Harry Potter woke up in his bedroom in 12 Grimmauld Place and looked around groggily, he had not been sleeping very well since Dumbledore had been killed and had come to grips with having been controlled by Voldemort. Ginny had not taken it well when Harry had revealed that his animal attraction to her had been as a result of Voldemort's manipulations.
It was actually Tonks who had helped discover this, she and Lupin had probed Harry's mind and found that Voldemort had been trying to sow seeds of dissension between himself and those closest to him. The Dark Lord had figured that by Harry being with Ginny it would put a rift between him and the Weasleys (especially Ron) and that he would become too distracted to prepare for the inevitable final confrontation. It was very disconcerting for Harry to learn that the "beast" he felt raging inside him was actually Voldemort. Harry was also confused about why Voldemort hadn't done anything to create a rift between him and Hermione, he would have thought that with her superior intellect and usefulness that Voldemort would want to eliminate Hermione first off.
Harry smiled as he thought of Lupin and Tonks. Ever since the incident at the end of last year, Tonks had been insistent on having a relationship with Lupin. He had of course kept his distance, afraid of hurting Tonks or of dragging her down with him. Finally, after much effort on the part of Tonks, and much urging by the Weasleys and other friends, Lupin gave in and had begun to court Tonks. Harry was sure that the two of them would be very happy together and hoped to see them in the future.
Harry had returned to the Dursleys just like Dumbledore had wanted, he had convinced Hermione and Ron that this was something that he absolutely had to do on his own because it was something that did not involve either of them in any way shape or form. He had arrived at 4 Privett Drive and had told his Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and cousin Dudley that he was moving out and going to his new home. He thanked them for taking him and let them know that he wouldn't be a bother to them anymore. They had all bid him goodbye, half-heartedly…but still.
Harry had been extended invitations by the Weasleys and several Order members to stay with them until Hogwarts opened up for the next term…what would have been his final term before graduating from the school and beginning his adult wizard life in earnest, if he were coming back. But he had insisted that he was fine and that he needed some time alone with his thoughts and to come to grips with the situation his life was in now. For the first time in his life he had no one to protect him, he had no mentor figure headmaster, he had no caring godfather, and he could not stand to stay with the Dursleys for another minute.
For the first time in his life, Harry was truly alone, and now he knew it, and this dawned on him in a very real and horrific way. Everyday for him passed by with an even greater realization that Dumbledore, Sirius, his parents, and every other person who was standing between him and Voldemort was either dead, out of commission, or had enough problems of their own…in short, he was on his own.
The only two people that knew Harry had made up his mind to not return to Hogwarts even though they were reopening the school were Hermione and Ron and they had a nonverbal agreement to not let it become common knowledge. They all knew that if news of his decision got out that it would put everyone in an uproar and the resistance against Voldemort and everything else that was going on would be thrown off course and that was the last thing any of them needed.
With Kreacher working at Hogwarts Harry had the house all to himself, he felt that it was good for him to get used to being alone…because he was. He would often wander the halls of his new home and ponder about what he was going to do and how he was going to do it. At night he would stand on the balcony and look at the stars, always stopping to focus on Sirius the dog star and would contemplate his life, how it had began, what it had become, and where it would go from here.
He thought about Hermione and Ron, and the other people that he cared about in his life. He wondered about Lupin and Tonks and what they were going to do with their lives. To his surprise, he found himself thinking a lot about Hermione, but then again she was one of his best friends…yet he found himself thinking about her in ways that he never thought about any of his friends.
But he let that slide; he still had to think about how he was going to convince Hermione and Ron not to go with him. He had planned on going to the Burrow a few days before the wedding to spend some time with the group that had become like a surrogate family to him, he would say his goodbyes after the wedding, then he would leave before any of them woke up.
He would go to Godric's Hollow to pay his respects to his parents and see where it all began, where his mother had given the ultimate sacrifice to preserve his own life, where Voldemort had marked him as his equal. He felt around for his glasses as he brushed a strand of his jet-black hair away from his eyes. His hair had grown down to the base of his neck and also came down in the front. After he found his glasses, he clutched at the fake Horcrux that he always carried with him and resolved further upon his plan.
