Harry Potter and Voldemort's Revenge

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*The Burrow*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Three weeks later...

Harry,

How are you? Still bored at the Muggles'? Good news- Dumbledore finally gave in. I think he got a little annoyed with my asking him so many times. He said you could come to my house for a week, but no longer. So how about the last week of summer and then you can come with me to King's Cross Station September first? My dad says he'll pick you up outside the Muggles' house at one o'clock on Sunday. I don't think he wants another encounter with them. Send word as soon as possible

--Ron

Harry glanced wildly around his room for a quill and parchment to answer with. This was by far the best news he had heard all summer.

"Where is it?" Harry thought out loud. I really need to buy some new stuff, he thought in frustration. "Yes! There it is!" he said, upon noticing it under his unfinished homework. Harry grabbed the quill and scribbled his reply rapidly

Ron,

Pick me up at one o'clock on Sunday then, I'll be packed and ready. I also need to get my school supplies at Diagon Alley, and some new robes. See you soon.

--Harry

Harry rolled up the piece of parchment and sent it off with Hedwig, who had become very moody over the summer due to the constant trips and almost no rest.

I'll have to give her a good long break, Harry thought sympathetically.

He jumped onto his bed and grinned. Finally, he thought, I'm going to get out of here. Harry grinned and closed his eyes.

"AHHH!" a woman shrieked.

Harry jumped up in surprise, and then began to laugh; Dudley had sneaked food out again last night. Harry headed down stairs to see how much food had "disappeared" this time. He could hear Dudley's loud snores as he opened his door.

Guess he was up late last night, Harry smirked to himself. He walked briskly down the stairs and into the kitchen to see his aunt on her hands and knees picking up eggshells. Dudley had become so desperate for protein, he didn't care if it was cooked or not. Harry stood watching his aunt until he heard a loud squeak behind him.

He turned around to see his large, beefy Uncle Vernon. Uncle Vernon was edging his way along the wall so as to stay as far away from Harry as possible. Suddenly, the thought popped in to his head to inform his aunt and uncle of his departure; Harry no longer asked to leave any more-- his aunt and uncle would have been more then happy to have Harry out of the house.

"Uh, Uncle Vernon..." Harry started.

"What?" his uncle grunted.

"The Weasleys have invited me to spend the last week of the summer with them..."

"Have they," his uncle said dryly. "How do they - plan to get you there?"

"Mr. Weasley is supposed to pick me up outside the house at one o'clock this Sunday..."

"Why not - why not have them come earlier?" Vernon suggested hopefully.

"Because my, er...headmaster only wants me to stay there for a week," Harry answered.

At the mention of Harry's head master, Vernon jerked involuntarily and backed away, avoiding Harry's eyes and sitting down at the table. Harry smiled contentedly and decided to send a letter to Sirius to tell him he would soon be at the Weasleys'.

Three days later...

At 12:49 pm on Sunday afternoon, Harry had his trunk completely packed with all his schoolbooks, invisibility cloak, and clothes he would need. He waited eagerly on the doorstep for the Weasleys. Finally, at a little after one o'clock Mr. Weasley came in an American 1976 red Dodge that actually looked worse then the old Ford Anglia. Harry stood watching Mr. Weasley advance from the car, a happy smile on his face.

"Hello, Harry!" he said cheerfully.

"Hello Mr. Weasley, how are you?" Harry returned. "Is Ron in the car?" he added.

"Er, um...no actually. He was going to come, but then Fred and George insisted that if Ron got to come, they should too. And you know what happened last time..."

A mischievous grin swept across Harry's face as he thought of the sight of Dudley the previous year with a tongue several times its normal size.

"It's okay, Mr. Weasley," he said, trying to hold back his laughter.

Mr. Weasley helped Harry load his trunk into the back of the car, and Harry climbed into the car. He turned to look at number 4 Privet Drive, and saw his aunt and uncle watching them from behind a curtain. They quickly ducked when Harry looked at them. Harry grinned thinking to himself how great it was that he wouldn't have to come back to the Dursleys' for another ten months. Mr. Weasley slid into the driver's seat, and they were off.

"So, Harry." Mr. Weasley started, "What do you think of the car?"

"Er--I never saw a car like this before," Harry said honestly.

