~Harry Potter and the Rise of the Dark Lord~
by: LogicalRaven

****



I haven't decided if I honestly think Petunia will change in the actual HP series, but the past chapter is my most logical guess on what Dumbledore's last might be.
I'm so glad you guys seem to like the new story. It really appreciate all the support and words of encouragement. I imagine most of you guys are like me, trying to fight through till the next book release. Oh what I wouldn't do for a copy of HP book 6...anybody know how to get a copy??? J/K

Read and Review
Nothing is My Own

****

The Appealing Eros Raymer




Harry felt himself land on the cold stone floor, arriving at Grimmauld Place. His glasses nudged down his nose, and he hit the coffee table with a thud. Slowly he picked himself off the floor and dusted himself off.

"Hello?" Harry called out.
"Nobodies here right now but me," Susan Bones answered. She was sitting on the couch reading an extremely thick book.
Harry narrowed his eyes, "I thought Ron and his family were here?"
"They left a couple hours ago with Hermione Granger, I think they went back to the Weasley's house," Susan answered, not taking her nose out of the book.
"Where is everybody else?" Harry questioned.
Susan let out an annoyed sigh, "Where do you think they are?"
"I don't have the faintest idea," Harry rowed back.
Susan finally lowered her book and gave Harry a confused look, "Have you been living under a rock?"
"Basically," Harry confirmed.
"Thursdays the Ministry takes over the shifts, that is why I'm here. My Aunty is out on patrol. It isn't exactly like they can take a day off you know," Susan answered.

Nothing she was saying made sense. Susan Bones could be the vaguest human being at times. Apparently she wasn't in a talkative mood because he wasn't sure what she was talking about. Grimmauld Place was completely different from the previous year, when the halls were filled with wizards and witches.

"I'm sorry," she said suddenly, "I just get a little uptight when my Aunty is out on patrol, she's really the only thing I have left. My parents were killed by he must not be named too. I don't know what I'd do if something happened to her."

"Where are they patrolling?" Harry pushed.
"No idea. It isn't like they're going to tell me information like that. It has to be someplace dangerous because last week my Aunty had to go to St. Mungo," Susan remarked, reaching over to set her book on the table. "You look terrible Harry."
"Thanks," Harry almost laughed as he took a seat on a nearby chair.
"Everyone was wondering when you'd be arriving," Susan continued, now biting her lip. The worry and concern for her aunt etched on her face.
"I'm sure Madame Bones will be fine," Harry tried to assure her.

The house was painfully quite. The emptiness made Harry pity Sirius's last days spend alone here. Dumbledore's words played on a continuous loop in Harry's mind. Where these really the darkest of times? Had Voldemort completely risen to power? Was the ministry control honestly hanging on by a thread?

"I've heard those muggles you lived with where terrible," Susan tried to reinstate the conversation.
Harry shrugged, "Doesn't really matter anymore I don't guess. I'm not allowed to go back."
"I'm sorry," Susan said sympathetically.
"Trust me , it's a blessing that I won't be returning," Harry said with a smile. If his aunt and uncle didn't want to remember him, than good ridden. He was better off with out them.

Susan Bones forced a smile as she began to relax a bit. She didn't reach for her book again, but stared at the ceiling in as if she was counting the marks made by the plaster. What Harry wouldn't do to see Ron or Hermione. He even missed Cho a bit. He wanted to be around someone who actually wanted him around. He wanted someone who could tell him what the bloody hell had been going on.

"So you and Cho still together?" Susan suddenly asked.
"Huh?" Harry asked taken back by the question.
"You and Cho Chang?" Susan repeated.
"I suppose we are. She wrote me once over the summer. She was about to start Auror Academy," Harry replied, not really giving it a second thought.
"Oh, so you haven't heard?" Susan inquired.

Harry gave her a baffled look.

