The Second War
Chapter 1
I cast a frustrated glance around Diagon Alley. Ron and Hermione were nowhere to be seen. Ron had written that he would be here on Wednesday, just before we got on the train to Hogwarts. I decided I should start for the shops, and get my books, since they were taking so long. I started towards Flourish and Blotts for my books when a yell came from somewhere behind me, near the broom shop. I whirled around to find a breathless Ron goggling at me from the other side of the alley.
"Sorry, Harry! Mum and Fred and George had a row, and it took them forever to quiet down. We've only just gotten here by Floo Powder." I laughed. Fred and George were always in trouble. It was no big surprise.
"Where's Hermione? She's taking even longer than you." As if on cue, another yell came from the huge doors of Gringotts, and Hermione came dashing up, very red in the face.
"I'm so sorry Harry, my parents haven't a clue how to use wizard money, so I had to run them through it again." She was breathless and ruffled, but once again my jealousy of her love for Ron twinged inside of me. I mentally slapped myself. What was wrong with me? Every so often I would get these strange feelings, but I wouldn't understand them. I never have really liked Hermione, and neither has Ron, as far as I know.
But now I turned to her just as I always had, as turning to a friend. "So what have I missed in news from Grimmauld Place?" I asked eagerly. Since this entire war was resting on my shoulders, it should only be fair that I get news.
Just kidding. "Dumbledore made us swear to not tell you until we get onto the train. He's really paranoid now, doesn't want anyone talking about anything anywhere, if you get my meaning."
I sighed. "Yeah. But he has good reason. I mean, Voldemort – get OVER it, Ron – he's been found out, so he won't hide anymore, right?"
Hermione shook her head. "No. We all expected him to show himself and rise up just as before, but he's cooking another plan. We heard of only one incident that could've been his doing. We'll tell you on the train."
"But do they know where he is? Do they know what happened?" I couldn't stop interrogating them about the recent events. I had been locked up at the damned Dursely's for a month and desperately wanted news.
"On the train, Harry! Let's get our books now, and anything else we need –"
"Hang on! I've got to get the ointment for Hedwig's wing. Stay here, it won't be long. But blimey, it's good to see you two again." I whirled around and jogged toward the Owlery.
"Hurry, then!" I shouted to his retreating back. Then with a sigh I sat down at the nearest table, and Hermione sat down across from me. "I can't wait until we get on the train, Hermione. I've got to tell him what they found."
"No! You heard Dumbledore, Voldemort has ears and eyes everywhere. I admit he needs to know, but we'll have to wait until were on the train at King's Cross. We can't tell him now!"
"But Hermione, he needs to know about Sirius!" I said angrily.
"Quiet, Ron!" she cast a fearful glance around. "Anyone could be listening. Just wait!" she breathed a sigh of relief in noticing that no one heard.
I sat quietly, waiting for Harry. My eyes strayed to the window of the Owlery, where Harry was having some kind of argument with the lady behind the counter. He turned away, throwing his hands in the air, then shouted one last word and pulled a large amount of more money out of his bag. The lady retreated into a back room.
I turned to Hermione to ask her what that was about, but stopped when I saw her gazing at me strange. Her eyes were kind of glossy, and as soon as I looked at her, she hastily dropped her gaze.
I always had a suspicion that Hermione liked me, and now it was confirmed. I was almost positive now. But I didn't care for her much…we argued too much. Sometimes I wished I could just find the right girl for me, but I've never found anyone…
Harry ran up, looking exceedingly angry carrying his now light moneybag and a tube of ointment. "Bloody woman behind the counter wouldn't believe I was me. She kept asking for ID, but I don't have any, so I had to pay full price. I even showed her the damn scar, and she didn't care." He drew up a chair and sat down, only to get up again. "C'mon. Let's get our books." He walked angrily into Flourish and Blotts, knocking books off shelves as he stormed past.
"You all right, mate?" I said to him as I put History of Hexes back on its shelf. "You seem a bit uptight." He threw me an angry look, as if daring me to push my luck. I didn't.
Hermione walked in and swept him aside, talking to him in a hushed voice. He sighed and stood again, seemingly calm. Hermione, having already bought her books, walked out to wait, looking pleased with herself. As she walked past me, she tenderly touched my arm. My worst fears were confirmed. Ever since Krum had died during a game that summer, she had taken a liking to me. It was getting very odd.
