Unofficial Portkey Archive

1. Little Whinging Surprise

That summer was unlike any of Harry Potter's other summers.

Harry Potter was a young wizard who was currently residing at Number Four Privet Drive in Little Whinging, somewhere to the south of London. He resembled a tall teenager with unruly raven black hair and prominent emerald green eyes and as of that moment, he was lying down, eyes closed, on his bed while facing the ceiling (unfortunately, the bed did not really look like a bed, as it tended to more resemble a layer of rags piled atop each other, even though that account would most likely be modest at best) where he was pre-occupied with the reminiscing and thoughts of his last few days. The last few days where he had been residing at his uncle's and aunt's home. Those days were very exceptional ones in comparison to the rest of Harry's previous summer days because of one central fact: his guardians, the Dursleys, were practically ignoring his presence in their home, most likely in fear of invoking the wrath of the Order of the Phoenix who had warned them, quite specifically, to lay off him this summer while he was leaving King's Cross after his journey on the train from Hogwarts.

Overall, Harry was eternally grateful for the action that his many friends at the Order did to help him have a slightly more easier and interesting summer this time around. The only times when the Dursleys would actually speak to Harry would be in a reluctant response to one of his very few questions or if it was required of them to and that has made Harry an extremely happy fellow that summer. He was not used to this non-responsive attitude that his guardians, the Dursleys, were now giving him. Rather, he was used to the stable and static schedule of having to wake up everyday to enter into a non-ending cycle of chores until at which point where he would be given a small amount of time for himself. This particular sort of time is one that he would have usually used towards the end of his summers to work on his summer homework.

On the summer currently in question, however, Harry had been utilizing this newly found free time he had come to find as best as he could. He was trying to do homework whenever he was physically able to, and was pushing himself to be much better prepared so that the next time he was needed to have to be relied upon to protect his friends, he could be of more use to them. In order to satisfy this new priority, he had been doing such things as periodic work-outs during the evenings, and sometimes in the morning, and trying his best to read ahead in various texts he had from his previous years at Hogwarts so he could cover anything that had not been taught in the curriculum there.

A sound awoke Harry from his reverie, forcing himself off from the bed and to look around the room for the source of the sound. He realized, soon after, that it originated from his window, where an excited-looking Hedwig was pecking at the glass, trying to attract his attention. Harry, suddenly cheerful by the idea that he had a letter from a friend, walked over to the window and opened it, allowing Hedwig to enter, and then closed it shut behind her. Looking back to his precious owl, he was fortunate enough to be presented with an image of Hedwig flying around the room, her wings flapping guiding her around with great finesse. After several moments of what he had come to consider as showing off on part of his pet owl, his owl came to hover closer to him, and stuck out a leg, obviously beckoning him to take the two letters attached to it. Harry, smiling, complied with her wishes, taking the letters off of her leg, and then guided her over to her perch, where she happily laid and began to feed herself, giving him a small hoot of appreciation for his care and concern.

His owl, ever since he had arrived, seemed to also be unusually happy, spending most of her time flying outside, as his aunt and uncle didn't seem to have the ability or motivation to dare try and tell him off otherwise as they usually did for this. He hypothesized the reason for his owl's happiness on the possibility that his owl might be sensing his relief over the fact that his aunt and uncle weren't bothering him this summer and she was therefore also expressing a mirroring emotion of happiness. This would seem quite plausible as his owl had always seemed to have a very empathic connection with him. Being able to fly freely during the days and nights probably also helped too.

Harry immediately rushed back to his bed, letters in hand, and hastily opened the first one he noticed. On its front was a very familiar and neat cursive writing that read "Harry." Once opened, he confirmed the writer of this letter as soon as he started to read it.

Dearest Harry,

It was so great to be able to see your owl drop by this morning. He really does have an interesting knack to understand when I wish to contact you. Ever since we had left each other at King's Cross, I had felt the need to speak to you so much. I will keep this brief, I promise, but please Harry, even if it might hurt you, I want you to hear me out. I don't want you to be in pain… please let me lend a helping hand. Ever since I've arrived at home, I've been sorely missing your company and your friendship, and I'm worrying for your well-being. I know you may think otherwise, but I sincerely think that what happened at the Ministry of Magic is by no means your fault.

I also hope that you understand that if there is anything that you need, anything at all, I'll always be here to help you Harry, as I always have been for you. Don't grieve as much as I feel you might over what happened at the Ministry of Magic, because I personally think you're stronger than that Harry, as much as I think you don't deserve to have anything of these sorts happening to you.

Please write me back as soon as you can, and talk to me! I'm extremely bored and I don't want to start doing my homework this early on in the summer, so give me a reason to delay that! And don't you dare start laughing at me! Books and cleverness are not everything, Harry. Friendship… now that's something worth caring for. Especially when it's yours.

