Twisting Around
Summary: Please Help Me Hermione. The words echoed through Hermione's entire being. She knew she should say no. Every fiber of logic within her said she should say no, but her heart wouldn't let her.
Chapter 2: Messages from Someone
a/n: this chapter was pain to upload. I won't go into details, but suffice it to say that the computer n00b whose computer this is really annoying at their ignorance.
Somewhere in England, Lord Voldemort was plotting. He was plotting how to finally conquer the wizarding world, and destroy his two greatest enemies, Albus Dumbledore and the one and only Harry Potter. In the forbidding darkness of his chosen sanctum, Lord Voldemort stretched out his mind, and began to use his newly discovered mental link with Harry Potter.
He was surprised at what he found. Harry Potter was angry, but at who, Lord Voldemort could not yet distinguish. Harry's mind was resisting his intrusion, doing its best not to allow anyone in. It might even have stopped a lesser legilimens. Voldemort pulled subtly at Harry's thoughts, slowly tweaking Harry's mind to show him the object of his anger. A tall, white-haired man with scholarly eyes appeared. It was Albus Dumbledore.
Somewhere in England, the Dark Lord laughed as an evil plan began to form.
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Harry was secluding himself from his relatives, staying in his room as much as possible. The window was open, a light breeze blowing in. Schoolbooks were strewn carelessly about the room, some lying open with their spines broken. It was clear that the occupant did not care about the books, just as he did not care about the wallpaper that was peeling from the walls, or the desk that had deep contusions in its surface.
A strange brown owl flew into the beleaguered battlefield, startling Harry. Harry looked at this owl that he had never seen before, and which also had no marks indicating where it had come from.
Curiosity got the better of Harry, who took the message from the owl, who immediately flew away, adding to the confusion Harry felt. Opening it up, Harry quickly read the one sentence of the message.
Harry, we understand you are angry, and we can help you.
Someone
Now, Harry was well past confused. Many questions filled Harry's mind, as he reflected on the strange owl and its message. Who sent it? What are they trying to accomplish? Are they friend or foe?
Harry was extremely tempted to write Hermione and tell her about it, assuming, correctly so, that she would have a better grasp on what was going on. However, Harry decided to wait and see if he could figure out what was going on by himself before bothering Hermione so soon after he showed her his troubles.
Little did he know that it would be this one mistake that would prove to be his undoing.
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The Burrow seemed relatively quiet this summer. Fred and George's experiments in the house had ceased, mainly as the experiments were now taking place in the back room of their shop in Diagon Alley. They still caused their usual mayhem, but without the explosions coming from their room, they seemed unnaturally quiet.
The house was silent at this moment because Fred, George, Ron, and Ginny were playing a small game of quidditch outside. Ron and Ginny formed a team against Fred and George. They were just flying around, throwing apples through the miniature hoops that hovered at treetop level. The wind was negligible, and the sun was bright, leaving skill as the deciding factor in this match. Fred intercepted a pass from Ron to Ginny, and immediately sent the apple in a square pass to his twin who was already making a run for the target. (A/N: I play a lot of soccer/football, so that terminology will be coming in here whenever I write quidditch scenes.) George scored, increasing the twins' lead over Ron and Ginny. Fred and George's experience and familiarity with each other's play was giving the twins a decided advantage in the match.
After a half an hour more of quidditch, Fred and George declared victory as they descended to land on the soft grass of the open field. After collecting the goal hoops, the group trudged back to the Burrow. Ginny was sparring verbally with the twins, and all failed to notice Ron's silence. Surprisingly, Ron was quiet not because he was mad, but because he was worried.
Ron Weasley was worried for his best friend. He hadn't heard from Harry since the summer holidays began. He knew his friend was going through a tough time, but he didn't know what he could do about it. After a lengthy internal discussion, Ron did the only thing he thought he could do to possibly do to help Harry.
He wrote a letter inviting him to the Burrow for a few days at the beginning of August before everybody went to the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix. Since Ron did have the emotional range of a teaspoon, as Hermione called it, Ron did not put any lame sentences of encouragement in his letter. They sounded hollow even to him.
Ron gave the letter to Pig and the little owl twittered happily while it danced out the window in its showoff fashion. Ron watched the owl until it disappeared in the distance.
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The mysterious letters kept coming to Harry. A different owl delivered each letter, but it was always the same. The letter would offer to help Harry use his anger against those who had wronged him, and it was always signed Someone. After each letter, Harry fell deeper into the pit of his anger that he had built.
Lord Voldemort was happy. His plan was working perfectly. The letters he had sent to Harry were doing their work. The Dark Lord had coated each letter in a sinister substance that would enhance Harry's current emotions. With each letter, Harry's anger grew, and Lord Voldemort's plan was one step closer to completion.
As long as Harry stayed in his current condition, Harry was doomed.
That was why Lord Voldemort had also taken control of some birds of prey, and given them the mission to cut all outside contact off from Harry. With the only people Harry encountered being his nasty relatives; Harry's emotions would stay dark.
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While Ron was just starting to worry, Hermione was positively frantic. She kept sending letters to Dumbledore urging him to get Harry out of that horrid place, saying that he was in more danger there than anywhere else. Hermione told Dumbledore that Harry would be in danger from himself if he was kept there any longer.
But, Dumbledore did not listen, saying that Hermione's was worrying too much and that everything was under control. Harry remained on Privet Drive, slowly being corrupted by the sinister messages he received.
At the Burrow, Ron was waiting for Pig to come back. Now Ron was not only worried for Harry, but also for his owl, who should have been back already.
Pig arrived during dinner. He flew through the window and crash landed in front of Ron. Pig's wings were torn multiple times, and his breathing was ragged.
"Pig!" Ron uttered in horror at the sight.
Ron took the letter from Pig, and realized it was the one he had tried to send to Harry.
"Mum, Dad, Pig never got through to Harry. This is the letter I sent him."
"I'll contact Dumbledore," Mr. Weasley said as he apparated.
Dumbledore would be forced to act this time, but it was already too late. On Privet Drive, Harry had just received the last of the letters Lord Voldemort had sent him.
Harry, now is the time for you to join us. We will teach you how to take your vengeance on those who have angered you. Go to the park immediately, one of us will contact you there.
Someone
By now, Harry's anger had been enhanced by the letters so much that he didn't even question the order to leave. His anger at Snape and Dumbledore was consuming him, leaving little room for any other feelings he had, including the despair he felt at being on Privet Drive.
Harry walked out the door of the house in which he was an unwelcome guest. The Dursleys would never see him again.
A/N: That's the end of chapter 2. I'm not quite happy with this chapter, but I believe it is good enough. Starting next chapter there will be a lot more dialogue, which I felt has been missing too much in the story up to this point. Reviews are key. They make the story better.
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