Harry Potter and the Imaginary Order of Phoenix

The Letters 

Harry awoke around 10:00 in the morning, which had become a part of a daily routine. The second week of July was almost at an end and six more weeks were still to go until Hogwarts starts again. But he had little time to think about the holidays and returning to Hogwarts when what Voldemort might be doing plagued his thoughts. Not even two months had passed since the rebirth of Voldemort took place in front of his own eyes and with his own blood. He kept remembering the snakelike face and the horrible death of Cedric Diggory. Although Cedric was his rival in many ways, he still felt horrible about his death. He had gone against Harry in the Triwizard tournament, where Harry's entry was a part of the major plot. Then again he was also his Quidditch rival and was responsible for the Gryffindor defeat when Harry was in third year. They also shared nearly the same feelings for Cho Chang, the Ravenclaw Seeker, but it was Harry's bad luck that Cedric always got better of him.

But what was to happen, happened. Harry, taking Hermione's advice, had subscribed to the Daily Prophet. What it revealed to him was that the Ministry was working, not only overtime, but also beyond their capacity. Wizards were disappearing from their houses. Many important figures of the wizarding world were found tortured and badly wounded. Some were even dead. The happenings from the time of Voldemort's first rise to power were reappearing. Many incidents were taking place throughout the Muggle world, which the Muggles were trying to resolve and giving their own theories of the causes, but none were close. It rather seemed that a long chain of problems in both the worlds might not be resolved in a short time.

Harry's insides went cold when he got a letter from Ron in the first week of July. It was a big letter for Pig to carry. Harry was lying on his back one night; it was sometime before he noticed something attacking the glass of his window. He put on his glasses, got of the bed, and walked towards it. He immediately recognized the little owl and opened the window for him to enter. The owl fell on the floor as he entered the room. Harry quickly picked him up. He had never seen Pig so tired. He untied the letter and carried him to Hedwig's cage, which was empty as she was out hunting. Harry gave water from the little bowl he kept for Hedwig to the tired owl. Pigwidgeon drank some of it and to Harry's amazement; he suddenly flew into the air and started hooting in his sharp but low voice. Harry grabbed him form the air and held him tight to that extent that the owl's breath didn't stop; still he was unable to stop his hooting.

"You really are a pig," Harry said, looking at the owl. He put him in the cage, and, to stop his hooting, he placed a towel over it. Then he turned to the letter. Opening it, he found a letter and a picture. One look at the picture turned his insides as cold as ice. He couldn't believe his eyes, which were wide open by now. Cold sweat appeared on his forehead, but this reaction had its own reason. The reason being that it was a picture of the Dark Mark, which was Voldemort's symbol. It was a large, green skull with a serpent protruding from his mouth. It wasn't the only thing that Harry was. He looked at the house below the Dark Mark. It was none other than The Burrow.

Harry's hands were shaking violently. He put the picture on his bed and, still trembling, picked up the letter. All sorts of things were coming into his mind now. Are the Weasley's okay? Has anything happened to Ron? Is Mr. Weasley missing or perhaps...

He opened the letter and found Ron's untidy writing.

Harry, is everything fine from your side? There have been major catastrophes in the magical world. The Laslanders, our neighbours, were found dead in their rooms. Mr. David Laslander, who was one of Fudge's advisors and a close associate, was found dead on his sofa, sitting there like a statue with his mouth open. The experts say it was the killing curse that expired him along with his wife. His daughter was out with her friends. We didn't know it until shouts and screams were heard outside. Dad and Percy came home sometime later and they thought that something had happened to us. Believe it Harry; I have never seen either of them so much badly shaken. They were crying like babies until they saw Fred coming out of the house.

Harry, I am really worried about you. Dumbledore says the time has not yet come for you to leave the Dursleys. I think he is right. Who knows what would have happened if you had joined us instead of going to the Dursleys'. Hermione went crazy when she found out that the Dark Mark was seen in our area and got worried about you. Dad has been given extra work. Now, rather than coming home late, he has to retire for a couple of days to sort out the problems occurring around the country. Fudge is still not ready to accept that You-Know-Who has returned to power. He says that it's some former Death Eaters who are looking for fun, but even he has to think seriously over Mr. Laslander's death. Percy is giving Dad a hand. He even seems more energetic than Dad. In the absence of Mr. Crouch, a new appointee is still being seen and until then, Percy has gotten some more important work.

