Title: Harry Potter and the End of an Era
SPOILERS FOR BOOKS 1-5
Disclaimer: I don't own anything, I mean no harm, I'll put them back where I found them once I'm done playing with em.
Harry went up the steps and plopped down on his bed. Exhausted from a day of yard work he wanted to just fall asleep. Harry wanted no time to think of the horrors that happened in the past month.
It was a month ago to the day that his godfather Sirius Black had died. If he kept working hard enough long enough, it couldn't be true.
He didn't allow himself to think about another parent, in essence, being dead. Dead because of him.
It was actually perfect, all the death he caused to the people he loved, because soon enough he would be a murder himself. Dumbledor told him the prophecy that said he would have to kill Voldemort or Voldemort would kill him. The death and destruction Voldemort would cause was unthinkable. There was only one choice left, Harry Potter, a 15 year-old boy, would have to kill one of the most powerful dark wizards who ever lived.
When he was younger he could kid himself. Dumbledore was the only wizard Voldemort feared. Harry believed when it finally came down to it, Dumbledore would be the one to kill Voldemort and in so doing, save Harry and the world.
That's how it was supposed to happen. Harry was no hero. He only managed to stay alive because his mum sacrificed herself for him. He couldn't do it, he wasn't strong enough, or fast enough, or smart enough; there must be some kind of mistake. The prophecy couldn't be right, Hermione had to practically threaten him to do his potions homework. The only reason he was still alive were the friends he had.
Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley. They were all he had left. They were all that really mattered to him, and yet could they look him in the eye after he had murdered someone? It didn't matter that Voldemort is the darkest wizard alive; blood was blood and Harry's hands were going to be covered with it. Could they still talk about putting a spell on a vulture hat so it would be a permanent fixture on Professor Snape's head after he had taken someone else's life?
He shook the thoughts away and tried to sleep. Tomorrow Hermione would come and they would go to the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. He and Hermione decided it would be better for her and her muggle parents to pick him up by car instead of the Wesley's usual mode of transportation, Floo powder. Two days later the Wesleys were to come with Charlie and Bill en tow.
He didn't know which was worse, staying at the Dursley's all summer or going back to the place he would be reminded of Sirius. Deciding to take his chances on the haunting house his eyes finally closed and Harry fell asleep.
* * *
Harry sat on the living room chair nearest the window. The Dursley's occupied the other side of the room... quite literally. Dudley, though a heavyweight junior boxer, seemed to have never heard of exercise; unless exercise included beating up kids that were two times smaller than you.
While the Dursley's scowled at him, no doubt hoping their thoughts could make him combust, Harry felt butterflies in his stomach. He couldn't wait until he saw his friend again and was able to leave this place.
"She'll be here soon." He said more to himself than anyone else.
"I hope these …. people realize that we have better things to do!"
Harry ignored his uncle's tone and watched the window.
"Come on Hermione...." Harry said under his breath.
Harry turned and looked at his feet defeated. She probably forgot... maybe one of her parents had some kind of emergency root canal and couldn't come... maybe she just didn't want anything to do with Harry...
At the exact moment Harry was about to try and carry his trunk back upstairs the doorbell rang. Harry's heart hammered in his throat as he practically raced to the front door. His happiness faded when Uncle Vernon pushed him out of the way and went to get the door, muttering something under his breath. The door opened and there stood his friend for the past six years, almost.
Hermione's smile fell when she saw the purple faced mountain of a man between her and Harry.
"Hello... We've come to pick up Harry," the cool demeanor she used with all the teachers she hated began to surface, "I'm Hermione Granger and these are my parents."
She held out her hand for Uncle Vernon to shake but it was never taken.
"I'll see you next summer!" Harry said as he pushed his way past his uncle who still stared at Hermione.
Uncle Vernon muttered something like 'Too soon' under his breath and slammed the door.
The ride to London wasn't very long, the two teens spent most of the ride talking about what they thought was going to happen at Hogwarts once they got back.
"Harry, we should keep the DA open."
"Under Umbridge's nose we could pull it off, but Dumbledor? I don't think so. Besides, that's what put him into hiding, I don't think he'd appreciate it." Harry chewed on another chocolate Smartie.
"We should keep the option open in case our defense against the dark arts is..." Hermione searched for the right word.
"Snape." Harry finished for her.
"Not even joking Harry!" She warned him with a mock sincere tone.
"Maybe Lupin will take it. That way we'd have a decent teacher."
"We're here!" Hermione's mum said from the front seat.
The two teens got out of the car and Harry waited as Hermione kissed her mum and dad goodbye.
Once they walked inside the house they found it to be too quiet.
"Hullo?" Harry asked the bare room.
"Maybe everyone's out on Order business." Hermione said as she turned the corner.
"Hello?" She asked.
Just then Harry heard Hermione gasp, he ran towards her and saw her looking at Mrs. Black's portrait, or rather what was in front of Mrs. Black's portrait.
Harry took Hermione in his arms and led her to the living room then went back to the painting. He took a chair and stood on it; took his knife out and started to cut.
Kreacher, with a cut noose around his neck fell to the floor. Harry looked at him, not sure if he did feel sorry, or what exactly he should do with the lifeless form in front of him.
He put a cloth from one of the tables on top of Kreacher and went to the living room to find Hermione sitting on the couch.
"He's.."
"Yeah." Harry said.
"I found this," Hermione waved a note addressed to the both of them. Harry took it and read:
Harry and Hermione,
The Order of the Phoenix has changed its headquarters to the Room of Requirement, the DA club you've had was inspired. The change of owners of the Black family estate has left us not wanting to trespass of the kindness of the new owner. I feel it could be no surprise to you, Harry, that you in fact own everything of Sirius Black. The deed is in your vault at Gringots along with Sirius' other worldly possessions. Mrs. Weasly of course has no qualms in trespassing on your kindness and you shall expect I dare say most of the Weasleys in a mere week. I trust the two of you can be left alone unsupervised without causing any... trouble. I am sure you and Miss Granger can find something to do, maybe a change in your surroundings?
Have fun (I mean it Harry),
Albus Dumbledore
Harry looked around the place and knew exactly what Dumbledore meant, this place was one of the gloomiest Harry had ever seen, and with the discovery they just made he wanted to get out quickly.
"Let's go to downtown London. We can get things there to re-decorate."
"Harry, you have no muggle money."
"That's why we've got to go to Gringots first. Please say you'll come with me." Harry pleaded.
"What about, him?"
Harry thought for a second. "Why don't we send him where he's wanted?"
The Malfoy family, minus Lucius, had been surprised by the dead body of an elder house elf entering their house through the fireplace.