Mother Knows Best

Chapter 1

Yet Another Miserable Summer Vacation

Harry Potter was having both the best and worst summer of his life, although that wasn't saying much. Harry had spent his childhood being bullied and put down by the Dursleys. Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon and Harry's cousin, Dudley Dursley, were Harry's only living relatives. Since they were very proud of being perfectly normal, they were completely ashamed of being related to Harry, who was anything but normal. For Harry was not only a wizard, but an extremely famous one. Harry had survived no less than five attacks by the powerful dark wizard known as Lord Voldemort . The Dursleys were terrified that one of their acquaintances would find out about Harry, and so every summer for three years, when Harry returned from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Dursleys locked up his school books, his wand and his broom (a Firebolt, the fastest racing broom on the market). It was only the overt threats from some of Harry's adult Wizard acquaintances that had finally forced the Dursleys to stop this practice last year, before which the Dursleys had just been their usual rude, mean selves. This summer had started out the same, but Harry had changed since last summer because he had seen Sirius murdered in front his own eyes.

Sirius Black had been Harry's godfather, Harry's father's best friend, and the closest thing Harry had to real family. But he was a fugitive falsely accused of murder, and had been killed in June. Harry had been crushed. He spent his days brooding. Harry really didn't know what to feel. Sometimes he was numb, and walked around as if on autopilot. Other times he was so wracked with grief he couldn't even move. Those times he usually locked his door and buried his face in his pillow to muffle his miserable sobs. Harry must be the only person on the planet who picked locks to *lock* them. Other times, Harry would fly into a violent rage, especially when the Dursleys were around.

He hadn't bothered to tell the Dursleys about Sirius' death: they'd have just tormented him with the knowledge. The Dursleys suspected something was wrong, however, because Harry had become very moody since he had returned. Normally, they probably wouldn't even have noticed, but Harry had also developed a violent and unpredictable temper. The day after Harry returned, Aunt Petunia commented tersely over supper that she was surprised there hadn't been any 'miserable owls flying about,' and asked, "Have those...people finally learned how to use a post-box?"

Harry had snapped and flown into a rage. He threw the cup he had been holding at Aunt Petunia, narrowly missing her head. It shattered on the wall behind her, and Aunt Petunia had been too shocked to even punish Harry for messing up her perfectly clean kitchen. Harry, red-faced in fury, did a very good impression of Uncle Vernon when he hissed, "Don't ever talk about my friends that way!" after which he had stormed upstairs, leaving the thunderstruck Dursleys behind him.

The Dursleys did their best to avoid Harry in the following days, they would give him terrified looks and run out of the room whenever he approached. This went on for just over a week, which coincided exactly with Dudley's memory span. Harry hadn't expected Sirius' death to make headlines--not with Lord Voldemort back at full strength and at large. That was fine with Harry, as he didn't want to be reminded of it anyway. But not two weeks into Harry's summer vacation, Harry opened up his morning copy of The Daily Prophet to the great, bold words:

Black Dead, Charges on Hippogriff Dropped

The Ministry of Magic released an official statement that Sirius Black, the first person ever to escape from Azkaban, is dead. Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Head of the International Confederation of Wizards Wizengamot and Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot reported today that Black had been working for him in secret since You-Know-who was restored to full strength last year. It has now been brought to light that Peter Pettigrew, the wizard Black was imprisoned for killing, had in fact framed Black by faking his own death. The public is warned that Pettigrew is an unregistered Animagus, and transforms into a fat, grey sewer rat with tattered ears and is missing a finger on his right front paw. Dumbledore explained that Pettigrew was You-know-who's spy, and it was he who had revealed the Potters' location to He who Must Not Be Named on that fateful night. According to Harry Potter, Pettigrew was also the one who restored You-know-who to full strength (see our Exclusive Interview with Harry Potter in our previous article, 'He Who Must Not Be Named Returns'). Pettigrew has been stripped of his Order of Merlin, and we can probably expect it to be awarded to Black very soon, though it is unknown who will accept it in Black's stead.

Dumbledore has also revealed that, after being apprehended there two years ago, Black escaped from Hogwarts by means of a condemned Hippogriff named Buckbeak. Since the man who pressed charges against the Hippogriff, Lucius Malfoy, as well as the executioner, Walden Macnair, are both convicted Death Eaters, Dumbledore applied to have the charges against Buckbeak dropped.

"It is most tragic that Sirius Black died before his name could be cleared," Albus Dumbledore told the Daily Prophet correspondent, "and it is the least we could do to clear his companion's name and give Buckbeak his well-deserved freedom."

