Harry Potter's Worries

            ~~~~~~~~~~Chapter 6~~~~~~~~~~

Harry found himself swallowed by the darkness of the attic. What the bloody hell is happening? He struggled to open the door. It was locked. If Dudley is behind this I'm gonna hex him. But Harry had a feeling Dudley was involved at all. Great, no wand, locked door, trapped in a dark attic, what could be better? He thought savagely.

He decided that if he can't leave this room, he might as well check it out. There's a reason why Uncle Vernon didn't want any of us here, and I'm gonna find out. Harry moved slowly, catlike as to avoid disturbing whatever it was that moved earlier. He didn't need to, the dust on the floor was thick enough to pass as a carpet.

He got knocked against a trunk and fell over, sending a few other things flying in the attic. Harry stood up nursing a small bump on his head. He was seeing stars. He shook his head vigorously, trying to clear his vision. The star was still there, and it wasn't because of his fall.

A small starry light was emanating from the trunk he knocked over. Harry went to the source and leaned over the trunk. The small light got brighter and brighter until it was illuminating the whole attic. Harry looked around. The attic was no longer dusty, there were clean draperies on the windows and there was no visible junk.

Harry moved toward the trunk, the light was gone. On the outside he could see the insignia of Hogwarts, and the initials L.E. Aunt Petunia must have been rummaging here and forgot to lock the door, but why am I locked in? He opened the trunk and looked inside.

The contents were covered in black velvet, it was soft, lightly scented. He peeled away the fabric and saw numerous books on charms, transfiguration, dark arts...He saw notebooks, quills, parchments, letters, photographs...

Photographs which he carefully picked up and examined. They were pictures of his mother, a few of them were muggle shots. There were some of her youth, even one which Harry suspected was of Lily and Petunia. He looked at the others and gasped as he saw the old Order. This was the same photgraph Moody had shown him.

Harry contented himself with staring at his mother's seventeen year-old face, wearing sweeping black robes and a glittering Head Girl badge. He sighed, and thought of putting the photos in his pocket. As he pondered of putting this plan into action, the trunk suddenly closed, hitting his head.

"...Harry, Harry!"

Mum? Is that you?

"Harry! Get up!"

Harry opened his eyes, and blinked at the hulking form of his cousin.

"Dud? Wha-where?..."

"Why were you in the attic? You know dad told us not to..."

"I was looking for you Dud,"Harry cut him off.

Dudley sighed, sending small ripples across his voluminous body. He helped Harry stand up and steady himself. Dudley looked back at the locked door of the attic. He shuddered as he remembered when his cousin was thrown out of the room and hit the wall noiselessly.

"Harry, you OK?"

"Yeah, yeah. Let's go see your mum."

They went downstairs. Harry thought over the things that had happened today. He fumbled with his pockets as Aunt Petunia and Dudley debated if they should serve pudding or fudge. He found several photographs, but none which contained his mother's face. They contained his features, along with someone else.

Now he really had something to worry about.

He wasn't sure what the photos meant. Did they show the future? Or were they merely trying to taunt him? trying to make him pursue the impossible? Harry shook his head. No! I'll have to find out what this means.

So he told his aunt and cousin he needs some rest. Aunt Petunia wanted to argue but Dudley vouched for him. Thanks Dud, I'll repay you somehow.

Harry immediately went to his desk and wrote a letter to Dumbledore. He included all the other questions that popped in his mind. He finished and reread the letter until Hedwig came back. He tied the letter to Hedwig, who kept still as a statue, trying to tell Harry that she'll always be reliable.

"Sorry Hedwig. You can take a drink if you want, there, good. Now go. Get this letter to Professor Dumbledore as fast as you can,"Harry whispered this to Hedwig as he carried her to the window.

Hedwig hooted softly and nipped his ear before taking off. Now was the hard part, waiting.