Harry Potter and the HalfBlood Prince

by King Shadow Knight

He looked rather like an old lion. There were streaks of grey in his mane of tawny hair and his bushy eyebrows; he had keen yellowish eyes and a certain rangy loping grace. (6th year)

1. A Talk With Remus

Chapter: 1, A Talk With Remus

As the sun grew weaker and weaker over Privet drive, the street lights began to flicker and grow brighter a lonely boy sat on the perfectly mowed lawn of 4, Privet drive
watching the sun set dismally thinking of the past few months, it was Harry. He sat there as the darkness fell thinking about nothing but Sirius; his godfather .He had been pondering about this all the time. The Dursley's now were trying to avoid Harry after being warned by Mad-Eye Moody and the other members of the order and life had certainly improved at Privet drive. But, as days went by things happened which were not exactly to his taste as Dudley grew more and more irritating as he went on shouting at the top of voice about his new girlfriend. Not even a week had passed Harry was missing Hogwarts even more badly than he ever thought he would. He started to avoid being in the house more often only catching up to the evening news. Then as he saw the sun had now set completely, he decided to go for a walk to the play park and back, as he had got used to doing every evening for the past six days as he walked across the road that lead to magnolia crescent he heard a crack behind him and as he turned with his wand out which he got used to carrying in his waist band 'you don't have to attack its only me', said a voice Harry remembered as Lupin's

'How do I trust you ', was all Harry could say he had seen enough not to trust people by their appearances especially after what happened at the end of summer.
'Well 'he added impatiently as got irritated further 'I am still waiting 'he added getting irritated further. 'If you are looking to attack me death eater you will not know what hit you'

The man opposite Harry looked at him as though challenging him to attack.
'You will be expelled for further use of magic outside school', he said coolly.
'You don't understand do you ', said Harry angrily 'I don't care about it I give you only one last chance'
The stranger then smiled and said 'well then I have to take that burden off you I am Remus', he said
'I still don't trust you ', said Harry now angrily raising his wand to attack.
'Wait 'said a voice like Lupin's again 'That was good, Tonks, but you have to leave now I will take it from here'
Then as Harry turned to look around and saw that Lupin was talking to what looked like Tonks.
'Sorry there, I was just trying to test out if you were still vigilant ', she said.
'Thanks a lot, now if you all please stop following me around I have had enough, I don't want to talk about anything or to anybody, please leave' and he started walking in the opposite direction heading back to privet drive .As he reached the lawn he saw Lupin still behind him. Harry turned and said 'I told you not to follow me .I don't care for anything you have to say.'
Harry just wanted to stay alone he didn't want to be near anyone who made him constantly remember what happened a few weeks ago. He looked around to see Lupin as though waiting for him to speak.
'Well I just told you I don't want to talk '.
'But you must listen ''started Lupin
Before Harry cut in
'I don't want to I don't want members of the order trailing me everywhere I go, if I find out again I will not even talk to any of you.'
'So please keep away leave me alone '
'Harry but ''
Harry opened the door and went in and closed the door behind him not thinking just then uncle Vernon entered the kitchen 'you boy what are you doing here?'
'Shouldn't you be out ', he asked
'It doesn't matter you '; Harry retaliated in an angry tone 'you don't have to scold me for coming earlier than your Ickle Duddleykins '
At this uncle Vernon moved forward holding Harry by the scruff of his neck
'You speak to me in a proper tone boy, I don't want this insolence' he thundered.
Just then there was a knock on the door and it clicked open on the delay by uncle Vernon.

It was Lupin 'Mr. Dursley'; he said in an angry voice 'I wouldn't be doing what you are if I were you' he said in a menacing tone, which made uncle Vernon fall back.
Harry turned to him he wanted to thank him but remembered his treatment and felt guilty, yet he didn't know what he wanted to do, so uncertain on how he was feeling. He thought he would have forgotten about the past weeks but he was now feeling far guiltier than before for Sirius not being there and by the look on Lupin's face it was clear that he to had as many sleepless nights as him.
He then said 'Professor Lupin let's go, I will talk to you'

Thinking maybe he should give him a chance.
The expression on his face changed from hatred to a
Very different expression something which Harry couldn't understand he lowered his wand and said

'Okay'
Then he followed Harry to the lawn then he said 'So are you ready to hear me out'

Harry replied 'yes '
'I have come to tell you that Dumbledore doesn't want you to leave the house no matter what owls you get.

