Chapter One- Light and Dark
*12:45 AM, Monday July 25th; Surrey, England; Number Four Privet Drive*
Surrey was as quiet as ever this time of night. Everyone was asleep with eyes closed, and peaceful dreams running through their heads. This was true for everyone. Everyone except the boy who lived, who was tossing and turning, nervous about how to face the situation that occurred at the Department of Mysteries, when his beloved Godfather died.
Harry woke up, his mouth dry and in a cold sweat. He lifted his stiffened body off of the dingy mattress. Harry quickly opened his trunk and grabbed a roll of parchment, a quill, and ink bottle. He sat back down on the bed. He tore the parchment into a slip of paper and wrote only three words.
Need to talk.
-Harry
He tiptoed over to Hedwig's cage and let her out. "Take this to Dumbledore, okay?" She hooted, and took off. Harry collapsed onto the bed and tried to recall exactly what he had just seen so he could give Dumbledore the details of everything. Occlumency lessons were still a bit hard for Harry, but he was now being taught by Dumbledore instead of Snape. He let his head fall onto the pillow and forced his eyes shut.
*8:34 AM, Monday July 25th; Surrey, England; Number Four Privet Drive*
Harry woke up feeling groggy and tired. Slowly, he got up and out of bed. In the kitchen, as he saw, were the Dursley's. "Sit down, and eat quickly boy." Uncle Vernon chortled with a mouth half-full of bacon and eggs. Aunt Petunia set a plate in front of Harry. He stared at his so-called breakfast. It was half a slice of Cantaloupe, a little bit of egg, and a strip of bacon. He ate as slowly as possible, trying to make Uncle Vernon angry on purpose.
After he finished, he headed back upstairs to find Hedwig on his window sill. He unlocked the windows and let her enter his room. She landed on the desk near her cage and held out her leg. Harry was surprised to find that there were three letters attached, as he was expecting only one. He took them off and patted Hedwig on the head. She went into her cage and started drinking water.
The first was from Dumbledore. Harry opened it and read it in his head.
We will speak soon enough.
Hold tight for now.
-Dumbledore
Lovely. Harry thought. This isn't really all that helpful. Thank you for nothing. He saw that the next letter was from Ron. He opened it quickly. A smile spread across Harry's face as he read the letter from one of his best friends.
Harry!
Dumbledore finally broke and agreed with me and Hermione that you should come join us at Grimmauld Place. We're to
pick you up at the muggles house. We'll be there on Wednesday. Me and Hermione miss you a great lot, mate. Hope to
see you soon. By the way, before I forget, tell the muggles we're to come by floo powder. Make sure they know this
time Harry. Don't get into trouble with the muggles! See you soon!
-Ron
Harry's mind raced at the thought of going back to Grimmauld Place, and Sirius not being there to greet him. I'm not sure if I'm ready to face that, but I'll guess we'll see soon enough won't we? He tucked away the first two letters. Harry glimpsed at the only one still unopened in his hands. It was from Hermione. His heart jumped at the sight of her name. He opened her letter and began to read.
Harry,
I understand it that Ron has probably told you the good news already? You get to stay with us at the house for the rest
of the summer! I can't wait to see you. Oh! I just realized that you'll be spending your birthday here!
Alright, now we're supposed to head to Diagon Alley a couple days after we come to get you. It'll be Mr.
Weasley, Tonks, Ron, and I to come get you. Remember to tell your relatives our means of transportation! I can't
wait to see you again, Harry. We've all missed you a lot. Well, I'll be talking to you soon! Hope your
relatives treat you well until we get there.
Best Wishes,
Hermione
He re-read the letter and smiled. Harry's had considerable feelings for Hermione since their third year together, only his feelings came to show last year when she almost died at the Department of Mysteries. He grabbed the parchment he had on the bedside table from the previous night and began to write Ron first.
Ron,
Thanks for the save. I don't think I want to stay here much longer anyways. I miss you and Hermione very much too.
Say hi to your mum for me. I'll see all of you soon. Can't wait.
-Harry
Then he began his letter to Hermione with great difficulty to not say something that sounded like he was off his rocker.
Hermione,
Yes, Ron told me. I can't wait until Wednesday. I miss you both a great lot, and can't wait to see everyone.
Well, the muggles are treating me like I don't exist so everything is fine here for now. Just hurry though! See you
soon.
Love,
Harry
I can't write `love, Harry'! So he scratched it out and wrote `Your friend, Harry' instead. He beckoned Hedwig over and tied the letters to her leg. "These go to Ron and Hermione. Thanks girl." he patted her head. She gave a happy `hoot' and took off once again. Harry sat on his bed and wondered how far away Wednesday really was.
