Chapter One

Dreams, Dementos and the Dursleys

The summer closed oppressively round the teenager as he walked home. His T- shirt hung untucked around his waist, his hair unkempt and untidy. As he walked curtains would twitch behind locked windows, prying eyes would peer out gaps in the blinds. Most of them muttering under their breath about that 'Potter boy's' wild antics the previous Summer. Word had spread quickly of his behavior, most of his neighbours believing he attended St. Brutus's Secure Centre for Incurably for Incurably Criminal Boys. A cruel story Harry had been forced to use while his Aunt Marge stayed over the Summer three years ago now.

Harry Potter walked home under the amber evening, the world silent, except for the soft chirping of crickets in the bush rows of Privet Drive. It had been his first day at muggle work, realizing that Harry was now sixteen the Dursleys had instantly forced him to get a job, much to Harry's objection. He had argued with his Uncle so much that he had been threatened with living back under the cupboard under the stairs and hadn't even been daunted by Harry's threats to contact The Order.

'You're getting a bloody job boy,' snarled Uncle Vernon, his scarlet cheeks looking highly volatile, 'your Aunt and I have fed and clothed you for the last sixteen years and now, you're going to pay some keep.' Harry knew better then to argue with his uncle while he was in this sort of mood, but still the sheer injustice of his uncle's words reverberated in Harry's mind. He stormed to his room taking three steps at a time and slammed the door.

Hedwig awoke with a start ruffling her feathers' and throwing Harry a disapproving glance. Her large amber eyes cooling his untamed temper. He flung himself onto his bed and buried his head into his pillow.

Tears poured down his face immune to his attempts at stopping them his desperation getting the better of him. He had lost the one person who had seemed family to him, the path between him and his parents. He knew that Remus and most of the other council members had also known his parents but they had never been as personable to Harry as Sirius had. Never offered Harry to come and live with him, not understand him and be able to talk to him about his parents in any great length. Sure, he viewed Mrs. Weasly as a surrogate mother but she hadn't been able to fill the space inside Harry longing for some sort of family relation.

The dreams from his childhood were re-awakened inside of him, yearning for some other relative or for Sirius to return but he knew in his heart that it was fruitless.

He still wasn't sure whether he wanted to talk to anyone about it, the unfairness felt by Harry due to the last months incidents heavy on his mind. Why him? What had he done in this world to deserve this? The memory of Dumbledore in his office telling Harry about the prophecy and that either he or Voldermort would kill the other, wanting to believe that it was Dumbledore's fault. The thought of getting a job, now also seemed a new and infuriating prospect.

But that had been how the whole Summer had been, him and the Dursley's having monumental arguments, only a slight improvement on the previous summer due to owls from the order every three days and very occasionally, much to Aunt Petunia's disgust, a visit.

So as he walked home from his first day at work Harry hummed under his breath, trying not to look up at the muggle faces peering at him. It hadn't been too bad he thought, at least he could see all the muggles news, which was a welcome relief, as last Summer he had been hiding under windows sills. He had seen pictures of Voldemort's death-eaters on the front page of most of the newspapers proclaiming they were part of a radical cult that believed that humans were vermin ripe for destruction and to report them to your local police station. Harry found this highly amusing, as it was clear the Ministry of Magic had done everything possible to alert the muggles without telling them the secret of wizardry. He could imagine Cornelius Fudge pulling his hair out as he thought of what to do; surrounded by his advisors and probably bombarding Dumbledore with owls.

Utterly dejected, he traipsed into the Dursley's front landing, slamming the door behind him. No one even greeted him or asked him how his first day went, but that was normal so Harry went upstairs had a quick shower and then sort refuge from the outside world in his room.

As he entered he saw a great tawny owl perched on his headboard with a package attached to its leg, on the front was written in bold green writing,

FOR THE ATTENTION OF HARRY POTTER

4 PRIVET DRIVE

LITTLE WHINGING

SURREY

Curious to find out what it was he went over and took the package off the owl, but as he did so he received a sharp nip from the tawny owl. It looked at him scathingly and then back down at the parcel. Harry noticed that next to it was a small slip, which he read also:

I Harry Potter acknowledge that I have received my O.W.L. results.

