Author's note: Sorry for the delay all. I didn't intend to wait a month to
update but then school started and it was back to 1-2 hours a week to type
my stories. And since all my stories are typed directly into email and NOT
written down at all it is very limiting for getting out long chapters.
Then I hit the near-one-month mark and felt really guilty so I had to
update. And here is the product of my work. It is still a bit later than
I planned on releasing it because I got a bit writer-happy in the middle
with a new plot idea (no, the plot is not completely worked out, that is
one of my problems but it I have the big idea, it's the minor plot details
that I still have to work a few kinks out of.) and was set back a few hours
and days to work it in. But, finally and without further longwinded
speeches no one will read....THE DISCLAIMER. ^_^
Disclaimer: I made a false statement in my last disclaimer, bad me. I DO own the idea for the story just not the Harry Potter ideas, characters, and so forth. No suing, you won't get anything. And besides, I'm honest and came out and said it so nyah. Now you can read the fic. *someone starts tape of suspenseful music but is jinxed for their pains* This is a music- free happy hour. Please, sit down, shut up and read. Unless you really like music. ^_^ *is listening to it right now* Anywho...
The Hours of Darkness
Chapter Two: A Letter and a Leave-Taking
Harry glared at Hedwig while he bandaged his bloody hand. It was not a pretty sight, scratches everywhere, some of them so deep they still bled freely. He had, of course, had far worse injuries in his life but it was the thought that counted. She was supposed to deliver the letter, not mangle the quill hand of the one receiving it.
Hedwig seemed of the opinion that she was in the right. She perched at the head of Harry's bed the whole while, amber eyes almost shining in amusement. Harry's anger subsided as he finished his hand and turned to relieve her of her burden, such as it was.
The untidy scrawl upon the parchment was hasty but nonethless identifiable as his old professor's, Remus Lupin. Harry had a brief moment to wonder why Remus would be sending him an owl in the middle of the night before he read on.
Harry, It is Dumbledore's wish that you remain where you are. Tonight several wards around your aunt and uncle's home were broken. Something was trying to get in. The Order is investigating the matter butin the meantime you will come to a secure location as soon as possible. As I said, it is imperative for you to stay in the house until a group is sent to get you. It is just a precaution, of course, but it is still unwise when we do not know what was powerful enough to evade the wards long enough to break them. Everything known at the time you arrived will be explained.
That was all the letter said, there was not even a signature. Harry wasn't the least bit surprised by this. Indeed he was worried as to how bad the situation was that Remus felt he had to speak so bluntly despite the risk of the owl being intercepted. The words spoke plainly that Harry knew of the Order and if the letter fell into the wrong hands it could very well reveal a weakness in the security of the Dursley home that could prove fatal. So what exactly had happened tonight?
Harry tossed Hedwig an owl treat. He'd already completely forgotten the pain caused by her delivery. She took it gratefully and settled down on her cage to sleep. A glance at the clock told him it was about four in the morning, far too early for a normal person to be out of bed. But since when had the word normalcy been attached to Harry Potter?
Somewhere in the house a bell tinkled.
Harry's head snapped up and he peered out the bedroom door from his bed. He tiptoed to the door and there paused a moment. Did the Dursleys own any bells? He padded down the stairway as silent as he could. It turned out the intruder didn't actually need to hear him to know he was coming.
"Isn't it a bit early to be wanting breakfast, Potter?"
Harry froze where he was a few steps from the bottom. He could have identified that voice from anywhere. "Moody?"
"That's my name. Now, don't just stand there like a wood carving, get your things and hurry down here. Dumbledore wants us in and out of here in a few minutes time."
Harry found his feet were no longer rooted to the carpet and obediently went up a few steps before turning. "Us? Just me and you?"
Moody's magical eye could be seen plainly in the gray morning light just before dawn. It whizzed about in it's socket madly, zooming around and around a bit like Pigwidgeon on sweets. Just not as cute and fuzzy. Still, Harry trusted the man, even if most of the wizarding community thought him completely crazy. He had to admit, he did too.
"Aye, you and I. We take a portkey out of here to another location and from there to headquarters."
"Why not directly there?"
Clunking closer to where Harry stood Moody chuckled. "I would've thought with all the time you'd spent with us you'd figure that one out on your own. Security precaution is all. When those wards were broken it would have been possible to quickly change things about a bit. You know, plant a few bugs, tracking charms."
Thinking now might be a good time to get started Harry quickly went up the last few steps and started on his things. Moody just waited patiently at the bottom of the steps. Apparently the risk wasn't so great that Harry needed a guard into his room, which he was quite grateful for.
Still.... Was it really possible that people could move in that quickly upon the house and create traps undetectable by Dumbledore? He could have sworn it wasn't possible for Voldemort to even find him. But then Voldemort always was proving magical boundaries too flimsy.
