Design for Life

Chapter 5. - By Myself

Harry drew his knees up to his head as he heard his attackers move away from his hiding place. He breathed deeply and tried desperately to calm down. Jason's threat rang clearly in his mind and Harry was reasonably sure he would carry it out. The open cut on his head throbbed painfully, and he smiled sourly to himself. He was alone in the dark again. He wondered briefly what his Aunt would say when she saw him covered in blood. He suspected she'd hit him and lock him in his cupboard for days on end. Stuck between Jason and Petunia, there didn't seem to be anyway to turn... except... A plan began to form in Harry's mind. He would leave. Anywhere he went had to be better than here so he'd run. Vernon and Petunia would probably be pleased to be rid of him and couldn't imagine them ever trying to find him and nobody at school would probably notice he was missing at all... except Jason, and Harry was sure he'd get over it pretty quickly. He had no idea where he would go to, he had no family except Vernon and Petunia, as they were so fond of telling him, usually accompanied by the words 'so you were dumped on our doorstep, more's the pity'. One word kept sounding in his head, beating a rhythm it was impossible for Harry to ignore, no matter where it took him. Away... Away... Away...

He slowly crawled out of his hiding place, listening all the while for any hint that Jason and his cronies had doubled back to catch him emerging, but heard nothing. He moved quietly through the woods and along the quiet residential streets back to Privet Drive. He unlocked the door, sure that nobody would be in. Vernon was at work; Dudley at school and Petunia would be out shopping or gossiping with the neighbours. He went to the bathroom and pulled off his shirt. Staring at himself in the mirror he could see how nasty the cut looked. A long, jagged slash from the front of his hairline to behind his ear. He cleaned it gently; not sure what to do about it, and began to mop up the blood that covered his face, neck and shoulder. A bang from downstairs sent a wave of panic through him. Someone must have come home early. Then he heard his Uncle call for his wife and start to walk upstairs. Harry pulled his shirt back on, the sticky blood clinging to him. The door to the bathroom swung open and Harry and his Uncle stared at each other. It was Vernon who broke the silence first.

"What the hell have you been doing, boy? Fighting again?"

Harry knew it would be pointless to argue and stayed quiet.

"Do you remember what your Aunt told you the other day? You're going to be very sorry for this..." Vernon's eyes narrowed and he crossed the small bathroom in one giant stride. He clamped a huge, meaty hand around Harry's upper arm and Harry almost cried out in pain as Vernon's fingers dug in tightly. Vernon began to drag him out of the bathroom and onto the upper landing. "We knew you'd be like this, violent and unhinged, just like your bastard father. They never wanted you, you know, your parents. Dumped you on us as soon as they got their chance and then died. And we're left to pick up the pieces of their wasted lives."

Vernon was dragging him downstairs now and Harry was sure that his fingers were digging in through his flesh

"Face it, boy, nobody wants you." Vernon flung open the cupboard door and threw Harry inside with such a force that he slammed against the shelves that lined the back wall and he fell to the floor. The last thing Harry saw before he fainted was the door slam shut, and he was alone in the dark once more.

~~*~~

Ron and Hermione hurried though the corridors towards the staffroom, Harry had demanded that they try to find Dumbledore, and since he hadn't been in the Great Hall at Lunch, they were determined to find him and question him as to what was going on. They drew up outside the staffroom as Professor Sprout was emerging.

"Oh, Professor Sprout. We're looking for Professor Dumbledore, is he around?"

The little witch looked at Hermione "I'm afraid he's been called away on business for the afternoon, is there anything I can do to help?"

Ron and Hermione looked at each other. "Ummm... No, no I don't think so. Thank you anyway Professor."

Professor Sprout smiled and walked away.

Ron muttered "Well, it's obvious where he's gone, isn't it? He's gone to find Sirius, and whoever he's with."

"Well then, it's obvious that there's nothing we can do. We should just relax and wait."

"You make it sound so easy, Hermione... Oh bugger... Just what we DON'T need." Ron muttered, pointing down the corridor, where three familiar figures had just turned the corner.

Draco spotted them before they could slip away. "Oh look Crabbe. The Weasel and the Muggle... Haven't you lost something, Weasley? Where's your little friend?"

"Go stick your head in a bucket of Bubotuber pus, Malfoy"

"Oh that's right, go for the witty retort... I heard Potter fainted again. What was it this time? The teacups in Divination too heavy for him, or did he catch sight of Granger?"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Really Malfoy, I would have thought that you'd be able to come up with something much better than that after six years... Oh well, you obviously peak early in your family. I'd better break the news to Pansy, she *will* be disappointed. Come on Ron, let's leave the poor thing with his inferiority complex."

