"Move it freak!" Dudley crowed as Harry let go of Ginny and walked towards him. "You can see your freak girlfriend again next year!"
Anger flared up inside Harry. Not for himself of course, no it never did. No, it was anger for Ginny being insulted that raged like a burning, consuming fire and made his blood boil. Dudley had no right to insult anyone, the whale that he was, and Harry had heard enough insults for a lifetime about the magical people in his life. So as he passed Dudley, he activated his new Sharingan and glared right into his eyes.
"Say what you want about me, but leave everyone else out of it." Harry spat, loud enough for Vernon and Petunia to hear.
"And the same to you two as well. Now let's go."
With that, Fred walked over and deposited Harry's trunk into the boot of the car. George wasn't far behind, poking his wand into Dudley's throat.
"Insult our sister again…" George warned, and Fred finished.
"... and you'll regret it Dursley."
"Fred, George. Don't waste your wands." Harry reminded them.
The problem resolved, Harry got in the car and waved at the Weasleys as Vernon drove away, grumbling. He took the time to smile at Ginny to set her fears to rest before he was gone.
The journey itself was the same as last year and when they got to the house in the late evening, Vernon made to shove Harry's trunk under the stairs again. He only got as far as inside the front door before Harry grabbed his fat wrist in a vice grip of steel that shouldn't have been possible with his skinny and weakened state. But it still occurred.
"Get off me, freak!"
Vernon took a swing. But it was useless. Harry saw it coming a mile away, saw the foreshadow image and dodged with ease, nailing the walrus of a Muggle in the face with a punch that split the skin of Vernon's face.
Vernon fell to the ground, and Harry stared down at him apathetically.
"Try anything you like, but my eyes see through it all."
Petunia gasped, and Dudley stood there, shell-shocked. The Sharingan glowed red from behind his glasses, exuding an aura that let on clearly that he was going to be final on this.
"Things will go on as normal here, but I will have the freedom to study and interact with my world as I see fit." Harry declared.
Upon seeing the abject horror on Petunia's face, he added, "I'll keep my world hidden and it won't ever be associated with you. Any magic I perform will never be seen by anyone who doesn't already know about what I am, and I won't use magic on any of you… well, unless it's self-defence."
Vernon got to his feet very unsteadily.
"You're not allowed to use that freakishness outside of that school of yours."
"That's the law, true. It's called the Statute for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Magic." Harry admitted with a cold glare. "The operative words being reasonable restriction. There are exceptions to every law."
Petunia seemed to recognise the law he mentioned. But she said nothing.
"And what is reasonable?" Vernon demanded. Harry sent his anger through his eyes and it projected in an aura of wrath.
"If you attack me again, I'll crush you, that all."
With that done, Harry grabbed his trunk and Hedwig's cage and took them upstairs to his small room. The effort caused the residual pain to flare a little, but it was still tolerable for him. Taking out his wand, Harry aimed it at the door.
"Colloportus."
The door slammed and locked beyond manual opening. Harry didn't bother to wait for the Ministry warning letter, and instead opened the window and began gathering the various items of Dudley's, which was almost everything in the room. With them all in a pile on the floor, Harry waved his wand over them and muttered, "Evanesco."
The items all vanished into thin air. Next, Harry pointed his wand at the desk that had holes in it and was chipped in several places.
"Reparo."
The desk was fixed to an acceptable degree. Harry was about to do something about the peeling wallpaper when an owl swooped in through the window and dropped a letter on the desk.
Expecting a Ministry reprimand, Harry was pleasantly surprised to find it was from Hogwarts.
Dear Mr Potter,
All students entering their Third Year at Hogwarts are required to select two or more elective subjects to study. The list of open electives is attached, your response is expected two weeks before term begins in September.
Minerva McGonagall
Deputy Headmistress
Harry put the letter down on his desk and began to read the electives form. There was a second form too.
Please circle two or more of the presented electives list after careful consideration. This form is to be returned by October 15th.
Elective options:
Ancient Runes
Arithmancy
Care of Magical Creatures
Divination
Muggle Studies
"I have no idea what any of these are." Harry mused, setting the form on his desk. "I guess I'll ask someone who does in the morning."
Casting a quick Reparo on the wallpaper, Harry slipped his wand beneath the pillow and crashed for the night.
"I told you before when we fought against each other; we each live inside our own fantasies. I asked you to think about it that way, and how one's reality might be an illusion. However, my truth is real." He heard one he knew as his elder brother declare even as he ran on in front of him.
