Harry Potter and the Rise of Hope

Harry Potter and the Rise of Hope

Chapter One

Petunia's guilt

Fifteen-year-old Harry Potter stepped off the barrier to Platform Nine and Three Quarters and stopped so quickly that his best friend Ron Weasley slammed into him from behind.

"Oomph. Harry wad you do that for . . . What's wrong?"

Unable to speak Harry pointed. Standing about ten feet away was Harry's Aunt and Ron's mother chatting as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Cautiously they walked over unsure of exactly what was going on.

As they drew nearer Harry and Ron could hear exactly what was being said, this perhaps was more shocking then the fact that these two, witch and close-minded Muggle, were speaking at all.

"Really Mrs. Dursley, you think your husband would allow that?"

"Call me Petunia, please. And yes, Vernon would do anything to get Harry out of the house. Considering the circumstances with V . . . Vol . . . my sister's murderer loose. The poor boy needs something to look forward to, and some place he can be safe!"

"Ah yes, I quite see your point. Although how anyone can call our house safe is beyond me."

"Safer then ours, Mrs. Weas . . ."

"Molly, dear."

"Any way you'll have all your magic if . . . well just in case."

"Yes Mrs. . . Petunia, point taken. I'll be picking him up of course, by car. That Floo powder incident! Took forever to get Arthur to tell me the whole story, and afterwards all he could talk about was an electric fire with a plug. Was the plug that fascinated him. The man keeps a collection!"

"Really, a collection of plugs?"

"Yes, quite ridiculous. I keep telling him . . ."

Harry felt a sharp jab in the ribs and looked at Ron who nodded behind him. Harry looked back; Hermione Granger and Ginny Weasley were dissolved in a fit of giggles. Harry was stumped, "What's so funny?"

"Your face," Ginny managed to gasp, "you've got to see your face!"

Still confused, he looked at Ron who seemed utterly mystified. "Oh honestly," Hermione humped, "you look as though you've never seen your aunt act civilly before."

Still confused Harry and Ron edged forward. Somehow the conversation between his Aunt and Mrs. Weasley had turned to Ron's twin brothers, Fred and George, proposed Joke shop. Mrs. Weasley was talking excitedly about how they had finally found something constructive to do besides pulling pranks. She seemed, Harry noted, to have over looked the fact that Fred and George were helping other kids to become pranksters. Aunt Petunia looked relieved Apparently the twins would not be coming to pick him up. Ron tugged on his mother's sleeve. "Uh mom?"

Ron never had a chance. Mrs. Weasley turned in a flash and swept him and Ginny into a huge hug. Ears reddening, Ron looked over his mother's shoulder and mouthed, "Help me!" Harry shrugged.

"Uh Mrs. Weasley?"

She let Ron go and looked as if she was about to embrace him but Aunt Petunia chose that moment to check her watch, "Oh dear! Harry you better hurry up. Your professor sent a note about a change in your glasses prescription and I'd like to get there and back before ten." It was true he had been squinting a lot, but he had never expected Aunt Petunia to pay attention to anything his professors said.

Mrs. Weasley made plans for Harry to be picked up on July 31 (believe it or not) and they left the station.

The next morning Harry still couldn't believe his luck. Not only did he have new glasses, but an entire new wardrobe that actually fit. Harry had guessed that Aunt Petunia must have been feeling guilty for something. On the ride home she had told him what she could of his father and mother's relationship, what their wedding had been like, and how he had proposed. (She had been there for both those events) She had even gone into an hour-long rant on how immature Sirius Black (Harry's godfather) had been. What his mother's life had been like at Hogwarts Harry had no idea, but he vowed to find out what he could before the Weasleys came to pick him up for the summer.

Chapter Two

Pearls and Ravens

A few weeks later Harry woke to a great clamoring of excitement. Groaning he rolled over to check his clock, ten so it wasn't an emergency. Everybody else was awake and bustling about the lower story of number 4 privet drive. The Dursleys being very prim and proper people never celebrated anything early, and never celebrated Harry's birthday at all, even if it was only a day away.

With a tremendous sigh Harry resolved that the one thing he truly dreaded had come. A visit from Aunt Marge. With this conclusion he'd decided that the best thing he could do was stay in his room as long as possible. Unfortunately it didn't take nearly as long as Harry had hoped to pack his trunk. Within fifteen minutes he had finished, dressed, and resigned himself to going down stairs.

Proceeding down the steps, Harry could see Aunt Petunia and another woman he didn't recognize sipping coffee at the table. As he entered the kitchen she looked up. "So, finally decided to get up, eh lazy bones?" Aunt Petunia had been incredibly nice to him since he had gotten back. In fact, Harry thought, just like an aunt should be. True, Dudley was still spoiled and Aunt Petunia still ignored him when Uncle Vernon was around, but it was nice to feel somewhat wanted.

"I've been up," he said head half in the refrigerator.

"And you haven't eaten!" Petunia replied with mock astonishment. "Maybe I better get the thermometer." The women across the table chuckled. On closer inspection Harry could see she was a combination of his Professors McGonagall and Snape. A very odd combination. She had a very stern appearance, but her features were dark. Her coal black hair, streaked with gray was pulled back in a tight bun.