Signed

His heart racing Harry took the quill in the other claw of the owl and signed the parchment, hardly noticing that it had been a Fib-Finding Quill. As he briskly crossed the T's in Potter the owl took off leaving him the package, lying on his bed. Excited Harry quickly started tearing the envelope open. He quickly pulled out the letter and started to read:

Dear Mr. Potter,
It gives me great delight to present you with your OWLs (Ordinary Wizarding Levels) results. You may remember the unusual circumstances in which the Astronomy and History of Magic exams took place, due to these unforeseen events we at the Wizarding Examinations Authority have decided to rather then mark you just on your success on this OWL but also on your previous exam scores. Moreover, we have been in contact with your History of Magic and Astronomy teachers with your Head of House who have all agreed to allow this to happen and have been more then willing to allow us to look over your past exam papers for the previous years. Although it is with some concern I add that Professor Binns had little idea who you were referring to you as someone known as Perkins but never mind. You will find your results enclosed in your envelope your OWL results along with a list of subjects you may take on into your 6th year of Hogwarts. I urge you to choose wisely and would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the luck in the future, Yours Sincerely,

Professor G. Marchbanks Chairman of the Wizarding Examinations Authority,

Harry breathed a sigh of relief he had been worried about the results of those two exams. The fact that they had used past papers was also reassuring he had never done badly in any of his History of Magic or Astronomy exams per-se. Quickly he pulled out the second letter and read the contents:

Dear Mr. Potter, The format of the results is thus. The theory graced is placed first followed by the practical, therefore if one achieved an E in theory Astronomy and A in practical Astronomy then it would be presented E/A followed by the overall result which would depend on the overall exam marks. I wish you good luck.

Astronomy E/A=A

Care of Magical Creatures O/E=E

Charms E/E=E

Defense Against the Dark Arts O/O=O

Divination D/P=D Herbology A/A=A

History of Magic A=A

Potions E/O=O

Transfiguration E/E=E

O=2 E=3 A=3 P=0 D=1

Harry's heart leapt, he'd done it. The only subject he had failed was divination but in his mind that didn't matter. Filled with jubilation he quickly pulled out a spare piece of parchment and was about to write to Ron when he heard his Uncle's voice from downstairs, 'Bloody pigeon! Shoo, get out.'

He ran down the stairs at break neck speed to see Pigwigeon racing round the Dursley's kitchen, screeching excitedly as if it was all a game. Harry couldn't help but laugh, seeing Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia chasing it round the kitchen, screaming like it was a mass-murderer. Pigwigeon eventually settled on top of the fridge and much to Harry's amusement try as Uncle Vernon might his short arms couldn't reach the chirping bird. As soon as Pigwigeon saw Harry however he let out an even more shrill and excited shriek and dived right at him. He plummeted into Harry's chest, almost winding him turning quickly he ran bow-legged back upstairs for the fourth time that day.

Slamming the door again, he set Pigwigeon onto the bed. Hedwig, who had never liked Pigwigeon, quickly flew out the window. Anxious to see what Ron's fist letter contained, Harry took the letter off Pig's leg and started reading.

Hi Harry,
Hope they're treating you well, just give us a call on the fellytone if they're not. Dad says he has it all sussed and even if he doesn't Hermione's here to help. Just got our results through I got 1O (in Defense against the Dark Arts, wonder why?)

Harry smiled, he had secretly taught Ron and many other people Defense Against the Dark Arts in their previous year at Hogwarts right under their teacher, an agent of the Ministry of Magic. Feeling pleased with himself Harry continued to read the letter:

Failed in Divination, but as Hermione said, even the teacher couldn't pass the exam.

Harry snorted, even though he had felt extremely sorry the previous year when Professor Trelawney was fired he couldn't help but feel happy that he'd never have to sit in that musty old attic again.

Not much is happening at the moment, Moony's been away for a long time and Hermione's parents have come to stay. She got 9Os in her exams, I swear she must have cheated. So now I suppose all we have to do is decide which subjects to take. Anyway, see you soon,

Ron

Harry's stomach lurched, Remus had been away from the order. He wondered what had happened. If anything it wasn't good news, but at least it was better then being in the dark, which had happened the previous year, much to Harry's disgust.

He went back to the fresh piece of parchment and began to write:

Ron

Thanks for the letter. Dursley's have made me get a job, said that I needed to pay them keep. Haven't heard much about Tom but keeping an ear out. Got 2Os and failed divination, Say hi to Hermione and her parents.

Harry

He tied the letter to Pigwigeon's leg and threw him out into the amber twilight. Having finished writing to Ron Harry went down into the Dursley's kitchen, Aunt Petunia was siting at the table sipping tea through her pursed lips. As soon as she saw Harry her eyes followed him round the kitchen.

His mind wondered back to the letter that Ron sent as something at the back of his mind started to grow, trying to grab attention. What was it in the letter? Lupin was missing and Hermione was there. Got it Hermione's parents were staying. The realization hit Harry, but they're muggles, they can't stay at the order. It hit him again, Voldemort, Dumbledore must have known that Hermione's parents were in danger, being a muggle-born and all.