With Great Love,

Hermione

Harry grinned while he began to read the letter, but had felt sadness begin to envelop his body as the memories of what happened at the Ministry of Magic returned to him in a rushing torrent of images. Images of atrocities he was unfortunate enough to have to face then and earlier on in his life and most of all… of his godfather's death. Looking back over the letter to remind himself of what Hermione said to him, however, managed to let him begin to feel some strength come back to him as he realized that he could fight it, especially if his best friend believed he could.

Then, the thought of Hermione, much like it did since that day, began to catch up with his mind and body and he began to feel a strange unidentifiable reeling feeling inside of him. He clutched down the paper once he finished reading it, and was about to stash it away on his desk to soon forget about it, but his body stopped him, and he realized that he shouldn't do that to such a good friend…a friend that he almost got killed.

It was all his fault… the fact that he didn't listen to Hermione's wise advise and ran off to find Sirius… the fact that because of this he fell head-first into a trap and endangered his friends in the process, and on top of all that… the fact that he got her hurt and Sirius killed. He got Hermione, the only person who ever cared for him and for him only, not the "Boy-Who-Lived," hurt and he had the ability to have stopped it just by listening to the advise she had that always seemed to prove itself true. And he got Sirius killed all because he was being a foolish young boy eager who had to extend his hand outward to grasp an adventure, just to satisfy his instinct, curiosity, and his eagerness to save another life who didn't even need saving.

I could have stopped all of this. Why am I such a careless idiot? He thought in sadness, and then anguish began to overcome him as he began to weep uncontrollably into his arms, hoping to muffle his sounds with them. I know Hermione said I could do it, but I can't. I just can't. It's my entire fault, and I let it all happen! I didn't even listen to her, and she's always right about things like this! What's wrong with me? I'm so stupid! His mind began a never-ending cycle of self-blame and self-observation. He felt all of the guilt of what happened with Sirius and Hermione begin to envelop him, and it made him weep for an immeasurable amount of time.

Sometime later, however, Harry released himself from his death-like grip and looked around. He saw that it was noticeably darker, and he frowned, but continued on with his former line of thought and took up a quill so he could write back to Hermione. Before he could do that, however, the second letter caught his eye. It was different than any of the letters he normally received as all there was on the front of the envelope was a messily written and hastily underlined:

To The One With The Scar

He put Hermione's letter aside, and opened up the second letter. The instant he opened it, a strange glow surrounded the letter, but then quickly disappeared. On the place where he had first touched the envelope's flap, a very distinctly-shaped phoenix could be seen drawn in black ink, one he was quite sure was not there when he first caught sight of the envelope. Confused, he took out the parchment contained within and began to read it.

Dear Harry,

I hope this letter gets to you well, and I also hope that your guardians are not treating you as badly as they used to. If they are, please notify us immediately so we here at the Order can take the appropriate actions.

On a better note, I am happy to notify you that Dumbledore and the rest of the Order of the Phoenix have agreed to help soothe your pain while staying at the Dursley's this summer by extending out an invitation to have a friend of yours remain with you for the remainder of your stay. After a fairly lengthy discussion, we have decided that the most suitable of these particular individuals would be your friend, Hermione Granger. From the reports that we've read regarding her and her family's well-being and safety, we have found that she is as distraught as you are as her parents are currently away on a business trip and have left Hermione alone at home, but are planning to return shortly (most likely around the time you will have left the Dursley's). At this time, you may return with her to her home and remain for the remainder of the summer at her home, or choose to remain elsewhere.

I hope that you and she will agree to this invitation. We have already notified her of this, so all that is required of you is to wait for her response and to make up your own mind regarding the issue.

Yours Dearly,

The Order

Harry was about to explode with joy and happiness. He was not going to be alone this month, and best of all he was going to have Hermione with him! But then, quite suddenly, that strange and mysterious feeling returned with full force and his happiness began to slowly recede, but not completely disappear.

He grasped his quill and made a reply to both of the letters. After a short while, in which evening had come and gone and he was sitting in near-complete darkness in his room, he had managed to finish both of the letters to the best of his ability, and then smiled, going to turn the light on in his room.

Dear Hermione,

I just heard about what the Order has suggested we both do! I can't begin to express how happy I am! I'd be pleased beyond all reason if you were to come! But, of course, if you don't want to, you don't have to. I just hope that it'll be as fun for you as it would be for me. Please reply as quickly as possible!

Yours,

Harry

To The Order,

I gladly accept your invitation and am anxiously awaiting Hermione's reply. Also, my guardians have been treating me just great so don't worry about that.

