The New Harry

Harry Potter sat on the only unbroken swing in the park.

He was seventeen years old and had grown quite a bit over the summer. He now reached 5' 10". The Dursely's had made him get a job much to Dudley's amusement. However due to it, Harry had grown a lean physique. He did not have that goofy look he had as a kid. In fact, he was actually quite good looking. However, there were some changes of course. Including longer but just as messy hair but his emerald eyes seemed to have lost much of its spark. He had new clothes too, seeing as Dudley's old ones were too short. Most of his new wardrobe was dark colored.

It was hot out and the only people roaming the streets were Dudley's gang and a little boy. When they came into view at the corner, Harry's eyes narrowed. The gang was chasing after the little boy Harry knew as Mark Evans. He disappeared behind the corner and Dudley's gang looked around confused. Being as idiotic as they were, they went towards the other direction.

Harry got off the swing and walked quietly over to where Mark was hiding behind the trashcan. He leaned against the wall waiting for the boy to come out, smirking to himself. It seemed the boy decided that the coast was clear. He emerged from his hiding place.

"Mark Evans, right?" Harry asked and took no surprise when Mark jumped away in fright

"Y.. Y.. You're tha.. that Pot.. Potter, kid," Mark stuttered in fright. Harry allowed himself a grin. Mark continued. "They say you go to St. Brutus's Secure Center for the Incurably Criminal Boys."

"You don't have to be scared of me," Harry said. "I want to help you."

"Why?" Mark asked. Harry lost his grin as he stared down the he last saw Dudley.

Harry put his smile back on. "Because if you believe it, my cousin is a prat. You with me?"

"My mother told me to stay away from you. She said you're dangerous. Are you?"

Harry laughed. "It matter the point of view. Do want protection or not?" he asked as he lost his patience.

"O.. O.. Okay," he stuttered.

Harry grinned. "Excellent." Suddenly, Harry saw his cousin's gang walking back down the street. "Here, let them see you but I'll come out before they do anything," he said at Mark's scared look. Mark did as he was told and Dudley spotted him, plastering on a stupid grin.

"Oh boys, look what we have here," Dudley said as his gang grinned. "It's our runaway." They all laughed.

"Hey Evans, this is going to hurt," Piers Polkiss said as he chuckled. Dudley stepped forward and Mark looked frightened.

"Hey Dudders," Harry said as he emerged from the shadows. "Aww, is the big bad Diddledums picking on the little eleven year old?"

Dudley look mildly surprised but his gang smiled mischievously. Harry walked in between Dudley and Mark.

"Get out of the way Potter," he growled which was rather amusing considering it made him look like a growling pig.

"Nuh- uh- uh. What's the magic word?" Harry asked, as he enjoyed the look of fright on his cousin's face. The gang was looking on in confusion.

"Let's pin him Big D," one of the boys said.

"Now, now, you wouldn't want to do that, right Big D?" said Harry in a little boy's voice.

"What's he talking about Dud?" asked Piers.

"Nothing," Dudley said. "Listen Potter, I don't care what you say or do. If you don't move I'll..."

Harry cut him off. "I'll... I'll... I'll WHAT! Hit me?" Harry was starting to become annoyed. "Go ahead. I want to see you try."

At that very moment, Harry reached into his pocket. Dudley looked to see what Harry was doing. Harry took out a piece of his wand. Only visible so that Dudley could see. Dudley then turned around, "C'mon... lets go."

Dudley and his gang were leaving when Piers grabbed Dudley's arm. "Are you going to take that from him? I thought you were supposed to be Big D? You know the one the one every kid and teenager in this town is afraid of?"

Dudley went red, so red that he almost looked like his father, Vernon Dursley, Harry's fat uncle.

"Is little Dudders going to hit me?" Harry teased, but this time he had gone too far. Dudley raised his fist back and knocked Harry down. Harry hit the floor hard. He hadn't been ready for it. Then Dudley went on the floor and kept giving blows to Harry's face. Mark Evans looked on. He got the courage to go on top of Dudley and pull him away from Harry.

He put his arms around Dudley's neck and confused him enough to throw him to the ground. Dudley's friends stopped beating Harry to see what was going on. Poor Mark was underneath Dudley, choking him so tight that Dudley's face was turning purple. Dudley raised his body a little, raising Mark with him and pounded hard in the floor making Mark's head hit the concrete hard. He was completely knocked out. Dudley had set himself free of Mark's grasp, his friends backed off Harry.

When Dudley's gang had got off Harry and went to help him out, this gave Harry time to regain his composure and take out his wand. When Dudley started towards Harry again, he stood up, wand in hand and pointed it towards Dudley's heart.

"Don't come any closer," he breathed. "I will kill you, don't bloody test me. I've done it once before. After all, I killed my own godfather."

"What's he talking about Dud?" Piers asked Dudley, looking more frightened then ever before.

"Maybe he deserved it," Dudley snarled.

Harry stared to tremble. "What did you say?" he said coldly.

"You heard me, I said he deserved it. Just like your bloody no account, good for nothing piece of crap father. I'm glad that we don't have his filth around anymore," Dudley said harshly. "Don't think that I don't hear you in the night screaming for your boyfriend Cedric." All of the boys started to laugh. Harry felt surging hatred for his cousin. He wanted to... to...

Just then, at the end of Harry's wand, sparks of light came out and blew Dudley about 15 feet away from Harry. Harry cursed aloud. It was unlucky for him that just then that Mark woke up. He looked around. He had seen Dudley fly back about 20 feet away from Harry and him. Mark ran. Dudley landed on the ground with a large thud, obviously unconscious. His gang looked from Dudley to Harry in shock. Apparently, they were too stupid to move for they continued to stare.

Harry cursed under his breath. He hadn't meant to do any magic but he found himself not caring. Let them expel me, was all that was running through his mind.

Suddenly, there was the sound of a large man pounding down the street with a pitter-patter behind him. Uncle Vernon made his entrance with his wife in tow.

"Dudley, fight, commotion," he huffed as he looked around wildly. His eyes landed on Dudley and he made a sound much like a strangled while Aunt Petunia screeched and ran to her son.

Uncle Vernon turned to Harry. "What have you done to my SON!" he shouted in rage. That was when Dudley's gang made an exit and Harry's temper started to return.

"You know, I really don't know and can care less. He can die for all I care," he said, shrugging his shoulders. Uncle Vernon made to dive at Harry but a series of loud cracks stopped him. They were suddenly surrounded by aurors and the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge. He smiled wickedly.