Drifting

Chapter 1: The Visits

Lately I can't be happy for no one, they think I need some time to myself, I try to smile but I can't remember, and I know tomorrow there'll be nothing else~ Michelle Branch, Hotel Paper

It was a bright, sunny day in Little Whinging. Everyone was outside, including the inhabitants of Number 4 Privet Drive. Dudley and his gang were out terrorizing unsuspecting ten-year-olds. Aunt Petunia was hanging the wash. Uncle Vernon was chatting away with Mr. Number 6.

Nobody paid any attention to the almost sixteen-year-old boy who was walking the streets. Everyone feared him. They were told he was insane and had to attend a special school. Nobody talked to him, nobody cared about him, nobody wanted to have anything to do with him.

He had jet-black messy hair, glasses, which hid emerald green eyes, and was dressed in the oversized hand-me-downs of his cousin. He also had a lightning bolt shaped scar. It was a souvenir of living through the Avada Kavada curse that had killed his parents all those years ago.

This boy's name was Harry Potter. He was a wizard. Nobody knew of course, seeing as they all thought he attended St. Brutus's Secure Center for Incurably Criminal Boys, not

Hogwarts. The neighbors and their kids had nothing to do with him. Harry preferred it that way.

Today he took a walk. He decided to get out of the house, which was now haunting him ever since he had learned of the prophecy from Dumbledore. He was tired of answering the almost daily letters from Order members. He was sick of being sad. He missed his parents and Sirius.

Today, he decided, was set aside for thinking about everything that had happened in the past month and a half.

Harry rounded the street corner and entered the play park. He sat down on the only non-terrorized swing left. The passerby would glance at him quickly and look away. Harry didn't care.

He shut his eyes and began to swing back and forth. The wind whipped through his hair, messing it up further. Thoughts began to cloud his mind.

What would have happened if I had mastered Occlumency? He thought for the thousandth time since he had arrived home a week ago. Would Sirius (he choked at the thought of his name) still be alive today? Would I be the wreck I am? I mean yeah sure he's probably all too happy with my parents but where does that leave me?

He began to swing higher.

I want to see them all again. I want to see Sirius and my parents. I don't want to cry myself to sleep anymore because I know they'll never come back.

Then it hit him. All the sadness, anger, grief, and thoughts all came in a wave that crashed over him. It was then that all the happiness disappeared. It was then that all good things vanished. Harry was left, like an empty shell, devoid of any good emotion.

So this is what depressions like... he thought. He got up off the swing and started home. When he entered the house, Aunt Petunia was on the phone, as usual.

"Yes, hold on, I don't think he's home right now-oh wait, he just walked in," she said.

Harry looked around in bewilderment. Nobody had walked into the house besides him. Who would be calling for him?

"Boy, one of your "friends" is on the phone."

Harry shakily walked over and picked up the phone. He prayed it wasn't Ron and said, "Hello?"

"Harry!" an excited voice answered.

"Hermione?"

"Yes! Oh I was hoping you were there. Do you still get the Daily Prophet?"

"Yeah, but I didn't read it today," Harry said.

"Well read it!" Hermione said, "Malfoy's father was murdered in Azkaban yesterday."

"W-what!" Harry nearly shouted.

"Keep your voice down boy! If Vernon found out you were on the phone..." Petunia hissed.

"He's dead. Draco's fatherless," Hermione said.

Death. The one word Harry hated. Even though he hated all the Malfoys, he began to cry.

"Harry?" Hermione said.

She heard the phone drop out of his hand and onto the table. She heard him shakily ask her to call him back in a day.

"Wait, Harry, I need to speak to your aunt."

"Okay. A-aunt Petunia, m-my friend would l-like to speak to y-you. Goodb-bye Hermione."

Harry handed the phone to Petunia and ran up the stairs, slamming the door to his room.

"Keep it down up there!" Petunia yelled.

"Is he okay?" Hermione asked.

"No, he's been like this all summer. Crying when he thinks we're not watching, oddly quiet when he shouldn't be, not writing to any of his friends..." Petunia said.

