DISCLAIMER: J.K. ROWLING OWNS HARRY POTTER & WHATEVER ELSE SHE DOES.

CHAPTER 1

---Harry's fingers were numb. And not for the first time during his summer holidays, he'd been caught reading a magical book outside of his bedroom. The weather was so perfect that he couldn't resist, besides, his bedroom was cramped and stuffy. Harry had hidden it under one of his pre-Dudley t- shirts that was 10 times too big, that for once, he was glad to have. He'd dozed off behind a tree in the Dursley's backyard and awoken to his aunt's shrill scream.

She'd found him asleep in the backgarden with a book open in his lap. No huge crime. Except for the fact the pictures were zooming around the page, in and out of borders, and occasional making faces at Mrs. Dursley.

He had awoken with a start and a groan. His aunt screaming was never a good sign.

Mr. Dursley looked at Harry, about an inch from his face. His face growing a deeper purple every second and the vein on top of his eye twitching nervously. "You...Have...no..Idea" his gruff voice huffed "Anyone...could...have.... Seen... Called...Police. told.. Everyone." He stopped, and it seemed he had no breath to carry on. It didn't stop him from giving Harry a mother of a punishment though. For three whole weeks Harry gardened for hours and washed Mr. Dursley's company car twice a day. He scrubbed dishes, pots and pans and anything his aunt could find. He disinfected the toilet everyday as well as scrubbed the footpath outside their home with only his bare hands and a small bucket of boiling water. By the end of it all, Harry couldn't even hold his quill without pain.

It was the night of the last day of his punishment and Harry was sitting on his bed reading one of his old spellbooks when he heard a familiar flutter of feathers at his window. "Hello Hedwig" Harry said, stroking her feathers and un-attaching a brown envelope from her leg. Harry opened her cage and she flew in, hooted gratefully and fell asleep. Harry could recognise the writing on the front as Ron's.
Dear Harry

I've got dreadful and very important news. Harry, Dumbledore has been taken away, he's no longer the

headmaster at school. That's not all, Ludo Bagman disappeared two weeks ago and the ministry

members appointed Malfoy's dad as the new minister of magic. I'll bet George and Fred's 1000

galleons that he blackmailed them though. This is a disaster, what are we going to do? How are we

going to go back to school? People are saying without Dumbledore, Hogwarts isn't safe any more. Dad

and I think something very weird is going on. Write soon Harry

Ron

P.S. Mum says hi and Ginny says she loves you!

Ginny's writing: I DO NOT

"His eyes are like fresh pickled toads" what more do I have to say?

Ginny's Writing: Shut up Ron, that was over two years ago!!

See you Harry!
Harry stifled a laugh, but it got caught in his throat when he remembered the important part of the letter. His stomach lurched around and he felt sick. The problem revolved around his head but wouldn't sink in.

"Dumbledore has been taken away, he's no longer headmaster at school." Harry lied down on his bed thinking the situation over until the early hours of the morning, when sleep overtook him and he wafted into a dreamless slumber.