Rubella

Harry awoke next morning tired and aching from all the chores he was set the night before. His head was still spinning and a jumble, full of thoughts about Sirius, his parents, even death itself. He looked up at his calendar which showed there were still three weeks left till the new school year. Could he last that long with the Dursleys? He doubted even the great Albus Dumbledore would be able to stomach it. Harry slowly got up to get dressed, his muscles felt as though they were about to seize up. Hedwig was awake and hooting in her cage, obviously upset by the imprisonment. Harry looked out the window to see a clear blue sky. There was a slight breeze which seemed to create a sense of peace in privet drive. The birds could be heard singing, and the day seemed to give Harry hope that it would all turn out ok in the end. He was about to head downstairs when he heard a loud pop. His stomach gave a lurch as he recognised the sound, he swung round to see where it had come from. Standing beside his dresser was the figure of, well he wasn't sure. A tall slim woman, stood beaming at him, her long dark red hair was tied in a high ponytail. She had brown eyes which seemed to glisten and sparkle in the sunlight. She had a gentle look about her, but Harry didn't take this for granted, as he knew people are not always what they seem. In her left hand was a small leather pouch, which reminded him of a money bag. If Harry had seen her walking in the street he would never have considered her to be in the slightest way magical. She was wearing dark blue jeans, a pink floral top and white chord jacket. The look on her face told him she had noticed his staring. She took a piece of parchment out of her back pocket and read "On orders from the ministry of magic you, Harry potter will be escorted immediately to The Paddock. This will be your place of residence until your return to Hogwarts in three weeks time. Please gather your things and make your way to the designated area. Signed Rubella Leroy head of the ministry of magic." She paused then tucked the parchment back in her pocket. "so!" She said "come on then don't just stand there staring, gather your things" Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing. How could he be expected to just go with this woman who popped into his room? "Err not to be rude but who are you exactly and why am I going to, The Paddock?" She stared back at him looking slightly shocked by his questioning, but after a moment replied, "My name is Melissa Colton. The paddock is a place of refuge for those in danger". Harry hadn't quite understood her, was he in danger? Dumbledore told him he would be safe in Privet drive, no one would dare try to attack him in front of muggles "Things will become clearer when we arrive, don't worry." . His head became a blur as he tried to comprehend what she was saying to him. Questions popped into his head and he thought.

'Is this a trap that I'm supposed to just fall into again, why is the ministry helping me and what happened to fudge?'

"The minister of magic is worried about your safety due to recent unexpected events. She has therefore decided it would be best if we could keep a closer eye on you. Now I'm sorry to say that I cannot answer anymore question please pack your things so that we can leave as soon as possible."

"How do I know this isn't some trick, am I suppose to just trust a piece of parchment and go with you?" Harry asked her.

"Look I know this has come as quite a shock, but there's no need to worry just as long as we take you to safety as soon as possible. I promise that I am not here to trick you or lead you astray, and if I was I give you permission to kill me. Now does that make you feel any better?" Harry just stared at her with a look of shock on his face. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Here" she said, handing him the piece of parchment she had just read. "It's signed by the new head of the ministry, I'm not sure there's much more proof I can give you. When we get there you can meet with her and I'm sure she will be able to put your mind at ease." She looked at him with a warm and loving smile, which seemed to make things a little easier for him. And so, still rather confused Harry started to get ready before realising, "what about my uncle, he's not exactly keen on me doing anything to do with magic, especially if it would save my life?" She moved forward to help Harry pack his things a little quicker. "Don't worry they will be taken care of, Where's your broom and trunk?"