After careful planning and packing, as well as a few trips to Gringott's, for money for the journey and a special going away present for Hermione, which currently resided in his pocket, Harry was ready for his journey. Mrs. Weasley had given him a gift of floo powder at Dumbledore's funeral, saying that anytime Harry wanted to he could come to the Burrow to stay with loved ones and then he would be given more powder for his next visit. With that he took one last look around the house of his godfather, went to the fireplace, loudly and clearly said "the burrow!" then threw down the powder and was gone.
He arrived at the Burrow and could see several people already assembled in the next room, all of the Weasleys were there, even Percy, there were also several members of the Order there, and "Hermione!" he thought to himself. "They must be here for the wedding" Harry reasoned to himself, "they can't possibly know about my plans."
Harry's arrival had caused a little bit of commotion and a few people turned their attention to the fireplace area to find Harry there with a small bag and a sheepish expression on his face, slightly embarrassed for having interrupted. He had expected Ginny or Mrs. Weasley to come and greet him upon his arrival; oddly enough to him it was Hermione who ran to greet him. "Harry!" She said with delight as she ran to him and pulled him to her in a tight hug that Harry felt was a little too strong and too long to be a "friend" hug…once again he dismissed this thought.
"Hi Hermione, how's your summer been?" Harry asked after a brief pause, he couldn't help but stare at her after they broke the hug…she looked so beautiful standing there looking into his emerald green eyes as he looked into her cinnamon brown ones, which were conveying sadness.
"I've been fine," she began "I convinced my parents to let me finish up at Hogwarts." She tried to say this with enthusiasm, but none came out. "They let me come here for the wedding and then I'm going back until the start of term."
Harry was a little confused at the contrast in her tones, he had expected her to sound ecstatic about returning to school, but at the same time he wondered what happened to her resolve to go to hell and back with him and Ron for the Horcruxes…he decided not to ask her though because he didn't want anyone to know about his plans. She also seemed to hold him just a little tighter than usual, and there was sadness in her eyes that he couldn't quite place.
Ginny came and gave him a hug, this one was a little longer than a friend hug, but felt like a little sister one. Harry was beginning to feel confused and it was clear to him that everything had changed or was changing…and it would never go back to the way it was. "Hey there mate," Ron said brightly to Harry, giving him a masculine hug. Now Harry was really confused, Ron was acting as though Harry was his brother who was going off to war.
Mrs. Weasley gave Harry a hug that conveyed a similar sentiment. "You were always such a wonderful young man," Mrs. Weasley sobbed as she crushed Harry to herself. "You deserve better than all of this, it's just not fair!"
Fred and George came and shook Harry's hand, "thanks for everything Harry, without you we wouldn't be where we are and enjoying what we are…we owe you everything mate."
Fleur came and kissed Harry on each of his cheeks, "You do deserve better zan zees 'Arry," she said "and Bill and I will be 'oping for your success," she had an air of genuine caring and sincerity in her words that made Harry wonder what everyone was on about.
Tonks, Kingsley, Charlie, Percy, and Lupin all in turn came and greeted Harry, giving him words of encouragement and telling him to listen and learn…and not to think or worry about any of them.
He looked around wondering where Bill, the groom apparent was, he looked around the group of people now gathered around him like assembled mourners and found Bill outside talking to a man he had never seen before. He looked to be Bill's same age, he stood at 5' 10" with a trim muscular build, Prussian blue eyes, a normal-sized nose, and short blonde hair put in a crew cut, he wore a pair of dark blue jeans and a buttoned up navy blue shirt, he held something in his hand that was obscured by the dark night outside. He heard Bill talking to him as he walked up.
"…The orders are that no more communication be made between them until they have Harry, they are obviously not planning on anyone being able to stand between them and their objective…" Bill stopped abruptly as Harry walked up to them, he noticed that the man standing next to Bill wore a crucifix around his neck and had strong calloused hands.
