Chapter Five:
Unparalleled
He was whisked away with blurs of colors all around him. He felt like a million of him was being dragged away from each other. There were a million places, but only one of him. He tried pulling one way, while a force had pulled him a different direction at one time. He felt himself split in two, and then he had finally gotten a hang of himself before he was all together.
His scrawny body had fallen face first to the floor without meaning to. He gathered himself to his feet and wiped the dust away. Never had this been so much trouble, but all of a sudden it had been. He felt thin and lanky, and he wasn't sure if he had enough body strength to get off the floor. He had eventually gotten up out of the dusty substance and faced the waiter of The Three Broomsticks.
The man had short blond hair and a grin on his face as if he was playing a cruel joke on a harmless human. Harry had faced the man as he dusted every last inch of soot off himself and looked at the man. He noticed the man's brownish eyes with puzzlement. He had never seen a blond guy with brown eyes. Perhaps the man had dyed his hair?
"Hello," Harry had greeted, and the man stood there without an answer. "Hello?"
Harry had raised his hand and waved it in front of the man's face, but still no movement was seen. What was going on? Why had the after math of flooing to Hogsmeade change after six years? Was this a set up, and why wasn't this man moving or taking any notice that Harry was talking to him? Something was definitely strange, but Harry couldn't put his finger on it.
The man was as stiff as a board, and looked petrified pale. He had the feeling that the Dark Lord could be back, but that was impossible. Harry had defeated him, and he knew that Voldemort could no longer return. Could it be possible that someone was trying to avenge Voldemort's death? Oh, Merlin, perhaps this person was even stronger then the Dark Lord could have ever been.
Harry shrugged his shoulders and continued the way out of the Three Broomsticks and on through the deserted streets of Hogsmeade. Everything looked empty, and it didn't help that the trees had lost almost all of their leaves. Winter seemed to be coming quicker then Harry had imagined, but I guess there wasn't any reason to be worried about the early arrival of a stupid season.
Out of every season, winter was definitely his worse. Harry didn't like snow, and he some how hated being cold. He'd rather sweat to death, than freeze to death and others found this peculiar. Why they had thought this, he didn't know. The answer, though, to their choice was they didn't want to die at all. Go figure.
Harry had walked down the streets, but they had not been entirely empty. People were shuffling out of the new shop in Hogsmeade like no tomorrow. Congrats to Fred and George Weasley on their success of fulfilling their dreams to run a joke shop. They finally had Weasley's Wizarding Weezes in full business. As cheerful as Harry seemed, he still congratulated them every time they came into contact.
It wasn't very often, but Harry didn't have time to be lurking around joke shops when he had something else to take care of. He passed the small shops of Madame Mulkins and couldn't help himself but to press his face against the window. Small children were getting fitted for their robes and Harry sighed. No less then six years ago that was him, and in no less then a year he will never do it again.
He walked in without a thought in his head, but a memory had come back to him as soon as he stepped foot in. His Hogwart's list said that they would need dress robes this year, but Harry had no idea which to choose. They all looked the same, and they all looked rather hideous. He took the simplest one and paid for it. He thought maybe he could do something to fix it up himself.
He walked out of the store with a bag in hand. Inside the bag was his robe, but out side the bag was no one but Harry. It seemed weird that all of a sudden everyone vanished from sight. Two people were hastily shoving themselves into hiding places once they saw him. He blinked with perplexity and walked on. What had gotten into them? What had happened to the once friendly, quiet town of Hogsmeade?
Then it happened as awkward as ever. He had stepped foot into a small store and the lady at the desk had let out a loud, piercing, scream that Harry had to cover his ears because of it. When the lady had stopped she had turned a ghostly pail color as the peach drained from her bony cheeks. Harry looked surprised at the least, but why the hell would the lady scream? He twisted his eyebrows in a knot.
"Excuse me," He said.
"TAKE IT!" She wailed. "TAKE THE MONEY, JUST PLEASE, DON'T HURT ME!" She pleaded.
"I'm not here to rob you lady," He said with great astonish. "I'm here to buy from you." He said.
"I know who you are!" She said. Of course she knew, every one knew. "You're that Potter kid who is here to kill us all. Now that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is gone, you have no one to stop you from taking over our world!"
"Lady, please," Harry said as a headache came to him. "I was merely saving the wizarding world, and do not believe everything you read in The Daily Prophet, because most of it is bad publicity."
"Oh? Bad publicity he says…" She mocked with a growl of dislike. "The Prophet happens to be more accurate then a witness would say." She said.
"Have you ever noticed that witnesses sometimes lie?" He asked and she looked down her nose with disgust.