Harry, a more serious problem has occurred. Fudge is considering Snuffles as the main reason of the problems. According to him, Snuffles must have gathered some devoted Death Eaters and is trying to create the same atmosphere as it was fifteen years ago. I am really worried about Snuffles Harry. Have you got any news from him? Dad was trying to make arrangements for you to be taken into the safe custody of the ministry, but the recent events have made him and Mum to accept Dumbledore's advice and they are waiting for his signal. Fred and George are also worried. They haven't told Mum about the money you gave them as Mum doesn't seemed to be in a good mood and she may beat the hell out of them if she found out about it. Please reply soon Harry; we are worried about you.

Ron 

P.S. I am sending you the picture that was taken by Samantha (Ginny's friend) when she came out in her house garden with her cousins for a photograph. 

After reading the letter, Harry took a sigh of relief. The Weasleys were not hurt and Ron was keeping him informed. But why didn't this news occur in the newspaper? Harry thought on the possibilities. Did Fudge wants to keep it a secret? But for how long and why? Although much other news was found in the newspaper, this wasn't. And also the death of Mr. Laslander and his wife wasn't mentioned. He was such an important ministry personnel too. The Dark Mark was above the Burrow, not the Laslanders'. What did that mean? What was Mr. Laslander doing in his house when there was so much trouble going on in the ministry as well as in the country? Harry couldn't find any solutions and in the end he concluded that in the absence of Rita Skeeter, important news could not be found in the newspaper, and that the Death Eater must have mistakenly directed his or her wand upon the Weasleys house.

But that was not what was badgering Harry. He was thinking about Sirius, his godfather. Sirius was an innocent man who was held responsible for the death of Harry's parents and was kept in Azkaban, the wizard prison, for thirteen years. Still he had been able to keep his senses and powers in the midst of so many Dementors, and escaped when he found out about the location of Peter Pettigrew, who had taken on the form of Ron's pet rat. He was James's, Peter's, and Remus's old friend and an Animagus. He was the one who gave Voldemort what he wanted the most, the Potters, although it had not been intentional. In his third year, Harry had discovered that he had a godfather and in the same year, the truth about him. Harry hadn't seen him or heard from him since his last day at Hogwarts when he had been sent to gather the old crew. He was feeling annoyed with Fudge, the person whom Harry had at first considered to be a mild and sensible person. Harry had seen his other side when he was told about Voldemort's return. He had blindly refused to accept the truth. His blame upon Sirius was more than Harry could handle.

With these thoughts in mind, Harry got out of his bed on the morning of July the 12^th, and went into the bathroom to wash his face. He returned and picked up his glasses only to find three owls sitting on the table along with Hedwig, whom he hadn't noticed before, as he had been immersed in his thoughts. She was carrying a letter. Harry thought that she was carrying a reply to the letter he had sent Hermione some days ago. One brown owl was sitting with Daily Prophet tied to his feet. The third one was from Ron carried by Errol, while fourth one was also a brown owl, which Harry didn't recognize.

He untied all the letters from the owls' feet and paid the brown owl for the paper. He opened Hermione's letter and saw that same beautiful and tidy writing of hers. 

Harry, I was so relieved when I got your letter. I was getting news about you from Ron but I personally wanted to hear from you. The time seems to be running against us. The Death Eaters are causing terror among the people and the theory about Sirius gaining power and being responsible for all this is gaining strength. Even problems are arising in the Muggle world. Although I haven't left England since I returned from Hogwarts, even on Mum's insistence for me to go to Bulgaria for the holidays. Still, I don't consider myself to be safe.

"Bulgaria? Has she told her mother about Krum?" Harry asked himself, and then shaking his head, he turned back to the letter. 

I heard about Fudge's statement about Sirius. Harry, it is getting very dangerous for him. As you said in your letter that you haven't heard from him, the Daily Prophet hasn't had anything about him being sighted. It seems that he is well hidden and Dumbledore might be the only one who is in contact with him.