"I know. He's barely talked or ate since Sirius died."

"Sirius? Sirius Black? He died! Wasn't he Harry's..."

"Godfather, yes. Harry's not taking it well at all. Lupin wouldn't let him go and stop Sirius from falling through the veil and Harry blames the death on himself. He was led to where Sirius died because Voldemort implanted an image in his mind where Sirius was being tortured. Harry believed it, some other things happened, Sirius came to save him, and his cousin killed him," Hermione explained.

"Poor boy. I assume this wasn't all you wanted to talk to me about?"

"No. I was wondering if you would allow Harry to take driving lessons with me starting next week," Hermione asked.

"Sure. It would be good for him to get away from here for a while," Petunia replied.

"Great. I'll tell you all the details tomorrow when I call to check up on Harry," said Hermione.

"Okay, goodbye now."

"Goodbye Mrs. Dursley."

They hung up. As Mrs. Dursley put the phone down, she wondered if she could ever tell the girl about her relationship with Mr. Black. She started up the stairs, staring at the door leading into the small room at the end of the hall. Her surrogate son sat on that very bed in that very room. Petunia knew he had the right to know.

She slowly finished her ascent of the stairs and began walking down the hall. She paused at Harry's room and drew in a deep breath. She knocked on the door.

"May I come in?" Petunia asked shakily.

No answer came for a while. She heard the sound of a book being thrown to the floor. A frustrated groan echoed out the door.

"If you must," Harry replied.

Petunia opened the door and stepped inside the dimly lit room. Her eyes fell upon the book on the floor. It was a photo album. More accurately, the one Hagrid had given to Harry. It was open to the page of James and Lily's wedding. Sirius was there smiling back at her. His eyes widened as he saw Petunia.

She walked over and picked up the album. She traced the outline of Sirius's face in the picture. Sirius's grin widened.

"Why did you leave me?" Petunia whispered.

"Excuse me. How do you know my godfather?" Harry interrupted.

"That's why I came up here. To tell you. To inform you of the real story behind my family. Let's start off by me saying this; I'm sorry Sirius is dead, Harry," his aunt started.

"It's my fault he is."

"No it isn't. You were tricked by one of the world's darkest wizards. It's as much your fault as Dumbledore's for not protecting you," Petunia said.

"How do you know Dumbledore? How do you know that he's protecting me? What was in that letter that came with me?"

Petunia held up a hand to stem the flow of questions issuing from Harry's mouth. A door slammed downstairs.

"Shh. I'll explain it all," she said.

Harry merely nodded, feeling that he was unable to do anything else. He wondered what his aunt had been keeping from him all these years and why, just now, was she starting to care for him. Perfect timing, Harry thought miserably.

"Petunia!" a voice roared up the stairs. "Where's my dinner!"

"Vernon, honestly!" Aunt Petunia sighed and ruffled Harry's hair. "Always used to do that to your father...Well duty calls and I must be going. I'll tell you tomorrow. Be down in ten minutes for dinner."

She left leaving Harry alone again.

~*~

"Can Harry please come!" Ginny pleaded with Molly Weasley.

"You know he won't want to come. He needs some time to recover. Ginny, you should have more sense than this!"

"Can I at least owl him and ask?"

"Owl what? Did my OWL results come?" Ron said, entering the kitchen.

"NO!" Ginny cried. "I want to owl Harry and ask him if he wants to come and stay here for a while."

"Ginny you know he'll say no. He doesn't want to be bothered."

"That's what I told her!" said Mrs. Weasley.

"Yeah, listen to mum. Listen, I'm going flying with Bill. Gin, you wanna come?"

Ginny's face lit up.

"Sure!" she said. "Bye Mum!"

She grabbed her broom and followed Ron out of the house.

Ginny loved to be outside. Everything was so fresh in the summer. The only thing better then lounging around in the summer was a nice game of Quidditch.

Bill came out about five minutes later, carrying the balls and his Nimbus 2000.

"When'd you get a new broom?" Ginny asked.

