Chapter 1: The Breakout

Harry

He tumbled onto the dirt, the Triwizard cup flying from his hands, tumbling away from the two young men. A groan escaped his lips as he lay there, dirt sticking to the sweat caked to his face, eyes staring towards the dark sky. Every muscle in his body protested any movement, a culmination of events that led to the maze of a third task. Harry heard a low groan from his side, a reminder he was not the only champion transported. The day's events rushed back to him in a flurry.

Entering the dark and dreary maze, navigating the towering hedges with only one goal in mind - survive. He remembered the feminine scream that tore through the labyrinth, finding Fleur being overtaken by the devil's snare, the vile plant dragging her limp body under the hedgerow. Watching Krum fire an unforgivable at Cedric, only to stare into Harry's soul with those cloudy, lifeless eyes. Harry was almost positive he was imperioused - he didn't know Krum all that well but was certain he would never send the killing curse at a fellow competitor. Him and Cedric racing for the cup, only to deem the life of his friend - did Harry consider Cedric a friend? - more important than some stupid cup.

The compromise he made with Cedric, both win the tournament for Hogwarts, or none at all. The last thing that came to mind, reaching for the cup, only to wake up on his back, lying in the dirt in an unknown location.

"Harry! You alright?" Cedric rushed over to him, the older boy on his feet first. "Where are we?" Harry rose to a kneeling position, the dirt coarse and rough as it rubbed against his skin. His voice came out strained as he grimaced in pain. "Not sure… The cup must have been a portkey."

Cedric nodded absentmindedly as he searched the area, perusing the… are those gravestones? Harry looked at their surroundings for the first time since his crash landing. Gravestones littered the clearing, mist settling eerily about knee level from the ground, the wispy clouds obscuring the names on the majority of the gravestones. Only one name was visible, on the grandest of stone sculptures depicting an angel of death complete with wings and a scythe extended from its bony appendages.

Thomas Riddle.

As soon as the words passed through his mind, his head erupted in a searing pain. Harry's scar had acted up before but it felt like he head was splitting in two, as if something were trying to call out. The pain forced him onto a knee as a violent scream tore from his mouth leaving his throat raw. "Harry!" Cedric rushed over, kneeling next to the younger boy as his hand found a place on Harry's shoulder. Harry's drawn out scream faded, the sound of crunching leaves rang ominously from the mist.

Cedric stood, his wand drawn, held out in front of him. Standing protectively in front of Harry, knees bent at a slight angle, they watched a shadowy figure emerge from the clouds.

"Who are you?!" Cedric shouted across the clearing. The pain in Harry's head flared up again as a scratchy voice, steeped in evil, came from the figure.

"Kill the spare." Harry could only imagine one being that would possess a voice that horrible - the man who ruined his life. A green flash illuminated the shadowy figure for a moment, a rat-like face with long gray hair and moles scattered throughout was revealed. The green light traveled towards Cedric, seemingly in slow motion. A scream hit Harry's ears - who was screaming? - as he watched the curse travel further, closer and closer to Cedric's demise. The light dissipated, Cedric thrown back towards Harry. His body rolled once as he landed, his head slowly rolling towards Harry's vision. His body settled, unmoving, unnaturally still as Harry got a glimpse of the lifeless eyes of the former Hufflepuff.

Harry jerked to a sitting position, shoulders heaving with deep breaths, he fumbled in the dark, hands roaming over his nightstand looking for his glasses. His hands found the circular lenses and they were on his face without a moment to spare. A deep breath left his nose as the vague shapes in the dark room came into focus, swinging his legs to the side of the bed. Harry took a moment to compose himself, his hands resting on his knees. He had lived the same nightmare over and over again, nearly every night since the end of the school year. He had watched Cedric perish nearly a hundred times by now, each time waking up in a cold sweat, moments from hyperventilation.

His shirt was damp again, soaked even, as he rose, taking steps towards the open window. He stood next to Hedwig's cage, the breeze cool against the sweat on his skin. Hedwig trilled from her cage, a questioning sound, unless Harry was imagining it. "Yes, Girl. Same dream, again." He wasn't sure if that's what Hedwig was asking but that was the answer she received. Regardless, it was nice to have someone to talk to in this godforsaken prison of a house. His Aunt and Uncle honestly couldn't care less about his well-being, and Dudley was essentially a vegetable after the dementors arrived the other night, his soul nearly being removed from his body. Maybe it was bad, but Harry could hardly find it within himself to care. They never cared about him, so why should he? He did live under the stairs for eleven years, after all.

