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White Shadows: - Chapter II: Brithday Surprises

As Dawn broke in Privit Drive upon the day of the 31st of July it was greeted by the vigil of only a single of the streets occupants, a worn and weary boy who had been born upon that day 16 years ago, an event which had been controlled by greater forces than those of pure chance, and one which's impact upon the world had not yet been fully felt.

Harry Potter, the boy who lived, and the young man now destined to defeat or be killed by the most powerful dark wizard in many centuries watched the rising sun as he considered the events which had allowed him to reach this point in life, the possibility of which had at numerous points over the last five years had been brought into doubt.

But nevertheless he was here now, although he sometimes wondered if the price had been to high. His parents, an innocent bystander and most recently his godfather had all been killed due the many attempts one person had made to end his life.

Voldermont, The Dark Lord or Tom Riddle, the names used by many to describe the same creature that had once been a man, though Harry doubted any of that humanity still remained. Bitterly he though about the bombshell his headmaster had dropped upon him at the end of his last school term, the prophecy which had caused his parents to go into hiding, and which existence had inadvertently lead to the situation which caused his godfathers death.

There had been one major change in the young boy however. Although he had spent the first few week of the holiday barley coping with the guilt and lonesomeness he had been feeling while monotonously performing simple tasks for his Aunt and Uncle, the Orders threats meaning that they were reluctant to make him do much more, one event had made his life come sharply back into focus.

It was the Friday of the second week he had been staying with his relatives when he caught a report on the news that snapped him out of this stupor. He waited silently as the reporter spoke about the large number of deaths in a single block of flats, all with no visible signs of a cause. He heard the descriptions of the strange symbols reminiscent of a large skull with a snake crawling out of its mouth that had been seen on the walls where the people had been found, and the numerous residents claiming that they saw a similar mark floating in the air at around 2 o'clock the previous night.

It was as he sat there hearing them talking of the pending police investigation that something inside of him snapped, the last bit of remorse he had when he though about the deaths of those who had perpetuated this atrocity disappearing as his emotions hardened. Here he was moping around, wasting his time when his opposition was already starting to regain his position, once again spreading fear in the both the muggle and wizarding worlds.

Although he had made only limited contact with the Order and his friends in the weeks since that day he had been hard at work. Every book on magical theory and spellcraft he owned had been read and reread, carefully analysed for the smallest snippets of information that he may of missed or misinterpreted the last time he read it. He had even gone as far as to owl Hermione to ask her whether she had any books that she though would be of use to his rapidly deepening studies into the subject.

In reply she had sent a short note, making it quite clear she approved of the use he was now putting his holidays to, and along with it two books; 'Athmriacy for Beginners' and 'Spell formation and construction, An advanced users guide to Athmriacy', informing him that there was little he would be able to do beyond the point he was at without having gained a competent level in the subject. As was typical for her recently she finished the short letter with a question concerning his health and well being.

Not prepared to lie to her after she had helped him he had quickly sent Hedwig with a reply telling her that although he was not fully healed yet, and doubted he would be for a long time, he was working through things, and had realised that with Voldermonts focus appearing to be on him as this time he felt he needed to better prepare himself for the next encounter with the Dark Lord, if such an event should occur in the future. He had omitted the fact that he now knew exactly why Voldermont was after him, but felt at this moment it would be best that as few people as possible know of the prophecy's continued existence.

That had been sent off the day before last, and Hedwig had returned to him without reply, which in a strange sort of way he was quite happy about. He knew the more he wrote to people about the subject of him and Voldermont the more likely he was to make a slip and mention the prophecy or his knowledge of it, something which at this time he could not afford to do.

It was only as he began to analyse the last few weeks objectively in his mind he realised just how much headway he had made into his studies. He had always know he was relatively intelligent, but before this point had found no particular reason in indulge the side of him that yearned for knowledge, instead burying it under the rule braking and adventure seeking persona he displayed throughout the majority of his time at Hogwarts. 'I guess with the bomb shell Dumbledore dropped on me at the end of last year I subconsciously decided it was time to grow up, and do so quickly. Just as long as I don't turn into another Hermione we should be fine however.'

He realised as he though about this again much of the bitterness he had felt earlier when he considered the prophecy and its implication for his life had gone, instead replaced with the determination he had felt after watching the news broadcast. He was broken out of this revere by a loud and constant tapping on his window.

Opening it he was greeted by a single large eagle owl bearing a small message. The owl departed the instant the message was untied form it leg and Harry opened it quickly, eager to find out what news it brought, if any.

Harry,

Remus and another member of the new crowd will be around this morning to pick you up. I have asked for your friends to send your presents to headquarters instead of your house, and you will be able to receive them when you get there. Remus may have some interesting news for you as well, but that is for him to tell.