He could feel Aunt. Petunia's eyes on him piercing into him as he went and made a jam sandwich. He slowly went to the sink and got a glass of water before heading upstairs, he thought longingly of being to apparate at the end of his sixth year at Hogwarts as he headed up the stairs for the sixth time today. Eating slowly he pulled out Sirius' Christmas present to him a set of books entitled Practical Defensive Magic and its use against the Dark Arts. The first few volumes had been an interesting read and now Harry was on volume 7: Guarding your Mind from Outside Intruders; A guide to Occlumency and the Patronus Charm. After reading through the foreword which managed to make the sentence: You can't protect your mind if your not strong willed, stretch to 5 pages, Harry decided to go to bed. He couldn't take much in, his mind taken up by the thought of Hermione in danger.

This night he hoped to be rid of the recurring nightmare that had plagued him ever since Sirius' demise, watching him fall through the veil, seeing Cedric lying next to him his mouth and eyes open with blood dribbling in thick drops. Bellatrix Lestrange grinning; laughing in that horribly high pitched squeal, she turned into Umbridge, Harry looked down and saw his arm bleeding with the words 'I must not lie and lead my friends into danger' etched deeply into his flesh. Guilt ballooned in his mind, why did he fall for Voldermot's trick? The Weasleys surrounded him, peering lifeless into his face, the darkness increasing the shadows under their usually welcoming eyes. But he wasn't and this time Hermione stood next to them her usually blue eyes dull her robes ripped and scarred, her lifeless body limp in Ron's arms.

He woke with a start, his bed sheets wet and soaked with sweat, he calmed down repeating to himself it was only a dream. He reached over to his bedside table and took a swig of the sleeping potion Remus had given him on his last visit. As he finished drinking it his eyes became more unfocussed as he slipped back into the realm of dreams.

He was standing alone on the Quidditch pitch the stands deserted as the moon shone on him from above. The ground shook and split as a hoard of dementors rose from their eerie graves, their grey cloaks flowing in the windless night. One wore a crown on his head; silver in the cold night it was this one that advanced on Harry choking the air forcing him to kneel. Reality faded as colours span round his head.

He grabbed his wand and shouted, 'Expecto Patronum' a thin whisp of light came from his wand, the dementors hand was tightening round Harry's throat he couldn't breath.

He tried again, summoning the thought of him going to live with Sirius he bellowed 'EXPECTO PATRONUM'

He woke with a start, the Dursleys were with him in there, with a look of utter terror on their faces. He could see his patronus, the stag, tossing something around the room, it looked like a thin shadow.

Then he realised what was happening instead of the inky blackness that is compulsory to night; a pale green light bathed his small room, washing over the walls and bed. He looked outside curious of the maker of the light. Terror filled him, instead of the cloudy night promised by the weatherman, a pale green skull with a snake in its mouth hung loosely in the twilight shade. He looked down frantically and saw the death-eaters, each cloaked with a black hood and evil mask. He snatched his wand up and pointed it at the Dursleys.

'What the bloody hell is going on?' yelled Harry his voice fuelled by fear. He glanced out the window again and saw the death eaters. They circled the house as they chanted. He couldn't make out the words but on every beat the house would shudder.

He heard a loud pop of apparition, followed by two more. He yelled at the Dursleys, 'Stay here if you want to live.'

As he ran out of his bedroom, Mad-Eye Moody grabbed his shoulder, 'Harry, your OK, thank Merlin.' He signaled to Tonks and another auror Harry hadn't seen before but who had just apparated in the Dursley's living room, 'help him pack we need to get them out of here quick.'

The two aurors rushed up the stairs and helped Harry to pack his belongings into his case. 'What's going on,' asked Harry, 'what are they doing.' 'Evil curse Harry,' said Tonks faltering as the house groaned under the intensity of the magic. Harry was pleased to notice that this time Tonks' hair was an electric blue. 'They're trying to get to you, see, were going to headquarters.' 'What about the Dursleys?' Asked Harry over a particularly loud rumble. 'Dumbledore said we have to bring everyone back,' yelled Tonks even more loudly, 'he said that leaving them here would be leaving a wingless fly to a spider.' 'But they're muggles,' stammered Harry not believing what he was hearing. 'Well the Grangers don't mind' Tonks yelled while trying to shove Hedwig into the case as well, it took a loud shriek from her, for Tonks to realise her mistake.

Moody limped in on his wooden leg, his magic eye peering outside, 'The muggles are all ready,' he growled, 'lets go.'

The three aurors Harry and the Dursleys, who looked like they couldn't decide whether to be furious or petrified, gathered round the table. The other auror who Harry hadn't seen before took out an old boot and put it on the table. Aunt Petunia was about to complain before Mad-Eye gave her a withering stare. She melted under it. They stood there for a few minutes then the boot glowed a pale blue.

The house rumbled again, lights fell down and they heard thumping noises from upstairs.

'Everybody,' bellowed Moody, 'grab the boot on the count of three if you want to survive.' The Dursley's who now looked utterly timid would have done anything. 'three...two...one...'

They all grabbed on to the port key, Harry felt that strange sensation and then fell onto the kitchen table at number twelve Grimmauld place.