"Well!" boasted Mr. Weasley, "I saw it at an old Muggle car lot, and it was so cheaply priced, I couldn't resist it! I went to Gringott's to change money for the Muggle paper stuff..." Mr. Weasley continued talking for the next three hours, giving Harry a word for word description of each time he had driven it. Harry just sat, staring out the window, until finally he thought of something to say.

"Erm, Mr. Weasley. Can this car fly?" Harry asked, a very mischievous grin sweeping across his face.

"Well, I thought I shouldn't, because of Molly, and when...you know. And I have enough sense not to bewitch a car while Fred and George are still living at the Burrow."

The last comment made Harry's grin broaden even more, but it seemed to make Mr. Weasley a bit uncomfortable. Harry remembered how much trouble he and Ron were had nearly gotten in during their second year at Hogwarts, and then he thought of Sirius. Harry wondered if Sirius had gotten the paper the time there had been an article in the paper about Harry and Ron flying the Ford Anglia to Hogwarts. He doubted it, but if he had, Harry could only imagine the momentary glee Sirius must have felt. Harry turned to hide his grin. Mr. Weasley didn't say another thing until they reached the Burrow.

When they got to the Burrow, Ron was leaning on the Burrow's front door looking very bored. He jumped up when the car pulled into the driveway to the Burrow. Harry opened the door and looked up into the smiling face of his best friend.

"Hiya Harry!"

"Hey Ron."

"How was your trip?"

"It was--"

"Harry!" someone called out.

Harry turned around to see the Weasley twins advancing on him with broad smiles on their faces.

"Hey Harry," said Fred.

"How was your summer?" asked George.

"It was--" Harry started again.

"Say Harry..." George began.

"We have some things to show you," Fred finished.

The twins began to push Harry towards the Burrow and Ron came running after them

"Hey, leave him alone! He's my friend!" Ron said angrily.

"Ron," Fred said, trying to act hurt. "Can't Harry be friends with all of us?" Harry tried not to laugh, but failed miserably.

"Yeah, Ron!" George said, throwing in his two bits. "Honestly!" he added, trying to pretend like he was moments away from crying. "He's not your possession! He's a person too!"

Harry doubled over on the ground. Ron only scowled and followed Harry and the twins into the house with Mr. Weasley lugging Harry's trunk behind them. As soon as Harry stepped into the house, Mrs. Weasley enclosed him in a bone-crushing hug.

"Air!" Harry finally gasped out. Mrs. Weasley reluctantly let go.

"Terribly sorry, dear," she said. "Haven't seen you in ages. How are you?" she asked kindly.

"Er, I was fine," Harry said as he massaged his aching ribs.

"Come in and put your stuff in Ron's room. We have a bed already made up for you." Harry forced a smile and grabbed one end of the trunk while Ron hurried to grab the other end before the twins did. They lugged the trunk up the many flights of stairs until they came to Ron's room.

"So," Ron said. "As I was saying, how was your trip?"

"It was pretty good. I see your dad got a new car," Harry said, a grin again spreading across his face.

"Yeah," said Ron, a grin spreading across his face as well. "My dad bought it right before we got back from school. Mum wasn't too keen on it though. She said he could only keep it as long as there weren't any bewitchments on it."

"So I heard," said Harry. "Oh, I have to get my stuff."

"Yeah, me too..." Ron started, but was cut off by someone knocking on the door.

"Who is it?" Ron asked.

"Santa Clause," came the answer.

"Go away!" Ron called back.

"You let Chudley Cannon paraphernalia into your room, but you won't let your own brothers in? I think we're insulted," one twin answered, sounding most definitely insulted.

"Yes, yes...the results are in. We are insulted," the other decided.

Harry put his hand to his mouth to stifle his laughter. Ron gave the door a look of venom.

"What do you want?" he asked apprehensively.

"To see Harry," a twin answered.

"What for?!" Ron bellowed back.

"Well, you didn't think we'd come to see you, did you? We can look at a French fry with ketchup any day, now let us in!" a twin yelled back. Harry bit his lip to keep from showing his mirth.

"Come on, Ron, just for a minute. You can bore him later. We just want a word," said the other twin.

Ron gave Harry a questioning look. Harry just shrugged, but he was pretty sure he knew what the twins wanted. Ron bit his lip.

"All right then, just a minute," he said, approaching the door and opening it. The two twins strolled in without question and lifted Harry up by the arms, literally carrying him out of the room, leaving Ron with a bewildered look on his face.