"Traitor!" She growled. "You are a traitor to this world. The Dark Lord isn't gone, and I know. Being the cousin to Sybil Trelawney isn't worthless for everything."
"Now I understand." He rolled his eyes. "Look, I really don't have the time to fight over whether the crock Trelawney is a real seer or not. Just let me order what I need, and I'll be on my way." He said.
"No." She hissed. "You will first apologize for being disrespectful to my cousin and the rest of my family." She said.
"I will show you just as much respect as you have shown me… none. NOW, if you don't mind, I'd like to get on with my life!" He snipped back and she gulped.
"This is phenomenal!" She shrieked. "I will not help such a rude person as you." She glared with full anger in her eyes.
"Then I will do it." He said. "You claim me as a monster, then I'll be a monster for you lady." He threatened and for some reason she had backed away.
"What are you going to do?" She asked with a shaky voice.
"If you want your family to live, I suggest you let me purchase an item from this store." He said and she nodded.
She was scared, and he felt horrible for even threatening her. He felt bad, but he also felt that she deserved ever word. How dare she talk to him like that? He wasn't a monster, and he was just a normal boy. Well, alright, he wasn't normal. He had more strength and power then anyone understood, but the thing is: he needed to learn how to control it, instead of it controlling him.
All it ever did was bring more problems to each of the worlds without meaning at all towards him. This made him seem kind of insensitive, but that wasn't it at all. Harry was an odd wizard, and somewhat he wished he wasn't even himself. Never was there a day that he was happy for himself or congratulated himself on something he succeeded in over time. Even when he killed Voldemort, he was far from happy.
He didn't know what is was that made him feel upset inside, but he couldn't really explain it. He couldn't do anything, and he really didn't have the time to be thinking about these things. He had to get back to the burrow, and he needed to prove to Hermione that he was sorry. He was crossed between eight different thoughts by the time he even got to The Three Broomsticks.
Everyone had suddenly stared at him in pure fear, but Harry was actually afraid of them and what they'd do to him if he got too close. Would they attack him for getting to close to a child maybe? Why were people treating him like he was Tom Riddle and not really Harry. What happened to being Harry Potter, the one who could save the world? Well, he had saved it, and were they not grateful?
He practically saved their lives, and they treated him like he wasn't suitable to live his life for what it was worth. Did they want to die? In a way, though, he actually sacrificed their lives. If he hadn't killed Voldemort and Harry had died instead, then the world would have no sooner been under the Dark Lord's full control. Never would Harry have let that happen, but somehow it sort of counted as risking everyone's lives.
If they had felt offended for the way Harry played through the battle, then he found himself completely guilty. Maybe people took this harder then others. Maybe they thought it was a trick to get Harry to become stronger and then claim Voldemort had died. That, though, was completely impossible. Why would they think that when they had heard the real story?
What confused Harry was why would he, if he was a Dark Lord, be walking around Hogsmeade like it was nothing? Normally someone like that would be hiding and attacking when no one noticed. Did they honestly think he would walk around like this if he was planning a death? He wanted, so badly, to tell them all to just grow up, and think logically. Logic might not be good enough to solve everything, but this topic was pretty pathetic.
Nothing seemed the same, but would it be this bad or even worse if Voldemort happened to still be alive? Would the fate of the Magic World still be in jeopardy? Would the muggles still be known to wizards as outsiders? What would happen if Harry himself returned to being muggle? People ignored him and treated him as a normal boy when he lived with the Dursley's, but never again would he even step foot to return into that household.
Harry stepped into the portal and as soon as he was whisked away, he felt rather comfortable for being away from Hogsmeade. He was pulled toward a swirling mist of blue and green and then it hit him. He felt sort of weak once again, but better than the first time. He walked out and was met with a crying Mrs. Weasley. Harry gave her a look of utter puzzlement, but soon she spoke to him.
"Are you ready," She said. "To tell me what's going on?" She asked and Harry had let out a silent gulp.
"What do you mean?" He asked as he tried running around the point that she was trying to make.
"You know Harry," She said. "I saw your clothes." She wiped a tear from her eye.
"M- My clothes?" He asked in a questioning tone.
"Yes, Harry," She said. "They were lying on the floor when I went to check on Hermione. She is taking a nap, and then I saw them." She crossed her arms and Harry began to look slightly nervous.
"Well," He said. "I'd imagine they'd be there because I left them there." He looked slightly scared too.
"Harry!" She hissed. "Why did you come with bruises, scars, cuts, and even bloodstained clothes?" She said in the open.
"It was nothing Mrs. Weasley," He assured. "It's not what it looks like." He said.
