A/N: Warning: some parts of this chapter (when the Halloween feast starts) might be a bit disturbing for some people. Perhaps you should skip a paragraph or two.
Then again, my rating isn't there for nothing. Most of the chapter's quite okay actually, so there's only a little bit which might make some people squirmish (or however you spell that).
Once again betaed by: azntg01! Thanks.
Chapter Seven: Halloween (Yes it's that time of the year again)
The chemo was starting to take its toll on Harry's body again. His hair had fallen out nearly completely now and only tufts of red hair were spread over his head. He would drop the glamour as soon as Petunia and he neared the hospital. Petunia could always see the difference really well now. The Harry Potter everyone saw at Hogwarts hardly resembled the Harry that walked into the hospital with her. For safety they used the name Evans, and Doctor Romanov had arranged for it. Harry Potter had black messy hair, sparkling green eyes and glasses. He was gangly and thin, but only like a growing teenager's body. Yes, he was small for his age, but that couldn't be helped. Harry Evans though, he was small for his age as well, didn't wear glasses, had pain dulled tired green eyes, was nearly bald, but otherwise would have gleaming red hair, and he was rapidly losing weight. Petunia got a shock every time he let the glamour drop.
However, something that hasn't changed was his character. Petunia had already noticed Harry was great with kids when he babysat them during the summer, but now that he was sick he still was so cheerful. He would make jokes with the other sick children, he would comfort them if they had a nightmare of were in pain. He would tell them stories, about magic, dragons, unicorns and other magical beasts, using his own experience with them as inspiration. And he always seemed to sort of sense when a child needed him, even if he was out of the room for a while. If he was having chemo and couldn't go to the ward, he would warn a nurse and tell them to check on whichever child was having problems now. At first the nurses had thought him joking, and didn't really want to believe that Harry could know another child needed something. But after a few times they blindly trusted him with it, and they knew that they shouldn't be surprised if they found him with one of the smaller children in his bed at night. The nurses always smiled, and pulled up another blanket to make sure they would sleep well.
Petunia and Doctor Romanov had often asked him how he knew, but all Harry could come up with was, "I don't know, I just do." When Petunia asked him during the last chemo why he didn't go and work with children he went into quite a pensive moment, and she knew he was brooding on something. And he did. He figured out that that would be something he would enjoy. Working with children. But he didn't think he wanted to be a teacher. No, he wanted to work with younger children, and help them. Then it came to him.
He had inherited Grimmauld Place and it was very big. He hadn't quite known what to do with it, and right now it was still in use as the Headquarters, but once the war was over he could do whatever he wanted with it. He would make it into an orphanage, knowing that the magical world didn't have one. He would open it for purebloods, halfbloods and muggleborns. With a smile he told his aunt of his plans, and she supported him, but warned him there were a lot of rules and regulations he would need to keep himself to. He agreed and decided to contact Draco about that.
So on Monday during lunch he went and found Draco and they discussed that Draco would make a list of things that would need to happen before they could open the orphanage. Harry had appointed Draco as his manager, since Draco knew more about business than Harry.
As Harry felt his future might be somewhat uncertain, he decided to draw up a will where he will put up his decisions as well. He wouldn't want things to go wrong if he wasn't there anymore after all. So he drew up a will that Monday as well.
On Tuesday evening he went to the Common Room to play some games with the first years. Selwyn and Alwyn seemed to become quite the pranksters, for they turned Harry's hair a nice green and silver, which he proudly wore for the rest of the evening. He listened to their talks about classes, problems and friendships. Then he suggested that perhaps they could start to invite older students from their houses. After all, this Common Room wasn't only meant for them, though it was nice right now.
Thoughtfully the students nodded, and some even started making suggestions on who they could bring with them. Harry told them that they could bring the first batch of students with them on Thursday, as he would be there as well, and could even adjust the wards if needed.
They agreed and went their separate ways.
The next morning, Harry was looking forward to lying in bed and to be able to sleep for a while, but he wouldn't want to miss the Halloween feast in Hogwarts for just about anything. After all it was only Halloween once every year, and he didn't know about next year.
It seemed the Headmaster had managed to outdo himself with the decorations once more. There were carved up pumpkins on the tables, floating above the tables and put into every crook and windowsill. Also, the candles floated with Halloween figures carved on them. Some bats were flying by, and it seemed the ghosts had made themselves a bit more presentable, as they seemed to shine some more. Some eerie music was playing and sometimes sparks would fly up from one dish or the other.
Just when everyone was in the middle of the very fine dinner, with a promise of a small party afterwards, an owl flew into the Great hall. Harry notices there's something off about the owl, but can't detect what, until it hovers above the floor in the middle of the hall. There are bits and pieces falling of of the owl. It's dead. Harry knows nothing good can come from this, as only Dark Magic could make a dead owl fly to deliver something. And indeed, the owl suddenly went up in flames. The students nearest to it screamed and the Headmaster quickly casts a spell to protect them, but couldn't do much to what happened next. A sort of mist seemed to float, until it formed images. Harry gasped when he recognised it. It was Privet Drive and the image zoomed in on Number Four.
The image showed the front door being blasted away and Death Eaters filling in the house. Harry saw them walking towards the kitchen and open the door. As he expected, he saw his uncle and cousin sitting at the table looking shocked at the black robed freaks walking into their home.