Harry tossed in his bed, restlessly asleep as the dead man running faded away and a new vision replaced it.
"Foolish little brother. Run. Keep living in an unsightly manner such as this… clinging to life… without honour…" The same man sneered very much like Snape, the 3 bladed windmill pattern in his eye a horror show all its own without its powers being exercised at all.
His own power surged in his sleep.
"There's no need to show our guts to each other. Our next meeting will likely be on the battlefield, Hashirama Senju. For I… am Madara Uchiha!"
The declaration was punctuated by the awakening of his Sharingan.
The flashes of memories not his own continued, tormenting Harry's restless mind.
"Meaningless? Then why did Izuna die?" Harry demanded from the man in red armour that was poisoning him with conjured pollen. "It's because… you bastards killed him!"
"Wake up to reality! Nothing ever goes as planned in this world. The longer you live, the more you realise that in this reality only pain, suffering and futility exist."
"It might not be a bad idea for me to take your eyes, at least until I get my Rinnegan back."
"I no longer live inside an illusion, and I can see through your Genjutsu!" Harry yelled angrily in a voice not his own.
"These eyes… ARE YOUR EYES!"
Shooting bolt upright, Harry found himself in a cold sweat as he himself yelled the words he heard in Sasuke's own voice. His wand was in his hand, gripped tight. His t-shirt was sweat drenched and clinging to him. The Dursleys seemed to still be asleep, despite his abrupt wake-up. He hoped they would stay that way.
Getting up from the bed, Harry went to the desk and found the electives form. Time to do something about it.
Going to his trunk, he located some parchment, a quill and some ink. Delivering the supplies to his desk, Harry sat down and ponder who to write to. Percy would be best, as a student who'd just finished his sixth year he'd know the ins and outs of the O.W.L options.
The recipient decided, Harry put the quill to parchment.
Percy,
Sorry to bother you but as you know I have to choose my electives before next year begins, but I find myself completely without knowledge of any of the subjects provided. If possible, could you please explain each option and what doors they would open up for me in a future career. Your knowledge as an O.W.L graduate would be invaluable.
Many thanks,
Harry Potter
That would do it, Harry reasoned with approval. Now while he was on the subject of correspondence, he had a few others to write to. Grabbing a fresh roll of parchment he got started on the next. It took him 10 minutes to get down and he checked it over thoroughly.
Mr and Mrs Weasley,
I would like to thank you both for accommodating me the previous summer, I wish it were not such an imposition as it was. Your home is a wonderful place and I wish you and your family all the happiness in the world because there are no people more caring and compassionate as you that I have ever met.
I must also apologize. In my two years at Hogwarts, both Ron and Ginny have been endangered because of me. I only hope you can forgive me for my actions.
Thank you for everything,
Harry Potter
Now Ron and Ginny themselves. Harry decided to write the letter to Ginny first for he had a lot to say. It took a while.
Harry studied the letter. It was good, but felt like there was a bit more he couldn't quite put into words. He glanced around and something clicked. That was it!
Grabbing his quill, he quickly added a postscript. There, good to go.
Now for Ron. Harry sighed, putting his head in his hands, making the point to deactivate the Sharingan that had powered up in his restless sleep. 'Dear Lord, this will suck.'
Resigned, Harry got to it.
Ron,
Everything is fine here, I've got the Muggles off my back, how I won't say but they won't bother me as much anymore if they have brains. Hope you enjoy your summer.
So bored,
Harry
Ron out the way, Harry moved on to Hermione's letter. It was short, and said basically the same as the one he addressed to Ron. All the letters written, Harry tucked them all into envelopes and named them respectively and with care, making sure not to mix them up. Then he gave Hedwig an owl treat and the letters, releasing her into the still dark morning sky to deliver them.
Scanning his room again, Harry noticed the complete lack of a Ministry reprimand. Apparently they hadn't noticed his use of magic outside of school. That was nice. Maybe things were looking up.
It was well known in the Weasley household that one did not simply disturb Ginevra Molly Weasley in the morning. It always ended badly in the past, with consequences such as unexplainable afflictions of the Bat-Bogey Hex. Unexplainable because she hadn't owned a wand before her first year at Hogwarts.
So when she had nightmares her first night home, she wasn't disturbed. Instead, her father came down and comforted her when she woke up, and put her back to bed after placing a Silent Alarm Charm to wake him whenever she had one again. It was a gesture she greatly appreciated, he hadn't made an issue out of it but instead took steps to help her. It was one of the reasons she loved her dad so much, he was practical and calming, and, unlike her mother, didn't blow things out of proportion.
