Harry Potter: The Next Stage of Power

1.) Summer Awakenings

Harry Potter was not your average child. His hair never stayed straight, his clothes were baggy beyond belief, and he was a teenage wizard in training, if that wasn't enough. Harry was sitting on his bed as the sun rose; he had just woken from a nightmare of seeing the lifeless eyes of Cedric Diggory. Voldemort was in power once again. Only those closest to him knew the truth but he was sure that soon the rest of the wizarding world would believe him. Harry had been feeling sick since he came home a few days ago. But that didn't stop his Uncle from putting him to work. Harry was redoing the roof, gardening the yards, and running on his own time.

This year when Harry would go back it would be for the best. His muscles were getting bigger as he was also getting taller. Harry was dressed for his running when he heard his alarm buzzing. He turned it off as he stood and began his morning run. As he descended the stairs Harry heard a low rumble. He peered out the window to find it raining hard but the rumble wasn't from outside it was from upstairs. "Vernon the monster. His snores could scare the Dementors." Harry smiled and turned the doorknob before pulling his hood of his sweatshirt on. He ran out into the cold rain as Lighting streaked the sky.

Harry ran to the park and rested under a tree away from the rain. "God I should run more often. In fact I may try to get the others to run with me when we get back to school." Harry stood and pulled the hood down as he pocketed his wet glasses and broke into a run home. The rain came down faster as came closer to his home on Privet Drive. He came threw the front door and was shocked to find his Uncle up and the others with him. "Boy you're going to catch yourself a cold out there. I don't want to have to pay a doctor to look at you."

Harry laughed as he ran up the stairs, past his Uncle and headed to the shower after getting a change of cloths. Harry showered quickly and changed into his boxers and jeans. He pulled his T-shirt on and dried his hair before bundling his wet clothes and towel into a ball for the hamper. When he returned down stairs his Uncle was leaving for work and Dudley was going out with Piers. "Aunt Petunia is there anything I can help with?"

"When the rain stops you can go do the garden. Then I have some things to do out of town for the day so you will report to Ms. Figg." Harry let his false smile drop at the news.

Harry sat down and ate his cold breakfast as the rain began to let up. His Aunt left and Harry began his work in the garden. Harry knelt on the wet earth for almost two hours as he pulled weeds and trimmed the hedges. He finished and changed into a pair of shorts before jogging down the street to Ms. Figg's house. Harry walked up to the door and knocked as the front door opened slightly. Harry walked in and closed the door as he heard a creak upstairs. Harry started up the stairs as a large orange cat jumped at him. Harry laughed as Ms. Figg turned the corner and smiled at him. She walked down the stairs to the kitchen and waved for him. "Tea?"

"Umm...yes please." Harry held his teacup and drank the sweet amber fluid. His back pains seemingly melted away.

"So what did you learn at school?"

Harry almost choked as he looked at her, "Vigilance. Constant Vigilance."

"Sounds like him."

"What?"

"My ex-husband. Although you had the impostor and not the real one, it still sounds exactly like him." Ms. Figg smiled as she pulled out a wand and waved it at her dress. It changed into a long flowing silver robe. "So Harry, Albus told me that he wanted you to learn some new tricks. So for the summer you will come here and work with me till dinner each day and then you will go home and relax the night."

"What are you talking about?"

"Harry, Albus is an old friend and he wants you to start learning to unlock the power he feels you have, and also train to become an Animagus."

Arabella smiled as she set her tea down. "Any objections?"

"No, none that I can imagine so far."

**********

At the end of the month Harry had begun controlling hair growth and could move things with his mind as well as perform wand less magic equal to a first year Hogwarts student. One day before his birthday Harry received an owl from Ron and Hermione.

Hey Harry,

We wish we could be there to learn these things you have told us about but unfortunately we made plans for the next few days. We will write you in a few weeks.

Ron and Hermione

P.S. Ginny sends her love.

