After what seemed like hours Harry and his Uncle Vernon finally reached Private Drive.
“It’s bad enough Dumbledore made me return to these muggles, but to listen to this is too much.” Harry thought. He had spent the entire ride to the Dursley’s listening to his uncle complain about how Harry was such a inconvenience, and how nice it would be if Harry could stay at Hogwarts through the summer. Harry was amazed that the whole trip in the car, he restrained himself, and didn’t curse his uncle once. “If only they would allow us to practice magic over the holiday’s. I would love to see what he would say if he new I could transfigure him into a goat.” Harry thought.
After half dragging and half pushing his trunk to his room, Harry was pleasantly surprised that most of Dudley’s old broken toys had been removed. In fact, the room was quiet clean. It seems that poor old Dudley had again burst out of his Smeltings uniform, and Uncle Vernon, and Aunt Petunia had punished him by throwing out everything he owned. Harry laughed to himself when he pictured the tantrum Dudley must have thrown. 'But, but, but, momma, not my computer.' However Harry was quickly brought back to his normal self when he was pushed to the floor by what he could only explain as a half boy, half whale.
“Get down stairs right now, Mom says you need to clean the kitchen.” Dudley half laughed half shouted
“Get out” Harry yelled, “All I need on my first day back to this house is to be bothered by you.” After He quickly put his things in the corner of his room, he paused to feed Hedwig an owl treat. Harry followed his fat cousin to a waiting Petunia in the kitchen.
“Your going to earn your stay this summer,” she spat as she threw a mop, and bucket at Harry. "Great." he thought, "Seems nothing has changed." Harry disregarded the laughing Dudley in the corner, and quickly went to work on cleaning the kitchen. He wasn’t surprised at how messy the kitchen was, it looked to him like his Aunt had put off cleaning for two weeks so that she could make Harry suffer all the more cleaning it. After two hours cleaning the floors, doing the dishes, and washing off the cupboards Harry was finally done. He put the mop, and buckets back in the kitchen closet, and went back to his room.
Once finally alone, he unpacked as little as he could, and climbed into his bed. “It looks like another summer of nothing to do but play with you.” He said as he scratched hedwig under her beak. She replied softly by affectionately nipping at his finger.
After letting Hedwig out of her cage, and placing her on the window sill Harry decided that it was late enough to go to sleep. He figured that nobody would miss him at dinner, and wasn’t especially excited to eat grapefruit. After changing into his pajamas, and climbing into bed Harry had nothing else to do but ponder his stay at the Dursley’s. Harry sat there for a moment then forced himself to think of something different. Immediately Harry’s mind raced to his best friends Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and surprisingly Cho Chang. “I wonder what they're up to. I’m sure that whatever it is, it must be better than this.” It wasn’t long however before Harry found himself falling asleep.
After only an hour or so Harry was suddenly awoken. The first thing he saw, when he opened his eyes, was Cedric’s body lying dead next to him. “Not again” he groaned as he looked up to see a familiar face. Just like the night of the Triwizarding Tournament Harry was face to face with his enemy. “Voldermort” Harry spat as he felt himself tumble to the ground. The second Harry had looked up he had come eye to eye with his enemy. Harry’s scar had erupted with such pain that he was impossible for Harry to stay standing. Harry, however, quickly managed to force his mind off the pain. All he could hear was Voldermorts cruel laugh, but he knew that soon his voice would turn, and he would be tortured, and then killed.
Harry had to force this fear out of his mind. He wasn’t going to give his enemy the pleasure of watching him suffer. As he steadied himself, and adjusted to stand straight, he once again looked straight into the eyes of Voldermort. Just as his Emerald green eyes meet the slimy red slit eyes of Voldermort, Harry woke up with a start. “Bloody Hell” he stammered as he reached up and touched his lightening shaped scar. It was throbbing from the nightmare he had just had, but this time he felt something that really frightned him. His scar was both wet, and warm. As he took his hand away from his head, he noticed that it was covered in blood. “What’s going on?” He thought, as he jumped from his bed and ran to the bathroom. He looked into the mirror to see that his scar was burning a bright white, and that blood was running down the length of it. As he moved his finger to touch the white light, he quickly pulled it back. His head was on fire; the white light that was escaping from where the scar burnt him. When he looked back into the mirror, he noticed that it was fading. The light had gone, and his scar was no longer bleeding. He again placed his hand over his head, and was relieved to discover that it no longer hurt, All that was left of the white light was a severe headache.