The Board for the Control and Disposal of Dangerous Magical Creatures seems to agree with Dumbledore heartily, as they promptly reviewed Buckbeak's case and overturned their previous judgment.

In other news, Bellatrix Lestrange, who tortured the Longbottoms into madness, and who is also accused of murdering Sirius Black, is still at large...

Harry couldn't read any further; the article brought back too many painful memories. He sadly folded the paper up. Dudley, seeing the look on Harry's face, bounded into the room and smiled at Harry maliciously.

"Aw, what's the matter?" Dudley asked in mock sympathy. "Did one of your school pals accidentally blow themselves up?" Dudley laughed at his own stupid joke.

Harry was in no mood to put up with Dudley. He pounded his fist on the table, and let out an infuriated snarl. "HOW DARE YOU?!" he roared.

Dudley was shaking with terror, but he had his fists up. "I-I'm n-not scared of y-you," he stammered, "you c-can't do magic, the s-school s-said so. A-and I can lick you in a f-fight."

"Remember what I did to Aunt Marge three summers ago?" Harry asked, closing in on Dudley. "If you make me angry enough, I can do things without meaning to, and there's nothing against that."

But Dudley had convinced himself he was safe. "Just you try it!" he told Harry triumphantly, "Dad'll lock you in the basement until you're thirty!" Harry's eyes narrowed, and Dudley thought this meant Harry was hesitating. "Wotch'ya gonna do, Harry? Get your big, bad godfather to come get me? HAHAHA!"

It happened all at once: Harry let out another angry yell and took a swing at Dudley; Dudley tried to duck, but he was so fat and slow he barely moved before Harry's fist connected; behind Harry, the kitchen television exploded. Dudley let out a terrified scream that sounded, to Harry, like a pig squealing. Dudley then tore upstairs screaming, "MUM! MUUUM!"

Harry didn't see or hear from the Dursleys again that day until supper. Aunt Petunia called him down to eat with her sweetest voice. The Dursleys were all smiling at Harry, even Dudley. Harry was pleased to see Dudley sporting a purplish bruise where Harry had hit him. Uncle Vernon muttered, "Well, get on with it!" to Dudley, and gave him a shove.

"I'm sorry for making you mad," Dudley apologised grudgingly.

"There, wasn't that nice?" Aunt Petunia said in her falsely sweet voice. Harry saw her hands shaking. "And don't worry, Dudders, we'll get you a new telly."

Just then, an owl swooped in through the open kitchen window and dropped a letter on Harry's lap. "OWLS!!" roared Uncle Vernon, starting a tirade.

Harry ignored his uncle's ranting and tore open the letter. He was very nervous; it had the Minister of Magic's seal on it. Harry was afraid he was in trouble again for using magic, though he didn't think he could be punished for using magic without meaning to, even if he was sort of trying to do just that. Harry quickly scanned the letter.

Dear Mr. Potter,

It has come to my attention that you used magic unintentionally today at quarter-past-two in the afternoon. While it is technically against the law to practise magic in front of Muggles, intentional or otherwise, I have taken the liberty of waving charges. We all understand that you're under a great deal of stress right now, but I would beg you to try and do your best to hold your temper. You'll be happy to know that Mr. Arthur Weasley is attempting to pass an amendment to the Muggle Protection Act that will allow witches and wizards to use magic in front of their Muggle relatives. This will allow them to defend their relatives from attacks by Dark Wizards and not have to worry about hearings. I have given the amendment my full support, and we are optimistic of its passing unanimously at the next vote. I think in light of your unfortunate circumstances last summer, this is the least we can do.

I feel I should also make you aware that there are increasing requests to grant you full use of your magic, even though you have another year yet 'til you become of age. It's bending the rules a bit, but many feel that with You-know-who on the loose, the sooner we can get you using magic at your own discretion, the better. However, Dumbledore has yet to voice an opinion on the matter, and I don't want to bring this before the Ministry unless both you and he wish it. I would also like to take this occasion to congratulate you a bit in advance on your turning sixteen in two weeks' time.

Again, congratulations!

Best wishes and warmest regards,

Cornelius Fudge,

Minister of Magic

"Don't bother getting a new television," Harry said. "From the looks of this letter, I'll be able to fix that one soon enough."

The Dursleys stared at Harry, mystified. "You'll fix it?" Aunt Petunia echoed.

"You're lying," Uncle Vernon said decidedly. "It's another two years before you're 18, and we all know perfectly well you can't use magic until you're of age."

