A roaring sound like wind and rolling waves filled Harry's unconscious mind...
Sirens...
"Chief, I've found the body!"
"It's not burnt!"
"Christ! I think he's alive!"
"I've got a pulse, but he feels like ice!"
"Get a stretcher."
"Mind his leg, it looks broken and his breathing isn't good either."
"I've never seen anything like it, it's a miracle, there's no way he should have survived that."
"Get him in the ambulance!"
"There's Harry! We'll take him from here officer."
"Who are you?"
"We're his... guardians."
"More than my jobs worth. He's going in the Ambulance."
"OK, but we'll accompany him."
Slam...
Sirens...
"He's suffering badly from smoke inhalation, his leg's fractured and I think he has broken ribs."
"Take him to Privet Drive; it's just round the corner."
"He's going to the hospital!"
"OBLIVIATE!"
Harry choked, hacked and coughed. It felt like someone was pouring ice straight into his lungs. He opened his raw bloodshot eyes, startled at the feeling, but the feeling of deep cold faded and he noticed a dark indistinct figure standing over him. Harry blinked, the figure was scared and looked worn, slowly, gradually his focus returned.
"Remus!" Harry managed to spit out in gravely tones before he started coughing and hacking again. Remus Lupin, his old Defence against the Dark arts Teacher and last surviving 'best friend' of his parents, stood over Harry and smiled a compassionate smile, a feeling of warmth washed over Harry.
"Drink more of this, it will help you breath more easily. I've repaired your ribs and leg, but I think it wise we leave some of the bruises, we can't have you walking out of that house seemingly without a scratch." Harry sat up.
"Why aren't I dead?" Harry asked taking the glass Lupin offered him; the glass was covered in frost and it contained a vivid blue liquid. Harry gulped it down, it froze his tongue and he felt his lungs fill with ice again.
"Harry Potter die in a house fire!" Harry turned to see the figure that spoke; it was Mr Weasley, Harry felt more warmth and happiness wash over him. "I fear fate has more things in store for you" Mr Weasley added darkly. Harry's happiness disappeared with those words.
"How did I survive? Its not the first time I've been in a bad accident, and I remember Hagrid saying something about how my parents wouldn't have been killed in a car crash." A feeling of annoyance rose over him, triggered by the non-answer Mr Weasley gave him, Harry's temper flared "I'm fed up of people holding back on me! I need to know everything if I'm going to stop people from getting hurt or... dieing." A lump rose in his throat as he said the last word "I need to know. If I knew, Sirius wouldn't have died." He said, tears threatening to fill his eyes not from the smoke, but from his memories.
Lupin looked equally saddened spoke in a comforting, brotherly tone "Wizards very rarely die in muggle accidents Harry. It's a kind of immune system and a lot like accidental magic; impacts for example may break your body coursing through you with pain, but very rarely is it fatal. Wizards have even survived explosions or direct gun shots with barely more than a scratch, but you can't rely on it. Magic interferes with a wizard's protection and in any magical accident you're as vulnerable as a muggle."
Arthur continued "Not much practical research has been carried out, for obvious reasons, but muggle accidents can still kill so its worth avoiding them." Arthur looked down at his shoes "I'm sorry for not answering your question straight Harry, I assumed you knew."
"I'm sorry for losing my temper." Harry gave Mr Weasely a small smile, he smiled back.
"Well now, you seem to be quite the hero in both the magic and muggle worlds." Lupin spoke with an approving look on his face.
"Just so long as people don't start hero worshiping me in Little Whingeing too!" Harry said, and smiled "still I don't think Dudley would be prepared to join my fan club." They all laughed.
"Yes" said Mr Weasley "When I found out you were in trouble I came to number 4 as quickly as possible. I met Remus and he carried on through to the scene of the explosion while I secured the house; I found Dudley locked in the downstairs toilet hugging a jellyvision. He looked well..." Mr Weasley went red at this point "a little 'scared' to see me."
"He didn't... ?" said Harry beaming.
"Well, it was easily cleaned up." Mr Weasley looked embarrassed. Tears were in Harry's eyes, but not from smoke, memories, or pain, its was all he could do to stop himself creasing up with laughter.
"Poor boy, I think he's developing a bit of a wizard phobia." Mr Weasely said with real concern.
