35

Term ends…

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Harry entered the empty train cabin with Neville before the two put their trunks under the seat and settled in. He looked at the crowd of students that was boarding the train. None of them had the gleeful looks on their face which was usually there when they were going home after the term's end. He wasn't surprised, though. After what had happened everyone was shocked and scared. With three students dead and the fact that Dumbledore had announced of Voldemort's return, it had everyone in quite a mental turmoil.

Hedwig flew into the cabin through the open window and sat beside Harry, looking at him with her big round eyes. He smiled before running his hand through her feathers.

"I thought you said she didn't like train rides," Neville said.

"She doesn't," Harry responded, "but because I am not going to my relatives' this summer she is coming with me to the new place. I don't want her to be there before me as that will be rude."

"If you are not going to your relatives then where are you going?" asked Neville.

Harry smiled as he looked out the window when he saw a newspaper seller on the platform. He looked at the front page of the paper which had pictures of him and Dumbledore under the big, bold headline.

'You-know-who is back – Dumbledore' the headline read. Harry couldn't read what was written underneath but he knew that the article also spoke about him considering his picture was also there. It wasn't the Daily Prophet so he felt a bit relieved knowing that it wasn't an article written by Skeeter. However, after Dumbledore announced the return of Voldemort following the memorial service conducted for Fleur, Cedric and Viktor at Hogwarts a week ago Harry knew there would be complications and the worst one would be that people wouldn't believe the old wizard.

"Harry?" He came out of his train of thoughts when Neville called his name.

"Oh, sorry," Harry said. "Daphne has invited me to spend the summer at her place."

"That's great," Neville said smiling. "I wish I could spend time with you all. My grandma is rather very protective of me. She doesn't want me to go anywhere on my own unless it's Hogwarts."

"It's just her way of showing her love for you," Harry said. He knew why Augusta was being so protective of Neville. After what happened to his parents she really wanted to keep Neville safe and Harry didn't blame her. "I'll come visit you if I can. Hopefully Daphne and Tracey can come as well."

Neville's face lit up and he smiled wide. Harry could tell how lonely he got during the summer. While Harry's was also the same case, at least his mind was preoccupied with all the chores that he had to do while he was living at his relatives. Hopefully this time his summer was going to be a bit better although he was nervous about meeting Daphne's parents.

The train gave its departing whistle a few minutes later as it started to leave the Hogsmead station. Harry removed his shoes and lay completely on his seat.

"You never said what Dumbledore told you," Neville said a few minutes later. "Is he going to do something about…about you-know-who?"

Harry looked at the ceiling of their cabin as his mind went back to when Dumbledore had called him in his office following the memorial services.

(A few days ago…)

Harry walked down the corridors. The Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students had left a day before and with everything that had happened the castle was rather quiet.

Five days ago the memorial service was conducted for Fleur, Cedric and Viktor. The students from the three schools had gathered outside Hogwarts to pay their respects to the three fallen champions of the Tri Wizard Tournament. Surprisingly, unlike most times, it was a clear, cloudless day with the sun shining brightly in the sky.

As the memorial service neared its end Dumbledore had stood up and announced that Voldemort had returned and that the dark wizard was the reason why Fleur, Cedric and Viktor were dead. His words had shocked everyone. Even Maxime and Karkaroff looked at him with wide open eyes wondering what the old wizard was saying.

As expected, the following day's newspapers had his words printed in big, bold letters. However, none of the articles related to the matter spoke of whether they believed him. They all seemed to say that Dumbledore had finally gone senile due to his old age, and more so after three students had died in a tournament which his own school had hosted. Harry had almost laughed in disbelief at that last part.

As he arrived outside the head office he found the doors closed so Harry gave it a few knocks before the doors opened on their own. He peeked inside and saw Dumbledore sitting by his table in deep thought when he saw Harry and slowly stood up.

"Ah, Harry. Come in," Dumbledore said. Harry slowly walked in as the doors closed behind him.