Harry smiled. "First off, wizards come of age at seventeen, but it seems they want to make and exception for me. If you don't believe me, read this," he handed the letter to Uncle Vernon.

Uncle Vernon read the letter over twice, going from bright red to sheet white. He then passed the letter to Aunt Petunia without saying anything, his hand shaking violently. Aunt Petunia read the letter over, and scowled. She seemed to be taking it as a personal insult. "'Bending the rules?' For you?!"

"What's all this ruddy nonsense about 'You-know-who'?" Uncle Vernon grunted.

"That's what wizards call Lord Voldemort: they're afraid to say his name, or even write it, for that matter. I'm sure Professor Dumbledore explained to you why I'm so important to wizards in the letter he left with me when I was a baby. They're all very scared now that Voldemort's back, and they're hoping I'll be able to defeat him again, I suppose, but this time for good." Harry thought glumly of the prophecy that Dumbledore had shown him only a few weeks ago, which had said that Harry would either have to kill or be killed by Voldemort. The Dursleys merely looked back at Harry, horrified and dumbstruck.

From then on, the Dursleys made an effort to be nice to Harry, and he finally had a free run of the house. He even popped over to visit Mrs. Figg every once in a while. Mrs. Figg was a squib, as Harry had only discovered last summer, who was sent to watch over Harry by Professor Dumbledore. Harry had spent countless unpleasant visits at Mrs. Figg's house as a child, because she didn't want to let on to the Dursleys that Harry was enjoying himself (this would have ensured Harry's never coming over again). But now that Harry knew about Mrs. Figg, and had the Dursleys held in the grip of terror over him coming of age, he spent many enjoyable days with her.

Even under normal circumstances, Harry would have been able to put up with the Dursleys without a problem. He was used to them, after all, and he now understood why he had to stay with them. Harry's mother had sacrificed her life to keep Harry safe, and because Voldemort had shed her blood, her blood now protected Harry. Since Aunt Petunia was a blood relative, so long as her home was Harry's home, Voldemort couldn't touch him while there. Now, with the Dursleys treading lightly around Harry, his time there was almost enjoyable. Unfortunately, it was not to last.

Last summer, Dudley and his gang had started beating up neighbourhood kids and destroying all the playgrounds within reach. This year, they had wrecked a newly-repaired, extremely costly structure the first weekend after school ended, making the community council hopping mad. The council had complained to the police, and the police had set up a sting. The sting consisted of another newly-repaired play structure, a well-concealed camera, and a squad of five police cars. Dudley's gang had immediately took the bait, and just stared stupidly when the squad cars came zooming in around them. Dudley found himself spending his third week of summer holiday in the local county jail. None of the members of Dudley's gang were very bright, and the police got full confessions out of them. Since Dudley was the leader of the gang, and had been the instigator of most of the trouble, he was being the most severely punished. But Dudley was still a minor, and as such, his parents were held responsible for his actions. Dudley's actions had brought Mr. and Mrs. Dursley's fitness as parents into question.

This, in addition to Mr. and Mrs. Dursley's adamant insistence to the police that Dudley couldn't possibly have done anything wrong, and that Harry must be behind this somehow, had prompted the police to send a social worker to investigate the Dursleys. Harry still remembers the day vividly; Aunt Petunia had been out, so Harry had answered the door, and the woman on the other side took one look at Harry's baggy hand-me-downs and titched disapprovingly while scribbling furiously on a clipboard she was holding.

The social worker announced herself as such and said her name was Ms. Grinder, then walked in without being invited. She reminded Harry of Madam Pomfrey in both looks and manner. She asked Harry lots of pertinent questions, like whether his aunt and uncle beat him, whether he got regular meals, etc. ...She gave several scandalised gasps at Harry's answers. Next the social worker asked to see Harry and Dudley's rooms. Harry showed her Dudley's room first. Ms. Grinder switched on Dudley's computer, and scribbled down another note when Harry jumped and told her that Dudley never allowed Harry or anyone else to touch his computer. She also noted Dudley's closet (which was brimming with clothes Dudley never wore), his sagging shelves packed with old broken toys and untouched books, and finally, Dudley's new, fully-equipped home theatre, overflowing with DVD's and complete with four of the latest game consoles (it had been Dudley's birthday present). Harry felt very embarrassed of his room after Dudley's, but Ms. Grinder insisted on seeing it, as well. Grudgingly, Harry led the way to his room. Ms. Grinder noted the hand-installed lock and cat-flap on the door to Harry's room. Harry explained that an important deal of Uncle Vernon's had been ruined when an owl had gotten into the house and frightened the business partner's wife (Harry wasn't technically lying about this, though he was pushing it when he said that it came in because owls liked him; the owl had come in to deliver a letter from the Ministry of Magic). Uncle Vernon had locked Harry in his room, put bars on the window and Aunt Petunia had fed him through the cat-flap. Ms. Grinder looked horrified, even after Harry assured her that some friends from school had sprung him out, and the Dursleys had only locked him up once or twice since, and not for more than a few hours. Ms Grinder hastily opened the door and gave a quick survey of Harry's room. Harry was glad his school things were put away; Harry didn't fancy explaining them to Ms. Grinder. A quick survey was all that was needed, really; all Harry's room contained was a bed, empty shelves, an empty desk with Hedwig's empty cage on it, Harry's trunk, containing his school things, and a closet with a few hand-me-down clothes in it. Ms. Grindstone was scandalised, and said that the Dursleys were displaying some of the worst favouritism that she had seen in her twenty years of investigation.