I closed my eyes, trying hard not to start yelling and destroying everything in reach. Ron was looking at me concernedly, as if afraid for my health. Sometimes I was too…ever since the end of term last year, when Dumbledore had recounted the prophecy. One cannot live while the other survives…every night that summer, I had had nightmares about that horrible incident last year…Death Eaters everywhere… Cedric dying…
But for the moment, those thoughts were driven from my head. That entire summer, my temper had been getting shorter. I would grow angry from even the slightest thing; I had almost killed Dudley when he asked me to make more bacon, even though he asked politely.
At least it wasn't as bad as it could have been. That entire summer, under the threat of Moody, they had treated me like an equal for once. Instead of being a slave, a rug, a punching bag, and a hindrance to my "family", I had been more of a cousin and nephew for once.
I now stood, my anger gone from the thoughts of my first good summer. I pulled Standard Book of Spells, Volume 6, Jinx and Hexes for all, and Intermediate Potions off their shelves and purchased them. Ron and Hermione, who were both taking the same O.W.L.S as me, bought the same books and followed me out of the shop.
We all walked wordlessly to the Leaky Cauldron, and separated at the bottom of the stairs and each went to our own rooms. The moment I was inside, I flung my books into my already packed trunk and closed it, then collapsed onto the bed. I was dead tired, but I couldn't seem to sleep. Just as had happened every night that summer, I found myself thinking about someone I never would have thought I would have liked…
The next few days went by way too quickly. Ron was pretty much ignoring me, but I wasn't very surprised. He never really did like me. As for Harry, he spent most of his time either sitting at the bar with a butterbeer staring off into space or in his room doing the same.
One day, I walked into his room to ask if he wanted to come play Quidditch with Ron, Ginny, the twins and I, and I found him just lying in his bed, staring straight up. "Harry?" I said quietly. "It's Hermione…are you ok?" He didn't answer. He just continued to stare straight up.
I approached him and nudged his arm. Immediately, his hand shot out and grabbed my arm. Within seconds, he had his wand between my eyes and was muttering "Stupefy!" Seconds before he finished, he saw who I was and quickly caught himself.
After awhile I spoke. "Harry, are you alright? You seem really different lately."
He smiled. "What gave it away, the destruction of Flourish and Blotts or my almost Stunning you?" Before I could speak, he was on his feet, leaning against the bed, and interrupted me. "And what about you? It hasn't been very hard to see where your heart lies."
I felt heat rising to my face, and knew I was blushing. "Really? I thought I hid it pretty well."
He laughed. "I saw you for about three minutes staring at Ron. Oh, and your little "accidental" touch in Flourish and Blotts was pretty easy to catch too." I blushed some more, and he laughed again. "It's fine, I'm not going to hold it against you or anything. But here's my advice: not Ron. He doesn't like you, and I know that for a fact. He's still looking for someone who just fits. Sorry, Hermione."
I was at a loss for words once again. So Ron didn't like me…what would I do? Harry interrupted my thoughts once again. "So what'd you come up here for anyway?"
"Oh yeah!" my thoughts sprang back to Quidditch. "Ron, Ginny, Fred, and George are all playing Quidditch. D'you –"
My words were cut off by a laugh at seeing he already had his Firebolt over his shoulder and a smile on his face. "You bet your ass I do." He threw open the window and leaped out, throwing his broom under him and speeding off toward the field behind Diagon Alley. I carefully mounted my broom and flew after him.
An hour later, Harry, Hermione and I came inside, all tired and windswept. Harry still clutched the Snitch in his hand. Realizing this, he repaired its wing with his wand and tossed into the chest with all the other balls. Since the next day we were going to King's Cross, I decided to get an early start to bed.
I walked into my room, packed the rest of my stuff, and sat down on my bed. Once again, I found myself visualizing the perfect girl for me. I fell asleep with that in my mind; and I dreamt about her all night. She was always shadowed in my thoughts and dreams, so that I couldn't see her…the only thing that I had ever seen for sure was her green eyes, and her long black hair…
Suddenly, the dream changed. Voldemort stood before me, wand raised. My own wand was in my hand. As he shot a curse at me, I leaped aside. The shadowed girl appeared next to me. I tried to speak, but couldn't. My eyes were locked on Voldemort, and my mouth was locked shut. As he shot another curse at me, I reflected it with a Shield Charm. Harry and another shadowed figure joined us. We four put our wands together. They began to glow…and a curse came from that glow. It circled around Voldemort as he screamed, swallowing him completely in light…until nothing remained.