"Hi Bill," Harry began, "I hope that you don't mind I showed up a few days before the wedding, I wanted to spend some time with you and your family…but I didn't expect so many people to be here this early."
Bill paused and put a hand on Harry's shoulder, "You are very observant Harry," Bill started, "there is something you should know about," he pointed to the man standing next to him. "This is Sean O'Sullivan, he'll be your caretaker for the summer."
Harry didn't know what to think, on one hand he now knew why everyone was treating him like they were, he was being put in the care of a total stranger for the summer. Harry felt more than a little infuriated by this, but he had been through so much that he wasn't sure how to react. "What?" was all that he could manage as a response to Bill's announcement.
"Whatever plans you had for the Summer are null and void," Bill said to Harry with a hint of nothing but seriousness, "there is too much at stake now, you will go with Sean, you will listen to what he has to say, and you will do everything he tells you to."
"What the hell do you think you're doing!" Harry retorted. "After all I've been through and after everything that has happened you of all people have the nerve to tell me what to do!" They were far enough away from the rest of the crowd that they did not cause too much of a scene, but the people inside knew that the three of them needed to be left alone.
"Technically, seeing as how you aren't in the Order," Bill began, "I shouldn't be showing you this, but since it concerns you directly, have a look." Bill showed Harry the parchment and Harry read it:
Severus:
I am delighted to hear that you have disposed of Albus, there is
now no one to stand between me and the Potter boy.
The prophecy will be fulfilled, and I shall rule once more.
I have an assignment for you, one that I entrust you with
given your many years of faithful service and the singular
act of disposing of the one wizard who stood a chance
against me. You will take Bellatrix Lestrange and find Harry
Potter, if there are any with him, kill them immediately.
You will bring Potter to me alive, destroy his wand, and
Restrain him. The strike at Hogwarts will occur at the opening
Feast, Potter will be killed in front of them as the deathblow to
Those who dare oppose me. Apprehend him with as little trouble as
Possible, we don't want too much attention so we can have a greater
Effect when we kill him. I know you will succeed.
--Lord Voldemort.
Harry paused after reading the message. Bill took the parchment back from him as Harry gave him a respectful and honest apology. "No need," Bill said, "but hopefully now you understand why you can't stay anywhere but with Sean."
"I don't understand," Harry said, "why him, and who exactly is he?"
"I will leave the two of you to talk," Bill said "I am sure that you have much to discuss." With that, Bill took his leave and went back into the house to be with his fiancée and the others that were assembled there.
There was a long pause between the two of them, Harry was looking Sean up and down, and Sean had his piercing gaze fixed on Harry. Sean was content to let Harry begin the conversation, he knew that it was better for him to begin since this was all very new to him and he was still very young. Sean had never met Harry before, but he knew why the others were saying that he didn't deserve what he had been given. He noticed the lack of innocence on the boy's face; he knew that he had been forced to become a man without having a real childhood…just like him.
"Who are you exactly?" Harry asked the Irish monk in front of him.
"Bill already told you my name," Sean began. "But you need to come with me because, as you know from the message, the Dark Lord has sent his two most dangerous Death Eaters after you with instructions to kill you and anyone who is with you." Sean paused for a moment to allow his words to register with the young wizard in front of him.
"I am a Knight in an organization called the Order of Saint George," Sean began again, "a monastic order ordained to protect those who cannot protect themselves by destroying the demons that inhabit this world and pray on the innocent. I specialize in vampires, but others will hunt werewolves some will also destroy dangerous rouge dragons or giants, and some specialize in Inferi."
Harry had tensed up when Sean mentioned werewolves, "Oh God," he said aloud "I won't let you kill Remus," he said drawing out his wand defensively.
"Don't worry," Sean said, "I am not going to harm your friend Remus Lupin," Harry still tensed and held out his wand as Sean continued, "In the Order we strive to spare those who cannot help what they are and resist the demonic urges of their condition…we once had a vampire who was a Knight."
