGonagall would not go back on her word. And despite the fact that he wanted to drop Potions, being an Auror was the only thing he had ever thought about doing. he thought he'd be good at it, and had even been told so, even if that was by a mad Death Eater impersonating Mad-Eye Moody. That very same imposter had told Hermione, too, that she would make a good Auror. Ron was furious that he hadn't told him the same thing, but after they found out that he wasn't the real Mad-Eye Moody, he was much happier ("Knew there was something funny about him; didn't think I'd make a good Auror.").
As Harry was about to take of his glasses and go to sleep, he noticed a fourth piece of parchment that had come in the envelope. He overturned it and read:
Four Points.
What was that supposed to mean? Four points.. He knew that the wizarding world was on guard, and everyone was afraid to include too much information in their letters, in case they got intercepted, but this was ridiculous. Unable to, at the moment, fathom the mysteries of the letter, Harry slumped back on his pillow and fell asleep.
***
He had very strange dreams. First he was spinning horribly, down, down, and unable to stop. It felt like he was travelling by Floo Powder. Then with a soft thump, he landed on a cloud and fell through it, drenched to the skin, and landed on his broomstick. Next thing, Malfoy too was flying through the air on a broomstick. He was taunting him. "Come and get it, Potter, come on, what are you, scared? Come and get it, Potter you know you want it! Come and get it!" He charged at Malfoy, then fell off his broom and landed on a maroon and tawny Hippogriff, which was wearing the Sorting Hat. and then he was spinning again, but he had to get to Malfoy, Malfoy had something he needed, something his life depended on. which way was Malfoy? He was heading East, Harry could see him. and then he was spinning again..
Harry woke with a start and grabbed his glasses off his bedside table, put them on and grabbed the fourth piece of parchment.
Four Points.
He knew what it meant now, or at least, he thought he did. The Four Point spell he had used in his fourth year, during the third task in the Triwizard Tournament.
He rolled of his bed, opened his trunk, and began searching for his wand. He couldn't find it, and, for a fleeting instant, he though he'd lost it. Then he realized it was in his back pocket. He pulled it out, tapped the parchment, and said, "Point Me."
The parchment began to spin very fast. It got hotter, very, very hot, until a blinding white light blazed from it, and it lay still once more.
There was a window in the parchment. A window. And there were people inside, and a jumble of voices. Harry hesitantly poked his finger inside the window. At once, his bedroom began to spin. He was being sucked into the window in the parchment. And all at once he landed. He had had an experience like that only three times before. Twice, it was being sucked into a Pensieve, and once, it was being sucked into an enchanted diary. But for some reason, he was sure that this was not someone's memory.
AN: Cliffhanger!! Where is he? Any guesses? It's really quite obvious. Do you like it? Please review!!! :D -Juli