Harry frowned at the letter. His friends weren't going to even wish him a happy birthday. He put the letter away and sat on the floor with his legs under him for cushioning. He closed his eyes and felt the room around him in his mind. He opened his eyes as he lifted an old spell book. He held his hand out as the book flew to it. He smiled as he looked at the bed. It rose slowly into the air but he was straining so he set it back down and stood. His head hurt but soon he would be able to do it with ease. He sat on his bed as his cousin opened his door. "Harry, Dad said you had to work on the roof tomorrow all day. He said that if you do, he'd let you have a pizza for dinner, because we are going out. What do you say, freak?"

Harry smiled as he fought back the urge to give him the finger. "Sure, it's not like I have any plans for tomorrow."

"What about Ms. Figg?"

"She knows that sometimes I can't make it down there so she will be okay with it." Harry smiled as he held his book up blocking the whale of a boy Dudley from Harry's view. Harry was rereading his fourth year spell book when an owl tapped gently on his window. Harry closed the book and opened the window as the owl handed him a letter and flew away. Harry tossed the envelope and book on his desk and went back to his bed to sleep.

**********

Harry woke early the next day and went for his run as he listened to a Muggle tape player he had bought with the money his Aunt paid him for the Gardening. He was listening to the radio with it as several songs played. He ran to the park and rested as he waved at the others he saw running. "How could they all forget?" Harry saw the sky clouding over as he heard his Uncle's car honking at him as they drove off. Harry stood and began his run back to the Dursley home.

He changed into his work cloths and went to the roof with his tape player and an old tape he had found of Dudley's. He pressed play as he began to pound and pound at the roof. He must have stayed up there for almost the entire day threw the rain and into the light then back to rain again. He smiled as he finished and collected the trash. Harry smiled faintly as he entered his empty home and climbed the stairs to shower. He went back down and called a delivery pizza place and had them send him one. He found the money and waited. When the Driver arrived Harry was almost asleep. He paid him and went to the kitchen to eat.

When Harry was finished he went upstairs and sat in his bed. No one wrote him or even said 'Happy Birthday' to him. He rolled over fighting the sting of tears he felt behind his eyes. He pulled his tape player on and turned the radio on it on and slept. The sun had just begun to set as he finally drifted off.

When Harry woke up in the morning he removed the headphones and changed to run. Vernon was sitting in the living room when Harry came downstairs. "Roof is done. I am going to run for a bit."

"Okay boy."

Harry felt a pang of pain in his heart as he added on that his own family didn't even say anything. He went to the street and broke into a run. He made it to the park and went past it. He ran for almost an hour before he stopped. He sat against a building near a primary school. He rested as looked at the people around. He silently cursed as he stood and began his run back home. Harry ran up the drive of his home and then to his room. He looked at his bed to find a small owl sitting there. "Pig," Harry said as he shut the door. He went to his bed and smiled at the small bird. He picked him up and removed the letter.

Dear Harry,

We waited and waited but you never showed up. What happened? Sirius said that he knew you were okay thanks to Arabella. But you never showed up. Ron and Hermione think you're angry with them. Are you?

--Ginny

Harry grunted as he held his hand out and the quill and ink cam to him along with a scrap piece of Parchment. He began the letter back.

Ginny,

I am somewhat mad. And what are you talking about, showing up? I was never asked to go anywhere. As for Sirius I am mad at him too but then again there are not that many people I know that I am not upset with.

-Harry

Harry tied the letter back to Pig's foot and let him go. Harry went to his desk and put his stuff away before he opened the letter he had gotten from the other day. It was from Hogwarts, as he knew. It was a list for books and a note about him being a Prefect along with a badge. He set the badge down and the letter with it. Harry showered and changed as he went downstairs to find no breakfast for him. "Next time get down here earlier."

Harry gritted his teeth as he left to do the Gardening. He spent most of the day outside weeding the garden as his Aunt hosted a tea party and her friends traded gossip with her. Vernon went to work and drug Dudley along with him so he could start a job. Harry saw Arabella with the other old crones from the streets at his Aunt's tea party. He smiled faintly before going upstairs and taking a nap. He had no longer drifted off than he heard a tapping at his door. "Who is it?"

