Harry Potter and The Guild Of Avada

CHAPTER ONE

FOREIGN POWERS

It was summer again and much to Harry's dismay he was yet again forced to go and live with the Dursley's at number 4 Privet drive. And when I say forced I mean it! Harry was never too thrilled about returning to the Dursley's after a year at Hogwarts. His grumpy Uncle Vernon, his nosey Aunt Petunia and their very fat son Dudley never made the thought of returning to Privet Drive, a good one. Harry had never liked them; he couldn't remember one time when he was even slightly happy about seeing them again, and this summer was going to be no different.

It was the day before Dudley's 15^th birthday and Harry was sure he'd be sent to stay with Mrs Figg again, however he did think it was a far better idea then to stay at home, as Uncle Vernon seemed to be geting more and more displeased every time he saw Harry arrive at Kings Cross Station after a full year at Hogwarts.

"As soon as your old enough your out of here and I'll not want to see you back here ever again" Uncle Vernon would bark at him, every time he felt like throwing an insult at Harry but wasn't able to think one up.

But Harry didn't care, he often fantasized about getting his apparition license, and then placing a paint bomb in the kitchen one morning at Breakfast and the Apparating out of there before it exploded. This was probably the only thing that held his temper over the summer. And the thought that this was his second last summer with the Dursley's just made him feel slightly better. After his seventh year at Hogwarts there'd be no sense in returning to Privet Drive, except for the paint bomb that is.

He thought about this over and over in his head as he sat listening to Uncle Vernon shouting into the telephone about some stupid delivery men who had accidentally delivered Dudley's birthday package to somewhere on the other side of England. "Its ok widdle Duddykins, they've promised it'll be here today," Aunt Petunia kissed Dudley on the forehead, perhaps foreseeing a terrible Dudley tantrum arising.

"And I'll work on it all night if I have to," Uncle Vernon started up, "It'll be ready for tomorrow,"

"What about me?" Harry announced his presence; "I suppose you'll be sending me to Mrs Figg's?" Harry tried not to sound hopeful,

"No," Aunt Petunia screwed up her face, "She's out for the summer - you'll have to stay here,"

"Never mind Dudley, we'll keep him out of the way, you won't even know he's here!" Uncle Vernon assured Dudley and sent Harry a loathing look.

Harry knew the following day would be hell for him.

Fortunately for Harry, Dudley's friends weren't arriving for another five hours. By that time Aunt Petunia will have fed Harry and sent him to bed. But for the next five hours, he had nothing to do, so he decided to spend the time looking for hiding places for the next day. As he was sure he'd need hiding places ... Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia had bought Dudley a pool. Which was what they were waiting to have delivered. But Harry was sure Uncle Vernon would not have it built in time. And even though Dudley had a lot of new friends, he was sure they'd all join in on Dudley's favourite game "HARRY HUNTING"

*

Sadly enough, the rest of the day consisted of Aunt Petunia running around cleaning up the already spotless house, Uncle Vernon continuously shouting into the phone, making it sound like the person on the other end of the telephone was personally at fault for the lateness of Dudley's pool and of course Dudley, who was seated on an armchair right up against the front window, staring out, looking for a delivery truck. Harry himself had done exactly what he had planned to do, and had secured at least five different hiding places all over the house, hoping he'd never have to use them.

And finding hiding places was a very hard task in itself, Harry had tried many hiding places before, but Dudley had always found them. He hoped this lot of hiding places were a lot more secure.

Harry's next task was to make sure his room was safe from muggle eyes - Harry was not aloud to lock Dudley out of his room, but then again, Dudley knew Harry was a wiz ... er ... a freak, according to Uncle Vernon. But Dudley's friends didn't know about Harry's other life at Hogwarts, and so Harry thought this would be his chance to make his own room, the best hiding place for Harry.

"You'll have to make sure Dudley's friends don't come upstairs while they are here," he spoke out.

Aunt Petunia looked up from her cleaning, Uncle Vernon continued shouting into the phone.

"I don't have to do anything," Aunt Petunia smiled, she knew how much Dudley's friends loved to pick on Harry, and she loved watching them do it.

Harry kept a cool face about it, "Ok, fine then!" he started out the room but Aunt Petunia stopped him,

"Your not bothered?" She was shocked at Harry's almost pleased, reaction.

"Well ... no, not really ... if you want them to see my spell books, my cauldron, Hedwig, and all my other school stuff, then that's your choice!" Harry said as he continued out of the room.

*

The evening had arrived faster then he thought it could. Dudley's friends had arrived for the sleepover and with the pool not yet delivered, Harry knew things weren't going to be too happy around the dinner table.