Of course, Ginny didn't go back to sleep. She wandered downstairs and curled up in an armchair, wrapped up in her dressing gown and slippers and waited for the day to begin.
Her mother bustled downstairs at 7 AM and started on making the entire family minus two breakfast after a quick kiss on Ginny's head. Next down was Dad, who checked in on her before locating the chess set to play with her until breakfast.
Breakfast was a lively affair, and only interrupted by two owls that swooped into the kitchen. One was an official looking brown owl, and the other was the unmistakable Hedwig.
Her mother took the post from the owls. Only Hedwig stayed.
"Correspondence from the Daily Prophet, that'll be yours Arthur." Mum passed the letter to Dad who accepted it gratefully.
"Harry sent the rest. One for you Ron." Ron took his letter with a excitable grin. "One for Percy." Percy took his with a raised eyebrow. "A reply from Hermione for Harry. This one's for both of us Arthur. Oh, and the last one's for you Ginny!"
Ginny took the letter addressed to her with a meek nod, ignoring Ron's pointed look, and opened it, setting aside her breakfast for a moment to open it. Inside was a letter, a couple Galleons and a note. She pulled out the letter and read it.
Ginny,
First off, I need to apologize. My ignorance of your situation was unacceptable, I've encountered Voldemort twice and should've recognised what was going on from start. You have no fault in what happened to you, that diary was too powerful for anyone to control and I would have died alongside you but for the unlikeliest intervention ever. You managed to fight off Riddle to the point where no one was killed by the Basilisk, that's more than anyone can claim.
If you can somehow forgive me for my failures, I'd like to be your friend. I guess I sound pretty stupid right now, but I want be there for you. You're a pretty amazing person from what I've seen so far, and I want to get to know you as you, not just Ron's little sister, but as Ginny.
Any ideas what you're up to this summer? Whatever you're up to I hope you enjoy yourself. Mine's not got much interesting going on but that's neither here nor there. I'm hoping to get away from my relatives as soon as I can, so if you know any handy ways around that don't break the law (or those that do and can be used without being caught) it'd be amazing. I really don't fancy my chances on flying with a trunk, owl cage and only an Invisibility Cloak for cover, not that it wouldn't be fun. I'm decent but I'm not that good.
Oh, and you know Lockhart wasn't that good of a teacher? I've still got my notes and work from last year if you want them to catch up on what you were meant to learn this year. They're not excellent but they'll do in pinch.
The money is for a book, the title is on the note I'm attaching. If possible, could you find a way to get it since I can't get to Diagon Alley myself. Hedwig will stick around for a reply if you're so inclined. (She loves having her head scratched too!)
Feeling hopeful and wishing you enjoy your summer,
Harry
P.S. Thanks for keeping my ocular problem a secret, I promise I'll explain it as soon as I can, preferably in person.
Ginny flushed a little whenever the letter held a compliment and was thoroughly confused in her feelings by the end of it. Part of her was happy at his desire to be closer to her, another frustrated at his guilt complex, and another still just confused.
Folding the letter as calmly as she could, Ginny replaced it in the envelope and removed the note with the book title on. 'Only you Harry. Only you could get me mixed up like this.'
The note was written in Harry's hurried and scruffy scrawl that was so unique to him.
Power and Precision: A Total Guide to Magical Control
While she didn't quite understand why Harry would need a book like that, Ginny knew he would have his reasons. It could be done, she knew enough about Owl Postal Service to arrange the purchase and delivery, she'd do it later. What she didn't get was why he had asked her to do it, why not one of her parents?
Just another part of the mystery that was Harry Potter.
Tucking everything back into the envelope, Ginny put it into her dressing gown pocket and continued with her breakfast. Ron's was notable shorter than her's. In fact, Harry seemed to have had the most to say to her out of everyone he had written to. Her parents were both pretty touched by what Harry had sent to them by the looks. Percy had an appreciative look on his face too.
"Why is your letter so long Ginny?" Ron demanded. "And why's Harry writing to you anyway?"
"Hush Ron, Harry has his reasons I'm sure. Besides, he and Ginny shared a powerful experience recently, of course he'd want to keep up with her." Mr Weasley interceded with patriarchal authority.
Ginny gave her dad a thankful smile as she finished her breakfast. She really did love her dad.
