Disclaimer: I love Harry Potter and I love JK Rowling's work so I must give her her credit in this. The wonderful world of Harry Potter and it's themes and characters belong completely to her, not me. Anything original is mine.
a/n: Though the time between books five and six is short in canon, this story takes place after five but before six. So there are spoilers to both books in this story and the timeline is off a bit. Please, read and review because it boosts my spirits!
Some people just can't dieā¦.
The heavy, dreary rain spattered against the window, mixing with the dusty remains of the summer day and streaking the once cloudy panes with a mucky residue. It was a good portrayal of the insides of the wizard staring out the window, mixed and murky.
He felt more aware of the unseen evil out in the world after the past horrific year and it sent a cold shudder down his back to his very toes. There were some nightmares he'd never be able to shake from his memory but the events that had transpired most recently took his breath away. Those closest to him skirted the issue; he knew they wanted to know but every time he was alone in a room with one of them, he'd find a reason to leave and find a quiet corner to be with his thoughts. Twelve years of his life were completely void of friends and now that he had genuine ones that cared for him, he couldn't trust them with his hidden deep, dark secrets.
Everyday he hoped that that would change and everyday he was disappointed.
The only person that truly seemed to not care was Ginny. She he didn't mind being around. And if she did care, she was very good about being nonchalant in his presence. If he happened upon her in his quest to get away from another, he'd lift a hand casually in her direction and she'd return her gaze to whatever she was doing.
"Gri-Grimmauld Place," choked the rain-soaked figure. Speaking felt foreign in the unused mouth and the words sounded even stranger to the ear. It took every ounce of thought, though, to make sure the apparition took and body parts wouldn't be splinched all over; so, alien or not, it needed to be said.
With a thud, all body parts landed, thankfully in the correct order, in a puddle in the middle of the town square. Cobblestone raked against hollowed cheek and blood began to trickle into the standing water mixing with heavy raindrops. A wrist was broken, that much was certain, and possibly a leg, but being so miserable never felt so wonderful.
That was until the world went black.
The wizard at the window couldn't believe his eyes. A figure, or rather a lump, had appeared in the middle of the square from nowhere. Of course, his wizarding mind knew better but still, he wasn't expecting to see a wizard apparate in the middle of the town, in the middle of the day.
"Ginny!" He exclaimed, beckoning the young witch to his side. He pointed to the heap of robes and explained what had happened when she scurried to the window.
"Stay here," she ordered, strength beyond her years sustaining her words. She dashed from the room and down the stairs to the kitchen where her parents were. Bursting into the room, shock momentarily took hold of her as she locked eyes with Professor Dumbledore. He looked at her and smiled sweetly. "Mum, Dad, someone just apparated into the square but they're not moving! I think they've passed out or something!"
The three adults leapt to their feet and ran out of the house and into the commons to the figure, Ginny close on their heels.
"Oh, Arthur! It can't be!" Molly exclaimed, wiping dark, matted hair away from the lean face next to the ground.
"Quickly! We must get inside before we are noticed," Arthur prompted, casting a quick levitation charm on the figure and giving Ginny a brief squeeze on the shoulder. He glanced around to the surrounding houses and wondered what exactly was going on, wondered who saw what had happened, and wondered if anyone was watching them as they hurried back to the hidden manor. That's all that mattered at that point, though. Once there, they could sort things out.
The little hairs on the back of Professor Dumbledore's neck began to stand on end; he could feel the pair of eyes on him from the dusty windows on the second floor. The rain was coming down harder now and he had to squint against it to look up at the younger wizard glaring down at him from his lofty perch. All Dumbledore could focus on were the piercing grey eyes staring down at him. It was not going to be an easy night.
The aged professor knew there would be a fiery argument to heat the walls in Number 12 that evening.
Shaking the rain from his dripping robes, he completed a hot air charm on his and the others' robes, turning their garments instantly dry and warm. He watched the Weasley's as they charmed the unconscious body up the stairs, past the landing, stopping briefly at the waiting form that had been standing at the window. He placed a hand gently on the cataleptic body's arm, not believing his eyes; finally, his anger growing with each passing moment, he let the Weasley's continue on to a bedroom to tend to his fallen friend.
Vehemently, he turned towards the steps to Dumbledore and threw a finger in the old Professor's face. "Why didn't you tell me!" he roared, anger taking over reasonably thought.
Dumbledore breathed slowly through his nose and said quietly, "And what would you have done, if you had known?"
Working his bottom jaw, he was unfortunately aware of the young children now within earshot of the argument, otherwise, he would have told the wizened wizard off. "I told you not to trust her!"
The sides of Dumbledore's mouth twitched and he simply stated, "Your thoughts were dually noted time and again when the Order was being formed. Both times, I might add. But, as I have done in the past, I chose to go with my instinct on this one."
"Your instinct will prove fatal to you one day, old man," Sirius growled. He felt like a hot poker had been stabbed into his heart by the only man he'd ever looked up to and the woman, unconscious in the next room, was the fire Dumbledore pulled the poker from.
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a/n: thanks for reading the first chapter of my story! I'd like to thank my beta, becca, for all the energy she put into this for me; without her, this story wouldn't be.
