Harry Potter and the Scar of the Paradigm Curse

Harry Potter and the Scar of the Paradigm Curse

Chapter One: His Best Birthday

Cursing under his breath, Harry Potter was yet again under his bed sheets in the middle of the night, doing his summer work. It was another hot summer night: Harry was sweating uncontrollably, making the bed sheets wet. His round glasses were slipping down his nose, due to the fact that his nose was sweating too. He scowled, and pulled the bed sheets off.

Harry sat up straight, removing his glasses and rubbing them with his baggy t-shirt. He put them back on, and glanced at the mirror in front of him.

His eyes slowly drifted to his forehead. A scar, shaped like a lightning bolt was clearly visible on the middle of his wet forehead. He glared coldly at it. Voldemort. The person who killed so many, and deserved to die himself. His curse had created the scar on Harry's forehead. Seeing the scar was like seeing the person itself.... Hatred grew inside him. He kicked the drawer below his bed angrily. The drawer instantly popped open, hitting the back of his leg painfully. "Ow!" Harry exclaimed, reaching to push the drawer closed, until...

The Firebolt in the drawer caught his eye.

He gingerly picked the shiny broom up; it was very valuable. He laid the broomstick on his bed and stared at it for quite a while. He couldn't help but cry, several fat teardrops dropping on his bed sheets. Shaking, he grabbed a handful of his sheets to dry his eyes with.

Sirius gave him this broomstick.

Harry couldn't help but think back the wonderful memories he had of his godfather. He thought back to when Sirius had first mentioned Harry living with him if his name was cleared. Harry remembered feeling really happy that he could finally leave the Dursleys. He thought his dream would come true, until he saw Sirius go through the veil. Sirius was dead.

Harry had lost all hope of ever living with his godfather.

He sniffed and stood up. He carefully lifted his broomstick from the bed, and was about to put it back in the drawer, until a small square mirror caught his eye. He laid the broomstick back on his bed and grabbed the mirror. He held it up and saw his own miserable, gloomy reflection looking tearily back at him. Harry's bright green eyes narrowed.

Sirius gave him this mirror.

The mirror was somewhat like a Muggle telephone. If you said the name of the person that had the matching mirror, the other person would appear magically in the mirror. Sirius had had the other mirror.

Harry mumbled, "Sirius."

Nothing happened.

He knew Sirius would not appear in the mirror. He knew...he knew that Sirius would be gone forever, no matter how much Harry cried out his name, how much he yelled, screamed, or shrieked...Sirius would not appear...because he was dead.

Harry cried out loud.

Sirius Black would never come back.

* * *

Harry Potter woke up from an uneasy sleep. He turned over on his bed, for he did not want to get up. His eyes slowly opened, and bright sunlight poured into his small, hopeless room.

"GET UP NOW!" The shrill voice of a woman was heard beyond his bedroom. "NOW!!!" she repeated.

"Argghh..." Harry mumbled. The tall form of a well-grown young man stood up. "Coming!" He shouted back. He hastily walked over to his wardrobe and grabbed his sneakers. He slipped them on rather quickly and opened the door.

An angry Aunt Petunia stood before him. He stared blankly at her. "I'm awake."

"Then come down! You still have breakfast to make!" She cried, and stomped loudly down the stairs.

Harry scratched his head, making his black hair messier than ever. He yawned and slowly tramped down the wooden staircase.

"Hurry up boy!" an irate Vernon Dursley cried as Harry stepped in the kitchen. "I'm hungry!" Dudley, Harry's cousin who sat across from Uncle Dursley, jumped up with surprise as Uncle Vernon hit the dining table with extreme force.

Harry stared coldly, deeply into Uncle Vernon's eyes. "Why won't you let Aunt Petunia cook? She's the person who cooks," Harry whispered quietly.

Mr. Dursley's ear shot up straight and twitched at what Harry had just said. He sprang out of his chair and advanced toward Harry, shaking the whole house with his massive weight. "You, boy - " He began, his face shaking with anger, his eyes popping, his purple face turning a deep scarlet; "You will do what Petunia and I tell you to, without questions! Understand?"

Harry smirked. "Remember what Moody told you after I got off the Hogwarts Express last month?"

All the three of the Dursleys shook as he said Hogwarts, Harry's school of magic. "Don't mention that...that...horrible name under my roof!" Uncle Dursley warned cautiously.

Harry shrugged and leaned on the kitchen counter. "He told you to not treat me badly. Or..." Harry's cold glare came upon him, "He'll come."

Uncle Dursley whimpered. He stared at Harry perilously, as if Harry were a scary monster that would attack him at any moment. Harry noticed this stare and he smiled coldly, "You don't want that, do you?" Harry crossed his arms.