As if to goad his fears even further his scar chose that moment to prickle as though stabbed by a thousand needles one after another. Quickly glancing around the room he grabbed his stuff and bolted out the door. Something was wrong.
"Something the matter, Potter?"
Harry hurried down the steps as best he could while hauling a massive chest and Hedwig's cage. Not to mention trying to be quiet about it so the Dursleys wouldn't wake up...."I-it's nothing. Just my scar...."
Moody's normal eye widened slightly and his magical one spun with renewed fervor. "Hurry up and get down here. We've been here too long, I think." He glanced at his watch. "Almost time to go."
He dug in his pocket for a moment before pulling out a simple rock. "Here. That should work in a few moment's time."
The ordinary stone clashed horribly with the actual purpose of the portkey. Of course, since portkeys could be anything, it wasn't entirely surprising. Harry stood there stupidly a for a little while, waiting for it to work, listening to the sounds of the house.
Up the stairs and down the hall Dudley was still snoring as loudly and evenly as ever. Uncle Vernon placed a close second in volume while his aunt was either no longer asleep or just so quiet he had nothing to hear. He was suddenly reminded of the woman in Azkaban that he had talked to, was it only an hour ago? He found it strange that he had forgotten that peculiar dream so quickly. Harry was still unsure if it had happened or not.
Moody, who had been leaning against the banister at the end of the staircase, suddenly stirred to life. His magical eye was staring somewhere through the back of his head. The living room. An old board in the room creaked. There was a whisper of fabric and a hiss of breath.
"STUPEFY!" Moody bellowed. The living room was silent save for the crumpling of a large body. Magical eye whirling about warily he stepped into the room and prodded the figure on the ground. "It's as we suspected. He seems to be the only one in the house for the moment but Voldemort rarely sends one person to do his dirty work. He has far too little confidence in his followers to trust one to manage something he himself has not." He glared at the grandfather clock in the hall. "We're late. What is keeping that-"
Harry felt the now familiar pulling and rush of air as the portkey finally worked. His feet were pulled from the ground and he headed away from the darkened house to somewhere to the west.
His feet suddenly touched ground and he tripped over the pant leg of his pajamas, causing him to fall over, headfirst, onto his trunk. "OW!"
"That was graceful."
Harry rubbed his head and glared at Lupin, who was leaning against the trunk of a willow. His head was aching from the impact and the speed at which he had just traveled was not helping one bit. "I'd like to see you do better."
He chuckled and looked around, suddenly serious. "Where's Moody?"
"There was a Death Eater in the house. Moody stunned him. I don't know where he is."
Remus frowned. "I suppose he could just be taking the man back to the ministry. Did you see who it was?"
Harry shook his head. "I was on the steps the whole time. The angle wasn't good enough to see his face."
"Indeed."
Brushing a bit of crumbly bark off the back of his robes Remus walked over and helped Harry stand up. Harry barely had time to note that his whole backside was uncomfortably wet with dew before Moody Apparated with a crack next to him.
"Nice family you've got there, Potter. Your aunt threw a pot at me. Apparently they don't like being woken up at 5 in the morning to a duel in their downstairs."
Harry had a nice visual of his aunt, hair in sickening pink curlers, lobbing a vase or some other breakable at the man. It was almost funny. Or it would have been if he didn't have to worry about Death Eaters coming to get him while he slept. But HOW, was what kept running through his head. How was it possible that Voldemort could find him?
Hedwig hooted angrily at him from her awkward angle on the chest. He'd completely forgotten she was there. While the two aurors chatted about the Death Eaters Harry made himself busy soothing her. She apparently did not like being thrown about in such an undignified manner. He silently agreed, who would WANT to stay in a cage while being dragged cross-country in an instant?
"Harry?" Remus held out another rock, this one was polished at least to give it something of a mystical look.
Harry groaned. "Not again."
Hi, sorry this chappie was so short. It seems a little disjointed to me but...then again, all I have eaten today is two partially cooked muffins and who knows what they did to my head? Never let me cook for you.... ^_^
Anywho, please review. This time I promise to have the next chappie up really soon because this place was really sucko to end at, no? Next chappie we learn what broke the wards on the house and just how the woman in Azkaban (who DOES have a name, by the way) ties into it all. Oh, and maybe, if I am feeling nice I will make it extra specially long. I was distracted this weekend (I was going to write last night but just HAD to watch Endless Waltz 2 time sin a row and by then it was after 1 so....yeah) but next weekend I should be okie-day. Ciao and review!!!! -Sputnik
P.S. I LOVE ALL YOU PEOPLE WHO REVIEWED ME LAST TIME!!! And a lot of thanks to Ciara who continues to BETA my fics because I lock her in her basement with my terrible works of literature. Well, her computer IS in the basement....there just aren't any doors to lock. Darn....
