Secrets and Consequences

Giants

Privet Drive was completely silent. No disruptions marred the perfectly normal little suburb. Nothing unusual was occurring on this lukewarm summer evening. Even the weather behaved in a bleak fashion. Everything had a place and everything was in its place. Everything that is except one young man within the normally manicured and maintained facade of Number Four. This young man was anything but ordinary. He was a wizard. A sad, confused, and guilty wizard. He was Harry Potter. Others in the world saw him as a hero, a liar, a friend, and the most hated occupant of Number Four Privet Drive. To himself he was a murderer.

His first night back in this hell hole had proved to be both interesting and infuriating: boring, plain and completely Dursley. None of the normal yelling and abuse. The one time in his life when he needed familiarity and his relatives had shifted personalities on him. He wanted screaming and yelling, he needed to be told how useless he was, what a failure he was sure to be. Because he was. He needed to hear it. But Aunt Petunia merely offered him dinner. Uncle Vernon grunted at him with a purple face and hid behind the evening paper. Dudley merely looked stupidly between his parents before digging into the biggest meal Petunia had cooked for him in a long while. Too much tension had taken its toll on her and she really didn't care about Dudley's diet. The meal was tense and silent. Afterwards, Harry automatically cleared the table, his mind trying to occupy itself with the task at hand. Petunia Dursley watched him, her long face scrunched up in a deep look of distaste. Vernon merely gaped at him before heading for the front room and the evening news, wisely choosing silence as the better part of valor.

He wandered to his room after that, laying awake on the tatty remnants of his blanket. Tears leaked silently from the corner of his eyes leaving a wet trail down his cheek and around the top of his ear before finally falling off onto the thin bed. He stared despondently at the ceiling plaster, the tears blurring his vision, not moving as the summer sun finally set over Privet Drive. He didn't know when it happened but he eventually fell into a fitful sleep. His dreams ravaged his mind with guilt as visions of Sirius and the Department of Mysteries fluttered through his sleeping mind.

He could hear the whisper of the veil. Dark tendrils of sound pulled him toward the frame with its dark siren's call. Around him Death Eaters circled pointing and laughing. Their white masks stretched into the semblance of manic grins. They twirled gaily in and out of the shadows, blending together until only the white of their masks showed. Sirius bounded into the middle of the circle his wand at the ready. He moved toward Harry smiling his devilish grin, his arms widening in a protective gesture as he spun around in front of Harry, facing the mocking ring of masks. The streak of red light flew from the gibbering ring of evil. Harry watched in slow motion as the spell hit his godfather in the chest, knocking him backwards. Harry put out his hand in horror, already knowing it was too late. Sirius' devilish grin faded into a look of shock as the stunner took effect. He howled in horror as his godfather's body was stolen by the whispering black silk of the veil. "Aww, bitty Potter. Did you wuv him?" The high pitched voice shrieked insane giggles as the masks sped their twirling into a distant blur of white screams. Enraged he rushed at the veil preparing to leap into the void, only to run into a force that felt like solid stone. Screaming his despair, he beat the invisible force, his fists falling with bombastic crashes that resonated throughout the chamber of death. His screams built and echoed and fell back in distorted waves to his ears. Each blow was a loud explosion that grew louder with each unrestrained hit, shaking the room. Bits of plaster fell down into his hair and scrunched tight eyes...

Plaster? Harry awoke, startled to find bits of his ceiling falling into his eyes. Scrambling, he untangled himself from his blanket and dove toward the loose floorboard in his room, quickly snatching his wand from its hiding place.

"BOY!" Vernon shouted in rage as another explosion rocked the house. "What the blazes are you doing!" Vernon's apoplectic face appeared as Harry's bedroom door was flung open in rage.

Harry ignored him for the moment as he quickly released Hedwig from her cage. "Quick, girl. Get help." He flung her out the window before facing his hyperventilating uncle. "I'm not sure what is going on, I haven't done anything." Harry chewed nervously at his bottom lip as the noise outside grew to include the panicked voices of the neighbors. Not bothering to pay attention to his uncle's gibbering accusations, Harry brushed past him and ran down the stairs, taking them two at a time. He raced to the front door and flung it open, preparing to face what was out there.

