Disclaimer: Unfortunately, no, none of the characters you will see here belong to me. I wasn't blessed with the thought of creating Harry Potter. This is just something I do for fun.
Quick Note: As I said in the reviews to those of you who believed Dumbledore was out of character, I have now redone his part. I hope you find this way more suitable.
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Harry had been back at the Dursley household for two weeks already and Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and Dudley were still avoiding him. They refused to let him do anything out of fear that it would be misconstrued as treating him horribly. They definitely didn't want a crazy woman with pink hair arriving at their house and having the neighbors think of them as being strange. Even though this meant no chores except for keeping his room and Hedwig taken care of, it also meant he couldn't so much as fix himself lunch, even if no one was home. Because of his lack of chores he had nothing to do to get his mind off of Sirius's death and the Prophecy. His friends would write to him and his only response would be, "Everything is fine, the Dursley's are behaving." Then he'd go back to thinking over what he could have done to prevent Sirius's death and what the Prophecy meant to him and those around him.
The only time he escaped from his depression was when Professor
Dumbledore's phoenix, Fawkes, arrived each night at seven pm to give him the daily report of anything that was going on that had been approved for him to know. He was told of their plans to install a member of the Order as the new, upcoming Minister of Magic (but he wasn't told who the candidate was). Fudge had decided to leave office early because of his fears of Voldemort. Harry was also told he could not leave the Dursleys because, even though he now understood that with the blood-protection magic it was the safest place for him, he hated it. Professor Dumbledore was trying to think of ways to allow Ron and Hermione (his two best friends) to visit him at least once. It was said that Tonks would arrive dressed as a mailwomen and would perform a conforming charm on Harry's Aunt and Uncle, to get them to go along with Tonks' idea of allowing Ron and Hermione to visit, but that wouldn't be until mid-August. Dumbledore also explained his worries over Hermione's safety with her parents. She couldn't go to Grimmauld Place because no one was there yet. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were off on Order business and Ron and his sister Ginny were staying with their twin brothers in the apartment over their joke shop on Ninety-Three Diagon Alley, until their parents returned at the beginning of August. So with all of these worries in mind, Harry once again fell into a deep, haunted sleep.
It was three days later when Harry finally started to come out of his depression, and found a new resolve to start training himself. Professor Dumbledore mentioned it might be beneficial to be physically trained as well as mentally. Harry set up his routing of running as long as he could, then working on his upper body. He was allowed to use Dudley's weight bench that was used for training for boxing. He got into a regular routine of waking up at eight each morning, running, taking a shower, be ready in time for breakfast at ten, do reviews for Hogwarts, work out some more, more review if time permitted, six o'clock dinner, and seven o'clock Dumbledore's news, and more review. The routine was good for him because it took his mind off of Sirius and the Prophecy. He would even occasionally answer one of Ron or Ginny's owls. (Hermione wasn't allowed to receive owls so she couldn't send or receive letters).
Harry woke up the following morning and got ready to go running; it was a good way to escape all of his thoughts and clear his mind and he really enjoyed it. He had been into his regular routine for a week and his sixteenth birthday was drawing steadily nearer. Only five days after today and he would be sixteen, and one year after that an adult in the wizarding world, one who could do magic anytime and anywhere (within reason) he wanted. He would be free from the Dursleys and would need to get a job. He wasn't sure what he would do, it wasn't helping that he didn't know what he made on his OWLs yet either. They allowed you to get into specific classes for your sixth and seventh year in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Professor Dumbledore had hinted at a job, but he still wasn't sure what the old wizard was talking about.
Harry decided he was going to run over to Mrs. Figg's this morning and see if she had any updates. When he knocked on the door it was answered almost immediately by Tonks, who was looking normal in short blond hair and regular muggle clothes. Tonks showed him the way inside, where she was doing research with Mrs. Figg. Since Mrs. Figg was a squib, she had plenty of time to do research for the Order. Tonks was busy brewing a potion.
"What are you doing here?" asked Harry.
"Oh, I am on duty as a guard from the Order. Since I'm half muggle, I can blend in better than some of the rest of the wizards or witches. Do you like the hair? Anyways, today is my day off since it is Wednesday. I also get off on Saturday. Mrs. Figg is letting me stay with her, but in return I have to help with her research and potions for the Order," Tonks explained.
"Oh, I had wondered if anyone was still following me. Is there anything new in the Order that I'm allowed to know about?" Harry asked.
