Chapter 4: Back Home For One Last Time
Here's another one for you! Hope you enjoy!
As Harry entered the Great Hall, people stopped talking and turned around to see him. Yes, rumors had circulated about how he battled Death Eaters and saved Dumbledore. The Slytherins were all gathered together, muttering and shooting Harry glares.
Crabbe and Goyle looked very alone, without the pale haired boy between them and giving them orders. They seemed quite clueless.
Ron and Hermione were sitting at the far end of the Gryffindor Table, talking quietly talking among themselves. When they saw Harry, Hermione's face lit up and Ron grinned.
Harry smiled to himself and made his way over to them. Sitting across them, he smirked. "Glad to see you two."
Hermione walked around the side of the table and threw herself into his arms. "HARRY!"
Ron grinned and patted Hermione. "Let the man breathe, Mione."
Hermione sat next to Harry. "Did you get it?", she asked in a hushed voice.
Harry's face fell. He shook his head. "Somebody already got it, and left a fake, taunting Voldemort."
Hermione looked shocked, whereas Ron seemed confused. "Somebody else? But you said nobody else knew?"
Harry frowned. "That's what Dumbledore thought."
"But how do we know that it's actually destroyed?", Hermione asked.
Harry shook his head. "We don't."
Silence fell for a moment, and then Ron changed the topic. "They're saying you saved Dumbledore, mate.", Ron said casually, trying to look unconcerned.
Harry laughed. "Would you believe it if I said it was an accident?"
Hermione and Ron reared back, shocked. "You actually saved Dumbledore?!", Ron asked a little too loudly.
The nearby 3rd Year Gryffindors turned around quickly, looking eager for more gossip.
"Keep it down, will you!", Harry hissed. "Yes, I suggested he cut off his own arm!"
Hermione gasped. "So that's why his hand healed.", she whispered. "He got a new arm."
Harry frowned. "Healed? His hand is silver!"
Ron shook his head. "No, it looked normal, like it used to be."
Hermione brightened. "Must be a glamour!"
Harry didn't know Dumbledore could do that. But he supposed his knowledge of magic was pretty dodgy at the best.
Sadness filled him as he remembered Cho and Colin. Hermione must have seen his face crumple as she put her hand and top of his own.
"They died protecting others, Harry.", Hermione said gently. "It's not your fault."
"Yeah, mate", Ron jumped in. "Cho and Colin wouldn't have blamed you."
Harry knew they were true, but couldn't accept it. He sat there, wallowing in his own misery. Just then, Ginny slipped in beside him, and slipped a hand around him. Her comforting presence warmed Harry.
She didn't say anything, just offering him support. Harry gratefully took it, leaning against her.
Ron and Hermione left silently, sensing a private moment. The couple just sat there, until the whole Great Hall was empty.
Things went back to normal very quickly. The Vanishing Cabinet in the Room of Hidden Things was utterly destroyed by a furious Dumbledore when Harry took him there. Exams went on as usual, to Hermione's delight and the other's dismay.
Harry never did find out what happened to Draco. He asked Dumbledore many times, but his aged mentor's lips remained strictly closed.
At Harry's request, the teachers began to teach him Battle Magic, something Dumbledore had refrained from teaching Harry before.
McGonagall taught Harry how to use Transfiguration in Duels. Flitwick, an accomplished duelist, taught more about how to duel, and even more spells.
Harry returned to his Dorm exhausted every night and fell asleep almost instantly.
This was good, as it kept his mind off things.
Cho's family had come to collect the body. Colin's family were Muggles, so his body was taken by Dumbledore to tell them the news.
Harry felt broken when he saw Dennis Creevey with puffed up red eyes and sunken cheeks. He felt even worse when Dennis assured him it wasn't his fault.
Hogwarts was emptier than it had ever been. Once news of Death Eaters inside Hogwarts itself had broken out, parents had arrived en masse to take their children home.
Soon, the summer arrived. The Hogwarts Express was opened up, and the students packed up the last of their possessions. The Leaving Feast the day before had been a subdued affair.
Dumbledore had surprised everyone by not awarding the House Cup to any of the Houses. "Unity is what will see us through this," he had said, when his announcement was met with protests and outrage.
Harry threw his things into his trunk and closed it with a bang, his mind on the conversation the day before.
