Disclaimer: I don't own any rights to Harry Potter or any characters or places in this story, they belong to JK Rowling. I am making no money from this story.

Chapter 3 Unknown Travels

A day later after Harry had spent the afternoon in the backyard, he returned to his room. Waiting there in her cage with two letters was Hedwig. "Finally back are you," Harry smiled at his snowy owl as he gently stroked her head. Hedwig hooted casually in response as she held up her leg with the two parchments. Harry untied them and settled down on his bed to read. Hedwig took a drink of water and stretched her wings before tucking her head under her wing for a little nap. The first letter he opened was from Hermione and it read:

"Dear Harry,

I hope this letter finds you well. We haven't really talked for a while, but I guess that is something you need. I just want you to know that Ron and I are worried about you. Ron told me about your visit from Professor Dumbledore. He wrote to ask me if I could attend as well. Also he said that it is important for Ron and I to try to support you. Harry I do hope that you know by now that we are and always will be ready to help you. Anyway, I have arranged it all with my parents. I told them everything. They were a little disappointed about vacation, but they decided it was best if I went to see all of you. I will be staying for the remainder of the holiday. So I suppose I'll see you when you get there. But please Harry, if you need to talk or anything we're here for you.

Love From

Hermione"

Harry had to admit that he had been expecting something like this. It was comforting to hear from his friends though. He felt that things were starting to look up. Better in fact than it had in a while. True he was soon going to be reminded of Sirius, and maybe even letting himself begin to say goodbye. However he was leaving Privet Drive, for one of the last times in his life he hoped. Next year Harry would be of age. He began to think of the exciting life outside of Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia's tyranny, where he would be able to use magic any time he wanted. Also, Harry would be spending the rest of the holiday with his friends, the people who had stuck by him through all of his problems last term. In fact the Weasley's accepted Harry as another son. Harry grinned thinking of how good it felt to know that there were still people who cared about him. But it was a sad phantom of a smile.

Harry read silently through the second letter, which was from Lupin. The letter read like all the others he had received from Remus this year. It told him that it was good to hear that he was being treated well and he could hardly wait to have him out of there next week. Harry was in fact just as anxious to see Remus Lupin, as he was to see the rest of his friends. If anyone was having as much trouble with the loss of Sirius it would be Lupin, yet somehow his letters always seemed to be muted, never really touching on the subject Harry most wanted to hear about from him. Harry supposed that it might be too soon for Remus as well and that the following week would be the best time to bring the matter up.

The rest of the week seemed to ease by quickly. Harry passed the time between studying, packing his belongings, and drifting into his usual reflections of the last year. The odd thing about all the thinking Harry had been doing was that it almost always started and returned to his scar. Aside from the occasional prickle Harry had not experienced much pain from the scar. Even his dreams seemed to belong entirely to his own mind. Not that it was much of a relief, Harry's own nightmares were far more terrifying than almost any the Dark Lord had been able to show him, accept perhaps the one from the Department of Mysteries, of Sirius being tortured.

The feelings he had when the scar burned he was sure were not his own which meant that they belonged to Voldemort. Over the last few weeks it had been the same. He would be thinking of Sirius falling through the veil, and there was nothing he could do to help him. It was his fault Sirius was there to begin with, and a black pit formed in his stomach. The inside of his head would swirl as tears began to form, and his forehead would burn like someone digging into it with a hot dull knife. The emotions that came with the burning were confusing when mixed with his own. Why would Voldemort feel either joy or fear? He had failed in retrieving the prophecy, and in killing Harry. Certainly he wouldn't be happy about either of those things. Fear however was a startling revelation. Harry could only think of one thing Voldemort would fear, Dumbledore. Although, Dumbledore himself had made several hints that Voldemort's greatest fear of all was death. Harry decided that he would have to discuss this more with the headmaster to figure out what it might mean.

Before he knew it Wednesday had dawned into a golden morning. Harry rose early just to be sure he had packed everything. He hurried downstairs to help Aunt Petunia with breakfast before he left. It occurred to Harry that he wasn't sure where exactly he would be going. He supposed that the Order of the Phoenix still used Sirius' place as headquarters, but he wasn't positive. Then again Dumbledore did mention that he would be staying with the Ron's family, which might mean the Burrow. Harry got a chill of excitement. If they were at the Burrow Harry would have a chance to fly on his broom in the paddock near their house. He dearly missed flying, it was one of the few things in his life that actually brought him peace.