Both Ron and Hermione are safe as are the rest of the members, Dumbledore permitted them to call you, I suppose using a telephone, or whatever it is, just stay in touch' said Lupin
Harry replied 'And is there any reason for me to stay indoors if yes I want to know it, I am telling you, people don't like being locked I hope he remembers what happened last time, when he did it'
'Harry you will have to trust him,' said Lupin.
'I do, but there are something's that I did that makes me put least trust in not him but myself, if I can avoid a situation where others get hurt because of me, I can take my own precautions'
'Harry you weren't responsible for what happened!'
'I ask you, have you not felt at least since that if I hadn't gone to the Dept of Mysteries that I was foolish to leave the school ', said Harry 'Don't lie give me a straight answer'

Lupin looked down and said 'Yes but I also feel that Sirius shouldn't have come too'
'But you couldn't stop him, because it all came down to me', said Harry.
'Enough', said Lupin, clearly as angry as Harry 'Harry I just came here to tell you that Dumbledore wishes you to do as I said before.'
'Then will you stop following me around I will not go farther than privet drive, I promise', was all he could muster up to say then he turned and said 'Can't I go to Hogwarts quickly, I know the reason I have to stay here bit I don't like living here, it would be helpful if I could go somewhere alone and Hogwarts is the only place where this is possible '
'I will talk to him about this', said Lupin. 'Please lie low for a while because I won't be seeing you for a week I hope I find you in one piece.'
'Don't worry about me, tell me when is it going to be full moon', Harry said in a low whisper.
'Soon ', was all he got as a reply. Then without any realization Harry was talking more about how the magical world ended up in this situation.
And he talked more freely than he had in days not realizing that a whole hour had passed when he completely managed to forget the past but then as Lupin began to leave he felt more guilty at the realization he felt so better talking to him, even if he was sitting on the Dursley's lawn, he went to Lupin and said 'Sorry about my behaviour I long for loneliness, but I still want to be around the others. I don't know why I acted that way, I don't understand anything, I don't even know what I am doing, I can't just live around like this, I feel like, I want this over yet I know it is I who has to do it, yet I don't want to kill a person for whom I feel hatred flowing through me each time I remember her face. I don't know what is happening to me.'
Listening to him patiently Lupin then replied 'You will feel better once you reach Hogwarts '

Then Dumbledore came to Harry's mind, he enquired 'Is Dumbledore all right I haven't heard from him, I want to talk to him'
'Later', said Lupin. 'I will have to leave now'
Then he walked down the well lit streets of privet drive which shown brightly which made Harry realize how late it was and he was about to turn to go in, he suddenly felt a tingling sensation as he felt the hairs at the back of his neck stand as though someone invisible was around him .He knew that the members of the order weren't at a loss for invisibility cloaks.
He turned and said into the emptiness and silence 'I can see you trying to follow me, Remus promised you have to go.'
Then he felt the same kind of power emanate for some where around him as though from Dumbledore only two people are as powerful, Harry thought, and then he realized it could be the other one too. He got his wand out 'I must say either Professor Dumbledore is keeping an eye on someone, a little more partial to me, isn't he or it is the Great or may I say foolish Lord Voldemort who is here, show yourself I know your here '

