GETTING SETTLED IN

This would take a lot less time if I didn't have to drag my stuff the whole way. I will need to study; Voldemort is much too strong for me. What if I can't do this? Why do I have to carry the weight of the world? A thick mist hung in the air dampening Harry's mood. He knew the world would never be the same. So he approached his newly acquired home with a faint heart. The place had sort of an eeriness to it. Harry supposed he would get used to it in a day or two. He unpacked his belongings, pausing when he came across his Potions book. How could this happen? The one thing that got me through class was Snape's. Not wanting to ponder on the thought, Harry unpacked the rest of his stuff. The book now lies on the bottom of a messy stack of clothes. Harry couldn't be bothered by it.

Despite the emptiness of the place, it was really quite peaceful. Nothing can bother him today. Except maybe the lack of food. In his hurry to get away, he completely forgot about it. Strange how humans need food to survive. Water was especially needed. Harry never realized how incredibly unprepared he was. At this rate Voldemort might not have to kill him. Harry slumped down in an old moth eaten chair. Things are worse than I thought. I never thought I would miss the Dursleys. They at least have food. Harry looked around at the interior of the house noting grimly the items Mundugus stole to sell.

Maybe there was something about the dark side. Something that drawn them in. A promise of power and success. Harry supposed they also had food. Well one thing hasn't changed around here. There must be at least an inch of dust coating everything. Harry thought with a little humor that he would be The-famous-dust-bunny-who-still-lives. Having nothing else to do at the time, Harry turned his attention to his stuff once again. He unpacked a photo of his parents and set it on the nightstand in the other room. It wont be long. I will get to meet them in the end. Without a second thought Harry began to pack his clothes in the dresser.

Everything in the place had sort of a dull appearance to it. Like it was all subject to an unusual amount of wear and tear. This place sure does have character, Harry thought dully. I wonder how I can get out of the wedding with the Weasleys? I don't think I could stand being where there is happiness right now. He couldn't even fake being ill. He had sent Hedwig to stay with Ron a few days ago. He was cut off from the rest of the world. In a way, Harry felt the loneliness of his situation to be comforting. Yes, it is better this way. No more first years gawking at his scar. No more expectations…good or bad. I'm on my own now. With that Harry decided to go out. Food is definitely a necessity. I can go to Hogsmead. Even if everyone is cautious they wouldn't close down the grocery stores.

Harry stuck out his wand for the Knight Bus. It stopped smoothly by the side of the road. Ernie and Stan Shunpike weren't there. Harry wouldn't be surprised if the ministry would convict a frog for being a Death Eater. He paid for his ride and sat in solitude. No one wanted to talk to anyone anymore. They were all afraid of spies and everything. Afraid a traitor might find out where they live. Afraid for the lives of their loved ones. If the ministry would have listened years ago….Nothing would be quite this bad. Harry looked down at the floor trying to avoid the suspicious glares of the surrounding passengers. The bus stopped and he was at Hogsmead. There were only a few brave souls walking the streets, trying to find the absolute essentials before returning to their shelters. Finding those essentials is no easy task. Harry found an old fashioned grocery store down the street.

Things are worse than I thought they would be. People can't live for long without their jobs. They're no safer at home than out here. I just need to buy a few essentials before I figure out what to do. I see everyone beat me to the milk and water. Harry grabbed a handful of Ramen noodles and put them in his empty basket. I can easily get the water turned back on. They probably just shut it off so it wouldn't freeze. Harry began absentmindedly putting items into his basket. Tuna, doughnuts, corn, anything that wasn't cleaned out. Harry went up to the front and paid for his goods. There were small packets of Floo Powder at the counter. Harry bought a couple. If I can get back quicker that would be good. I don't like the way things are going around here.

Harry walked briskly to an empty fire place at the side of the store, and made his escape. Not quite the Floo expert, Harry fell to his destination. Or what should have been his destination….It looked somewhat like an airport or something. People were walking around in every direction, seemingly as confused as he was. Harry heard one of the uniformed men, "Get in line, that's right people. Over here." Harry got in the back of a line near him. Once he got to the counter he saw an old lady. She handed him a Floo packet, "Sorry for the inconvenience, but due to the state of things the Floo Network will no longer be running except under special circumstances. Have a nice day." Not wanting the crowd to get angry with him, Harry left the building.

