Close Encounters of the Fairy Kind

by: Srreadsalot

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. If I did you wouldn't be reading this here and you wouldn't have to wait two years for the next book to come out and I would be the one worth billions and billions of dollars. But since you are reading this here and you have to wait two years for the next book and I am not worth billions and billions of dollars… I don't own it.

Chapter One: Encounters

Harry's eyes were clenched in pain as power all of a sudden stormed through him. He stumbled forward and the pain was gone. What the hell was that! Harry thought as he struggled to catch his breath.

The sensation was unlike anything he had ever felt before. Power unlike any he had ever felt had poured through him. He hadn't know if it felt awful or terrible or both at the same time. Harry stretched his hand out toward the spot he had felt the power before and gasped. He had plunged his hand into a river of power. He could feel the river pull at his center like the power was trying to get inside him or was trying to get something out of him. He stepped back, not feeling better exactly but not really worse either.

Harry was shocked at the feelings. He didn't know why he had never noticed this river of power before and then realized why. He was somewhere he had never been before. He looked around for a familiar land mark but couldn't find one. He thought about apparating but knew that, one, he didn't have his license and two, he was still under age. It didn't help that he had pretty much no idea about how to do it. He sighed and wondered if he should find a phone. The Dursleys would never come and get me and I don't even know where I am! What the hell am I supposed to do?

Harry felt the pull of the river of power once again. He didn't know why but he was drawn to it. First off, he wanted to feel that power again and secondly, he needed to find a way home. Something in the back of his head told him that all the power in that line wouldn't do him any good; he was underage and couldn't do magic with or without a wand.

He ran his hand over the column of power and, even though he knew it was coming, the rush of power made him gasp once again. He withdrew his hand and hand it through his mussed up hair in frustration. He had just planned to go for a walk and get away from the Dursleys but had ended up half way across town with no way of getting home. He wondered about his friends and what they would do.

Hermione would have a book with her and would be able to call her parents. So would Ron for that matter, well everything except the book part. Harry really had no one to call. He could obviously call his friends but they were both on vacation. He didn't want to bother them. He thought back to his other class mates. Who could come and get me that isn't doing anything at the moment? He didn't know who he could call. Seamus and Dean were both to far away for him to ask for help. Neville was going to be a last resort. Besides, him grandmother would never let Neville out this late at night. Draco Malfoy is allowed out when ever he wants. Wow, did I really just think about calling Malfoy!

A sudden chill over powered Harry as a heavy hand found its way onto his shoulder. An ugly but familiar voice whispered in his ear, "There is nothing you can do. You are mine now and the Dark Lord will finally be able to get rid of you!" Harry sprung forward on instinct and reached for his wand. It was gone. He had left his wand in the small compartment under his bed at the Dursleys'. When he saw who had grabbed him, he was shocked again.

Lucius Malfoy stood in front of Harry with a smirk on his face but he was anything but happy. The glint in his eye was full of malice. "Potter", he spat. "We meet again at last. I have been waiting to… repay you for your… kindness in sending me to Azkaban." He pointed his wand at Harry who was thrown backwards. It must have been an Expelliarmus spell. He thinks I still have my wand. Harry smiled at the thought of his wand but Lucius took it as Harry being conceited. "We'll see if your laughing after this!"

Harry was blown away towards the column of power. He had to get home now. He couldn't think of anything else to do. He stepped in the line and willed himself with all his might to be back in his bedroom. The last thing he heard before he opened his eyes again was Lucius cursing.

Harry opened his eyes and couldn't believe it. I'm home? But I didn't even have my wand. His mouth hung open is disbelief as he gazed around the room. He had never thought he would ever be happy to be at the Dursleys'. Harry sighed as he laid back on his bed. I bet Lucius is seething because I outsmarted him yet again. I wonder what he's going to tell Voldemort.

With that thought, the implications of what he had just done crashed in on him all at once. I did magic. The Ministry is going to kill me. But I didn't use my wand. And the need was great. It was to get away from a Death Eater! They can't expel me for that, can they?

It had been two days since Harry had escaped Lucius and he had thought about nothing except that column of power. Well that and the Ministry coming down on him but they hadn't yet and he didn't think they were going to if they hadn't by now.

Harry was also afraid he would be unable to find the column of power again but he could feel it now and see where the column went. He didn't know why he had never felt it before, but part of the line went right through the Dursleys' back yard. It was like a giant rubber band when it isn't stretched and never quite makes a perfect circle. He walked back there every day to touch the power and to wonder what it was. Could he use it like he would a wand? What was it for? Only one place to find out; Diagon Alley.

The next day, Harry made his way through muggle London until he reached the Leaky Cauldron. The smell of beer permeated the entire room but wasn't unpleasant, rather it reminded him of his stay back before third year. Even this feels more like home then the Dursleys' house. Harry thought gloomily but then he saw Tom and how genuinely happy he was to see Harry and Harry smiled. "Anything for ya before you go on through, Harry me boy?" Tom asked.