*5:47 AM, Tuesday July 26th; Surrey, England; Number Four Privet Drive*
Harry didn't sleep well that night. He sat up in his bed and rubbed his eyes for a few minutes. I need to be trying harder at the Occlumency lessons this year. Harry had been trying to practice them, but did not do very well seeing as he had no one to truly practice with. He relaxed his shoulders and leaned back so he was up against the headboard. I can't wait to get out of this ruddy place. I need to see Hermione……and Ron too, of course. He smirked at what he had just thought. I really can't wait to see her. I want to see Ron too, but I REALLY want to see Hermione. I need to see her. With these words playing in his head, he fell asleep for a short while.
About 20 minutes later, Harry awoke. Why can't I sleep? This is so weird, I need to talk to Dumbledore as soon as I see him next. He slowly hoisted himself up onto the cold, wooden floor and started pacing. Next thing he knew there were feathers in his mouth and hair as he slammed into the wall next to the desk. Hedwig hadn't slowed down when she came through the window, and she accidentally collided with Harry's face.
"Blech! Hedwig! Watch where your flying next time!" She hooted and wobbled as she tried to walk over too him with his letters. Harry was still trying to get the feathers out of his mouth as he untied the letters from her leg. She hooted dully, and clumsily flew into her cage and fell asleep quickly. Harry began to examine the letters.
There were only two letters this time, seeing as Harry didn't write Dumbledore back. The first he saw was from Ron, so he opened it.
Harry,
Hey, mate. One more bloody day and you'll be here with all of us. We're just sitting down for supper. Mum made
gumbo tonight. Ginny says `hello!' by the way. She misses you too. Hermione just got here the other day, so now
we're just waiting for you! I have to go and eat before mum bites my head off for not being at the table when she
called. Best wishes with the muggles. Only one day, Harry!
-Ron
Harry beamed as he re-read the letter again. He couldn't wait to leave this wretched place. The next letter, as he saw, was from Hermione. His heart did a backflip. He loved to read her letters. They were always somewhat humorous.
Dear Harry,
Glad to hear back from you so soon. I've just arrived at the headquarters, and It's so much more peaceful here.
Apparently, Professor Lupin, and Kingsley managed to get Sirius' mother off of the wall so now we don't have to
whisper anymore. I think they've placed her in the basement or something because I can still hear a faint yelling.
Anyways, Soon you'll be here with us Harry, and I can't wait! All of us can spend the summer together again.
Well, Mrs. Weasley has made supper already so I'm going to head off to eat. Talk to you very soon.
Can't Wait,
Hermione
This made him happier than he had been all summer. He was going to his Godfathers house to spend his summer with his surrogate family. He loved the lot of them, but he couldn't get Hermione out of his mind.
*9:04 AM, Tuesday July 26th; Surrey, England; Number Four Privet Drive*
Harry hurried down the staircase hoping that maybe there was some trace of food left for him to consume. As he entered the kitchen his Uncle glared at him with the `your too late for food so go away' look. He sat down at the kitchen table and watched the news along with Dudley. Aunt Petunia set a plate with a small amount of eggs and strips of bacon in front of him and walked back into the kitchen. She had become a little nicer too him since the incident last year when the Dementors attacked him and Dudley at Magnolia Crescent.
Harry ate his food quite hurriedly and left as quick as he came in. There was nothing good on the news today besides gossip on the latest celebrity feuds. He ran back up the stairs, went into his room and shut the door. He walked over to the window and looked up at the stars. He stood there contemplating whether he should tell Hermione how he really feels, and possibly ruin their almost 6-year friendship, or keep it bottled up forever. He couldn't truly decide. Not yet anyway. He plopped down onto his mattress and stared at the ceiling. I'll be home……he thought, soon.
He quickly got up realizing he forgot to tell his Aunt and Uncle about the Floo Powder. He ran out of his room and into the kitchen. No one was in there anymore. Hmm……it's 12:54 so Uncle Vernon will have left to Grunnings already. With some degree of relief, he left the kitchen in search of his Aunt.
After about 10 minutes he found her outside tending to her garden, and it's many flowers.
"Urm…Aunt Petunia?" Harry asked hesitantly. "What is it boy?" she snapped in reply. "My friends are picking me up tomorrow, you remember right?" He asked staying a good distance away from her just in case. "Yes, I remember. Why?" she said, not even looking at him. "Well……urm……they're coming by floo powder." "What in god's name is `floo powder'?
"Well, it's very complicated. I can tell you that you need to clear out anything lying in front of the fireplace before they come. That's the way to travel with floo powder, by fireplace." she only looked mildly shocked at this. She had already seen it happen before when Mr. Weasley came to get Harry for the Quidditch world cup a couple years before.