Harry said this feeling brave and amazed at his own words.
Then a tall figure appeared in front of the porch and all the streetlights went off 'So you wanted to see me can I ask why?' asked a kind voice Harry remembered as Dumbledore's.
And then he said the same thing as he did when he saw Tonks as Lupin's impostor 'How do I trust you?'
Then he saw another figure emerge and Harry heard the same growling voice 'See Dumbledore, as I said even if he was a impostor that fool unknowingly taught him to be more vigilant than even I could have'
'Yes, Alastor I can see that', said Dumbledore his twinkling eyes looking at him beaming proudly.
'I guess he is the only first person I have seen who has caught us prying' said Moody
'Now why did you want to talk to me', Dumbledore asked seriously.
'How long do I have to stay here', asked Harry
'I would like to say that we'd leave right now, but I can't,
I need you to be here more time at least three full weeks more after this' said Dumbledore staring down at him.
'Professor, wouldn't I be a danger to the order or near any one from it ', asked Harry
'That is for us to decide and we have long decided that you are not', He replied. 'Listen, Harry I have arranged with the minister of magic for you to be allowed to do magic outside
School'
'You won't believe it boy there were at least ten to fifteen aurors waiting for you to do magic in front of muggles and then expel you from school, The ministry can't spare that kind of manpower now, instead he let you off any control over underage magic but you will have to maintain secrecy, nobody is above the statute of secrecy', said Moody.

Amazed by the information he got, he took leave as Dumbledore said 'Have fun '
He had been waiting for this opportunity to learn all the hexes and curses he could learn from the books he had, and teach any death eater that passed his way a lesson they wouldn't forget as he walked through the pathway back in to the kitchen. He saw both of Moody and Dumbledore disappear with a crack and then as he entered the house again he could see uncle Vernon visibly angry beyond measure and as he looked up Harry saw his nostrils flaring. But Harry was in no way staying quiet he just took out his wand and said 'I can use this outside the school so stay clear before I loose my temper ', he said unflinchingly in a tone that surprised his uncle now as though he had been hit hard on his head.
'Don't lie we know you can't use that thing outside that freakish school of yours', he muttered.
'Well now you know that I can, and I won't be quiet at any insult', said Harry.
As he spoke Harry felt anger rising and impatiently he walked out the kitchen to his room as he passed he passed uncle Vernon who looked scared further as Harry's wand gave out red and golden sparks.
As he reached his room he lay on his bed thinking about nothing but the spells he was planning to learning. But as he thought further, his thoughts drifted further and he fell asleep
In a matter of minutes, a deep and sound slumber followed which surprised him, as he got up next morning he saw a thin sheet of light entering through the window, it was only dawn he thought it was going to be another boring day but then he remembered the previous day's proceedings and remembered that he could use magic outside of school.
This very idea stirred him up and he got up from his bed upright he felt a bit more alive than he had for days he walked to his trunk and opened it and took the books on the defensive spells and he began reading through them and started to read them.

But as he read through the books he realized he realized how much of it he already knew, and how quickly he was learning the spells and by the time it was lunchtime as he hardly realized, he had been doing it all morning. As he got out of his room his head full of spells dealing with shield charms to hexes he had never thought of using before spells which caused serious damage like the silver arrow spell that he had seen the death eaters shooting which caused craters where it hit, he remembered the speed with which these spells were flying he was surprised at himself at mastering it in no time first he accidentally blew up a part of his bed that made uncle Vernon shout for a while from the kitchen, but his blaring died down as he finally left for work. Harry was surprised that no one in the neighbourhood was as surprised, people had gotten used to these sounds he knew that they expected the car to backfire each time this happened, none paid attention. Either way he thanked his stars and after repairing his bed with a repairing charm, now he was walking down stairs to Mrs. Figg's place, as he knew better than to expect he could get any thing to eat, when ever he wanted, especially at the Dursley's .He then walked out of the kitchen keeping his promise not to venture far, he went straight to Mrs. Figg's place and knocked a old woman opened the door, she looked around to check if there was no one around except Harry, she let him in.
'Come in ', she said. Harry went in sat in the drawing room of her house which still had the smell of cats lingering, and he saw the cat Mrs. Figg called Mr. Tibbles, and she came in with a tin of biscuits that Harry remembered as ginger newts
'How do you know?' Harry blurted out.
'Just as he expected you were up since dawn practicing spells,
Way beyond what I have seen kids your age doing' she said.
'But how?' asked Harry.
'We have our ways we have to protect you, we have to keep an eye', she said. 'Well I wouldn't say you'd need any help as long as you can use such spells I saw you doing the silver arrow a very powerful spell, enough to kill, but what I don't under stand is how you learnt so many spells in such a short time, Mundungus told me he was scared to even look out after you, if you managed to catch him you would hex him to look like a slug.'
'Well '', started Harry, to say something felt would be rude to say to the old lady, instead he said 'I was trying hard to learn them even I couldn't believe it myself '
'Keep your spells down, don't do to much magic stick to just reading the spells, no curses', she said.

