Harry Potter and the Scar of Fate

Chapter 1

Partners in Crime

In the smallest bedroom in 4, Privet Drive shook with laughter. Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy sat on the bed, laughing. Draco had just cracked a joke.

The Dursleys had left them alone for the main part, merely ignoring them. They weren't even called down for meals. If they appeared, they were served something vile. Draco wondered how Harry had borne all this for almost 16 years.

Ron and Hermione wrote everyday. Harry was busy writing letters as well. Draco was pleasantly surprised to see that they wrote to him as well. He and Harry stayed out of the house most of the time, wandering around the neighbourhood, waiting for the wards around Hermione's house to be built.

One evening, as they were walking around the park together, they came upon Dudley and his gang assaulting two children, apparently siblings. The girl was crying loudly, and the boy was bruised all over. The scene infuriated Harry. He walked over to Dudley, even though Draco tried his best to stop him. Seeing Harry was determined to save the children, Draco followed him.

"Leave them alone," Harry said, his voice very cold and soft, but echoing in the night air. Draco watched in awe as he saw his friend transform from a pale, thin boy to an imperial authority whose words were commands. Even Dudley and his gang took a step back, clearly aware of the power in his voice. Then the Muggles seemed to pull themselves up.

"Want to take their place, Potter?" Piers said.

The gang advanced towards them. Harry ignored them and picked up the trembling children. They were hardly ten years of age. They were clearly terrified of all the boys. Harry knelt on the ground and said kindly, "Go home." The kids thanked him and ran, hardly noticing that their bruises had disappeared when Harry had laid a hand each on their shoulders.

"How dare you!" Dudley screamed. Piers walked up to Harry smartly and delivered a punch on his nose, which started bleeding immediately.

"What do you think you're doing?" yelled Draco, losing control on seeing Harry's blood being spilt, and launched himself on Piers. Dudley threw himself on Harry. Harry punched back. After 15 minutes of kicks and punches, Piers and Harry were lying on the ground, Piers bruised, and Harry bleeding and bruised. The other two boys turned and ran. Dudley guffawed loudly.

"Good fighter, are you?" he asked Draco. Draco had already seen red, and watching Harry lying on the ground, badly hurt, made him even angrier. Piers had run away as fast as his shaky legs would carry him. Draco controlled his rage and bent down next to Harry.

"Are you ok?" he asked. But Harry was unconscious. He stood up and faced Dudley. "Harry may not hit you properly because he is too kind, but I am not," he hissed, delivering a smart karate chop on Dudley's abdomen. Dudley staggered back, then turned and ran. Draco bent over Harry anxiously.

"Get up, Harry," he said urgently, "I swear I'll kill that blob if he has hurt you! Get up, please!"

Then he saw Hermione walking towards them. He stood up and rubbed his eyes. Yes, it was her! He waved at her. She waved back and walked over quickly. Her face went pale at the sight of Harry.

"What happened, Draco?"

Draco related everything to her. She gasped. "You wait here with him, Draco. I'll go to Mrs. Figg's fireplace and call Lupin," she said and ran off. Five minutes later, she was back again, with her parents, Moody, Lupin and Dumbledore. Dumbledore waved his wand, and they were standing outside Hermione's house the next moment. They took Harry inside.

"Enervate," said Dumbledore. Harry opened his eyes, tried to sit up, but fell back, wincing.

"How're you?" Lupin asked.

"What happened?" Harry asked, "Did Dudley knock me out?"

"How did you manage to escape from him earlier?" Draco asked.

"I used to run away."

"Why didn't you run?"

"I couldn't leave you alone with them, could I?" Harry tried to smile, but it turned into a grimace.

"I'm trained to fight, Harry, even without a wand. I scared away Piers and gave your cousin a nice karate chop."

"That's great," said Harry. He looked around, "Where are we?" he asked.

"My home, Harry," Hermione said.

Snape Apparated right in front of them, holding a bottle with a blackish liquid.

"Drink this, Potter."

Harry obeyed, then made a face. But he felt better immediately. "Thanks," he said to Snape.

Tonks appeared suddenly, with all Harry's and Draco's belongings, then disappeared.

"What's with her?" Harry asked.

"She has a very unpleasant task to perform, Harry," sighed Lupin.

"What task?"

"She's got to tell the Weasleys that their daughter killed their eldest son," Moody growled.

Harry nearly fainted again. "Bill?" he said weakly. The others nodded. Hermione and Draco looked shocked as well.

"I have to go to them," said Harry, and Disapparated.