"Sorry, Harry," Tonks said, "but it isn't anything you're allowed to know. If you want, you can come back on Wednesdays or Saturdays to help me brew potions. You can't today though, because... well, its top secret." She paused. "Oh, this is something you'll find amusing. Fred and George are now our little inventors. They still create their inventions, but Dumbledore pays them to create things for Order members that are inconspicuous and really helpful." She held out something for Harry to see. "Like these, I know they look like animal crackers, but they're made to change into the animal of choice for five minutes. It's sort of like the Canary Creams, but these turn you into a complete animal including their instincts and everything. It's like skipping Animagus training, even though it would only be for five minutes, and you can only take two an hour. That's why they're just for the Order and why Dumbledore keeps them and distributes them. Anyways, I'll see you later Harry."
And with that she ushered Harry out of the door, but not before he heard a familiar popping sound, but when he turned around to see who it was, the door was shut in his face.
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After breakfast Harry went and worked on some reviews. He didn't have any homework because he didn't know what classes they would be taking, but there would be a quiz first day, on which subjects they did choose to take. He did some review of Potions and looked up the Conforming Charm. It was supposed to make the person hit by the charm 'conform' and makes them go along with your ideas for a short while. It would only work on weak people, but it was still an advanced spell because of the way it worked. It involved getting the weak person to do something they might not usually do and was, in a way, controlling someone's mind for a short while. It was barely legal, and only used by Aurors. He also started making plans for the D.A. hoping it would still be allowed by Dumbledore and accepted by the new DADA teacher. After awhile Harry then decided it was time to work out, so he went to the garage where the weight bench was kept. He worked out for 2 hours until Dudley said he wanted to use the equipment; even though he was probably just going to smoke. Harry was forced into more review until dinner, but oddly he didn't find it as much boring as he used to. Usually Ron was complaining so much he couldn't get much done unless Hermione was there. And as he was thinking of his friends often bickering, his aunt called him for dinner.
Harry was just finishing his salad and getting up from dinner when he was hit with emotions that were not his own; they were of frustration and glee; glee that at least someone was dead, and frustration that it was not the one who was planned. When the emotions had subsided he ran to his room to write a letter to Professor Dumbledore but Hedwig, his loyal, snowy-white owl, wasn't back yet so he wrote down what he could remember and would rephrase it into a letter later. He opened up his window and lay down on the bed to wait. As he was drifting off into sleep, he felt something on his stomach and then a pain as that thing jumped off. Harry opened his eyes to see Fawkes disappear into flames right in front of him and was gone. Harry was frantic, that was his only chance, till probably tomorrow morning, to get his news to Dumbledore. He did the only thing which he could do, he read the news, but Dumbledore only said that there wasn't anything happening, which was supposedly good news. He lay back down and just stared at the ceiling for what felt like hours, but in reality was only one, when Fawkes suddenly appeared again and dropped parchment on the floor before bursting into flames once more. Harry ran to pick up the letter and began to read:
Harry,
Hermione has been attacked and her father had been killed. Hermione will be arriving shortly and will be staying the remainder of the summer. I'll be there soon, wake everyone up but tell them nothing.
- Albus Dumbledore.
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Harry stood there shocked at what he had just read. He realized that the emotions he had felt earlier, when his scar was hurting, were those of Voldemort's frustration at not getting Hermione, and glee at getting someone she loved. Then he realized something else - HERMIONE was staying with HIM, at the DURSLEYS! There is no way they were going to let this happen, thought Harry, as he knocked on his Aunt and Uncles door, I don't know what Dumbledore was thinking.
"What do you want?" exclaimed Uncle Vernon. "Is the house burning down or something?"
"No, Uncle Vernon, it's just that err...well, Professor Dumbledore will be here in a second and he has something to tell you. I'll go wake Dudley, but he wants you all downstairs."
"BOY! You get back here now! If I don't see your face in three seconds, you will be placed in your room for the remainder of the summer. I don't care what your kind of people say about mistreating you! BOY, I said get back h..." BANG!
"I'll get it!" yelled Harry, as he ran down the stairs from Dudley's room, and flung the door open. "Hermione, are you okay? What happened? Who attacked you? I thought they had protection around your house? How's your mum? I'm sorry about your dad. Are you really staying with me?"
"Harry...Harry settle down, all will be told, I promise," said Professor Dumbledore. "Let Miss Granger get her bearings. It's been a difficult night for her."
Dumbledore gave Harry a look that seemed to clearly state that he wanted Hermione out of the room before he began. Harry's theory proved correct when moments later Dumbledore turned to addressed Hermione. "Miss Granger, why don't you sit down in the living room while I conjure us some tea?"