That's just great, it really is. How am I supposed to get anywhere now? Harry really had no idea where he was, so he started walking. He was in a type of old run down town. The building he left appeared to be a burned down diner. He supposed it was so the Muggles wouldn't wander in. The constant presence of the fog was really starting to drain his spirit. Harry could hear some discreet voices. He did not want to know what they were up to this time. He just wanted to go home. The voices stopped….Harry ran to the back of an alley. Setting himself up for one of the most obvious traps. He couldn't think straight anymore. The fog must be effecting him.

Harry started to sit down when he heard a voice. Who could this stranger be? I don't recognize their voice. How did they find me in this alley? There was far too much fog. Although it seems to have cleared up now….Upon setting up Harry discovered that he was not in an alley at all. He was in a strange old building made of stone. It had a musty wood smell to it, as if someone had thrown in a block of wood that had been out in the dew for too long. Harry realized he must have passed out. Getting ready to escape Harry thought grimly that it wasn't exactly the first time he had ever passed out. Heading to the door…almost there now….Thump, a large gnarled hand fell upon Harry's shoulder.

Unsure of what to do, Harry swiveled around to face his mysterious opponent. "I do not wish to harm you my dear boy" said the old raspy voice. He sounded almost as if he had went a few too many days without a cough drop. Harry reached for his wand uncertain of this man. Why would he take me here? "I understand if you are wary. After all who knows who is friend or foe?" Harry glanced at the man, "Why should I trust you? Why have you taken me here?" The stranger then looked straight at Harry displaying a twisted smile, "Because dear boy, I am the answer to what you need. As for why I brought you here, it was quite necessary I assure you. You would have been eaten alive. A pack of wolves accompanied you in that alleyway."

Harry had no clue how the man would even know if there was a giant antelope in front of him. His eyes were somewhat eerie to look upon. There was no color, only white. As if there was a swirly white milk mixture that swam through his eyes. The white was always moving like the added milk or crème to a cup of coffee. "Have a seat, I'm sure you can stay a while. After all, I don't think anyone would really want Harry Potter to be wandering the streets at night. A sad fate indeed to be eaten alive don't you say?" Harry knew he was right, it would be stupid to go venturing off at a time like this. But still he was uneasy about this new stranger. This man he has yet to hear his name. "Excuse me sir, but who are you?" The man walked over to a wood stove and started moving around pots and pans. "Aye, that is a good question. My name is of no importance, but I sense not knowing it has made you uneasy. I am Dante LeBurn."

He found a kettle and filled it with water from an old hand pump. "You have much to learn my dear boy. So little time. If only I could have caught you sooner…" Harry really had no idea what was going on. In fact he wasn't even sure anything was going on at all. Not liking the silence Harry thought of something. "What happened to your eyes? How could you know about the wolves…" "My eyes? Oh yes, they are rather peculiar aren't they?" Thud. A noise from the front. Thud, Thud. The door? "Listen to me. Things are a little mixed up right now. Don't trust in everything you know. Be careful who you trust, and trust someone you wouldn't. Out the back boy. Be quick about it! You'll find your way easy enough."

Harry ran out not wanting to meet the person at the other door. Sure enough he knew exactly where he was. He wasn't even far from his house. He went the rest of the way and entered his home once again. His home? Yes, it would suffice. Tired from the events he slumped down on the couch. Only later to realize that he lost his groceries somewhere along the line. This is just great. Harry decided that for the moment he didn't care about anything. He just closed his eyes to rest a little. Slowly his breathing became increasingly deeper, falling into the land of nod.

...

Everything is so dark. "Lumos." Harry's wand lit up showing a narrow hallway. It was a dull sort of place. The hallway just seemed to go on forever. Some candles were hung on the walls giving the place a dim light. Just a little further…I know something must be here….The light started to grow stronger with every step. Harry knew he was about to get somewhere.