**Note from BETA: I HATE COMPUTERS THAT UNDERLINE MY NAME AS BEING MISPELLED! DAMN THEM!!! And Sputnik's been getting my name wrong, it's soleil-luna-day, not with underscores (_) thankees.**
Disclaimer: I made a false statement in my last disclaimer, bad me. I DO own the idea for the story just not the Harry Potter ideas, characters, and so forth. No suing, you won't get anything. And besides, I'm honest and came out and said it so nyah. Now you can read the fic. *someone starts tape of suspenseful music but is jinxed for their pains* This is a music- free happy hour. Please, sit down, shut up and read. Unless you really like music. ^_^ *is listening to it right now* Anywho...
The Hours of Darkness
Chapter Two: A Letter and a Leave-Taking
Harry glared at Hedwig while he bandaged his bloody hand. It was not a pretty sight, scratches everywhere, some of them so deep they still bled freely. He had, of course, had far worse injuries in his life but it was the thought that counted. She was supposed to deliver the letter, not mangle the quill hand of the one receiving it.
Hedwig seemed of the opinion that she was in the right. She perched at the head of Harry's bed the whole while, amber eyes almost shining in amusement. Harry's anger subsided as he finished his hand and turned to relieve her of her burden, such as it was.
The untidy scrawl upon the parchment was hasty but nonethless identifiable as his old professor's, Remus Lupin. Harry had a brief moment to wonder why Remus would be sending him an owl in the middle of the night before he read on.
Harry, It is Dumbledore's wish that you remain where you are. Tonight several wards around your aunt and uncle's home were broken. Something was trying to get in. The Order is investigating the matter butin the meantime you will come to a secure location as soon as possible. As I said, it is imperative for you to stay in the house until a group is sent to get you. It is just a precaution, of course, but it is still unwise when we do not know what was powerful enough to evade the wards long enough to break them. Everything known at the time you arrived will be explained.
That was all the letter said, there was not even a signature. Harry wasn't the least bit surprised by this. Indeed he was worried as to how bad the situation was that Remus felt he had to speak so bluntly despite the risk of the owl being intercepted. The words spoke plainly that Harry knew of the Order and if the letter fell into the wrong hands it could very well reveal a weakness in the security of the Dursley home that could prove fatal. So what exactly had happened tonight?
Harry tossed Hedwig an owl treat. He'd already completely forgotten the pain caused by her delivery. She took it gratefully and settled down on her cage to sleep. A glance at the clock told him it was about four in the morning, far too early for a normal person to be out of bed. But since when had the word normalcy been attached to Harry Potter?
Somewhere in the house a bell tinkled.
Harry's head snapped up and he peered out the bedroom door from his bed. He tiptoed to the door and there paused a moment. Did the Dursleys own any bells? He padded down the stairway as silent as he could. It turned out the intruder didn't actually need to hear him to know he was coming.
"Isn't it a bit early to be wanting breakfast, Potter?"
Harry froze where he was a few steps from the bottom. He could have identified that voice from anywhere. "Moody?"
"That's my name. Now, don't just stand there like a wood carving, get your things and hurry down here. Dumbledore wants us in and out of here in a few minutes time."
Harry found his feet were no longer rooted to the carpet and obediently went up a few steps before turning. "Us? Just me and you?"
Moody's magical eye could be seen plainly in the gray morning light just before dawn. It whizzed about in it's socket madly, zooming around and around a bit like Pigwidgeon on sweets. Just not as cute and fuzzy. Still, Harry trusted the man, even if most of the wizarding community thought him completely crazy. He had to admit, he did too.
"Aye, you and I. We take a portkey out of here to another location and from there to headquarters."
"Why not directly there?"
Clunking closer to where Harry stood Moody chuckled. "I would've thought with all the time you'd spent with us you'd figure that one out on your own. Security precaution is all. When those wards were broken it would have been possible to quickly change things about a bit. You know, plant a few bugs, tracking charms."
Thinking now might be a good time to get started Harry quickly went up the last few steps and started on his things. Moody just waited patiently at the bottom of the steps. Apparently the risk wasn't so great that Harry needed a guard into his room, which he was quite grateful for.
Still.... Was it really possible that people could move in that quickly upon the house and create traps undetectable by Dumbledore? He could have sworn it wasn't possible for Voldemort to even find him. But then Voldemort always was proving magical boundaries too flimsy.
As if to goad his fears even further his scar chose that moment to prickle as though stabbed by a thousand needles one after another. Quickly glancing around the room he grabbed his stuff and bolted out the door. Something was wrong.
"Something the matter, Potter?"