"Wow, I had forgotten about that," Harry suddenly said to himself. "Hermione, you are the greatest. What would I do without you." Saying this he turned to the letter which was brought by the unknown brown owl. To his relief, it was from Dumbledore. With spirits heightening, he again turned to Hermione's letter. 

What ever you do Harry, try to stay away from danger. The Death Eaters might be looking for you. The death of Mr. David Laslander was no simple incident. When they can kill a Minister in the magical world, they may even try to hurt you. Please be careful Harry. 
With love, Hermione Granger

Although Harry thought that she might have also referred to some books regarding Death Eaters, Voldemort, and how to stay away from danger, he couldn't find any such thing, even at the backside of the letter. Harry admired Hermione for the way she cared about him and Ron and helped them whenever a crisis situation was at hand. Harry even sometimes remembered what Ron had stated previously, "Harry, I think we have had bad influence on her." The same girl, who was a rule lover and wouldn't think of breaking even a minor rule, joined them in the adventures that took place at Hogwarts, but she also forced them to break, not a single, but a whole bunch of them. Her letter was full of her concern about Harry, and he could clearly see how much she was worried about him and Ron. Although the Dark Mark can scare the living day lights out of anyone, in Harry's case, it was a bit of a different matter.

Harry now turned to the letter sent by Dumbledore. It looked like the letter he had gotten when he had first found out that he was a wizard. The difference was that it didn't tell the slightest detail of his location, nor it had the Hogwarts crest on it. Instead only his name was written with emerald green ink. He opened the letter and began to read. 

Dear Harry,

As the situation is getting worse, it is my advice that you leave the Dursleys and stay with the Weasleys for the rest of the summer. Although the death of Mr. David Laslander is still fresh and one of the recent incidents, you don't have to worry about it. I know that you wouldn't really mind living with the Weasleys for the rest of your life. On Tuesday, July 16th, a special person will come to your house to pick you up. You should tell the Dursleys about it and pack up. Your life with the Dursleys is of great importance and that you will know soon enough. Harry, you must always remember that they are your family.

Also Harry, I have been in contact with Sirius. He is well hidden and is with the most known wizards of this time, who, in my opinion, are the only ones capable of facing Voldemort. The one you will see is among them. They are your father's old friends. You don't have to wait much longer; Sirius will meet you when you will get to The Burrow.

Harry, I must ask you to be patient. Danger is lurking on every other step, so whatever we decide, please accept It; it is for your own good. Good-bye Harry, I will see you soon.

Albus Dumbledore

"'They are your family', what does he mean by that?" Harry asked himself, "They have made my life miserable right from the beginning and bossed me around. They make me do work like I am a servant. They must dearly miss me when Dudley has to iron his clothes or carry all his things by himself. Or when Uncle Vernon has to polish his shoes or carry the garbage outside. They didn't even tell me the truth about my family and even tried to stop me from attending Hogwarts or even getting anywhere near magic." But in between all his thoughts, one suddenly struck him. What would be my reaction if Voldemort hurt them, or some other disaster fell upon them? Would I be pleased with that?

Although Harry didn't like to be with the Dursleys, still he felt, not knowing why, some kind of emotional attachment to them. Even though he didn't even like to think about the Dursleys when he was at Hogwarts, still he felt that something was missing.

He pondered over the matter, then, thinking that he would ask Dumbledore about it, he stood up and went down to the kitchen for breakfast, and also to tell the Dursley's the news of his departure.

Harry's relations with the Dursleys had remained a bit cool since his return. Although they haven't forgotten the twins joke, they didn't continued their old way of badgering him. Even though he is not allowed to talk about magical world, or even to use the word magic, he was not allowed to do his work. Still it seems that they have decided to live with Harry on a new pattern of life. They don't order him much and are mostly seemed to avoid him the way they have been, pretending that he is not there. But whenever they had to talk with him, they seemed to be no different as they were five years ago. Harry, on the other hand, tries to stay put. He spends most of his time in his room. Although he stays in contact with his old friends, but except for Hedwig, no one else is there to share his loneliness. There also have been some improvements this year. Both his aunt and uncle don't say anything on contacting his friends or receiving any messages through owls, but their presence makes both of them uneasy. On every hoot of any owl, uncle Vernon seemed to be wrestling his anger down. It might be possible that they must have thought that if they have to tolerate Harry, it also goes same for the owls.

