Authors' Notes: We are terribly sorry for the long wait. Right after the release of the second chapter both Eowyn and I were swamped with work and were then stuck with an unfortunately large case of writer's block. We are working on getting our chapters out at a quicker rate and will try to do better with the next chapter. We are making no promises though as to the next update. I must say though; nothing works better for inspiration then tons of reviews!! (Hint Hint!) Please don't hesitate to voice your opinions! Now without further adieu chapter 3!!! Enjoy and REVIEW!!!!!
CHAPTER 3: An Ominous Warning
Aunt Petunia jerked the car to a stop in front the house. Harry's mouth dropped open in horror as they both took in the scene before them. This was not the neat, orderly Number Four, Privet Drive they had left behind earlier that day. Remnants of what used to be the front door were scattered across the lawn. There was a large crowd of people milling about in robes of various colors - Ministry officials and Order members. A few were working on removing the Dark Mark from the sky; others were trying to hold back nosey neighbors. Total chaos was the only way to describe it.
Harry turned to glance at Aunt Petunia. She was sitting rigidly still with both hands gripping the steering wheel. Knowing that she had encountered this scene before, the day her parents were killed, Harry could only imagine what she was feeling now.
Finally Aunt Petunia snapped out of her shock. She jumped from the car, slammed the door, and bolted for the house. Harry got out more slowly, looking around for a familiar face in the crowd-anything to make the whole situation seem less like a nightmare. At the door he nearly ran into Remus Lupin, his third-year Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and an old school friend of his father's. Harry opened his mouth to ask the question that had been on his mind since he'd seen the Dark Mark; he had to ask it, even though there was only one possible answer.
Before he could form the words, Harry heard an awful scream from inside the house.
"Noooo! Not Vernon! Not my Dudders! No!"
Remus looked at Harry and nodded gravely. Harry ran into the house, came to the living room, and stopped abruptly.
Uncle Vernon was sprawled on the floor in front of the doorway, his face frozen in a terrified expression. Aunt Petunia was kneeling beside him, now sobbing quietly but inexorably. Further into the room, Dudley lay beside an overturned chair, as if he had knocked it down trying to escape. A lamp had fallen off a table and shattered on the floor. Glancing around quickly, Harry noticed something on the far wall. It looked like a message. Almost against his will, he stepped over the broken lamp and leaned forward to get a closer look. It was a message - written in blood.
Your time is up, Harry Potter.
And below that, in smaller letters:
"Either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives…"
Harry was still staring when he heard Remus come up softly behind him.
"Harry?"
"How could he do this?" Harry asked without turning. "The house was protected. My relatives…"
"When Voldemort used your blood to return, it enabled him to overcome the protection given by your mother's family. We don't know how he found out about the prophecy, but it must have made him recognize that he would have to attack you himself, rather than sending Death Eaters who couldn't reach you here. I'm very sorry, Harry."
"They didn't deserve this," Harry muttered. "I didn't like them much, but I never would have wanted them dead. They were innocent. Innocent…" Feeling nauseated, he averted his eyes from the writing and the bodies by fixing his gaze on the blank television screen in the corner. He could feel rage building inside him, making his hands shake as he fought back a sudden urge to scream.
The television exploded.
There was a loud bang as pieces of the screen flew across the room, making several Order members duck. Harry's blood roared in his ears and his vision blurred strangely, as if he were looking at the room through a thick fog. He stood blinking for a moment, utterly bewildered. When his head cleared again, he became aware of Remus and Tonks whispering from behind him. He turned to look at them questioningly.
"Did you do that, Harry?" Tonks asked.
"No. I was just staring-I don't think I could-did I?" Harry couldn't tell if she was joking or serious. But Remus was looking at him with new interest.
"Harry, try to think back. Has anything like that ever happened before?"
"What, me making something explode? Well, yeah. Loads of times."
"I mean without a wand. Without even trying to do it."
Harry thought harder. "Once, I made my Aunt Marge's wine glass explode. She was insulting my mum. I didn't mean to do it." He caught a significant look pass between Remus and Tonks. "What?" he demanded. "What's so important?"
"We can't be certain, yet." Remus replied. "I'll talk to Dumbledore about it. Meanwhile, Harry, tell us if anything else happens that seems-out of the ordinary."
"I think I have a right to know what you're talking about," Harry said rather loudly, "as it has to do with me."
"All right. Keep in mind that I'm no expert on this subject, so I may be on the wrong track altogether. But I think it's possible that you have just used a highly unusual form of magic. One that is also extremely rare." Remus stopped suddenly and looked over Harry's shoulder. Harry was about to ask him to continue, when he heard someone else speak.
"Do go on. I'm sure the Daily Prophet would be quite interested in any theories concerning young Harry Potter's latest… nonconformity."
Harry whirled, finding himself face to face with a witch wearing jeweled spectacles and holding a green quill.
