Harry Potter and The Long Strange Journey

Chapter One: An Icy-Blue Blast

Harry turned to look one last time at his friends, before leaving with the Dursley's. He glanced back, and Hermione and Ron waved at him fervently. He could see, even at this distance, the tilt of Hermione's eyebrows; the worried look on her face. Soon, he was in the backseat of the Dursley's car, zooming off down the road, toward Little Whinging, toward his three months of hell, he thought. Harry stared out the window, wallowing in self pity about the awful summer he was sure to have this year. Vernon Dursley was muttering about "weirdoes," and "lunatics," as he continuously glanced nervously out the side and rear view mirrors, as if he expected a group of witches and wizards to be following along behind the car on broomsticks. Every few minutes Petunia would interject a comment about the indecency of Tonk's hair color, or Moody's eye.

"That hair! Honestly! Can you imagine if we'd been seen talking with that thing?!" "And what on Earth was wrong that strange man's eye? How absolutely REVOLTING!"

Dudley, meanwhile, was sitting as far away from Harry as possible, playing on a Game boy. When Harry saw him in the train station, he was most unhappy to realize that Dudley had grown a few more inches since Harry had seen him last, and his enormous body seemed to have stretched out somewhat because of this. Harry could see the muscles in his arms bulging under his tee shirt, no doubt enhanced by the training he was doing at Smeltings for his wrestling career. Whenever Harry looked his way, Dudley seemed to flex these muscles, hoping to intimidate Harry, but Harry had always been to perceptive to be frightened by Dudley very much, and quickly noticed him nervously watching Harry out of the corner's of his eyes. Before long, the car was rumbling up the drive way of number four.

"Now, get your trunk and that bloody owl inside--quickly!" Vernon snapped at Harry before turning off the car.

The moment the car stopped humming, the Dursley's jumped out, and practically ran through the front door into the house. Harry decided to make a point of taking his time with every motion he made. He sat buckled into his seat in the car, and leaned his head back on the head rest behind him, staring at the ceiling. It was going to take a lot of willpower to get through the next few weeks he thought miserably. He slowly unbuckled his seat belt, and opened the door, swinging his legs out, uncaring. He turned and picked up Hedwig's cage, then set it on the ground. The owl gave a tiny hoot, and Harry allowed himself to give the bird a small smile. He walked feet dragging, to the back of the car, and heaved out his heavy trunk. Then he went back to Hedwig, who was making a racket, and opened her cage. She hopped onto the driveway, then stretched her wings, and flew into the air. Harry walked to the back of the car where his trunk lay. Just then, a shadow played across the top of his trunk, and he turned and looked up into the sky, watching Hedwig fly off into the distance. Staring into the bright clear sky, he forgot to watch his mind, and it wandered off, into thoughts about Sirius. He wondered briefly where he could be right now; if he was still behind that damn veil, or if he was truly in a better place. The thoughts of Sirius had caught him off guard somehow, although this was the part about going to Privet Drive that he had feared most. He knew he'd end up spending most of his time inside his own head, thinking about the last roller coaster of a year he'd been through. Thinking about Sirius. He sat down on top of his trunk, and put his face in his hands. There was a lump in his throat and he was choking on it, fighting with it to go away. He tried desperately to think about something happy. He'd be going to the Burrow soon enough, he thought. He'd be okay sooner or later. As he was wiping his eyes, he heard the front door of the house bang open, and Vernon hissed venomously out of it.

"Where the devil are you, boy?!" Harry pulled a hand through his hair which was getting quite long, and stood up from behind the car, glaring at his Uncle defiantly.

"Get in here! NOW!" He made a violent hand motion to Harry to come indoors. Then he stalked off, leaving the front door wide open.

Resignedly, Harry picked up one of the handles on his trunk, and the birdcage sitting on the driveway, and dragging the trunk loudly, walked into the house. He slammed the door behind him with his foot, then dragged his trunk up the stairs noisily. When he got to his bedroom, he sat Hedwig's cage on his dresser, and allowed the trunk to crash onto the floor behind him. He fell wholeheartedly onto his bed, and lied there for a few minutes thinking of nothing.