Thanks,

Harry

He stuffed both of the letters into empty envelopes he found on his desk, quickly wrote on both of them, and then walked over to Hedwig. She looked up confused. "I know you just got back, Hedwig, but I need you to send two letters for me. Are you up to it?" After a few moments, she hooted admirably and stuck out her leg, seemingly awaiting the letters with great apprehension. He smiled, attached them with a piece of string he gathered off of his desk, and then patted her on the head, "Thanks Hedwig! One of those goes to Hermione, and the other goes to the Order. They're labeled."

As if understanding fully, his owl nodded (or at least nodded as best as an owl could nod) and then took off into the night as soon as Harry had opened the window for her. By opening the window, he was also shocked to be encountered by the image of a clear starry sky above.

Looking out of his window, Harry could see the night sky loom over him, a concoction composed of bright stars and constellations as far as the eye can see. Looking at it made Harry come to a state of rest… of ease. Looking into the image of stars above him, he could feel some of the worries he had taken along with his luggage from Hogwarts slip away into the nether. In the night sky, he could imagine a life where vast options awaited him, and where the whole wizarding world around him did not rely on his every decision and move.

He didn't know how long he stayed there… letting the acidic thoughts of worry, fear, anguish, and danger slowly seep from his mind, and letting himself realize he had something to look forward to this summer. A certain someone, in fact. And he couldn't help but smile. Smile because he was now beginning to see maybe there was a light in this dark prison he had found himself in. Maybe there was a way out. Maybe, just maybe, I can find a way to make my dream come true: to have a future without Voldemort where I can finally be at peace. Where I don't have to worry about a prophecy, or about a faceless dark magician that might be behind me. Maybe there really was a way to defeat him once and for all.

When he began to feel too cold to be able to bear, he reluctantly closed the window, and began to make his way back to the bed.

However, he was interrupted when a deep voice suddenly reverberated through the house and got his immediate attention, "Harr-r-r-r-y! Come down here this instance!" It was the voice of his uncle that he had managed to get himself used to over all of these years, but was one that never proved to be anything good when it was expressed in such a fashion.

With a worried feeling, he ran down the stairs and looked for his uncle. He found him at the telephone in the entrance hallway, eyeing him down with anger. "Some funny call from one of those freak friends of yours," he said, shoving out the phone to him as if was all that he wanted to get out of sight from it.

Harry reluctantly took hold of it, and as soon as Uncle Vernon left back hastily to whatever he was doing, he put the microphone to his mouth, "Hello?"

He was immediately and immensely surprised to hear Hermione's voice come from the other end, seemingly as excited as he was, "Harry! I just received a letter from the Order and they told me about how I can come and spend the summer with you! I can't believe it! I've been so bored here, and I could hardly stop thinking about you and everything that's happened last year."

"Uh…Hermione?"

"Yes, Harry?" She asked back, worry underlining her questioning voice.

"How did you know how to call me here? I don't even know the number."

She laughed, "Yeah, this must be strange. The Order gave me your phone number and told me to call you. They said it was faster, and that this way, when the time comes, it could be much easier to explain to your guardians the circumstances of my stay there as this is a form of communication they're better used to."

Harry grinned, "Yeah, I see. That's a great idea. I can't wait for you to come either. Wait, you are coming, right?"

"Of course, Harry! I wouldn't miss this for the world." The sound of her voice was both soothing and medicinal for his doubtful mind. He could literally feel the care and concern washing off of that voice, and desperately tried to focus on it, seeking a distracting presence or reason to be happy.

Still considering this, he replied, "That's great. I just sent you a letter a few minutes ago. You'll probably get it soon. I suppose it's a waste now. I was just asking for your response and telling you how I excited I was. You don't know how thankful I am of you and the Order for this."

"Well, what are best friends for, Harry? I'm getting ready as soon as possible. The Order said they're coming to pick me up in the morning, and I'll be at your place soon after that. Oh, I can't wait!"

They both chuckled, and Harry replied, "Neither can I, Hermione. I just hope I won't be intruding on anything you were doing this summer, though." He tried to carry over his concern to her, just as she had to him. Oh, how he was worried for her, especially after seeing her seemingly lifeless body on-

"Oh, of course not. I've been alone so far this summer, and I'd do anything to be able to spend it with my best friend, Harry. Anyway, maybe when my parents come back, we can come over to my place?"

"I'd love that, Hermione, but like I said before, I don't want to intru-"

"Shhh! Stop right there. You're not intruding on anything, Harry. This is my pleasure, and I don't think you should be left alone this summer with all of those feelings bottled up inside of you. So, please Harry, just let me help you this summer?"

"Well, I suppose I'm at your mercy then, Hermione," he said half-jokingly, and also partly with great remorse.

