Disclaimer: All the usual stuff… I own nothing but my soul, etc. (see ch 1)
Thanks to all that Reviewed Already!!!
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"" = speech
* * = thoughts
Fall of Shadows – Chapter 2 – Nightfall
As Harry Turned his reflexes kicked in. He hadn't really seen Vernon's fist headed for his face, so much as felt it. He didn't know if it was his training as a seeker, or the extra practice with the DA last year, that had made his reflexes so sharp but he was glad to have them. As he dropped to the ground a punch that would have surely knocked Harry unconscious instead only broke his glasses and disoriented him a bit.
*Oh Merlin! I'm in for it now – there is no way I can let him catch me if there is any way to avoid it.* Harry thought.
"BOY!" Vernon shouted
A dog began barking somewhere down the street. Vernon looked around nervously, as though realizing suddenly that he was outside, where the neighbors had ears, and were more than willing to use them.
"What did you think you were doing? I will not have you freakish ways being broadcast to the neighborhood!!"
"But-t-t Uncle Vernon, that's w-w-why I w-was back here," Harry stammered. "No one could have seen me with her back here behind the Garage, they couldn't have."
No sooner had Harry said this than he realized that this was quite possibly the worst thing he could have said, given the situation. He had just avoided being hit for the first time that summer. Then, not only had he talked back to his Uncle, but he had essentially told the man that just as no one could see Harry with his owl, no one could see the two of them now. He only hoped that his Uncle didn't make the connection.
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**Flashback to Earlier that Day***
At 12 Grimwald Place the house had been bustling with activity.
Molly had, over the past few weeks, cleaned every available surface so thoroughly that they shined. Every drape in the house had been removed, filling the rooms with the light that they had been deprived of for so long.
The Drapes themselves had been permanently transfigured into sheets and comforters and towels and other necessities. Old Mrs. Black had hated this; she'd spent nearly 2 days straight screeching about how the light would ruin the furniture before retreating behind her curtains. Molly wished that she had followed through with removing the drapes earlier. When she had first come up with the idea, Molly had hesitated knowing that the nature of the Order's business intrinsically demanded privacy. It was only when Dumbledore had reminded her that no one could see the house anyway that she had realized her own error.
On this particular morning, Molly had been driven to her wits end from a week of her two youngest children whining and conniving to get permission for Harry to visit. That morning as she was sitting having tea before the house woke for the day, Molly decided that the only way to keep Ron and Ginny occupied was to create a set of conditions that would be necessary in order for Harry to visit. She summoned a piece of parchment, a quill and ink from the sideboard, and sat composing her list. She hated to lead her children on, but hopefully by the time the list was actually completed, she would be able to convince Dumbledore to let Harry stay for the rest of the summer.
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THINGS THAT MUST BE DONE FOR HARRY TO VISIT
1. Harry MUST be 16
2. Portrait of Mrs. Black must be removed from the wall or otherwise sealed permanently.
3. Find a new home/master for Kreature.
4. All dark artifacts/books must be boxed and stored away in the cellar.
5. Harry's new room must be decorated.
6. Items from estates must be sorted.
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Molly sighed after adding the sixth item. As Harry was turning 16, and legally coming of age in the wizarding world, he would be inheriting the bulk of his estate. This now included not only his parents' estate, but Sirius' as well. She was hoping to have the majority of everything sorted and inventoried by the time that Harry got there, so that he wouldn't have to go through them himself – at least not right away.
Molly put down her quill and poured herself another cup of tea. She debated adding to the list that Ron's OWL scores must be satisfactory, but she hated to put that kind of pressure on him. She knew that he had really tried and if she couldn't get permission for Harry to come she would hate to have Ron think it was because she was disappointed in his scores.
*Well, those things will have to be enough - I will reserve the right to add something, should it become apparent that further steps are necessary - but these six things will be hard enough to get done any way.*
**End Flashback**
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Back at Privet Drive
Harry's slip of the tongue most certainly had been caught. Vernon's face shone with glee as he advanced on his Nephew. Harry looked for another way out. He silently groaned, the reason why he had chosen this corner of the yard in the first place was because it was so well concealed. To his back and right were the 6 foot hedges that surrounded the Dursley's Yard. To his left was the back of the Garage that he had been painting that afternoon. And in front of him, between Harry and his only route of escape, was Vernon.
"Now see here, Boy, I told you no contact with those Freaks!!" Vernon hissed, aware that undue noise would attract attention.