Another thing that Harry wasn't pleased about was Aunt Petunia's vindictiveness. Yes, she had told all of Dudley's friends that they were not to go upstairs. But to give them plenty of time to harass Harry, she had made Harry stay downstairs and eat with them all.

Another thing happened that Harry didn't know how to react to. Dudley had a girlfriend, she was half of Dudley's size and had long flowing blonde hair. Harry was just bursting to ask her how she ended up with someone like Dudley, when she was so ... er ... different.

"So, when did you meet Dudley, Brydie?" Aunt Petunia kept scanning the girl curiously; perhaps Aunt Petunia was bursting to ask the same question as Harry.

"Well, I go to school in Australia, but my parents live here. I met Dudley on his first day of school, he was waiting for his school plane, as was I," she announced,

"And you have kept in contact for that long?" Aunt Petunia continued interrogating her,

"Yes!" Brydie smiled, "He spilt a large banana split down the front of my travelling dress - I bought him another to replace it. After all, I ran into him."

"Pretty hard not to, he's so big," Harry spoke under his breath. Both Aunt Petunia and Brydie must have heard this as they glanced Harry's way. No one else had seemed to notice.

"So why do you go to school so far away?" Aunt Petunia continued, taking the attention away from Harry,

"Well I was already going to my school in Australia, when my parents decided we should move to England. And school transfers aren't very easy in the kind of school I go to," she stated,

"You go to an all-girls college? Yes they are very hard to get into; you were definitely smart not to attempt to enrol in a English one," This was Aunt Petunia's first compliment for the night, however it didn't last, "The English all-girl school are very picky in whom they allow in - you probably wouldn't have been accepted,"

And even though Aunt Petunia didn't see it, Harry glanced over at Dudley just to see him scowling at his mother from behind his cake-covered face,

"May I be excused now?" Harry asked Aunt Petunia, Brydie all of a sudden looked over at Harry, looking slightly alarmed.

Aunt Petunia stared at Harry with an unimpressed expression on her face and gave a sort of grunt. Harry took that as a 'Yes' and stood and left the table.

As he headed out of the kitchen and started up the stairs, Harry heard Brydie ask Aunt Petunia, "He's not sleeping in the sitting room with us?"

"No," Aunt Petunia answered, "He sleepwalks so he has to be locked in his room,"

"Oh," Brydie answered.

As Harry reached the landing on the second story he leant up against the wall trying to figure out why he had left the kitchen. Because for some strange reason, now that he had left the crowd, he felt like going back to it. Harry didn't know what it was, but he felt comfortable around Brydie. So it was with a thought of pure stupidity that he walked on up the hallway to his room.

When he reached his bedroom, he opened the door. Harry was then very happy to see that Hedwig was perched on the head of his bed with a letter from Hermione. He knew it was from Hermione as they had been keeping in touch all through the holidays, he knew she was doing it so she could keep checking up on him, but it was good to have someone to talk to. Sirius had sent a letter to Harry telling him it wasn't safe to send any letter to Sirius at the moment and that he should tell Dumbledore if something of importance comes up.

Hermione herself had been staying with Viktor Krum and his family in Bulgaria, much to Ron's dismay.

Harry fumbled with the letter a little and then read it;

Dear Harry,

Excellent news!!!!! I just received an owl from Professor McGonagall telling me that I have become the Gryffindor Prefect this year! Isn't it great? I told Ron but he doesn't seem to enthusiastic about it all!

Are you going to stay with Ron for the end of the holidays? It's probably smarter not to. Not that it isn't safe there. I mean, with Mr Weasley and the Ministry of Magic ... well I'll let Ron tell you about it.

But really, you should ask Dumbledore before you go doing anything. He's very worried about you after what happened last year. We all are!

Anyway, I hope the muggles are treating you ok; I can't wait to see you back at school.

Yours sincerely

Hermione Granger

P.S Viktor says hi, his English has improved so much!

Harry folded the letter and put it in his pocket, "She worries too much," He said as he tickled Hedwig on her forehead. He had thought many times about going to the Weasley's but always came to the assumption that if Dumbledore wanted him to go to the Weasley's then he would have allowed him to do it at the beginning of the year. Although Dumbledore had only said that he should go home for the beginning of summer. And he had - so what would be wrong with going to the Weasley's now.