Harry would have sighed in relief to see his favorite mentor on the front stoop, if it weren't for the stark reality of the situation. He almost gave into his urge to run to Lupin for explanation, but he was stopped by a more paranoid thought. "Identify yourself and prove it." Harry demanded as he brought his wand to bear on the older man, his eyes narrowing suspiciously.

"Moody would be proud." Lupin said. "Remus Lupin, last of the marauders, your greatest fear is fear."

Harry opened his mouth to acknowledge the proof but was interrupted by his bellowing uncle screaming about intruders and freaks as he, Petunia, and Dudley crowded together on the stairwell.

"SILENCE!" A strange voice called out. Its owner moved into the light past the startled werewolf. "We need everyone out now. I have an emergency portkey here."

Harry studied the newcomer as his uncle went into a new barrage of insults and empty threats. He was astonished to find that the commanding voice belonged to a woman. She stood about his height, yet seemed to tower above them all. She had long, loosely flowing, dark burgundy hair, delicate features, and the most intense violet colored eyes he had ever seen. Not that he'd ever seen violet eyes before, but hers were mesmerizing. She was clothed in muggle clothes that looked like they belonged to a pirate from the 16th century. A black billowing shirt was belted tightly around black leggings that were tucked into knee high boots. She was liberally adorned with weapons. A gleaming sword rested at her side and daggers were strapped to her thigh and tucked into her boot tops. A black cape completed the outfit and accented the overall unique ensemble. This assessment took about 20 seconds before the woman lost her patience with his uncle.

"Frankly Dursley, I don't give a damn whether you live or die. You're a despicable excuse for a human, muggle or not. However, I can't let your deaths be on Harry's conscience. We need to leave and leave NOW." Her eyes flashed in anger as Vernon purpled in rage.

"What's going on out there?" Harry asked as another explosion rocked the house.

"Giants," Lupin said grimly. "Voldemort is trying to break down the wards. This whole area is surrounded. We came through as soon as the alarm sounded, but we had to break through the line. Go get your stuff we leave in exactly two minutes. Take only what you need, and hopefully we'll be able to come back for the rest."

Eyes widening, Harry twisted and barreled past his uncle to his room. He ripped up the floorboard grabbing his cloak and scrapbook and ran back downstairs, stuffing his feet into his trainers as he went. "You heard the man!" Harry bellowed at his family. "You have one minute left, move it!"

"If you stay," the woman said calmly to Petunia. "You will die. The wards won't hold up against this."

Petunia nodded dumbly at her before flying back up the stairs where she proceeded to grab her emergency stash of money before running back down to her gaping husband.

"Ready," she wheezed breathlessly. "I would prefer time to get clothes also but..." She gestured helplessly.

"Twenty-five seconds everyone," Remus said as he consulted his pocket watch. "Everyone grab hold of that," he said as the stranger pulled out an old length of twine. Not surprised when Vernon refused to touch it.

Petunia looped the piece of twine through her own fingers before forcing Vernon to take a small bit between his own. Harry grasped his small bit and looked up anxiously in Dudley's porky face as Lupin began the count down, putting away his watch and grabbing the left over bit of twine for himself.

"And three... two... one..."

Harry felt the nauseating pull hook him behind the navel, his only consolation being the satisfyingly sickly shade of olive his uncle turned across from him.

The Grim Old Place

Harry stumbled as they landed in a blank spot between two buildings, the dewy grass brushing up against the thin material of his pajamas. Orienting himself, he watched as his family picked themselves up off the dark ground, grimacing at the wet places on their night clothes and at the general portkey induced nausea. Harry almost smirked at the wave of silence that passed over his relatives as they struggled to orient themselves, but thought the gesture too Draconian.

"Here," Lupin thrust a scrap of paper into Petunia's hand. "Read this to yourselves then think about what it says."

