Prologue:

 

 

It was different...It had never felt like this before. The tension was at a straining point. He was oblivious to it at first. The events of the past few weeks finally taking a toll on his tired and wary body causing him to go into a complete lethargic and catatonic state. It wasn’t till the following Sunday after his return that he woken from his stupor, to the sounds of yelling voices and angry words that made him get up at 10:00 pm on that otherwise calm and peaceful Sunday night and walk quietly over to his door, stick his head out look to the right; then left; then see his cousin standing at the foot of the steps. They locked eyes briefly then a much slimmer looking Dudley motioned for him to come over quickly.

 

“What’s going on?” Harry asked quietly.

 

“Your friends are here...Come on” Dudley said with a smirk as he began walking down the steps both boys skipping the third from the bottom and stopped as a large gray blur ran awkwardly past them and out the door as a glass figurine followed in his wake. They both turned their heads to see a tall angry blonde-haired person with cold pale violet eyes and nostrils flared yell in a shrill voice.

 

“And stay the hell out” Petunia yelled, then stopped abruptly as she saw the two boys at the foot of the stairs.

 

“I’m sorry did I wake you two, please forgive my rudeness, why don’t you two come join us since your up and as this concerns you both.” Petunia said in a calm voice as she held the kitchen door open. Dudley took his arm and pretty much guided his confused cousin into the kitchen. Harry walked quietly in the room, Albus Dumbledore, Remus Lupin, Mad-Eye Moody, Arthur and Bill Weasley, and Nymphardora Tonks where standing around the immaculate kitchen as Dudley guided Harry to a seat at the table. Their greeting fell on deaf ears and it wasn’t till Petunia spoke in desperately calm voice that made Harry look at her as if he had never seen her before.

 

“Harry I’m sure you very confused right now, and I’m going to add to that confusion which will by all means most likely give you good reason to kill everyone except Dudley. Last year you asked me if I was in contact with wizards, my answer is yes… being a witch myself…But the way I raised you had to be done like that and even last year, would have been too soon to tell you…I went threw a lot myself. However, I would like to make amends by giving you two chances at a better life with my brother…He is more then happy to take both of you in and can assure you that both of you will be safe. Here’s your bags and portkey…you two have a safe summer …be good and have fun…I love you both very much.

 

“Where will you be…will we see you?” Dudley asked as he stood up and looked at his mother.

 

“Hopefully yes, if not, I want both of you to know that I love you very much and always always, follow your heart… as it will never lead you astray.” Petunia said in a shaky voice as tears spilled from her pale violet eyes down her thin white cheeks. She wrapped her arms around Dudley and gave him a kiss on the cheek before turning to Harry and surprising him by doing the same and wishing him luck. He looked at his cousin who had put his hand on the magazine with a calm and determined expression on his face. Harry smiled before casting one last look at the people in the room counted…3…2…1…before the room blurred away in a haze of color and howling wind.

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 

Prophecies 1: Research

 

It had been 3 weeks since they had arrived in Lloyd and Maddy’s Kitchen on that sultry Sunday night. Harry and Dudley were greeted kindly and received another surprise in the form of Black haired, green-eyed Marcus Lloyd Evans and black-haired, blue-eyed Holly Marie Evans both of whom Harry and Dudley knew and the same Mark that Dudley use to beat up or so Harry thought. It turned out for the better part of three years that Dudley had been spending a lot of his time with the young Mark and they had a few secrets of their own. Holly a year younger then Mark had been doing the same as well. Surprising Harry, Lloyd and Maddy with their knowledge of the happenings of the Wizarding world at first Harry was mad as hell, But once he realized that all their lives affected by the lies and deceptions that the adults in their lives had told them his anger evaporated at once. Their stay at their uncles was enlightening. Tall, black haired, green- eyed Lloyd worked for the Ministry of Magic as unspeakable in the Department of Mysteries. Petite, brown-haired, and blue-eyed Maddy was an Auror and had as of late been working a lot of over time. Both quiet literally pulled Harry out of his melancholy as well as Dudley, Mark and Holly as well. He was never alone and they never aloud him to broad for too long. Lloyd and Maddy had there house warded so all four kids could practice magic and not be detected. They had taken the kids shopping two days after their arrival. It had been Dudley’s 16^th Birthday on the day Him and Harry arrived and Lloyd and Maddy had known as well. He had declined any offer of gifts saying he didn’t need anything but thanked them for the offer. Harry was surprised but all Dudley said was that he had more then enough crap to last a lifetime and all he really wanted was to study more magic. As he, Mark and Holly had been visiting Diagon Alley for the past two years the three had a pretty good collection of books going as well as wands. It turned out Dudley was wizard like Harry as well. His parents having never told him and after the incident with Marge in Harry’s third year got a bit of a surprise as well. In the form of Mark Evan. His jealously of Harry had finally reached a boiling point and when Dudley had gone off to vent his anger came upon 8-year-old Mark who in turn hexed him to next year. It was the conversations that followed that lead the two boys to become friends in secret. To outsiders they looked like enemies but in reality they had been very good friends. It was 6 months after their budding friendship that Dudley found out more then he bargained for like him being a wizard, him and Mark were related and host of other discoveries fro all the old books, journals and newspapers they had been reading. Lloyd, Maddy and Harry were astounded at what they 3 had discovered threw their research. It was about a week after Harry and Dudley had come to their Aunt and Uncle’s home that they had a conversation that Harry was not soon to forget. It was early in the morning and Maddy and Lloyd had left for work. Harry was sitting at the kitchen table eating a bowl of cereal when the three came to sit down all with bags under their eyes as if they had not sleep in weeks and all strangely quiet. There was an awkwardness between them and Harry, not an angry one, but one of uncertainty as if they were trying to act normal about this but not sure what to say. Dudley was the one who broke the ice. He looked up at Harry and in a calm voice began.

