Disclaimer: Harry Potter is created by J.K. Rowling and, therefore, belongs solely to her.

Title: Harry Potter and the War of the Wizarding World

Ch 1.

The Truth is Revealed

The guilt that consumed Harry became overwhelming during the weeks that followed since leaving Hogwarts at the end of term in June. Harry had continuous nightmares of the graveyard, Cedric, the ministry, and of Sirius. Every night he woke up to his own screams and spent the rest of the night in a cold fury at Voldemort, Bellatrix, and his own guilty conscience. If the Dursleys ever noticed or heard Harry in the night, they never mentioned it, just went on ignoring him. This never bothered Harry, he preferred to be left to himself and stir in his memories.

Every so often Hedgwig, Pig, or a random owl would fly through the window and drop a letter onto Harry's desk, but the letters were never read. Harry knew what they would say, knew how much everyone was worried about him and his feelings of guilt would increase. So Harry wrote small notes to various people twice a week telling him that he was fine and that the Muggles were treating him fairly. Harry knew that this wasn't enough to satisfy has friends. He doesn't care though, all he cares about is revenge. Revenge for Cedric, revenge for Sirius, revenge for his parents, revenge for the life he could have had. Everything was Voldemort's doing, it was all his fault. Harry knows that it is his destiny to fight Voldemort, he knows that in the end one of them will have to die. Harry was just going to make sure it wasn't him.

It was the morning of Harry's 16th birthday, he had awoken to another nightmare during the night and, therefore, was very reluctant to go downstairs for breakfast. He had been thinking of Sirius all morning.

Sirius

He missed him terribly. And he knew he shouldn't be to blame, and yet...

Sirius

Can you hear me? Are you happy? Are you with my mum and dad? Do you miss me? STOP IT! You will make yourself ill.

Sirius

I'm sorry I failed you. It's my fault you're dead. I'm sorry...sorry. STOP IT! You cannot dwell on that, he is dead and you can't change it!

It was a constant battle that Harry fought within his own mind. This battle continued until it was interrupted by a knock on his door,

"I'll be down in a minute." Harry said from his seat by the window, where he had sat and watched the sunrise, one of many. His door opened slowly and someone cleared his throat,

"Er-Harry?" Harry swung in his seat quickly, nearly knocking himself from it.

"Professor Lupin?"

"Remus, Harry, just Remus."

"Er-right." There was an awkward pause before Harry asked, "so-er-what brings you to Privet Drive?"

"Oh, yes! Well, I figured since it is your birthday and all that you would like to spend the day with some friends, and maybe perhaps, the rest of summer?"

"You mean, go to the Burrow?" Harry asked tentatively. His hope rising at the idea of spending the rest of summer with the Weasley's.

"Well, no," Harry's hope diminished as quickly as it had flared, "what I mean to say is that it's quite obvious that you haven't been reading your letters." Lupin looked over Harry's shoulders to the large pile of unopened letters. Harry felt slightly ashamed of himself.

"Er-no, I haven't been. I don't feel like having people pity me." The anger began to boil in Harry.

"Harry, they don't pi-"

"No, no, of course they don't. Just forget it." Harry interrupted, casting his eyes anywhere in the room except at Lupin. Harry didn't feel like an argument, especially with Lupin.

"Harry, the Weaselys' and Hermione have been staying at headquarters. Dumbledore doesn't feel that they are safe anywhere else."

"What do you mean?" Harry's heart quickened quite suddenly with what Lupin was saying.

"Dumbledore believes that Voldemort might be after them because..."

"Because they are my friends." Harry finished quietly. The guilt that Harry had been feeling since the attack in the Ministry finally exploded. His friends were in danger because of him and now had to go into hiding for safety. If any of them were harmed, it would be his, Harry's, fault.

"Let's not worry about that now Harry. It's your birthday and everyone has something wonderful planned for you."

"Oh? Like what?" Harry asked with a slight note of enthusiasm.

"I can't tell you that."

"Why not?"

"Because then Hermione would seriously harm me." Both Harry and Lupin laughed. "Well Harry, if you want to stay the rest of summer with us, we should start packing."

The next few minutes were spent with Harry and Lupin gathering all of Harry's things and packing them into his trunk. With Lupin carrying Hedgwig, Harry carrying his broom, and the trunk between them, they set off down the stairs.

"We should tell your aunt and uncle that you are leaving for the rest of summer holidays and answer any questions they might have." Harry just nodded and shrugged his shoulders at Lupin. They set down his things and headed into the kitchen. There they found all three Dursleys sitting around the table in a frightened silence.

"Hello Mr and Mrs. Dursley. My name is Remus Lupin, you might remember me from the train station," The only sign of any acknowledgement or recognition from the Dursleys was Uncle Vernon's face purpling and mustache twitching. "If it's alright with you, I would like to take Harry for the rest of his summer holidays."

"And where will you be taking the boy?" Uncle Vernon asked, standing up so quickly that his chair fell backwards on the floor with a loud bang that startled Aunt Petunia and Dudley.

"Somewhere safe."

"He's safe here, the letter said so. And as long as Harry is here, we are safe as well." Uncle Vernon swelled slightly when he said this.

"Yes, I'm am quite aware of that letter, but I assure you that as long as Harry calls this his home, which he still does, then you will be safe from Voldemort and his followers." Uncle Vernon did not look the least bit assured by what Lupin had told him. Harry thought for sure that His uncle was going to put up a fight with Lupin, but was rather surprised by what his aunt said,

"Are you sure that the boy will be safe?" Harry felt his jaw drop in surprise at his aunt. Uncle Vernon and Dudley's did the same, but Lupin merely smiled.

"Quite sure, his friends will be there and many well trained witches and wizards will be there to protect him." All of the Dursleys' winced at the words witches and wizards.

"So then He's back? Really back after all these years?" Aunt Petunia asked quietly. Again Harry was surprised at his aunt by the fear in her voice as she spoke this.

"I'm afraid so. I'm sure Harry's already explained to you how he witnessed Voldemort's return and was able to tell Dumbledore immediately, which allowed us to be better prepared then the last war." Lupin looked at Harry with a small smile playing his lips and a look of pride in his eyes.

"Sorry, did you just say the Boy witnessed Voldy-whatever's return?" Lupin's smile slipped from his face and eyed Uncle Vernon warily.

"Has-hasn't Harry told you?" Lupin looked dubiously from the Dursleys to Harry.

"No, I haven't told them." Harry said quietly. Again he felt ashamed of himself as Lupin stared at him in shock.

"But, why not?" His voice held a note of surprise.

"Because I didn't think they would care and the fact that they hate everything to do with the Wizarding world."

"But Harry, you can't have just not told them. Have you been keeping everything that has happened to you completely from them? Dealing with everything all on your own?"

"Er-yes." Lupin looked incredulously at Harry as if Harry had just sprouted two heads.

"Harry, they need to know."

"But, why?" Harry couldn't understand Lupin's need for his Aunt and Uncle to know what Harry went through at Hogwarts.

"Because Harry, they need to understand. They have to be prepared for the future and what exactly they are facing." Harry didn't say anything. He knew that Lupin was right. It never occurred to him that the Dursleys would have needed to know everything that has happened. "Mr and Mrs. Dursley, Harry and I have some-er-things to tell you. Er-this might take awhile."