"I kind of thought the commotion was for Marge."

"If your Aunt Marge was here, emphasis on Aunt, Harry, you'd have been out of bed about six to help with breakfast." Harry grinned sheepishly as Petunia turned toward the woman next the her.

"Marge is Vernon's sister," she explained, "very punctual and a very early riser."

"Ah one of those," was the understanding reply

"Harry I'd like you to meet Pearl Sanchez. She is Dudley's headmistress. Pearl, my Nephew Harry," said Aunt Petunia

"Why don't you join us, Harry." He reached across the table to shake her hand, grabbed his cereal and sat down.

"So Mrs. Sanchez, why . . ."

"Am I here? To be honest this has nothing to do with Dudley. Harry, tell me were you go to school?"

The silence that followed was undisturbed for a full minute and a half. " St. Brutus's Secure Center for Incurably Criminal Boys," said Harry using one of his uncle's oldest lies.

"Don't lie to me boy!" Harry winced. Pearl was indeed like McGonagall. "I am headmistress of Smeltings. I happen to know every student of every school within a ten-mile radius of its boundaries. Brutus's is less than three. You are not on its rolls nor were you at any given point in time." No, she was worse than McGonagall. She lectured like Snape!

"Pearl, why would the boy lie?"

"Because . . ." she paused then called out of the room, "Raven come in here!"

A short girl of about eleven entered the room. Harry could see even at a distance how like the women seated across from him she was. Her black hair was pulled up behind her and she seemed to have many of the older woman's features, though less stern, and her eyes were blue.

"It seems, Mr. Potter, that I will have to go directly to the point." Harry jumped no one had given her his last name. "Raven show the young man your letter."

Shyly the girl dropped a crumpled parchment and envelope in front of him. He recognized the seal at once.

"Your name, Mr. Potter, was mentioned inside!"

With a flick of his wrist Harry shook it open scanning its contents. Inside in addition to the regular acceptance note and list of supplies was a warning against the return of Voldemort. Near the bottom Harry read:

In such a crises we feel it is only
safe to warn you of the possibilities.
We feel it is best to let your children
continue to learn in the situation
they have to defend them selves.
Voldemort is increasingly fond
of the Unforgivable curses, and
only one person is known to have
lived through the killing curse
Avada Kedavra. Mr. Harry Potter.

Glancing down Harry saw it had been signed by the Minister of Magic.

" Fudge," he muttered under his breath, "So he finally admits it. Of course he'd have to mention those bloody curses, and my name!"

"And so we came here," Pearl continued. "We hoped that you might be able to offer us some information."

"Give me a minute will you." Without waiting for reply Harry dashed up stairs and quickly wrote the Minister for permission to use magic. He knew for a fact that Mrs. Sanchez was going to require solid proof and that she wasn't going to leave without it. Besides, as he concluded:

It is only fair as you
put my name in that bloody
warning any way.

Harry

As he returned down stairs he could hear Aunt Petunia explaining what she knew about Hogwarts. (Which wasn't much) He stepped in just in time to correct her on the houses.

"Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin."

After setting his bowl in the sink, Harry began to write a set of directions to Diagon Alley while trying to answer a bombardment of questions from Pearl and Raven.

Raven was increasingly talkative now that it seemed she might be able to go. Within five minutes she had asked about teachers, classes, who taught what, flying houses, candy, and told him to call her Rave. Pearls questions were more direct and harder, Harry quickly found himself telling her to buy Hogwarts a History, as he could no longer adequately answer her questions. Harry was however right, Mrs.Sanchez did demand proof and just after her,

"Well Mr. Potter this is all very interesting but you still haven't offered us solid fact!" Harry's snowy owl Hedwig flew in bearing Fudge's reply:

Very well, Mr. Potter, one charm will
be allowed. One mind you! And do not
let the Muggles see.

Cornelius Fudge
Minister of Magic

Hastily, Harry began to close the curtains.

" Harry what are you doing?" Aunt Petunia cried suddenly alarmed. He tossed her the letter and all she said was, "Oh."

"Hey Raven, toss me that apple," Harry called checking to make sure the door was closed. Turning to Mrs. Sanchez and seeing the bewildered look on her face he began to explain, "Ma'am if I remember correctly you asked for solid fact. Would a spell provide such?"

"Well yes, but I . . ."

"Good. I have just received permission to do so." He gestured at Raven to set the apple she was holding on the table and brought out his wand.

"You're going to do magic!" she squealed, "See auntie, I told you it was real!"

Trying not to laugh, Harry brought his wand down and tapped the fruit three times.

"Tapedium!"

The apple suddenly sprouted legs and started a tap dance around the table.

"Brilliant!" Raven cried, "See it's real! Now you have to let me go!"

" I believe so." Pearl stood, "I believe your Dumbledore will get his wish. Of course I'll have to borrow your owl. If that's all right?"

Harry smiled and watched a very exited eleven year-old write her confirmation note and send it off with Hedwig.