He quickly grabbed a piece of parchment, scribbled down a letter to Ron, begging him to let Harry come over, tied it to Hedwig's leg. While continuously apologising for not allowing her to rest, Harry lifted her to the open window,

"I want you to take this to Ron at the burrow," he said while she picked at the string binding the letter to her leg, probably because she was tired, "Its important - I have to get out of here - take it straight to the burrow and bring his reply immediately,"

She didn't look at all impressed, "Then when you get back I'll give you a week-long-rest,"

She nibbled his fingers happily. Harry lifted her to the open window and let her out,

"Wow! An owl!" came a voice from Harry's doorway. It was Brydie. She was standing in the doorway leaning up against the, now, wide open door.

Harry hastily pushed Hedwig out and snapped the window shut,

"Er ... I can explain ... er ... I mean, what are you doing up here?" Harry quickly tossed his blankets over the massive piles of schoolbooks, his cauldron, and his broomstick servicing kit. He then hurried over and shut his door. And when he turned back to look at Brydie, he saw her looking at all the schoolbooks he had failed to cover up.

"Standard book of Spells Grade four by Miranda Goshawk? We read these for our first year of magical learning," she said as she continued through his books,

"You what?" Harry's eyes widened with shock,

"Yeah, and you look to be at least in your fifth year," she looked at the rest of his books,

"Your ..." he faltered, "You're a ... a ..."

"A witch, Harry Potter," she smiled, "Not quite as famous as the amazing and famous wizard, Harry Potter, but I'd like to think so,"

"I'm quite shocked Dudley didn't tell you," she glanced down at his cauldron,

"Dudley knows?" Harry was awe-struck.

"Of course Dudley knows, we've been dating for the last two years, sending letters with Carmon ... that's the name of my kookaburra. That's what we use, not owls like you British,"

Harry raised his hand to his forehead, wondering if the shock of everything happening would cause him to faint.

"And this ... Lord Voldemort character! He is nothing compared to the evil wizard Lord Ruberagon," she started walking around his bed,

"Who?" Harry sat on the end of his bed, he had found it a shock last year that there were two more witchcraft and wizardry academies like Hogwarts, but now he was hearing about other nations with evil wizards and different ways of sending letters to each other.

"Lord Ruberagon, at my school we have four different house groups - just like Hogwarts - Emerindyl, Ruberagon, Saphricorn, and Ameraid. Lord Ruberagon is the son of one of the school founders, and like his father - Lord Ruberagon is a very evil man,"

"Your school was founded by an evil wizard?" Harry looked concerned,

"One evil wizard! Lady Saphricorn, and Lady Ameraid were very nice people indeed! And Lord Emerindyl, or shall I say Professor Emerindyl is also a very nice man - and probably the only reason Lord Ruberagon stays away from Koalingo," she seemed to have finished looking around,

"Koalingo is your schools name?" Harry inquired,

"Yes! Lord Ruberagons father disappeared long ago! Some say it was Lord Ruberagon himself who killed him," she smiled,

"Just like Voldemort, he killed his parents," Harry stated, "So what is it like at Koalingo?"

"Very good! It's a great school, the best in my beliefs. Oh wow, you have a Firebolt," she glanced the golden letters in the stick of his Firebolt,

"Yeah ... it was a gift from my ... hey wait a minute," Harry shook his head, realising the full situation, "You better get out of here! If Aunt Petunia finds out you're a witch your in for it - and I'm in for it if she catches you up here," Harry was very worried,

"Oh, never mind her - I think she'd make a very nice frilled-neck-lizard with a neck like that," she laughed, "I have my wand - but I'd never attack a muggle, even if she is rude and nosey,"

She pulled her wand out of her pocket, "Seven Inches, Redwood, Phoenix Feather, excellent for Transfiguration,"

"What's that?" Harry asked as he looked at what appeared to be a rubber handle,

"This wand is an Ozzyander creation," she smiled, "Mr Ozzyander fits all of his wand with an anti-sweat handle - it gets very hot in Australia, and the last thing you need is to have your wand continuously slipping out of your hand,"

"Do you think I could have a go?" she picked up his Firebolt,

"No, the Ministry will have a fit," Harry told her, but she seemed determined,

"I'll wear the invisibility cloak," she had a look on her face that said 'I'm not giving up' "Please, I will be very careful,"

"It doesn't matter, the ministry will sense the magic and I'll be expelled from Hogwarts," Harry announced,

"Would that be so bad? I hear your new headmaster is a really horrible man," she dropped the Firebolt on the bed,

"New headmaster?" Harry looked alarmed, "No Hogwarts has had the same head master ever since I started,"

"Well not anymore - my father was complaining about it," Brydie looked as though what she was about to say wasn't at all interesting. Harry thought differently.