"A year ago. I haven't had much chance to use it yet," Bill replied. "Well what are we standing around for? Let's get flying!"

They took off. Ginny's hair whipped into her face as she flew around. She circled the field twice before coming to a stop before Ron.

"Hey! Guess who came to join us?" he said.

"'Lo fellow Weasleys!" piped up George.

"What a spiffing day it is!" Fred commented.

"Oh shut up and get your brooms," Ginny said.

"Aye aye cap'n," the twins chorused.

"Y'know, I really wish Harry was here. He hasn't been flying for almost a year. I feel sorry for him," Ron said glumly.

"You only want him here so we can't kick your butt. Face it, Gryffindor wouldn't win without his seeking," said George, back with his broom.

"Yeah. Our young financer has a knack for catching that little snitch," Fred added.

"Didn't he catch the snitch in five minutes once?" Ginny asked.

"Yup. It was amazing. Fastest game I've ever played," said George.

"And there were all those times where he nearly got himself killed."

"And how he got past the dragon."

"Okay! Enough of Harry Potter's grand Quidditch tales! Let's get playing!" Ron yelled.

"Ahh. Is Ickle Ronniekins jealous?" Bill sneered.

"Oh shut up and play."

Everyone roared with laughter. Ron turned bright red. They all knew Ron had always been semi-jealous of Harry. It was a given fact.

"At least I don't have a crush on him!"

"Oh and now you're accusing me for no reason? I do NOT have a crush on your dear Harry Potter!" Ginny said.

The rest of the Weasley clan knew she was serious when she didn't blush.

"Dears! Come quick! I have a surprise for you!" Mrs. Weasley yelled.

"Great! We never got to play!" Fred said.

"That's what you get for bringing up Harry," Bill sighed. "Honestly, you should give the poor kid a break."

"Come on!" yelled Molly.

Ron reached the house first. He shoved his shoes off and stuck them in the hall closet. He followed the sound of his mother's voice as he entered the kitchen. All of a sudden, his face turned pale and his freckles shown.

"Harry," he whispered.

The rest of the family (or at least those who were there) trooped in. The twins and Bill's jaws fell open. Ginny seemed to be the only one who wasn't acting weird.

"How are you?" she asked.

"N-not that well..."

Ginny dropped to her knees next to the fire.

"D'you want me to pull you through?"

Harry looked over his shoulder at a sudden noise. His eyes widened and Ginny could see fear growing in them. She watched him grab a pen and a post-it note from the tableside and scribbled a quick note.

Aunt Petunia,

Gone to Weasley's. Be back later. Don't worry.

Harry.

"Hurry," he whispered as soon as he was done.

Instantly Ginny reached her hand into the fire and grasped his. She heard his uncle yell, "boy, what do you think you're doing?" and she pulled him through. Seconds later, the fire had Vernon Dursley's head in it.

"What do you think you're doing with my nephew?" Vernon roared.

"We are simply borrowing him for the night. Leave your fire burning and he will be returned to you by eleven o'clock no later," Ginny said swiftly.

"And if he isn't?"

"Then sue us!" Fred called out.

"NO Fred. If he isn't back at eleven you can come here and drag him back yourself," Ginny said.

"Very well. So what do I have to do?"

"Just leave your fire burning. That's it. Also, you can try to be a little nicer to Harry."

"What are you talking about? I take wonderful care of the boy!" Vernon spat.

One look at the pale, dangerously thin boy sitting and staring off into space in front of him, Vernon accepted defeat.

"Anything you wish. Now, I have dinner to eat so if you'll excuse me. Just have him back at eleven."

"Gladly sir."

Vernon's head disappeared from the fire and the Weasley's cheered. Only Harry wasn't heard. He was still sitting there, staring at the wall.

"I miss him," he said finally.

"We all do, Harry," Ginny said, grabbing his hand.

She squeezed it tightly. Harry felt a warmth spread through him that he'd never felt before. It felt so good but poor Harry just couldn't figure out what it was.

"Hey mate," Ron said.

"Hey."

"D'you wanna go flying?"

"Sure, only I don't have my broomstick. Hold on."