"Her mentor is Eros Raymer the III," Susan continued, shaking her head when Harry still didn't seem to comprehend what she was saying, "Eros Raymer? The most amazingly appealing male to every walk through the halls of Hogwarts. He was a seventh year our first year. You have to remember Eros, he was head boy and the Ravenclaw Quidditch Captain."
"Should I know him?" Harry asked naively.
Susan grinned, "He's spending an excessive amount of time with Miss Chang right now, that's for sure. My Aunty told me that Auror's mentors are practically attached at the hip with their student."

Harry turned his head, feeling an unpleasant taste in his mouth. He would never understand girls. Just because this Eros Raymer the III was Cho's Auror Mentor, didn't mean Harry needed to worry. If he was a Quidditch player he couldn't be all that bad of a guy. On the other hand, Malfoy was a Quidditch player too.

"I'm not worried," Harry said unconvincingly.

****



It wasn't until late the next morning before anyone started showing up at Order's Headquarters. Even then they were blank faces that Harry either didn't recognize or barely recognized. It was a completely different aura than the previous year. Nobody was chatting or enjoying meals together. Everyone had looks of determination written on their face. Utter determination.

Harry's things had of course been delivered, and Hedwig had already arrived before him. He couldn't get over how empty the house was. He hadn't even seen Dobby the house elf, who had volunteered the previous year to watch over Grimmauld Place. He did find time to pay a visit to Buckbeak, and take a nap. Just when he was positive that Grimmauld was the most miserable place that existed, everyone showed up.

"HARRY!" Hermione and Ginny as they ran to engulf him into a hug.

Ron was slightly less ecstatic, as he didn't break into a fit of shrills and hugs.

"Alright Harry?" Ron asked.
Harry nodded, "You?"

Ron gave an evil grin before he disappeared with a loud pop. He appeared a moment latter standing next to Harry grinning.

"RON! You don't have to apparate every five second!" Hermione lectured.
"I just took my test mate, passed with flying colors," Ron bragged.
Hermione rolled her eyes, "It only took you two tries."
"It isn't as easy as it looks. Mum about had a heart attack the first time I tried it. My cloths appeared downstairs, but I didn't," Ron confessed with a blush.
"Thank goodness it wasn't the other way around," Ginny teased.
"How did you get here so early, Dumbledore told us you wouldn't be able to come until the last week of August?" Hermione asked.
"I don't suppose he told you why then," Harry said in a bitter tone.

Hermione lowered her head, "Not exactly, he said it had something to do with the curse that protects you."
"Did, it's broken now. My aunt and uncle won't even remember who I am," Harry continued, feeling sick at the thought. "So what have I missed. Susan Bones tried to fill me in the other day, but…"

"HARRY!"

Harry barely had time to turn around when a pair of arms engulfed him, and a pair of lips landed firmly on his lips. When he did manage to collected himself, he saw a flushed Cho beaming up at him.

"I missed you," she said breathlessly.
Harry couldn't help but smile at her, "Obviously."

Cho's appearance had changed since the last time Harry has seen her. She no longer wore her school girls robes, but a long black robe with a hood. The robe of an Auror. Her once long raven hair, now fell barely to her shoulders.

"You cut your hair," Harry said touching the ends of it.
"Oh," she said with a blush, "It was one of the requirements of Auror Academy. Do you like it?"
Harry looked like he was considering it, "It fits you."
Cho gave him a playful shove, "And what exactly is that suppose to mean?"

"Cho, we have a meeting to attend," called a tall young man standing by the kitchen door.

Cho turned back to Harry, "I have to go into the meeting right now, but we can talk afterwards. I have something to give you." She tipped up on her toes and planted a kiss on his cheek before rushing off.

Harry watched her disappear into the meeting room. The young man who had called for her placed his hand on the small of her back leading her ahead of him. It made Harry grimace. When he turned back to Hermione and Ginny they were staring in the same direction as Harry with a far off look in their eyes.

"Cho has to be the luckiest girl on the face of the planet," Ginny muttered, giving Hermione a slight grin.

