Author's Notes: I, Niela, humbly ask for your mercy...I am extremely sorry that I have not updated but I do have a rather good excuse! Honestly, my computer's hard drive has failed and my computer is basically a large rectangular piece of scrap. I'm actually borrowing a computer to type this out. Should be getting a new computer by May or June whenever I can afford one, not too high on the cash flow right now :( But anyway I am finally updating and without further ado, or much ado, here is the story. Mmm by the way please tell me if I have any spelling or grammar mistakes, I have no spell-check on this computer and the text wrapping didn't work for a while so also tell me of any wrapping problems i.e. two words stuck together such as (thatcouldn't) Thanks :)
Disclaimer: Er I do not own Harry Potter and I make no claim to, I only wish to borrow the characters
and the plotline for but a short time. I shall examine the characters personality's and write about them to
the best of my ability, be that as it may my ability is severly lacking.
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Harry sighed and stuck his hand into the small pouch grabbing a pinch of the shimmering powder from inside. He turned his green eyes towards Mr. Weasley and waited for the instructions to be repeated again
to him.
"Now, Harry, annunciation is the key. Just step in and say 'The Burrow'" Mr. Weasley spoke in a calming voice.
Harry swallowed and nodded his head nervously. He walked over to the fireplace whispering words of confidence to himself. He ducked into the fireplace and turned around. He scrunched his eyes and threw the powder to the ground yelling his destination. Harry's stomach lurched as he began to move. He felt sick as he was tossed and turned at the will of the Floo system. The movement suddenly stopped and he was thrown out of the fireplace onto the floor of his destination. He lay on the floor curled in a ball. Slowly he opened one eye and then the other. He sighed in relief, he was at the Burrow. He stood up and brushed the soot offhis clothing. He stepped away from the fireplace just as the next person arrived. Mr. Weasley stepped out of the fireplace almost elegantly compared to Harry's enterance. He looked at Harry and smiled.
"Ah I see you've made it here safely Harry. Good." Mr. Weasley said sincerely but with a mischievious twinkle in his eyes. Harry had seen that look before from the twins, that must have been where they got their more humorous side.
"Er yes I suppose so, can I just relay one thing to you? I hate Floo Powder." Harry said while grumbling.
Mr. Weasley laughed jovially, "There is not a witch or wizard that does not at one point or another. Though it is an efficient and quick way to move about wouldn't you agree?"
Harry frowned, "Efficient and quick, yes, but it's a bloody pain on the stomach." Harry said hefting his packages from the floor.
"Why don't you go put your things up in Ron's room." Mr. Weasley said as he held his stomach silently agreeing with Harry's assessment of Floo Powder travel.
Harry nodded and began up the stairs. He heard someone stumble into the Burrow from the fireplace as he reached the top of the stairs and smiled, it was great to be back in the wizarding world, simply great.
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Something was poking Harry's side he wasn't sure what but it was quite bothersome especially since he was finally asleep or at least he had been. He tried to ignore it but it persisted. He swatted at the thing that was poking him. That stopped the poking, Harry's mind began to settle again. He was surely about to fall back into his sleep again but again he was prevented. Something was shaking him. Not just a casual slight shake but he was nearly pushed off his bed. Harry groaned and opened his eyes. Sunlight shone into the the small room glinting off the picture frames alongthe wall opposite of him. He turned his head and looked up at the person who had been shaking him.
"Wha' d'ya wan'?" Harry said sleepily.
"Harry get up it's past noon already! My dad's going to take us to get your trunk today."
"Ron, thanks for waking me but next time lemme sleep a little bit longer..." Harry grumbled as he threw off his blankets and stumbled out of bed and tried to push the wrinkles out of his clothes.
Ron smiled, "Sorry Harry, I'll remember that though. So Harry you do have clothes that actually fit you right?" Ron asked eyeing Harry's ill-fitting clothing.
Harry frowned, "Besides my school uniform and robes, no. My cousin's a lot shorter than I am you know."
"Hand-me-downs" Ron said knowingly but smiled brightly, "Surely you don't want to be embarassed by those 'clothes'. Well judging your height about now, I think some of my clothes would fit you. Let me check."
