Chapter 1

Emerald eyes closed, trying to block out the images that never seemed to end, but that wasn't the only reason, it was partly out of pain; a pain that came from everywhere, yet no where. A pain that made him feel that at any moment he would fall apart, into a million pieces, never to be whole again. Shakily his hands snaked up through his hair and his face contorted into a grimace. His eyes popped open again as his alarm clock bean to buzz.

His fuzzy mind tried to grasp the situation, his alarm had buzzed, so that meant he had set it right? But when had he set it, why had he set it, and…what time was it?
Looking to the alarm clock Harry remembered. He remembered everything he had been trying to forget. He had to get ready to leave, because…because the Weasley's were going to take him to the burrow. But why was he going to the Burrow? He would only be there for a day. But he was going to the Weasley's because Dumbledore wanted someone to look out and make sure that Harry was of stable enough mind to go back to Hogwarts. Harry smiled sadistically at this point, Dumbledore hadn't wanted him to know, they had tried to keep it from him, but he had heard. They all thought that he was a great big wizarding warrior, and so they wanted to make sure he was well enough rested to go back to work again. And this war….The War…the one that had killed many of his fellow classmates, and their parents. The war that was supposed to end it all…hadn't. He had failed wizarding kind, and now they expected him to go and defeat their enemy, even if it meant he himself wouldn't be coming back.

Startling as Hedwig hooted he let out a large breath he slowly uncurled from his position on the floor, working out the cricks in his neck as he did. Sighing miserably he walked over to his friend's cage, 'Hello Hedwig. I guess I should let you out while I pack, that way you can fly to the Burrow. Got it? The Burrow.'

Hedwig snapped at him tenderly and then stepped out of the cage and onto his arm. Harry looked at her beautiful plumage for a minute, awestruck by something so beautiful, yet made perfectly for killing. Hedwig was sweet and gentle enough to him, but the mice she ate, they would only feel her sharp talons and ruthless beak. Walking to the window Harry shoved open the paned glass and stuck his arm out, allowing Hedwig to fly off to do whatever she needed to do.

'Wish I had that choice.'

Ashamed at thinking something so horrid Harry mentally reprimanded himself, he had enough pain to carry for now. Shaking himself he turned back to his room and noticed that he hadn't made it look that lived in, in fact the only thing he needed to put away was his parents' photo album. One thing from the people who he had started with, the first people he had ended up killing inadvertently.
Walking over to it he noticed it was open to the picture of his parents and Sirius smiling at their wedding. Images and sounds then came pounding their way furiously, into his mind.
'…Save Harry…'
'…Save the Chosen One…'
'…Lord, please stop the pain…'
'…No, no, NO!...'
'…stop the pain; please…make it stop….'
'…I die for freedom!...'
'…tell mommy I love her…'

Remembering the voices of the dying, on the battle field, in his nursery; the faces of his friends, school mates, teachers, and older figure heads, all of them bleeding and dieing in front of him. Suddenly, extremely angry and unable to stand just sitting and letting it continue in a loop of torture he threw the photo album of his happily smiling family at the wall. When it fell open to the same picture again, and he seen his parent figures smiling up at him he threw a punch with all his rage behind it, it hit the wall beside his door so forcefully it threw it open.

Dudley stood at the now open door and looked at him. In an alarmed, and then thoughtful voice, Dudley said, 'Bloody Hell. You know, I'll bet you any money, that if you had thrown a punch like that at me when we were younger, I would never have tormented you the way I had.'

Harry looked at him with a mix of anger, and surprise, 'What the hell are you doing here Dudley?"

Looking confused Dudley looked at Harry; his eyebrows scrunched together, 'To tell you the truth…I'm not sure…I guess I just figured that since today is supposed to be the last day I'm supposed to see you…that there wasn't really any point in making your life miserable any longer.'

Harry stared at his cousin for a long moment, taken aback by the honesty. Then after an awkward moment of silence between the two, whether it was out of madness, or some twisted humor, he began to laugh. Dudley gave an abashed smile and then joined in the laughter with him.

'T-That was…so….just so….funny'

Dudley smiled and slapped his leg, 'You-You should have…hahaha…..you should have seen yo-your face!'

The two grown boys were so caught up in their laughter, and the absurdity of the situation that they never heard Vernon Dursley's mass of body come waddling up the stairs. When his hulking figure filled the doorway however, Harry suddenly and instantaneously stopped laughing.