Harry almost blushed, but a second later was grateful he hadn't.

"Oh, Eros Raymer isn't that good looking," Hermione fussed, back, her expression telling a different story.
"Whatever you say," Ginny continued with a softness of daydream to her tone.
"Eros Raymer, isn't he her mentor or something?" Harry asked as if it didn't mean anything to him.
"Harry, I'm sure you don't have anything to worry about. Cho is crazy about you," Ginny assured him.
"I wouldn't want Eros Raymer anywhere near my girl mate. Fred and George said that girls practically fell at his feet when he was at Hogwarts. For some reason they find him irresistible," Ron butted in.
"Ron, you don't have a girl," Hermione argued, rolling her eyes.
Ron crinkled his nose, "I'm just saying if I did."

Harry gave Ginny at look. Ron and Hermione were still at it, constant bickering. Harry found himself grateful he wasn't around when Hermione had arrive. Ron had probably given her hell about visiting Krum. Right on cue, Ron started.

"So did Hermione tell you about her exciting adventures in Athens?" Ron spat, eyeing Hermione as he said it.
"Ron, drop it. Harry doesn't want to hear you whining," Hermione replied coolly.

Ginny shook her head and rolled her eyes. No telling how many countless hours of this discussion she had bared witness to. From the look on her face, she wasn't anxious about witnessing another.

Ron had a sour expression on his face as he looked at Hermione, "He dedicated his award to Hermione! I read it in the Daily Prophet."
"He didn't dedicate his award to me. He thanked me for accompanying him to the ceremony when he received his Seeker of the Year award," Hermione corrected.
"Same difference," Ron snapped.
Hermione took a deep breath, "There is a huge difference Ronald!"
"He's too old for you," Ron countered, crossing his arms across his chest.
"It's none of your business what goes on between me and Viktor," Hermione spat hatefully.

Ginny leaned over and whispered to Harry, "They've been at it for weeks now. Driving me nuts." Then with a wink she mouthed, "Watch this."

"Ron, quite being such a prat. Hermione is interested in Michael anyways," Ginny said nonchalantly.

"No I'm not," Hermione defended quickly, but it was too late.

"Then why are you accepting his love letters? Honestly Hermione I thought better of you than a scarlet woman," Ron sneered.
Hermione let out a huff, "I'm no scarlet woman. I don't like Michael Corner. He asked me if he could write me over the summer, and I said he could he wanted to. That's it!"
"Oh, so he's writing you?" Ron accused.
"It isn't any of your business if he is or isn't!" Hermione argued.

****



Ron and Hermione continued their fuss for the next three hours, on and off. Harry actually felt pity for Ginny. Poor girls was alone to deal with those two, Harry was positive if they didn't shut-up he was going to place a muting charm on them both.

The Order Meeting finally concluded as the members filtered out, all with trampled faces. Whatever was going on had to be bad. From what Harry had made out, Voldemort was rising to power, more fearsome than before. Apparently his attack on Hogwarts had done just what Harry predicted. The magical world was scared beyond word. The one wizard, the one place everyone believed to be safe, had been attacked. The innocences of their world has been destroyed. Most had probably asked the same question Harry had asked himself after the attack, "was any place safe?"

Barely aware of it, he found himself sitting on the couch with Cho beaming at him. She had been rambling about her training, but Harry was barely paying her any attention. His interest was drawn to the wizard sitting on the chair next to them. Eros Raymer hadn't taken his eyes off Cho, and Harry had desperately wanted to hex him since they had sat down.

Across from them sat Cho's mentor, Eros Raymer the III. If there was a complete opposite to Harry, Eros was it. He was a tall attractive young man in his mid-twenties, with broad shoulders and a clef chin. His flawless hair feel over his graceful face.