Harry stood in the bathroom for a while, looking closely at the scar. He decided he would try and salvage a little sleep, and headed back to his room. “This is the second week straight of having these nightmares. I wonder when they'll stop.” He thought. He reminded himself what Sirus had said to do when his head hurt. Harry decided that he would write to Sirus and Dumbledore to see if they know anything. With the thought of his Godfather in his head, Harry lad back in bed, and fought to stay asleep the rest of the night.
The next week was just as bad for Harry. He was woken almost every morning with a pounding headache, and his scar hurting. He had received a letter back from both Dumbledore, and Sirus, and both were no help. Sirus however stated something that made Harry’s skin crawl.
Harry,
Thanks for writing; it is good to hear from you. I don’t know why you are having
all of these nightmares, but let me know if they get worse. I am looking into it
now. However, the matter of your scar burning a bright white, and bleeding really
frightens me. I think that the scar hurting, and the nightmares may have some-
thing in common. As you know Voldermort has returned. The problem with that is
he is quickly regaining the same strength that he had when YOU destroyed him
before. I think he may be trying to enter your dreams. I am talking to Dumbledore
about it, stay strong,and owl me immediately if anything else happens that is
unusual.
Sirus
This did not make Harry’s stay with the Dursley’s any better. The thought of Voldermort getting stronger, and him being stuck without any form of communication other that Ron’s occasional Owl was unnerving. Just then, Hedwig flew in the window with a dead rat in her beak. “Not hungry this morning girl. Thanks though” Harry said as he carried Hedwig over to her perch. “I wonder If Ron will send the daily Prophet today?” Harry had read in one of the daily prophets Ron had sent earlier that the Minister of magic had finally come to realize that Voldermort definately had returned, and the Auror’s were again hunting down known death eaters. Harry, however, was forced to stop thinking about that when Pig slammed into the side of his head. “Ouch, what the...” Was all he could say before he noticing the little brown owl buzzing around his head. “Pig” Harry yelled as he grabbed at the little owl. It took Harry three shots before he was able to catch her, “Man you're fast. I don’t think I would be able to catch you if I wasn’t a seeker.” Harry quickly untied the letter that Pig was carrying, and offered the owl some water from Hedwigs cage. Just as Harry was about to set the little owl down, he noticed the picture on the front page of the daily Prophet.
Percy Weasley, Son of Author Weasley, the Head of The Department of Misuse of
Muggle Artifacts, has accepted a position at the Ministry of Magic as a Defense
against the Dark Arts Auror. Percy’s dedication to hard work is what allowed him
to be promoted to this highly challenging position.
“Wow” he thought. “Percy, an Auror. Never would have thought.” Harry glanced at the note Ron had sent.
Harry,
Can you believe it? Percy is an Auror, you should see all the stuff they are
teaching him, I can’t wait to show you some of the dueling things he has
practiced on me, Malfoy’s not going to dare say anything to me now.
Ron
Harry had to admit seeing Percy as an auror was quite a shock, but he felt a little uneasy. “What if he tries to prove himself?” They all new that Percy was trying to move up in the MOM, and would do anything to prove his qualifications. “I hope he doesn’t do anything stupid.”
Just then Petunia burst into the room, and demanded that he put his "abnormal" things away. She reminded him that they refused to allow him to practice that ridiculous "hocus pocus" in their house, and forced him to get rid of that annoying owl. Harry quickly threw Pig out the window, and made his way down stairs. As he reached the bottom, Petunia threw a shovel, and rake at him, “Get to work” she spat, “I expect the yard to be mowed, the leaves raked, and the weeds pulled. Oh yes, I also bought a flat of flowers today, and want them planted in the front garden.”
“But this is going to take all day,” Harry half said half yelled, “I have homework to do!”
“WHAT DID I TELL YOU ABOUT TALKING ABOUT THAT STUPID SCHOOL? NOW GET OUT THERE, AND EARN YOUR STAY YOU UNGRATEFUL BEAST!" Petunia roared.
