The Aftermath

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CHAPTER 1: Back at the Dursleys

The fifteen-year-old Harry Potter had been staying at the Dursleys for a whole week now. He would constantly get owls from his friends, but these weren't enough to cheer his bleak existence. The thought of Sirius falling through the veil would always flash inside his head, whether he was awake or asleep. He hated doing chores, but it helped him get his mind off those sad memories. His aunt Petunia, even if it was evident that she was only forced to take such actions, was always stopping her son or husband from pestering Harry. He still had his regular chores, but he didn't get the same dose of yells and growls like before.

'I guess Moody scared these people off after all,' he thought to himself.

Harry had just finished eating dinner, and after he cleared the table and washed the dishes, he went straight to his room. Hedwig's cage was empty; it had been since the day he got back from the train station. His boulder of an uncle didn't want to argue with Harry after Moody threatened him. Hermione constantly wrote to him, checking on how he was holding up. She would send him books on how to recover from his loss, and with it some goodies that might help cheer him up. He appreciated the effort but he wanted to be alone and didn't like that much attention.

Hedwig had just flown inside the room carrying a small letter; he already knew who it was from.

"It's another one from her, isn't it?" he asked his snowy owl as he gave her some treats.

"Go on have some rest," he said and the owl flew towards her open cage. He sat on his bed and opened the letter and read.

Dear Harry,

How have you been? I know it's only been a week, but I'm still trying to convince Dumbledore to let you spend the summer in another place. I know it's dreadful being around your relatives. I hope they're treating you right, or else I might have to hex your cousin into oblivion. (A smile crept on to his face.) Harry, I've also started studying Occlumency and Legilimency. I know you don't want to study with Snape; that's why I'm going to try and help you. I informed Dumbledore of course and he said I could try. I guess he isn't sure I can master it.

("Of course you can Hermione. There isn't anything you can't do,'" Harry muttered to himself. 'I don't see why you have to do all these things for me,' he thought.)

I think I'm finally getting the hang of it. Hopefully I'll be able to master it in a month. I'm staying with my parents and, well, I asked them if we could just stay at home so I could study more. They agreed, so I'll be able to pull this off in no time. I know you miss Padfoot, but you have to move on Harry. You still have us. You still have your best friends. Ron and I will always be here for you. You don't have to do everything on your own. I'll owl Dumbledore to see if we can go to Padfoot's place next month so I can teach you. Ron wants us to stay at the Burrow after he gets back from Fred and George's place, but I think it's best if you isolate yourself while we practice. It helps me a lot. Voldemort and the death eaters are suspiciously quiet. I'll keep you updated. Start doing your homework so we will have next month just for practice. I miss you and I wish you well.

Love,

Hermione

After reading the letter Harry felt a little relieved. Hermione was right.

'I still have friends. I'm not having any dreams about Voldemort even though the scene of Sirius's death is always playing in my mind.' He thought.

'What if it was Hermione or Ron who would fall through the veil next? What would become of me then?'

Then there was Remus, his only link to his parents and his Godfather. He knew that Remus was the only Marauder left and it must have been dreadful for him. Harry had known Sirius for barely three years and he was miserable.

'What could Remus possibly be feeling right now?' he thought.

Ron had also written to him once. He told him about his stay at Fred and George's flat in Diagon Alley. He was working for the twins this summer and earning a good deal of money. Harry had been exhausted from all the work he had done that day and he fell asleep on his bed holding Hermione's letter.

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'The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches . . . born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies . . . and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not . . . and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives . . . the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord will be born as the seventh month dies . . .'

He saw the face of the young Sybil Trelawney when she made the prediction in the Hog's Head. It made Harry feel cold all over. Then it was Hermione who was standing in front of him.

"I'll help you Harry. We're all here to help you," she said as the members of the DA appeared behind her.

"You're not alone Harry," she said before one of the DA members started to be sucked inside the archway.

Harry couldn't move he tried to reach for them. He wanted to grab Ron and Hermione who was standing in front of him but his arms wouldn't move. Slowly Zacharias, Anthony, Hannah, Ernie, Cho, Justin, Michael, Dean, Seamus, Padma, Terry, Parvati, Colin and Dennis fell into the veil but Harry was focused on saving Ron and Hermione. Soon Luna, Neville and Ginny fell, only Ron and Hermione were left and slowly Ron was starting to drift.

"RON!!! No fight it, you can't die!" he cried.

Ron disappeared and soon Hermione drifted too.

"Don't shut us out Harry. We're here to help. I'm here I won't leave you," she was crying, and her expression was a sure picture of pure anguish.

Hermione's arms were extended out. Harry was trying to move and was hoping to catch Hermione's hands. She was slowly falling through the veil just like Sirius had. Hermione was smiling even though her face was stained with tears. Suddenly her face changed back to the sad anguished look, which reminded Harry of Sirius.

"No Hermione!" he cried, and he was able to force himself to hold her hand. She was holding on to him. She looked up at him.

"Don't let go Hermione," he said with panic.

