Harry Potter and the Key of Soul Fusion
Chapter 1: A Knock on the Door
A warm wind was blowing, and the afternoon air felt rather heavy as a skinny, dark-haired boy carefully hid himself behind a row of hedges and lay down, breathing a sigh of relief.
There had been mutterings from behind the neighbours' closed curtains when a few wizard reporters had come wandering around, trying to get an interview with the teenager, and he had no desire to be found nor questioned. Harry Potter had done nothing to improve his image in the eyes of his neighbours, and they were careful to stay out of the way of "that nutter Vernon and Petunia actually tolerated." Harry didn't care one bit what his neighbours thought, but their incessant whispering when he was around grated on his nerves. So he had stolen away this afternoon to be alone, and to think.
What was it, Harry wondered as he stared up at the sky, that made the world seem so calm and peaceful? There was so much darkness and yet no one appeared to even notice at all. Harry closed his eyes and rubbed his temple in frustration as he fought to blink back tears, not wanting to risk Dudley seeing them. He would not cry in front of the Dursleys, Harry thought defiantly, just as he heard a pot bang in the kitchen.
"Where has that boy got to, I swear—"
Harry groaned as he heard the unmistakable screeching voice that was his Aunt Petunia's. He struggled to his feet and swiped at his eyes. Letting himself in through the back door, he blinked as he tried to adjust his eyes to the kitchen that was much darker than the bright sunlight outside.
"What is it?" The kitchen looked as it usually did, spotless and gleaming.
"What is it?" Aunt Petunia shrieked, her eyes bulging. She grabbed Harry's arm and dragged him to the sink. "That's what it is!" She pointed indignantly at something, but all Harry saw was a perfectly clean, white surface.
"I don't see anything," he said dully.
"Don't see anything!" Aunt Petunia repeated in a rage. "Don't see anything! I'll have you know you can't just go around thinking you can make a mess any old place you fancy! Look at that! Right there! Sullying my kitchen like this!"
"I," Harry interrupted, "have to go write a letter to Moody now. You know, that nice man you met at the train station?"
Aunt Petunia's mouth snapped shut.
"Oh," she said stiffly, remembering the warning Harry's friends had given her, threatening dire consequences should she and Vernon abuse Harry again this summer. Just then the doorbell rang.
Happy to get away, Harry stepped into the front hallway and peeked through the window. Kingsley! Tonks! They had come to take him away from the Dursleys Excited, Harry threw open the door. Upon closer examination, Harry saw that Kingsley looked rather nervous, as he was shifting his weight from foot to foot, and he seemed to be avoiding Harry's gaze. Tonks had very normal-looking brown hair that fell to her shoulders, and she, too, seemed to be rather intent on not meeting Harry's eyes.
"Er-- What's going on? Are you here to take me away?" Harry asked confusedly, puzzled by this strange behaviour. Kingsley was usually silently confident and strong, and Tonks always had some outrageous hairdo.
"Can we come in?" Kingsley finally mumbled after a long silence. He raised his head and, quite accidentally, Harry locked gazes with him.
In that split second, Harry automatically shouted "Legilimens!" as he had heard Snape do so many times during his Occlumency lessons. Instantly, much to his surprise, he saw a flash of images... a young, blonde-haired boy being pushed into a pond... a lifeless face with blank eyes staring up at him... Dimly, he was aware of Kingsley stumbling and falling to the ground on his knees, but the images continued on relentlessly... Harry saw shadows in a dark cave, then uttered a cry and clutched his scar when Voldemort's red eyes burned into his... He could feel Kingsley trying to sever the connection... There was a bubbling potion... a whisper, a threat... "Drink the Polyjuice and trick the fool into inviting you into his house... He will never know..."... Aghast, Harry wrenched his mind away. Immediately the images began to fade, and the searing pain in his scar dulled to a low, throbbing ache.
Kingsley, or rather his imposter, stared at him in horror. Tonks had stepped back and was watching the two with a frightened look on her face.
"Obliviate!" the Death Eater cried, with his wand pointed at Harry. The spell had no effect, however, as Harry still remembered perfectly that the man in front of him was one of Voldemort's Death Eaters in disguise.
