Harry Potter and the Soul Shifter
By: Alex Lyons3
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter and everything in the wonderful world of Hogwarts. I own Jessica "Jess" Cotten.
Author's Note: Originally, I started on a story about Harry's sixth year before J.K.R. released OotP. Sadly, when Sirius died, so to did my ability to write that fan fiction. So, I've salvaged some characters and added some cross over points and re did the whole thing. I really didn't expect Sirius to die. Truthfully, I should have. Just for the record, the time line is going to be a bit iffy since most people put it up as Sirius died in 1996. I'm going to say that Harry didn't even start Hogwarts until 1997, so Sirius didn't die until 2002. Did I lose anyone? *A few hands are raised* Okay! Simply, first book published in 1997. So, that's when Harry starts as far as I'm concerned. Harry's fifth year would be 2001-2002, so Sirius (at least in my mind) does not die until 2002. Okay? Anyway, on with the story.
Chapter 1: Returning Home
Harry Potter was sitting alone in his room at Number Four, Privet Drive staring forlornly out the window. Harry had just returned from another interesting year at Hogwarts. Only a month had passed and he was already wishing to be back at school. Since Harry's return a month ago he had been totally ignored by the Dursley's. Harry hated it here at Number Four, Privet Drive, but Professor Dumbledore had told him that he must return because he was offered protection here so he had decided to go back just for a little while.
Harry reverted from staring out the window, watching for Hedwig to come in with a large fat mouse or something else in her beak, into the dark, starless night to looking at his bedside clock. He noticed that he had three more minutes before he would turn sixteen. Harry returned to looking out of his window. He noticed a sudden movement. It appeared to be that someone was coming up Privet Drive, yet did not wish to be seen. The sudden movement happened again and this time Harry could make out two other people coming up Privet Drive, in cloaks and robes. Harry grabbed his wand and readied himself for a possible attack.
Harry silently slipped down stairs and slowly unlocked the door and opened it. Standing before him were Professor Snape, Lupin, and Tonks. Harry blinked then relaxed his sudden stance and breathed an audible sigh of relief. Harry grinned at Lupin. Lupin grinned back.
"Hullo, Harry." Lupin whispered, "We've come to take you back."
Snape snorted and Tonks just rolled her eyes.
"Let me just go get my stuff." Harry whispered as he silently went up the stairs.
Harry quickly packed and soon was carefully carrying his trunk down the stairs.
"Here now, Harry." Lupin said quietly, "Locomotor Trunk."
The trunk became weightless in Harry's arms and it tugged itself from his grasp and followed Lupin outside. Snape came in with a letter in his hands.
"Which door leads to your room?" Snape whispered, yet somehow still managed to sound menacing.
"The second door on the left, sir." Harry whispered. He didn't care if it was Snape at the moment who had come to help rescue him all he cared about that he was going back. He was going home.
Soon after Harry had gotten outside with the other two Snape joined them.
"Let's go!"Snape snarled quietly.
"Yes, Oh-Master-Of-The-Universe!" Tonks said sarcastically. Snape turned and sneered and was about to say something until Lupin intervened.
"Not now you two." Lupin said in a cold voice. He turned back to Harry and grinned. "Well, Harry, let me put a Disillusionment Charm on you." Lupin rapped Harry on the head and just like before Harry had the feeling of something cold running down his face and back.
"Alright. Now, we're ready to go." Lupin said staring hard at Snape.
The three of them took off into the night. Harry had always heard from his godfather, Sirius, that Snape had been jealous of his father's talent on the Quidditch Pitch. He really didn't understand why that could possibly be. Snape was an excellent flyer as far as Harry could see. Then again, he could have practiced until he got better at it.
"Well, Harry, I suppose this made your birthday better, didn't it?" Tonks asked after awhile.
Harry grinned. "Definitely!" He shouted.
They arrived at the square at Grimmauld Place. Harry's heart sunk. He didn't really want to go in there. He didn't want to have to bear the memories that would surface as soon as he crossed the threshold of Number twelve. The door to Number twelve appeared and then so did the rest of the house.
"Come along, Harry." Lupin said quietly as Tonks and he grabbed up Hedwig's cage and his trunk.
Harry went inside expecting everything to be as it was before Sirius had died. However, the sight that greeted Harry was not the dirty, dingy, disgusting front hall like before. All the dirt, dust and grime had finally been cleaned away. The house no longer looked like a derelict building. Instead it looked like it belong to rather respected, if not absolutely evil, wizards. Everything was nice and shining in the light from the old oil lamps.
"Ah!" Tonks sighed loudly, "Rather nice after we finally got the place properly cleaned up, isn't it?"
"Er–yeah. I guess." Harry whispered.
"What's wrong Harry?" Tonks asked brightly. Harry looked around apprehensively. "Oh! Oh, don't worry Harry! We finally got rid of "the old hag". We can't wake anything now."
Snape soon strode past them as Harry was told by both Lupin and Tonks told Harry about all the things he missed in the last month.
Harry's jaw dropped further and further as he heard how Voldemort was taking over so slowly as to be unnoticeable to both the wizarding and muggle communities. Apparently, there had still been no open attacks on any of the magical community, however, several muggles had turned up missing because of Voldemort.
"The way Dumbledore has it figured is that You-Know-Who doesn't want to call too much attention to himself. It's a long shot, but we think that he's probably not going to openly attack anyone until he's got more power." Tonks said.
"Also," Lupin took over, "if he keeps a low profile he might be able to convince the magical community that The Ministry has been hoodwinked."
Harry looked like he was about to argue, but Lupin, noticing this, cut him off.
"It is, at this point, just a theory."
"Of course." Harry said curtly.