Ron would have given almost anything to have seen Draco's face as they marched off down the corridor back to the common room.

The portrait door swung open and they emerged into the comfort of the Gryffindor tower. Once they were safely inside Ron turned to Hermione.

"Hermione!" he said with a touch of awe in his voice. "Where on earth did THAT come from?"

She tutted. "I've had it up to here with Malfoy... I just wanted to dent that smug exterior, just for a moment. And I was right, he's been making the same jokes about us since we got here. Old news."

~~*~~

They had been sitting in silence for some time when Wizard finally spoke. "Were my parents really murdered, Sirius?" he sounded very young, lost and tired.

Sirius sighed, it was still painful to think about James and Lily, and he couldn't face explaining about his role in their deaths. Eventually all he could say was "Yes."

"Was that why I was sent to live at the Dursleys, or did they give me away before then?"

Sirius turned to stare at Wizard. "Is that what they told you? That they just gave you up?"

Wizard nodded. "Vernon told me that they never wanted me... and so they were stuck with me."

Sirius felt an overwhelming desire to hug him and tell him that he was going to be all right, but felt that this Harry might not want to be hugged. Instead he said gently "Look at me..." Wizard looked up at him. "Lily and James loved you, they would never have given you to those people, and if it wasn't for Voldemort and his followers you would still be with them." he said, and thought to himself 'and so would I...' "You have to believe that. I saw James when you were born, he was so proud of you. He died to protect you. Lily too. They were both wonderful people, funny, clever, and very talented in their own ways. They really would have loved you."

Wizard said nothing for a long time, and then finally "Do you think there's a world out there where they're still alive?"

"I have to." Sirius said firmly.

"Sirius... I can remember something... something about a dragon... and I was flying. What the hell does that mean?"

"More of Harry's memories. In his fourth year... well, I'm sure he can tell you himself."

"I'm not sure I really want to meet him."

A third voice spoke behind them. "I don't really think that either of you will have a choice in that matter"

Sirius turned round. "Professor! You were quick!"

Wizard looked at the new arrival. He was dressed in a great purple robe, with long white hair. Wizard recognised him from somewhere, Harry's memories again, he supposed.

"So, this is the boy you spoke of, Sirius... You were right. He is Harry."

"Of course I was right. I'd recognise him anywhere... What will you do now?"

"I should take him back to Hogwarts. Harry is unwell, and I think that this young man is the only thing that will make him feel any better. We will have to go to Diagon Alley..." Dumbledore trailed off and Sirius knew what he was implying. There was no way he could go with them to the heart of Wizarding London as a wanted murderer.

"I understand."

"Sirius, your time will come, but for the moment Harry, both of him, need you alive. I will keep you informed, and remember the cave outside Hogsmeade..." Dumbledore turned to address Wizard. "Follow me, Harry."

"Wizard." said Wizard. "I don't like Harry very much..."

"Of course."

Dumbledore strode off and Wizard turned to Sirius. "Will I see you again?" he asked.

"I'm sure you will. I will be moving north soon."

Wizard nodded and followed Dumbledore.

~~*~~

The strange pair walked quickly through the crowded London streets. Wizard noticed with surprise at how few people noticed Dumbledore. He had thought that a tall old man in purple robes would attract some strange looks from the general public, in fact Wizard found himself the object of more attention than the Professor did. He must look terrible, he thought. He'd had hardly any sleep over the past few days and the bruises from his encounter with Gareth, Wayne and Jaz were still very much in evidence.

Eventually Dumbledore stopped outside a dark doorway in the middle of a nondescript row of shops.

"In here." He motioned Wizard through the door and he found himself in a very strange pub. It was dark and shabby with a lot of very strange people, dressed similarly to Dumbledore sitting around talking, eating and drinking. The old wizard strode up to the bar and talked to the man behind it in a low murmur. The barman nodded and directed Dumbledore to a room off to the left. Dumbledore motioned that Wizard should follow him and they entered a small private room with a table, four chairs and a large, unlit fireplace.

Professor Dumbledore sat down. "Well then... I'm sure you must have almost as many questions as I do. Why don't you go first?"

"Okay." said Wizard, still standing by the door. "Question one. Where are we?"

"We are in the Leaky Cauldron, wizard pub, entrance to Diagon Alley and seller of the best pint of Old Bristlewood this side of Hogsmeade."

"Right... Fine... Question two. Who are you?"

"My name is Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry... Where you should be."

"Question three. Why aren't I?"

Dumbledore looked at him. "That is what I intend to find out."