Unfortunately Vernon decided to open his mouth, and to Harry's amazement and shock they could hear everything perfectly well. "What do you think you're doing here, you freaks? That little freak has already left, so you can just leave right now, we don't want anything to do with you and your freaky world." Spit was flying from his mouth by now. Harry bit his lip from anger. Damn, now his friends and professors had heard Vernon talking like that. He noticed most students looked shocked at the images, and when a blood curling scream started, Harry turned his attention back to images. It seemed his uncle had been put under the Cruciatus. His cousin, who was a bit slow, now punched a Death Eater, but immediately he was hit with a severing charm, which severed his right arm. Harry heard several students throw up. He just grew very pale. The teachers tried to get rid of the image, but it wouldn't go. And for some reason or other they couldn't get the students out from their seats either, as it seemed Voldemort used some charm to prevent them from rising.
In sick fascination Harry and the others were forced to watch the torture session of his uncle and cousin, to finally see them stop breathing and then he saw Number Four go up in flames. He only forced himself to come to when Voldemort's voice sounded. "Well now Harry. I am sure you enjoyed this performance. It is only a little preview for what I am going to do to your friends and other family. You will finally beg me to take your life, but I won't. I shall watch you scream and cry for your friends and family before torturing you. And perhaps then I will let you die." His maniacal laughter rang through the hall before the image faded, and the sound stopped.
Many students were crying, throwing up, and were huddled together in fright. Remus looked towards Harry in great worry, but to his surprise Harry seemed to be the one to comfort his friends and classmates, instead of having to be comforted. He pulled his attention to the Headmaster as he stood up.
Dumbledore's voice calmed many students' nerves, and he told them to go to their common rooms with their Heads of House. Harry saw the gesture Dumbledore made, and ensures his friends that he will come back after the meeting with the Headmaster, but that they shouldn't stay up waiting for him. They reluctantly agree.
In silence Harry follows Remus and Dumbledore. When he is settled in the office with a cup of tea (with calming potion, he noticed) Dumbledore quickly came to business.
"I am sorry to say I couldn't have prevented this Harry. After all the wards were taken of from the house, and your uncle refused to have anything to do with our world. I hope you are all right for now though."
He and Remus were worried about the calm way Harry seemed to be taken this, but well, they just thought it was very hard for him.
"I am very worried about my aunt, Headmaster. Is it possible for her to come here? Preferably tonight? Please, I am sure she could use my support, and it would be very nice to see her right now."
Dumbledore thought it over for a moment and nodded. He rummaged in a drawer for a while and came up with a little ornamental flower. Tapping it with his wand and muttering 'portus' he handed it to Remus. "Remus, this portkey will drop you in the same alley as the portkey used for Harry's transports. Please go and pick up Ms. Evans. Let her take some clothes. We will update and strengthen the wards around the flat tomorrow. The portkey will activate if you say 'safety'. Come back as soon as possible."
Remus nodded and after saying 'safety' he was gone.
Harry kept staring at his teacup and began sipping tea from it. He didn't really know how he felt about the death of his uncle and cousin. They hadn't really been his family and they had hated him. However Petunia had loved them once and she could be upset about it all. Harry thought of something else. The wards didn't need strengthening or updating, for he knew they were stronger than ever, but he felt it couldn't hurt to have them checked. Also, it would keep his aunt closer to him for a few days.
Just when Dumbledore was going to talk to him again the door of his office opened and in came McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick and Sprout. They gave their reports about the status of their students and gave sad looks to Harry, who didn't seem to have noticed them.
Snape sneered as usual, but he couldn't help but notice the blank look Potter was wearing.
Suddenly, they were startled by the appearance of Remus and Petunia. Petunia was clutching the ornament, and her bag, while looking around wide eyed. Remus had only told her she would need to come for safety, and because Harry needed her, and Petunia had no idea what had happened. The professors watched in surprise when the woman who looked nothing like Lily, rushed up to Harry and pulling him up, started to check him from top to bottom. Harry quickly put down his tea, and reassured his aunt that he was fine, but that he had some bad news.
The adults watched in slight amusement when they noticed Harry manipulating his aunt so that she was seated into a chair, with Harry kneeling before her holding her hands.
"Auntie, (he only used this name if he was very nervous) Voldemort just send a message. Today he... today he killed Uncle Vernon and Dudley and burned down the house." He spoke the last part in a slight rush, staring at his aunt.
Petunia became very pale, and then tears started dripping from her eyes. Harry hugged her as well as he could while he was sitting on the ground. Flitwick and Sprout silently left the room, and though Snape wanted to go, he was gestured to stay by the Headmaster. They could hear Harry murmuring things to his aunt, and Snape decided to turn his full attention to the Headmaster, who gave him a piece of paper with instructions. Snape nodded and slowly left the room.
Not long after that Petunia stopped crying and looked expectantly up at the Headmaster.
"Sir, I suppose it is all right for me to stay here for a few days right? I wish to be close to Harry, even though we are together in the hospital this weekend."
Dumbledore nodded. "Of course. You can stay in one of the guest rooms. Remus can walk you there as it is on his way."
Petunia stood up, wavering slightly, until Harry slipped his hands around her waist to support her. McGonagall smiled softly. This action of Harry reminded her so much of his mother, Lily. She also left the room, walking in a different direction than the three other people.
Remus pointed them the door in a hallway on the fourth floor, and bade them a good night, for he walked on to his quarters which only were two hallways away. Harry made sure Petunia was situated comfortable, before promising to come back the next morning.
However, his rest couldn't begin yet, as he felt the wards of the Common Room go off. Apparently some students were in distress, and so he turned around. Instead of going to Gryffindor tower, he now went down, to the Common Room, as this way would be quicker than taking the hidden door near the Gryffindor dorms.
He didn't know that he wouldn't be the only one to go towards the room to help. Someone else was up that night, too.
A/N: I know, I know, some bits of this chapter were a bit rushed. I'm not very good with the whole describing lessons etc. And a little cliffie at the end! Luckily for you the next chapter is already written, just not betaed.