"Arabella."

"It's open."

The elder lady entered and closed the door as she sat in a chair and looked at Harry. "Why didn't you come over yesterday?"

"Because I had to finish the roof and then I went to sleep after dinner. Why?"

"Because I had about twenty people there waiting for you." Harry sat up and looked at her. "Your friends heard I was living down the street and asked to have a surprise party for you. Dumbledore had asked me personally and I said, 'yes.' Yet you took it upon yourself not to show. Your friends didn't know about our agreement of you showing or not when you have other things here to do. Harry they left your gifts there, they threw the party because they knew you never had one."

"Why didn't you call and tell me?"

"Because I didn't so as not to not let on about it. Harry they almost all think you knew in a away and think you're angry with them."

"I was." Harry put his hands over his face as he felt like a giant idiot. "God, Ginny owled me and said she didn't understand why I didn't show up. Also asked if I was mad, I said I was mad at Ron and Hermione." Harry felt the sting of tears coming.

"It's okay. Why don't you take off and go to my house with me. You can get your presents and maybe we can use my fireplace to call Ron and Hermione and tell them." Harry nodded as she stood and walked to the door. "You change into clean cloths and be downstairs in ten minutes."

"Yeah," Harry answered. He stood and opened his closet and changed his cloths. When he was done he left his room and went downstairs to find the tea party winding down. "Ms. Figg if you're ready."

"Thank you Harry. I will see you ladies later this week. Petunia, please forgive Harry but I have many things I will need him for today. If the rain starts again I will hold him till it is over. So he may be late for dinner." Arabella excused herself and left with Harry. They walked down the streets to her house and she entered first. "Come along the gifts are here in the lounge."

Harry smiled faintly as they entered the lounge and a large group of people yelled, "SURPRISE!" Harry was so shocked he stumbled backwards and fell causing the doors to slam shut. Harry stood and opened them as he laughed at the others.

"Harry," Ginny and Hermione called out as they hugged him. They kissed his cheeks as Ron walked over and smiled.

"Harry Potter, I heard you're mad at us." Hermione kidded him.

"So did I, old friend. Any truth to that?"

"No, none at all." Harry said hugging the three and laughing.

"Hey there are others that want to see Harry too."

Harry turned from his three friends to see Remus Lupin standing with his arm around an older red head girl. "Professor Lupin."

"Hey Harry, and call me Remus till school starts." He handed Harry a small box and was nudged by the red head. "Oh, and I want you to meet my lovely girlfriend, Sarah."

Harry shook her hand as she leaned in and kissed his cheek. "Nice to meet you. But where did you two meet?"

"We met at a safe haven for 'our' kind." She winked at them as Harry smiled brightly.

Harry turned after talking slightly to them. He saw a lot of old friends and ran into one from the Quidditch team. "Hey Katie."

"Harry, you've grown."

"Thank you. So what have you been up to?"

"Nothing big, you?" Harry repeated her and smiled as he brushed some blonde hair behind her ear. "So Harry when are you going to Diagon Alley?"

"Don't know, why?"

"Well I thought that we could get a drink and maybe have lunch together."

Harry blushed as Ron shook his head with a smile on his face and a quick wink and thumbs up. Harry was red when he looked at Katie who was also blushing. "Sure, um when are you going?"

"I will probably head down about two weeks before school starts."

"Then I will be there then." Harry smiled as they walked over and he made her a glass of some red and green punch. "So how did you get here?"

"Oh I drove. My Dad works for a construction company. So when Fred and George called and asked if I was coming and could bring Alicia, I figured I could come and I'm glad I did." At this she blushed greatly and seemed to want to bite her own tongue.

"Listen I know it would be weird but since you said you live near by and tomorrow is Saturday. Would you like to go out and see a movie and hang out?" Harry blushed as he asked.