"I won't Harry. We're in this together. We're here for you," she said again. Harry felt like he was also being sucked inside the Veil.

"Hang on, Hermione, we'll get out of here," he said as he tried to hold on to one of the stone benches of the amphitheater in the Department of Mysteries.

"No one will get out. Soon enough I'll get you, and soon enough you'll die, and so will all of your friends. Now I know who they are," a voice echoed around them. It was cold and angry and Harry knew who it was.

"Come with me, Potter, and you'll save your friends from all the trouble. It's only you that I really want," Voldemort's familiar voice said, and a figure showed in the opened door at the top most part of the room.

Suddenly, Hermione who looked up at him with a worried look and spoke, "Harry wake up it's just a dream!" He looked down at Hermione and suddenly he woke up trembling, cold sweat all over his face.

Harry rubbed his scar that was searing with pain. The Dark Lord had entered his dream again and this time Harry wasn't sure what to think. Were his friends in danger, or was the Dark Lord trying to trick him again? He surely needed the Occlumency lessons.

'Did Hermione just speak to me in my dream? Was she really in my dream too?' he asked himself.

He felt as if his best friend forced him to wake up.

Harry got up from his bed and made his way down to the kitchen to get some water. It was a good thing that none of the Dursley's heard him in his sleep. He got some cold water out of the refrigerator and finished two glasses. He was very exhausted. The dream he just had wasn't the same as the others he had before.

He was making his way back to the staircase when the phone rang.

"Who would be calling this late," he muttered to himself.

He wanted to ignore the telephone and get back to bed, but something told him he should answer it. He went to the living room to answer it.

"Hello?" he said, with a bit of annoyance to the receiver.

"Harry!" Just by hearing the voice he knew who it was.

"Hermione? What on earth are you doing calling me this late?" he retorted. He didn't expect anyone to call him let alone this late at night.

"Sorry Harry, I was worried. I was practicing Legilimency tonight and I thought maybe I could channel on your thoughts and right on time I heard Voldemort. He was in your dream and I was too. I had to do something; I had to wake you," Hermione said, in a very fast manner.

"So it was really you? Thanks," Harry said.

He really was grateful. "How did you manage to learn to do it?"

"Well, I started reading books about it when Snape started to teach you at school. I told Madame Pince I was doing advance research for the NEWTS, and she lent me some useful books on the subject. I know I should have told you I was going to try and read your mind. I'm really sorry," Hermione said.

Harry realized she was very apologetic for the little intrusion she just pulled, but he had to admit to himself that if it wasn't for her he could have been trapped in that little nightmare.

"It's okay. You're timing was really impeccable. I guess I even owe you one," Harry said with a bit of amusement.

"I promise I won't do it again or I'll tell you if I will be trying it on you. Harry, do try to relax your mind and free it from all worries. Don't let anything or anyone in your head. Occlumency is easy if you can master your mind and it has nothing to do with being smart. It's just putting up barriers in your mind so no foreign entity can come in," Hermione said. She was already lecturing him about Occlumency.

"Alright Hermy, I'll keep that in mind. By the way how do you practice Occlumency and Legilimency?" Harry asked.

He was interested with the fact that Snape had to teach him Occlumency while Hermione was doing it on her own.

"I try to read my parents' thoughts when I study Legilimency and when it comes to Occlumency I work on my concentration. Dumbledore also gives me surprise tests where he'd just tries to read my thoughts from faraway. He said I'm doing okay for someone who just started. See, it's easy once you get the hang of it, and Snape probably didn't make you feel relaxed that's why it was a lot harder for you to concentrate," Hermione mused.

"Well, I hope we can get started on the lessons. I can't afford Voldemort reading my thoughts again. People might be placed in danger," Harry said.

He realized what Voldemort last said. If he truly was in his dreams he could have seen the members of the DA.

"Harry, just do what I told you. I don't understand why Dumbledore wants you there, but he must have his reasons. I hope you're doing okay Harry? Ron is having the time of his life in the twin's joke shop. Ginny had been owling me too. It would be great if we could all get together after we finish your training. I know I'm a bit too uptight again. I just wish I could help you out," Hermione muttered.

Harry felt connected to the wizarding world again although he really didn't know whether he liked it or not. His life had changed when he found out he was a wizard five years ago, and he didn't know that his life would be much harder because the people that mattered to him the most died would be in such danger, and Sirius had died.

"Harry? Harry, are you still there?" Hermione's worried voice came out of the receiver.

"Sorry about that. I guess I'm a bit sleepy," Harry said, not wanting Hermione to get all worried again.

"Well, it's three in the morning; I suppose you're bound to be sleepy. I'll call you again sometime, but at a more decent hour. Do start on your homework and then we'll work on your Occlumency next month. Have some well deserved rest Harry. Good night... I mean good morning," Hermione replied.

"Good morning to you too, and thanks Herms and I'm sorry for being so grumpy all the time. I hope you'll be off to bed now," Harry said.

"It's alright. I know it's hard to be in your position. Bye Harry. See you soon," Hermione said, before the line went dead. Harry put down the phone, but he didn't feel like going back to sleep. He went up the stairs back to his room.