The next day, Harry was hauled off to the Child Welfare office, and two police officers escorted the Dursleys away, throwing around terms like 'criminal negligence.' Harry was sat down in front of a counsellor who told Harry to tell her about practically his whole life. Harry had been really embarrassed about the whole thing, and was praying that no one in the Wizarding community got wind of it: the last thing Harry wanted was for Malfoy to be telling the whole school that Harry was so pathetic he needed counselling. Harry said as little as he could get away with, and the counsellor gave up at three.

Harry was sent back to Miss Grinder, who told Harry she'd found a very nice foster home for him. Harry replied curtly that he would rather just stay with the Dursleys, thanks, but Ms. Grinder wouldn't hear of it. Now getting somewhat desperate, Harry asked if he could stay with his neighbour, Mrs. Figg. Harry had already decided to keep the Weasleys out of this, as Mr. Weasley worked for the Ministry of Magic, and Harry was afraid that Mr. Weasley would have to report Harry's stay at Child Welfare to the Ministry. Nor did Harry want to explain why he had to contact the Weasleys by owl. Mrs. Figg would seem normal enough to Child Welfare, and she could be reached by telephone, so Harry was fairly certain he'd be safe from the prying eyes of Child Welfare with her.

But to Harry's dismay, Mrs. Figg let on to the Weasleys what had happened to Harry, and it was Mrs. Weasley who came to pick Harry up. Fortunately, Mrs Weasley's fussing over Harry seemed to convince Miss Grinder that Mrs. Weasley was safe enough to take care of Harry, for the moment, anyway. Miss Grinder still thought that Harry was severely traumatised, however, and insisted on him continuing to see a counsellor. Mrs. Weasley agreed to this, though Harry got the impression she didn't really know what 'counselling' meant. Mrs. Weasley took Harry to Mrs. Figg's house, which Harry discovered was connected to the Floo network, as they travelled by Floo Powder to the Burrow. Harry was still angry and embarrassed when he sat down for supper that night, so he responded to the Weasleys' barrage of questions by coldly stating that he didn't want to talk about it. He then shovelled a large portion of supper into his mouth so he couldn't speak, and then continued to bolt his supper so he could leave quickly. Harry glanced up only once during supper, and even then only briefly. What he saw infuriated him even further: the Weasleys were all staring at him with a look of unified, apologetic pity. Harry realised with a painful jolt that the Weasleys' behaviour had nothing to do with his visit to Child Welfare: they were thinking about Sirius. Once Harry was finished, he asked where he would be sleeping, still being very cold. Mrs Weasley told him he could stay in Percy's old room, and Harry promptly went upstairs, leaving the Weasleys speechless behind him.

Harry mulled over everything that was bothering him as he lay in bed that night. On and off he wondered if Percy had apologized to his family. Harry suspected that Percy's absence meant the Weasleys in fact hadn't patched things up with him yet. He hadn't moved back in, and none of the other Weasleys had mentioned him all summer. Harry suspected that when the ministry had officially acknowledged that Voldemort had returned, Percy's pride had taken a rather nasty blow. He wasn't used to being wrong, and he must have realised that he had, most likely, been promoted to spy on Dumbledore's supporters. Harry was almost certain that Percy wasn't the type to offer apologies easily, and Harry certainly felt he owed both the Weasleys and himself one. Angry as Harry was with the Weasleys, he wasn't going to hold their concerns against them. Instead, Harry let off steam by thinking of all the things he would say to Percy if he ran into him. 'Violent, am I? Unstable? I ought to get violent and unstable with you!' With that, Harry drifted off to sleep.