He walked up to the table before taking a seat in the empty chair and then looked at Dumbledore. The old wizard looked tired. His long hair and beard looked slightly disheveled which was saying something considering how shiny and silky they looked all the time. Not today, though, Harry thought as he wondered what it was that Dumbledore wanted to talk to him about. It had to be related to what happened in the graveyard on the day of the third challenge. However, Harry had told him everything.

"You wanted to see me, professor?" he said looking at the old wizard.

"Yes, Harry," Dumbledore said in a tired tone. He then paused for a minute before continuing. "I just wanted to know if you were feeling alright."

Harry looked at him a little confused. "I…am," he said.

"Are you feeling anything out of the ordinary?" Dumbledore asked.

"I don't think so, no," he said. "Why are you asking me that?"

Dumbledore sighed. "I have been giving it some thought – about your nightmare that you said you were having since the end of last year," he said. "You said that you found yourself in the same graveyard that you saw in those nightmares?" Harry nodded slowly.

"You think it has something to do with Voldemort, professor?" Harry asked.

"I do," Dumbledore said. "He either made you see it on purpose or you did so without his knowledge."

"I…don't follow what you're trying to say, professor," Harry said sounding confused. "How can Voldemort make me see the place? Especially in my dreams?"

"The only reason I can think of is that the two of you share some sort of a mental connection," Dumbledore said.

Harry looked shocked. "Y…You mean he can show me whatever he wants?" he asked.

"I don't know for sure but it would seem that way," Dumbledore said before he leaned forward and looked at Harry more seriously. "I know how you are feeling right now but considering that you are the prophesized child who will face Voldemort one day, it puts some sort of relation between you and him, a relation that neither you nor Voldemort has with anyone else."

Harry thought about what Dumbledore had just said. It was shocking but it seemed to be a possibility. After all, he had seen the graveyard every night for more than a year before even visiting that place. However, he didn't feel comfortable about the possible fact that Voldemort could make him see things. "If…If he can make me see things," Harry began, "then does that mean he can read my thoughts and see my memories too?"

"I don't know but it might be possible," Dumbledore said. "This is why I called you here today. I have been thinking about it since you told me about your nightmare. Starting next term Severus will teach you the art of occlumency. I suppose you know what that is?"

Harry nodded. However, he didn't know if he felt comfortable with Snape teaching him the mental art. "Can't it be anyone else, professor?" he asked.

Dumbledore smiled slightly. "I know you don't feel comfortable around him but Severus is the best occlument that I know of," he said. "I talked to him about it and he has agreed to teach you."

'Of course he has,' Harry thought. 'Why would he let go of an opportunity where he can see inside my head?' He knew how occlumency worked and he wasn't new to the experience. He had Daphne show him what it was when he had asked her to teach him the art as a form of payment for teaching her the patronus spell. Harry had to admit that organizing one's thoughts and memories was a difficult thing to do as he had experienced how easy it was for someone to penetrate through his consciousness without any effort. That's how Daphne had put it which made him wonder whether she had said so just to mess with him. However, it had given Harry an experience of what it felt like when someone penetrated one's thoughts and memories and he didn't want to let that happen again.

Luckily he was spending the summer holidays at the Greengrasses' and Daphne had told him that it was enough time for him to learn the basics of occlumency following which he would at least be able to know if someone was trying to get into his head.

"Will that be enough though?" he asked. "I mean, we are talking about Voldemort. He is very powerful. If he tries to enter my head again, will I be able to stop him even with my occlumency skills?"

"No one is perfect, Harry," Dumbledore said. "When forced enough, one can break through the occlumency shield of another person. However, that doesn't mean that the other person is weak. Occlumency isn't just about putting a barrier around your memories to protect them. It is about organizing everything that you think, feel or have experienced. If someone is trying to enter your thoughts, it is easier to distract them than trying to stop them head-on using your mental shields."

"I don't understand," Harry said.

"You will, once your lessons start with Severus," Dumbledore said. "Until then, if you experience anything similar, like your nightmare, I want you to tell me about it as quickly as possible. Voldemort still has to gather an army before he makes a public appearance but that doesn't mean that he will stop trying to get to you in the meantime."

