~Harry Potter and the Rise of the Dark Lord~
by: LogicalRaven
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Thank-you, Thank-you for all the fantastic support. If you noticed I started the story off fairly dark, then tried to lighten it up a bit. This story is going to be dark by nature, and being seventeen, Harry is going to face more than just problems with the dark lord. The twist with Cho, well I can't say yet. It won't happen for awhile, but I'm very excited about those chapters...
Ron and Hermione, some of you might be jumping to conclusions (notice the word might "evil grin")
I realize the apparating spell was quite long, but I wanted it to be. I couldn't make it that easy now could I?
The words are actually very broken latin. It means "self disappear, self reappear, I desire to appear here." I tried, but it isn't my best subject so I may have some of the words wrong, but that was the effect I was going for.
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An Unusual Trip to Diagon Alley
Harry pulled on his wizarding robe, it was the first time he had worn a robe in months. The group of them were heading to Diagon Alley for their yearly school supplies, but this year was going to be different.
Due to the extra security, Minster Fudge insist Harry bring along, three ministry Auror. This seemed a bit fool hearted to Harry. With all the recent attacks that had been coming in, he thought the Aurors would be better used doing something more productive than taking him to buy school supplies.
December O'Riley, Tonks, and Eros Raymer were his assigned guards for their trip. The only reason Raymer had volunteered was no doubt the fact Cho was going also. Cho had been a wreck since a letter from her father had arrived a few days earlier.
He was down to his last option. The Chinese Minister of Magic had ordered Ambassador Si Chang to return to China immediately. The Chinese magical government felt that Dark Lord was Europe's problem, and they should sever all ties until the "He Who Must Not Be Named" issue was resolved.
It wasn't just China, many other magical governments across the world had also backed out of their support for the rise against the Dark Lord. The magical governing bodies of Russia, Brazil, South Africa and the United States had also pulled out their support.
Ambassador Chang had sent his only daughter a letter demanding she return to China with her family, and abandon this 'Auror nonsense.' The ultimatum was if she didn't comply than she would be disowned. Ambassador Chang could not tie himself to someone who was supporting the rise against the Dark Lord so openly.
Cho had cried until she couldn't cry anymore. She was torn between her duties as an Auror and her family. Add Harry into the equation, and she knew she couldn't grant her father's request. What had bothered Harry more than Cho's sobs, was the fact she hadn't come to him for comfort.
Instead she had went to her mentor, Eros Raymer. The previous night Harry had heard voices in the living area after midnight. He had listened almost ten minuets to Cho spilling her heart out to Raymer. She was telling him how she vowed to herself after Cedric's death that she would do whatever it took to fight against Voldemort. She told him how she feared for him, Harry, and was terrified that he would die if she left. It went on and on. Instead of getting annoyed Raymer listened, offering her words of encouragement as she cried.
Harry hated Raymer, and he felt a bitter feeling of betrayal for Cho going to her mentor with her problems instead of him.
"Ready for your big test today?" Tonks asked brightly as Harry and Ron appeared for breakfast.
"I think so, I mean. I haven't messed up lately, that badly anyways," Harry replied.
Ron smirked, "Unless you count that one time you appeared upside down and landed on your head. Or that time you appeared with your cloths on backwards."
Ginny giggled, "Don't forget yesterday when you forgot your hair."
"Okay, so I haven't perfected it yet," Harry said bitterly staring down at his oatmeal and bacon.
"You'll do fine Harry, just remember to concentrate and don't get nervous," Tonks assured him as she switched the noses on her face. It had become one of her favorite meal time activities.
As they finished up breakfast and prepared to go to Diagon Alley, Harry reached into his pocket and pulled out his badges. He looked apprehensively at Hermione, who had been exceptional quite since the day the Hogwart's letters had arrived.
"I can't believe your Head Boy and Quidditch Captain, Malfoy is going to wet himself," Ron said happily as he prepared to apparate to Diagon Alley. He had passed his test and traveling by floo was now a thing of the past as far as he was concerned.
"I wonder who made Head Girl?" Ginny asked casually.
Hermione remained silent.
"I thought for sure it would be you Hermione, I don't know what McGonagall was thinking," Ginny added.
"McGonagall didn't select the Heads this year Ginny. That would be Dumbledore you'd need to ask that question to," December O'Riley responded, making her appearance. "It honestly must have been a tough decision. Fudge threw a fit when Dumbledore told him
Harry was going to be the new Head. But we all know Dumbledore has his reasons for doing things the way he does."
"So who did make Head Girl?" Ron asked.
December let a grin spread across her face, "My lips are sealed. I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise."