Uncle Dursley opened his mouth to argue back, but thought that it was best to not to, and closed his mouth. He scoffed and sat down on his chair. "Petunia, I'm hungry."

Petunia stared at Vernon with disbelief. Her big eyes came upon Harry, and Harry stared at the kitchen floor, grinning with triumph. She cursed and quickly walked to the stove.

Dudley slowly stood up from his chair, making the table shake. Harry looked up at him. He saw Dudley's frightened brown eyes looking back at him. It seemed that Harry's sudden speech had scared Dudley half to death. "I'll...I'll be in my room." He let out a tiny scream and ran to his room.

Harry's smile broadened. He was having the time of his life.

After Harry stepped foot on the Dursley's household at Number Four, Privet Drive a month ago, he seemed to change a lot. The Dursleys were not ordering him to do things as much, and usually they ignore him. Even when his best friend, Hermione Granger, telephoned a few weeks ago, they didn't seem to care. Probably because Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody, an old auror and member of the Order of the Phoenix, scared Vernon Dursley half to death with his huge magical blue eye back at King's Cross. Harry had become braver and stronger against the Dursleys. And the Dursleys seem to have no intention of fighting back.

However, no matter how much the Dursleys ignored him, he was not happy about it. He'd have rathered the Dursleys treated him how they used to. No matter how coldly he reacted to them, he wasn't happy, because he wasn't with his friends, and he wasn't with Sirius. His stomach ached as he thought more about Sirius. What's the point of thinking about him? Harry thought. He's dead. There's nothing you can do about it. He looked up and saw Uncle Dursley staring at the television, with the same frightened look in his eyes. "I won't be eating." Harry said tiredly, and walked to the staircase.

Harry heard a small whimper as he passed through Dudley's second bedroom door. Dudley was still scared. This time, Harry didn't laugh, nor did he care. He just walked back toward his room, thinking that Dudley was just a stupid fat chicken.

Harry opened the door to his bedroom, and next second, something white and fluffy flew at him. "Hedwig!" He exclaimed proudly as a beautiful female snowy owl landed nimbly on Harry's shoulder. Harry smiled joyfully. Hedwig pointed her wing at Harry's desk and flew to her cage.

Harry walked to his desk, spotting an envelope. On the envelope was the familiar messy scrawl of Ron. Harry's heart raced. He has not gotten a letter from his best friends for so long! He tore the envelope open with excitement and read:

Dear Harry,

Happy 16^th Birthday!

Harry looked at the calendar hanging on his wall marking off the days till he'd return to Hogwarts. He had completely forgotten that today was his birthday. Flooding with excitement, for today was not a bad day - so many of his birthdays had been horrible - he read on:

Finally, a fast post. Well, no surprise! Hedwig is doing the entire posting! Anyway, I have sent you something that I think you will like, as a birthday gift. It's called a Forgiver. This crystal ball glows green whenever you have mistaken someone for something they haven't done. It will tell you to forgive them. This ball will be really helpful with Hermione. You always mistake her. Isn't that funny? Alright, I'm only joking!

The Forgiver isn't your real present. There's more...read the other letter!

Anyway, I've got to go. I will see you soon!

I know I will see you soon!

Your friend,

Ron

P.S. Hermione wants to give you your birthday present when you come. And Hagrid will give his to you once you see him too. They've decided that it's best that they give them to you directly. Well...have a great birthday!

Harry furled his brows. Come? What did Ron mean by come? Harry shrugged and grabbed the box that came along with the letter.

He ripped the box opened, and found a small clear ball in the box. He picked up the ball and let it roll on his palm. The ball was a very beautiful sight indeed. It gleamed in the bright sunlight and flashed different colors around the room. He smiled and set it back in the box.

Harry found the other letter that Ron had mentioned, which came along with the package, and grabbed it. He flattened it in front of his face and read:

CLUES ARE FOUND TELLING US THAT SIRIUS BLACK MAY NOT BE DEAD

Harry's heart stopped. His breathing was faster. Sirius? Not dead? Impossible. Harry saw Sirius fall behind that curtain a month ago. He saw him die. How could he not be dead?

But a smile managed to appear on his face. His hopes were not totally gone. His dreams had not turned into nightmares. Hope began to flood back into him. Sirius isn't dead. Sirius isn't dead.

Harry stood up straight. His hand was shaking, clutching the letter. He would have shouted. He would have jumped for joy... and he did.

"SIRIUS ISN'T DEAD!" He cried loudly, jumping onto his bed. Hedwig let out a confused shriek. "SIRIUS ISN'T DEAD!" He shouted again.

Tears began to flood in his eyes. Yet these tears were not tears of sadness, they were tears of happiness, for today was Harry Potter's best birthday...ever.