"Don't worry about him, if everything I hear about what he's done to Mark Evans is true, that's not half of what he deserves." said Harry realising if he carried on laughing this hard, he was in danger of embarrassing himself exactly like Dudley! "No, you're right, that's not a nice thing to happen to anyone." Harry tried to calm down, but he couldn't shift his big grin.
"So you are ok Harry?" Lupin was smiling, but he said it meaningfully.
"Yeah, I am" Harry was still grining, but sadness reappeared in his face too.
"No you aren't, neither am I, but someday we will be." both wearing the same faded smile, Harry and Lupin pulled each other into a mutual hug. Harry didn't need to find the words anymore they shared their feelings in silence.
Lupin and Mr Weasley sat at the bottom of Harry's bed and they spent some time catching up, discussing Harry's past two weeks. Harry seemed surprised at how easy it was to talk, even about some of his feelings. They seemed impressed that Harry had attempted to balance mastering his emotions and Occlumency with his grief. Harry explained that he had needed to get the world straight in his head, before he could let the world back in.
"Each night, before I go to sleep, I lie back looking at the sky and think about the feelings I've had that day; even if I don't understand them. Then I try to empty my mind. Actually it was something I needed to do, because I couldn't sleep with... with... Everything bottled up inside me." Harry paused looking sullen, but he made an attempt to brighten up "Tell Ron, Hermione, Ginny and the others that I'm sorry I haven't written back. I really appreciate everything they've sent; I just needed some time alone." Harry said.
"I know they understand." Replied Mr Weasley.
They talked a godd while longer discussing the goings on in the Ministry and Fudge. Then Harry realised something and asked "Shouldn't you be at work right now Mr Weasley?"
"Things are a bit more relaxed around there for members of the order; I can afford to be a little late. Actually I was about to leave for work when Molly, noticed your hand on the clock swing round to 'Mortal Danger', I'm just glad she wasn't carrying our best china!"
"You've added me to your clock?"
"Of course Harry, you're part of the family." Harry's heart swelled and he just couldn't express what that had meant to him; so he pulled Mr Weasley into another hug.
"Thank you."
"Think nothing of it. I just hope we don't have to buy any more plates." said Mr Weasley with a sly grin on his face. "Anyway I've contacted the ministry about your underage wizardry so as far as their concerned I'm on the job." Harry gave a look of apprehension, remembering his trial last year, Mr Weasley clearly saw it because he continued "Don't worry Harry there won't be any problems this year. As far as the remaining ministry is concerned you can do no wrong and it was after all a life or death situation."
"I'm proud of the courage you showed when you rescued that girl." said Lupin, "and you did it in such a way we only needed to modify the memories of the Ambulance crew so we could take better care of you. As far as I know no muggles noticed any magic." Harry looked guilty.
"I told Alice, that I was a wizard."
"You did, did you." Lupin looked surprised, but not worried.
"I wouldn't worry about it Harry. She couldn't have been more than 6 or 7 and I doubt anyone would believe her, especially considering the stressful nature of the situation." Mr Weasley added. Lupin looked down at his watch and then stood up.
"I'm sorry we can't stay longer Harry, but we both have some important business to take care of. Your bruises will heal soon. And always remember if there is 'anything' you want to talk about I'll always be there to listen." Lupin said fondly.
"That goes for me and Molly too." Mr Weasley added standing up next to Lupin. Harry swung his legs out over the edge of his bed and sat on the edge.
"Ok, I'll remember, just as long as you remember, I'm always here if 'you' need to talk to someone." and Harry pointedly looked at Lupin, who's tired worn face creased into a smile.
"Just one last thing, if its ok with you I'll send Ron round to visit for a day or two, he's been wanting to since the summer began, and if you like you can come back to the burrow with him. I'll give him strict instructions to behave." Harry broke into a mischievous grin at the thought of what his uncle would think to one of his friends coming to stay.
"I'll look forward to it. What time will Ron arrive?" Harry said.
"I'll send him by muggle train, I think it arrives here about 11 o'clock in the morning. Do you think you could meet him at the station?"
"No problem. I hope too see you both soon."
"Goodbye Harry." Lupin said, Mr Weasley waved and with a pop they aparated away.
Harry Looked down at the pile of letters and parcels on the floor, he felt really good rush from saving Alice's innocent life, maybe it was time to let the world back in and give it a chance to show him its better side. He picked up a letter and read it cautiously, not wanting it to force him to revisit the night at the ministry, but soon he was reading avidly and with each new letter or parcel he opened he felt luckier for having such great friends.