Petunia took the paper and read the message. The headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix is located as number 12 Grimmauld Place. Sniffing haughtily she passed the paper to her unusually silent husband and concentrated, almost falling back to the soggy ground as the building squeezed itself into existence in the bare spot in front of them.

Tiredly, Harry trudged past his gaping relatives and up the front steps of the foreboding building. With shaking hands he reached for the doorknob, a sob lodged in his throat. He didn't want to be there. He was actually considering going back to the giants. To be in there, where he had lived. Where everything about the place screamed his name. Harry didn't know if he could face it. When he felt Lupin place a comforting hand on his shoulder and guide him into opening the door, he almost cried out loud. Instead he squared his shoulders and pushed open the old door and crossed the threshold. right into Mrs. Weasley's welcoming arms. A hug had never felt so good to him before in his life, even if she was trying to crush the breath out of him.

"Ah, yes." Harry could hear the icy disdain in Mrs. Weasley's voice. "The muggles." Shifting Harry until he was cocooned in one arm she moved aside to allow the Dursley's to enter. "Harry, dear. Why don't you go put your stuff in your room. Ronald is already up there." The icy tone still held, but was tempered with sincerity as she spoke to Harry. "Don't worry about your... family." She spat the word. "We shall get them settled in their own rooms in a few moments."

Harry stumbled numbly up the stairs and away from the confusing Mrs. Weasley. He had never heard her so disgusted before. Upstairs he found a sleeping Ron sprawled fully clothed across his bed, having obviously tried to wait up for his best friend and losing the battle. Harry was amused to watch him snore a name in his sleep that sounded suspiciously like Hermione followed by an impassioned plea against revising. He had just finished putting away his stuff as quietly as he could and was headed for the door when all hell broke loose.

"What do you mean we can't leave!" His uncle's voice shook the rafters. Harry sighed as Ron woke up with a start followed closely by Mrs. Black.

"Harry, you're okay!" Ron said happily as the portrait began to screech.

"Blood traitors! Filth! MUGGLES IN MY HOUSE! Oh, the shame! Oh..."

Harry tuned out the screaming and concentrated on Ron. "Fancy a chat with Lupin and that strange pale woman?"

Ron looked at Harry blankly before nodding and moving to follow his friend. "You might want to wipe the drool off your cheek first." Harry grinned at his friend. Ron blushed in annoyance as he scrubbed at his face with the hem of his tee.

Downstairs the atmosphere was finally coming under control as Lupin silenced the painting and Mrs. Weasley threatened to stun Vernon. Harry laughed out loud at that one.

"You think that's funny boy?" Vernon snarled. "Come here and let me stun you!"

Mrs. Weasley gasped in shock at that and proceeded to give Vernon a piece of her mind regarding his attitude.

"What's all the hubbub bub?" George yawned sleepily behind Harry, his ginger hair sticking out at crazy angles.

"I think they can hear them in Denmark," Fred agreed, rubbing his eyes sleepily.

"I think that if our neighbors are wise, they would have gone deaf in self preservation by now." Ginny grinned at Harry from behind the twins, not the least bit disarrayed from sleep.

Ron grumbled at his sister's neat appearance. "Were you up the whole time Gin?"

"Eh." She flapped a hand at her brother. "I was studying. I have OWLs this year. Mum said Harry was in trouble. You didn't think I'd be able to sleep, did you?"

Ron flushed in embarrassment at the innuendo. "Yeah, well..." he mumbled. "Let's go track down Lupin, if we can get around mum." He perked up as he noticed the furious tones his mother addressed to the cowering man and woman before her. Dudley had long given up and zonked out on the couch, his monstrous snores punctuating Mrs. Weasley's tirade.

The odd quintet moved quietly around the bickering adults and headed toward the kitchen. Inside,a they found Remus Lupin, Arthur Weasley, and that strange pale woman again.

