Extended Summary

Voldemort's attempt to find out the contents of the Prophecy at the Ministry was successful. However, upon hearing it he decided to interpret it in a very different way to Dumbledore.

Caught up between two warring Wizarding World factions Harry has to make a horrible choice between his friends and the magical community. But with Voldemort growing ever stronger and the Wizarding World ever weaker, the decision he makes will have a greater impact than even he knows.

Rated T for dark themes/ horror scenes.

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Chapter Three

Harry's return to Privet Drive wasn't pleasant.

Once Aunt Petunia had gotten over her shock at seeing him suddenly appear from thin air she'd immediately started yelling at him, her anger comparable to Uncle Vernon's fury when Harry had blown up Aunt Marge two summers ago. She'd ranted for a while, then doled out the inevitable punishment - a week in his old cupboard with bread and water for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The only exception to his confinement was when the Dursleys wanted him to do chores - in this scenario he was let out, however only for as long as it took him to complete his duties and not a moment more.

In short, it was a pretty miserable existence.

As he sat on the rickety bed in the locked Cupboard Harry thought about how much - yet also how little - his life had changed in the seven days since he'd faced Voldemort at the Ministry. A week ago he'd been fighting for his life and his friends' survival - a small selfish part of him wished that something similar would happen so that his boredom would be alleviated.

On the other hand, the part of him that desired to save his friends from any hurt or harm was prevalent; hence why he was now staying with his Aunt and Uncle despite the Hogwarts' holidays having not started.

He wondered what Dumbledore had told his friends in regards to his sudden disappearance. Harry supposed it didn't matter - as long as they knew he was safe that was the main thing.

A loud banging noise on his cupboard door startled him out of his musings. "Get up!" the shrill voice of Petunia Dursley screeched and Harry let out a long sigh, kneeling on his bed to reach the tiny shelf on which his suitcase and clothes lay and promptly banging his head on the underneath of the stairs.

Rubbing it he winced as he felt a twinge of pain run through his scar. It was gone as soon as it had come, but still Harry was surprised and worried about the revelation that he could still sense Voldemort's emotions, despite the fact that Voldemort now knew about the connection. His anxiety increased as he wondered if that meant that Voldemort could sense his emotions through the connection - something he'd rather avoid happening after the self-proclaimed Dark Lord's queer words last time they'd met.

Thankfully Harry hadn't had any more strange dreams since he'd had the lifelike dream-vision of himself as a younger Voldemort and he had no desire to repeat the experience.

Although as he heard the sound of a key turning in his cupboard's lock he thought that he'd take another dream over the sight that greeted him.

Uncle Vernon looked livid.

"BOY!" he roared, his face red with exertion. Harry gulped and just stared at his Uncle, not daring to speak. However when Vernon roughly grabbed his arm and began manhandling him into the hallway and up the stairs Harry began to protest; "I don't know what-"

"QUIET!"

They crossed the upstairs landing and Harry was shoved into the Master Bedroom - his cousin's room. Shaking with the after-effects of shock and utterly confused he was about to turn round and ask his Uncle what the matter was, when the words died on the way to his mouth.

A small snigger escaped before he could stop it and wide eyed he clapped his hand over his mouth as he backed away, muffling the noise.

Dudley was pink.

Not a neon, yucky kind of pink - a nice, tasteful dark burgundy-pink.

But still pink.

His skin, his clothes, his hair; all pink.

And he was furious.

Harry couldn't help it anymore; he had to laugh. Tears streamed down his cheeks in mirth as with horror he tried to stop himself, terrified of facing the consequences he'd incurred. He had no idea how Dudley had become pink, but he had a strong suspicion that Magic had something to do with it. And despite the fact that he hadn't done anything there was only one Wizard in the house - it wouldn't take Dudley long to put two and two together and make five, assuming that Harry was the culprit.

And assume he did.

