Awakened

Awakening

Chapter 1

Petunia Dursley was worried. Two weeks ago, her nephew had come home from his freak school, and had seemed horribly miserable ever since. No, she was not worried about Harry Potter, but rather for her nephew and her husband, for Harry Potter had come home with a host of threats from his... friends, regarding his comfort.

It was not as if Petunia wasn't trying to be pleasant; Harry was just not responding to her. She had even gone so far as to abandon her usual tactics of simply ignoring him. After a solid week of moping, including only four fully-eaten meals and very few hours of sleep on his part, Petunia decided to try something different: conversation.

She had tried every topic she could, and yet could not evoke a response.

"What's wrong?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"How was your school year?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"How are your friends"

"I don't want to talk about it."

After several more days, she sat down and had a talk with her husband, Vernon. "Vernon, I'm worried about Harry. He's not eating well and he seems more depressed than usual to be here for the holidays"

"So what? Serves him right, ungrateful whelp."

"But Vernon, remember what those people at the train station said? About him being happy? I think they were serious. We need to do something. Should we write to someone? No. Let's let Harry write to his friends, and make sure he does. Something happened, and he needs to talk to someone about it., Vernon, and I'm sure he doesn't want to talk to it about us, whatever it is."

"Very well, Petunia, but get on with it. We can't spend all day coddling over him.

That afternoon, Petunia walked in to Harry's bedroom. When he saw her, he immediately began protesting her presence. "Go away! I don't want anyone in here. Just leave me alone!"

"Be quiet you silly boy. I'm only in here to take the padlock completely off of your owl's cage. Vernon and I have discussed it, and we've decided that, though you won't talk to us, you need to talk to someone about what's bothering you, and we're giving you permission to use your owl over the summer to communicate with...people like you."

At these words, Harry's face broke into the first smile Petunia had seen there all summer.

When she had exited the room, Harry bustled over to Hedwig, and immediately removed her from the cage, and, thanks to Moody's threats, then walked over to the quills and parchment that he was now allowed to keep in his room, along with his books. He sat down to write, but couldn't quite think of what to say.

Dear Ron,

How has your summer been so far? Are your arms okay? I was just wondering if you'd heard anything new about Hermione yet? How has she been doing since school ended? I've been really worried about her, and I haven't heard anything since I left King's Cross. It's still hard to believe that we finally got Malfoy's dad, isn't it! Well, tell me if anything happens, and fill me in on how everyone else is doing, too. Oh, and say hi to them for me.

Harry

Harry finished the letter after blotting out several areas and as he tied it to Hedwig's leg, he reflected on the fact that there seemed to be so much more he needed to say to Ron Harry had put in that letter. Nonetheless, he opened the window for Hedwig to fly through to deliver the letter to Ron.

Soon after Hedwig had left, Harry had headed downstairs to lunch, glad that his uncle was away at work after the new rules regarding the owl. He quickly made a sandwich under the scrutinising eyes of his Aunt, and soon after, headed back upstairs for a nap, all without having said a word.

Harry was awoken from his nap with a soft tapping at his window. He blearily wondered how Hedwig could be back so soon, as it was still clearly daylight outside, before he put on his glasses and realised that Hedwig wasn't there at all. Instead, Harry saw a tawny owl that looked vaguely familiar, bearing the Hogwarts crest. As Harry grabbed the letter, he wondered how Dumbledore had sent out the school letters so soon, when he realised that, in fact, it wasn't his school letter at all, but a much more personalised one.

Harry,

I have someone in my care that needs immediate protection from Voldemort and his Death Eaters. He has recently crossed one Death Eater in Particular. I have included today's issue of the Daily Prophet, which signifies why this person needs immediate protection.

I know he could be sent elsewhere, but your home has better protection from the Dark Lord than even Hogwarts possesses, due to the binding charms with your aunt, and your home would also be the last place considered in the search for said person.

Please consider giving sanctuary to another needy soul, as I'm sure you've felt the need for an escape from some people as well. As for the Dursleys, tell them that, should they be willing to accept this extra burden, he would be more than happy to pay for the extra costs that he might cause, and also for the additional danger he presents.

Also, due to the impending threat, all possible bans on underage magic have been lifted. Students in their fourth year and above are now allowed to practice any spells that they might deem necessary, as long as they remain inside the boundaries of their personal property. All homes and land lived on by students of Hogwarts have been given a special ward that automatically erases of any muggle that might accidentally see any magic. Please note, however, that the abuse of this new privilege will not only result in a disciplinary hearing at the ministry, but also in your immediate expulsion from Hogwarts.