"As long as it isn't Pansy Parkinson , or any other Slytherin for that matter I won't complain," Ginny countered.
Harry was now narrowing his eyes, watching his former professor suspiciously, "So why did Dumbledore make me Head Boy?"
"Like I said Dumbledore has his reasons. You should have seen how shocked we all were when Hogwart's infamous prankster James Potter made Head Boy," she chuckled, "Everyone thought that Dumbledore had gone mad, but James turned out to be perfect for the job."
Eros Raymer finally arrived and the Aurors told the students to floo to the Leaky Caldron, not Diagon Alley. Ron was going to apparate with Cho and Eros, and the rest of the group would floo.
Moments later they all stood in the old bar that discretely stood on a London street. Harry enjoyed the atmosphere of the bar normally, but today it was empty. As they entered the alley, Harry found it was also empty; Not the normal swarms of people hustling around. There might have been a total of ten people besides their group, and all ten of them looked like they were ready for something to attack them at any moment.
"Where is everybody?" Harry asked.
"Hiding, just like they use to hide," December said flatly, holding her wand defensively as if she too were expecting an attack.
"Death Eaters use to attack Diagon Alley on a regular basis before the Dark Lord fell. You could be walking down the street one minute then struck dead the next."
"Most people just prefer to order from mail catalogs or apparate directly into the stores, it's safer that way, and it is what the ministry is recommending people do."
The windows were papered with pictures of wanted wizards and witches. Next to them were pictures of Dementors, telling everyone to apparate or run if one was spotted.
Harry couldn't imagine the Ministry had lost so much control that people wouldn't even visit Diagon Alley anymore.
"Okay, Harry, Tonks and I will go to the Ministry of Magic's Apparating Testing Facility and we'll meet up with you guys at the Leaky Caludron for lunch around twelve. Eros, I want you to stay with Hermione, Ron and Ginny. Try to get most of the shopping out of the way, I want to get back to Grimmauld place as soon as possible. Cho, remember you aren't allowed to perform as an Auror until you past your first assessment, so don't try anything stupid," December nodded to them before breaking apart from the group.
"Goodluck Harry," Ron called out.
The testing center was actually outside Diagon Alley and in the Ministry of Magic. If you didn't use the phone booth in London, you could only apparate there.
That was the first phase of the test , to apparate to the testing facility.
"Okay Harry, I know this is a big jump for you, but it's just like what we've been practicing. Just concentrate," Tonks assured.
Harry nodded as he took a deep breath. He didn't need to use his wand anymore. He only had to say the spell in his head, and it should work. Closing his eyes he tried mental said the words, Aborti Concho Vesti, Phanta Concho Vesti, Loco Colous Panto Ubivoli Colous .
Again the view in front of Harry's eyes swirled and the wind rushed against his face, but he didn't let his concentration fade. A moment later the room was in focus, and he was staring at the fountain in the main hall of the Ministry Magic.
"Excellent job Harry, you're going to pass this test with flying colors!" Tonks cheered, appearing beside him with a loud pop.
The three of them took the elevator up to the four floor and entered a room made of solid glass. Above the door hung the words Apparating Testing.
As they approached the receptionist desk a fat witch with point glasses handed them a form to fill out.
"Here Harry, fill this out," December instructed.
Be AWARE That The Ministry of Magic Takes NO Responsibility for Accidents that May Occur During the Testing Process, and All Apparating Testing is Done at The Subject Own Discretion…
Rule #1 An Apparating Licenses can be revoked at anytime, at the Ministry's Discretion
Rule #2 The legal blood alcohol limit is 1.5. Anything higher will result in serious injury to the apparator. Don't Drink and Apparate, you have been warned.
Rule # 3 Wizards and Witches are forbade from apparating into private homes of witches and wizards without granted permission. Such action will result in immediate termination of apparating privileges.
Rule #4 Wizards and Witches are strictly forbade to apparate in the presence of muggles who are unaware of the wiarding world. A prison sentence of no less that two months is the fine for such actions.
Do you understand and agree to the rules and warnings stated above
X_________________________________________________
Harry reluctantly signed the document and handed it back to the fat witch with pointy glasses.
"How long have you been preparing for this test?" she asked in a harsh voice.
"About a week," Harry answered truthfully.
The witch laughed, "Do you understand that if something horrific happens, such as you end up killing yourself. The Ministry of Magic and the Apparating License Department is not responsible for any hospital bills of funeral charges incurred."
"Sure," Harry said raising his eyebrows.
"Okay, it's your life. What the hell would I know," she muttered taking his clipboard, hanging his clipboard on the wall behind her, "We'll call you when we're ready."