Then the thoughts started to fill his mind again. It was like a disease, he thought, this "Grief" thing. For Harry was smart enough to anticipate that that was exactly what he was going to have to go through, until maybe someday he would feel whole again. He also knew emotionally he had fallen apart, and would have to be careful the rest of the summer with his thoughts, with his state of mind being in the place it was.

For a time, he tried to fight off sleep, but eventually his exhaustion got the best of him, and he fell deeply into a series of painful and twisted memories, dreaming vividly, as he always did--about everything from having to live for so many years in the cupboard under the stairs, to the Ministry battle, and of course of Sirius' death. In the last part of his dreams, the memory of Sirius falling through the veil replayed over and over again. Then the scene changed, and he was crying, while Luna stood in front of him with her bewitched Lion hat on. She said to Harry, " Don't worry about it so much, Harry! They always come back! Always!" Then the lion hat roared loudly in Harry's face, and the scene changed again, and he was in Dumbledore's office balling his eyes out. He was pleading with Dumbledore to tell him about the veil.

"But is he really dead?!" Harry screamed.

Dumbledore sat perfectly still, staring silently at Harry, unblinking. Harry was enraged.

"TELL ME WHAT THAT FUCKING VEIL MEANS, NOW!" Harry demanded.

Dumbledore still said nothing. Harry's whole body was shaking with rage, and his face contorted in a look of the utmost dislike. He dashed at Dumbledore, and grabbed his shoulders, shaking him violently, and screaming in his face.

"DON'T MAKE ME FIGURE THIS OUT ON MY OWN THIS TIME!! TELL ME WHAT IT MEANS! TELL ME IF HE'S DEAD!! DON'T MAKE ME GO THROUGH THIS!"

Suddenly, and most unapologetically, Dumbledore blasted Harry backwards with ice blue rays of light,that shot right out of his eyes. Harry landed with a loud thud a few feet away, and several of Dumbledore's silver instruments came crashing down on him. Harry shook his head to correct his vision, and when he looked up, Dumbledore was standing over him with an odd smile on his face.

"Harry, why don't you stop being so idiotic, and just go ahead and look?" Harry thought for a moment.

"Look?...Where?" Dumbledore seemed to chuckle.

"Why, in the pensieve of course. For that is where you've been wanting to look, is it not?"

Just as Harry was about to respond in his dream, he was awoken by a very loud noise. He sat straight up on his bed, heart thumping wildly. For a moment the dream left him, as he tried to comprehend what he was hearing. Loud guitar was blasting from somewhere inside the house, and Harry could just make out an ugly high pitched singing voice, that continually broke and went off key. Harry scowled and covered his ears. The sun was setting on Privet Drive. He looked at his clock on his bedside table, and saw that it was past 7 p.m. He'd obviously been sleeping for hours. Hearing the terrible voice again, barely audible over the screaming guitar, he stood up, and stretched. He walked across his room, and through the door. As soon as he had opened the door, the noise got about 5 times louder, and he could hear the voice more clearly now. It seemed to be coming from Dudley's room.

Smirking, he stepped outside Dudley's door, and listened. Harry wondered what on Earth an emotionless fool like Dudley could possibly have to sing about. He stood still, listening as the strumming got faster and faster, then he heard Dudley bellow in a would-be punk rock voice,

"YOU FUCKIN' FREAK! YOU'RE A FUCKIN' GEEK! I SHOULD KICK YOUR ASS! I'M GONNA KICK YOUR ASS!"

Harry was bent double laughing out loud at how immensely retarded Dudley sounded. He wondered momentarily if the song might have been written about himself. He listened again. It felt so good to finally laugh again, and he was surprised that Dudley had ended up being the first person to make him do so in weeks.

Dudley was playing haphazardly, and Harry couldn't really make out a tune. He heard Dudley clear his throat, and sing again.