Speaking of her dad, he cracked open the Prophet letter and immediately broke into a wide grin that had everyone on the edge of their chairs.
"Well Weasleys, we have officially won the Daily Prophet Grand Prize. Seven hundred Galleons in all!"
That sent her brothers into a joyful uproar, and her parents went into discussion about it. Finishing her food, Ginny excused herself and held out her arm for Harry's snowy owl.
"Hedwig?"
Hedwig hooted positively and flew to Ginny, settling happily on her arm, nipping her ear affectionately. Slipping upstairs, the youngest Weasley got dressed and penned the requested Owl Order to Flourish and Blotts and also a reply to Harry. Said boy's owl made a point to nudge Ginny in the side of the head with her own head as she wrote, affectionate and comedic at the same time.
"You're a lovely companion Hedwig, you know that?"
Hedwig hooted happily, jumping down to Ginny's desk as she put the two letters in envelopes so they could be attached. Per Harry's written tip, she scratched Hedwig's head and the snowy owl made a very happy noise, playfully nipping at her fingers and hopping back onto her arm.
Walking back downstairs with the affectionate owl, Ginny found her father finishing up his own reply at the kitchen table, which was soon attached to Hedwig. The snowy owl immediately flew away after one last affectionate nip, taking to the sky to deliver the three letters to Harry who was miles away, stuck with the Dursleys who, as she understood it, hated his guts.
And Ginny wished, not for the first or last time that Harry was there.
Harry came downstairs to find Vernon dressed up in his Sunday best, and it wasn't even Sunday. That meant one of two things, he had business at home or he was going somewhere. The young wizard glanced at Dudley and Petunia. Petunia was dressed sharply as she always was, but Dudley was fully casual. Vernon was off out then.
Said walrus of a man pulled Harry aside, but with more caution than ever. Looked like his threat held for now. He looked serious, and that only spelled trouble.
"Alright boy, I'll be straight with you. Marge is coming to stay for a week. Now, in light of recent changes, I want you to get this story down pat. You go to St Brutus' School for Incurably Criminal Youths. If Marge asks you anything, you will make up something accordingly. Say what you like but keep your story straight, don't contradict yourself. You will toe the line and keep to the story, and keep that ruddy bird of yours quiet. You will only send it out at night. Do you understand?"
"Fine, but our understanding will remain as it is." Harry consented.
Moving on, Harry snagged himself some toast and bacon as Dudley had his eyes glued to the TV in the kitchen. Vernon left at the same time. His cousin had complained about the long walk from the living room to the fridge so as a homecoming present, Vernon and Petunia had bought him a TV for the kitchen. Their doting and compulsive ridiculousness in pleasing their son made him sick. But he said nothing.
"Don't you have homework to do? Hop to it, you're no good at it so you best as big of a headstart as you can." Petunia commanded harshly.
"It is not wise to judge others based on your own preconceptions and their appearances."
"It is not wise to judge others based on your own preconceptions and their appearances." Harry repeated verbatim from the memory flash, shocking Petunia.
Harry heard himself hiss frustratedly at his clan members. "It's always 'the Clan this' and 'the Clan that'. You all fail to measure your own capacity, and then fail to see the depth of mine. And now you all lay before me, defeated."
"It's always 'freak this' and 'freak that' with you. You fail to measure your own capacity, and fail to see the depth of mine in comparison." Harry spoke bitingly, still repeating almost verbatim but tailoring it to himself. "As a result, you have no idea of what I'm capable of."
"You assume that I am patient, and therefore, you underestimate me.
He glared at his aunt with a hatred he had fostered for 11 years. "You assume I'm patient, that's your mistake."
The visual of his mother's green eyes burning with anger before shifting into the Sharingan unintentionally was clearly scary. So much so, Petunia took a step back away from him.
Harry stepped out into the hallway, closing the door before deactivating his new Sharingan. It seemed to activate out of his control whenever he was angry or feeling intense emotion that would normally result in accidental magic. Well, whenever he got that frustrated, it had always triggered accidental magic in the past, but he usually had a handle on it these days.
Also, these visions were quickly becoming a problem. His recent death and resurrection seemed to be undoing him.
'I eagerly await the day I leave this wretched place.'
Harry made his way upstairs and was pleasantly surprised to see Hedwig had already returned with three replies. Petting her head, he took the letters from the snowy owl and opened the first one. Hedwig flew to her open cage and perched happily inside it.