Harry hurried down the steps as best he could while hauling a massive chest and Hedwig's cage. Not to mention trying to be quiet about it so the Dursleys wouldn't wake up...."I-it's nothing. Just my scar...."
Moody's normal eye widened slightly and his magical one spun with renewed fervor. "Hurry up and get down here. We've been here too long, I think." He glanced at his watch. "Almost time to go."
He dug in his pocket for a moment before pulling out a simple rock. "Here. That should work in a few moment's time."
The ordinary stone clashed horribly with the actual purpose of the portkey. Of course, since portkeys could be anything, it wasn't entirely surprising. Harry stood there stupidly a for a little while, waiting for it to work, listening to the sounds of the house.
Up the stairs and down the hall Dudley was still snoring as loudly and evenly as ever. Uncle Vernon placed a close second in volume while his aunt was either no longer asleep or just so quiet he had nothing to hear. He was suddenly reminded of the woman in Azkaban that he had talked to, was it only an hour ago? He found it strange that he had forgotten that peculiar dream so quickly. Harry was still unsure if it had happened or not.
Moody, who had been leaning against the banister at the end of the staircase, suddenly stirred to life. His magical eye was staring somewhere through the back of his head. The living room. An old board in the room creaked. There was a whisper of fabric and a hiss of breath.
"STUPEFY!" Moody bellowed. The living room was silent save for the crumpling of a large body. Magical eye whirling about warily he stepped into the room and prodded the figure on the ground. "It's as we suspected. He seems to be the only one in the house for the moment but Voldemort rarely sends one person to do his dirty work. He has far too little confidence in his followers to trust one to manage something he himself has not." He glared at the grandfather clock in the hall. "We're late. What is keeping that-"
Harry felt the now familiar pulling and rush of air as the portkey finally worked. His feet were pulled from the ground and he headed away from the darkened house to somewhere to the west.
His feet suddenly touched ground and he tripped over the pant leg of his pajamas, causing him to fall over, headfirst, onto his trunk. "OW!"
"That was graceful."
Harry rubbed his head and glared at Lupin, who was leaning against the trunk of a willow. His head was aching from the impact and the speed at which he had just traveled was not helping one bit. "I'd like to see you do better."
He chuckled and looked around, suddenly serious. "Where's Moody?"
"There was a Death Eater in the house. Moody stunned him. I don't know where he is."
Remus frowned. "I suppose he could just be taking the man back to the ministry. Did you see who it was?"
Harry shook his head. "I was on the steps the whole time. The angle wasn't good enough to see his face."
"Indeed."
Brushing a bit of crumbly bark off the back of his robes Remus walked over and helped Harry stand up. Harry barely had time to note that his whole backside was uncomfortably wet with dew before Moody Apparated with a crack next to him.
"Nice family you've got there, Potter. Your aunt threw a pot at me. Apparently they don't like being woken up at 5 in the morning to a duel in their downstairs."
Harry had a nice visual of his aunt, hair in sickening pink curlers, lobbing a vase or some other breakable at the man. It was almost funny. Or it would have been if he didn't have to worry about Death Eaters coming to get him while he slept. But HOW, was what kept running through his head. How was it possible that Voldemort could find him?
Hedwig hooted angrily at him from her awkward angle on the chest. He'd completely forgotten she was there. While the two aurors chatted about the Death Eaters Harry made himself busy soothing her. She apparently did not like being thrown about in such an undignified manner. He silently agreed, who would WANT to stay in a cage while being dragged cross-country in an instant?
"Harry?" Remus held out another rock, this one was polished at least to give it something of a mystical look.
Harry groaned. "Not again."
Hi, sorry this chappie was so short. It seems a little disjointed to me but...then again, all I have eaten today is two partially cooked muffins and who knows what they did to my head? Never let me cook for you.... ^_^
Anywho, please review. This time I promise to have the next chappie up really soon because this place was really sucko to end at, no? Next chappie we learn what broke the wards on the house and just how the woman in Azkaban (who DOES have a name, by the way) ties into it all. Oh, and maybe, if I am feeling nice I will make it extra specially long. I was distracted this weekend (I was going to write last night but just HAD to watch Endless Waltz 2 time sin a row and by then it was after 1 so....yeah) but next weekend I should be okie-day. Ciao and review!!!! -Sputnik
P.S. I LOVE ALL YOU PEOPLE WHO REVIEWED ME LAST TIME!!! And a lot of thanks to Ciara who continues to BETA my fics because I lock her in her basement with my terrible works of literature. Well, her computer IS in the basement....there just aren't any doors to lock. Darn....
**Note from BETA: I HATE COMPUTERS THAT UNDERLINE MY NAME AS BEING MISPELLED! DAMN THEM!!! And Sputnik's been getting my name wrong, it's soleil-luna-day, not with underscores (_) thankees.**
