DISCLAIMER: This is a one-time disclaimer. I do NOT own anything belonging to the amazing JKR or having to do with Harry Potter. If I did, I wouldn't be writing fanfiction; I'd be trying to hurry and get the sixth book out! Lol. But please don't sue!
A/N: It's BACK! Yay! I got the first chapter up pretty quickly, huh? Lol. Okay, some of our characters will be leaving in this story, but we'll be reunited to some old ones and introduced again to some new characters! In this story, Harry and the rest will be training for the crucial point in the war against Voldemort as the world around them falls further into the darkness and manipulation. Some faulty relationships increase the drama even more, and with the true fact that anyone could be a spy and Dumbledore going missing, the Order develops a new motto, "Trust No One." Could this lead to its downfall? Or will someone be able to save it in time? All this and more in……….. Harry Potter and the Light of Darkness. Remember to read and review every chapter!
*IF YOU HAVE NOT READ HARRY POTTER AND THE SECRETS OF THE SHADOWS, THIS WILL MAKE NO SENSE*
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Chapter 1:
All was quiet on Privet Drive. It was well into the night, and only one person was still awake, traceable by the little beam of light coming from a black-haired teenager in number 4, in the smallest bedroom.
"Two more minutes…" thought Harry Potter, referring to his birthday. "Two more minutes until I'm of age… and Lenore arrives tomorrow… and we'll be going to Headquarters or the Burrow in a week…" The summer so far had been dreadful. In January of that year the Dursley's house had been destroyed by Lord Voldemort, the Wizard Harry would one day have to murder or become victimized by. The house had been restored, but Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon had been frightened to no end and blamed it all on their nephew.
"It's that bloody boy's fault," growled Vernon the first morning at breakfast. They had stayed in Grimmauld Place for a week and hadn't enjoyed it at all…
"All of those crazy people staring at us… and those normal people who actually had a witch! I wouldn't put up with it a moment; she'd be disowned before the blink of an eye if I was her mother!" And Harry hadn't really had the heart to tell them that another witch was coming to live with them for a week. Tomorrow. Harry looked down as his watch started beeping. It was midnight.
Today Lenore was coming. And today he could use magic. He smiled and looked into the mirror. His hair was as messy as ever. Harry decided to look at the album of his parents' pictures and see if he looked anymore like James then he used to and was about to Accio the book over when there was a tapping at the window. Hedwig hooted from her cage.
Harry hurried to the window so the owl couldn't wake his Aunt and Uncle. The barn owl flew in with an air of great importance. It had a Ministry stamp and Harry saw that it was from the Minister of Magic himself.
Harry-
Happy Birthday! I know that you are legally of age now, but DO NOT use magic, and I mean don't! Your protection in the Dursley's house is gone now that you are of age, and if Ministry spies to Voldemort- and I have reason to believe there are many- see that magic has come from 4 Private Drive, you can expect an attack in minutes. I also ask that you refrain from spending much time outside of the house as well, just for your safety. Thank you, Harry.
From, Arthur Weasley
Harry sighed. Of course; now that he finally could do magic outside of school, he wasn't allowed to. Blasted ministry. Suddenly a voice entered his head.
"Happy birthday, Harry!"
Harry grinned. After the attack in June, Lenore and he hadn't been able to speak to each other telepathically for quite a while. However, around the week school let out, Lenore was regaining full strength and they could speak again. Currently, Lenore was staying in a location unknown to nearly everyone until it was safe for her to come to the Dursleys for a week. Harry had no idea why she couldn't stay where she was if his protection had already worn off.
"Thanks, Lenore, you too! We're finally of age! Only Mr. Weasley's just sent me a note not to use any magic!"
"Oh my gosh, me too! Can you believe it? I am so mad! And not having magic is making this place even worse, though there are… benefits, you could say…"
"C'mon, 'Nore, just tell me who you're staying with! Why won't Dumbledore let you tell me?" demanded Harry.
"Because he's afraid that you would leave Privet Drive to come and save me or something," giggled Lenore.
"You're not at Malfoy Manor or someplace like that, now are you? Because if you are, they are completely insane; if Lucius finds out who—"
"Relax, cuz; I am not in Malfoy Manor at any rate…"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I could be at someplace like it."
"Just tell me!"
"No; you'll find out tomorrow."
"LENORE!"
"I'm blocking you, Harry; tootles! See you tomorrow- wait, you have told the Dursleys about me, right?"
"Err… not quite yet, but I will in a few hours… it will be better if it's sprung on them with the pretense of magic held over their heads… I think."