"What happened to you?" She asked. "Explain, and don't seem so nervous because I already know half of it." She said.
"Half of it?" He asked.
"Yes." She said. "You told Ron he could tell me, and he gave me half of it. I don't want to know about how your uncle treats you," She said. "I want to know why you hadn't warned us." She was still crying.
"Oh," he said with relaxation. "Well, it wasn't really my fault. I was sort of crossed between thoughts and I was going to send it the one night, but then he found out and threatens to kill Hedwig. Then when I sent the letter after Ron said he was coming to pick me up I got beaten that night. I sort of got knocked out after one crack of the whip, but I honestly didn't mean to offend you if I did."
"Not at all," She said and he could help but detect that she had formed a new pound of freshly cried tears.
"Mrs. Weasley," He said in sympathy. "Please don't cry any more. I'm fine, and you have no reason to be crying because of what happens to me." He said and she looked flabbergasted.
"Harry, you are like a son to me." She said and Harry look to the floor. "I couldn't forgive myself if anything had happened to you."
Harry went to say something, but he was pulled into a bone crushing, lovable hug and had no way of movement. She was hugging him a little too tight, but he hadn't minded at all. He could smell her tears, and like he had once told Hermione, he hated seeing others in pain because of him. It was his fault that Hermione's wrist was almost broken. It was his fault that Mrs. Weasley was crying out to the gods. Possibly she was praying for help to get through this.
"Please," Harry said. "You don't have to worry, because everything will soon be alright, and there will no longer be any reason to be scared." He said. Harry had hugged her back and held her with as much force.
He needed to save anyone who might have problems. She was crying because of him, and he needed to fix that for good. He needed to make everyone feel safe and everyone needed to feel comfortable. No one should feel scared, and Harry was beginning to believe that the Weasleys, and Hermione, were the only ones who knew that Harry wasn't dangerous at all.
"Mrs. Weasley," Harry started when she hadn't said anything. "Can I ask you a question?" He wondered.
"Yes," she said. She pulled away and whipped the tears away again. "Of course, dear." she said.
"Why were people acting so strangely when I was in Hogsmeade today?" He asked and Mrs. Weasley had let out a sigh.
"Why they found you a threat?" She asked.
"Yes!" Harry said. "You know what's going on then? Could you please explain it all to me? I'm seriously lost."
"I can't," She said and Harry looked confused. "But I might know something that can help you." She said.
"Something?" He asked in puzzlement.
"Here," she said.
Harry had taken something from her hand. It was a rolled up, crimpled, old, and it was last month's version of The Daily Prophet. Harry unfolded it, unrolled it, and stared at it with unbelief. After he thought Rita Skeeter was the worse, he was wrong... very wrong to not suspect someone else. Someone else, though, was now a new threat to Harry and possibly everyone else.
Harry Potter Revealed
Yesterday, our young hero had officially killed the enemy to our world: Lord Voldemort, or Tom Riddle. He is no longer a threat, but we now have a new one. Even if our long lost enemy is gone, we didn't know that another one was forming in the body we once believed was a Hero. Harry Potter has proved himself to be the strongest of all wizards when he was younger. The Dark Lord had left him with a scar and part of his own powers. When young Potter began to grow, he had suddenly started mastering the power that he had. Little did he know that he could defeat the strongest wizard in the world, but he has proved it? Could it be possible that this is a scam and a training technique for his later years? Maybe he is actually the new Dark Lord.
We have visited the old Headmaster from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in the heart of London. Albus Dumbledore has watched Potter grow from the one year old he was when his parents died, to the sixteen year old self that he remains today. Knowing that Potter's birthday is tomorrow, recent research has proved to us that Tom Riddle, Voldemort, had decided to become the Dark Lord at sixteen himself. Whether Potter will follow Voldemort and be the new he-who-must-not-be-named is entirely unpredictable, but Dumbledore assures us that he is one of the most generous and sweetest students at the school. Is this possibly an act?
Dumbledore noted in an interview yesterday that Potter has received over several rewards at Hogwarts School for his deeds. Clearly amazing it might seem, but Tom Riddle himself happened to be exactly like Potter when he was sixteen. Riddle was a quite and a big puzzle-solver when he was in his school days. We all have heard the story that a miscalculation had occurred and caused Harry Potter to live instead of die at the age of one year. Is this a trap and is Harry Potter really Voldemort's ally? Until next time, I'm Samantha Collens, special correspondent. Hope you're having a happy summer!
"I don't understand." Harry said when he had finished reading.
"Yes," Mrs. Weasley said. "It does seem rather difficult to believe, but it's there in ink and can not be erased." She said.
"You don't honestly believe this... do you?" Harry asked.