Harry had barely a split second's warning before Dudley lunged forwards, but it was enough. Dodging his cousin he bolted out of the room, ignoring Uncle Vernon's shouts and Aunt Petunia's grasping arms as he made for the door, wrenching it open and slamming it behind him before anyone could follow.

Chest heaving he ran down Privet Drive like a Madman, uncaring of what the Neighbours thought of him; they all thought him a criminal anyway. Mind whirring he made for the one place he knew of outside of his old primary school - the park.

When he reached the park he slowed down, his breath coming out in uneven pants as he doubled over, bracing his arms on his knees as he struggled to calm himself down. Collapsing on a bench he finally had a chance to look round at the empty space around him and contemplate the sheer stupidity of his actions.

Dumbledore had told him about his relatives' protection - as long as he was within the boundaries of their home he would be safe from those who wished him harm - specifically, the death eaters. By impulsively leaving he'd let down his mentor and put himself at risk.

He felt ashamed of himself and tears clung to his eyelashes as he wondered what Sirius' reaction would be. Although thinking about it, Sirius would probably have slapped him on the back and congratulated him on Dudley's transformation - even though he hadn't done it.

The thought bought a small smile to his face, which quickly vanished as he realised that someone must have cast the prank spell on his Cousin.

But who?

With all his heart he wished that it was a member of the Phoenix, although he couldn't see why one of them would put him at risk of being expelled from Hogwarts by the Ministry. Yet at least he could guarantee it wasn't the death eaters - they had no way of bypassing the protection charm. The thought of them using a simple prank spell on a Muggle was also ridiculous.

Harry's mirth was broken as a twig snapped behind him. In one fluid motion he rose up and twisted round, his shaking hand grasping his wand as he pointed it towards the source of the noise.

There was nothing there.

Harry's well-honed instincts told him that he shouldn't let his guard down; something bad could be just round the corner. Yet, as he saw a cat skulk out from behind a bush near to the origin of the snapping sound he let himself relax a little, sinking back onto the bench and staring forward with unseeing eyes.

Time passed. He didn't realise how long he'd been out until he noticed the lengthening shadows cast by the surrounding trees as the sun began to set. With dread he realised that unless he intended to stay homeless without protection he'd have to go back to his relatives house.

Standing up, he stretched and was just about to leave his spot when an unwelcome familiar voice entered his hearing. "He's here somewhere..."

Heart thumping Harry dived behind the bench, peeking through a small gap in the wooden slats as Dudley and his best friend - Piers - came into view. Dudley was back to his normal state which solidified Harry's belief that something wasn't right with this whole scenario.

Caught in his thoughts, Harry didn't notice that his cousin had passed the bench until it was too late. As they locked eyes Harry staggered and stood, then bolted as he registered the furious expression on his Dudley's face.

"Oi, get back here!"

Harry promptly ignored his cousin's yell, choosing rather to try and put distance between them. But he's forgotten about Piers and that was his downfall as he was caught in his tracks and knocked roughly to the ground. As he landed a sharp pain laced his side and he cried out in shock before clamping his teeth together, determined not to make another sound.

Piers and Dudley had their heads bowed, murmuring something indecipherable to each other - whatever it was, Harry assumed that it wasn't good news for him. He was proven right as Dudley came over and without warning kicked him in the stomach; Piers quickly followed suit.

Long minutes of this behaviour passed and Harry at his eyes squeezed shut as he silently prayed that the torment would cease soon. Luckily for him it seemed that his bullies had become bored with his lack of reaction to their abuse.

Harry dimly heard Dudley order: "pick him up and drag him back - Mum said he's making dinner tonight". His head lolled to the side as Piers - or at least he assumed it was Piers - picked him up by an arm and tugging Harry along behind him as his abused body screamed in protest.

In his subconscious state Harry heard a small 'pop' - he paid it no attention, his mind primarily focused on the difficult task of not passing out before he reached his relatives' house.