Dudley seemed to understand immediately who was behind him and so he said to Harry with anger and menace in his voice, although an apologetic look on his face, 'You better make sure all of your freaky things are gone when you leave.'

Turning around he acted as if he'd just seen his father, so with a smile plastered on his face he said, 'Hey dad, I want to show you this new boxing move they taught me at Smeltings this last year.'

As the two, very opposite, forms of Dudley and Vernon walked away Harry sighed and turned back to look at the photo album that was laying on the ground. Picking it up he caressed the people in the picture lovingly, tracing their outlines. Frowning slightly he looked closer at the corner of the picture, it was well worn, and so was completely brown and scuffed up, but, and he was sure of it now, there was a small sliver that was giving off a slightly orange-ish glow. Going to put his finger on it and wipe off any residual potion off of his beloved photo he was surprised out of his reverie.

'Harry…Harry!...HARRY! YOU WRETCHED THING, GET DOWN HERE THIS INSTANT!'

Jumping off his bed Harry put the photo album in his trunk beneath all his school things, with the rest of his treasures. His memories were, for now, buried in the back of his mind. There were no thoughts of death, or blood anywhere.

Pulling his trunk and Hedwig's cage down the stairs Harry tripped over a small brown package. Picking it up he looked at it and seen scrawled across the top in neat writing, 'Harry, open in private.'

Confused at who it was from Harry assumed Hedwig had dropped it off there quickly before going out mousing. Stuffing the small brown parcel into his jeans pocket he walked into the living room where his Aunt, Uncle, and Dudley were standing.

'Hello Harry.'

Turning to look at the man who had spoken to him Harry noticed that Ron and his father were both wearing black memorandum bands around their forearms. Wondering sadly at who they had now lost and what had happened Harry went to open his mouth to ask when Ron mouth 'Later'.

A little perturbed Harry turned back to Mr. Weasley and said, 'Hello sir, when do we leave? Is the fireplace hooked up to the floo network?'

Mr. Weasley smiled and said, 'We leave just as soon as you can get your things onto the back of your broom. And as we will not be using the floo, the Dursley's fire has not been hooked up.'

Harry smiled broadly, happy that he would be able to once again feel the wind whipping through his hair, feel the invigorating jolt as his stomach leapt into his throat. His pulse had quickened merely at the thought and so he walked quickly over to the cupboard under the stairs. Grabbing his Firebolt and gently caressing its polished shaft he smiled as he turned away from the cupboard. Taking it back into the living room he hooked his trunk and Hedwig's cage onto the broom and then turned to Mr. Weasley, 'Ready sir."
Smiling Mr. Weasley clapped his hands together and said, 'Good, good. Molly will be happy at how quickly this all went. She's been mighty worried about you, you know. What with the-'

Cutting himself off Mr. Weasley waved his hand and said, 'But that's not of importance right now. Let's be off, mustn't keep her waiting now.'
Going to the door Harry gave a small little half-smile to Dudley before mounting his broom and pushing off, right behind him Ron, followed by his father. Together the three rose steadily higher. Looking at Mr. Weasley Harry frowned, besides usual, why would Mrs. Weasley be worried about him? No one else was.

Harry winced slightly at the soreness in his body, like earlier he felt that if he moved a single movement, his whole body would fall apart. Ron noticed and looked about to say something when Harry shook his head, this was one thing he wasn't going to share with his friend. Not now. Besides, Ron had some explaining to do before Harry even considered sharing something personal with him.

Reaching the Burrow Harry smiled until he noticed the black hangings in every window. Looking to Ron, wanting an explanation of who had died he was angered to see his best friend once again mouth the word, 'Later'.

Angrily stepping past Ron Harry marched up to the door, he expected that Ginny would be happy to tell him everything, even if Ron wouldn't, correct that, especially if Ron
wouldn't.

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Hi all my lovely friends, thanks for reading my story. All I have to say right now is that I am so sorry for the strange goings on with my chapter 1 post. i just couldn't quite get it right, then as soon as I posted it I got it...and I'm just crazy, sorry.
Anyhow, I would LOVE to get some reviews at any timehint.
But I promise to have my next chapter done by the 16. Look forward to it hunnies.
And a little teaser here, a special someone, whom I dearly love, will soon be showing her face.