"Katie there you are. Come on girl, Fred and George are getting ready to do a trick and need us." Alicia said as she pulled Katie gently away. Harry let his smile drop a bit as Katie looked at him and nodded mouthing her reply, 'yes'.

Harry smiled brightly as the blonde was dragged around a corner. Ron rushed to him along side Hermione. "What did you two talk about?"

"Nothing big, just that we are going to the movies together tomorrow."

Ron laughed as he hugged Harry with one arm and smiled. Hermione smiled gently as she punched Harry gently in the shoulder. "But she's seventh year. Far too old for my friend." She laughed slightly.

"Come on Hermione. All I have to do now is get you a boyfriend and Ron a girlfriend. Hey I have an idea."

"Oh no, Fred and George have already tried that idea." Ron said tossing his hands up. "Anyway we are friends, we couldn't do anything else."

"Ron, calm down. What are you talking about?"

"Your idea of me and Hermione as a couple."

"Ron I was going to suggest she try Colin Creevy and you try Parvati Patil. But you do make a good point. You two as an item would be good." Harry smiled as the two grunted then stomped a foot each and turned away. "Um, okay."

**********

Harry smiled as the last guest vanished and he was left with picking up the trash and helping Ms. Figg clean. Harry smiled as he saw Katie helping with the dishes. "Oh Arabella, go on to bed me and Harry can finish up down here." Ms. Figg smiled as she patted Katie's shoulder and walked away and up the stairs. Harry stood in the partially open doorway looking at Katie in her jeans and her hair in a ponytail. She was very attractive.

Harry smiled as he turned away and finished using his mind to pick the garbage off the floor. He tied the bag and set it by the kitchen door before peering threw the crack at Katie once more. He smiled wider as he pushed it open and the trash bag followed threw with him and out the back door. Harry entered back in and sat down as Katie finished the last dish. "Well it looks like we're done."

"Thanks for helping Katie."

"No problem Harry."

Harry smiled as they both stood and walked to the door. Harry walked her to her car, as the silence became totally awkward. "Um...well goodnight."

Katie smiled and moved quickly towards Harry and kissed him for a second before ducking back and blushing. As she looked at his stunned face she stammered out, "Oh...oh...god...Harry...I'm sorry." Harry blinked as Katie turned quickly and held a hand to her face as she felt tears of shame building behind her eyes. Suddenly Harry moved forward and turned Katie around as he lifted her chin slowly. Harry smiled as he lowered his head and brushed his lips across hers slightly before she pulled him closer and they kissed.

When they broke she was blushing and a single tear had crawled down her face as she whipped it away. She smiled and giggled as Harry looked down at her and smiled. "So...um...when are we...um...when are we going to the movie?"

"Whenever you want to."

Harry smiled wide as he rubbed the back off his head and closed his eyes. "Okay, how about twelve?"

"Sound's Good," Katie said as she put her hands on Harry's chest and kissed him quickly before turning. Katie climbed into her car and drove off with a wave at Harry. All Harry could do was wave and smile as he walked down the street.

When he arrived home he entered the house with a grin and was stared at as he walked to the stairs before calling out to his Uncle. "Tomorrow I am going out. Also in two weeks I will be going to Diagon Alley for my supplies. I will be gone maybe in two weeks."

"And with whom are you going out with?"

"Katie," Harry said as if he still didn't believe it. "I'm going out with Katie Bell."

The Dursley family was all mumbling softly as Dudley complained about Harry dating before him. Vernon was complaining about it as Petunia was comforting both of them. "Look when he comes home afterwards we will invite her in. Then we will tell her what a freak he is. Afterwards she will freak out and no girl will ever look at him as more than a freak."

"Petunia it's perfect we can humiliate him and make him lonely after giving him hope."

Harry smiled as he slipped into his room wondering what they would say when they found out she was older than him and a witch at that. "I can't believe she kissed me." Harry screamed it over and over into his pillow as he dozed off.