A man screamed in pain. The next morning they found his body. They also found a note. He has struck again...

Sirius was dueling with Bellatrix Lestrange. He was hit with a curse and fell through the archway. Harry watched in horror. Bellatrix laughed maniacally.

Flash

"CRUCIO!"

Bellatrix writhed on the floor of the Ministry of Magic.

"New at using the Unforgivable curses aren't you? I'll show you how you really do it!"

Flash

Harry was walking alone in a dark room, except he wasn't alone. Wispy figures clawed at his robes, moaning in agony. Then, out of no where, Harry looked up, and saw the soul of Sirius floating in front of him.

"I'm sorry Harry. I'm sorry I won't get to see you grow up."

"Sirius? Why did you have to die?"

"It was my destiny, which we have no control over. Your destiny is to confront Voldemort. One cannot live while the other is present."

Sirius's voice started to fade. The other souls were pulling him back.

Harry tried to move toward him, but the other souls held him in place.

"SIRIUS!!! NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!"

KABOOM! Thunder exploded in the summer sky. Lightning performed dazzling shows in the night, and Harry, now awake, shivered at the nightmare he just experienced.

Taptaptap. A disheveled owl was knocking on the glass at Harry's window. It was Ron's owl, Pig. Harry let the bird inside his room, and it immediately stuck out it's leg and hooted with pride. He removed the letter from Pigwidgeon and started reading.

Dear Harry,

How are you? Things are a nightmare here. Mum always seems on the edge of bursting into tears whenever Snuffles is mentioned. Buckbeak is doing well, considering. Write back soon.

Sincerely

Ron

Why did he mention Sirius? Awfully gutsy on Ron's part.

Harry scribbled a reply.

Dear Ron,

Privet Drive is miserable. I keep having nightmares about Sirius and my Occlumency hasn't helped. I can't wait to get back to Hogwarts.

Your Friend,

Harry

Harry beckoned Pig and reattached the parchment. Pig hooted and tried to fly out the window. Unfortunately, Harry had closed the window, and Pig smashed into it before Harry could open it. Pig stood up, shook his head, and fell over.

"Well, I guess I'll send Hedwig."

He attached a postscript in his letter about Pig staying with him and sent Hedwig out the door.

"What a night."

Harry spent the rest of the month at the Dursleys subjecting himself to endless chores and bare portions of food. But one night, while Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia were watching the news, someone knocked on the door. Uncle Vernon, though annoyed, tried his best to keep a straight face as he answered the knock.

"Hello Mr. Dursley. May I come in."

Vernon just stood with his mouth open as a tall, bearded figure walked into his house and sat down in the living room.

"Hello Petunia. How are you this evening? May I inquire on the whereabouts of Harry Potter?"

"Erm...o-of of course. Harry!"

Harry flew down the stairs muttering something that sounded like, "Bloody Muggles," and stopped dead at the sight of the stranger.

"Professor Dumbledore?! What are you doing here?"

"I've come to take you to Hogwarts, Harry. It is far too dangerous for you to travel by train, so I decided to bring you myself." Uncle Vernon continued staring, Aunt Petunia's lips were pursed like she had just drank lemon juice, and Dumbledore quietly asked for a cup of tea.

Harry hurried over to the kitchen and started brewing the tea. But as he turned on the burner, the gears in his head started turning.

Why was it too dangerous to travel by train?
I didn't get any reviews for my first chapter, so I have no one to thank but my Beta-reader. Thanks Cas. Three guesses why it's to dangerous to travel by train. -Waits patiently for guesses- Any day now.