"Hey, who were you talking to this late?" Dudley's voice came from behind him.

"None of your business," Harry snapped.

"Go back to bed before your mum gets up. She doesn't want you to bother me, does she?" Harry pointed out.

"You're only brave because you have your stick with you," Dudley smirked.

"Honestly Dudley if you could remember correctly that stick you are talking about saved your arse last time," Harry said and he went back inside his room and snapped the door shut leaving Dudley outside infuriated.

"I was able to save that fat trout alright but my godfather died because of me. Me and my stupid saving-people-thing," He said to himself. "Hermione was right, why do I love saving people?"

Harry was deep in thought. Dumbledore told him he was the only one who could defeat Voldemort, and there wasn't any turning back. It was his destiny.

'Stupid Prophecy!' he thought.

Harry didn't want to sleep so instead he started practicing Occlumency by following Hermione's simple instructions of relaxation.

He sat on his bed and tried to clear his mind. He closed his eyes and started to relax. He had to free his mind of all his worries and just let his mind afloat in his head. It was a lot harder than he thought.

Many things clouded his head. His Occlumency practices with Snape, his detention with Umbridge, his encounter with the centaurs, Grawp, Hagrid, Dumbledore, Sirius, and Remus. He also remembered Cho and their kiss; he now found it amusing. He also remembered his Firebolt, Ron, and Quidditch. He remembered how Cedric died, and how he dueled with the Dark Lord. Last he remembered his quest for the Sorcerer's Stone where for the first time in his life he felt loved and cared for. He remembered when he was with Hermione before she drunk the potion and went through purple fire. She hugged him tightly and told him he was a great wizard. It was Hermione. She believed in him. She always had.

'You're supposed to relax and not think about anything,' he reminded himself.

He tried the mind exercise again and this time it worked. He was relaxed. Harry didn't know how long he had been sitting on his bed in that same position.

"Harry! Get up, it's time for breakfast." He heard his aunt Petunia call from behind the door, which she was knocking on.

Harry opened his eyes and he felt good. The relaxation did make him feel better. "I'm coming," he said, as he got up from his bed. He got out of the room and went to the bathroom to freshen up first.

In the kitchen, Harry fried the eggs. His uncle Vernon was by the table reading his paper and was making some grunting noise. Dudley was last to come to breakfast.

"Dad, I'll be out with my friends today," he said as he sat by the table and started on the fried bacons.

"Sure son. Do you need to take anything?" Petunia asked her son lovingly.

Harry walked towards the table carrying a plate of fried eggs. He sat on his seat and took an egg and a strip of bacon and a slice of bread.

"I saw Harry last night. He was talking to someone on the phone," Dudley said knowingly.

"Is this true boy?" Vernon said grumpily. It was evident that he wanted to finally get on Harry's case, but Petunia always stopped him, but now he found something to pester Harry with.

"I was talking to my friend," Harry said as he ate his bacon. Not minding to look at the purple-faced Vernon.

"In the middle of the night mind you," Dudley said. "I think he was talking to his girlfriend. They must have had a fight before he left. I heard him apologize to her," Dudley smirked.

"You were listening to my conversation with Hermione?" Harry said a bit outraged. "Didn't your parents teach you any manners," he remarked, not minding the fact that both of Dudley's parents were actually inside the kitchen with them.

"It is his house and he can very well listen to any conversation he wants to listen to," Vernon barked. Dudley was sniggering with delight.

Harry was keeping his composure. He didn't want to get in any trouble, remembering the fact that he almost got expelled last year.

"Now, now, Dudley, you shouldn't be eavesdropping on Harry's phone calls, and Harry do ask your friend to call at a more decent time," Petunia said calmly. Harry had to stop himself from rolling his eyes. His aunt Petunia wasn't exactly the most convincing person when it came to eavesdropping lectures; she was in fact a bit of an eavesdropping addict as well, trying to listen to all the gossip about their neighbors.

"I'll tell Hermione that. Don't worry I'll only be here for a month. I already made arrangements for it," Harry lied but he had hoped Hermione had finally convinced Dumbledore with here little plan.

"Well then, a month it is," Vernon said triumphantly. Dudley was still annoyed that his mum was actually taking Harry's side.

After he had cleared the table and did his chores, Harry opted to start on his homework. He had to finish it in order to concentrate on his Occlumency lessons, and if he could master it easily, he might as well ask Hermione to teach him Legilimency too. He wanted to know so many things, and most of it had to do with knowing what his father was really like. He wanted to take Sirius' word for it, that his father wasn't as bad as Snape saw him to be. Harry had to remind himself that. He was halfway through his Transfigurations essay when the doorbell rang. He went down to answer it knowing his aunt would be screaming out his name for him to answer it.

When he opened the door, he was surprised to see the violent purple colored hair of none other than Tonks!

A/N: This is my new chapter fic!!! Hehehe hope you guys like it... I'll try to update fast but it would still depend on my school sched... R/R