"WHY DO THEY ALWAYS TAKE YOU IN?! I'M GONNA BE THE ONE TO TAKE... YOU... DOWN!!" Harry couldn't handle much more of this. He swung open Dudley's door. Dudley stopped playing immediately, and glaring at Harry , he walked over to a big amp on the floor near his desk, and switched a button.

Then he stood up, and guitar still in his hands, glared at Harry.

"What the hell do you want?"

"You woke me up. Can't you turn that rubbish down?" Harry didn't feel too intimidated. His wand was only a few feet away if need be. Dudley's face warped, and he yelled at Harry, advancing towards him. Harry took a step backward, out of Dudley's room, but Dudley got right in his face.

"IT'S NOT RUBBISH YOU LITTLE BITCH! NOW GET THE HELL AWAY FROM ME, BEFORE I KICK YOUR ASS!"

"Like in your song, Dud?" Harry couldn't help himself.

"Fuck off!" Dudley slammed the door shut in Harry's face. Harry grinned, and as he turned, he heard the amp switch back on, and Dudley started to play louder than before.

Harry couldn't believe that Aunt Petunia would allow such a racket to go on in the house, but thought that Dudley must have bullied them into letting him do it. His stomach gave an unpleasant gurgle just then, and he ambled down the stairs, to go get something to eat. He kept his eyes on his feet, knowing from past experience that if he didn't make eye contact with his Aunt and Uncle, they were much less likely to start yelling at him about eating them out of house and home, of which he could never have been actually guilty, for he hardly ate anything when he was living with the Dursley's. In fact, whenever he went back to Hogwarts now, he gained about ten pounds in the first week, and thought he looked and felt much better for it.

Passing by the living room, he fully expected them to be sitting on the couch together, watching the evening news, and bickering over everything they saw. But they weren't in the living room. In fact, Harry soon realized, they weren't home at all. The car was gone out of the drive, and most of the lights were off. Unable to believe that the Dursley's had left him at home without locking his door, Harry walked slowly into the kitchen. On the counter top was a piece of pink stationary. He picked it up, and read:

Diddykins-

Be a good boy. We will be back at around Midnight.

If you need anything, or if there is an emergency,

call Mrs. Figg. Her number is on the

list on the wall, by the phone.

If you can't get her, then call the Police.

Remember-- not too many snacks, diddykins!!

Love and Kisses, Mum

Chapter Two: Puniceus Pyramid Plant

Harry thought the whole situation was rather odd. It just wasn't like the Dursley's at all...Where on Earth were they that they wouldn't be returning from until Midnight? Harry put the note down, and strolled over to the phone. He found Mrs. Figg's number, and thought he'd call her, and ask if she knew where the Dursley's were. It was always good as well to have some sort of communication with the Wizarding world. He dialed the number. It rang several times, and then an answering machine came on after a little jingle.

"Hello. This is Arabella Figg. Leave a message... ::Meow:: ::Beeep:"

Harry smirked when he heard a cat meow in the background of Mrs. Figg's message, then he realized that the machine had already beeped.

"Er...hi Mrs. Figg. This is Harry Potter...I was just calling to say hello, and ask you if you knew where the Dursley's went...er, hope you're well...bye."

Harry plunked the receiver down. He realized that he'd never left a message on anyone's answering machine before in his entire life, and how very strange that was for a muggle life, and how very normal for a Wizard one.

His stomach gurgled again, and he realized how very hungry he was. Patting his empty belly, he walked over to the cabinet, and pulled out the telephone book. He started flipping to the 'P' section, thinking of how smart he'd been to trade some wizard gold for muggle money with Seamus and Dean before leaving Hogwarts at the end of the year.

He called up Herbie's Pizza Delivery in Surrey, and ordered a large pepperoni pizza for himself. Remembering suddenly some other things he'd traded with pals at Hogwarts, he rushed upstairs, past the thrashing guitar, and into his bedroom. Kneeling in front of his trunk, he undid the lock, and flung open the top. Shifting aside some socks and a sweatshirt, he uncovered a small liquor bottle, filled with a pale blue liquid,that glittered as Harry turned it over in his hands. The bottle had a golden label on the front, with deep blue lettering, that danced drunkenly around on it. It was labeled:

Hazel Witch's

Sweet Kava & Valerian Sipper

Laugh the night away!

