HARRY POTTER AND THE FINAL WAR

Summary: Harry Potter has returned from Hogwarts and has wasted no time in his search for Voldemort's Horcruxes. Against the wishes of his friends, he goes off alone. Will Harry win the fight against Voldemort?

Rated: M for violence, language, and sex

Disclaimer: Roses are red,

Violets are blue.

I don't own Harry Potter,

And neither do you.

Chapter 4: The Hag in the Hat

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The old woman in her black cap let out a blood-curdling scream. "You! You filthy scum! You mutant, you freak! Get away, begone from this place!" The woman shouted at Harry. She was shrieking so loudly that Harry thought the neighbors might hear, though they couldn't see the house. "Filth! Scum!" Mrs. Black continued to scream from her portrait. Harry tried pleading with the portrait.

"Please, Mrs. Black. Please… I don't want to stay here long, I just want to talk to you," he attempted to say as she screamed other insults at him.

"Talk! With the abomination of the wizarding world? NO! Certainly not! GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!" The old witch screamed at him. Harry was at a loss. He couldn't get her to stop screaming long enough to get half a word in. Apparently, people in pictures didn't have to worry about catching their breath. Harry thought to himself. What can I do? She won't shut up! I just need to…

With the last thought trailing off in his mind, Harry did the only thing he thought possible. With great speed he wrenched forward and clapped his hand over Mrs. Black's mouth. She immediately was quiet and Harry sighed, relieved.

"Mrs. Black I don't mean to-" Harry began, he never finished.

"HOW DARE YOU ATTACK ME IN MY OWN HOUSE?" Mrs. Black roared. Harry stood there, eyes wide in shock, dumbfounded. It hadn't worked after all. She had only stopped screaming in shock. What could he do? He was at a loss. This portrait might be the key to finding a Horcrux – if he ever got her to be quiet, that was. How could I have been so stupid, Harry thought, to cover up a portrait? It isn't going to work, it's magic! Harry had hoped it would work at the time, but now thought he was merely being stupid. It had been his last hope. But maybe if he took a page out of Mrs. Black's book?

"MRS. BLACK!" Harry howled suddenly. "I AM TRYING TO ASK YOU SOMETHING NOW WILL YOU SHUT UP?" Mrs. Black had stopped shouting. She blinked her eyes, which had grown to about twice their size, quickly. Harry's face was slightly flushed, though he was somewhat happier his reply to Mrs. Black had worked.

"Mrs. Black, I just want to ask you about Regulus," Harry stated plainly. Mrs. Black began huffing herself up again.

"No! Absolutely not! I am not your encyclopedia and … GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!" Mrs. Black screamed. Harry's temper rose. Any second now, if Mrs. Black didn't cooperate, Harry might lose his cool and do something he might regret. He closed his eyes trying to calm himself. Opening his eyes, Harry stared Mrs. Black down angrily.

"NO! It is not your house, it is my house and I will do whatever I damn well please in my house!" Harry shouted back at the portrait. "Now as I was saying," Harry began angrily, though quieter than before, "I am trying to find out about Regulus." Mrs. Black remained quiet for a while, and looked as though she were having a battle take place within her. While she didn't want to have to answer to Harry, she certainly couldn't risk it, seeing as Harry was now the owner of the house and her portrait.

"Regulus," Mrs. Black finally answered solemnly, "was my son. My pride and joy." It seemed that as she continued, her voice grew more and more boastful. "He defended the Black name. Regulus joined Voldemort and lived up to his true destiny. Not like that filth who dared live here before." Mrs. Black's voice grew nasty as she talked about Sirius, though never mentioning his name. Harry raised an eyebrow at Mrs. Black.

"Didn't Regulus back out from Voldemort? Didn't he try to get away from Voldem-"

"STOP SAYING THE DARK LORD'S NAME! You are certainly not fit to utter his name with such disrespect!" Mrs. Black said, cutting Harry off. Harry glowered at her.

"I will say whoever's name I want! Now… Did your son ever steal anything from Voldem-"

"My son would never steal anything from the Dark Lord!" rebelled Mrs. Black. She was highly affronted that Harry would even suggest anyone in her family would attempt something she considered so wrong. Harry stared down at his feet in annoyance. He wasn't getting anything out of Mrs. Black. Though, now that he looked back on it, Harry wondered why he'd ever think that Mrs. Black would tell him anything. No one who so supported the Dark Arts would admit to their son defying their Lord. Harry sighed and turned away from Mrs. Black as she resumed her shouting at him. He'd reached a dead end on the first clue he had, which wasn't the type of motivation Harry needed at all. Without even bothering to close Mrs. Black's portrait, Harry walked back over to his trunk and heaved it up. He walked out the door and opened it.

As he stepped out it closed behind him and he continued to walk out to the curb. The neighbors next door were still blaring their music. They must not have heard Mrs. Black screaming at the top of her lungs. As Harry carried his trunk out to the curb, he thought to himself. Well that was completely useless. I've got no clue what to do now…

When he reached the curb, Harry called the Knight Bus to him once more, resolving that he'd sleep for a little while and would continue in the morning. As the doors to the purple double-decker bus opened, something flung itself out at him and screamed, "HARRY!"

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A/N: GUESS WHAT ALL! I'm way sorry this chapter took so long to get up, but I took a break for 2 reasons. First, I got a co-writer! I'm very excited, and her nae is Nora, and we're good friends. Yup! Second, Nora and I wrote out an outline and have the ENTIRE story figured out. I think you can hold me to my word when I say you should all have a chapter every 3 days or so. Wel I hope you enjoy! R&R!