Harry,
Thanks for your letter. It really made my morning, and you made Percy, Mum and Dad's too by the looks of it. Honestly, when Mum handed out the mail at breakfast I thought you were writing to the entire family (in which case you missed out the twins, Bill and Charlie). Ron gave us all one of his infamous looks, you know the one where he can't figure out something for the life of him? I think he was under the impression he and Hermione were the only one you'd ever write to, which is a bit presumptive of him if you don't mind me saying.
You shouldn't be apologising for things out of your control, but it's really nice of you not to coddle me about how nasty the diary was. I still think it was too reckless for you to fight the Basilisk and Tom alone but I owe you my life because of it, twice over because you gave yours for me on top of saving mine, so I won't complain.
Also, there's nothing to forgive Harry, I'd love to have you as a friend, but you really didn't have to drop compliments like that in your letter, I nearly had another breakfast accident like the elbow in the butter dish when you stayed over the summer. It's sweet that you want to be here for me, really it is, and I want that too. (Don't you dare repeat that to anyone or I'd die of embarrassment, you know what the twins are like!)
I don't know what I'm up to really, I heard Mum and Dad mention something about going to visit Bill or Charlie so I can't make promises about anything at the moment. The sooner you get away from your relatives the better from what I've heard. I don't know any way you can get around without underage magic, but fun fact; the Ministry don't actually put strikes on your record unless the magic you perform is either dangerous or done in the presence of Muggles who don't already know about magic. Self defense counts too, but I guess you figured that one out. So you can get away with mundane charms, I wouldn't try Transfiguration or Defence spells though, too risky. That's why only Charms gives practical homework over the holidays. Now the idea of you trying to fly under an Invisibility Cloak, while funny, isn't the best I agree. And you're the best flier I've ever seen, and you know who my brothers are.
You're right, Lockhart was utterly useless as a teacher. I'd really appreciate those notes, thanks for the offer. If it's not too much to ask, can you send over the notes from other subjects too, I didn't manage to learn much this year sadly.
The book you asked about will be delivered to you soon, I might've kinda dropped your name to make sure Flourish and Blotts sent it as soon as possible but don't worry, I made sure to mention it can only arrive after dark. You don't need your aunt, uncle and the Ministry breathing down your neck for breaking the Statue of Secrecy. Hedwig did like her head being scratched too. She's a really sweet owl, friendly too. She didn't leave until me and my parents had given her our replies. You know what Ron's like, he won't write back for a day or two.
With love,
Ginny
P.S. Keeping your problems behind the glasses secret is no problem, looking forward to talking in person about it!
The letter brought a smile to Harry's face. Laying the letter down on his desk, he crossed the room and scratched Hedwig's head, getting a pleased hoot in return. "What would I do without you Hedwig?"
The snowy owl gave him an affectionate look that clearly said 'crash and burn', nipping his finger in a friendly manner. Absently petting her head Harry, grabbed the second letter, from Mr and Mrs Weasley and opened it, dropped the envelope on the desk and unfolded it with his free hand, which impressed him. Usually he wasn't this dexterous.
Dear Harry,
You're very welcome at our home anytime, and very fortunately we will be able to whisk you away this summer. As you may have gotten a hint from Ginny, we will soon be going to see Bill, our eldest, in Egypt where he works, hopefully with Charlie (the other brother Ron has mentioned), and both Molly and I are very much for the idea of you joining us. We plan to leave in little over a week, and will collect you from Privet Drive with a day's notice.
Also, you have nothing to apologize for lad, you couldn't have stopped Ron short of a Full-Body Bind and you had no idea what was going on this year.
Molly sends her love too, she's busy dealing with the boys and wrangling up Charlie.
Arthur Weasley
Elation filled Harry at the prospect of escaping the Dursleys early, but then he remembered that the week in question would be filled with Marge. Hell.
"Boy! Get down here, Vernon is almost back!"
Damn, where had the time gone? Harry shrugged, dropping the letter on the desk and grabbing his wand, sealing his door with a quick, "Colloportus."
He slipped his wand into his oversized pocket, out of sight and secure, then descended the stairs to the hallway. A few minutes later, the car pulled up, the door opened, and Harry received a suitcase shoved into his gut, flaring up the residual pain from the Basilisk venom as an ugly voice shouted,
"Dudders! Where's my neffy-poo?!"
'It's just one week.' Harry winced to himself. 'Then you're off to Egypt with Ginny and Ron.'
One week.
Right.
'Let hell commence.'