As he went forward to take the tin of biscuits Harry saw her looking at him pitifully.
He didn't like that, he felt angry at being looked upon with pity. He took them and ate as he sat down, he asked if he could talk to Dumbledore .His single visit was so calming, but it was difficult for Harry to ask him not to leave, as it was in case of Professor Dumbledore, it would be so selfish, he thought as he sat there, they were doing so much against Voldemort and his followers while he was just staying here at 12, Privet drive in a safe haven where even Voldemort couldn't touch him. Yet Harry felt so frustrated at his inability at present doing nothing to those who caused losses that would last him a few life times, he felt anger rising in him, 'I will get them each one of' he blurted out in anger 'each death eater will beg for mercy, so will you, Voldemort' was all he could hear himself say as though trying to get the message across to Voldemort.
Mrs. Figg was surprised to see him 'Are you all right boy?'
She said.
'Yes ', said Harry' What's the matter?' asked Harry.
'Nothing it's just you looked different a second ago this whole room looked different', she said looking as though she had no idea what just happened.
He looked around and realized the whole room lay in tatters
Somehow he had done it, but how he didn't know. He realized that he could repair it, so he cast the repairing charm and all the broken shards of furniture stuck together and the hall was back to the way it was, before he somehow managed to wreck it with out his knowledge.
She was surprised further, she ushered him away and as he left she asked Harry to take the tin of ginger newts along with him.
Harry took them and left, still feeling the anger, which he tried to suppress something, had happened that he couldn't explain a bad sign, he thought to himself. As he walked back to the Dursley's place he sat on lawn behind the same bush that hid him from view of passer-by he sat there eating the biscuits, thinking what had just happened it was as though the whole of Mrs. Figg's hall had been blasted apart. He didn't know how long he lay there, as it was a relatively cooler day and it was really pleasant, he was engulfed by fits of drowsiness.
Suddenly, he was standing in a hall way looking at a duel of two people on an archway and as he went closer to get a better look he saw it was a witch, with a wicked and cruel look on her face, while on the other side was a man who was dodging the curses and Harry knew who he was, he ran forward took out his wand but too late the wizard was hit by a red beam and as he whole body curved into a graceful arch he fell through the veil saying 'Harry save me, Harry save me'
'Sirius! Sirius! 'Was all Harry could say and he woke up with a start dropping the tin of ginger newts he looked around to see if he was asleep or awake, but realized he was in his room and he saw a familiar face in the room, who was looking at him in deep concern 'Are you all right dear?'
'Mrs. Weasley! What are you doing here?' asked Harry 'if my uncle sees you I'll be in trouble'

'Don't worry Harry dear I was concerned, when Arabella told me about you, but when I came here, I saw you lying in the lawn I thought something terrible might have happened, I was so relieved when I saw that you were just fast asleep,' she said then asked him to rest and with out another word she left saying, she had to leave, as none were there at Grimmauld place. Then she disappeared by the time he reached the door of his room, and Harry went back to the park bench at 12, privet drive the one he had painted only a few days ago.
He was staring at the dismal sun set; any onlooker would have been surprised at a sixteen-year-old staring blankly at the sky, grief and worry etched onto the young lines of his face. He saw it set, but continued to sit there until Aunt Petunia called him.