Harry watched as Ron ran off to his closet. Harry waited patiently and looked down at his clothing, surely it wasn't too bad. Well, they were a tad short...well, really short and a bit large for him. Okay so it really was that bad. Ron came back into the room carrying a pair of black pants and a green long-sleeved shirt.
"Here you go. These should fit." Ron said handing them to Harry.
"Um, thanks Ron." Harry said gratefully.
"No problem, I'll see you downstairs." Ron said walking out of the room.
Harry changed into the clothes that he had been given. He walked over to the mirror and stared at his reflection.
"Not bad." He said with a grin, the green shirt accented his eyes and gave him a mysterious quality, it was a rather old-fashioned shirt. It had a deep v-neck collar that was laced up and the sleeves were slightly ruffled. "Now if I only had a pair of boots." Harry said with
a small laugh.
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Ron smiled and slapped his hand on Harry's back, "I knew those clothes would fit, never really liked that shirt all that much. It's the color mind you." Ron said proudly.
Harry rolled his eyes, "I happen to like the shirt and the color's just fine." Harry said defensively and frowned at the look he recieved, "What?"
"That color green is Slytherin's color." Ron said in exasperation.
"Surely you're not going to shun me just because I like the color! Besides it brings out the color of my eyes." Harry replied.
"I'd never shun you! And if you like it so much you can have it, I never wear it."
"Why thank you Ron, now didn't you say something about getting my trunk?" Harry asked hopefully.
"Yeah come on dad's waiting in the car." Ron said regaining his earlier excitement.
"Right, the car. You got a new car?" Harry asked as he walked out of the Burrow with Ron.
Ron nodded his head, "Yeah dad figured we needed one in case we ever had to go into a muggle city. Mum was totally against it of course, she doesn't much like muggle technology especially now that dad's teaching Fred and George how to drive. Though they already know how to. He says
he won't teach me until I'm sixteen because of muggle laws," Ron said and then added, "but I think it's because of second year."
"It's probably a combination of both." Harry replied, "I'll never drive though, Uncle Vernon would die if I even thought about touching his car let alone Dudley's car, they got him one for his last birthday though he can't drive it yet."
Ron nodded his head again, "Yeah, your uncle's a real brute."
Harry laughed in agreement, "So what kind of car did you get?"
"It's nearly alike to our old one except it's black. Dad hasn't charmed it much, it doesn't fly or goinvisible but I think you could fit twenty people in their comfortably."
"Actually only eighteen," Mr. Weasley's voice cut in, "Good afternoon Harry, ready to go get your trunk?"
Harry smiled brightly, "Of course."
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The ride from the Burrow to Privet Drive was long and uneventful. Ron kept Harry busy talking about quidditch, Harry lent only half an ear to Ron, nodding occaisionally and giving comments when he saw fit. Harry sighed when the car rolled to a stop, parking infront of a small house
identical to all the others on the street. House number 4 on Privet Drive was as normal as any other house maybe even a little more normal. Harry exited the car following Ron and Mr. Weasley up the pathway to the house. Harry knocked on the door hesitantly and waited. A few minutes later the door opened to reveal his aunt. She looked at Harry and narrowed her eyes angrily her mouth tightening.
"What do you want?" She said scathingly.
"I'm sorry to bother you Aunt Petunia," Harry spoke hesitantly, "but I just came to get my belongings for school."
Petunia Dursley narrowed her eyes even further and the door slammed in their faces causing Harry to jump back in suprise and fright.
"Well, that could have gone a bit better." Ron said slowly.
Harry nodded and knocked on the door again. They heard something from inside being dragged towards them. The sound stopped and the door opened again. Aunt Petunia stood in the doorway with Dudley "hiding" behind her.
"Here are your things, take them and go." she said curtly.
"Thank you Mrs. Dursley." Mr. Weasley said pleasantly.
Petunia stiffened and looked away from Harry to the others. Her eyes widened as if just now noticing that Harry was not alone. Dudley began to shake in fright.
"You're one of them!" She said in fright and fainted.
Harry grimaced as his aunt landed on the floor of the entryway. He stepped over her feet and into the house. Bending over his trunk he opened it.
"Wand, books, cloak, all here good." he muttered under his breath, "Hedwig and my broom are probably upstairs." He stood up and walked upstairs and into Dudley's spare bedroom.