Harry decided the best thing to do was to get out of her line of fire. He hurried outside, and started to work in the yard. Around 5:30 that afternoon, Harry was finally done. He put away the yard tools, and headed in for dinner. By the looks on the Dursley’s faces, Harry knew that he was not wanted at the dinner table. He walked around to his usual seat, and instead of sitting down, he just picked up the cold soup, and sandwich, and brought it up to his room. Instead of eating Harry let his mind drift of to his friends. “ I wonder how Hermione is doing, I haven’t heard from her yet. I wonder if she went to see Victor after all.” Just then there was another rap on the window. He quickly ran to it, and let a rather large barn owl fly in carrying a awful large box.
Harry was surprised to say the least. He was not expecting anything from anyone, so was slightly alarmed at the size of the box. As he stared at it with mixed emotions, he freed the owl, and tore open the letter that came with it.
Harry,
After your last letter, I figured I would send you some things to pass the time.
I am still trying to talk mom into owling Dumbledore to get you over here, but
she is being such a pain, she keeps saying he has his reasons, and that he will
let us know when it is safe for you to come. If not, I will see you the last day
of August at Diagon Alley, remember you promised that you would meet me. I got a
letter from Hermione today, she said that this is as soon as she can make it.
Must be having two much fun with that git Victor. By the way Fred and George say
Hi, and they threw in a few treats for Dudley. Have fun with those, but don’t
get yourself in trouble. I have to go, hope you like the stuff, Oh by the way,
what did you think about Percy being an Auror? You haven’t written back in a
while.
Ron
Harry couldn’t be happier, he had just been thinking of his friends, and low and behold, Ron, Fred and George were worried about him as well. Maybe this summer won’t be all that bad he thought as he opened the box Ron had sent him. Who knows, with the stuff Fred and George had sent, maybe these last few weeks won’t be that bad at all.
After emptying the entire box's contents onto his bed, Harry wasn’t surprised what Ron was thinking, 'Pass the time, what? By eating to death?' he thought. They had sent numerous things. Bertie Botts every flavor beans, Chocolate frogs, Pumpkin Pasties, and Licorice Wands. However, the thing that caught his attention was an old tarnished black book. Harry picked it up, and read the title Quiditch Through the Ages. Ron had done it. He had sent him just what he wanted, only Ron, and Hermione new Harry could spend hours reading about Quiditch, and leave it up to his friends to cheer him up. Harry placed everything but a few of Fred and Georges Taffies, and his new book in the hiding place under his bed. He decided to write Ron back.
Ron,
Thanks for the stuff, I can’t wait to see what happens when Dudley eats one of
these taffy’s, what are they anyway? Oh who cares, its going to be hilarious.
Hey, thanks for the book, it's just what I needed. Oh, by the way, where did you
get that owl, it was huge! Tell Percy congratulations for me. I can’t wait to see
the new stuff he taught you. I hope your mom can talk Dumbledore into letting me
visit, I don’t know how many more days I can last in here. This horrible family
is making me do everything while they sit on the fat bums, and watch the set. I
am counting down the days to the 31st; maybe we can stay at the leaky cauldron,
and go to the Hogwarts express the next day. Well keep me informed.
Your Friend
Harry
Harry tied the letter to hedwig and brought her to the window. “Take this to Ron for me please. Thanks girl.” Hedwig gave him a nip on his finger, and flew out the window. Harry watched his owl fly off, and was for the first time since he returned to the Dursley’s, full of happy thoughts. As decided that he was to tired to start reading, and surprisingly not hungry, he placed his book away, and laid down on his bed. As soon as his head hit the pillow, Harry had fallen asleep.
Harry woke up the next morning with a start, Petunia was pounding on his door for him to get up, and he was shocked to see that it was 9:00 AM “WOW” he said, “I must have been tired.”
“Are you up yet”? Petunia yelled through the door. “Get down stairs you lazy brat, I have to go shopping, and I am not leaving you here alone. So get down stairs NOW.”
“I’m coming, hold your hippogriphs” Harry yelled, regardless of where he was, he was happy to finally be able to get a good night sleep.