Chapter 1
I cast a frustrated glance around Diagon Alley. Ron and Hermione were nowhere to be seen. Ron had written that he would be here on Wednesday, just before we got on the train to Hogwarts. I decided I should start for the shops, and get my books, since they were taking so long. I started towards Flourish and Blotts for my books when a yell came from somewhere behind me, near the broom shop. I whirled around to find a breathless Ron goggling at me from the other side of the alley.
"Sorry, Harry! Mum and Fred and George had a row, and it took them forever to quiet down. We've only just gotten here by Floo Powder." I laughed. Fred and George were always in trouble. It was no big surprise.
"Where's Hermione? She's taking even longer than you." As if on cue, another yell came from the huge doors of Gringotts, and Hermione came dashing up, very red in the face.
"I'm so sorry Harry, my parents haven't a clue how to use wizard money, so I had to run them through it again." She was breathless and ruffled, but once again my jealousy of her love for Ron twinged inside of me. I mentally slapped myself. What was wrong with me? Every so often I would get these strange feelings, but I wouldn't understand them. I never have really liked Hermione, and neither has Ron, as far as I know.
But now I turned to her just as I always had, as turning to a friend. "So what have I missed in news from Grimmauld Place?" I asked eagerly. Since this entire war was resting on my shoulders, it should only be fair that I get news.
Just kidding. "Dumbledore made us swear to not tell you until we get onto the train. He's really paranoid now, doesn't want anyone talking about anything anywhere, if you get my meaning."
I sighed. "Yeah. But he has good reason. I mean, Voldemort – get OVER it, Ron – he's been found out, so he won't hide anymore, right?"
Hermione shook her head. "No. We all expected him to show himself and rise up just as before, but he's cooking another plan. We heard of only one incident that could've been his doing. We'll tell you on the train."
"But do they know where he is? Do they know what happened?" I couldn't stop interrogating them about the recent events. I had been locked up at the damned Dursely's for a month and desperately wanted news.
"On the train, Harry! Let's get our books now, and anything else we need –"
"Hang on! I've got to get the ointment for Hedwig's wing. Stay here, it won't be long. But blimey, it's good to see you two again." I whirled around and jogged toward the Owlery.
"Hurry, then!" I shouted to his retreating back. Then with a sigh I sat down at the nearest table, and Hermione sat down across from me. "I can't wait until we get on the train, Hermione. I've got to tell him what they found."
"No! You heard Dumbledore, Voldemort has ears and eyes everywhere. I admit he needs to know, but we'll have to wait until were on the train at King's Cross. We can't tell him now!"
"But Hermione, he needs to know about Sirius!" I said angrily.
"Quiet, Ron!" she cast a fearful glance around. "Anyone could be listening. Just wait!" she breathed a sigh of relief in noticing that no one heard.
I sat quietly, waiting for Harry. My eyes strayed to the window of the Owlery, where Harry was having some kind of argument with the lady behind the counter. He turned away, throwing his hands in the air, then shouted one last word and pulled a large amount of more money out of his bag. The lady retreated into a back room.
I turned to Hermione to ask her what that was about, but stopped when I saw her gazing at me strange. Her eyes were kind of glossy, and as soon as I looked at her, she hastily dropped her gaze.
I always had a suspicion that Hermione liked me, and now it was confirmed. I was almost positive now. But I didn't care for her much…we argued too much. Sometimes I wished I could just find the right girl for me, but I've never found anyone…
Harry ran up, looking exceedingly angry carrying his now light moneybag and a tube of ointment. "Bloody woman behind the counter wouldn't believe I was me. She kept asking for ID, but I don't have any, so I had to pay full price. I even showed her the damn scar, and she didn't care." He drew up a chair and sat down, only to get up again. "C'mon. Let's get our books." He walked angrily into Flourish and Blotts, knocking books off shelves as he stormed past.
"You all right, mate?" I said to him as I put History of Hexes back on its shelf. "You seem a bit uptight." He threw me an angry look, as if daring me to push my luck. I didn't.
Hermione walked in and swept him aside, talking to him in a hushed voice. He sighed and stood again, seemingly calm. Hermione, having already bought her books, walked out to wait, looking pleased with herself. As she walked past me, she tenderly touched my arm. My worst fears were confirmed. Ever since Krum had died during a game that summer, she had taken a liking to me. It was getting very odd.
