Chapter II: Fires of Hell

Harry Potter woke slightly after breakfast. He had ample time to get to Diagon Alley, but he still needed to get down and break his fast.

The Leaky Cauldron was unusually quiet for that morning. The usual patrons weren't in their usual cheer and Harry thought that something wrong had happened.

The silence irritated him to a degree that his curiosity could not be sated but dismissing the occurrence.

"Tom," he whispered to the barkeep. "Why is everyone so......... quiet?" Tom looked wary and leaned towards him. This heightened Harry's curiosity by a notch.

"It's because of the stranger," he nodded towards the corned of the bar. Harry slowly turned his head to see a man glaring at everyone in the establishment. Harry was awed that this man could command such fear that the others were wary of his presence.

"Who is he?" he asked. Harry could not get a good look at the stranger for he was wearing a holocaust cloak. But from the width of his shoulders, he assumed that this was someone not to be reckoned with.

"I'm not sure," Tom smirked. "Folks talk a lot these days and I never heard anything about that man before today."

"What do they say?" Harry asked.

"A lot of things really but one story came to my mind and stayed there:

"Two days ago, there was an attack on a muggle village not far from where Ms. Granger resides. Dementors they were. The Ministry's gotten their hands full with them lot. Terrorizing the people they were, I tell you Master Potter, they were up to no good."

"What happened?" Harry asked curiously. He was also shocked to hear that Dementors were so close from Hermione's house. She never said anything about that. But then again, she was trapped in muggle London like him.

"He did," Tom nodded towards the stranger. "So rumor has it. They say that he suddenly came and raised some hell. Five Dementors defeated in less than five minutes."

"Patronus?" Harry asked. It must have taken a lot for him to perform it. but what Tom said next, brought chills into his spine.

"No, Master Potter. With his bare hands."

"He said what?" Ron asked incredulously as he, Harry, and the girls walked in the Alley.

"Bare hands, Ron," Hermione sighed but mostly in relief. "I can't believe there was a Dementor attack near our place.

"They are common nowadays as Quidditch equipments," Luna said as she hovered at Harry's left side.

"I myself am glad that you're okay, Hermione," Ginny smiled as she hooked her arm around Harry's right. "And don't think about it so much, Harry. Nothing happened."

"How can you say that so casually?" Harry asked as he sighed. "What if something happened to you all? I won't forgive myself if it did."

"But seriously," Ron frowned. "If Tom said this guy did all that to the Dementors... I don't know. He sounded scarier than them."

"Personally, I don't want to think about it," Hermione said as she looked at Ron. "It's too close to home." Silently, they all agreed.

"Good morning, children," Harry looked up at the familiar voice and smiled. One of his favorite people was looking at him in a sullen smile.

"Good Morning Professor Lupin," Hermione greeted.

"Hello, Hermione," he smiled back. He looked older than Harry last saw him. It was like the loss of his friend aged him. Dark shadows could be seen under his eyes and his complexion pale. It was like he was turning into a ghost.

"What brings you here Professor?" Ron asked curiously.

"Harry does," he said. Immediately, Harry tensed. Ginny could feel muscles in his arms harden as she saw his eyes darken.

"What happened?" Harry asked darkly. Remus noticed his guarded expression and smiled.

"Relax, Harry. It's nothing like that," Professor Lupin assured him. "It's just... well... I never got the chance to greet you a Happy Birthday." As immediately as it begun, Harry relaxed much to the relief of Ginny and Luna.

"Thanks," Harry smiled almost ashamedly.

"Unfortunately, I don't have a gift yet," Lupin explained. "I was hoping to catch you before you leave for Hogwarts but I saw you walking, harem in tow, and I couldn't resist."

"Harem?" Harry said confusingly. Ginny quickly slid her arm to her side, feeling her face burn in embarrassment. Luna suddenly hid behind the Quibbler she brought. These actions confused him even more.

"Anyway," Lupin smiled at his discomfort. "There's a curio shop nearby. Maybe we could find something appropriate there."

"But Professor," Harry blushed. He knew that Lupin was making just enough to make ends meet.

But they never reached the shop for screams echoed throughout the alley. Screams of fear, screams of terror.

"Death Eaters," Lupin said under his breath. "Quickly! Let's get inside!" As they scrambled towards one of the shops, Harry saw a teenage boy sitting idly by one of the shop's display tables. He was wearing all black, from his clothes to his cloak. His hair was also as black as night and his eyes held a strange red glow. On the table was a golden... urn, Harry realized. Did the guy had a death wish? He should be taking cover.

"Hey! Get out of the street!" he called out but the boy looked at him and smiled. Suddenly, a brilliant red flash illuminated the whole alley and Harry heard the scream of eternal agony.

And then silence.

The silence lasted as Harry slowly walked into the middle of the street. Curiosity led him towards the source of the screams earlier. But as he neared, the stench of rotten eggs made him cringe.

"Brimstone," a voice suddenly said making Harry jump in surprise. "Hell has been raised." Looking at the speaker, Harry saw the boy in black.

"What caused it?" Harry asked but the boy only smiled.

"If you want your curiosity to be satisfied, please do not be alone when attempting it," the boy said as he walked towards the source of the earlier screams. "Come now, you wanted to know why pain echoed the day."

A bit perturbed by his actions, Harry followed.

And when they came to the source, Harry blanched.

Four bodies were burned to the ground. The mangles remains were positioned as if they were running away from something. Or... someone.

"The Death Eaters did this?" Harry was shocked to see what the Death Eaters would do to innocent people. But the next news shocked him even more.

"The bodies were Death Eaters," the boy said. "Burned by Brimstone and Hellfire."

"Who would do such a thing?" Harry asked but thought that it was deserved punishment. But for some reason, he pained at their suffering.

Something that Voldemort would not do.

"Harry!" Professor Lupin's called him as he ran towards his friend's son. As he turned, he suddenly noticed that he was alone.

The boy in black was nowhere to be found.

"Who are you?" Harry whispered as he felt that it would not be the last time they would meet.