“What did you just say? I swear if I have to call your Uncle, you will be living it that closet again. Now get down here!”
Harry let out a long sigh, 'Just a little bit longer he thought; I can make it.'
Once Harry had made his way downstairs he noticed at once that Dudley was still in the family room, watching TV, “Why does he get to stay, and I have to come” he said
“Don’t raise your voice to me you ungrateful git,” Petunia barked. “My Dudley Wuddly won’t burn down the place, that’s why, and I’m not taking you with me either, I am dropping you off at Miss Figgs house. She says she has some work for you to do, and God knows only hard work can straighten you out, you Freak.”
Harry couldn’t help but force himself to smile, he had a distinct feeling that He was not only going to see Miss Figgs, but in fact he was going to see Snuffles. How many people are named Figgs anyway? he thought, I know Dumbledore has said her name before. It has to be the same person.
Harry was right, as soon as his aunt drove off, he noticed old Miss Figgs walk over to him, accompanied by a rather large black scruffy dog. “Snuffles!” Harry said, as he wrapped his Godfather in a hug. “I was wondering what you were up to. What are you doing here?”
“Not now Harry” miss Figgs grinned, “lets go inside.” Harry was reluctant to follow, but soon found himself in the house he had grown to know as a musty cat house. He was happy to see that after Miss Figgs fell and broke her hip, she had gotten rid of all of her cats, and in fact, the house smelt almost normal.
“So Harry, how are things” Sirus asked, he had transformed once he had gotten inside.
"Great now” Harry said, turning his attention to his Godfather. “So, what are you doing here” he asked
“Harry,” Sirus said in a I’m not to be questioned voice “I know that you have a lot of questions, but all I can say right now is that Miss Figgs has been gracious enough to allow me to stay here for a while, so that I can be close enough to you, and still easily accessible to Dumbledore and the Magical community. So instead of asking me questions, lets just enjoy the two hours we have now.”
"Bu, bu, butt..." was all Harry had managed to get out. Sirus had said what he needed to say in such a tone that Harry new it meant end of subject. However, Harry was not at all unhappy with the lack of information. Quiet on the contrary, He and Sirus spent the next few hours discussing how James and He used to pull pranks on the Slytherins, and how Lily would never join in on the pranks, but was always one of the last to stop laughing. They continued to talk much into the afternoon, when finally Petunia had arrived to pick Him up. It seems that Dudley may not have burnt the house down, but he had made a huge mess that Petunia for once made him clean up. By the time Dudley had finished, it was 7:00 that night, and Harry had been able to spend the day with Sirus.
By the time they pulled up to private drive, Harry was ready for bed. He decided that he would skip dinner once again, and headed straight to his room. This was a good thing to. The second Petunia walked in the door, she started barking at Dudley.
“DUDLEY, WHAT ARE YOU EATING NOW, DON’T YOU KNOW YOU WAY THREE TIMES THAT OF ANY OF YOUR FRIE…., PUT THAT DOWN. WHERE DID YOU GET THAT? WHATS GOING ON Dudley PUT THAT DOWN Dudley………….. HARRY, HAAAARRRRRRY WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY BABY DUDLICANS!”
“Oh great, what did he blame on me now.” Harry thought as he walked slowly toward the kitchen door, just before he got to the door, he noticed what had happened. Petunia was holding Dudley under the sink, and was scrubbing his face with what can only be described as a rock. Dudley was chocking, and spitting out water, as his head was forced by both Petunia and Vernon under the sink.
Harry bust out laughing. He couldn’t help it. Dudley’s entire face was covered with Pink, and Purple polka dots. Harry new he had gone into his room, and grabbed a handful of Fred, and George’s Taffies, Harry only wished he had a camera, he wanted so bad to show this to Fred and George, not to mention anyone else that wanted a laugh. He, however, knew now was not the time to stand still, and hurried past them. As he ran past a fuming Uncle Vernon, he said “I won’t be eating dinner tonight, I will be in my room, by the way, the spots should wear off in a few hours.”
