Hogwarts School of Witchcraft,Wizardry

Chapter One: The Invisible Man

"Welcome to Chicken King. May I take your order?" Dudley recited his order to the microphone and pulled forward jerkily to the paying window. If anyone didn't need to drive a car, it was Dudley.

This had become Harry's routine since Dudley got his driver's license. How he got his license, Harry wasn't certain because he drove like a lunatic.

Why me? Harry thought miserably. Apparently, before returning to school last year, Dudley got into a good bit of trouble with the local police involving the improper use of a public mailbox. He was brought home by two officers one night to a disbelieving mother and father. They refused to believe that he was guilty until they saw the surveillance video. Dudley was sentenced to a large fine and put on probation for six months.

Normally, Harry would have found this very amusing but, to punish Dudley (or rather to get Harry out of their way), Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia forbade Dudley from going anywhere without taking Harry. Dudley threw his worse tantrum ever (THINK OF MY REPUTATION!) but Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon would not relent.

Harry owled Tonks and other members of the Order, but they decided it would be good for him to be out doing something instead of sitting in his dark room dwelling on the events of last term.

After lunch, Dudley would pick up some friends and they would drive around and loiter at their favorite hangouts. Harry would sit silently in a corner and wait until they left for the next fruitless venture. Save for the occasional snide remark which Harry would quickly counter, Dudley and his cronies left Harry alone (probably due to Dudley's fear of Harry's magic).

For the first two weeks, Harry was bored out of his mind, but after owling Ron and Hermione he was sent magical books transfigured to look like dull muggle books.

Harry, fingering his wand in his waistband, sat reading Stupefy! A Guide to Defense and Attack Spells (The Fabulous World of Button Collecting), half listening to Dudley boast about his car, his boxing titles and his bony girlfriend while his friends listened with rapt attention.

***

The sky faded into twilight as Harry and Dudley finally started back to Number Four, Privet Drive. Only one of them considered it home; the other considered it penance for the pain inflicted on those close to him. Sirius was dead because of him, just because he cared for him. He tried not to think about it because it gave him a horrible sinking feeling....

"My friends don't like you. You do nothing but read," said an irked Dudley.

"Jealous I can read, are they?" Harry replied scornfully. Dudley must not have had anything to say to this because he sat brooding for ten minutes. Dudley had nothing to worry about but his reputation. Harry wished that was all he had to worry about. But that would be far too easy for the boy who lived....

Harry and Dudley rode silently as the quiet suburbs rolled by, all of the residents concerned chiefly with being the envy of their neighbors.

Suddenly the sky was alive with an eerie green light - The Dark Mark. It stood over an obscure but obviously wizarding house, its serpent tongue writhing in fury.

"Stop!" yelled Harry, already preparing for the unavoidable encounter.

"What for?" Dudley asked stupidly.

Of course, muggles can't see it! Harry thought.

"Just do it!"

Dudley pulled over and put the car in park but Harry was already moving stealthily across the lawn. Harry looked in the window and saw five Death Eaters, two holding a kicking boy, the others torturing an old woman. Harry was shocked to see it was Neville and his grandmother.

Harry did not stop to think. He rushed through the door and disarmed one of the Death Eaters holding Neville. There was a stunned silence, and then the Death Eaters stopped torturing Neville's grandmother and pointed their wands in Harry's direction. Harry dove behind a wall, expecting a barrage of spells that never came.

"Who's there?" questioned a Death Eater after a moment.

"Help me!" cried Neville.

Harry leaned around the wall and stunned another Death Eater before retreating.

"Where did that come from?" shouted a Death Eater. One of the dark wizards cursed the front door in his confusion.

Harry tentatively stepped out from behind the wall, ready to dive behind it again. The Death Eaters just stared in his general direction. They can't see me! Harry thought wildly.

"Reducto!" he shouted. Two Death Eaters flew into the wall where they slumped, unconscious. He turned to the fifth intruder but Neville seemed to have performed accidental magic on him (his face was covered in boils) and he was repeatedly kicking the unmasked figure. Suddenly Neville stopped and moved to his unconscious grandmother.

"Neville!" Harry said. "We need to call the ministry, where is your Floo Powder?"

Neville didn't respond. He just kneeled by his grandmother and wept. Harry went over to the fireplace where he found the Floo powder in an old snuffbox. He threw a pinch into the fire and called "Ministry of Magic!" over the roar of the emerald green flames. He was about to stick his head in the flames when Hermione and Ron appeared at his side.

"Hermione? Ron? What are you-? Never mind we've got to call the Ministry, Death Eaters were here, Look!" Harry pointed at the Death Eaters prone forms.

At once Hermione nodded and stuck her head into the grate while Ron stared at the Death Eaters with his mouth slightly open. When Hermione pulled her head out of the fire with a small pop Neville jumped and spun around.