Also, please look inside the Prophet, as I'm sure you'll find an article in there that will interest you nearly as much as the one on the cover.

Yours Sincerely,

Albus Dumbledore

Harry was shocked. After everything that had happened in June, Dumbledore completely ignored it! Didn't say a thing! How could he. Harry had half a mind to completely ignore Dumbledore's request before he realised that Dumbledore hadn't been asking on his own behalf, but on someone else's. Someone else who needed Harry. As this hit Harry, he realised how selfish he was being, and how he would feel were he in a similar situation, so he went downstairs to talk to the Dursleys.

"Absolutely not!" came Uncle Vernon's reply, before Harry had even started asking. However, Aunt Petunia spoke up, glancing warningly at Vernon "What is it, Harry?"

"Professor Dumbledore has requested that we allow another wizard, also on the run from Voldemort, to stay here-"

"Absolutely not!" cried Uncle Vernon again. But Harry continued on determinedly.

"-until the school term begins. He has, however, offered to pay you for expenses caused by this arrangement, as well as extra pay for the hazard he presents." Harry knew that this bit of information would make up the Dursley's minds for them. How could Uncle Vernon resist money?

"Normal money, of course? Not that rubbish that you use?"

"We could get it exchanged at Gringotts."

"Good, but get it done beforehand. I haven't got the time to be messing about with you and your messed up society"

Back in his room, Harry felt that his conversation with his Uncle had gone much better than anything that could have been expected. He hastily scribbled a note back to Dumbledore telling him that he would be more than glad to play host to someone in need, and the Dursleys would consent, as long as they got their money.

After he had sent Dumbledore's owl back, he turned to the previously ignored copy of the Daily Prophet, and gaped at the headline.

Death Eaters Escape Azkaban

Well, why should he be surprised. Dumbledore had warned him that this would happen, and so, he had known it would be inevitable. As he skimmed the article, it listed all of the escaped Death-Eaters names. Harry was glad to see 'Lucius Malfoy', along with a photo, halfway down the page. He read on to discover, unsurprisingly, that the Dementors appeared to have abandoned the prison. There was no sign of them at the prison at all, and it, for once, concurred that Dumbledore had said that something like this would happen.

After the story of the Death Eaters, inside, Harry found good news. After the escape at Azkaban, Fudge had concluded that Dumbledore had been right on all accounts so far, and that he was prepared to follow Dumbledore's plan in regards to other part-human creatures. He had passed new legislation easing all restrictions, especially the restrictions on the use of wands. The article also went on to say that emissaries had been sent to every part-creature possible, contacting the goblin liaisons, the giant tribes, and that one Remus Lupin had been sent to try to influence the werewolf packs across Europe. At this Harry smiled, as he was sure that Remus' lycanthropy had kept him from obtaining a job since he had retired from the Defence against the Dark Arts post at Hogwarts over two years previously.

Figuring that this was the good news that Dumbledore had mentioned in his letter, Harry idly flipped through the rest of the Newspaper, not truly interested, until his name caught his eye.

Harry Potter to receive order of Merlin

Harry Potter and 5 other Hogwarts students protect ministry

When Harry saw this, he nearly laughed. He couldn't believe it. Then, he realised that the ministry probably now knew that they wanted Dumbledore, and therefore Harry, on their side, and were aiming to please.

Last week, Harry Potter, the boy who lived, along with five other Hogwarts students (whose names, at this time, have not been released) found several Death Eaters in the Department of Mysteries, and proceeded to duel with said Death Eaters until the arrival of Ministry Aurors Nymphadora Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and Alastor Moody, as well as several other, who then took over the dueling. However, one Bellatrix Lestrange had managed to escape from the aurors, and Harry Potter followed her and duelled with her in the Ministry's Atrium. As they duelled, both Albus Dumbledore and The Dark Lord appeared on the floor, where they proceeded to duel, after which the Dark Lord disapparated from the building.

Only one casualty was reported during this incident: that of Notorious Mass Murderer Sirius Black, whose conviction has come under review in light of these new circumstances. Harry Potter was a good friend of Blacks, and, indeed, should the Black name be cleared, most of the Black estate would be granted to Mr. Potter when he comes of age. (see Sirius: Black as he's painted? On page 3)

Harry and his friends will all be receiving an order of Merlin, Second Class for their services in the Ministry, and Harry Potter, along with Albus Dumbledore, will be receiving pensions from the Ministry as compensation for the supposed Scandal last year, involving said two, now found to be completely untrue.

"Well," said Harry "at least I'm not 'the boy who went nutters' anymore."