Harry couldn’t believe his luck. He had not only spent the entire day with his Godfather, but he had just witnessed a beached wale being scoured to death by a fuming horse! This was priceless. And to top it all off, he was already happy at hearing stories of when Sirus and his dad, and mom. Used to prank the Slytherins. Harry thought that he was about to burst at the seams with happiness, and decided to pull out the picture book that Hagrid had given him. He opened the book to the first page, and let out a long sigh. “I miss you.” He said as he traced the faces of his parents with his finger. "Boy do I miss you.” Harry sat there for hours replaying the days events, but his mind kept coming back to one thing Sirus had said. “Lily was always the last to stop laughing, she was always so happy, James and I loved to hear her laugh.” To Harry this made him both smile, and cry, He wished so much that he could hear his mom laugh. The only memories Harry had of his father and mother were the last moments of their lives, if only they could have defeated Voldermort, then Harry would be happy, he wouldn’t be living with these horrible people, Sirus would be free, Cedric would never have died, He would have a real family. This was almost too much for Harry to handle, he spent the next hour before he went to sleep just pondering on the what if's, when he was about to break down and cry, he remembered what Dumbledore said about not living in the past, but for the future, and decided to put it out of his mind. The Dursley’s had stopped screaming, and pounding on Harry’s door, so it was safe to guess that the effects of the taffy had worn off, and He could finally go to sleep. After replacing the floorboard over His things, Harry was ready for bed. He changed quickly, and then jumped on to his bed.
The only problem is that instead of landing on his Bed, Harry felt the familiar pulling behind his navel that he had received both times he had used a portkey, Next thing he new, he was again laying on the ground in front of Tom Riddle’s grave, and just like before, he knew he was not alone. “Wormtail” Harry hissed, “What’s this, what just happened?”
Wormtail just turned around laughing, leaving Harry just sitting there. He new he was in trouble this time. This was not a nightmare, something had happened.
“If only I had my wand” He thought “I won’t stand a chance without that.” Just as Harry was about to get up and run, he heard the voice that haunted his dreams, the voice that sent chills down his spine. “Voldermort” Harry yelled. He didn’t need to turn around to know it was him, as soon as he heard the voice he felt the searing pain of his scar. “What? How?” is all Harry could say.
Voldermort let an evil grin spread across his thin lips, “Crucio.”
Harry new by the pain he was feeling that Voldermort just placed the crucatus curse on him. He was going to die. Voldermort had returned just two months earlier, and he had already trapped Harry. The pain that he was feeling was blinding. Harry was struggling to stay conscious, and just as he thought he was going to pass out, the pain stopped.
Voldermort had released the curse on Harry and was standing above him Laughing. “What boy? Did that hurt?”
Harry couldn’t say anything. He just lay there gasping for breath.
“I see you still don’t have enough respect for me to answer.” Voldermort said in a taunting voice. "Crucio.”
Just like before Harry felt the inhuman feeling of the crucatus curse, but this time it was to much for Harry to control. Harry let out an ear-splitting scream. Every part of his body cringed with the pain. He felt blood running down his face and knew he wouldn’t last much longer. This was it. Either he would die of pain, or die from the killing curse, and just like last time, right as he got to the breaking point, it all stopped. Once again the Dark lord had taken the curse off of Harry, and once again Harry was gasping to breath. He was being tortured, Voldermort wasn’t going to let him pass out, he wanted to make Harry suffer for the time he suffered. Harry forced himself to look up, when he did he saw the dark lord talking to a death eater. This allowed Harry to get a minute of regular breathing, and enough time to make up his mind. Harry suddenly stood up as a last attempt to defy the dark lord. “I am not scared of you, or of dying.” He said in a voice full of courage. Disregarding the pain he felt in his head, and Body. He glared directly into Voldermorts eyes, “You can kill me now, but you will never be able to defeat Dumbledore. You will never win.” Voldermort just stared at Harry. Harry could see the rage in his eyes, and it sent sheering pain through his scar. As Harry stood their waiting for Voldermort to finish him he took part of his pajamas, and wiped away the sweat, and blood from his head.
Just then Voldermort let out a piercing laugh. “Little boy, Dumbledore is already dead, why do you think it was so easy to get to you.” with that Voldermort pointed his wand at Harry, and cursed him, "Aveda Kedavara”