"Rita Skeeter," Remus said stiffly. "I believe the reporters were asked to remain outside."
"What are you doing here?" Harry demanded with somewhat less tact.
"Why, I flew in through the open door! Besides, your silly girlfriend's threats don't scare me anymore. You are looking at a legally registered Animagus, Mr. Potter! So, tell me, how do you feel about this attack on your family? Angry? Frightened? Could you tell me more about this prophecy concerning you and You-Know-Who?"
Harry stared at her blankly for a moment. "Hermione is not my girlfriend," he managed finally. Ron would never forgive him if that rumor got started again. Hermione had caused enough tension between them already. If she loved Ron better than Harry it was time that he, Harry, accepted the facts.
There was a loud pop of someone Apparating and Harry started, surprised at himself for getting lost in thought when so much was going on around him. The new arrival was Albus Dumbledore.
"Hello, Rita. You must have lost your way. This room is off-limits to reporters." Dumbledore sounded as relaxed as ever, but his blue eyes had lost their usual twinkle.
"Oh, but Dumbledore-"
"There are no exceptions. You will be admitted later, along with the rest."
Rita Skeeter scowled at all of them before transforming herself into a beetle and buzzing out the broken window.
"She'll have seen the message," Remus said quietly to Dumbledore. "That line of the prophecy will make national headlines tomorrow, maybe international. How did he find out?"
"I don't know, Remus. I fear the worst." Dumbledore sighed heavily. "Such speculations must wait. The important thing now is that Harry remains safe. Harry, go pack your things; we'll be leaving shortly. Remus, if you would accompany him? Tonks, would you be so kind as to help Mrs. Dursley?"
Harry and Remus went up to Harry's room and wordlessly began sorting through the books and clothes scattered about on the floor. The silence in the room was oppressive, broken only by an occasional swoosh as Remus cast a spell to speed the process. Harry found himself searching for something to say, but it was Remus who finally spoke.
"Harry, are you all right?"
"I'm fine." He was feeling better, had been ever since that strange explosion in the living room. "I'm just disgusted. I knew what Voldemort was capable of, but to have him burst into my life like this-I always felt like the Dursleys' was safe, somehow. And I'm worried about Aunt Petunia."
Remus nodded. "I knew your aunt slightly, before she was married. She and your mother were very close. Her parents' deaths must have hit her hard; I never would have guessed that she would turn her back on the wizarding world."
"Oh, but the wizarding world has such charms," Harry replied bitterly. "Who would want to turn their back on an evil wizard who tries to kill people for being Muggles, and who sends creatures in black cloaks to suck out the souls of people who oppose him, and-"
"Harry, I know you've been through a lot. More than most of us can imagine. But would you really rather you had never heard of Hogwarts?"
"No. Of course not. That world is where I belong. It's just-everything that's happened, since he came back-it's not enough that one of us has to be killed, or that Cedric Diggory died for being in the wrong place at the wrong time, or that two years ago he killed Sirius and it was partly my fault, or last year when the dementors attacked Hogsmeade and the school had to start sheltering refugees. Will he never be satisfied with the amount of destruction he's caused? People just want to be left alone!"
"I know. We all feel the same way. Don't give up on us now. Is that everything?"
Nodding, Harry closed his trunk and started dragging it towards the stairs, closely followed by Remus carrying
Hedwig's cage.
The living room and front of the house were still buzzing with activity, but Tonks met them at the foot of the stairs
and ushered them into the kitchen, shutting the door. Dumbledore and Aunt Petunia were waiting there, Dumbledore
speaking quietly and Aunt Petunia looking slightly confused. She still had tears streaming down her face. Dumbledore
glanced up when Harry and Remus entered.
"Put everything down right there," he said, pointing at the ground where several large suitcases were already piled. "Good. Minuo." There was a flash of violet light, and Harry blinked and looked down at the luggage again. Each suitcase was small enough to fit in the palm of his hand. Next to them, in a miniature cage, the now-tiny Hedwig sat hooting in a very high-pitched voice. Aunt Petunia gave a small gasp of surprise.
"It's quite all right, Mrs. Dursley. Your luggage will be returned to its previous size as soon as we arrive at our destination."
"How are we getting there?" Harry asked, trying in vain to picture Aunt Petunia traveling by broomstick. "The Knight Bus?"
"No, that's far too risky. Tonks, Remus and I will be Apparating, and we'll carry the luggage, but you and Mrs. Dursley will have to take this portkey." Dumbledore handed him a throw pillow, and Harry took it.
"Here, Aunt Petunia," he said gently, holding it out to her. "Just touch it, you'll be fine."
"Remember to think about what I've told you," Dumbledore continued as Aunt Petunia took hold of the pillow. "Ready… three… two… one-" His voice was suddenly cut off as Harry felt the familiar tug around his navel and the portkey whisked them off to Grimmauld Place.