"Question four. Why the bloody hell should I believe you?"

"I assume that Sirius told you something of our world... and don't you think he makes an excellent dog?"

Wizard pulled up a chair and sat in front of Dumbledore at the table. "My god. It's all true, isn't it? I'm not going mad..."

"Very true, I'm afraid... May I ask you some questions now please?" said the old man kindly.

Wizard waved a hand. "Go right ahead."

"What do you remember about your eleventh birthday?"

"I'm assuming you're talking about MY eleventh birthday, rather than the one where the house was besieged by owls with mail... Nothing really, I didn't have much fun on my birthdays. Do you have any idea how strange this is, remembering things that never happened to you?"

Dumbledore smiled. "No, I don't but I fancy I know somebody else who does."

Wizard looked up. "Harry, you mean..."

"Indeed."

"What's he like? Is he like me?"

"He IS you... but I know what you mean. Your different lives have sculpted you both. Harry left the Dursleys to come to Hogwarts, met Ron and Hermione and had to deal with Voldemort trying to kill him again. He's very independent, much like you I guess, and loyal to his friends... Now, you go upstairs and have a bath, I daresay you would like to. I will go and find you some robes. If you're going to come to Hogwarts, you'll need some uniform. Go, the bathroom is first on your left as you get to the first landing."

Wizard was too tired to argue and left the room. He found a plain, white tiled bathroom, complete with large fluffy blue towels and a white porcelain bath resplendent with gold taps and clawed feet.

~~*~~

He spent a long time in the bath, trying to get as clean as possible. When he finally forced himself out, he found a bathrobe on the back of a chair, and a note on the front of the bathroom door directing him to a room further down the corridor. Here he found a tidy pile of clothes that were obviously the school uniform that Dumbledore had mentioned. He pulled them on and went back downstairs to find the Professor. He was back in the small private room, and Wizard could hear him talking to someone. He hesitated and then knocked at the door. Dumbledore called "Come in!" and he entered.

Dumbledore was speaking to a disembodied head in the now lit fireplace. It was the head of a severe looking woman with greying hair pulled back into a tight bun. She looked very surprised to see Wizard.

"My god, Albus... I see what you mean now..."

"Indeed Minerva... Kindly inform the staff of this eventuality, maybe someone can think of something we can do?"

"Naturally."

"Good. You can expect us in a little while."

The woman nodded and vanished from the fireplace. Dumbledore turned to Wizard. "Very good. Your hair is the only thing that separates you... That and the..." Dumbledore tapped the side of his nose, indicating Wizard's piercing.

Wizard smiled now. "Not the type, your Harry, eh?"

"No, not quite... I'm sure your arrival will rock the school. There are many things we see at Hogwarts, but Mohicans and nose rings are, I think, new even on us. And speaking of Hogwarts, we had better be going."

"How are we going to get there? Sirius said it was quite far north."

"We will be travelling by Floo powder, it's quite simple really. Take a pinch of this, and throw it into the fire. Step in and call 'Hogwarts School' loudly and clearly. I'll go first and when you see me, take a step forward."

Dumbledore took a pinch of powder from the jar on the mantelpiece and threw it into the fire. Green flames rose high in the grate and the wizard stepped into the fire as if it were the most natural thing in the world. He called 'Hogwarts School' loudly and vanished.

Wizard hesitated for a moment, but then decided that he really didn't have anything to lose and followed Dumbledore through the fire.

~~*~~

Ron had annoyed Hermione for the remaining classes that day. It was obvious he was very nervous, and was spent the time tapping his wand against the side of his desk and bouncing his leg up and down.

"Oh for heaven's sake, KEEP STILL!" she whispered to him during their Transfiguration lesson, earning a strict glance from Professor McGonagall. "There's nothing you can do until Dumbledore gets back..."

"That doesn't stop me worrying, Hermione. I mean, think what he could be bringing with him..." he trailed off, and tried to concentrate on what McGonagall was saying about inter-species switches.

After the bell rang to sound the end of classes for that day and the students had gathered up their belongings, Ron asked "If we're right, what do you think he'll be like?"

Hermione thought for a moment. "Well, like Harry, I suppose. He couldn't be that different, could he?"

~~*~~

He felt as though he was spinning, or rather that the world was spinning around him. He saw Dumbledore ahead of him, and he forced his legs to take a step forward. He stepped into a large circular room dominated by a large desk. All around were small objects and in one corner a shelf with a large, old battered hat. Dumbledore was standing next to him, holding out a steadying arm.

"Welcome to Hogwarts." he beamed. "You've finally made it."