He was gone through the fire again. About five minutes later, he was back, carrying his Firebolt. Ginny helped him through again and they set off to the paddock. Only Bill noticed that Harry never let go of her hand.

~*~

It was an interesting game to say the least. The teams were Bill, Fred, and Harry against Ron, Ginny, and George. At first they didn't know how they would play but then the twin's faithful girlfriends showed up demanding to play with their old seeker.

(Can you guess who they were?)

"Hello everyone!" Alicia said.

"So good to see you again!" Angelina exclaimed.

Harry had to squint through his glasses to see them. He figured he needed a new prescription. Finally, the two chasers came into view and Harry waved to them. They waved back and hopped on their broomsticks, flying up beside Harry. Each girl gave him a big hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"How're ya?" Angelina asked.

"Fine."

"Fine? You sure don't look it," Alicia said.

"Correction. I'll be fine once we get this game started," Harry said.

"That's the spirit!" said Angelina, ruffling his hair.

Harry desperately tried to flatten his hair, unsucceedingly. Angelina laughed.

"I always wanted to see how you would react if I did that!" she laughed.

Harry reached over and shoved her playfully.

"Potter, keep your hands off my girlfriend!" Fred yelled.

Everyone laughed and each girl joined her boyfriend's team. The game began.

It was funny to watch Alicia and Angelina. They were long time friends and always played with each other, not against each other. Then you had the twins. They both aimed bludgers at the other's girlfriend. Harry and Ginny began to crack up.

Really, since Ron had improved a lot after his victory in the Quidditch Cup, he and Bill were near the same ability, blocking all the shots. This left the game up to Harry and Ginny.

Harry was really amazed. He knew Ginny was a good flyer but he didn't know she was this good. There was just one thing she didn't know. A Wrongski Fient.

Harry, being the fabulous seeker he was, knew that Ginny would tail him until he saw the snitch. He knew that if he pulled a Feint, she would follow. That's exactly what he did.

The game paused as Harry began to rocket downwards. As expected, Ginny followed him. He started to get dangerously close to the ground and Ginny commenced panicking.

"Harry, what are you doing?" she screamed.

"Wrongski Feint!" Harry yelled back, pulling out of the dive.

Luckily Ginny pulled out of the dive right after Harry. He breathed a sigh of relief. He couldn't bear it if Ginny was hurt because of him and his Quidditch moves.

Then he saw it. A golden glimmer right near the edge of the paddock. He rocketed off. Ginny thought he was pulling another dangerous move and didn't follow him.

Harry looked back and saw Ginny just sitting there. He had half a mind to let her win but he had to prove he was just as good a seeker as before he was banned. He looked back one more time. Ginny had taken off; apparently she'd seen it to.

Harry was so far ahead though. Ginny knew she couldn't catch up to him. As his head snapped back around, he gained speed. He stretched his arm out and...

A bludger hit him smack in the head. He spun out of control and blood began to trickle from his head. The snitch was still in front of him. Harry could barely see it through the veil of pain that was blinding his eyes. He felt his fingers slip around the small ball as he shut his eyes...

"Harry, c'mon, don't faint."

"Merlin! I'm sorry! I never meant to hit you! I thought you'd duck."

"Harry? Mate?"

Harry heard the voices but he couldn't bring himself to open his eyes. He felt his grip loosen on the broom and he thought he would fall.

"George Frederick Weasley!" Mrs. Weasley yelled, sticking her head out the window. "What did you do to Harry!"

Harry managed to open his eyes.

"He's fine, Mrs. Weasley," Alicia yelled.

"Yeah. Umm, can you-er-fix a minor bleeding head injury?" Ron asked.

Molly sighed. This is why she hated the game of Quidditch. Too many injuries.

"Bring him down here."

Slowly, Fred, Bill, Ron, and George guided Harry down. He stepped onto the grass and swayed a bit. Ron steadied him. They made their way over to Molly who seized Harry from them and whisked him away to the kitchen.

When she was done mending the back of his head, Harry fell immediately asleep on the couch.

~~**~~