"...Loss was minimal, and the Obliviators have been deployed." Arthur paced in front of the kitchen table. "Had to come here and check up, make sure Harry was safe. Its a mess out there... ah, Harry! Good to see you, my lad!" Arthur smiled at the assemblage of teenagers. "I hate to be rude, but there is so much left to do out there."

"Please, Mr. Weasley, sir." Harry stopped Arthur before he could escape. "How is everything? Was anyone hurt?"

Arthur looked toward Lupin's slight nod and sighed heavily. "The giants are still there. We've evacuated the neighboring muggles and memory charmed them. There weren't any casualties. Unfortunately, Arabella was injured pretty badly and has been taken to St. Mungo's. It may be awhile before your Aunt and Uncle can return home. It isn't safe as of yet. The Aurors are there right now. I'll try to keep everyone updated." He smiled wearily at his children. "When your mother is done with the muggles," he said, turning to Ron, "tell her I'll be back as soon as possible."

Ron nodded sadly as Arthur left again, leaving the group with Lupin and the woman. Remus sighed and indicated the chairs around the table. They sat and watched Lupin expectantly. "When do I get my clothes?" Harry asked, breaking the odd silence with an off topic question.

Lupin grinned and tousled Harry's hair, not that it made a difference. "I think that a shopping trip may be in order. It may be awhile before we have access to your house again."

Harry shook his head and grinned. "I'll have to borrow something from one of you guys," he said to Fred and George who were a little closer to his size than the towering Ron."

"Not a problem, mate," Fred said yawning, causing George to yawn.

Harry turned to face the woman across the table. "Thankyou for coming for us and convincing them to come too. I couldn't deal with another death at the moment."

Violet eyes regarded him before soft pink lips grinned. "Anytime Mr. Potter. I was hoping I would get to meet you. I am just sorry it was under such strange circumstances."

Harry smiled back. She seemed nice. "Call me Harry, please." He smiled wider as she nodded in acquiescence. The table once more fell into silence, and Ron actually dozed off again. Harry smiled at him affectionately before sighing in confusion. The other room was finally quiet and Harry guessed that Mrs. Weasley had shuffled the Dursley's off to a room somewhere. It was getting late. He wondered why Dumbledore hadn't shown up yet. He knew he was probably busy, but it wasn't like him to not check up on him.

"He's still at Privet Drive." The woman spoke up. "Fighting giants is hard work, even for trained Aurors. Albus's strength was needed." She shrugged, and then smiled sadly. "And he thinks that you're still mad at him."

"How did you..." Harry was shocked. "Do you know legilimency?"

"Not quite." She smiled, violet eyes twinkling. "Something similar though."

"Who are you?" he asked in confusion.

"First thing, a small lesson for you, Harry. Introductions, don't always begin with a who or a how do you do. Sometimes an introduction, or question of identity, should begin with a what." Those violet eyes twinkled a little brighter.

"Huh?" Harry asked intelligently.

"You see, that inquiry is much too vague." She laughed. "My name is Illiana Katarina Brianna Grace Dumbledore Tepes." She grimaced slightly. "That's always such a mouthful!"

"Dumbledore?" Harry stuck on the name. "Are you related to the Headmaster?"

She smiled prettily. "He's my nephew."

"But, you're so young, and he's so..." Harry stopped himself from being rude. "Not."

Illiana laughed musically. "There's a very good reason for that. You see," She leaned forward and spoke to Harry alone, making sure the duo of trouble couldn't listen though Ginny leaned in a little more. "I am part vampire." Louder she laughed and maturely stuck her tongue out at the sulking twins. "And if they want to know, you now have the means to blackmail them into behaving." She smiled at Harry. "I think that it has been a long day for you," she noted as Harry acquired Fred and George's yawn.

Sleepily, he agreed. Rising from the table, he bid goodnight to Lupin and jiggled Ron to rouse him: Ginny merely followed silently as the twins stayed at the table chatting with the lovely Illiana. Once upstairs and within his and Ron's room, he barely managed to keep his eyes open as he crawled under the coverlet and snuggled up to a real pillow. Today had been a very odd day.

Very odd indeed. But when was his life ever normal?