Harry Potter and the Power Unknown

~Chapter Three: Rescue~

Harry awoke about nine o'clock in the morning after yet another restless night. He had dreamed, not about his godfather, but about the red eyes staring at him through the window, flashes of green light, and screams all around. He was sick of being scared of Voldemort. He had to start accepting that one of them, or maybe both of them, had to die, most likely sooner rather than later. He and Voldemort were connected until they met their end, and Harry could do nothing about it now. All Harry wanted to do now was wait for his escort to get him out of Privet Drive. No matter how unusually kind his aunt was being, Harry still hated it there. He wondered if his aunt's concern about him had anything to do with the howler Dumbledore had sent the previous summer, or if perhaps Dumbledore had spoken with her about his safety since then.

Even though he was looking forward to leaving the Dursley's, for the first time in his wizarding life, he had no real desire to see Ron and Hermione, but he did want to talk to Dumbledore and Remus Lupin if he could. He began to gather his things when Errol hit his closed bedroom window with a BANG. He chuckled to himself for the first time in a long time, opened the window and took the letter off Errol's leg. Errol hooted and flew to Hedwig's cage where he helped himself to her water and food. Hedwig, too used to this behavior, ignored him.

Harry,

We are coming for you now. Make sure you are packed because we are leaving in a hurry. Arthur was able to secure some cars to take you to a safe location. Moody and I will be apparating to your house, so send a note back with Errol when you are ready.

Remus

Harry raced around his room, throwing all his school items and his clothes into his trunk unceremoniously, and scribbled a note to Lupin.

Professor Lupin,

I am all packed and ready to go. But would you mind apparating outside the front door rather than inside the house? I don't think my uncle is terribly happy about being around two of the people who threatened him at the end of last year in the first place, but if you knock on the front door, he may keep his temper. Thanks.

Harry

Harry grabbed Errol from Hedwig's cage, tied the letter to his leg and threw him out the window. Errol dropped about ten feet before he found his wings, and flew off into the distance.

About half an hour later, Harry heard the doorbell ring. He smiled to himself, wondering how long it would take wizards to figure out how to work a muggle doorbell, but then remembered with a pang that Sirius' house at Grimmauld Place had a doorbell. Every thought that led to Sirius seemed to cause Harry's heart to leap, even if it was as trivial as a doorbell. Ignoring his hurt, he grabbed his trunk and Hedwig's cage and set off downstairs. Uncle Vernon had opened the door (wearing his best suit, of course) but instead of the hot, purple face that usually stared back at him, Harry saw that his uncle's face still looked fuming, but it was quite pale, even bordering on green. Harry remembered Uncle Vernon looking the same way at the train station on his first encounter with the two people standing in the doorway.

"Potter," said Alastor Moody in his traveling cloak and bowler hat. Harry had no doubt Moody's magical eye was darting in all directions underneath the hat. "Do you have your trunk? We need to go soon."

"Hello, Harry," said Remus Lupin from behind Moody. Harry's third-year DADA teacher looked shabbier than ever; the circles under his eyes were darker, and the usual cheerfulness seemed to be gone. Harry felt a sudden surge of pity for Lupin because he knew Lupin was now the only Marauder left (not including the traitor Wormtail).

"Hi," Harry replied with a slight smile. "I don't have my broom; I think it's still at school." They were still standing in the doorway; Uncle Vernon had not bothered to invite Lupin and Moody inside. Harry leaned around Uncle Vernon and saw three black cars in the front drive.

"Well, Arthur has sent some cars ahead for us to take you to a safe location," answered Lupin. "Then you are going to learn to apparate. You have been given special permission to learn, since Dumbledore thinks it is wise and Arthur approved it."

"Really? But what does Mr. Weasley have to do with the decision?"

"Good Lord, Potter! Haven't you been reading the Prophet?" asked Moody incredulously.

"No, not since the school year ended and the whole story about Voldemort and..." He could not say Sirius' name.

"Well," Lupin said, clearly attempting to steer the conversation away from the events at the Department of Mysteries, "Arthur was named the new Minister for Magic just a few days ago. Too many wizarding families complained about the mess Fudge made, and said that we might have been able to capture Voldemort right away if it wasn't for his stupidity. One of the first things Arthur has done is to make sure Sirius' name was cleared, so now everyone knows the truth about Peter. But we really need to get moving Harry."

"I'm ready," Harry said. Moody muttered a shrinking spell and handed Harry his trunk and Hedwig's cage. Harry stored them both inside the pocket of his jeans. All three wizards ignored his uncle blocking part of the doorway and began to walk out the front door when Harry's aunt called his name.

"Harry?" Aunt Petunia looked slightly uncomfortable. Her eyes darted from Lupin to Moody and back to Harry. "I... well, just... um... well, take care of yourself. I suppose we will see you next summer."

Harry was taken aback by his aunt's newest attempt at kindness, and he was tempted to give her a hug, but all he was able to do was nod and smile. Then he turned and followed Mad-Eye and Lupin down the front walk and toward the ministry cars.

The cars looked like normal luxury cars on the outside, but Harry expected that on the inside, the cars were more like limousines room for at least 10 grown-ups.

"Why do we need more than one car?" Harry asked, turning to Moody.

"Just a safety precaution," he answered. As Moody pushed Harry into the middle car, Harry noticed that Dumbledore was facing him looking very old and tired, but still with a slight twinkle in his eye.

"Hello, Harry. I asked professor Lupin and Alastor to accompany me as your escort, and to help teach you how to apparate."

"Why do you think I need to learn so early, sir?" Harry tried to sound happy to see Dumbledore, but seeing his face reminded Harry of all that had happened at the end of the school year.

"We know that Voldemort is looking for you, and if you get into trouble you need to be able to get yourself out of the situation as quickly as possible. We are going to teach you to apparate to a specific location, a location that Voldemort will not be able to trace you to, and in which he will not be able to apparate," Dumbledore told Harry. It seemed to Harry that, like Lupin and himself, Dumbledore was trying to conceal a deep sadness.

"Where is the spot?" asked Harry curiously.

"At Hogwarts," Dumbledore answered.

"I thought no one was able to apparate or disapparate in or out of Hogwarts, professor."

Dumbledore smiled. "Miss Granger is quite right, Harry. But if I am correct, your powers are growing at an extreme rate and even though this is partially because of the connection you share with Lord Voldemort, you possess no dark magic in you and therefore you have no malicious intent. So with your power and good nature, you will be able to apparate onto Hogwarts grounds to protect yourself. You will not, however, be able to disapparate off the grounds, and we will have to teach you to do the simplest form of both before you can get to the hard part."

Harry was about to argue with Dumbledore that his magic was not growing and that he didn't feel more powerful, but then he remembered his aunt and uncle's house shaking after Vernon's comment about Sirius. Harry had lost his temper and done magic before (i.e. Aunt Marge), but he certainly had never been able to move something like a house. He also noticed, now he was thinking about it, that things seemed to be happening on his command, especially if he was angry. Drawers and cupboards flew open as he looked for something, and doors would open and close as he passed through them. He never really noticed before because these things would happen when he was in a towering temper and not paying attention to much of anything.

Harry, jerked away from his thoughts, felt a jolt as he was pushed back into his seat. He looked out the window and saw the ground fade away beneath him. He had experienced flying in a car only once before, and hoped this flight would be more pleasant then the last. He peered out the window of the now invisible car, trying to enjoy the fact that he wouldn't be seeing the Dursley's for another year.