Disclaimer: J.K.Rowling owns Harry Potter (genius isn't she?)

HARRY POTTER & THE MARAUDER'S FIGHT

Chapter 4:'It begins…'

Harry was pacing in his room very much worried. Hedwig hadn't returned from her hunt for days. It wasn't unusual for her to stay out for hours but four days? At least the Dursleys weren't home. The Dursleys would have certainly pushed him over the edge. They had left Harry at the house alone for the evening locking him in his bedroom as they had to accompany Dudley to the Annual heavyweight championship-something. Harry sighed and walked towards the window to see if he could see any sign of Hedwig in the clear dark sky. Realizing he was straining his eyes too much looked away and his eyes fell on the lawn. He gripped his wand tightly and narrowed his eyes. He had seen something move in the bushes. Harry frowned at the short bald man scuttling behind the bushes.

'Deddlus Diggle.' Harry whispered to himself. So the Order was still guarding him-no-the Order was still guarding the boy-who-lived. He tilted his head and saw the Gringott's key sparkling innocently at him. He turned back only to see Deddlus had dissapeared. Well-Harry thought as he digged his trunk, Diggle's not the only one with an invisibility cloak.

That was too easy, Harry thought entering Gringots. He found the nearest goblin and appraoched him. 'Ahem…I would like to visit my vault.' The goblin looked at him boredly.

'Key please.' Harry handed over his key to him who examined it carefully and summoned another goblin giving the key to him. 'The high security vaults, Rangon.'

A few minutes later Harry and Rangon were on the speeding cart that took them to his vault deep underground. The vault looked like a mountain cave with a door from outside. Rangon inserted the key into it. The door opened and Harry saw-

Nothing. It was pitch dark. It's either spooky or it's a trap. 'Rangon….why does it look well …so dark?'

'Mr.Potter, we do not know of anything that lies inside the vault. Only the previous owners of the vault may know that. You would have to go alone inside,for these are special vaults in which none, not even goblins can enter.' Rangon informed.

Harry took a deep breath. 'Alright then.' He held the lantern tightly and stepped inside. What he saw made his jaw drop. It was awesome. It looked like a living room, a well furnished living room. There was even a banner saying 'The Marauder's Den' .Harry looked around at the couch and the walls covered fully with photographs of the marauder's. Harry longinly looked at his parents ant Sirius. His chest filled up with an emotion that he couldn't quite understand. This was a part of his parents, Sirius…untouched, and only Harry could feel it. I want to live here foever…Harry thought and then remembered his godfather's will…room …a secret room-he said so in his will. He ransacked everything in the vault and in a corner he found an old yellowing parchment. It was blank. Harry frowned but stuffed it into his pocket anyway. He the opened a huge trunk which was filled with galleons .Harry had no interest in gold but then had a brilliant plan. He put as many galleons as his sack could carry and left.

By the time he came out on the streets it was dark. 'It's too late to go back to the Durrsleys.' He said to himself and making up his mind to stay at the inn. He didn't notice the shadows that followed him.

Dumbledore and the other Order members sat around the table listening to Mundungus report of Harry's dissapearance. Molly looked at him with utmost revulsion. Dumbledore spoke up. 'Kingsley, Remus you know what to do.' Both men nodded and left immediately. 'There is no need to panic…we'll find him soon-'

'But Dumbledore-' Molly cried out, ' he's just a little boy…what if Voldemort's got him ? We should all go and search for him!'

'That is not needed, Molly.' Dumbledore said calmly. ' Harry has a tracking charm on him. Kingsley can find him. Don't worry about Harry…he can take care of himself.'

Molly Weasley didn't look so convinced but didn't say anything else. Dumbledore sighed and rubbed his temples looking older than ever…do be careful Harry…

Harry knew he was being followed. He had seen their shadows on window panes of the closed shops. He gripped his wand tighty bracing himself . Tbhis was his chance to get back. To declare an all out war on Voldemort. To let them know he wasn't weak and that he could kill for justice. Harry turned around at the same time a curse flew towards him. He ducked, narrowly missing it.

'Sectusempra!' Harry shouted at the hooded figure who had tried to curse him. There were other popping noises and the figure was joined by three other death eaters. There was no sign of Voldemort.

'Avadra K-ahhh!' One of them doubled over in pain as Harry had hit him with a counter curse. He dodged the other curses sent to him and the fought back with vengence.

'Stupefy!Stupfey!' He cursed two other figures.There was only one left. But as Harry raised his wand the death eater cursed him straight on his chest. Harry fell down clutching his chest which now sported a large gash and was bleeding profusely.

'Not feeling brave, are you now ?' The death eater taunted kicking Harry on the stomach. 'The Dark Lord will be pleased to see you…and I will be his most loyal-'

'Bitch!' Harry completed gritting his teeth and stupefied him. He got up on his feet. He surveyed the four death eaters lying around injured and raised his wands again a certain coldness engulfing him…this is my gift to you Voldemort…

Dumbledore stared at the Potions master rigidly. 'What is it Severus?'

'The four death eaters who were following Potter are dead. Lestrange brought back their bodies…the Dark Lord was extemely angry.'

'And the boy?'

'There was no sign of him.'

'What about the book of Merlin?'

'He has already started workin on it.'

'This is not good…' Dumbledore sighed. Severus hesitated.

'Headmaster, do you think…the boy had something to do with their deaths?Is he capable of…'He trailed off. The look on the old man's face was confirmation enough.

Meanwhile Harry had checked into one of the rooms at The Leaky Cauldron under disguise. He cast some protective spells around him and fell asleep almost immediately. His last thought was of the four badly burned dead bodies he had left on the streets. Outside the room , two men under invisibility cloaks guarded the room.

Far away Voldemort was working on the ritual that will end Harry Potter forever. 'Wormtail….are the ingredients ready?'

'Y-Yes, master!' Wormtail squeaked.

'Then start the fire…do not delay.' Voldemort ordered impatiently. A few death eaters hwo were present for the ritual circled around Voldemort and Wormtail as he started to stir the liquid I a large cauldron that was big enough to hold a human being. Voldemort smiled sinisterly and whispered.

'It begins…'

---To Be Contd.--