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Harry walked down the stairs carrying his broom and an empty owl cage. He crossed the floor to where Dudley was still standing.
"What happened to Hedwig?" Harry asked coldly.
"Sh--sh---she d-died." Dudley stuttered.
Harry closed his eyes, when he opened them he asked, "you didn't feed her did you?" Dudley shook his head.
"I figured as much." Harry set the cage on the floor and grabbed his trunk. He walked out of the Dursley's house not looking back and praying that he wouldn't have to go back there again.
Ron trotted after Harry, "Harry I'm sorry about Hedwig..."
"Don't be Ron, it wasn't your fault it was theirs, those muggles." Harry said coldly.
Ron stopped walking, "Harry you don't hate muggles right?"
Harry turned to Ron, "Not all of them but I don't trust any of them."
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The ride back to the Burrow was silent. There was no conversation about quidditch, there was no music from the radio, and most importantly the sound of Hedwig was not there. A single tear rolled down Harry's cheek he lifted his hand and brushed it away. There would be no sniffling
or crying from him. No muggle could hurt him he was a wizard, he was above them. He tightened his grip on his wand as he decided this.
He exited the car and solemnly walked into the Burrow. He glanced at the table where the others were sitting and chatting merrily. He tried to smile but the corners of his mouth fell into a flat line.
He walked past the table and upstairs into Ron's room. Harry sat down on the floor and stared into the mirror past his reflection, into his heart. Harry turned his face away ashamed at what he saw and sad that he couldn't change. He looked back into the mirror at his reflection. He sighed, he'd outgrown his old reflection, he'd changed so much heart, mind, and body.
"It's time I accepted that change." Harry said and took off his round framed glasses. Holding them gently in his left hand he pointed his wand at them and began to transfigure them. A few minutes later a satisfied Harry held a pair of small oval silver-framed glasses. He put them on and looked back into the mirror. Nearly satisfied with the image Harry smiled slightly and turned away walking downstairs to join the Weasleys for dinner.
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"Harry, Ron told us what happened. I'm sorry Harry." Hermione said.
"It's all right Hermione it's not your fault." Harry said quietly.
Hermione nodded, "Nice glasses Harry."
"Um thanks, I've always hated my other glasses." Harry explained.
"These look really good on you." Hermione said with a smile.
Harry blushed slightly, "Thanks, Hermione you wouldn't happen to have something I could use to tie back my hair?" Harry asked, "It's getting a little long."
Hermione smiled, "Yeah I think I have a hair tie. Hang on a second." She said as she walked over to a closetand pulled out her robe. She rummaged through the pockets for a bit before she put her robe back holding the black hair tie in triumph, "here you go Harry."
"Thanks Hermione, your a life saver." Harry said as pulled his hair back into a short ponytail.
"Always glad to be of service." Hermione said with a small mock bow.
Harry shook his head, "Come on if we get to dinner late we'll never get any food."
"Right, Ron will eat it all." Hermione joked.
"Right you are." Harry replied.
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Harry sat down at the table and stared at his plate. The members of the Weasley family were filing in one by one from their activities. Suprisingly the last to sit down was Ron who in the last year had developed quite a large appetite and was usually the first at the table and the last to leave. Harry looked up from his plate gauging the reaction of each of the others at his new glasses. They all approved of his glasses but he saw the pity in their eyes over his loss. Couldn't they see? Wouldn't they see? It's not their fault it's those muggles they did it. Dinner was eaten in relative chaos everyone reaching for food and talking at the same time. Harry caught portions of conversations about quidditch, the ministery of magic, and going back to Hogwarts this fall. He was looking forward to going back to Hogwarts again this year it had always felt like home to him. Harry finished his dinner and yawned. Mrs. Weasley noticed this yawn straight away even if it was just a small yawn. She frowned at Harry in the way that only she could. It was the frown that could make the twins stay in line, if only for a little while.
"Harry you better go get some sleep you've had a long day." She said resolutely.
Harry nodded, who was he to argue? He stood up and bid everyone good night. He slowly walked up the stairs and into the bedroom. Harry collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep almost instantaneously.
