Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter; it all belongs to J K Rowling
Chapter 3: What on Earth?
The air was warm and his back muscles ached. Opening his eyes, he could see the stars through his cloak, getting himself onto his feet Harry carefully stretched his arms. Had it been a trap? He was still in the Alley, a few houses away from his old babysitter Mrs Figg, maybe they hadn't found him because of the cloak. Setting his bags to the side as quietly as possible and putting the cloak on once again, no one was in sight.
Rapping sharply on number 4, according to his watch it was one in the morning, Uncle Vernon was going to kill him. Still only an empty street to be observed, how far did the wards extend anyway? Wasn't like anyone had bothered to tell him, whatever the range, it definitely included the house. Swirling around as the hall light switched on the door slowly inched opened.
''How can I help you young man?'' A females voice spoke out, a voice that certainly wasn't his Aunts. Fingering his wand, they couldn't have gotten in could they? Death Eater would have killed him on the spot. Clearing his throat ''Erm, Are my Aunt and Uncle in by any chance?''
The women just gave him a calculating glance, a frown graced her face. ''You haven't been caught up in one of those attacks have you? Can't believe anything you read these days.''
''Attacks? What attacks? When?'' Ok so he didn't care much for the Dursleys, but he wouldn't wish them dead, the image of Cedric's lifeless body sprang painfully to mind.
''You know, the gas leaks and flu virus sweeping the country, and no young man, I live on my own, you've got the wrong house, you haven't been hurt have you? Need to use the phone?'' Her voice sounded slightly worried, but still the door chain remained on, preventing him from entering. Flu? Gas leaks?
''Phone? No mam, I don't need to use the phone, I'm fine.'' This was starting to get ridiculous, who the hell was she? Shaking his head, it was easier just to floo Dumbledore, if Privet Drive had been compromised then he shouldn't stay. He'd need to get a room at the Leaky Caldron and floo call in the morning. ''I'll just be going then.''
Slowly backing away, making sure not to take his eyes of her, the women eventually shut the door after giving him a questioning look. Probably thought I was insane acting like that.
Heading back to where he left his shopping and tucking his cloak safely away, Harry held his wand up. BANG!
''Hello there and welcome to the Knight Bus, providing transport for the stranded witch or wizard –'' A middle aged man started, not Stan's shift today then. Holding out a galleon to the brown haired man, he lugged his bags onto the steps and took a seat on the nearest bed. ''Just the standard fee please, to the Leaky Cauldron'' Receiving his change back, he prepared for a long journey. It was emptier than the last time he'd been on this machine, but the snoring of the occupant in the next bed and the somewhat bumpy ride didn't put the bus in his top choice of transportation.
He hoped he could just get the whole mess sorted out, maybe now they'd actually tell him what was going on, apparently there had been some attacks, well, The Daily Prophet can't say I'm a deluded teenager anymore.
Alighting outside the old black front door, the temperature had really started to drop and a gentle tittering of rain hit the ground. Knocking wearily on the door, the street was almost in total darkness; somehow London appeared a hell of a lot more foreboding than in daylight. Moving his weight from one foot to the other, the door finally opened only to have a wand pointed in his face.
After a few seconds that dragged on like hours, the hand slowly lowered and the door was opened fully, letting light out onto the dank street.
''Can I help you?'' It wasn't a cold greeting, but by no means the same welcoming man he had grown accustomed to before third year. Obviously waking someone up at two in the morning didn't do anything for their mood.
''Sorry Tom, I've sort of got myself stranded, can I please rent a room for the night? I have the Galleons on me just now.''
Looking him up and down, a polite smile came across Toms face, relief evident ''All right young man, sorry about that, can't be to careful these days, can't tell who to trust anymore.'' He sighed. ''I'm so paranoid I almost stunner you, a child! Just let me get you a key, the rooms 4 Galleons a night. You don't need any medical attention do you? Need to arrange a meeting with the aurors?''
''No no, I'm fine.'' Pulling out 4 Galleons and handing them to Tom, he walked into the familiar bar. What the hell was Voldemort up to? And where was Dumbledore? And his tail, Ok, so he'd slipped by them, but what did they expect?! Signing his name as John Dever, Death Eaters would be looking for him, and he wasn't hard to find. Just as well only Tom had seen him, the barman wouldn't give him away.