Harry just could not bring himself to stoop to their level, he was determined to rise above all the negativity in his life, become better. It would be a lot easier if he wasn't stuck with his magic-hating relatives for the whole summer. Normal wizards were off, adventuring with friends, learning new things. And he was stuck here, relegated to meaningless chores and neglect from his 'family'. A sliver of resentment wormed its way into his subconscious. Why would Dumbledore send me back here? I need to know what's going on, I was the one who fought him, wasn't I? I deserve to know! Not to mention, I just got expelled for fighting dementors outside of school!

He could feel beads of sweat begin to form on his back as his anger grew. This isn't fair! I haven't heard from anyone all summer, no letters from Ron or Hermione, my so called 'friends'. Why am I left in the dark! A soft 'hoot' came from the snowy owl beside him. He sucked in a deep breath, holding it for one, two, three… it slowly leaked out from his nose, releasing the tension in his shoulders as it went. He glanced towards his best companion with a smile. "I know girl, I know. I'm sorry."

He prepared himself to return to bed, probably to watch Cedric die for the hundred and first time, when the hairs on the back of his neck stood on edge. The unmistakable sound of footsteps ascending the stairs reached his ears, too quiet to be the Dursleys, far too cautious, they wouldn't care if he was woken. He scrambled for his wand, finding it on the nightstand, next to where his glasses had been. He retreated to his previous position, back to the open window, wand extended towards his door. Hedwig bristled beside him, sensing the tension in the room.

His breath hitched as the footsteps ceased, directly outside his door. Harry almost forgot to breathe, his eyes laser focused on lock as the key seemingly began to turn on its own. Death Eaters? How did they find me? His breaths came out short and strained as the key fell to the floor, a dull thud as it contacted the carpeting. He was momentarily blinded as a bright flash filled the room, his door blown open, somehow without nearly any noise.

Before he could mutter the stunning spell, a familiar voice caused his voice to falter. "Very good, boy. Constant Vigilance!" As the light left his eyes, the scarred visage of the legendary auror entered his vision, his prosthetic eye whirling around in seemingly random directions. "Quiet, Alastor. You'll wake the muggles." A soft voice whispered. Standing in front of him was a young witch who Harry did not recognize, holding her wand alight. She sported bright pink hair, reminding Harry of bubble gum - Dudley was fascinated with the stuff, chewing it for hours. The witch couldn't have been much older than Harry, with a pretty face and dark eyes that held a sparkle of mischief.

"Professor Moody?" Harry was able to find his voice, small as it might sound. "I'm not your professor anymore, boy. Didn't do much teaching to begin with either." A third figure stepped behind the witch, the light revealing brown hair and a kind face, with scars that did not belong on such a kind soul. He wore a smile, but his eyes… his eyes revealed just how weary he was, how tired this man had become from when Harry had seen him last. "Professor Lupin?"

The man nodded. "Hello, Harry. Pack your things, we're getting you out of here." He gestured back down the stairs. "The rest of your guard is downstairs."

Harry's eyebrow shot towards his hairline. "My guard?"

"You wouldn't believe how many volunteered, had to turn some away." Moody's gruff voice came from the doorway. "Now pack your things, we haven't got all night." Moody and Lupin retreated down the stairs, leaving Harry with the unknown witch. He moved towards his closet, retrieving the trunk he had stashed there at the beginning of the summer. He dragged it to the middle of the room, leaving it open. The young witch fully entered his room. Harry noticed she looked rather beautiful in the moonlight shining through the window.

He stood there awkwardly, picking at his shirt, unsure of how to proceed. "Uh… hi." He gave a short little wave. "I'm Harry."

"Wotcher, Harry, I'm Tonks… Nice bedroom you have here, very spacious."

"Thanks." Harry began to rip his clothes out of the dresser and into the open trunk, completing a checklist in his head. "Uh, Harry?" Tonk's voice right next to his ear. He turned to find her standing close to him… real close. "Need some help there?" He gulped, his cheeks heating up from what was definitely the summer heat.