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Harry ran. He ran as fast as he could dodging his way through the forest. He tripped over a root and caught himself on a tree, panting heavily he lurched away from the tree and resumed his stumbling run. He could hear them coming, they were getting closer, he couldn't outrun them forever. He felt them as if they were on his heels staring at him breathing down his neck. Their hounds snapped at his heels as he ran away from them. He fell, he rolled, he crawled, a weight slammed him to the ground. He was flipped over to face the canopy of trees hiding the light shrouding him in the dark. His pursuer slammed his foot onto Harry's chest to prevent him from moving. The man took off his white mask and smirked at the quivering boy beneath his foot. Harry gasped in fright and shock as his father's face came from behind the mask as James Potter revealed himself. Harry gasped for breath as unconsciousness claimed him and his world went dark.
Harry's eyes snapped open and he sat up breathing heavily from the dream. He brushed the cobweb's out of his face and sighed at the room around him, the cupboard under the stairs. Away from the magical community, all alone in the dark. The walls began to close in around him seeming smaller and smaller. He curled up into a ball and shivered in fright. The door to his cupboard slammed open revealing his over-weight uncle.
"Get out of there boy." His uncle grabbed him by the arm tossing him into the hall.
Harry stood up from his stumble and turned to see he was not alone with his uncle. There in the hall of number four Privet Drive stood four wizards, four white masked wizards, four death eaters. The one in front lifted his mask off and turned to his uncle.
"I am sorry to put you through the trouble of taking care of this whelp, Vernon." James Potter spoke evily.
"He was a bit of trouble early on but I got that streak out of him, he won't cause you any trouble now Mr. Potter."
"I expect he won't." James said haughtily, "Come along Harry my son."
"No, I won't join you...NO!" Harry yelled defiantly.
"I'm afraid my dear boy you don't have a choice." James said his face morphing into that of Severus Snape.
Harry screamed. He woke with a start still screaming, he clasped a hand over his mouth silencing himself. He sat up breathing in ragged breaths of cool air. He looked around at his surroundings taking in that he was at the Burrow, that he was safe. He pinched himself, it hurt, he was awake. He rubbed his chest and winced in pain. Harry stood up and walked over to the mirror on the wall. He pulled up his shirt and looked at his chest there was a bruise on his chest, a boot-shaped bruise.
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Well, there you have it chapter two. Sorry for keeping you all waiting. I'll try to update as soon as I can. Unfortunately that's not looking too good, just depends on if I can find a computer or not. Well, anyway
since you have read this far why not review? Flame for all I care I need feedback! Tell me what I'm doing wrong and or doing right. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
-Niela
Disclaimer: Er I do not own Harry Potter and I make no claim to, I only wish to borrow the characters
and the plotline for but a short time. I shall examine the characters personality's and write about them to
the best of my ability, be that as it may my ability is severly lacking.
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
Harry sighed and stuck his hand into the small pouch grabbing a pinch of the shimmering powder from inside. He turned his green eyes towards Mr. Weasley and waited for the instructions to be repeated again
to him.
"Now, Harry, annunciation is the key. Just step in and say 'The Burrow'" Mr. Weasley spoke in a calming voice.
Harry swallowed and nodded his head nervously. He walked over to the fireplace whispering words of confidence to himself. He ducked into the fireplace and turned around. He scrunched his eyes and threw the powder to the ground yelling his destination. Harry's stomach lurched as he began to move. He felt sick as he was tossed and turned at the will of the Floo system. The movement suddenly stopped and he was thrown out of the fireplace onto the floor of his destination. He lay on the floor curled in a ball. Slowly he opened one eye and then the other. He sighed in relief, he was at the Burrow. He stood up and brushed the soot offhis clothing. He stepped away from the fireplace just as the next person arrived. Mr. Weasley stepped out of the fireplace almost elegantly compared to Harry's enterance. He looked at Harry and smiled.
"Ah I see you've made it here safely Harry. Good." Mr. Weasley said sincerely but with a mischievious twinkle in his eyes. Harry had seen that look before from the twins, that must have been where they got their more humorous side.
"Er yes I suppose so, can I just relay one thing to you? I hate Floo Powder." Harry said while grumbling.
Mr. Weasley laughed jovially, "There is not a witch or wizard that does not at one point or another. Though it is an efficient and quick way to move about wouldn't you agree?"
Harry frowned, "Efficient and quick, yes, but it's a bloody pain on the stomach." Harry said hefting his packages from the floor.