"We've got loads of stuff to show you!" Fred said happily.

"Absolutely mountains of jokes for 'Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes" added George.

"Oh, okay..." Harry said apprehensively.

After a minute or so of walking down stairs (or rather being carried) the twins finally stopped in front of two huge, red oak doors. They opened the door and Harry's mouth dropped at what he saw. There were stacks of candies you could eat, shelves of fake wands, forms piled up to the ceiling, and loads of other stuff you could never have imagined possible in either the wizard world or Muggle. Harry's first instinct was to try one of everything, albeit carefully.

"We have the ever so famous - ton tongue toffee's," said George, pointing to what looked like perfectly harmless candy.

"Invisible whoopee cushions!" yelled Fred.

"Insect tasting gum..." said George, pointing excitedly toward a bunch of gum packets that were a foot tall.

"And gum tasting insects!" Fred added, pointing to boxes of edible gummy wasps, flies, and beetles that were bewitched to float around in the cage to resemble real insects.

Harry's mouth was open in awe, and then he felt hands grab his shoulder and turn him abruptly around to face a smiling George.

"And that's not all..." George said.

"That's not all at all!" Fred confirmed.

"Wow! So this is what you've been doing all summer!" came a voice from behind them.

"You little twit!" yelled Fred. "I told you if you ever came in here, we'd burn your tongue with acid pops while you were asleep," he added angrily.

"Wait!" said Harry. "Maybe Ron could be a guinea pig like me," he added quickly, averting a crisis.

George and Fred glanced at each other and then two broad, mischievous smiles spread across their faces.

"Sure!" said Fred.

"Bloody good idea Harry!" added George.

Harry grinned widely and turned to face Ron, who didn't seem quite as keen on the idea of being a guinea pig, but obviously favored it as opposed to acid pops.

"Boys! Dinner!" came a woman's voice from down stairs. Fred and George ran downstairs. Ron looked around the room with the same look of amazement Harry had.

"So that's what they wanted you for? A guinea pig?" he asked, his eyes still darting around the room.

"Yeah," said Harry. "Fred and George said they didn't tell you because they were afraid you would tell your mom," he lied.

"I probably would have." Ron grinned as he finally directed his attention to Harry. "But not now that you're here."

Harry grinned back and both of them headed down stairs for their dinner. As Harry sat down, he noticed Ginny and Percy at the other end of the table. Percy was busy with what looked like a report for work. Ginny was looking down, stealing glances at Harry every few seconds.

"Hello Percy, Ginny," Harry said politely.

"Er, hello," Ginny answered before quickly looking down at her plate of mash potatoes and chicken.

"Huh? Oh, hi Harry," Percy answered before returning to his report. Harry only smiled, and started in on his dinner, all the while, arguing with Ron on who was going to the next World Quidditch cup (Chudley Cannons or Ireland).

Five days later...

Over the next five days, Ron and Harry spent most of their time playing Quidditch or testing Fred and George's joke products. Ron always seemed to get the worst jokes. Once he blew up like a balloon and bounced around the room for an hour after eating a seemingly innocent blow pop.

Two days before the group was supposed to return to Hogwarts, Mrs. Weasley took them to Diagon Alley. They quickly separated as Mrs. Weasley took Ginny to buy some new books, Harry and Ron headed into "Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions" (Ron had sprouted even taller, and even Harry had grown an inch or two.)

A little more then an hour later, Harry and Ron were leaving Madam Malkin's, laughing at some foolish joke, when they saw a head of whitish blond hair that made them groan.

Unfortunately, their groan was loud enough that it made the snobbish Slytherin, Draco Malfoy turn around with a look of disgust on his face.

"Oh! If it isn't Weasel and Potty," Malfoy said sarcastically.

"What do you want ferret boy?!" Ron smirked.

At that remark, Malfoy's sneer left his face, but was quickly replaced by a look of hatred.

"I'm surprised you were able to buy those robes, Weasel. Did your family take out a loan on their house? Let me guess, two knuts a month for it?" Malfoy said with a heartless chuckle.

Ron was about to respond with his fists, but Harry grabbed his arm and answered for him. The Weasleys were the only real family Harry knew, so criticizing them was almost as bad as criticizing his own parents--and Harry made that very clear.