"You guys, we were attacked by Death Eaters and they started torturing Gran and then they started falling over and attacking the walls and I beat one up!" he finished breathlessly

"Neville, I cursed the Death Eaters," said Harry. Neville merely ignored him and continued to stare at Ron and Hermione who were shaking their heads at him. An instant later, several Aurors appeared and immediately began unmasking and apprehending the Death Eaters. Harry didn't recognize any of them. He must be recruiting. Harry thought darkly. An Auror approached Neville and began to question him while Ron and Hermione took Harry outside. Harry explained what happened in Neville's house.

"We are your secret keepers," Ron said.

"I'm under the Fidelius Charm?"

They nodded. "No one magical can see you besides us and muggles can't reveal you to wizards," said Hermione. "All your correspondence goes through us, which isn't a big deal since you mainly owl us."

"So that's why they didn't see me...." Harry realized.

"They didn't hear you or see your spells either," informed Ron.

Harry opened his mouth to ask the question but Hermione cut him off.

"Dumbledore thought it would be best because you're Voldemort's number one target."

"Oh, and Voldemort's decided to have Neville offed just for good measure." added Ron very nonchalantly. "I don't know why he would though...

Harry knew. "It was because Voldemort had only heard part of the prophecy of his demise. He must have recounted the fragment he heard and decided Neville may also be a threat," said Harry.

"What prophecy?" Hermione asked. But she didn't get an answer because just then Dumbledore came striding out of the dwelling closely followed by Neville who was carrying his trunk.

"Harry, I'm afraid you will have to go to the Burrow for the rest of the summer. I have already made contact with Mr. Weasley and he said he would be delighted to have you. Neville is also coming to stay as his grandmother will be recovering. Now, we will have to go retrieve your belongings. Do you think young Mr. Dursley would provide us with transportation?"

"P-Professor? Who are you talking to?" ventured Neville.

"Neville, Harry is right here," said Ron. Neville looked at Harry and jumped about six inches off the ground. "He's under Fidelius," Ron explained.

Harry was speechless. In the last ten minutes, he had received a great deal of information. He glanced around and saw Dudley watching him from the driver's seat of the car with a slightly fearful look on his face. When he noticed they were looking at him, he tried in vain to sink into his too small seat.

The strange troupe made their way to the car where it took ten minutes to persuade Dudley into giving them all a ride. When they arrived at Number Four, Privet Drive, Dudley quickly unloaded the trunk, and as soon as everyone was out of the car he promptly locked it and hurried inside.

As Harry and Dumbledore approached the door, it opened and out stepped a purple-faced Uncle Vernon. Harry decided Mr. Weasley's visit was still burned into his memory.

"You will not come into my house, you freak!" said Uncle Vernon in a fierce whisper. "Last time one of your kind entered my house it was partially destroyed!"

What Uncle Vernon didn't know was that last year several wizards had entered his house after they were lured away under false pretenses. He was still ranting about the nonexistent garden contest.

"All right, in that case, we'll talk out here," said Dumbledore calmly. "I'm afraid Harry will not be staying with you for the rest of the summer due to some complications that have arisen. "

"Well, good riddance." Vernon turned to Harry and snarled, "Hurry and get your things boy before the neighbors see him." He gestured at Dumbledore.

Harry sprinted upstairs, gathered up his belongings, and in five minutes was dragging Hedwig and his school trunk out to the front lawn.

Dumbledore removed a bag of sweets from his pocket, instructed everyone to touch it, and muttered Portus. In an instant everyone was standing or lying in the Weasleys' kitchen. It had changed a great deal since Harry had last laid eyes upon it. It seemed larger and it looked as if it had been remodeled but it still had the look of Molly Weasley.

"Oh, thank goodness everyone's all right, I was so worried when Ron and Hermione disappeared and Arthur answered the fire from Dumbledore. Are you all right, Neville? Tonks says your grandmother will be fine." Molly Weasley collapsed into a chair, breathing heavily.

"We're okay, mum. Look, Harry's here." Ron said consolingly, pointing at Harry.

"Harry! How are you dear? Having a good summer holiday?" Mrs. Weasley said, a little taken aback by Harry's sudden appearance.

"It's definitely been interesting." said Harry.

"Harry," said Dumbledore "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the charm. We received intelligence that Voldemort was planning an attack in your area. We assumed it was you." His eyes flickered guiltily at Neville during this last bit. He turned to Neville. "Mr. Longbottom, I think we need to have a conversation in the other room.

"Come on Harry, I'll show you my new room!" said Ron.

***

Indeed, the Burrow had changed - new flooring, a fresh coat of paint, furniture....

"Weasley's Wizard Wheezes was a runaway hit," said Ron, seeing Harry's appraising look. "They have shops in Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade, and even a branch in Salem. Mum never dreamed they would come this far. She's proud of them for once! This is their gift to us."

They deposited Harry's things in Ron's room (Fred and George's old room) and Hermione and Ron brought Harry up to speed on current events.

"Ever since the Ministry of Magic acknowledged Voldemort's return," said Ron "the Order has been getting new members everywhere. We couldn't fit at HQ anymore."

"I've been staying here because Dumbledore was afraid my parents and I would become a target."

"Yeah, and she's been hogging the bloody loo every morning since!" added Ron.

"Shut up!" said Hermione, hitting Ron playfully.