"I believe only what I feel I should." And with that, she had disappeared into the kitchen.
Harry read it again and again until his eyes had begun to hurt. All this stuff that this Samantha girl wrote didn't make any sense. Harry didn't believe any of this stuff, and he only killed Voldemort because he was set with that task. Dumbledore told him that in the end he or Voldemort had to die to cease the fighting, but maybe he was actually supposed to die and not Voldemort. Maybe this was all a mistake.
"I see Molly had let you see it." A voice said from the hall. Harry looked up and there stood Mr. Weasley with a straight face.
"You work at the Ministry, do you know why they are writing stuff about me like I'm a monster?" He asked and Mr. Weasley shook his head.
"I don't know what goes on in that station, Harry." He said. "But you have more problems to worry about." He said and Harry looked up.
"More?" Harry asked. "What could possibly be bigger than this?" He asked and Mr. Weasley sighed.
"The minister, well," He said. "He's making a decision."
"Is it about me?" Harry asked and he nodded.
"They're trying to make the decision of sending you somewhere." He said.
"Where? Away from London?" Harry asked. "But what about Hogwarts?"
"Well, you wouldn't be aloud back, and yes, away from London." He said and Harry looked amazed.
"But," Harry started. "I haven't done anything, so why would they send me away?" He asked. "Is it another school?"
"No, it's far from any form of school." Mr. Weasley said.
"Is it another country?" Harry asked. "Possibly a different city?"
"It's a different city, but the same country." He said and Harry looked confused.
"What would they send me to if it's not a school?" He asked and Mr. Weasley had heaved a great sigh.
"There thinking about shipping you to Azkaban in the fall." He said.
"PRISON?" Harry asked in outrage. He had jumped to his feet. "I'm being arrested?" He asked and Mr. Weasley shrugged.
"They are debating it, but it's possible that you would be sent there." He said and Harry covered his face in his hands.
"What would be my charges?" Harry asked.
"Well, there would be three." Mr. Weasley said. "That's all I know of."
"Which are?" Harry asked. He was sweating with anticipation.
"One would be the attempt of killing a muggle, what you did to your uncle this summer." He said.
"I'm guilty of that." Harry mumbled.
"Second for insulting the owner of a Jewelry store this afternoon." Harry sighed at Mr. Weasley's news.
"I'm guilty of that too." He said and Mr. Weasley looked amazed. "Don't ask." Harry said.
"Then last," He said. "And this is the biggest. This is the reason why they were even considering it." He said.
"Alright, why?" Harry asked hastily.
"They want to charge you," Mr. Weasley sighed. "With the murder of Tom Marvolo Riddle."
Author's Notes:
Alright everyone I update... ARE YOU HAPPY? Lol. Sorry I hadn't updated last week, but I was on a camping trip from Wednesday to Sunday, so I had barely any time to write. Sorry for the delay everyone and I hope you enjoy this chappie! Until next time!
Airalynn
To My Reviewers:
LoveSick105 – Dude, Connie, how many names do you have? Lol. Well Harry kinda scared me too, and I wrote it... how pathetic is that? I miss Oswald. –sigh-
toga party! – Sorry to you about the delay, and I felt bad that you wanted this chapter so much. I could have posted on Sunday, but it wasn't finished so you had to wait another week, sorry again. Good luck with your book and hope you like!
call me brit – Poor Ron? Lol, It's always him... haha.
DraginPhlie – I? What do you mean by those reviews when all you say is "I?"
boredaurorchick – I leave you wanting more? God I love this power that I had no idea I had, lol. Maybe I should wait a YEAR before my next chapter, would you go crazy? Just kidding.
FroBoy – Thank you.
Maren L.P – It was most definitely not my favorite book. I think my favorite is either 4th or 5th, but I like the 4th A LOT! I've read it like 80 times. Wasn't his outburst a cool twist to the story though? I thought so.
Nicole13-1991 – Nope, I finished the 6th book two days after I received it. I got it the Tuesday after it was released and then finished it that Thursday, so I might be missing parts as I crammed it all into my mind, lol. I'll gladly put the book down and write, because I already read it! Hahaha. Well, sorry again about the delay, but I don't exactly have a lap top.
That's it. Thanks to everyone who reviewed! Have a good Weekend! I also might only be updating every other week, because I have a job starting today (Saturday the 13th) and it's going to take a lot out of my writing system. Thanks guys! My first day at work... I'm nervous:(
UPDATED: (SATURDAY) AUGUST 13, 2005
"Creativity arises out of the tension between spontaneity and limitations, the latter (like the river banks) forcing the spontaneity into the various forms which are essential to the work of art or poem."