"No one seems to believe it though," Harry said, "that he is back."

Dumbledore sighed knowing how true that was. However, he knew that would happen. "People often ignore or don't believe in things that they are scared of," he said slowly. "Those who are at powerful positions will try to make you and me look like liars because they are incapable of facing Voldemort and the calamity that he will bring along. As for the rest, they are scared of him because they were either there when Voldemort first came to power or they fear him after learning how evil he can be. Over a decade ago, when word spread of his defeat everyone felt like they had been given a new chance at life, one where they no longer had to live in fear. It is understandable that they wouldn't want to believe that he has returned simply because they are scared to live a life of fear again. I knew this would happen which is why I am worried that when Voldemort shows up, which he will along with his followers and an army, the people will not be ready and those who will, they will be so far less in number that he will simply crush them without any effort and that will be a scary thing to happen. Either way, Voldemort will come into power again and there is nothing we can do about it. The only way to stop him is to go after him directly because going through his army would be an impossible task for a small number of people."

(Present time…back on Hogwarts express…)

The train came to a stop at platform 9¾. Harry got off with Hedwig sitting on his shoulder. He saw people giving him the looks but he ignored them as he turned around and looked at Neville.

He hugged his friend, promising to visit him before he headed for the barrier, coming out on the muggle side of the station. Harry looked around and spotted his large uncle sitting at the bench looking annoyed as always. Using the cover of the crowd Harry walked past the man without being noticed before he came out of the station and into the parking area. He then spotted the narrow alley between the two buildings where Daphne had asked him to meet her.

Harry knew that her parents would also be there so he was a little nervous. However, he didn't want to go back to his relatives and live a hellish, abused summer, especially after what had happened this term. Images of Fleur, Cedric and Krum lying dead in that graveyard still haunted him. He took in a long breath to calm his nerves as much as he could before he headed towards the alley. As he neared it he saw Daphne coming out of it. She saw him and waved. Harry waved back before the two hugged.

"You came," she said.

"I promised, didn't I?" Harry said.

"Come," Daphne said pulling his hand lightly and taking him towards the alley where he saw Astoria and her parents waiting for him.

"You must be Harry," Ann said as she hugged him. "It is nice to finally meet you. My name is Annabelle but you can call me Ann. I'm Daphne and Astoria's mother."

"Nice to meet you, Ann," Harry said before he looked at Daphne's father who was looking at him with an expressionless face.

"Dad?" Daphne said. His father simply shook Harry's hand but with a rather tight grip which didn't go unnoticed by everyone except for Astoria.

"I'm Matthias Greengrass," Matt said.

"Don't scare him, love," Anne said coming beside him as she looked from her husband to Harry with an apologetic smile.

"As a father it is my duty to intimidate my daughter's boyfriend," Matt said as he kept glaring at Harry for about half a minute before breaking into a smile. "I'm sorry, Harry," he said lightening his grip on Harry's hand. "It is nice to meet you."

Harry sighed in relief before smiling as he looked from Matt to Daphne who just rolled her eyes over her father's antics. "Let's go, shall we?" she said looking at her parents.

Matt nodded before he activated the portkey.

A few seconds later Harry fell hard on the marbled floor. However, he quickly pushed himself up before he could embarrass himself in front of Daphne's parents. He then looked around the place where he was standing. It was a large hall with a really tall ceiling, almost as high as most classes had at Hogwarts.

"You need to learn how to travel properly through a portkey or else you'll end up getting injured one day," Daphne said as she came by his side.

"Well, it's not that I have had enough experiences with magical transportations," he responded dryly but with a hint of sarcasm when a familiar voice surprised him.

"Still haven't learned how to use a portkey, pup?"

Harry looked shock seeing Sirius there. His godfather was standing there with his arms wide open as Harry ran and hugged him tightly.

"Sirius!" he exclaimed happily as well as in shock. "What are you doing here?" Harry asked as he looked at his godfather.

Sirius smiled.

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