As Hermione made her way to the living room, she glanced around the house and saw Harry, and gave him a brief smile. She looked horrible. She had cuts and bruises all over her face. Harry wasn't sure what to really do in this sort of situation, it was usually other people caring for him, and one of them was always Hermione. Harry still couldn't get over the realization that one of his best friends was hurt and that her father was dead. He realized he should at least be there for her now, since she has always been there for him. He walked over to her and put a comforting arm around her shoulder, and it was then that she collapsed onto him and started crying. He could tell she had been holding it together because she wanted to show she could handle anything, but Harry knew from experience it wasn't good to hold that kind of grief inside. He let her cry until she was all cried out. Then did something he didn't think he would have done in any other situation, he kissed her on the forehead and whispered that everything would be all right.
Professor Dumbledore tapped Harry on the shoulder and asked him where the Dursley's were. Harry told him they probably went back to bed or they were too scared to come down. As Harry turned back to holding Hermione, he saw Professor Dumbledore leave the room and head for the stairs. It had been about 30 minutes before Hermione finally started to calm down and before he knew it she was sleeping on his chest.
Professor Dumbledore reentered the room about 15 minutes after Hermione had fallen asleep and with a flick of his wand he had Hermione levitating in the air, still asleep. He began to slowly levitate her towards the stairs, but Harry interrupted and asked him if he could carry her.
Therefore, Professor Dumbledore floated Hermione into his arms and went towards the kitchen. As he was walking up the stairs, Professor Dumbledore told Harry he needed a few words with him in the kitchen and would make some tea while he waited.
As Harry laid Hermione down on the bed in the guest room, she woke up and looked at him with an expression he couldn't remember ever seeing before. Harry told her that he would be back after he went downstairs to talk to Dumbledore and would check on her.
"Try and get some sleep, Hermione," he told her, in soothing words of comfort.
Hermione nodded in agreement and shut her eyes and Harry returned downstairs.
"Firstly, Harry, we need to discuss Miss Granger's staying here. She will sleep in the guest room, and will be staying with you the whole summer. Tonks will provide both of your belongings. Miss Granger is free to owl whomever she wishes. She may be a little traumatized by what has happened, so don't push her into talking," Professor Dumbledore said.
Yeah, because she never pushed me, thought Harry, but he said, "Yes Sir."
Dumbledore continued. "You will also be able to practice magic together this summer. The Ministry knows what has happened to Mr. Granger and have waved the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery. They have only done this because of both of your roles in this war. No other underage witch or wizard is allowed to do magic outside of school. Not even Mister Weasley, so do not abuse this privilege. I must insist that you and Miss Granger do not take this responsibility lightly, and that you take this time to prepare."
There was silence as Dumbledore let Harry think about what he had said. A cup of tea and several minutes later and Dumbledore continued.
"Secondly, I will tell you about the attack. To answer your question from earlier, yes, there are protections around the Granger household. Unfortunately, there were no protections around their dentistry practice. We are very thankful that Mrs. Granger was not at work that day, but are currently unsure why she wasn't. Hermione was helping out in the office that day instead, which was fortunate. She fought the Death Eater, whose name is Zack Smith."
Harry thought of fellow Hogwarts student Zacharias Smith. Dumbledore seemed to since this as he sighed regrettably.
"I admit I do not know much about Zacharias Smith, but hopefully he will not follow in his dad's footsteps. I do recall seeing his name on the Defense Association's list, which will become a real group this year, for any who wish to learn. Hopefully, you will also be heading it up again, but certain things might prevent that. Assuming things do work out you may work on offense as well as defense this year. I also am pretty sure that the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher will have no problem with the association," Dumbledore said, before taking another sip of his newly refilled tea.
"But, alas, I have run off track with our discussion. Miss Granger was able to stun the Death Eater in the end, which is a great feat at such a young age. She saved multiple lives. It is unfortunate that she lost the one that mattered the most to her. She did not know the Death Eater had already attacked her dad. She thought she was keeping him occupied before he got there. Unfortunately, her dad did get hit with the Killing curse." She should be physically well in a few days. She may see Tonks for any belongings she needs as of now."
Dumbledore stood up. "I must be leaving. Miss Granger should be physically well in a few days and may see Nymphadora for any belongings she made need."
He pulled on a cloak behind his chair and walked towards the door, where he un-expectantly turned back to Harry. "Oh, I almost forgot. Thirdly, I have something you have probably been waiting for all month. If I'm not mistaken, it should help cheer Miss Granger up. It is, of course, your OWL results."
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Author's notes: I know this chapter is sort of short, but they do eventually get longer. This is my first and only fanfiction so I'd really appreciate hearing what you think. The second chapter should be out the day after tomorrow.
-Ethan
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