"Alright I'll try to remember. Now leave me be." Harry strode off to his room with a big smile on his face. "Hey, you!" he heard Dudley yell from the couch. "What are you so happy about?" "None of your business." he said defensively. "Oh, is little skinny Harry going to pop me?" he asked in a fake sweet tone. "Shut up, or you'll hate me even more in a minute." Harry replied with a smile on his face. "Oh, really? why?" Dudley asked curiously. "Cause you're a real case, little Dudders." Dudley glared at him and turned his attention back to the TV screen.
*2:00 AM, Wednesday July 27th; Surrey, England; Number Four Privet Drive*
Harry couldn't sleep again last night, but not because of Sirius. He couldn't sleep because he was way too anxious to keep his eyes closed for very long. He knew that not to long from now he would be at his 2nd favorite place in the world, Grimmauld Place. He was still very hesitant on how he would react to going back after what happened to Sirius. As long as I have my family, I'll be just fine. He sat up in his bed until it was time for breakfast.
*8:32 AM, Wednesday July 27th; Surrey, England; Number Four Privet
Drive*
Harry headed down to the kitchen and ate his food. When he got up to leave Uncle Vernon told him to sit down. "Now, boy. Your Aunt tells me that your freaky little friends are to arrive here by, what was it now? Oh, yes floo powder, is that correct?" "Yes, sir" Harry replied quickly. "We have cleared space near the fireplace as you prompted us to yesterday."
"Thank you." Harry simply stated. "Make sure you have all of your things. I don't want a single trace of your unnaturalness around my house." "Yes, sir." he got up and left the kitchen. "Old git." Harry said under his breath on his way up the stairs. His happy mood had somewhat faded off. Harry hopped into the shower and got dressed. He went over the contents of his trunk to make sure he really did have everything he needed for Hogwarts.
"Where is my Firebolt?" he asked himself. He turned around and opened his wardrobe. It was in the back leaning against the paneling. He grabbed it and threw it into his trunk. It was times like this he wished he could've learned that spell that Tonks used to tidy up his trunk last year when he first saw his Godfather's house.
After double checking he hadn't left anything, he grabbed his trunk and Hedwig's cage, and walked down the stairs into the den. He placed his things near the sofa and sat down. Out of nowhere something came out of the unusually clean fireplace.
"Harry!" the next thing he knew he was being bombarded by 4 different people at once. The people who came were Mr. Weasley, Tonks, Ron, and Hermione. "Harry! Hullo mate!" Ron came up and shook his hand. He looked very glad to see Harry after so long. "Hello Harry. How might you be?" this was the unmistakable voice of Mr. Weasley. He also shook Harry's hand. "How've you been Harry?" Tonks gave him a quick hug and patted him on the head. Her hair was still bubble-gum pink, just like the last time he had seen her.
"Harry! I missed you so much!" Hermione ran up to Harry and grabbed him in a tight hug. "Hermione, I need air!" he managed to say this, and as he did she let go of him. Harry noticed Hermione had grown up since the last time. She was a little taller, but not too much. Her hair was less bushy and longer. She had all the curves a girl her age is supposed to have as she sported low-cut blue jeans and a pink tank top with a brown jacket. He was very happy to see all of them, but especially Hermione.
"So, Harry. Did you get any of our letters?" Ron asked curiously. "Yah, I got all of them. Thanks you guys. I think those letters were the only thing keeping me sane around here." They all laughed a little. "Time to be setting off Harry." Mr. Weasley said. Tonks grabbed Harry's trunk and Hedwig's cage. Mr. Weasley threw some powder into the flames and stepped inside. Everyone followed. When Tonks finally got in he yelled, "Number 12, Grimmauld Place!" With those words, all surroundings started to disappear.
*1:57 PM, Wednesday July 27th; Number Twelve Grimmauld Place*
Everything started to swirl around them. Harry thought he might be sick again because he still wasn't used to traveling by floo powder. After all he's only done it a few times before this. The swirling and spinning stopped a few minutes later as they stepped out of the fire.
Harry was filled with pain and sadness as he stepped into the house. It seemed different since the last time he had been there. It was much quieter, as Hermione pointed out in her letter, because they managed to get Mrs. Black off of the wall. It also seemed to be far less dirty than the last time they all attempted to clean it. Apparently, Mrs. Weasley and Tonks spent three weeks cleaning out a nest of Doxy's from the attic upstairs. I need to do this, i miss him so much……………I don't know if I can……………… Then all of his memories of Sirius came flooding into his brain.
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Readers,
Hey! I have three other stories on here, but the most popular, if you've read it, is one called Who's First?. One of my reviewers suggested I put out this story which was a story I wrote one month previous to the release of the sixth book. Enjoy, and please review. Good or bad, whatever you want to say would be great! Thanks!
-KellyNicolette
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