"HARRY! You imbecile! Oh well, I'll be prepared, then, I suppose… Night night!"
"Wait! Lenore-" Suddenly Harry felt the link gone. He sighed in frustration. Where on earth could she be that Harry would feel he needed to save her?
He decided to look at the album once more and, annoyed, walked over to his trunk and began sorting through his things. He suddenly found his present for Lenore in his trunk, which he had forgotten to send. It was a picture he had found in the album before- the only picture taken of his mother and Lenore's mother. They looked as if they were in seventh year- and they were surrounded by the Marauders. Lupin had told Harry that Lenore's mother- Meena- had visited Hogwarts for two weeks one year. It was very weird, though, that in the picture, Remus's arm was wrapped around Meena. She looked a lot like Lily, but with darker hair. She had the same eyes and was the same height.
The picture was taken on the lake. James was picking up Lily, and Lily would give him a kiss and jump back down teasingly. Calista was smiling beautifully at the camera for a moment and then turning around to the lake and looking at Sirius, who was somehow riding on top of the Giant Squid, who was thrashing around trying to get him off. He would finally get thrown off and wave to everyone. Evelyn was sprawled out on the ground trying to catch a butterfly that was resting on a daisy. She then would turn around and smile lazily. She reminded Harry almost of a kitten. Next to Evelyn was Remus, sandy hair being blown by the wind. He was smiling with his arm around Meena, who was seemingly laughing at a joke. Peter was sitting against a tree, reading some book. Every so often, he would glance up and wave.
The photograph was inside a picture frame that doubled as a candy dispenser, somehow. Lenore liked silly things like that frame- she'd love the present, hopefully.
"Hedwig," whispered Harry. His snowy owl looked up and gave a muffled hoot. "I know you're tired, girl, but I need Lenore to get this tonight. I don't want her to wait until tomorrow when she already knows I'm awake." Hedwig ruffled her feathers importantly and stuck her leg out. Harry packaged the gift and attached it. "There you go… I'll have a treat for you when you get home, okay? See you in a bit, then," he said, petting her head. She took off into the night sky after Harry opened the window. He sat and watched the stars for a bit, as they glittered in the dark. After a moment, he spied at least three dots in the distance moving towards him. They were owls, supporting a large package. He squinted as the owls neared his room. After a minute, he stood back and allowed them entry.
Pigwidgeon hooted in greeting excitedly. Harry laughed. His girlfriend had named the owl- trust Ginny to come up with something like that. He didn't recognize the other two owls, and one of them took off immediately. The other two, however, began eating out of Hedwig's dish.
Harry slowly opened the box, and inside it were about five separately-wrapped gifts with cards attached. He opened the first card, which was spell-o-taped onto a bright orange package. He saw Ron's untidy scrawl.
Harry-
Hey, Mate! Happy birthday! You're finally of age- I've been doing magic all summer, unfortunately Mum is having a fit, saying I'm nearly as bad as Fred and George were. Nothing could come close to them! Remember the time they nearly stabbed Sirius? That was a riot.
Anyway, we're actually not you-know-where this summer! It's nice being back at the good old Burrow. I think that you're coming here next week, but, of course, no one will tell me. No surprise. At least we're all being inducted to the you-know-what this summer! We will finally know what's going on, and it isn't like we didn't fight before anyway. Hermione isn't here yet- her parents say they haven't seen enough of her in the past two years. She doesn't think she'll be able to come until the last week of summer! You're lucky that you'll get to see your girlfriend nearly every day soon.
So, isn't Lenore coming tomorrow? I suppose it'll be nice not being the only wizard in the house? Don't let the Muggles get you down- we'll sic Moody on them! Where do you reckon Lenore is, anyway? No one will tell us at all- it's bloody annoying! I mean, who do they think we'll tell? Honestly. I mean, it isn't like they'll just chuck her into a house of Death Eaters or Slytherins! Well, have a good birthday. I have to go de-gnome the garden. You should hear how quiet the house is now that everyone's gone!
Oh, and Fleur's due in a few days. When is Evelyn having her baby? Next week, right? Well, I really have to go now. See you soon!
-Ron
Harry smiled at the letter. He was rather excited, actually, about Remus's new baby. It would be the first Marauder baby since he himself. He was rather surprised that Hermione wasn't coming, but he supposed that her parents wanted to spend their last summer with her before she graduated.
And he was going to the Burrow! That would be great- he hadn't been there in ages, really. Years, actually! That was very hard to believe. Harry reached for the orange package Ron sent but was distracted by another owl that flew in with a card. Harry reached over and grabbed it, wondering who it was from.