Dumping all the shopping bags on the floor, Harry collapsed onto the bed. Tomorrow would not be fun to try explain, he could hear the questions now.
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Stumbling down the stairs after changing into some of his new clothes, they really did look better than the old rags he was forced to wear at the Dursleys. Yawning as he walked into the bar, Harry couldn't help but be a bit surprised at how…empty the place was. Ten in the morning and people should be passing through here every minute, breakfast service in full swing, safety precaution? What had that woman been talking about last night anyway? Shaking his head and throwing a questioning glance at Tom, he approached the floo and placed a sickle in the dish before throwing some floo powder into the fire. ''Headmaster Dumbledores Office, Hogwarts!''
Watching as the fire flashed green before returning to normal, puzzled, he tried again, great, now the floo isn't working, and where's Hedwig? It was Tom's voice which interrupted his musings. ''You need the passwords before you can even floo call to Hogwarts, it's a safety precaution, safest place and all, can't have just anyone flooing.''
Unable to stop the hopeless expression flashing across his face ''you don't happen to know any of them do you?'' Tom just shook his head, ''no but you can owl someone, the ministry might be able to help you, Dumbledore doesn't have that much free time you know.''
Why does he sound like he doesn't know me? Is that even Tom? Thinking back, it became very clear that not once had he been addressed Mr Potter, work of Death Easters? Surely they would have at least captured, tortured or killed me by now.
Watching Tom out the corner of his eye, he crossed into the opening to Diagon Alley, tapping the bricks hastily, the bricks slowly folded away. Harry mouth hung open, gaping at the scene before him, just yesterday he had been shopping, but now, now the place was a wreck, utterly destroyed.
Yesterdays packed and lively street was gone, replaced with shut shops, broken and boarded windows, along with scorches and burn marks marring the ground. In the distance he could make out some rubble lying in place of the old second hand shop.
Even starring at the people, they were all rushing along, glancing almost continually over their shoulders. ''Move it kid, I don't have time to spare.''
Snapping out of his shock, he shifted warily out the way to allow a small family through.
Spotting an old copy of The Daily Prophet on the ground, brushing the dirt and grim clinging to the pages Harry began to read, but his confusion only grew.
Yesterday a reported 18 people were killed in a battle at Liverpool Quidditch Stadium, a friendly match was playing between Liverpool and Manchester before 20 Death Eaters stormed the small crowd and attacked the teams and fans. The slow response of Aurors was the major flaw as it took almost fifteen minutes before they arrived. The Death Eaters already abandoning the scene. How does the ministry expect to win the war with problems such as that? Is the British Wizarding Public really safe or does something more drastic…
…After the passing of the new werewolf law last week, there was a surge of individual attacks. Are these half breeds to dangerous to be allowed to live, could you trust someone who could eat or infect you children? Recent reports have shown an 17% increase in attacks and approximately 100 new cases appear every month. Should more be done to protect you and your loved ones? A number of politicians are leaning towards humane culling of werewolf numbers…
…With the last break in at the ministry two weeks ago and the attempt on the junior ministers' life last week, does something need to be done about the Aurors. With the shortening of the Auror program, are they trained enough to tackle the Dark Lords followers? Mortality rates are at record numbers now, with new recruits…
…The Bell family are the latest to join the missing register as the whole family disappeared last night. Aurors at the scene reported signs of a struggle but no bodies where found, expert trackers are now being introduced to try and tract the family down…
How? What was going on? Last week? There hadn't been anything like this on his papers, absolutely nothing, leafing back to the front page, it was only a day after yesterday! It's not like he'd transported himself back in time.
Throwing the paper in the nearest trashcan Harry walked forward, observing the scene before his eyes in a detached manner, this couldn't have happened in one night, could it?
Whirling round at the tell tale crack of appearation, a chill started to creep deep down within his bones. Black cloaked figures hidden behind white masks strode forward, wands drawn…
A/N: so this is the third chapter, may have a few spelling mistakes, I did my best to check it over x) start of with some action, why not :D