"You should see the Potion's Laboratory at the Academy. It is enormous! The Potion Masters are amazing," Cho was rambled excitedly.
"It sounds amazing," Harry said with a forced smile.
"Oh and the Defense Against the Dark Art's library. Half the books are so restricted they're restricted in Hogwart's library! You know Master Raymer, Harry is the best in Defense student at Hogwarts," Cho bragged, locking her hand into Harry's.
"I've been told," Eros Raymer said flatly, not moving his eyes.
"So, you played Quidditch?" Harry offered when Cho brought Raymer into the conversation.
Raymer let a crude grin spread across his face, "Quidditch isn't what concerns me any more. Keeping my fellow wizards and witches alive in my top priority."

"Master Raymer was the only Auror from his year accepted into the Academy. He is a third generation, I'm very fortunate to have him as a mentor," Cho told Harry, as she turned her beaming away from Harry and directed to Eros.

Harry closed his eyes, urging himself not to make a scene, "So, how was it you were fortunate enough to have Mr. Raymer here as your mentor?"
"He selected me," Cho said with a blush, "There were five new recruits selected into this years term, and Raymer is one of the Auror on the selection committee. He's the reason I was accepted into the Academy."

Harry cringed again, he was hoping she'd say something about random selection. No, Eros Raymer had personally selected Cho to be his apprentice, and from the way he was looking at her, it wasn't the only thing he had selected her for.

"I have the next two weeks off of training. I was going to go home and spend some time with my parents, but I've decided to stay here with you instead," Cho said sweetly leaning her head down on Harry's shoulder.

"What?" both boys said in unison.

"Cho, I don't think that's a good idea. As your mentor I must object. The whole purpose of having two weeks of rest is to get away from all of this. Staying here completely defeats the purpose," Raymer voiced.

Cho narrowed her eyes, "I was told I can spend my off time wherever I choose. I'd rather stay here with Harry than go home. I don't see how you can object to that."
"What will your father say?" Raymer brought up.
Cho lowered her head, "My father will understand."

Harry felt his head swimming with jealously, "If Cho wants to stay here at Grimmauld Place she's more than welcome to. She's already decided."
Cho looked at Harry suspiciously as he placed his arm around her shoulders and drew her into himself.

"Oh course it's her decision, but it is my responsibility to make sure her choice is in her best interest," Eros Raymer said in a threatening voice, glaring at Harry.

Cho sighed, "I'll go inform Master O'Riley of my decision. I'm sorry, I just feel this is the best decision for me at the moment Master."

Cho lowered her head as she walked by her mentor. It was obvious she never went against his wishes. December O'Riley was still in the meeting room discussing matters with Dumbledore and Moody, so she must have figured there was no time like the present to inform O'Riley of her decision.

"You must mean a great deal to her, Mr. Potter," Eros Raymer said leaning back into his chair.
"We've been through a lot together," Harry said flatly, eyeing the young Auror dangerously.
Raymer nodded, "So I've heard. I won't hide the fact that I think your heroic acts the past six years have been fool hearted. If you honestly plan on being an Auror someday, you need to learn to lead with your head, not your guts."
"I'll remember that next time Voldemort is trying to kill me," Harry spat.

Raymer turned his head in the direction Cho had disappeared, "Amazing creature isn't she. I won't lie, I envy you Mr. Potter. I have can't fathom how you ended up with a lady so beautiful. I remember the first time I met Miss. Chang. She's grown-up into an breathtaking young woman ."
"I know," Harry said now narrowing his eyes.
"She besotted with you though. Not that I can figure out why exactly," Raymer sneered.

"Harry, Master O'Riley has approved my request!" Cho said, interrupting the two men.

Harry smiled feeling a twinge of victory as he rushed to give Cho a hug.

"That's wonderful! Here I'll help you get settle in upstairs," Harry said pleasantly with the largest smile he could muster.

Cho blushed as she looked up at Harry's smiling face. He laced his fingers through her's and lead her towards the stairwell leading to the bedrooms. Harry could feel the eyes of Eros Raymer buring a hole through his head. Out of spite, he spun around and seized Cho around the waist, bring her face up to his.