~Use with caution~

Harry thought for a moment, looking at the bottle, then grinning, he sat the bottle back in his trunk. Seamus had given the magical concoction to Harry for only one silver sickle and a magic frog card Harry had that he really wanted. He told Harry he'd bought it off a friend of his from Ravenclaw house named Miles, who was a 7^th year. He also told Harry to save it for a fun occasion like a party, and then added in a whisper, grinning broadly, to make sure and only take one capful per person, or you'd be up all night giggling. It was tempting, but Harry was sure he'd have a much better time 'laughing the night away' with Ron and Hermione, than all alone. He shifted some more clothes, and found another bottle, slightly larger than the other. It contained a bright sparkling amber liquid, that had a deep blood red quality to it, when the light shone through. This was given to him by Lee Jordan, as an early birthday present. The label on the bottle was silver, and in deep blood red lettering it read:

Odgen's Old

FIREWHISKEY

Clears the mind Revives the body

Since 1556

Harry turned the bottle over, and on the back in small print it said:

Consuming large amounts of FireWhiskey will reverse the effects listed on the front of this bottle. Do not attempt to maneuver a broom after consuming large amounts of FireWhiskey.

Harry grinned broadly, then twisted open the cap, and took a huge swig. The liquid felt like flames were licking his throat as it went down. Still holding the bottle in his hand, and trying desperately not to spill it, he leaned forward onto all fours, coughing like mad after swallowing the substance. After a few minutes of a full-on coughing attack, Harry suddenly stopped, and sat straight up. A wave of serenity washed over and through his tired mind and body as he twisted the cap back on, and put the bottle away. Putting this bottle back into his trunk next to the Valerian Sipper, he dug around through some more clothes for what he was most eager to find.

Fred and George had slipped Harry a small package at King's Cross station when no one had been looking. They had quickly explained that it was 'experimental' stuff they had created on their own and grown, and were now selling out of the back of their joke shop, to their most loyal customers. Fred had whispered excitedly to Harry:

"It selling like mad. We're already looking into growing a whole crop! The people love the stuff!"

"Yeah, and Harry, just save it for a time when you really need to relax. It's great stuff--it'll make you calm, but not confused, like some other magical herbs..." added George, smiling.

"Have fun!" The twins had both chorused. Then they'd smiled, winked, and walked off.

Harry hadn't had time to open the box since then, and was now most eager to do so. He didn't want to think about Sirius, or anything painful tonight. The ache was already so all-consuming, that Harry had begun to feel numb towards it, and he thought blankly to himself that feeling numb about Sirius' death was a very poor way to respect his memory, but right now he didn't want to even try to justify any feelings. What he really desperately wanted was to be a normal teenager, or at least as normal as was possible, and relax, eat some pizza, and maybe send Ron and Hermione letters asking them in the most polite way possible to get him the hell out of number four, Privet Drive.

Harry tore off the tape from the box, and opened the lid. A pungent flowery smell filled his nostrils at once. He breathed it in deeply. Inside the box was a little forest green velvet satchel. He took this out, and a small wooden pipe, that reminded him of the one he'd seen Mundungus using in Grimmauld place. He held the pipe in his hands, and turned it over and over. It was carved of a very dark, rich wood, and it had ancient runes engraved all over the stem, and around the bowl piece. At the bottom of the bowl, a brand was burned into it. It read:

"Wally's Wizard Pipes, 21 Diagon Alley."

Harry sat it down, and looked at the green satchel. Emblazoned on the front in gold lettering was:

Caeruleus Bud Conchyliatus Pulvis

And below this in more golden lettering was the phrase:

"Fragrans gemma, addo sedatum."