"Harry," Dumbledore said grimly. "When you turn of age, your protection will fail. Return to the Dursleys for once last time, and the day before your birthday, I shall come to collect you. Arrangements have also been made for your family."
Harry had nodded, agreeing to the plan. Now, however, the weeks alone in Surrey stretched out in front of him.
"Harry?" Ron called. "Harry, what are you waiting for?"
Harry shook himself out of his daze and smiled weakly. "Nothing, Ron.", he said, following him out of the dormitory.
Hermione was waiting outside, looking impatient. "There you are! What took you two?", she asked.
"Harry was having some me time," Ron said, grinning.
Hermione turned towards Harry, looking concerned. "Are you alright, Harry?"
Harry nodded, smiling. "Yeah, Mione. I'm fine. Where's Ginny?", he asked, looking around.
"She went down with Luna," Hermione answered.
Harry nodded again, and the three headed down.
Taking one last look at the Entrance Hall, Harry walked out of the castle and back to the Dursleys.
The Train back was surprisingly uneventful without the annual Draco trying to make Harry angry trip.
"He's underage, so he's probably in Witness Protection," Hermione had said, when Harry had wondered about Draco. "You told Dumbledore about how he hesitated and probably wouldn't have done it, so…"
Harry had thought it was for the best. Ron, on the other hand, had spent almost half an hour ranting about Snakes slithering out of Justice.
"I mean, he almost got Dumbledore and who knows how many students killed!", Ron had ranted, until another nearby Prefect had approached them and firmly reprimanded Ron for setting a bad example.
Harry smiled at the memory, comfortably sitting back as Ginny leaned on him. He knew this was nothing but the calm before the storm, but couldn't help but enjoy it. Still, there was work to do. Preparations to be made. Dumbledore was sure that, one way or the other, after his birthday, Voldemort would make his move.
Harry took out his Occlumency Book that Dumbledore had lent him and started to read from where he had left off last night.
The most basic form of Occlumency, involves clearing one's mind — making it "blank and empty" — in order to prevent a Legilimens from perceiving one's emotions and thoughts.
More advanced Occlumency involves suppressing only the thoughts, emotions, and memories that would contradict whatever it is an Occlumens wishes a Legilimens to believe, producing a "faux" layer of mentality that can totally throw off the perspective of one who uses Legilimency into thinking that the said layer being the legitimate one whilst its bona fide counterpart lies deeper within; hence, it is not obvious that Occlumency is being used even if the person is lying.
It requires a great deal of willpower, as with resisting the Imperius Curse, as well as a high degree of mental and emotional discipline. It is also one method of resisting the influence of Veritaserum.
Harry looked up in annoyance as the train slowed and finally stopped. Without Snape as his teacher, he found Occlumency to be calming and enlightening, especially the meditation. So far, he had not managed to give Dumbledore even a little it of trouble, but could sense the Legilimency attack.
No matter. There would be lot of time in Dudley's second bedroom.
Harry hugged his friends and kissed Ginny goodbye. Unlike the previous years, Ginny was the one he would miss the most. Not Hermione, not Ron. Ginny.
Just thinking about her made him blush.
Mrs. and Mr. Weasley were waiting near the barrier. "Oh Harry", Mrs. Weasley, exclaimed, hugging Harry.
"You've grown so thin!", she admonished, looking stern. "Have you been eating properly, Harry?"
Harry grinned. It was nice to be mothered, even if it was from his girlfriend's mother.
After some goodbyes, he exited the barrier and found Uncle Vernon, looking furious at having to pick up Harry.
"Hey Uncle!", Harry greeted cheerfully.
Uncle Vernon reddened. "Your godfather is dead, boy! He can't protect you now!"
Harry smirked. "No, but my werewolf uncle will."
Uncle Vernon paled dramatically. He looked around, as if expecting to see a werewolf.
"Don't worry, Uncle," Harry said cheerfully. "You only have to be afraid if I don't send him letters every other day!"
Uncle Vernon paled even more. He shook for a moment, and then turned around and walked away without speaking. Only after taking Harry's trunk from him.
'Oh Yes," Harry grinned. 'This summer may not be that bad."
And Done! Credit to wiki/Occlumency for that part in the book. Hope this chapter met up to your expectations. Some real action in the next chapter, so stay tuned for that. As for the werewolf uncle part, Harry and Remus got closer after The Astronomy Tower Incident.
See ya!