Harry-
Hi! Happy Birthday. It's me, Tabby. I was writing to tell you Happy Birthday, but to also tell you that I will be leaving tomorrow. Permanently. We're going back to America; me, my sister, and Mum. They have better treatments there for- you know… werewolves. Gwen is really upset. But she says Happy Birthday. We're not just leaving because of that, though. The United States is my home- and I'm sick of British accents. Just kidding; I'm not- but I kind of want to start over. My old school is dead now; every person in it, and Hogwarts brings back bad memories. I might never return to England.
Who knows? But I really hope you have a great birthday, seventh year- and a great life. I'm going to be there for the final battle in some way or another; there's no way I'm missing it. Bye, Harry, and thanks for everything. It's been great.
Your friend,
Tabitha Greenly
Harry was quite shocked by this one. Tabby not coming back? How was she leaving? He tried to talk to Lenore, but she had blocked him. He wondered what her family was going to do? His heart went out to little Gwen, but, truthfully, most people would probably be glad to see Tabby go. She had the makings of a true friend, though, and Harry wished that she wasn't leaving yet. He the reached for the next letter, which was from Remus.
Dear Harry,
Happy Birthday! How are you doing? Are the Muggles treating you well? They'd better be. How is your summer so far? Mine has been good, I suppose. I've talked with Mrs. Greenly a bit, and I believe that Gwen will get good medical care in America. Mrs. Greenly is full of support and encouragement for her, and she's been writing to me quite often.
Evelyn says to say Happy Birthday, and sorry that she's not exactly fit to write a letter right now. The baby is almost due! It's going to be a boy, named Austin. I was actually wondering, Harry, if you might be interested in being his Godfather? It's okay if you don't want to, of course, but we'd really like it if you want to. Evelyn got Calista to be the godmother, and we couldn't think of anyone else more perfect for the job than you. Of course, this means that if anything happens to Evelyn and I, you might get the care of Austin, if you were of age and out of school. Just think about it, okay, Harry? Well, I have to go. Evelyn needs me. Have a wonderful birthday!
-Remus
Attached to the letter was a small package. Harry opened it to see a chained golden necklace, with rubies encrusted into it. There was another note, in Evelyn's handwriting.
Harry- this used to be your father's necklace that he wore all the time. It was a family heirloom, and he boasted that it made him more powerful. Anyway, he gave this to Lily on their one year anniversary of starting to go out. She absolutely loved it, and never took it off. She was actually very possessive sometimes. Anyway, when you were found after your parents' murder, for some reason you were wearing it. Lily had never put it on you before that, as far as Sirius and Remus remembered. Unfortunately, Calli and I didn't know you yet. But Sirius took it, as Hagrid had taken it off of Harry and put it near Lily's body. He brought it to Remus before he was sent to Azkaban, and Remus didn't really remember it. I recognized it at once when I was searching the attic a few weeks ago and we've decided to give it to the person it belonged to. Happy birthday, Harry! Oh, wait, before I forget. On each of the rubies, if you look closely, there's an engraved symbol. All of the rubies spell out "I am with you now forever- never fear for we're together." Happy birthday!
Love, Evelyn and Remus
Harry examined the necklace. I am with you now forever- never fear, for we're together. As he looked closely, he saw that there were almost fifty tiny emeralds encrusted into the gold, which looked and felt quite real. He smiled and threw it over his neck, pulling his shirt over it. He then proceeded to open the rest of his gifts and letters. Ron had gotten him a new type of Honeydukes Chocolate, Tonks had sent him a Wizarding Wireless Network radio.
Harry looked at it, impressed. The Weasley twins sent him a murky brown T-Shirt that read on the front "Since this shirt looks like poo," and on the back, "I'll beat the shirt out of you- with my products from WWW!" Then, in finer print, it said the address at which Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes could be found. Harry chuckled and cast the shirt aside. Hermione had sent him a large volume on the wizarding government in England. He laid it aside and looked longingly at his wand.
If only he could do one bit of magic… ah, well. He put the thought away into the back of his mind. He decided to get out his new radio and play it at a low volume. A pop song by Celestina Warbeck was playing at the moment. Harry didn't exactly care for it much, and he turned the bright purple dial. Now a band was playing that he'd never heard of. When the song ended, he noted that it was played by The Wands. Nice name, thought Harry, chuckling. He fell asleep shortly and was awoken the next morning by a low roar of his Uncle's from downstairs.
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A/N: Sorry it's short! I probably won't be able to update for a week, until my AP exam is finally over, but review anyway and I will make it really long! And pay close attention, people! Every detail will matter in this story! Lol.
**Jinglez**