He continued as he approached Harry, who had rapidly backed into the Hedge in an attempt to retreat. Harry opened his mouth to reply, only to be cut off by a sharp slap to his jaw that caused him to bite his tongue. He attempted to once again dodge, but the branches from the hedge had become entangled in the many holes and worn spots in his clothing, and he was held fast.
"You will regret having been born when I'm done with you Boy!" Vernon growled, and began punching him the stomach, boxing his ears, and backhanding him across the face. Harry felt the branches of the hedge scratching and digging into his back as he was forced further in to the hedge by his Uncle's blows. After what had seemed like eternity, Harry welcomed the blackness as it swallowed him.
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**At Grimwald Place**
Snape was not happy. Summer was supposed to be his vacation from all things school related. Sure darkness never sleeps. He's responsibilities as a spy were 24 – 7 – 365. But for three months he was supposed to get to spend the time that he was not in the presence of the Dark Lord in what ever fashion he desired, and that did not include babysitting the Weasleys or Potter. Not only did he not get to return to the privacy and quiet of his family's estate up north, but he also didn't get to stay at Hogwarts, where he at least had access to his lab space and materials. At Grimwald place he got neither. When the portrait of old Mrs. Black wasn't screaming, one of the two Weasley children were.
He had managed to avoid most of the house's other resident's for the day. At breakfast Moll had promised Ron and Ginny that Harry would be able to visit if six conditions were fulfilled.
*Perfect* Snape though *As if these two didn't make enough noise already, lets add Potter to the batch*
He had glanced over Molly's shoulder, and noted that the first item bought him nearly a month to convince Dumbledore that he should return to Snape Manor. Of course the second item on the list insured that there wouldn't be a moment of silence until he left.
*Well, they are fooling themselves if they think that I will have any part in any of this. Potter can stay at he aunt and uncles as far as I'm concerned. Speaking of Potter, he should have sent his first owl by now.*
Snape had glanced at the Calendar on the wall - *in fact he should have written two days ago!!*
Snape had of course questioned Ron about the matter only to find out that Potter's bird was in the house, and had not even been sent to him yet. He had order Ron to get the Owl as written a short note reminding Potter of the Order's wishes. That had been hours ago, and he had not heard back.
*How long does it take to write a blasted not* Snape cursed to himself.
He had been pacing for about a half an hour when the white Owl flew into the house with a note tied to each leg. Snape growled as he untied the short note and read it.
*What the hell* he thought *how long did it take to write a note that short. Which told him nothing?! NOTHING! No respect, none at all, keeping people waiting, worrying. As though he had nothing better to do than wait for Potter's response* Snape fumed.
*Merlin be damned if he didn't care if the boy wrote on time – an extension in deed. He'd thought he'd made it clear that Potter was not to consider himself above The Rules. He'd send the owl back in three days with a note that made it clear that no exceptions would be made Golden Boy, Boy-Who-Lived, or mere boy. Harry Potter would follow the rules set out for him same as anyone else.*
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**Back at Privet Drive**
Harry woke up some time later, no longer feeling the sticks form the hedge in his back. It was dark, but he could tell he was still out side. The temperature had dropped and he shivered against the cooling night. The air was damp, promising a storm.
Harry leaned his head back, groaning as his muscles protested. He breathed in deeply, only to find that that caused a sharp pain in the right side of his back that was bad enough to make his eyes water. He tipped his head forward and the world began to spin. He did his best to focus on his hands, which were fuzzy, but quite obviously bound with what looked, by its bright orange color, to be an extension cord. The orange extended to his feet, and a small wiggle confirmed that they too were bound.
Harry began to wonder whether his uncle intended to leave him here all night, or whether he was simply waiting until the neighbors went to bed in order to move him unnoticed. Or then again, perhaps he intended to leave him here forever. No, thought Harry, that was stupid, if he was to be left here forever, his uncle would have at least gagged him, if not thrown a tarp over him to keep the flies away.
Harry closed his eyes and chuckled at the image of himself - lying behind the garage for the rest of the summer. Oh that was too funny, the-boy-who-lived never found because he was hidden behind a garage. He began to shake with laughter, only to find that this too hurt and left him gasping for breath, which still hurt to do. As he began to black out again he was roughly jerked away as he was grabbed by his collar and hauled towards the house.
*Well it looks like I will be spending tonight inside after all* Harry though as he slipped back into the shadows of his mind.
**End Chapter 2**
Soooo... do people prefer short chapters updated often (like the past two), or longer chapters updated less often? Review and let me know. As always praise and constructive criticism both appreciated.