He told her and she headed downstairs to fetch it. 'Why do they need to protect me?' he couldn't help but wonder. He was also beginning to feel she could read his mind, either that or she was very good at reading faces! She returned a few moments later carrying the last of Harry's belongings. And so with a bad feeling, Harry let her disapparate his things. Last left was Harry though he couldn't see how she was going to get him there, he couldn't apparate yet! She took his hand and held it tight, then opened the small pouch she had been holding, she put her hand inside and pulled out a hand full of what could be classed as fairy dust in the muggle world and sprinkled it all over them. Harry looked up to see the dust fall, it seemed to slow time down and he saw it glistening and sparkling in the sunlight. As the dust fell on him he was filled with a feeling of peace, as though there was nothing around him, and the world seemed to drift away from him leaving him in darkness. The only thing real to him was the hand gripping his tightly. Slowly reality seemed to drift back into sight and the next thing he knew he was standing in a small darkened room. It's only contents were a chair, desk and small bed. It took him a few moments to get his bearings and realise she was no longer holding his hand.

"This will be you room until we can free up some space for you. If you would follow me I can give you a tour and introduce you to the minister, I think she will be able to make all this a little easier for you." Harry was still feeling the after effects of his journey there. "It takes some getting used to you know, the fairy dust. We had to really work to get it too. But luckily under the special circumstances they were willing to give us a small supply."

Harry was beginning to feel there was something he should know. What did she mean circumstances? Lord Voldemort? He was about to ask her when a door to his left swung open. Standing in it was a short plump woman, she had short grey hair which flew all over the place. She wore dark green velvet robes that touched the floor and trailed behind her. Slowly she walked towards them and stopped in front of Harry. Her face was much clearer up close, especially in the dim light. Her nose was slightly crooked and her mouth was very thin. Her eyes seemed to look strait through you, a deep green.

"Good morning Mr Potter, I trust you had a good journey here?" Harry wasn't quite sure how to reply as he still wasn't sure why he was here anyway. "My name is rubella Leroy, head of the ministry of magic."

"What happened to Fudge?" Harry managed to say.

"After the circumstances involving 'you know who' we the council thought it best that someone else took control. To avoid anymore hick ups." She looked at Harry and then turned towards Melissa. "Were there any problems in your travels, and did you sought out the family." Melissa whispered her reply so Harry couldn't hear. "Good good, well good day to you Mr Potter. We will meet again soon. Melissa would you please show Harry the premises and enlighten him to the situation." With that the minister left, leaving Melissa to show Harry round.

They left the room along with Harry's belongings. "Where's Hedwig?" He suddenly realised she hadn't been with the rest of his things.

"She's in the owlery don't worry." They entered a small corridor filled with pictures of previous ministers. The walls were a deep red covered in dirt and dust. The carpet was old and moulding and a deep shade of blue. As they turned a corner Harry saw a small window which showed it was raining outside, though he wondered if it was another fake window like those at the ministry. Every few meters were plants scattered in tatty plant pots. They looked as though they hadn't been watered in a long time. The corridor was getting darker as they moved along it, and the windows seemed to stop appearing. Pictures were empty and covered in spider webs. 'Ron wouldn't like this.' Harry thought.

"What was the minister talking about when she mentioned circumstances? What's been going on?" He had finally asked the question stuck in his mind for a while now.

"I keep forgetting you don't know of the things going on in the world of magic. Well after you left last year, people started to believe Voldemort was back." Harry was quite surprised to hear her say the name so many dare not. "Supporters who had been unsure started to emerge. Just last week a family were killed when they tried to alert authorities of a group of followers. People are getting scared that the mass killing will start again. This is why you're here Harry." She looked back at him as they slowly walked down another darkened corridor. The look on her face made him think she felt sorry for him. "You're here because Dumbledore and the new minister are worried that it could be you he's coming for next. We don't want anything to happen to you Harry."

They continued down the long corridors until they came to a dead end. The wall ahead of then was no different from the walls surrounding. It was filthy and cobwebbed and covered in empty portraits. She stopped in front of it and tapped the wall saying "revialum." The wall seemed to melt into the floor, under the carpet and disappear completely. Harry was standing at the entrance of what could only be described as a ......well..........