In such conditions, Harry was quite relaxed. Firstly because he wasn't bossed around anymore (on which he is very glad) and secondly, he has a lot to think about the present situation which is already very much tense.

He came down the stairs and went towards the kitchen. Uncle Vernon had already left for his work. Dudley was watching TV; or rather he was trying to watch every single channel. He kept on changing them at an interval of barely 2 seconds, murmuring every time like "boring" or "rubbish". Aunt Petunia was cleaning the room. She watched Harry by the corner of his eye but didn't stop working. Even though Harry, when he reached the stairs, greeted her aunt, she merely nodded which, Harry thought, might be because of the opened fan. When he entered the kitchen, his breakfast was ready. Boiled beans which were kept there for about half an hour. Harry wasn't in mood to eat them, but still he picked up the plate and went over to the table, thinking "Just for few more days Harry, just few. Then there would only be Mrs. Weasley's excellent cooking.

Since his return, he found out that Aunt Petunia was able to force both Uncle Vernon and Dudley to follow the diet plan for a whole long year. Although it didn't showed any drastic change in any of them, still Harry felt that Dudley is showing some signs of weight loss. Maybe he might have lost somewhere between two to five pounds. It may even be possible that he might be living on air which he breaths.

With his stomach lurching, he quickly ate the beans (even though he felt that he may have to vomit later) and then decided to talk his aunt about his visit to the Burrow. As he stood up and opened his mouth to speak to her aunt, the phone rang. Aunt Petunia quickly went and picked up the receiver. Harry was watching her as she replied to the speaker after greeting,

"Oh thank you for that. We very much appreciate your help that you always give us. Thank you again. Bye."

She put down the receiver and turned towards Harry, sneering, her nose high in the air. Harry was staring blankly towards her. Aunt Petunia folded her arms and said, "So."

Harry didn't understand. "So what?" he replied, not knowing what else to say. Aunt Petunia doesn't seemed to be impressed by Harry's lack of knowledge about her latest conversation with the unknown person. She kept staring at him, smirking. He stared back to her.

"Well to tell you the truth," she said," You will be spending your rest of the vacations with Mrs. Figg. She has kindly accepted our request and your going there."

"What!! With Mrs. Figg," Harry shouted, unable to control himself, "but you can't do that."

"What do you mean? Are you the one who will tell us what to do and what not?" Aunt Petunia replied with her beady eyes fixed on Harry, her eyebrows raised.

"I didn't mean to say that. It's because I have to go to somewhere else," Harry said, somehow feeling that it just maybe not his day.

"GO?" Aunt Petunia said, her eyes narrowing and her hands moving to the sides of her waist. "May I ask where Mr. Important is planning to go for which he has to go against our decision?"

Dudley, instead of watching TV, had muted it and was gazing both of them with interest. Harry was looking at his aunt and thinking about what was going on. He said, "I ... I am going to Ron's house."

Aunt Petunia's hands were clutching at hearing that name. She was now eyeing him dangerously. She said," Hhmm ... isn't he from the same family who was responsible for your trip last year?"

"Yes."

"And you are again planning to visit them this year. What for? Another damn event I presume."

"It is not that what you think. It's kind of hard to explain. Look I have to go it's necessary," Harry tried to explain, but Aunt Petunia doesn't seem to be taking any of it in account. On the contrary, she rather seemed to be thinking fast, thinking about some reason by which she could prevent him from going. Although Harry knew that she is no different than Uncle Vernon, still he didn't had any experience on how to deal with her. His encounters were always with his uncle and now Harry had to find a way to handle his aunt.

" But why am I being sent to her house? Don't you want me to be here?" Harry asked, sounding a bit innocent. On this her aunt looked away. She was now biting her lower lip. Then she turned and said," It's better that we discuss this when your uncle returns." With that, she headed towards the kitchen.

Harry stood there for a while. Then he asked himself, "What the hell is going on here? What do they want from me?"