"Of course you are. You always have been, Harry." He couldn't believe just how serious she sounded, and her reply still reverberated through his mind that night for a reason he could not yet discern.

* * *

As soon as he had got off of the phone, which he returned to a mumbling and very angry Uncle Vernon, Harry had rushed back upstairs and began to clean up his room in anticipation for the next day. After he had come back from King's Cross, he had managed to somehow spread the contents of his trunk all over the room in the most random and strangest of places.

He was also happy to say that he had managed to begin and complete some of the assignments he was given to do over the summer break. It seems that Hermione's study habits were beginning to rub off on him, or maybe it was something more? Ever since he had found out about Voldemort's return, he's been feeling the dire need to try and make himself stronger and more knowledgeable… what happened at the ministry has made that feeling even greater in potency, and has also made him realize just how much he needed the knowledge that his school provided. He was done slacking off like he did before, and will try his best to save himself and his friends from the evil lurking over them.

Even though he might despise the circumstances of this prophecy and the responsibility he had on his shoulders for the entire Wizarding World, he would still put an effort into helping at least those he knew personally. Especially the one's that loved him and that he loved back.

Love. That was such a foreign concept to Harry Potter, who had grown up without a slight hint of it at all. But as much as he may be inexperienced with it, he now began to understand the meaning behind that word… "love." Even if it's just for love mutually shared between his friends and their families, and for no one or nothing else, it'd be worth dedicating his time towards to prepare for in terms of training and a commitment to learning. He'll be strong for them, if for no one else.

After a little more than an hour, he had managed to get his room slightly presentable, and had finally made the decision to go to sleep, a smile on his face before he drifted away from reality, a certain conversation with a certain somebody replaying through his mind.

It, however, wasn't long before Harry was victim to yet another dream, an occurrence that has become commonplace over the years since he had learned of his being a wizard.

A girl was slowly walking up to him. Brown hair with slightly golden highlights poured down past her shoulder, and as she got closer Harry began to realize that this girl became more and more familiar. His cloudy vision masked her identity, and forced him to try and focus more on her more and more familiar face. Before he could try and decipher her identity, however, he immediately realized that the moment after he closed his eyes to blink, both of his hands were now grasping the hands of the girl he had earlier seen approaching, and that they were cheerfully dancing to an inaudible tune. The electric shock he began to feel running through his veins made his heartbeat quicken, and he couldn't believe how peaceful, yet energetic, this felt.

He never felt happier than he ever did in that moment, seemingly walking on clouds and just centimeters away from a very familiar girl. Still, her form and face were blurry and he couldn't figure out who she was. What about this young woman made him so alive? So full of energy? Of happiness? Her eyes reflected back a world of meaning back to him, and he couldn't for the life of him decipher its meaning.

Making him tear her eyes off of her, he noticed something on her arm, something that had suddenly appeared and glittered. His eyes wouldn't tear away from them. The symbol there on her arm literally called to him, tugged at him for his attention. Its intricacy made his mind swim with possibilities to the symbol's meaning. The symbol, a very elaborate golden tattoo that seemed to be planted on her right wrist, resembled a craftily designed knot of some kind which was composed of a single thick line twirling around itself four times to create four distinct circular corners. And before he knew what he was doing, he had one of his hands free from their position of dancing to get nearer to it and to touch it.

Before he could get even an inch near it, he suddenly felt everything around him slowly bleed away, melting away into an oblivion of thoughts and ideas. The dream world collapsed around him, returning him to reality.

* * *

Harry woke up with the feeling that he had just awakened from a strange dream… about something that he greatly wanted and needed. He just couldn't remember what. Of course, he's been having that same sort of dream since he's arrived at the Dursley's, so it must just be some sort of aftereffect of what had happened… before school ended. However, he never really did seem to ever remember these sorts of dreams.

He grumbled irritably, and stumbled out of his bed, still half-asleep. He could tell from the sunlight pouring into his room that it was morning, so he forcibly pushed himself to perform his usual morning activities.

After grooming himself and making himself presentable (his hair could never be defined "presentable" but that's a different story), Harry was surprised to see Hedwig return, flying through the window as soon as he opened it for her. Flying over to the perch, she poked out her leg with a single piece of parchment attached and hooted for his attention impatiently. Harry grabbed it and opened it hurriedly.

Harry,

Hermione Granger and I will arrive at your home around 10:00 in the morning. Please wait for our arrival then.

Your Headmaster,

Dumbledore

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you for everyone who had pointed out the errors in this chapter, and for all of those who had reviewed! The onslaught of reviews had definitely caught me off guard, but have now given me an incentive to try and put out as much of my chapters as fast as I can! Once again, thank you for all of those reviews (both positive and negative in nature)!

Edit: This chapter has been heavily revised as of July 7th, 2007.