Harry smiled as he said, "No thanks Tom. I just came to browse the books. I need to get back soon. Thanks for offering though. Maybe next time?" Tom nodded in agreement and Harry headed through the back of the Leaky Cauldron to the portal of Diagon Alley.

No matter how many times he saw through the portal, he was always amazed by the shops and the shoppers. He thought about the money he had left from the school year and decided his money bag might need some freshening up before he headed to Flourish and Blotts.

As he grabbed for the large gold doors, the handle jumped to his hand with a slight shock. He pulled his hand away and shook off the shock the static electricity had given him. He grabbed for the door again with out incident.

There were goblins everywhere in Gringotts. It seemed there were more than usual but seeing as Harry hadn't been there that often, he didn't know what usual was. he walked up to an unoccupied goblin and asked, "I would like to make a withdraw. Oh, here is my key." He handed the goblin his key and followed him to a large cault door.

"Gripweed, I will take this one back." Bill appeared beside him and put hand on Harry's shoulder. Gripweed handed Bill the key and the two of them hopped in a cart. "It's nice to see you Harry. How have you been?"

"Oh, I've been pretty good." He decided not to tell Bill about what happened to him with Lucius yet. "How about you?"

"Oh, I can't complain." Bill got a dreamy look in his eye and Harry knew Bill was thinking of Fleur. "So what brings you to Diagon Alley?"

Harry thought about this and what he should tell Bill. "Oh, umm, I was going to do some research for, uh, History of Magic. I need a book and I was low on cash so I came here." Harry smiled to himself. It's the truth… well mostly. He thought wryly.

"What's the subject of your paper? I remember I had ley lines. Boring stuff that is, lines of power crossing the world helping wizards with spells. It's where a lot of our magic comes from. See our wands gather in spurts of ley line magic and then spit it out when we say a spell. I guess it's not that boring now that I think about it but it was at the time." Bill smiled wryly. Harry could tell Bill didn't really think they were boring, just that it had taken time out of his summer.

"Oh, what a, uh, coincidence! I have to do ley lines too! I just came to get a book on them. I didn't think the books I already had did much good at explaining so I decided to get more. Is there any you would suggest?" Harry couldn't believe his luck! He found out what he was dealing with and he wouldn't have to sound like a complete fool when asking for a book about ley lines.

"I would suggest Basic Ley Line Magic, How Ley Lines Work, or Ley Lines for the Beginning Wizard, Those three were really helpful for me. Ah, here we are, your vault that is." He smiled and stepped out of the cart. "I heard you're a rich boy now. Sirius left you all his stuff didn't he?"

Harry stepped out of the cart and realized that Bill was right. "Yeah, he did." Harry looked down and struggled to smile as Bill opened the door. When the smoke faded away, Harry was taken aback. There was probably twice the amount there had been when he first visited Gringotts, maybe more. He was astounded. The mounds of galleons were higher than he was tall, which was about six foot since he just finished a growth spurt. "Wow." Harry said as he scooped a handful or two into his money bag and got back in the cart while Bill closed it.

"Yeah, I don't even know if the Malfoy's have that much. Although with their house and assets and all the stuff they're tied up with would probably give them more. If you didn't notice, we had to change your vault." Harry hadn't noticed and now felt bad that he hadn't.

The rest of the ride was in comfortable silence and when Harry stepped out of the cart once again he thanked Bill for everything. "Don't worry about it Harry. It's my job. He flashed Harry a smile and was off.

Outside Gringotts, Harry stood on the top step, letting his eyes adjust to the sudden brightness. He stumbled down the steps and bumped into none other the Draco Malfoy. "Watch where your going you stupid wanker!" Harry still wasn't sure who he had bumped into and the brightness of the light made him fall back on the last step. "Potter, Potter, Potter, one would think you had more coordination from all the hours on the Quidditch Pitch."

Harry now had an inkling of who had helped him up but wasn't sure cause he couldn't see the legendary smirk. "Ah, thanks for the help up. Sorry I bumped you Malfoy? Are we being civil?" Harry wasn't sure but he didn't want to start something here and now. As his eyes cleared he could see that Malfoy had also gone through a growth spurt but now as nicely as Harry. He still had the muscles and build of a seeker but he was thiner and there were bags under his eyes. There was also something strange in his eyes… fear. "Malfoy, are you oh-"

"DRACO! What have I said about talking to muggle lovers and blood traitors? Move along Potter before we make you." Lucius sneered at Harry who glared back with the same amount of hatred. He glanced at Draco and saw sorrow at the way Harry was being treated and fear of his father if he interfered.

"Hope you enjoyed your stay in Azkaban Lucius, it won't be your last when I'm through with you." He hoped he hadn't made Draco's situation worse but couldn't let Lucius off with nothing. He turned on his heals and walked towards Flourish and Blotts.

"This isn't over Potter." Lucius said just loud enough for Harry to hear. "I'm going to figure out how you got away from me the other night and when I do you will be mine."

Harry continued walking and pushed open the door to Flourish and Blotts with out touching it and with out a thought to what that meant.