Harry Potter and the Wizard's Debt

Prologue

The sky was growing dark over Little Whinging, Surrey, as the Dursleys pulled into number four Privet Drive. The houses on the street all sat in a row, each looking like the other; the occupants being the only thing to add a bit of personality to the neighbourhood. The Dursleys loved conformity. They did not like to be singled out, to be different, and they especially did not like having one very different person in their family.

Harry Potter was as different as he could be; he was a wizard. A famous wizard, no less, though he had never asked for this fame. It had come from the night Voldemort had been destroyed. But that same night, Voldemort had killed Harry's parents. Because of his mother's protection, Harry escaped that night with a scar shaped like a bolt of lighting on his forehead. Getting out of the car when it stopped, Harry took Hedwig's cage with him. She had been a present from one of his teachers at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry -- the only place that he could truly call home.

Harry's uncle, Vernon Dursley, a very big man whose face at that moment had turned purple, scowled as he pulled the trunk from the car. "Hurry boy! Get that blasted bird inside before someone notices."

"Yes, Uncle Vernon."

Harry's aunt Petunia Dursley, had eyes like a hawk, and she used these to great effect as she watched the windows of the neighbors' houses, searching for gossip. That day, however, she was watching, hoping that nobody would be outside to see the bird in Harry's cage. Five years ago, she had been quite perturbed with the neighbors discussions about the number of owls surrounding the Dursley's house when the boy got his letters to attended school. She did not relish the idea of another discussion with the neighbors concerning why her nephew now had one of his own, since none of the neighbors had questioned her about the matter of owls since then.

Uncle Vernon stowed the trunk in the cupboard under the stairs and locked the door. Harry watched the door and listened to the clicks of the lock as his world once again plunged into a state of utter despair which would last until he could once again find the freedom that he had at Hogwarts. At least he was accepted there.

"Get to your room, boy!" came the sharp, judgmental rebuke from his Uncle. "I will tolerate none of that stuff, you do, this summer. No sir...you can count on that."

Harry could tell that this summer was not going to be a pleasant one. With shoulders slumped, he trudged up the stairs into the smallest bedroom in number four Privet Drive. Harry put Hedwig's cage down on the small desk in his room and opened the door. The snowy owl gave a hoot of thanks while Harry stroked the only thing in the house that loved him.

Suddenly, the door to the closet swung open, and Dobby and Winky, the house-elves, jumped out. Winky looked terrible, as the clothes Dobby had given to her were in shambles. Dobby was looking up at Harry, grinning from ear to ear.

"What are you doing here?" Harry asked quickly. He could not believe his eyes. For the second time in his life, he had a house elf in his bedroom, but this time, he had two.

"Dobby and Winky have come to be Harry Potter's house-elves," Dobby said in a high pitched squeak.

Watching the house-elf come out of the closet, Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing. He did not have a house; he had only his tiny bedroom. What was he talking about? Surely, Dobby could not think he was his master, since they worked at Hogwarts. "But you work for Dumbledore," Harry said. Then, with slightly more disappointment, he added, "not me."

"We not work for Dumbledore now." Winky looked up at Harry with sad longing eyes. "Oh no, we work for Harry Potter."

"But I don't have a house. I only have this room." Harry looked around the small room stuffed mainly Dudley's broken toys. Besides fixing these, Harry did not see why he needed a house-elf, much less two. "Dobby, Winky, you would be better off staying at Hogwarts."

Dobby's ears dropped at the mention, and Winky started pouting.

"It's...it's...not that I wouldn't like you to stay, it's just that I don't have a house." Harry tried to explain.

"But Harry Potter does," said Dobby, while Winky started sobbing very loudly.

"Winky, don't. You'll get me in trouble. Dobby, how can I have a house? I never bought one."

Harry heard a pounding of footsteps on the stairs, coming closer and closer. "Cut that racket out." Uncle Vernon's voice bellowed.

"Dobby. You have to leave. Winky, stop it," Harry pleaded with both of them.

"Dobby not go. Not until Harry Potter, says Harry Potter is our Master." Dobby put his hands on his hips while sticking out his chest; he meant business.

The door to the bedroom swung open and uncle Vernon stood there, his finger pointing and looking for Harry, ready to continue his tirade, when he saw Dobby and Winky. He blinked, and a little spittle come from his mouth before he gathered his senses. "Get those...those...whatever those ruddy things are, out of my house. I won't have it!"

"Vernon, what are you shouting about now? What has he done this time?" Petunia called from downstairs. Uncle Vernon stuck his head back out of the door.

"He's got two...well...I don't bloody well know what they are, but they aren't staying."

Harry looked at Winky and Dobby, then back at his uncle who had now been joined by his aunt.

"Dobby, you need to leave. Harry Potter commands you to leave." Winky and Dobby both snapped their fingers and vanished. Harry could practically see the smoke rising out of his aunt and uncle's heads.

"You are not to leave this room for a week, is that understood? And no bloody letters either," Uncle Vernon spat at him.

Uncle Vernon closed and locked the door behind him and Aunt Petunia, and Harry flopped down on the bed. Well, he thought, if he didn't answer any letters, he was sure that he would be rescued. Uncle Vernon could keep him in the room, but when his friends came, he would like to see him try then. Guess Moody didn't scare him enough.

* * * *

The smoke billowing up from the smoldering fire gagged her for a second, but did not hinder her instincts. She spun around, pulling out her wand at the same time, and then pausing when she saw who it was. "Moony..." she said in disbelief.

"Put the wand down, Frost."

She hesitated. Being on her own for so long and not coming into contact with others of her own kind had put her on edge. Lowering the wand only halfway she asked, "How did you find me?"

"Rumors. Besides, Dumbledore always knows where everyone is. At least those who mean anything to him." He grinned at her, "I see you haven't gotten rid of that silver hair yet." Looking at the wand he shook his head, "Don't you trust me?"

"I don't trust anyone. How's Dumbledore?" She lowered the wand but her senses were still on alert.

"Dumbledore is fine." He reached into his pocket, pulled out a letter and extended it to her. "He gave me this for you."

Frost looked at the envelope and shook her head. "I don't want it." She turned around and started breaking camp.

"I can't leave until you take it, and the full moon is coming. You don't want me around you during a full moon."

She snickered. "Wouldn't be the first time."

"We're not back in school, and you're not outside the shrieking shack this time. There won't be any walls to protect you."

She turned and narrowed her eyes at him, "Like I can't handle a werewolf. You should know better than that, Moony. It may have been a long time ago, but you haven't seen me in a long time."

"No, I haven't. You've changed."

She felt his stare linger over her whole body. She winked at him when his eyes met hers. "Don't even think about it. I'm not that naive little girl anymore."

"You never were naive."

She tossed her pack over her shoulder and started heading down the mountain. Remus Lupin stayed with her, refusing to leave her side. He was told to bring her back with him, no matter what happened. He thought about kidnapping her, but was not too keen on that idea.