Hunter and the Hunted

Chapter 1: The Unexpected Visitor

Harry Potter glanced around the table. Uncle Vernon was reading his morning paper, Aunt Petunia was pouring some skim milk, and Dudley (with no surprise to Harry) was eating. Harry himself was finishing his small, dry piece toast. He got up and started for his room.

"And just were do you think your going?"

Harry turned around and found his uncle staring over the paper at him. Uncle Vernon had always been nasty to Harry, but lately, it had been nothing short of torture. Harry had a feeling that it had something to do with the Ton-Tongue Toffee that had been given to Dudley by Fred and George Weasley last summer.

"My room. I've got some homework to do and..."

His uncle's loud voice cut him short.

"Oh no you don't. You are going to clear the table, mow the lawn, and then weed the garden. I won't have you doing any you-know-what under this roof!"

Harry sighed. He could only threaten to write to Sirius when Hedwig was around. She was currently away, finishing a trip to Sirius, ironically. Even then, Hedwig was probably going to go to Ron's for some package that had been promised by Ron for Harry's birthday.

His wondering got cut short by a harsh knock at the door.

"Are we expecting anyone?" Uncle Vernon asked

He got negative responses from everyone. The knocking started again. Harry's Uncle had apparently decided to ignore it. The knocking stopped and was replaced by a voice.

"Kindly open this door before you force me to shatter it into splinters," came a voice that Harry had never heard before. It had an American accent and, despite the threat, sounded calm. He shuddered. He thought that no one could hurt him while he was in his relatives care. Was this a Death Eater? His Uncle looked pale. He approached the door.

"Sir, you will leave or I will call the police!" When no response came, he smiled, turned, and said, "Well, that's one less psycho..."

He never finished his sentence. With an unnaturally loud explosion, the door blasted apart. Harry's Uncle flew across the room. Aunt Petunia and Dudley both raced across to see what had happened.

Standing in behind the settling dust was a tall man holding a wand. Harry saw him and thought this was not a man to fight against. He had a serious face and short, brown hair with a short beard and moustache to match. He hardly looked older then 18. He was dressed in Jeans and a T-shirt. Aside from the fact that he had just annihilated the door, he could have easily passed for a Muggle.

Some of the neighbors, who had apparently heard the explosion, came running out.

"Sorry. I'm just a door-to-door salesman. Don't mind me."

At this, the crowd dispersed very quickly. They probably were going home to make sure they could buy whatever he was selling.

He twirled his wand like a gunslinger would his firearm, put it away, and said with an almost entertained voice, "Well, I did warn you."

He glanced around the room and, spotting Aunt Petunia, smiled and said, "Hello, I'm here to collect Harry Potter."

Aunt Petunia couldn't do anything past sputter. The man looked around the room again until he spotted Harry.

He saw Harry's look of worry, and smiled a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. I'm with Dumbledore. I'm the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. My name is Christopher. Though, I guess you should call me Professor Luminar." He held out his hand to Harry, who took it. He had a somewhat overly firm grip.

So this was the mysterious Luminar. Overall, Harry could understand why his friends had panicked. Christopher almost seemed to radiate power, and the door could hardly even pass for splinters anymore.

"Unnnnn..."

Uncle Vernon was apparently regaining consciousness. Harry's anticipation returned.

"Um, Professor, could we leave soon"

Harry wasn't eager to be blamed for this.

Luminar grinned sideways at Harry. "What, no time to chat? I was hoping that I could get some tea."

Catching Harry's expression, he sighed and said, "Oh well. Hurry and grab your stuff."

Harry ran and gathered his things. He checked the hidden floorboards and under his bed for anything he missed. He put them in his trunk and hurried downstairs. When he arrived, he saw that his Uncle had woken. He also found that he was in an understandably bad mood.

"Coming in here with no notice! And what did you do to my door! I have half a mind to call the police this very instant!"

"Hollow threat Dursly. But I will leave your home just as soon as Harry comes down."

Dudley and Aunt Petunia merely stood back. They did not want to interfere with either man, as they both appeared deadly, though for different reasons. It was easy to see Luminar's silence was just as threatening as Uncle Vernon's yelling.

"Ah, Harry. Well, as I promised, I'll be off," Luminar said

"Hold on a minute," Uncle Vernon spat, "what makes you think I'll let you take him?"

Luminar shot him a somewhat fiendish grin. "Because you want the boy off your hands. Oh, and you may also want to know that he's currently being chased by a madman who could do worse to you then what I did to that door."

At this, Uncle Vernon stopped yelling, and instead began to look very frightened. He looked at the door, Luminar, and back again. He didn't know about the spell placed on him that made sure that Voldemort could not even place a finger on him.

"R-really. W-well then go ahead." At this he shot Harry a rather vile grin.

"Well then," Luminar said with a rather triumphant smile, "we'll be off. Say good-bye. I have a car in the front."

Harry and the Durslys waved to each other slightly while Luminar cast a spell that put the door in place. Harry walked out the door to find a Ferrari waiting for him. It looked well made and had what seemed a fresh coat of perfect red paint. Harry put his bag in the trunk and got in the passengers seat.

"So, how was your summer, Harry," Luminar inquired as he started the engine.

"Er, well, alright, I guess."

Luminar merely smiled.

"Um, professor, why exactly are you here? I mean I normally just go to the station."

Luminar lost his smile. He looked deeply concerned and wore a deep frown.

"Dumbledore thought it might be a good idea for you to have some protection. We're going to Diagon Ally first to pick up your supplies."

"Are you an Auror?"

"Well, not exactly."

"Well then, what..."

"I've contacted your friends," Luminar cut in, "so they should be waiting for you. Of course, they probably already wrote to you, no doubt including me. Probably a warning, if I get it right."

Harry didn't pursue the subject. Mostly, he was excited about seeing Ron. And Hermione.

"So the boy has left his family," muttered a voice.

It came from a cloaked figure. It stood with one other in a circular room. Except for a few candles, the room was unlit.

"For now," responded the other. "I am unsure as to how long he can remain this way. Dumbledore must realize that resources are stretched thin for him. Surely, it is only a matter of time, sir, before..."

"Silence! Speak not of it. We shall discuss this at a later time. For now, ensure the boys safety. I do not trust this Luminar."

"And for what reason?"

The figure stood from his chair.

"Those reasons are obvious to those who are wise enough to look."