'You have a phone call' she said looking around as if expecting wizards to pop out. Harry was surprised, he didn't know what was happening, unless he had heard right, he had a phone call, He tentatively answered the call,
'Who is it?' he asked as he picked up the receiver.
'How many people would call you at the Dursley's' said a stern voice.
'Hermione!' said Harry.
'Who were you expecting?' said Hermione. 'Are you alright?' she asked.
'Well what'd happen to me?' asked Harry.
'Well about the thing at Mrs. Figgs' she started.
'Everybody knows my every move and here I am ignorant of all the others, its really great''
Hermione cut in 'Hey don't shout at me for calling, I know it feels bad, but when something odd happens, I and Ron are told about it, okay. We are worried about you too, if you haven't noticed' she said angrily.
'Well I'll talk later, the Dursley's have a guest, I have to get something to eat before''
He saw Dudley arriving with his girlfriend and as Aunt Petunia opened the door and welcomed them and scowling as Harry was still talking on the phone.
'Why do you still care about them? You can tell the members of the order and--' said Hermione.
'And what?' said Harry angrily. 'They have kept me alive for all this time, according to the great Albus Dumbledore, I don't need the orders help on everything'
He put the receiver down as he said this. Harry could see Dudley and his girlfriend staring at him.
'What is he talking about?' she asked Dudley in a low whisper.
Harry heard him say 'Later'.
Aunt Petunia's scowl grew as large as he had ever seen, as she saw Harry coming to the kitchen along with them. She invited Dudley and his girlfriend to join in and her face twisted with disgust as Harry joined them.
He sat down along with them, as uncle Vernon entered and greeted her, but ignored Harry. As they began to eat or rather the Dursley's and their guest began to eat (Harry noticed there was little for him to eat). Angered by this, yet he maintained his calm, he ate the very little food offered to him and got up quickly. As he got up he heard Dudley's girlfriend say 'Is it not manners for the host to wait till the guest gets up from the table this boy doesn't seem to know any or he just doesn't know'
'If I were you I would have noticed that I am not part of the hosts, if you were in your right mind you would have noticed that chivalry is not exactly the feeling I want to show right now, as for manners? I am going to be sick', said Harry disgustedly, after the way none had left him enough for at least half a person to eat.
'Watch it Harry', said Dudley his fists bawled.
'Ah so it is this boy that goes to St. Brutus's secure centre for incurably criminal boys, he really seems like a hooligan', she said.
The Dursley's seemed to have enjoyed this.
'Uncle Vernon remember Aunt Marge', he said in an undertone as he saw Dudley's girlfriend turn her attention to Dudley.

At that instant Uncle Vernon asked Harry to leave.
As he reached his room he heard uncle Vernon talking about Dudley's win at the boxing match and calling him the master of the noble sport of boxing.
'Urgh! 'It can't get any worse than this', thought Harry. Then as he turned his attention to his window, he saw a owl fluttering and pecking at the pane enthusiastically, it was Pigwidgeon a little bigger, though it was as noisier as it had been, on the day Sirius had sent him, a gift to Ron, and as he saw it, he remembered that he had sent away Hedwig to Grimmauld place so he could be well taken care off over there, and also he didn't want to stay in contact. But as he saw Pigwidgeon he knew Ron had written to him. He took the burden of the little owl and it flew away and Harry understood that it was as though Ron wasn't expecting a reply. He understood only when he read it

Dear Harry,
Everybody here is fine, I have just to inform you that that soon you will be leaving there how soon I am forbidden to say but pretty soon, situation a bit improved but yet not well enough Hermione here too. He has forbidden us to give any further information. I heard of today are you all right? Is anything unusual happening? If yes inform through someone close to you. I heard Hermione called, just don't snap at her, she sends her apologies, you should've seen her, and she was scared to even call you back. We'll meet you soon.
From
Ron

Harry saw a P.S written;

P.S: Percy is back, the git, was all apologizing to mum and dad saying that he had realized he was wrong, we're happy (not much) that he's back.
And a P.P.S

P.P.S: Fred and George had a go at him with their Nose bleeding Nougat and Mum went berserk but couldn't throw them out because even she's helping out at their shop.

