Behind those Soulless Eyes
Chapter One
I shall never forget those eyes. The way that they look like nobody's soul is behind them. Those eyes will haunt me for the rest of my life, which may be shorter then I could have imagined it would be seven years ago. The prophecy says one will win but both will die. Is this possible living while knowing that I am going to die soon? Somehow I sometimes forget my destiny; somehow I still go on living the life I want to keep living when the year is over. The life with my friends and what I have that is as close as a family.
After sixth year I was completely done with Hogwarts. Why would I want to go back to a place where the greatest wizard died so easily? Why would I want to go back to a place where I once felt so safe but now I feel like there was no reason to go back? True, it is the closest place I ever have had to a home. True, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Neville, and all of my other friends are there. But without Dumbledore, I just don't know if it will ever feel the same.
But over the summer, My Dear old Professor Lupin, my parent's last living true friend paid me a visit at the Dursley's. He warned me that I must go back to Hogwarts. He promised me that it would still be safe there. I knew he was hiding something and when he left I begged him to take me with him. Sadly, I knew that it was true that I was supposedly safest here until school began again.
Though I hate this place, I must admit that the Dursley's have become a lot more tolerable. I think as soon as I arrived home from school in early June, they realized that something terrible had happened at school. They finally found out that Sirius had died and even though they hated all wizards, I could tell they were sorry. And not just because he was my guardian and he could have taken me away from their burden, but because they knew I cared for him.
The one thing that has kept me going over the summer is the letters I have been allowed to receive from Ron and Hermione, especially Hermione. Seeing her and Ron grow closer this year, as well as my short relationship with Ginny proved to me how fond I have grown of her. Her bushy brown hair was gone, and her school robes weren't quite as baggy as they used to be. Hermione Granger was turning into quite a witch.
When Lupin came, he told me that I had permission to spend the last few weeks of the summer with my friends if I cared to do so. After all, once I turned seventeen, the binding on me and the Dursley's house would be broken because I would be an adult. This would have made me quite happy on a normal occasion but I was not sure that I would want to see Ron and Hermione together. Hermione wrote to me in one of her letters that her and Ron were now a couple. At that time I was happy for both of them but once I realized my feelings for Hermione I found that I had grown jealous. Why should they be a couple if they constantly fought? It is not fair since Hermione and I had always gotten along well.
If I truly loved Hermione though, then I would want to see her where she is happiest. On my birthday instead of the usual packages I received, I instead got a visitor. It was Mr. Weasley offering to take me to get tested for apparation. He told me after the test, he would take me back to the burrow where I could spend the rest of the summer with them. I accepted the offer because there was really nothing around her to do anyway. I quickly packed my trunk (which I was now allowed to have in my bedroom) with a spell (which I was now allowed to do outside of school since I was of age) and we left for the ministry of magic office. We went through the same procedure as we did last time he brought me (though this was for a somewhat happier occasion) and entered. I passed my test quickly and Mr. Weasley said I could apparate home to the burrow if I chose. He had work to do as it was a Thursday, so I pictured the Weasley's warm kitchen and concentrated as hard as I could, and when I opened my eyes, I was there.
I was greeted with happy smiles and warm hugs all around. The only member of the Weasley family I did not receive a hug from was Ginny. I believe that she is still mad at me for breaking up with her at the end of the year. But she didn't understand. Nobody will ever understand. I have to find my enemies other beings. I have to destroy them. That's why I did not want to go back to Hogwarts. I wanted to spend my time fighting and destroying and saving not only wizards but other innocent muggles from being killed.
I looked around. Hermione was not there so asked Ron about her. He told me she would be coming later but now that she and Ron were dating, her parents did not want them to spend the night under the same roof. I completely understood and agreed with her parent's choice. All of a sudden I heard a small pop behind me and turned around quickly, afraid it was a death eater. I pulled out my wand from my jeans pocket before I even completed my turn and heard a loud squeal.
All of a sudden a pair of arms were around me and head was nuzzled into my neck.
"Harry, I'm so happy to see you!" I heard the voice of Hermione Granger say softly. All of a sudden my body turned to stone. I nervously placed my hands around her back and told her I was glad to see her as well. My eyes were on Ron the whole time though, but he gave me a quick smile of assurance and I immediately felt more comfortable. I did not want Ron thinking I was trying to steal Hermione away from him.
A few seconds later I heard loud screams coming from the living room. I ran into the small room with my wand still drawn and noticed that the screams were coming from inside the fireplace.
"Mum, Dad? It's alright you're here now. You just need to climb out of the fireplace." Hermione was talking to two very confused looking muggles.
"Hermione I didn't know muggles could use floo powder?" Ron asked looking them once up and down.