Just then Uncle Vernon plowed into the kitchen breaking Harry's train of thought. "Bring me my coffee boy." He growled. Harry was quite satisfied to be leaving though, and not even Uncle Vernon's grumbling or insults could dampen Harry's spirits. "And just how are you going. It had better not involve my fireplace exploding I can tell you that much." Uncle Vernon continued his remonstrations, but Harry realized he didn't know how Dumbledore planned on going wherever it was that they were going. Dudley came in a moment later. He had been out for his morning exercise and managed a weak smile at Harry before helping himself to some eggs and sausages. Since last summer things had been slightly different between Harry and Dudley. Neither of them truly liked the other, but they had at least made peace. It was much easier to live here without Dudley punching Harry, or Harry taunting Dudley. Harry finished eating and went to get his trunk.

At precisely 8 O'clock the doorbell rang and Harry answered it. Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon came into the room as Harry invited Professor Dumbledore inside. "Ah yes, I see you are ready to leave." said the familiar calm voice. "All the better, I believe, as there will be many things to attend to today."

Harry was barely able to contain himself. The relief that he was finally going swept over him. "Pardon me sir, but I was curious where are we going, and how will we be traveling?" Harry said with a hint of anticipation. Dumbledore smiled lightly. "As for where we are going I believe it best left unsaid. However we will be traveling by portkey." he said with a wink as he produced a teacup from inside his robes. "Well then if everything is in order, shall we?" Dumbledore bowed his head toward the Dursleys as he held up the cup.

Harry turned to wave to his Aunt and Uncle only to find himself in an embrace from Aunt Petunia. "Do take care of yourself" she said as she stepped away. Uncle Vernon merely glared and gave the slightest of nods. With that Harry said goodbye and placed his hand on the cup.

"1, 2, 3" whispered Dumbledore, and Harry felt the familiar jerk behind his navel and had the sensation of spinning. A moment later his feet touched the ground and he released the cup. As he looked around he found himself in an unfamiliar alley. "This way Harry," said Dumbledore as he began walking out to towards the end of the alley. "I believe there will be some people anxiously awaiting your arrival and it is best not to keep them waiting." When they emerged from the alley Harry recognized the square and saw a signpost that read Grimmauld Place.

Harry heaved his trunk and walked across the empty square to the door of number twelve. Harry knocked loudly and when the door opened he was immediately surrounded by a bunch of bushy brown hair. "Easy Hermione!" Harry gasped as he tried to maintain his balance.

"Blimey would you let him get in the door before you attack him" came Ron's laughing voice, his bright red hair bouncing around just behind her.

"Oh Harry, we couldn't wait for you to get here. We were beginning to worry. How are you doing? This is much better than last summer, at least you didn't have to wait too long." Hermione said as Harry passed inside followed closely by Dumbledore.

"Yeah mate, what she said." chortled Ron.

Mrs. Weasley's voice started before Harry could reply. "Harry, welcome back. Why don't you and Ron take your things up to your room while I prepare some tea for us all." she said as she pulled him into a hug and then looked at him as if to size him up.

"That sounds great," Harry began, "it-it's good to be back I suppose." As he sighed all the smiles seemed to disappear. Harry could feel everyone staring at him as he looked around. It didn't look as he remembered it, but he wasn't sure that he could handle being here. After taking it in for a moment the anguish began to wash over him again. He forced a slight smile to let everyone know that he was ok.

"Now then Molly, I believe you mentioned tea. Perhaps Harry would like a few minutes to compose himself. Shall we adjourn to the kitchen ? When he is ready I am sure he can manage to find his way down to us." At this suggestion Mrs. Weasley ushered Ron and Hermione towards the front hall and out of sight as she gave a fleeting glance back at Harry, and Dumbledore followed suit.

Harry picked up his trunk which he had dropped when Hermione threw herself on him. He was still a little jarred by the shock of returning to Sirius' home and took a moment to look around before heading to the stairs. The place looked vaguely familiar, though it was much cleaner. The walls seemed to be brighter, and most of the furniture seemed to have been moved. Although, Harry did notice that curtains still hung over the portrait of Mrs. Black. Harry entered his room and dropped his trunk next to his bed. There was a bittersweet taste in his mouth. He was glad to be anywhere but Privet Drive, but it did hurt to be here.

A moment later Ron came into the room holding Hedwig. "Sorry," he said as if he were interrupting, "Mum asked me to bring her up. So, how are you feeling?" Ron looked at the floor as soon as he asked.

"Well, I'm not really sure." Harry gave a weak grin as he reached over and took Hedwig. "A little better than I was a month ago."