 

“Listen Harry, I’d like to apologize to you for all the shitty things I’ve done to you all your life. I really regretted what I said about Cedric last year to you, for beating you up all those years…for everything. There were so many times in the past 3 years I wanted to talk to you, but I never knew how. I could not talk to anybody about what we were doing, not my parents not my friends, just Mark and Holly and they couldn’t tell anyone either as no one was telling us anything. It didn’t phase us too much about our parents not knowing but you that was a decision that in all truth should have been told and all three of use regret it more then anything. So for now on everything we know and learn you are going to know too as All three of us hate to see you this miserable and this confused and we’re going to work are hardest to help you in your fight against Voldemort.”  Dudley said in a solemn voice as he looked at him. a look of complete regret on his face as well as Mark and Holly’s faces.

 

“It’s ok, but thank you all the same…I’m not use to this.” Harry said with a shrug as he smiled gently, The first real one in weeks all three sighed with relief.

 

“Can I ask you something? How do you do it? How can you face him? I can’t imagine what it’s like for you…you seem so, impervious to… Voldemort’s effects…I always thought when I’d meet you that it would completely different, but you seem so grounded…So normal…I mean I would have been scared shitless having to face him as many times as you have…” Holly asked in awed voice.

 

“We’ll I guess, I sort…I don’t know, I guess I’ve sort of grown use to it, like it’s no big deal anymore, I was so angry last year, but since Sirius’s death, I finally feel a little peace in my life, I know more about what’s to come.” Harry said in a calm voice his thoughts once again on the Prophecy.

 

“What do you mean, by what’s to come, do you mean The Prophecy?” Mark asked in an excited voice.

 

“Ya, how did you find out?” asked Harry in awed voice.

 

“Mum and Dad were talking about it…” Holly said carefully.

 

“It’s fine, So what have you been learning…I can’t help but notice how you three looked dead on your feet.” Harry said casual.

 

They filled him in on what they had been doing the past few years. Dudley’s frequent visits to Knockturn Alley for some of the things they had read and to study magic without being detected. Mark and Holly’s readings of old journals and newspaper of their parents. All and all they knew quiet a bit

 

It was the day before his birthday that Harry was pulled back to activities outside the world of Voldemort and his minions. During dinner, Maddy told him that in no uncertain terms that tomorrow all four of them were taking a break. As it was Harry’s birthday, that they’d be spending the day at Diagon Alley and that all of them needed a break. Harry surprised at how much time had past since he had come to stay with His Aunt and Uncle and Dudley, Holly and Mark weren’t even about to protest as they were all too completely spent for all the work they had been doing.

 

Harry woke early as he was use to rising before sunrise. He got up quietly and dressed quickly, in a pair of tan khaki pants, and white pullover jumper, both gifts from his Aunt and Uncle. The house was similar to Dursley’s but magically enlarged, with 8 bedrooms, three bathrooms, living room, dining room, kitchen, attic and basement and large back yard. Harry had his own room.  He walked quickly downstairs, down the hall and into the kitchen and received small shock in the form of his two best friends of Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger sitting at the kitchen table with his Aunt and Uncle. Both grinned and Hermione jumped up and gave him a warm hug. He held her tightly both surprising and cursing himself for his reaction to her. He stepped back and with a sense of loss hidden quickly, he reached over, shook Ron’s hand, and slapped him on the back.

 

“Hey mate, Happy Birthday.” Ron said with a grin.