"Why don't you go put your things up in Ron's room." Mr. Weasley said as he held his stomach silently agreeing with Harry's assessment of Floo Powder travel.
Harry nodded and began up the stairs. He heard someone stumble into the Burrow from the fireplace as he reached the top of the stairs and smiled, it was great to be back in the wizarding world, simply great.
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Something was poking Harry's side he wasn't sure what but it was quite bothersome especially since he was finally asleep or at least he had been. He tried to ignore it but it persisted. He swatted at the thing that was poking him. That stopped the poking, Harry's mind began to settle again. He was surely about to fall back into his sleep again but again he was prevented. Something was shaking him. Not just a casual slight shake but he was nearly pushed off his bed. Harry groaned and opened his eyes. Sunlight shone into the the small room glinting off the picture frames alongthe wall opposite of him. He turned his head and looked up at the person who had been shaking him.
"Wha' d'ya wan'?" Harry said sleepily.
"Harry get up it's past noon already! My dad's going to take us to get your trunk today."
"Ron, thanks for waking me but next time lemme sleep a little bit longer..." Harry grumbled as he threw off his blankets and stumbled out of bed and tried to push the wrinkles out of his clothes.
Ron smiled, "Sorry Harry, I'll remember that though. So Harry you do have clothes that actually fit you right?" Ron asked eyeing Harry's ill-fitting clothing.
Harry frowned, "Besides my school uniform and robes, no. My cousin's a lot shorter than I am you know."
"Hand-me-downs" Ron said knowingly but smiled brightly, "Surely you don't want to be embarassed by those 'clothes'. Well judging your height about now, I think some of my clothes would fit you. Let me check."
Harry watched as Ron ran off to his closet. Harry waited patiently and looked down at his clothing, surely it wasn't too bad. Well, they were a tad short...well, really short and a bit large for him. Okay so it really was that bad. Ron came back into the room carrying a pair of black pants and a green long-sleeved shirt.
"Here you go. These should fit." Ron said handing them to Harry.
"Um, thanks Ron." Harry said gratefully.
"No problem, I'll see you downstairs." Ron said walking out of the room.
Harry changed into the clothes that he had been given. He walked over to the mirror and stared at his reflection.
"Not bad." He said with a grin, the green shirt accented his eyes and gave him a mysterious quality, it was a rather old-fashioned shirt. It had a deep v-neck collar that was laced up and the sleeves were slightly ruffled. "Now if I only had a pair of boots." Harry said with
a small laugh.
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Ron smiled and slapped his hand on Harry's back, "I knew those clothes would fit, never really liked that shirt all that much. It's the color mind you." Ron said proudly.
Harry rolled his eyes, "I happen to like the shirt and the color's just fine." Harry said defensively and frowned at the look he recieved, "What?"
"That color green is Slytherin's color." Ron said in exasperation.
"Surely you're not going to shun me just because I like the color! Besides it brings out the color of my eyes." Harry replied.
"I'd never shun you! And if you like it so much you can have it, I never wear it."
"Why thank you Ron, now didn't you say something about getting my trunk?" Harry asked hopefully.
"Yeah come on dad's waiting in the car." Ron said regaining his earlier excitement.
"Right, the car. You got a new car?" Harry asked as he walked out of the Burrow with Ron.
Ron nodded his head, "Yeah dad figured we needed one in case we ever had to go into a muggle city. Mum was totally against it of course, she doesn't much like muggle technology especially now that dad's teaching Fred and George how to drive. Though they already know how to. He says
he won't teach me until I'm sixteen because of muggle laws," Ron said and then added, "but I think it's because of second year."
"It's probably a combination of both." Harry replied, "I'll never drive though, Uncle Vernon would die if I even thought about touching his car let alone Dudley's car, they got him one for his last birthday though he can't drive it yet."
Ron nodded his head again, "Yeah, your uncle's a real brute."
Harry laughed in agreement, "So what kind of car did you get?"
"It's nearly alike to our old one except it's black. Dad hasn't charmed it much, it doesn't fly or goinvisible but I think you could fit twenty people in their comfortably."
"Actually only eighteen," Mr. Weasley's voice cut in, "Good afternoon Harry, ready to go get your trunk?"