Filled with curiosity, Harry opened the knotted satchel, and a fresh blast of the sweet plant fragrance immersed. It smelled very good indeed, and Harry reached his fingers inside the pouch, wondering if it was a wizard's version of tobacco. He pulled out what looked like a small 2''X 2'' pyramid, which seemed to be a strange shaped bud of a plant. The bud was very thick, and dark blue, but on closer inspection, Harry saw that it was covered in a thick dusting of light purple crystals, which stuck to his fingers as he touched it. Holding it to his nose and taking a deep breath, he then put it back in the satchel, and pulled out the last content of the box, which was a note scribbled by the Weasley twins.

Harry --

This is Puniceus Pyramid plant! It is extremely rare (as of now.) And a lot of fun to smoke! One wizard, a bloke who calls himself 'Gandalf' has been back here three times already to buy more! He told us it's even better than his local leaf, which he said is from a place called the 'Shire'? We asked if he meant Devonshire, and he came off all irritated. He was quick to temper, that one! Anyway, break off enough to fill the bowl of the pipe, and then smoke it! The plant has a spell built right into it's genetics, which reverses lung damage! Brilliant, we know. And who said we didn't ever pay attention in Herbology?! Well, enjoy yourself! And if you want more, (which we're sure you will,) come and visit our shop in Diagon Alley this summer! Cheers!

Fred and George

Weasley's Wizard Wheezes

95 Diagon Alley, London

Harry decided to leave this too, for a later date. He picked up the Fire Whiskey bottle, slammed his trunk shut and marched out his bedroom door. Dudley was watching T.V. in his bedroom at a very loud volume, and Harry heard gunshots repeatedly going off as he walked by. Harry unscrewed the cap as he walked down the stairs, and took three more consecutive swigs. The fiery sensation going down his throat was less harsh each time. He waited for a moment for the mind clearing sensation to come over him, and when it came about a minute later, his eyes popped wide open, and his brain felt like it was buzzing. The last swig seemed to have quadrupled the effects of the first. Now Harry felt quick and jittery. He set the bottle down, and ran around the house in circles three times, talking to himself all the while.

"Whoa!" Harry laughed when he finally stopped running.

"This stuff really does revive the body, and clear the mines! Er, mind!" he laughed again, and walked briskly to the t.v. and turned it on. Then the doorbell rang.

"SCORE! PiZzza!" Harry yelped, and jumped off the couch, and ran at full speed to the door. He nearly crashed into it because of the excessive energy he was feeling at the moment. He swung the door open with a flourish, and positively shouted:

"HELLO! HOW'RE YOU?! I'm feeling rather well myself at the moment! My name is Harry!!" The pizza boy looked frightened. Harry started laughing a crazed unstoppable laugh.

"Hahahahahahaha....I...I'm...sorry...how much do I owe you..." He barely managed to get out the words through his chuckling.

Now his right eye was twitching like it sometimes did, except this time it was twitching like crazy, and he couldn't make it stop. His whole body felt like it was full of electricity.

"Um, that'll be ..." The pizza boy was staring at Harry with a bemused expression on his face now. Harry did an odd little jig, while he counted out the money.

"You alright man...?" The pizza boy was laughing now.

"Oh yeah! I feel GREAT!" Harry couldn't stop the words from coming.

"You been...ya' know..." The pizza boy sniffed loudly a few times. Harry laughed out loud.

"What?! No! BYE!" Harry slammed the door in the man's face, and ran with the pizza into the living room, jumped into the air, and crashed onto the couch with it. Harry looked down at his legs which were trembling.

"I needa' chill out!" Harry jumped off the couch, and remembering what the back of the bottle had said, he went and took two large gulps, hoping to reverse the effects of the FireWhiskey. He barely felt the burn this time, and suddenly he felt very calm, almost sleepy. His mind began to wander, and become cloudy. His eye sight started to blur a bit as well. He shlumped back over to the couch, dragging his feet, and sat down, banging the FireWhiskey bottle onto the coffee table in front of him, and slopping it all over, unknowingly. Every minute that passed Harry felt more and more out of it. Groggy and drunken now, Harry ate his way through half of the pizza, before passing out.