"Get out " Harry shouted, slamming the door and sliding the lock into place. Breathing heavily and shaking, he drew his wand from his pocket, ready to defend himself if necessary. Improper Use of Magic or no, he was not about to give in without a fight. He heaved a sigh of relief when he heard two pops on the other side of the door. The Death Eaters had Disapparated. He had to send a letter to Dumbledore, straight away... Voldemort had never attempted to attack him at home before, this was unbelievable, Death Eaters in Little Whinging. And how had he been able to use Legilimency?
"Who was that at the door?" Aunt Petunia, alerted by the noise, came in and directed an accusing glare at Harry. He was saved from responding by a large, tawny owl that swooped in through the open window and hovered near Harry's head. At once, he recognized the elegant script on the envelope and tore it off the owl's foot, ignoring the indignant squawk. Harry ripped open the parchment and a letter, hurriedly scrawled, fell out.
"Dear Harry,
It has come to my attention that Voldemort is attempting to send Death Eaters to your residence in hopes of abducting you. You should be fairly safe, if you would please remember two things. Do not leave the house under any circumstances and, whatever you do, do not invite anyone into your house. Your aunt's protection should be sufficient for the moment."
So that was why the Memory Charm hadn't worked, Harry thought gratefully, remembering the special ward to guard him that his aunt had allowed. He glanced up from the letter and saw Aunt Petunia scrutinizing him closely.
"Well?" she snapped, her foot tapping impatiently. She was all right, really, Harry thought fleetingly as he returned his gaze to the letter.
"I regret that matters have declined so quickly, but I feel that home is not the safest place for you right now. I am not entirely certain, but the protection your aunt gives you may be less effective now, or, indeed, rendered completely useless against Voldemort himself. I have, therefore, arranged for you to spend the rest of your summer at Hogwarts, where I have reason to believe there may be a better protection for you. Someone from the Order will be sent to escort you shortly.
--Albus P. W. B. Dumbledore"
Harry looked up. Aunt Petunia had her arms crossed, and she was huffing irritably.
"I--" Something caught in his throat. Harry tried again. "I'm leaving."
Aunt Petunia's demeanor changed instantly. She looked startled. "Come again?"
"I'm leaving for Hog-- my school," Harry corrected himself hastily. "Early."
"Well." Aunt Petunia seemed to have no words for this.
"Hang on, I have to reply..." Harry grabbed a bit of parchment and a crumpled quill out of his pocket and scribbled down a quick note.
"Dear Professor,
It's all right. The Death Eaters came before I got your letter, but I was able to figure out who they were through... well, through Legilimency, I think. They've Disapparated now, and I'm okay.
--Harry"
"Get down here " Harry yelled to the owl that was now restlessly fluttering around the ceiling. Aunt Petunia was watching warily, making sure that it did not soil her impeccable floor in any way. Obediently, the owl flew down and held out its leg. Harry tied on his letter and whispered, "To Dumbledore." He watched as the owl took off through the window and into the clear sky. To Hogwarts. To home. It was hard to worry about Death Eaters just now when his heart was filled with the joy of the knowledge that he would soon be among friends again.
"Who's taking you to that-- to that place?" It seemed Aunt Petunia had finally thought of something to say.
"I dunno," Harry replied, intent on getting upstairs and packing his things. "Same people from last time, I expect." He regretted this statement instantly as a frown creased Aunt Petunia's face. She was probably remembering the nonexistent lawn competition from last summer, Harry thought, a little grin playing at the corners of his mouth. He turned swiftly and hurried up the stairs.
A few minutes later Harry was back in the now empty front hall, Hedwig's cage and his trunk by his feet. He reckoned that Aunt Petunia had told Uncle Vernon and Dudley that he was departing for school early this year, because Dudley usually popped in at this time of day for his fourth afternoon snack, and he was nowhere to be seen. Dudley had grown even larger, and the children in the neighbourhood had taken to traveling in packs, so as not to be caught alone by Dudley or one of his gang.
Harry smiled as the thought of leaving Privet Drive settled into his mind. He had steeled himself for another torturous summer, had mentally prepared himself for the long wait until the first of September, but now he was going back, and he did not have to wait any longer.
For the second time that day, someone knocked on the front door.
Momentarily forgetting constant vigilance in the happy glow that surrounded him, Harry opened the door.
Four Death Eaters, all wearing long, black cloak and masks, stood on his front stoop. With a sinking feeling in the bottom of his stomach, Harry realized with horror that the two pops he had heard had not been two Death Eaters Disapparating, but two Apparating. Here.