Discalimer: I don't own it, but I will on July 16! J.K. owns book 6 until then.
This chapter is dedicated to the release of the HBP release date the other day.
A/N: I know that the first few chapters are going to suck, and I will warn you that H/G fluff will abound at Grimmauld Place, but there will be lots of action later on. I decided to give you some in this chapter, but be warned, I don't have it planned, and it will just come to me as I write. Flame me about it if you so wish. Later in the story, I'll be using spells from all of the fanfics I've read, and also be creating some of my own, using Spanish and the Ancient Language from Eragon, which is another great book that any HP fan should read. If you see a spell from your fic and want credit, just let me know and I'll credit you.
Chapter 2
Fight and Rescue
Harry woke up the next morning feeling refreshed. He wore a smile on his face for the first time in weeks. Deciding that he needed food, as he had nearly starved himself since his return to the Dursleys, Harry headed down to breakfast. His Uncle Vernon was surprised to see him; none of the Dursleys had but caught a glimpse of him during the past two weeks. After eating without noticing or caring about the curious glances from his relatives, Harry decided to go upstairs to write some letters.
His first was the short, every three days letter to the Order.
Dear Order,
I'm fine, and the Dursleys seem to sense that I'm not in the mood to deal with them, so they've pretty much left me alone.
Get me out ASAP,
Harry
For his next message, Harry decided to put Ron and Hermione on one letter.
Dear Ron and Hermione,
Thanks for the letters, guys. They really help. Ron, if your mum asks about Fred and George's gold, just feign ignorance, and I'll deal with it when I see her. Hermione, I got my OWL results, and your just going to have to wait until I get to Headquarters to find out how I did. Nothing like a little incentive to help get me away from the muggles, huh? I guess I'll see you guys when the Order decides to get me out.
Harry
Harry figured that the short letter with no real information was a fitting punishment for the letters they had sent him. He thought with a laugh that Hermione may force the Order to go and get him once she read the letter. The next letter would be hard to write. It was to Ginny, the only one who could possibly understand what he was going through. While Harry was contemplating what to write to the youngest Weasley, he heard the dreaded sound of an apparition CRACK outside. Looking out the window, and hoping, praying that it was an order member, Harry saw a nightmare. Walking up Privet Drive were four Death Eaters, in their black robes and masks.
Harry had been anticipating an attack since he returned home, so he had a plan ready. He sprang into action, grabbing his wand, invisibility cloak, and his prized Firebolt broomstick. He opened his window, mounted the broom, covered himself in the cloak, and flew outside. While airborne over the house, he poked his wand out of the cloak and shouted "Protegus Maximus!". It was a powerful protection spell that he had found in one of the books he read about defense over the summer to prepare himself. The Death Eaters looked around for the source of the voice, but could only tell that it came from the air. Not caring, or thinking of the spell that they heard cast, they continued towards number four.
When one of them stepped onto the property, there was a loud sizzling noise, and then the Death Eater was thrown into the street, unconscious. But Harry saw none of this, as he was rocketing his broom towards Mrs. Figg's house. His batty, cat-loving neighbor was a squib (sort of a magical muggle) that lived near Harry to watch out for him. He landed and threw off the cloak, still clutching his wand tightly, and pounded on the door.
"Mrs. Figg! Open up, it's Harry! This is an emergency!" Harry was shouting and not caring if anyone else, well, besides the Death Eaters that is, could hear him. The door opened to reveal the older woman who was surprised to see Harry holding his wand, his broom and cloak discarded behind him. After what happened last year, she knew that something was wrong for him to be flouting his "abnormality" as the Dursleys called it around the muggles.
"What's wrong Harry? Why do you have your wand out, do you want to have to go to another hearing for doing underage magic?"
"Death Eaters," yelled Harry, "Death Eaters are attacking the Dursleys' house! Get Dumbledore here now! There are four of them. I cast 'protegus maximus' to try and protect the Dursleys. Maybe the ministry will send a person rather than an owl, and they'll see the reason I did magic this time."
Mrs. Figg looked shocked; Privet drive was supposed to be safe. "Harry," she said, "get your broom and cloak and come in here." She ran into her home and grabbed some Floo powder, and threw it in the fire. "Number twelve Grimmauld Place!" she shouted, sticking her head in. Her head appeared in the kitchen at the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix in London. Remus Lupin, the werewolf who had been good friends with Harry's parents lived there, and was seated at the moment at the table when her head materialized.
"What is it, Arabella?" he asked the squib who was Harry's lookout.
"Death Eaters on Privet Drive! Four of them! Get here quick, I can't restrain Harry from fighting for long," was her shouted reply.
The werewolf paled. "My god. I'll get Dumbledore and some of the others. We'll be right there."
With this, Mrs. Figg pulled her head out of the fireplace to speak to Harry. The only problem was that her living room was empty. When he heard her speak of restraining him from the fight, he took off back towards his home. He knew that the protection spell wouldn't last for long. He would have to hold the Death Eaters off until the cavalry arrived.
Harry returned to Privet Drive to find the Death Eaters at work on bringing down the shield. He landed his broom behind him, and leveled his wand at the attackers. "Stupefy, Stupefy!" he shouted, sending two stunners towards the enemy. One jet of red light connected, but the other was dodged. 'One down, three to go' thought Harry.
"Avada Kedavra!" One of the Death Eaters sent a killing curse at Harry, which he ducked under, sending a disarming spell back, which was blocked. Harry started getting nervous; the odds were not in his favor. The three Death Eaters started throwing curse after curse at Harry; it took all of his reflexes from seeker training to dodge or block them. He was hit with a few minor jinxes, but nothing too serious.
After fighting for a few minutes, Harry began to wonder 'where the hell was Dumbledore?' He flung himself under another killing curse, rolling away, then springing up and shouting "Petrificus Totalus." The full body-bind hit one of the attackers, and he fell hard. After dodging another curse, Harry pointed his wand at the petrified Death Eater and shouted "Apareao Incarcerous" which tied the dark wizard in thick bonds that his partners could not undo, and stopped him from apparating away if the curse holding him should lift. The odds were now 2 on 1; Harry was starting to think that he might emerge from this fight in one piece. While dodging and blocking some more, he racked his brain for a useful spell. Then he remembered what that idiot teacher Lockhart did to the snake that Malfoy conjured at the Dueling Club in second year. After blocking a disarming hex, Harry aimed at one of his foes and bellowed "Volarte Ascendele." The spell connected, and the Death Eater was propelled into the air. Unfortunately for him, his wand was left behind, and he could not slow his descent. He hit the ground with a sickening crunch.
Harry was now one on one with the final Death Eater. He could see uncertainty on his enemy's face, uncertainty which changed to a look of victory as the Death Eater hissed "Crucio." Harry tried to dodge, but could not avoid the red beam. He fell to the ground, writhing in agony, barely hearing the triumphant laugh coming from his torturer.
Conveniently, that was the moment in which Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore chose to make his arrival, followed by five order members. The lone Death Eater saw the most powerful wizard on the side of light and panicked. He dropped the Cruciatus curse he was holding on Harry and ran for it. With a wave of his wand, Dumbledore pulled him back and stunned him. The others made sure that the four were secure, while made his way over to Harry. The ancient wizard magicked the boy onto a stretcher and tandem apparated back to Headquarters
A/N: Didn't have time for Trelawney, she'll be in the next chapter, along with more Sirius angst b/c of being at # 12, and the start of some H/G. R&R please, especially about the action.