"But why am I going with you?" Harry asked Sean with his wand still drawn.
"Voldemort is very prideful," Sean began, and Harry was surprised by how calmly Sean used Voldemort's name. "He doesn't expect a boy wizard bereft of any magical protection and a Muggle to be any threat."
"You're a Muggle!" Harry blurted out loudly realizing why Sean used Voldemort's name so calmly.
"Aye" Sean responded with his thick Irish accent, "surprised?"
"I just never thought that a Muggle would be this involved in my life and the fight against the Dark Lord."
"You will find Mr. Potter, that one can find help, hope, and inspiration in the most unlikely of places. We just need to have eyes to see and the sense to recognize and accept it when we find it." Harry stopped and took in all that had just happened. In a few minutes he had learned that he would be spending his summer training with some kind of religious Muggle vampire hunter who would be teaching him to fight the Dark Lord, who had just sent the two Death Eaters who had taken the most from him to capture him to become some kind of sacrificial lamb. It was a lot to take in for Harry, he felt more than a little overwhelmed and wanted to know more, but he needed to make it clear that he wasn't coming with Sean.
"I can't go with you," Harry replied, "I have something that I need to do."
"You need to find the Horcruxes that make up the entire soul of Lord Voldemort so that you can vanquish him once and for all" Sean stated in his usual monotone voice.
"Yeah," Harry replied with a surprise that wasn't at all disguised, "how do you know about all that?"
"Your mentor…if I am at liberty to call Albus Dumbledore such" Sean waited until Harry gave him an affirmative nod, "confided in the Order of St. George quite a bit," Sean continued, "he told us about the Horcruxes and hoped that we could help him find and destroy them."
As Sean spoke he extended his hand to reveal what he had been holding. "But you don't have to worry about that," Sean said as he held the goblet up to show Harry. Night had fallen, but after Harry took out his wand and uttered "lumos" he saw that Sean was holding up a goblet with the name Helga Hufflepuff inscribed on the side. Inside the cup Harry saw a bracelet and a silver locket and immediately picked up the locket to look at it.
"Are these real?" Harry asked slightly bewildered.
"Aye," Sean said "These are real, the goblet belonged to Helga Hufflepuff, the locket belonged to Salazar Slytherin, and this bracelet" he said holding it up "belonged to Rowena Ravenclaw. All that is left is to destroy the snake Nagini and then the part of Voldemort's soul that resides in his body."
Harry was perplexed at this, "why haven't you destroyed them?" Harry asked. "Because Voldemort would notice if the greater part of what is left of his soul was suddenly destroyed; and we need to catch him completely off guard." Sean paused before continuing; "you aren't ready to face him…yet" he began speaking to Harry. "But I can and will help you, I can teach you how to empty your mind to master occlumency, which will probably help you master illigumency, how to fight with your body and mind, how to face, accept, and overcome your fears and shortcomings, how to use means of fighting that are just as or more effective than magic, and how to become the great wizard and warrior that you are prophesied to become."
Harry paused after Sean finished this thought, "why are you doing this?" Harry asked, whatever anger he was feeling was now gone, he now felt astonished, and confused.
"Because I made a promise to a friend to train you and keep you safe. I also realize that you have to become who and what you were born to be so that both our worlds can survive." Harry realized as well as Sean had at King's Cross Station that this had to be.
"Where are we going for this?" Harry asked Sean.
"We will be going to the Order Monastery located in the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland," Sean began, "We will be going to the water first by horse, have you ever ridden a horse?"
"I have ridden on a couple of creatures that were part horse," Harry responded thinking of his experiences with Buckbeak and Thestrals.
"That will have to do," Sean stated, "From there we will continue to the island by boat and then go to the monastery."
"When do we leave?" Harry asked with a hint of nervousness in his voice.
"We will be leaving at first light the day after the wedding." Sean stated very matter-of-factly.
"You're staying for the wedding?" Harry asked.
"Aye," answered Sean, "I'm the best man."