"Well, there is nowhere that states they cannot. Most muggles just don't know about it or are not connected to the floo system. I had my house connected before I learned how to apparate so I could still be in contact with the wizarding world. I knew we were celebrating Harry's birthday today and thought my parents might like to come along. As I do not know exactly where your house is, I thought we could try the floo system out. And I guess it worked." Hermione explained.
"Anyway, Mother, Father, I would like to re-introduce you to Harry Potter."
I blushed as I shook both Mr. and Mrs. Granger's hands firmly.
"Quite a handshake this boy has." Mr. Granger commented.
"Dad, stop it you are making him nervous," Hermione exclaimed, "Harry's the one who won the tri-wizard tournament in fourth year and has been constantly fighting Voldemort (everyone breathed sharply), you should not be scared of a name, since his schooling began."
"Yes, Yes Hermione, we know, you have talked about this boy often." Mrs. Granger announced.
Again I blushed but this time I noticed that Hermione did too as she stole a glance at first Ron, then me. She shrugged her shoulders at turned to Mrs. Weasley.
"Oh dear! I am so sorry I totally spoiled the surprise mentioning that we are celebrating Harry's birthday today!" She said.
"Oh it's alright 'Mione, I'm not one for surprises anyway." I said smiling at her. I think she liked the nickname because she smiled back.
"Well, Harry, you know where you will be sleeping so why don't you go put your trunk up there while we get your little surprise ready." Mrs. Weasley told me. I had completely forgotten about my neglected belongings that were still in the kitchen. I immediately obeyed Mrs. Weasley and grabbed my trunk and started heading up the long staircase to the highest floor where Ron's room was.
When I finally got up to his room, I noticed something was different about it. It was almost tidy, and instead of pictures of his favorite Quidditch team, there were pictures of Hermione. I shook my head. He was definitely obsessed. Only Hermione could get him to tidy up his room. As I was walking back down the stairs I nearly crashed into Ginny who was walking up to her room.
"Hullo Harry, having a happy holiday?" She asked, clearly wanting me to say no.
"Actually Ginny, it's been just well this year thank you, and yourself?" I told her.
She rolled her eyes, shoved me away and continued up the stairs. I again shook my head and continued walking down. When I got to the living room, I noticed that the population in the tiny room had doubled. Instead of just the large Weasley clan plus the Grangers Lupin and Tonks were there and even Mad Eye Moody. Neville had come along with Luna, Seamus, and Dean. Even Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil were there. Overall I was quite surprised.
"Happy Birthday Harry!" Everyone shouted as I came into view. I smiled and walked into the crowded room. I walked straight over to Mrs. Weasley, the closest person I have had to a mom for my life and gave her a hug.
"You have no idea how much this means to me," I told her, smiling warmly. "Thank you so much."
She pulled away and wiped her soggy eyes. "Of course sweetheart. You're like another one in the family to us and we all thought you deserved it. But I can't take all the credit for it." She smiled and looked towards Hermione.
I smiled again and started walking towards Hermione, who was talking to Lavender, Parvati, and Luna. When she was not talking I tapped her on the shoulder lightly and she turned around quickly.
"Oh it's you Harry!" She exclaimed happily, as if she was trying to hide something from whoever she thought I was.
"Yes, I just wanted to tell you thank you for the party. It means so much to me, it's the first time my birthday has ever been celebrated." I told her.
"Harry that's so sweet, your welcome, everyone helped though!"
All of the girls behind her giggled and awed. I decided to go find Ron and see who he was talking to. Before I got to him though, Mrs. Weasley decided it was time for cake and presents.
I got many presents including a new broomstick, the Airshooter 3000. I looked at Ron and winked mouthing to him that I'd talk to him later. I was planning on giving him my old Firebolt, if this new broom didn't have any spell's against me but I knew Madam Hooch would check for them.
Hermione gave me a new planner that actually reached out and grabbed your hand if you did not complete your assignments. She also gave me a new green button down shirt. She blushed and told me even though it was the color of slytherin it matched my eyes. She also wrote me a letter that she had planned on mailing me but decided to give it to me here instead. In it, she asked me if I would stay at her house the week before school started so her and Ron could have equal time with me. I smiled when I finished it and nodded and she blushed and looked away, towards Ron.
The party was not over until quite late. So after cleaning up, and after Hermione and her family left (she decided to escort them home through the fireplace this time), the Weasley's and I headed straight to bed.
Ron and I both laid right down and barely had a chance to catch up on our stories of the summer before we fell asleep.
A/N: Sorry this was such a short first chapter but before I go on I wanted to know if people actually like it? R/R please!
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or places in this story they all belong to JK Rowling.