(A/N: Well here it is, after some long months of editing, rewriting, writer's block, and quite a bit of procrastination Chapter 1 has finally been completed. *throws confetti* 'Dark Star Rising' is being developed as I write, and so I apologize about the delays that will come between chapters. I swear on all that is misinterpretable and orange that this fic will not be abandoned. *glares at Pixie-Sarah* Of course, I couldn't have written this without the help of my good friends hyparly4suger, Nari Dragon-girl, and Pixie-Sarah, who, despite waving torches and glaring many times during the past few months, have kept me focused to some extent. Thanks dudes! And now without further ado, I present to you the next instalment of 'Dark Star Rising'…)
Disclaimer: I do not own anything that JK Rowling owns. She is the mastermind behind Harry Potter and I am not. I do own the few new characters and that will come up later and the plot. Please ask if you want to borrow anything from my story. I would do the same for anyone else.
~Chapter 1: Time Stands Still~
Lily and James' son sat silhouetted against the full moon at the tower window. Through the glass the snowy ground gleamed eerily. Aside from sleep, this was the only time Harry could find solitude away from the hustle and bustle of class, quidditch, and friends. Night had become his precious time to be alone, reflect and sort out his thoughts.
A cloud passed over the moon causing the stars to shine brilliantly against their backdrop of darkness. But in Harry's mind it wasn't two twinkling stars that caught his eye, but a pair of gleaming eyes in the shadows: his first glimpse of Sirius on Privet Drive.
Why? thought Harry Why did you have to leave me?! What did I do to deserve losing my family twice? The memories of that fateful day still continued to plague him. Even now, one and a half years later, Harry's dreams at night were still of his godfather and the details were always as clear as they were the first night after his death.
Sirius
A solitary tear trickled down his cheek. Sirius Black was the closest Harry had ever been to having a true family. Rage and frustration filled his mind. Inside he knew he would never be able to forgive himself, Headmaster Dumbledore, or Professor Lupin for simply letting Sirius fall through the veiled arch in the Department of Mysteries.
Wasn't it just seconds before that I watched Dumbledore pull an escaping Death Eater off the steps with an effortless flick of his wand? He didn't kill any in that room that deserved death or save the ones on his own side! I didn't. Even get. To say. Goodbye. Is his mistake of telling me the truth once it was too late, supposed to console me? He guessed it was meant to. Not that I truly care; nothing can bring Sirius back.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The summer following his godfather's death Harry thought could be much more-- tolerable at least. Which it was of course with the promise of the Order's protection and the impression his newfound friends had left on Uncle Vernon. For the first two weeks Harry wrote, promised, to Mad Eye Moody and friends describing long days of "family outings" to the beach and whatnot. Also detailing countless rounds of chess against an enchanted Wizard's Chess set courtesy of Fred and George. He owled many letters to Ron and Hermione making plans to meet at Hogsmeade the Last week of July. Afterwards, they would all stay at the Weasleys' until it was time to return to school. All in all, things had finally started looking better for Harry.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Back at Hogwarts not much had changed; classes continued as usual with one exception Dumbledore had approved the concept behind the Dumbledore's Army group with the Ministry of Magic, offering a specialized Defence Against the Dark Arts class. It was offered only to Sixth Years and above therefore upsetting younger DA members and hopefuls like Dennis Creevey. The age limit was only put in place as a precautionary measure when parents threatened to demand the removal of the class after hearing of subjects the course was to cover.
Affectionately labelled as AT (auror training), advanced DADA became the most popular class at Hogwarts. Even the teachers insisted on all having a chance to teach a week or two of it, and posted a schedule in the staff room. Professor Snape was also given the opportunity to teach for awhile, continuing his abuse of the Gryffindors whenever possible and seeming to enjoy every minute of it.
By the time students returned after Christmas the staff had devised numerous safety and emergency procedures to be followed. They covered everything from fire and floods, to a full fledged invasion and were charmed into small books for the students to keep with them at all times. They started to fully realize the threat of war, and a nervousness began to creep through the Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff houses. Slytherins only laughed at their peers' growing fear with amusement.
No changes or additions were made to the teaching staff unlike previous years. The Headmaster seemed reluctant to let outsiders invade the close-knit administrative circle. During the next few years the Order could have no possibilities for information leaking out. They planned to stay quiet until they had an open window for attack. But they had to wait for the enemy to strike first; observe, then move.
Outside in the wizarding world tension had continuously built since the return of Lord Voldemort was revealed. Anticipation and rumours murmured in the streets day after day. There seemed no doubt that something would happen soon. The world waited in nervous patience for a year and when the next summer finally came, the air was still. Fear turned to relief, normal lives were resumed and the glass was once again half full.
Harry remembered the front page headline of the Daily Prophet the day he finished his sixth year; 'Ministry to be trusted?' Well, Harry had thought, maybe not …maybe we were all wrong… But Harry knew very well what he had seen a year ago and that Voldemort was a living threat. And it's my job to destroy him, he reminded himself, or be killed by the same man, no – creature who killed my parents. Sometimes Harry almost wished that he hadn't survived with 'only a scar'. It would have been much easier not to go through everything from the last 17 years being watched and criticised. After withstanding too many battles, some wounds will never heal.
~End of Chapter 1~
A/N: Hope you enjoyed reading Chapter 1! If you did, please click on that purple button down there and review. If you didn't, still click on the purple button and tell me why. Thanks for reading, see you next chapter!
-Rílaisseth, Dínedhel, Elf of Too Many Names
* Nai Valaraukar tye-mátar *