Harry returned to where December and Tonks were sitting and joined them.
"Nervous Harry?" Tonks asked.
Harry nodded.
"Oh, there is nothing to be worried about. I remember my first apparation test. I ended up in St. Mungo for three weeks. I thought I was going to get kicked out of Auror Academy," December said casually.
Harry looked at her in disbelief, she had ended up in St. Mungo for three weeks?
"I'm kidding Harry," she finally admitted, "They make it out to be a lot worse than it actually is."
Nearly an hour passed before the fat witch with the pointy glasses called out "Harry Potter."
Harry looked at Tonks and December one last time before disappearing behind a big bronze door. The room was stark white and at least the length of four Quidditch fields. Standing in the room was a short fat looking man, who looked very similar to Professor Flitwick. He eyed Harry suspiciously.
"Well, this is how it goes. I'm going to decorate this plain room all nice like and get you to apparate around. You get two minor mistakes. If you make more than two minor mistakes or any major mistakes, requiring medical attention, than you don't pass. If you don't pass you must wait two weeks before being allowed to retake the test," he rambled, burying his nose in his clipboard.
"Mutterins Flobious ."
The plan white room suddenly transformed into a room of clutter and mess. Harry could barely move. How in the world was he going to apparate in this mess.
"Okay, first task. I want you to apparate over by the green flower pot."
"Sir, where is that exactly?" Harry asked.
"I'm not going to tell you. Part of the test if seeing if you can figure that out yourself," he replied, slightly annoyed.
Harry was feeling very frustrated. He couldn't find himself in this room of clutter, much less a green flower pot. Willing himself to concentrate, he cleared his mind of everything but a green flower pot. Then he mentally said the words to himself.
The room swirled and the breeze stung his face, but when he opened his eyes he was standing next to a small green flower pot.
"Good, good. Now apparate on the left side of the cherry tree," the short wizard mumbled.
Harry took another deep breath, and willed himself to concentrate. He felt his heart sink when he opened his eyes, and everything was blur. He had left his glasses.
"Forgot these," the short wizard muttered, zipping them over to Harry.
"Okay, I want you to apparate over by the yellow bar stool," he continued.
It went on and on, each item more complicated then the next. Harry was positive he was going to mess up, he only had one more screw up. It was nerve racking as he apparated over and over again, fatigue and exhaustion setting in.
"Okay Mr. Potter this will be your last apparation. I need you to appear outside the Ministry of Magic, in a garden of daisies somewhere and then appear back."
"I'm not suppose to go outside without my guards," Harry replied.
"If you can't do it, than I'm afraid you fail the test," the short man replied bluntly.
Harry rolled his eyes and again mental muttered the incantation in his mind. He soon found himself in a beautiful garden of daisies. He quickly picked one, just as he was about to apparate he felt a cold chill run down his back. He turned around to find himself staring face to face with a figure in a dark robe, a Death Eater.
Harry's eyes noticed something floating in the sky above him. He had seen it before, a skull with a snake running through it. Harry's wand was tucked deep in his robes, and his opponent had his wand drawn, and aimed directly at Harry.
Concentrate, Harry willed himself. Closing his eyes saw a jet of green flash towards him as he saw the scene dissolve. When he opened his eyes he was back in the waiting room of the Apparating Testing Facility, holding a daisy that had been crushed due to the anxiety Harry had just felt.
"Harry?!" December exclaimed rising from her seat.
"There's been another attack," he said quickly.
"Mr. Potter, I told you apparate back into the testing room, not the waiting room. I'm afraid that is a minor mistake. I'll tally up your score and notify you in a moment whether I deemed you worthy to pass," the fat wizard spat miserably, shaking his head.
"What do you mean there's been another attack?" Tonks pushed.
Harry took a deep breath, "I had to apparate outside and get this stupid daisy. I'm not sure where I ended up but there was a Death Eater their and I saw the Dark Mark in the sky."
"Damn it, I wish they'd hurry up," December croaked, staring at a time piece around her wrist. "I'm going to tell Eros that we're aren't going to meet up with them. I think we need to get back to the Order and talk to Dumbledore about this."
Tonks nodded, then turned back to Harry, "Did he try to attack you?"
"Who? The Death Eater?" Harry asked.
"Yes."
"I don't know. I saw green, like the green of the killing curse, but I never heard him say the words," Harry said slowly, trying to reflect back.
Tonks went pale as Harry spoke.
"Mr. Potter, congratulations. You can legally apparate now," the fat witch with point glasses spat out flatly, holding a small card out for Harry to take.