Immensely pleased Harry sat down looking forward to an extremely boring time before he went to the head quarters of the Order. Even though, he wanted to stay away yet he wanted to stay with them. He didn't know what he wanted.
From the letter he understood one thing clearly Hermione was again away from her parents and Ron was being followed carefully, so would be the case of Ginny, he knew now that they were well known as his best friends they would be in more danger than himself, he felt guilt flood through him as if it was not enough to have your own life in a big mess you go on to mess up your friends lives. But they were going to visit him. That was a really a surprise, he was eager to know when.
'I made a mistake because of which Sirius died and my whole life I yearned for relatives when I finally found my own god father he dies because of my mistake, I am trouble may be Snape is right I am nothing but trouble, but what am I going to do, just stay put, I will stay closer to my friends and try to protect them, I will not make the same mistake as Dumbledore.' he thought resolutely.
He thought dryly for the hundredth time 'why me?'

And as he lay down his bed the whole scene of the department of Mysteries replayed in his mind, he couldn't sleep, what was he supposed to do to get some sleep? And as his thoughts drifted further he didn't even realize when sleep engulfed his troubled mind it was soothing as though floating through the air, was he flying on his Firebolt he thought, but what was he doing and why was there this floating sensation that of relief from pain, then as he looked around he saw a boy being bullied by some youngsters, whom he had no knowledge of, then he suddenly heard a scream and Harry woke up with a start with his scar searing with white-hot pain, that he was nearly blinded.

'Another vision nothing short of stupidity, I should have emptied my head of thoughts', but that was rather difficult with all the trouble around him.
And as he put his glasses, which had slid to the floor and broke, Harry got his wand from his bedside table and repaired them, and as he looked at the window the dismal sheen indicated the crack of dawn. He saw an owl was there, pecking his window hooting, as he placed a knut in the leather pouch the owl flew away.
It was the daily prophet owl. As he read the prophet he saw the front page with a picture of Cornelius Fudge

GRINGOTTS GOBLINS TRY TO CAUSE ECONOMIC HAVOC
This is a report from the ministry that the goblins tried to change the exchange rates for muggle money by increasing the cost of a galleon and wizard doing either transactions will have to pay a heavy service tax.
However the head of Gringotts has given a statement 'The decision as per your news, is rubbish mind your own business we had misunderstandings, but, we have sorted them and are confident of better economical relations as far it goes with both wizard gold and muggle money'
While the Head of Gringotts gave the above statement, unimpressed Cornelius Fudge claimed 'You Know Who approached them I am sure he must have given in, they are unreliable'
The matter was settled only by the intervention of the chief warlock of Wizengamout and the Head master of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore.

This way the article continued for a few more pages
And Harry became more and more frustrated with the ministry 'these bungling fools, if Dumbledore wasn't there they'd be in such a disarray that Voldemort would just walk over them and take control'
As he got up he saw a rare sight out of his window it was a wizard in a cloak of bottle green colour who disappeared suddenly, 'why do they have to keep tailing me'
Then he decide to just go and eat what little breakfast he got, he didn't want to go to Mrs. Figg's place often.
As he reached the kitchen he saw his aunt grumble about his coming, which apparently had led to Dudley's girlfriend leaving, or so they said but Dudley was not worrying he was just eating his breakfast. Harry heard comments on how his hair looked as usual, then suddenly aunt petunia asked 'Are they coming to attack us, I can see you are too silent on this situation and allowed to do that stuff, Vernon he's not telling us enough, I see his friends more often now around the streets as though guarding him'
Uncle Vernon was just looking for a reason to vent his anger at him.
Harry got up and said 'You watch what you say'
Expecting this sort of behaviour from uncle Vernon.
'You are in no danger as long as I am here, 'said Harry. 'Infact you are in no danger at all as compared to my friends in my world'
Harry watched them silently as he finished his breakfast he got up and went out. 'What am I supposed to do?'
He thought, as he had already finished the books on Defence Against the Dark Arts that he had.