Harry smiled brightly, "Of course."
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The ride from the Burrow to Privet Drive was long and uneventful. Ron kept Harry busy talking about quidditch, Harry lent only half an ear to Ron, nodding occaisionally and giving comments when he saw fit. Harry sighed when the car rolled to a stop, parking infront of a small house
identical to all the others on the street. House number 4 on Privet Drive was as normal as any other house maybe even a little more normal. Harry exited the car following Ron and Mr. Weasley up the pathway to the house. Harry knocked on the door hesitantly and waited. A few minutes later the door opened to reveal his aunt. She looked at Harry and narrowed her eyes angrily her mouth tightening.
"What do you want?" She said scathingly.
"I'm sorry to bother you Aunt Petunia," Harry spoke hesitantly, "but I just came to get my belongings for school."
Petunia Dursley narrowed her eyes even further and the door slammed in their faces causing Harry to jump back in suprise and fright.
"Well, that could have gone a bit better." Ron said slowly.
Harry nodded and knocked on the door again. They heard something from inside being dragged towards them. The sound stopped and the door opened again. Aunt Petunia stood in the doorway with Dudley "hiding" behind her.
"Here are your things, take them and go." she said curtly.
"Thank you Mrs. Dursley." Mr. Weasley said pleasantly.
Petunia stiffened and looked away from Harry to the others. Her eyes widened as if just now noticing that Harry was not alone. Dudley began to shake in fright.
"You're one of them!" She said in fright and fainted.
Harry grimaced as his aunt landed on the floor of the entryway. He stepped over her feet and into the house. Bending over his trunk he opened it.
"Wand, books, cloak, all here good." he muttered under his breath, "Hedwig and my broom are probably upstairs." He stood up and walked upstairs and into Dudley's spare bedroom.
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Harry walked down the stairs carrying his broom and an empty owl cage. He crossed the floor to where Dudley was still standing.
"What happened to Hedwig?" Harry asked coldly.
"Sh--sh---she d-died." Dudley stuttered.
Harry closed his eyes, when he opened them he asked, "you didn't feed her did you?" Dudley shook his head.
"I figured as much." Harry set the cage on the floor and grabbed his trunk. He walked out of the Dursley's house not looking back and praying that he wouldn't have to go back there again.
Ron trotted after Harry, "Harry I'm sorry about Hedwig..."
"Don't be Ron, it wasn't your fault it was theirs, those muggles." Harry said coldly.
Ron stopped walking, "Harry you don't hate muggles right?"
Harry turned to Ron, "Not all of them but I don't trust any of them."
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The ride back to the Burrow was silent. There was no conversation about quidditch, there was no music from the radio, and most importantly the sound of Hedwig was not there. A single tear rolled down Harry's cheek he lifted his hand and brushed it away. There would be no sniffling
or crying from him. No muggle could hurt him he was a wizard, he was above them. He tightened his grip on his wand as he decided this.
He exited the car and solemnly walked into the Burrow. He glanced at the table where the others were sitting and chatting merrily. He tried to smile but the corners of his mouth fell into a flat line.
He walked past the table and upstairs into Ron's room. Harry sat down on the floor and stared into the mirror past his reflection, into his heart. Harry turned his face away ashamed at what he saw and sad that he couldn't change. He looked back into the mirror at his reflection. He sighed, he'd outgrown his old reflection, he'd changed so much heart, mind, and body.
"It's time I accepted that change." Harry said and took off his round framed glasses. Holding them gently in his left hand he pointed his wand at them and began to transfigure them. A few minutes later a satisfied Harry held a pair of small oval silver-framed glasses. He put them on and looked back into the mirror. Nearly satisfied with the image Harry smiled slightly and turned away walking downstairs to join the Weasleys for dinner.
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"Harry, Ron told us what happened. I'm sorry Harry." Hermione said.
"It's all right Hermione it's not your fault." Harry said quietly.
Hermione nodded, "Nice glasses Harry."
"Um thanks, I've always hated my other glasses." Harry explained.
"These look really good on you." Hermione said with a smile.
Harry blushed slightly, "Thanks, Hermione you wouldn't happen to have something I could use to tie back my hair?" Harry asked, "It's getting a little long."