"So, has HE tried anything before tonight?" said Harry, changing the subject.

"Well, a witch down in Dover was mauled by something huge."

***

Over the next few days Ron and Hermione went off alone together quite often. Harry spent most of his time reading Stupefy or practicing dueling with Ginny and Neville. After talking with Dumbledore, Neville had asked Harry to teach him how to fight better. Harry couldn't blame him. The attack would have shaken anyone up. They reviewed everything they did in DA and practiced new hexes and counter hexes and eventually Ginny joined them. She was very quick with her wand and almost gave Harry a run for his money.

Ginny, it turned out, was funny and kind (performing countercharms for the loser of the duels and accepting her losses graciously). Harry had never paid very much attention to her.

***

On Saturday night, everyone sat comfortably in the new parlor, Hermione and Ginny giggling over something, Mrs. Weasley knitting quietly and occasionally glancing at the restored "clock", and Harry and Ron playing wizarding chess. Ron had just slaughtered Harry for the eighth time.

"You're playing like Hermione tonight," Ron pointed out. Ron started setting the pieces up again.

"So when did it happen?" asked Harry, knowing he couldn't pretend any longer.

Ron jerked his head up to face Harry, understanding dawning.

"That obvious, huh?" asked Ron

"We're all close, how could I not notice?" There was an awkward silence.

"The first night she was here," Ron began softly, "we were outside talking about the war and I looked into her eyes and I could see all the stars in the sky in there. I couldn't resist telling her how beautiful she was. We kissed and the rest is history." Ron wouldn't meet his eyes. "I was afraid you would be angry...."

"I would have understood. I knew this was coming since fourth year."

"Really?"

"Oh, come on. There were pieces of your Victor Krum figure everywhere."

"So you're okay with it?"

"Of course, but I hope this means you two won't bicker so much."

***

Cedric's lifeless body in the graveyard...Cho sobbing alone... "Stupefy"... nothing...absorbed by the pursuer...it keeps coming...merciless...his companions vulnerable...protect them...but how...stand and fight...useless, the companions are consumed...NO!

Harry awoke with a start. His scar was prickling, fear and doubt running unchecked. It was a dream. But will it always be? Will it suddenly become a harsh reality? NO! I can't let it! Harry thought fiercely. The people he cared about would be in constant danger until he ended it.

Harry padded to the bathroom to splash his face with water.

Creeeak!

Harry spun around and pulled out his wand. He always carried it with him and checked that it was there frequently. He walked cautiously to the end of the hall to find Ginny standing on a new balcony.

"Why are you awake at this hour?" asked Harry, relieved it was just her.

"I couldn't sleep; I had a nightmare about- about Tom."

"He's gone for good," said Harry consolingly.

"No," said Ginny sharply. "He'll always haunt me." Harry could see the pain and guilt in her deep brown eyes.

"It's hard knowing someone took control of your body," said Harry. "He did it to me at the Ministry, tried to make Dumbledore kill me." This was the first person he had told. She was possibly the only other person who could understand what it was like to be possessed by Lord Voldemort.

Knowing she wasn't alone seemed to help Ginny. They stood in silence for some time.

"Thanks for being here, Harry," said Ginny. She gave Harry a peck on the cheek as she turned and left.

Harry stood staring out into nothingness for close to an hour when he saw a small dark figure silhouetted against a thin cloud. There was a soft flump when a jet black owl landed on the railing. It didn't look like an official Hogwarts owl and he didn't recognize it. His name was neatly written in what could only be a girl's handwriting. He opened the letter and skipped down to the signature. He was very surprised to see that name.

Why would Lavender Brown write him?

Dearest Harry,

You may think I'm some immature girl with her head in the clouds but I'm not. Before I came to Hogwarts I didn't have many friends. All the kids in my school thought I was odd to say the least. When I met Parvati and she liked me and accepted me, I didn't want to make her hate me so I did everything she wanted. Wore magi-makeup, ordered designer robes and idolized Trelawney. That was one of the only things we did that I liked except - talk about you. For the first three years, you were just a novelty but then you grew up. I started looking forward to seeing you, brushing against you on the way to classes....

In fourth year, when you walked right up to Parvati and asked her to the ball, I was crushed. I only agreed to go with Seamus because I thought you already had a date. Parvati knew I liked you and she apologized profusely but it still hurt.

In fifth year, everyone was talking about you writer not excluded but I was talking about you for different reasons. I felt your injustices and admired from afar. I couldn't bear to see you with Cho. She didn't know you. I may not know a lot about you but I want to.

I understand if you don't return my affection, I just had to tell you how I felt. Send a reply to tell me how you feel so I'll know if I should continue my existing life or if I should start anew with you.

All my love,

Lavender

When Harry finished reading the letter his mouth was slightly open. Lavender and me? He had never considered it. She was beautiful, but he didn't know her very well. He would have to think about this. He didn't even know the tattered remnants of his feelings. How was he supposed to tell her? Yes, he knew he would need some time. What he didn't know that one day was enough.

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A/N: I purposely made Lavender Brown's owl black.