It was late in the evening before Harry had finished reading and rereading his letters, he was feeling thoroughly happy, but one letter had caused him to think much longer and much harder than all the others combined. Harry hadn't left his room, which was now strewn with empty envelopes and wrapping paper, since he was carried there by Lupin and Arthur Weasley, none of the Dursleys had interrupted him. He hadn't eaten since breakfast, and now his preoccupation with that certain letter was giving way to his hunger, so he made his way downstairs in order to male something to eat. As he passed the living room on his way to the kitchen something he heard caught his attention, it was his Aunt and Uncle arguing. This was odd as despite all their faults, they were two of a kind and rarely disagreed with each other; Harry also conceded that having him as a common enemy probably helped them get along much better than they otherwise might. They weren't arguing loudly, if Harry concentrated he could just make it out, but the stress in his uncles voice was so obvious Harry knew he was steaming.
"I can't believe it. You practically told the boy to parade his abnormality in front of the neighbours!... Of COURSE I wouldn't have wanted the girl to die, but 'that' is what firemen are for!" Harry's concentration was broken by Dudley pushing hard on his shoulder.
"What's up Didykins?" Harry drew himself up confidently to his cousin, he wasn't nearly as broad, but he was now an inch or two taller. Dudley looked as if he might have flinched, but hid it well.
Dudley in the deepest harshest voice he could manage uttered "If you tell anyone about what happened to me today well... Well you don't sleep all the time and by the time your godfather..." Anger surged through Harry at Dudley mentioning Sirius.
"MY GODFATHER" Harry interrupted, Dudley's front collapsed and he stepped back against the wall, Harry stepped forward so they were the same distance apart "My godfather is dead. And do you know what Duddy," Harry leaned forward to Dudley's ear and growling whispered "I killed him." Dudley's face contorted in terror and he looked down towards his feet. Harry looked down too and in a mock sympathetic voice said "Oh no Dud, not again." Dudley scrambled away as fast as he could, the damp patch on his trousers growing as he climbed the stairs. As Harry continued into the Kitchen he was saddened by the truth he still felt in what he had said to Dudley, but added to himself with a smile "I wish you could have seen that Mark Evans."
Aching from his earlier adventures that day Harry lay back on the grass in Privet drive and stared up at the stars, he thought he'd felt the entire range of human emotion today; from anger and fear all the way through to laughter and a kind of parental love. The thing that surprised him most though was the feeling he got when he'd opened the letter he received from Colin Creevy and the photo it contained. It was a picture of the Gryphindor common room in Harry's second year, before Colin had been petrified. The room was full and all his friends were in it. Neville was petting Trevor his toad, Hermione was writing on a piece of parchment, Ginny was writing in what Harry recognised as Tom Riddles diary and he was playing chess with Ron. He supposed Colin had chosen to take the photo at that moment because he had just been bitten by one if Ron's bishops and he was standing up waving his hand violently in the air trying to fling it off. Harry had initially laughed at the memory, but then he had noticed something in the detail of the picture, that came as quite a surprise. Well Harry thought there isn't any guarantee she still feels the same way. A shooting star caught Harry's eye, and then he realised Venus was brighter in the sky than even Mars.
Authors Note:
Well here we go another chapter finished, I think this fiction will be around 12 chapters long (no guarantees!) and will definitely finish before the start of term at Hogwarts.
In true JKR style I will reveal some information that won't tell you anything useful about the future plot.
Alice isn't a witch.
The explosion was caused by Alice's grandmother forgetting she had a pot boiling on the gas hob when she went out to do a spot of gardening, the pot boiled over, put out the flame, gas built up and ignited... boom!
This fiction could have easily been called the Harry Potter and The Sanguinus Oracle, however I hadn't thought of a name I liked for the Artefact at time of publishing.
And finally just in-case the final clue has given you some ideas, no this fiction doesn't feature vampires. Sorry if you like them.
Publishing in chapters is harder than it looks! I have a lot of respect for the writers among you. I find I want to write something new, but it effects what I've already written. Internal consistency is a nightmare! Next time I'm writing the whole story and then publishing it!
Any ' instead of ' is purely down to something wierd Microsoft has done to the characters, sorry if I've missed replacing any.
Thank you for your feedback, I'll update in about a week.