 

“Happy Birthday Harry, You look good…” Hermione said in a light voice as she smiled gently at him.

 

“Thanks you both look good too… When did you two get here?” Harry asked as he sat down.

 

“Half an hour ago…” Ron said as he yawned slightly and took a sip of his coffee. Harry was so happy to see him, but felt something was different about them. Like him they had changed in appearance was well. Ron was well over 6 foot now, his flaming red hair down to his shoulders, his blue eyes still bright and enigmatic, nose, feet and hands large, and freckles still splattered across making him look tan, and blending well with his tan, dressed in blue jeans and white shirt, his lankiness replaced with lean muscle. Hermione appearance was one he was not likely so to forget. At 5 ft. 6 in. her golden brown hair hung past her shoulders in soft curls, Her large caramel brown eyes were filled with warmth and happiness, her lips full, lush and red, her heart shaped face lightly tan, nose small and upturned, A face like an angel Harry thought to himself. With a body like a Greek goddess, long shapely legs, flat stomach, narrow waist, small hips and large breast, dressed in black hip hugging pants and blue halter top, she looked amazing.

 

“And I think all three of you should go back to sleep, Hermione has the room next to Holly and Ron next to Mark, your trunks are already up there…Harry can show you, Remus, Tonks, Alastor and Mundungus will be here at 9:00…and that’s like 4 hours away…So all three of you go...now…They have you back by six…Happy Birthday Sweetheart and be careful.” Maddy said cheerfully as she ruffled his messy hair and kissed him on the cheek, before she straightening, kissing Lloyd and disapperated with a crack.

 

“Here you go…have fun, be careful and Happy Birthday.” Lloyd said as he handed him a check, patted him on the back and with a crack disapperated. Harry put the check in his shirt pocket  as the door opened and Holly, Mark and Dudley walked in still in pajama’s yawning.

 

“Oh cool, Ron, Hermione nice to see you…” Dudley said cordially as he walked over to the coffeemaker and poured 3 cups before tapping each with his wand. Dudley carried them over to the two sleepy kids that grumbled there greetings muttered their names to Ron and Hermione and laid there dark heads on there arms. The other four teens grinned as both started to snore in rhythm. All four got up, walked quietly out the back door, and took a seat at one of the round tables around the patio. The back yard by muggle appearance looked like every other, by magical appearance; it was like a tropical oasis, with large oak trees, peony, hydrangea, and lilac bushes with full fragrant blossoms, a large Olympic size pool in the middle and round tables with umbrellas around the pool and patio area. Any and every kind of plant around the fence and Gazebo in the far left corner, the place was truly beautiful.

 

“So what have you two been doing?” Harry asked as he took a sip of his coffee.

 

“Besides worry about you, nothing just spending time with my family.” Hermione said with a shrug.

 

“Working with Fred and George” Ron said at the same time, his ears going slightly red. Harry pounced at once.

 

“Don’t worry about me, I’m fine. This summer has been good…and you?” Harry asked as he looked at Ron, whom blushed slightly.

 

“Spending time with Luna…” Ron said with an expression of defiance on his tan face as if daring them to say something.

 

“That’s great Ron, I’m really happy for you.” Hermione said in a cheerful voice as she smiled at him. He grinned his face showing relief.

 

“Way to go, that’s excellent, I take it she didn’t go to Sweden?” Harry asked casually.

 

“No, she did, I just went with her…It was cool. Her dad’s really cool, He’s so normal…”Ron said as he started to laugh. Harry, Hermione and Dudley started to laugh as well. Harry having told Dudley about the eccentric Ravenclaw over the past few weeks as well as everyone else and what he had been doing for the past 5 years. The next two hours where spent telling them what they all had been doing, Holly and Mark finally waking and joining them as well, and finally having breakfast, made magically by Dudley. Hermione was strangely quiet during that time. Usually full of questions she sat quietly across from Harry, a calm expression on her lovely face. After awhile she got up and excused herself to use the potty.

 

“Is She ok…she’s so quiet…” Harry asked looking at Ron.

 

“I don’t know…I stayed at her place last night…the place is like tomb…It’s huge My house can fit in her front hall. No one was there, Her parents were gone…and I guess they just had a baby…Try talking to her alone…I couldn’t get anything from her…I don’t think it’s a spell but I’m not sure…” Ron said quietly with a look of fear.

 

“Impervious? Jeez Ron, We shouldn’t be talking in front of her then. Dammit…” Harry said as the door opened and Hermione walked out. She looked at the five sitting at the table then began to speak in her usual brisk voice.