I closed my eyes, trying hard not to start yelling and destroying everything in reach. Ron was looking at me concernedly, as if afraid for my health. Sometimes I was too…ever since the end of term last year, when Dumbledore had recounted the prophecy. One cannot live while the other survives…every night that summer, I had had nightmares about that horrible incident last year…Death Eaters everywhere… Cedric dying…
But for the moment, those thoughts were driven from my head. That entire summer, my temper had been getting shorter. I would grow angry from even the slightest thing; I had almost killed Dudley when he asked me to make more bacon, even though he asked politely.
At least it wasn't as bad as it could have been. That entire summer, under the threat of Moody, they had treated me like an equal for once. Instead of being a slave, a rug, a punching bag, and a hindrance to my "family", I had been more of a cousin and nephew for once.
I now stood, my anger gone from the thoughts of my first good summer. I pulled Standard Book of Spells, Volume 6, Jinx and Hexes for all, and Intermediate Potions off their shelves and purchased them. Ron and Hermione, who were both taking the same O.W.L.S as me, bought the same books and followed me out of the shop.
We all walked wordlessly to the Leaky Cauldron, and separated at the bottom of the stairs and each went to our own rooms. The moment I was inside, I flung my books into my already packed trunk and closed it, then collapsed onto the bed. I was dead tired, but I couldn't seem to sleep. Just as had happened every night that summer, I found myself thinking about someone I never would have thought I would have liked…
The next few days went by way too quickly. Ron was pretty much ignoring me, but I wasn't very surprised. He never really did like me. As for Harry, he spent most of his time either sitting at the bar with a butterbeer staring off into space or in his room doing the same.
One day, I walked into his room to ask if he wanted to come play Quidditch with Ron, Ginny, the twins and I, and I found him just lying in his bed, staring straight up. "Harry?" I said quietly. "It's Hermione…are you ok?" He didn't answer. He just continued to stare straight up.
I approached him and nudged his arm. Immediately, his hand shot out and grabbed my arm. Within seconds, he had his wand between my eyes and was muttering "Stupefy!" Seconds before he finished, he saw who I was and quickly caught himself.
After awhile I spoke. "Harry, are you alright? You seem really different lately."
He smiled. "What gave it away, the destruction of Flourish and Blotts or my almost Stunning you?" Before I could speak, he was on his feet, leaning against the bed, and interrupted me. "And what about you? It hasn't been very hard to see where your heart lies."
I felt heat rising to my face, and knew I was blushing. "Really? I thought I hid it pretty well."
He laughed. "I saw you for about three minutes staring at Ron. Oh, and your little "accidental" touch in Flourish and Blotts was pretty easy to catch too." I blushed some more, and he laughed again. "It's fine, I'm not going to hold it against you or anything. But here's my advice: not Ron. He doesn't like you, and I know that for a fact. He's still looking for someone who just fits. Sorry, Hermione."
I was at a loss for words once again. So Ron didn't like me…what would I do? Harry interrupted my thoughts once again. "So what'd you come up here for anyway?"
"Oh yeah!" my thoughts sprang back to Quidditch. "Ron, Ginny, Fred, and George are all playing Quidditch. D'you –"
My words were cut off by a laugh at seeing he already had his Firebolt over his shoulder and a smile on his face. "You bet your ass I do." He threw open the window and leaped out, throwing his broom under him and speeding off toward the field behind Diagon Alley. I carefully mounted my broom and flew after him.
An hour later, Harry, Hermione and I came inside, all tired and windswept. Harry still clutched the Snitch in his hand. Realizing this, he repaired its wing with his wand and tossed into the chest with all the other balls. Since the next day we were going to King's Cross, I decided to get an early start to bed.
I walked into my room, packed the rest of my stuff, and sat down on my bed. Once again, I found myself visualizing the perfect girl for me. I fell asleep with that in my mind; and I dreamt about her all night. She was always shadowed in my thoughts and dreams, so that I couldn't see her…the only thing that I had ever seen for sure was her green eyes, and her long black hair…
Suddenly, the dream changed. Voldemort stood before me, wand raised. My own wand was in my hand. As he shot a curse at me, I leaped aside. The shadowed girl appeared next to me. I tried to speak, but couldn't. My eyes were locked on Voldemort, and my mouth was locked shut. As he shot another curse at me, I reflected it with a Shield Charm. Harry and another shadowed figure joined us. We four put our wands together. They began to glow…and a curse came from that glow. It circled around Voldemort as he screamed, swallowing him completely in light…until nothing remained.