Hermione smiled, "Yeah I think I have a hair tie. Hang on a second." She said as she walked over to a closetand pulled out her robe. She rummaged through the pockets for a bit before she put her robe back holding the black hair tie in triumph, "here you go Harry."
"Thanks Hermione, your a life saver." Harry said as pulled his hair back into a short ponytail.
"Always glad to be of service." Hermione said with a small mock bow.
Harry shook his head, "Come on if we get to dinner late we'll never get any food."
"Right, Ron will eat it all." Hermione joked.
"Right you are." Harry replied.
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Harry sat down at the table and stared at his plate. The members of the Weasley family were filing in one by one from their activities. Suprisingly the last to sit down was Ron who in the last year had developed quite a large appetite and was usually the first at the table and the last to leave. Harry looked up from his plate gauging the reaction of each of the others at his new glasses. They all approved of his glasses but he saw the pity in their eyes over his loss. Couldn't they see? Wouldn't they see? It's not their fault it's those muggles they did it. Dinner was eaten in relative chaos everyone reaching for food and talking at the same time. Harry caught portions of conversations about quidditch, the ministery of magic, and going back to Hogwarts this fall. He was looking forward to going back to Hogwarts again this year it had always felt like home to him. Harry finished his dinner and yawned. Mrs. Weasley noticed this yawn straight away even if it was just a small yawn. She frowned at Harry in the way that only she could. It was the frown that could make the twins stay in line, if only for a little while.
"Harry you better go get some sleep you've had a long day." She said resolutely.
Harry nodded, who was he to argue? He stood up and bid everyone good night. He slowly walked up the stairs and into the bedroom. Harry collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep almost instantaneously.
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Harry ran. He ran as fast as he could dodging his way through the forest. He tripped over a root and caught himself on a tree, panting heavily he lurched away from the tree and resumed his stumbling run. He could hear them coming, they were getting closer, he couldn't outrun them forever. He felt them as if they were on his heels staring at him breathing down his neck. Their hounds snapped at his heels as he ran away from them. He fell, he rolled, he crawled, a weight slammed him to the ground. He was flipped over to face the canopy of trees hiding the light shrouding him in the dark. His pursuer slammed his foot onto Harry's chest to prevent him from moving. The man took off his white mask and smirked at the quivering boy beneath his foot. Harry gasped in fright and shock as his father's face came from behind the mask as James Potter revealed himself. Harry gasped for breath as unconsciousness claimed him and his world went dark.
Harry's eyes snapped open and he sat up breathing heavily from the dream. He brushed the cobweb's out of his face and sighed at the room around him, the cupboard under the stairs. Away from the magical community, all alone in the dark. The walls began to close in around him seeming smaller and smaller. He curled up into a ball and shivered in fright. The door to his cupboard slammed open revealing his over-weight uncle.
"Get out of there boy." His uncle grabbed him by the arm tossing him into the hall.
Harry stood up from his stumble and turned to see he was not alone with his uncle. There in the hall of number four Privet Drive stood four wizards, four white masked wizards, four death eaters. The one in front lifted his mask off and turned to his uncle.
"I am sorry to put you through the trouble of taking care of this whelp, Vernon." James Potter spoke evily.
"He was a bit of trouble early on but I got that streak out of him, he won't cause you any trouble now Mr. Potter."
"I expect he won't." James said haughtily, "Come along Harry my son."
"No, I won't join you...NO!" Harry yelled defiantly.
"I'm afraid my dear boy you don't have a choice." James said his face morphing into that of Severus Snape.
Harry screamed. He woke with a start still screaming, he clasped a hand over his mouth silencing himself. He sat up breathing in ragged breaths of cool air. He looked around at his surroundings taking in that he was at the Burrow, that he was safe. He pinched himself, it hurt, he was awake. He rubbed his chest and winced in pain. Harry stood up and walked over to the mirror on the wall. He pulled up his shirt and looked at his chest there was a bruise on his chest, a boot-shaped bruise.
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Well, there you have it chapter two. Sorry for keeping you all waiting. I'll try to update as soon as I can. Unfortunately that's not looking too good, just depends on if I can find a computer or not. Well, anyway
since you have read this far why not review? Flame for all I care I need feedback! Tell me what I'm doing wrong and or doing right. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
-Niela