 

“I didn’t want to tell you this as it is your birthday…but I…You two make it pretty impossible to keep anything from you…” Hermione said as she sat down and took a sip of her coffee, it was then Harry noticed the change, her large brown eyes were filled with pain, dark circles underneath. Her face though tan had a forlorn expression.

 

“My parents are in hiding. Two days after I got home, their car blew up. Headmaster Dumbledore came at once…Then he hide them and Keith…my brother…I didn’t say anything because you already have enough on your plate. I’m under constant guard. No less then Five Auror’s are at my house at any given time. They managed to keep it out of the paper.”  Hermione said quietly as she looked at Harry with eyes filled with unshed tears. He got up quickly and moved over two her pulled her from her seat and wrapping his arms around her as she sobbed gently into his chest. Harry didn’t even notice when Ron got up and joined them and Dudley, Mark and Holly left the three friends. They stayed like this for several minutes for she finally stopped and pulled back gently, she wiped her tears away with the back of her hand.

 

“Thank you, I’m sorry…” She finished softly.

 

“Don’t even think of apologizing, Your family was almost killed, We just lost Sirius, You could have died, I should be the one to apologize…both you two are at so much risk…I promise you’ll see them again…come hell or high water I’ll make damn sure of that.” Harry said determinedly as he looked at her.

 

“Same goes here…You see them again, alright?” Ron said resolutely as he handed her a handkerchief.

 

“Thank you, both you…I don’t know how I’d get threw this without you.”  Hermione said softly as she looked at them.

 

“Hell are you kidding we’d both probably be worm bait without you…” Ron said as he grin as he picked her up and hugged her tightly before setting her down. She laughed and kissed him on the cheek.  Harry did the same but instead of kissing him on the cheek, he turned and her lips brushed his briefly, before she pulled away. They both blushed but smiled gently. The back door opened and Dudley, Holly and Mark came out followed by Remus, Mad-Eye, Tonks and Mundungus walked all out the scene.

 

“You own me Ten Galleons Remus…” Tonks said cheerfully as she hugged Ron, before turning to Harry and finally to Hermione. In ripped jeans and black tank top with bright blue hair and eyes, she looked like a roadie for punk rock band, Mad-Eye, Lupin, and Dung looked the same as always. Harry introduced his cousins to the members of the Order that would be there guard today.

 

“Why do you own her Ten Galleons?” Ron asked as Remus handed Tonks the coins.

 

“Because of the pool they had going as to which one of you I’d end up with, which I’m not as that was just an accident.” Hermione said in a forceful voice as she looked at the four adults.

 

“Ya, ok…sure whatever…” Tonks said with a smirk.

 

“Enough, leave them alone. So is there anywhere specific you six want to go?” Remus asked mildly. All of them looked at one another before Holly asked in a brisk business like voice.

 

“Yes, we need someone to go to Knockturn Alley and get a few supplies for us…Here’s a list and where you can find them.” Holly said as she handed Remus the list. He looked at the parchment, looked at her, looked at her before pocketing the list and saying in calm voice.

 

“I’ll see what I can do. I’m not even going to ask how you know where they are at. Do your parents know about this?” Remus said forced calm voice as he looked at them.  It was Dudley who stepped forward, looked at Remus with cool pale blue eyes, and said in a deadly calm voice.

 

“Yes, her parents know as I told them, and no she doesn’t know where they are located as she never been there…however I have, and I don’t suggested you give us any shit about it as these are things we need to help Harry…Got it.”  Dudley said as he in a menacing voice as he looked at the man.

 

“Don’t worry, we’ll get them Dudley…I’ll just go as Cissia…” Tonks said cheerfully as she reached into Remus’s pocket and took out the list. With that said the group relaxed gather into groups of five and took hold of the shoe and deflated football and in a whirl of rushing wind and vivid color were whisked away.

 

 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

 

 

      Three Days Grace - Just Like You

 

 

 

      I could be mean

      I could be angry

      You know I could be just like you

 

      I could be fake

      I could be stupid

      You know I could be just like you

 

      You thought you were standing beside me

      You were only in my way

      You're wrong if you think that I'll be just like you

      You thought you were there to guide me

      You were only in my way

      You're wring if you think that I'll be

      Just like you

 

      I could be cold

      I could be ruthless

      You know I could be just like you

     

 

      I could be weak

      I could be senseless

      You know I could be just like you

 

      You thought you were standing beside me

      You were only in my way

      You're wrong if you think that I'll be just like you

      You thought you were there to guide me

      You were only in my way

      You're wring if you think that I'll be

      Just like you

 

      On my own, cause I can't take livin' with you

      I'm alone, so I won't turn out like

      You want me to