The Power Within

~*~Chapter One~*~

The First Sign

It was seven-thirty in the morning and Harry had just been rudely awoken by his Aunt Petunia, banging on his door.

"Hurry up! Get downstairs! NOW!" yelled his aunt.

"All right, all right... I'm coming!" said Harry, and with that he pulled himself lifelessly out of bed and began to get dressed. Just as he was leaving the room, Hedwig flew in through the open window, a letter clenched in her beak. It was from Ron. Harry took the letter from Hedwig and stroked her head thankfully. He pocketed the letter and took it downstairs to read. He took his seat at the table and pulled out Ron´s letter. It read:

Dear Harry,

How's your summer been so far? I'm having a great time! Bill and Charlie have come home for a while. Why don't you come over? I've already talked to Mum and Dad and they say it's fine... I've got some really great things to tell you, so write back and let us know if you can come.

Hope the Muggles are treating you good,

-Ron

Harry felt a surge of excitement and curiosity flow through him. I wonder what Ron has to tell me about? Harry thought to himself. He finished his piece of toast and went into the living room to ask his Uncle Vernon if he could go to the Weasleys' for the summer.

"Um... Uncle Vernon? Would it be all right if I went to the Weasleys' for the rest of the summer? It's all right with them and I'm sure they'll come to get me... And I'll warn them about using Floo Powder this time..." Harry waited patiently.

"Fine." grunted Uncle Vernon, "But you're to wait outside for them." Harry thanked his uncle and went upstairs to his room to write back to Ron.

Harry entered his room and sat down at his desk. He pulled a piece of parchment, a quill and a bottle of ink towards him and began to write.

Dear Ron,

My Uncle Vernon says I can come, but whatever you do, try not to use Floo powder. I don't think my aunt and uncle like the idea of people coming out of their fireplace. Anyway, I'll see you whenever you come. (When is that by the way?) Write back.

Hope to hear from you soon,

-Harry

Harry folded up the letter, carried it over to Hedwig, and tied it to her leg.

"Take this to Ron, Hedwig, and be careful." He let the owl go and watched her as she glided gracefully over the rooftops. Harry decide he would get his things packed and ready to go for when the Weasleys came to get him. He gathered all of his birthday gifts and cards, and all of his books and school equipment from under the loose floorboard under his bed, and put them in his trunk. He went to his closet and took all of his clothes and school robes and put them in his trunk as well. After half an hour of packing and checking to see that he had everything, he was ready to go. Harry sat down on his bed and began to guess what it was that Ron was so eager to tell him. Could there be another Tournament? Did Ron get a new broom? Does it even have to do with Hogwarts? Is it good news? Harry couldn't help himself. There were so many things it could be.

The hours flew by in no time and soon enough, he was getting ready for bed. Harry had a very strange dream that night. He was at school, in the Entrance Hall. There was somebody coming... He whipped around, only to find himself face-to-face with a girl. A girl he had the strangest feeling he knew from somewhere. She had the same green eyes and her face... her face resembled his mother's. Suddenly there was a flash of light and he found himself dreaming about the night his parents had died. There was another flash and he awoke...