Harry Potter and the End of the Journey
Chapter one
Harry Potter sighed as he ate the meagre portion of salad his aunt had given him for lunch. Harry was sat cross-legged on his bed reading a book entitled "So you think you're a target? Hexes, Jinxes, Curses and Counter-curses for defence against attack." Beside the book and bowl of salad was a sparkling piece of paper covered in moving pictures of bells, entwined rings and a picture of Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour stood hand in hand smiling broadly. Bill's face had healed well since Harry had last seen it but several scars were still quite prominent. The golden writing on the invitation read.
"Bill and Fleur cordially invite Harry Potter to celebrate with them as they join hearts, souls and lives, at the burrow on the 3rd August."
There was a small note attached:
"Hey Harry,
We know you have to stay with the muggles till your birthday but dad said he's going to send your birthday gift there. Did you know the Cannons are 6th in the league this season? Send us a note back so we know you're ok to come to the wedding.
See you soon.
Ron and Hermione"
Harry had received the invite that morning and had sent his reply back saying he was looking forward to the wedding and he had never doubted the cannons would be great and sixth was nothing to sneeze at. The quidditch references were in fact a code saying a group from the order would be coming at 7.00 on the 31st of July.
Harry took his empty bowl and headed downstairs to put it in the new dishwasher the Dursley's had bought. Harry could hardly believe that tonight was the last night he'd have to spend in the Dursley household. For that day was the 30th of July, the day before Harry's seventeenth birthday when he would come of age and be able to use his magic freely. His 17th birthday also marked the day when the protection he gained from living with his last remaining relatives would end, leaving him with very little refuge from Lord Voldemort and his death eaters. Harry was about to head back up to his room when he heard a news bulletin on the TV, which one or more of the Dursley's was watching. The news reporter explained how there had been 3 train crashes, 2 building collapses, 3 murders and 4 disappearances in the past few days. Harry had stopped watching the muggle news as it reminded him of the urgency of his quest to find the 3 remaining elusive horcuxes and destroy them along with Nagini and then Voldemort himself to finally defeat the dark wizard. Harry now accepted the fact that he was the one to defeat Voldemort, as was foretold in the prophecy but it didn't make his task any easier.
Harry woke up early the next morning to find his owl, Hedwig tapping her beak on the window which had blown shut in the night. As he groggily got up to open it for her he noticed a package tied to her leg and recognised the handwriting on it to belong to Hermione. He quickly relieved Hedwig of her burden, gave her an owl treat and sat back down on his bed to open his birthday gift. Hermione had apparently made the card, which had an animated cartoon of a present bursting open to reveal a large happy birthday sign. He read the note in side wishing him a happy birthday and unwrapped the parcel. It contained a small metal instrument in a box labelled "Gilbert and sons Self Appreciation Mirror" Harry thought it a strange gift especially from Hermione. He opened the box cautiously thinking it could be some kind of trick.
When nothing happened Harry looked into the small compact mirror and to his surprise saw not his own reflection but the faces of Ron, Hermione and Ginny on separate thirds
"Happy Birthday" They all called waving at Harry who smiled back thinking this mirror must be one like Sirius had given him only this was a multi-way communicator.
"Hey Harry how are you?" Ron asked
"I'm good. Thanks for the mirror Hermione." He added
"I hid it in the old self-appreciation mirror box so no one would know what it was, these mirrors are perfectly secure so we can speak freely, assuming the rooms aren't bugged." Hermione explained.
"Bugged?" Ginny asked confused. Just as Hermione was about to launch into an explanation Ron stepped in,
"Later Ginny. Harry our presents are coming later like we said in our letter but we have to go now Mum wants us to help with more wedding stuff."
"Ok I'll look forward to my presents." Harry said meaning he was looking forward to seeing them all again once he had been picked up by members of the order that evening.
That day passed by very slowly as things often do when you are looking forward to something. Harry tried organising his trunk without making it look like he was planning to go anywhere. He couldn't take the chance that Voldemort would realise he would be leaving in a few hours time.
Around lunch time Harry received Hagrids birthday gift, it was a photo frame with a picture of Hagrid, Harry, Ron and Hermione all smiling and waving outside Hagrid's hut. Harry sighed as he looked at the photograph thinking that it was unlikely he'd ever see Hagrid's hut again for Harry wasn't going back to Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry this year, he had to spend his time finding and destroying the seven pieces of Voldemort's soul. Accompanying the gift was a card reading
"Dear Harry,
Happy 17th Birthday,
Best wishes
Hagrid, Witherwings, Grawp and Circon."
Harry assumed Circon was Grawp's giantess lady friend who had moved into the forbidden forest with him. At about 3 o'clock that afternoon Harry decided to while away his remaining few hours wandering around his old summer haunts.
Several hours later while walking through he park Harry heard a shot like a cannon and immediately pulled out his wand, looking for the source of the noise and ready to fight any deatheaters. Harry saw a glowing green object rising in the sky. Harry broke into a run through the alleyway between Wysteria walk and Magnolia crescent where he had been attacked by dementors two years ago.
Before rounding the corner that would take him into Privet Drive Harry took his invisibility cloak from his pocket and after throwing it on he peered round the wall.
The Dark Mark was hovering above number 4 Privet drive and several windows had been smashed. As he was considering going into the house he saw a movement inside the house through one of the windows. Going back to the Dursley's was not possible, but where else could he go? He had no other family and no way to contact the order.