"Think that's funny, do you? Tell me, Malfoy. How is your father? Getting on his hands and knee's to kiss someone's feet must make you very proud, right? I bet you can't wait until you can join Voldemort's ranks. You just wait, one day your father will be in Azkaban right where he belongs, and I only hope you're there with him."

Malfoy stood there for a few moments staring at Harry in disbelief. Harry had had enough of Malfoy and had made it obvious that he wasn't putting up with anything this year. It looked like Malfoy was trying to search for words to retaliate in his father's defense, but the words avoided him. Malfoy turned with a rare look of hurt pride and headed down the street that led to Knockturn Alley.

"That was bloody brilliant!" Ron exclaimed. "I've never seen anyone shut that little rat up!" he added gleefully.

Harry only smiled and he and Ron continued their shopping. The day flew by very fast, and soon all the Weasleys and Harry were headed back to the Burrow. They spent their last day packing things up, tasting a few more joke products, and playing Quidditch.

The next day, Harry woke up to someone calling his name and shaking him lightly on his arm.

"Come on Harry! We're going to be late! I woke you an hour ago! We're down to ten minutes!" came Ron's voice.

"What?" asked Harry sleepily. "No you didn't."

"Yes I did! I said 'Harry come on, its time for breakfast'. Then you said, 'okay, I'll be down in a few minutes'." Ron answered impatiently.

"I did?" Harry asked.

"Yeah! Now come on!" Ron said as he tossed Harry his robes and walked out of the room.

Harry got up and quickly threw on his robes before grabbing his trunk and descending down the stairs. Mr. Weasley wished the kids luck before heading off to work with Percy. Harry and the Weasleys made their way into the station casually before all of them leaned against the barrier and boarded the Hogwarts express.

"Well," said Ron as he turned to look at Harry with a grin. "What trouble do you reckon we'll get into this year?" Harry grinned back and was about to answer when they heard a voice behind them call,

"Harry! Ron!" Ron and Harry turned to see Hermione coming towards them, Prefect badge pinned to her chest, shining brightly.

"Oh, hey Hermione," said Harry. "I didn't know you were a Prefect. Good job," he added.

"I wanted it to be a surprise! I was so surprised when I got the letter and then the badge a little later in the mail!" She said proudly.

"You were surprised?!" Ron said in an amazed voice.

"Yes, of course. I've been sitting in the Prefect's compartment for the last twenty minutes looking for the other fifth year Gryffindor Prefect," she said as she looked over their shoulders.

"Er..." said Harry as he dug into his trunk to look for his own Prefect badge.

"Er, what?" Ron asked curiously.

Harry finally found it (hiding in his invisibility cloak) and brought it out to show them.

"You're the other Prefect?" Hermione asked, amazed.

"Um, yeah," Harry said as his face went red.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Ron said in bewilderment.

"I forgot," Harry mumbled before trying to put it away, but Hermione grabbed it from his hand and was trying to pin it on his chest.

"You forgot you were made a Prefect?" Ron asked suspiciously.

"Well, yeah...I - OUCH!" Harry yelled as the sharp pin was stabbed into his chest.

"Oops, sorry about that," Hermione answered casually. "Well, are you going to come sit in the Prefect's department in front? They have free chocolate frogs!" she added happily.

"Er, no," Harry answered as he glanced at Ron. "I think I'll sit in the usual compartment." Hermione looked slightly hurt.

"All right, then," she said brightening up. "Then I'll see you at the dinner. Oh, and Harry..."

"Huh?" Harry asked

"Would you mind if I led the first years to their dormitories? I know that it's an honor and--" she started.

"Hermione, you go right ahead," Harry said.

"Thank you! I'll see you there! Bye!" She said with joy. She strolled away before entering the Prefect's compartment.

"That girl is nutters!" Ron said loudly. Harry chuckled and turned to ask what compartment they should take when Ron turned to look at him soberly.

" Harry--" Ron began.

"What?" Harry asked, trying to read Ron's expression.

"Why didn't you tell me for real?" He asked.

"I really did forget." Harry said awkwardly. Then he grinned.

"What's so funny?" Ron said, offended.

"Well, I forgot I was a Prefect. That goes to show how much I care. Totally unlike Percy!"