"S-sure. I can't do magic cause, uh, ya know, laws and all that…" He trailed off awkwardly. Harry was glad he wasn't standing in the moonlight, the darkness hiding his blush. He had a sneaking suspicion that Tonks knew about it anyway. A small laugh escaped her full lips as he leaned closer. "Sure thing…Harry." Tonks winked, moving back towards the middle of the room. She waved her wand and his room came alive with a flurry of motion. Clothes, robes, school supplies, all flying around the room, eventually settling into his trunk. A small smile appeared on Harry face as he watched magic in action for the first time in months - well, except for his patronus to fight the dementors - the first time he was allowed to appreciate magic in months.

"Thanks, Tonks."

"No problem. I was never good at household charms, but this one, I find very useful." She retreated from his room and Harry heard her footsteps disappear down the stairs. "I don't know where I'm headed. Can you come find me, girl?" Hedwig hooted what Harry assumed was an affirmative. He opened the cage, letting the owl free into the night sky. He watched her go for a minute, her shadow disappearing into the moon, before he grabbed his trunk and made his way downstairs.

"Ah, ready to go Harry?" He was greeted by the kind face of Lupin. He smiled and nodded to his favorite professor, taking time to look around the room. Lupin, Moody and Tonks were joined by multiple other witches and wizards, none of which Harry recognized. Four wizards and two witches crowded around the dining room table, all eyeing him with varying degrees of interest. Moody was nowhere to be seen. One wizard really stood out, literally. He towered above the rest, a stern expression on his dark skin. "This is Kingsley Shacklebolt." Lupin offered.

Kingsley inclined his head in greeting, his low, smooth voice commanding attention as it rolled through the room. "Mr. Potter."

Lupin continued the introductions, gesturing towards a pair of older wizards. "This is Eliphias Doge, and Dedalus Diggle." Harry greeted them with a small 'hello'.

"Sturgis Podmore." A wizard who appeared around the same age as Lupin offered a greeting. "And lastly, these are Emmeline Vance and Hestia Jones." They were taller than Harry, though most people are, most likely a product of his less than ideal childhood. "Leaving us for last, eh Lupin?" The one named Hestia quipped. All she received was an eye roll from the werewolf.

Moody hobbled into the room, his walking stick banging on the floor in a rhythmic pattern. "We received the go-ahead. Time to move out." The witches and wizards moved out of the apartment, a large group with Harry in the center. He was a little miffed that they assumed he needed that much protection. They lined up on the sidewalk, Moody raising his hand. A moment passed before little balls of light were forced from all the streetlights, floating towards the wizard. The balls were sucked into something, Harry couldn't see, and the street was lit with only the light from the moon.

Harry stood on the sidewalk, positioned between Lupin and Tonks. "Where are we going?" He asked nobody in particular.

"Don't worry about that right now, Harry." Lupin answered him. "Just focus on flying." Brooms appeared out of thin air, floating towards each member of the guard. Harry felt euphoric as the broom touched his hand again, the familiar feeling comforting and exciting him, he always loved being in the air. He paused for a moment. "What about my stuff?" he asked Lupin.

"Sturgis has it all taken care of." Harry felt a nudge on his other side. A blush formed as he looked away from Lupin towards Tonks. "Think you can keep up, seeker?"

"Leave the boy alone, Nymphadora." Moody's voice came from the other side of Lupin. Harry had never seen someone's mood change so quickly. Tonks' features hardened into a scowl and her hair turned an angry red - Her hair turned an angry red?! "Don't call me Nymhpadora!" Harry was glad he was not on the receiving end of her ire, he nearly flinched, being in the receiving direction. Moody didn't flinch, just continued with business.

He looked down the line of magic users, "Everyone ready?" After a round of confirmation, he continued. "Remember, stay in formation no matter what… even if one of us is killed."

Harry's eyes widened, "Killed?!" He heard Tonks sigh to his left. He glanced over to see her eyes roll into her head. Harry was a little nervous now. He knew, however, once he was in the sky, he was in his comfort zone. Moody kicked off the ground, followed by Lupin. Harry kicked off the ground and the realization finally hit him in full… he was finally free from his relatives… maybe, hopefully, for good this time.