Albus

Two emotions filled Harry as he quickly read the short note. Firstly the joy of leaving Privit Drive for what could possibly be the last time, quickly followed by a deep-seated heartache at the thought of spending 4 weeks in the home of his now deceased godfather. Both of them were quickly replaced with slight confusion about the headmaster's use of his given name at the end of the letter. 'Don't suppose I'll ever understand that man, guess I'll ask him about it next time I see him.'

Suddenly realising it was begging to get quite bright outside Harry quickly glanced at the battered alarm clock next to his bed, before quietly cursing and quickly getting dressed. He then made sure that everything was packed in his trunk, so that he would be ready to leave when Remus arrived. Making sure not to awaken his aunt and uncle he quickly made his way to the kitchen before beginning to prepare a small breakfast for them and his cousin. 'Seeing as I'm getting out of here might as well take advantage of not being around for long.'

It was about an hour later just as Harry's uncle was finishing removing the last residual pieces of food from his plate that the doorbell rang. Harry watched anxiously from the kitchen as his Uncle opened the door two the two smartly dressed men. "Ah good morning Mr Dursley, sorry for disturbing you at this relatively early hour." The man spoke with a refined and accommodating tone, however his next words caused Harry to choke on the glass of orange juice he was drinking, "Would it be possible, for me to talk to your nephew, that is if it would not be too much of a bother." With the last part his voice lost the pleasantness it had been laced with originally, and now contained a commanding edge to it, leaving no room for compromise.

As Venron Dursley made a very good impression of someone who had just been slapped across the face with a wet trout, the two men entered the hall, closing the door behind them. Harry gasped slightly when he saw the second of the two, quickly moving up to the last of his father's true friends and embracing the older man. The Two stood there, sharing in the loss of a common friend for a moment, before separating and giving each other slight sheepish smiles, Masculine pride taking over control of their actions again.

"Good to see you Harry." Remus Lupin looked more drained and worn down than Harry could ever remember. Even when the order had been keeping a constant vigil over the door to the Department of Mysteries during the last year his third year defence teacher had not looked as pale and weary as he did now. 'I need to stop forgetting is was not the only one effected by Sirius' death, Remus needed comfort as much as I did, yet I spent the last few week s wallowing in self pity, when he was writing to try and help me.'

"Likewise Remus." Harry's smile didn't reach his eyes, their usually emotional depths completely blank and unfeeling. The Stranger frowned slightly as he looked at the boy's eyes, before remembering exactly why he and Remus had made the unannounced visit to Privit Drive, and reminding himself that his concern about the childs mental health could be deal with at a later stage.

"Mr Potter, I hate to brake up this reunion of sorts but unfortunately time waits for no one, and there is much to be done this day besides getting you back to Headquarters." Harry turned to look at the young man who had greeted his uncle when the door was answered and raised a quizzical eyebrow at him has he began to talk. Realising that Harry had no idea who he was the stranger smiled slightly before bowing the 16 year old before him "Knew I forgot something important. My name is Gabriel, your headmaster has asked me to begin helping prepare you for what destiny may have in store for your young self, therefore I will be assisting you over the remained of the holidays and the coming school year. And so, here we are, now let us get moving, as I'm sure you have no more longing to spend more time than needed in this place than I do."

Harry quickly ran to retrieve his hastily packed luggage. He grabbed the trunk and was about to begin dragging it down the stairs when Remus appeared in the doorway to his room. With a smile and a slight flick of his wand the older man shrunk the aging trunk to a more reasonable size before depositing it in his pocket. " Come on, lets get moving, we've got a busy few days ahead of us, your turning 16 has created quite an interesting legal situation, though I think you'll be presently surprised with the results of it."

Before Harry could even formulate a sentence to ask what the hell Remus had meant by that the older man was moving down the stairs and towards the front door. Quickly following Harry headed to the now open door, meeting up with Gabriel as he was about to go through it. An indignant grunt from Harry's Uncle caused the man to turn around, a slight grin appearing on his face.

"Ah, forgot to say that Mr Potter won't be returning to you next year, you see his turning sixteen has allowed him to gain assess to his full inheritance, a rather substantial sum of money if what I'm told it to be believed, as well as a large number of properties. Unfortunately you will never know just how this young man could of befitted you had he been treated well as you will never remember him being here, Goodbye." Taking in the shocked expression of the 3 people before him for a brief second he then almost whispered that word that would remove any trace of abnormality from the memories of the Dursley's for the rest of their lives. "Obliviate."

Noting Harry's slightly shocked and bemused expression he placed a gentle hand behind his back and led him to the door. "Don't worry Mr Potter, it's best for them this way, Me and Remus will do our best to explain everything on the way to headquarters', though I guess the representative from Gingrotts you will be meeting with later today will be a lot more thorough with his explanations." And with that Harry left number 4 Privet Drive, knowing full well that as the door closed behind him for the last time, that this day a new, and most likely rather dangerous chapter of his life was about to begin.