Ron grinned and headed toward a compartment a few doors down, followed by Harry. The train trip went as planned. Harry and Ron sat, arguing about the World Quidditch cup, and were visited a few times by Neville, Seamus, Dean, and once Hermione, but only to alert them that they were going to be at Hogwarts in a few minutes. She closed the door and continued on to the next compartment.

"Well, I can certainly see this as a fun year," Ron said sarcastically.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked curiously.

"You and her always following the rules and yelling at kids will be loads of fun for me." Ron said, slightly depressed.

"Me? Follow the rules? I never follow the rules! Not even when I try," Harry said in complete shock. Ron had never accused him of following the rules. Ron simply laughed and said:

"True. Like the first year with the Sorcerer's Stone."

"Or our second year with the Chamber of Secrets. And remember when Lockhart did a memory charm on himself!" Harry said as he started laughing.

"Memory charm!" said Ron. "What about the pixies!"

So went their trip until finally arrived at Hogwarts. Hermione and the rest of the fifth years quickly joined Harry and Ron. They shared a carriage to the castle with Neville and emptied into the Great Hall to see all the teachers beaming at them. Well, all except for Snape, who again seemed very displeased to be at the welcoming feast. Harry wondered why for a second, and then he guessed.

"Hey, Ron?" He asked.

"What?" Ron responded.

"Who is our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher this year?" Harry asked.

Ron's eyes also flashed to the high table. "I don't know," he said grinning. "But by the look on Snape's face, it's not him!" Harry and Ron started to laugh and sat down. After a few minutes of trying to guess who it could possibly be, Professor McGonagall entered the Great Hall with the scared looking first years.

He remembered how his first year he was afraid that the hat would say there had been a mistake, that he wasn't a wizard at all, and they would send him back to the Dursleys. Harry grinned as he thought of a first year thinking the same thing. Professor Flitwick brought out the Sorting Hat in front of the school. After a few moments, the hat opened his mouth and began its annual song.

As soon as the song finished, the Great Hall broke into applause. Professor McGonagall pulled out the long list of students and read each one from "Anderson, Henry" to "Zimmerman, Donna" off the list. Finally, Dumbledore stood up and the sight of the students made him beam, looking at each student with twinkling eyes. Finally, he raised his hand and everyone quieted.

"Welcome everyone to a new year at Hogwarts. I hope you have all had a pleasant summer. Alas, I must start off with some grave news. Now, as all but the first years are aware, Lord Voldemort--" everyone but some teachers and Harry cringed at the name "--has returned to full power. You are not under any circumstances to leave the school grounds. Hogsmeade visits will be strictly supervised, as will Quidditch games and practices. On a lighter note, Mr. Filch has a list of the rules that lay about the castle and you are all welcome to look at it in his office...

Harry glanced sideways to Ron, and both stifled their sniggers.

"And I wish you all to have a good year. I assure you classes will go on as usual. So for the witches and wizards with empty heads, you will be able to fill them this year! And for the heads that are already filled, fill them even more! Enough with an old man's babble, let us enjoy our feast!"

With a wave of his hand, the tables were covered in delicious foods and Harry, Ron, and Hermione dug right in.

"So," said Hermione. "What are you doing with Quidditch this year since it's still on?"

"I dunno," Harry responded. "We need a new captain, and a new keeper. I guess we have to have try-outs."

At that moment, Ron coughed, catching Harry and Hermione's attention. Harry laughed, and Hermione said:

"I'm assuming it's an open try-out, Ron. I pretty sure you can go."

Ron scowled and said, "I know that. I was just thinking that we might know someone who might have an influence on his team's decision..." Ron said as he put his arm around Harry's shoulder. Harry raised his eyebrows and grinned at Ron.

"Sure, Ron," Harry said, shrugging.

"Really! You mean it?!" Ron was ecstatic.

"Yeah, I'll get you a try-out like everyone else!" Harry responded with a broad grin.

Hermione giggled, and Ron pretended to be hurt and said mockingly, "All right then, then I'll just..."

Ron stopped as the doors to the Great Hall burst open and Filch ran in gasping for air. He reached the high table, looking hysterical. Dumbledore stood up to try to calm Filch down. Finally Filch caught his breath and yelled at Dumbledore, loud enough for the entire school to hear:

"ATTACK!" Filch screamed. "ATTACK," he said gasping. "AT THE GATES! DEATH EATERS! ATTACK!"