Harry Potter and the Return to Youth

Chapter 3: Dark Dreamin'

o ------ o ------ o

Harry woke late the next morning. His dreams had been dark and unsettled but his memory of them was elusive and faded from his grasp as he gathered his bearings amidst the sweaty tangle of his red sheets.

He rang Dobby for breakfast and ate alone. After a shower he dressed in a suit of some of Dudley's finer castaways. He settled down to studying Vanishing theory while he awaited the return of Professor McGonagall. He read all day, with a few Dursley distractions, and even made a start on the monster fifty-six inch essay. He had lunch with Dobby and moved on to Chapter 2 of Your Magic and You which ended with exercises in breathing and concentration to aid him in feeling his magic. Harry called Dobby for dinner and afterwards coerced the house elf into a game of Muggle checkers. The elf obviously played to lose and positively delighted in kinging Harry's pieces. McGonagall never returned that day.

"Dobby, you know you're supposed to at least try to win!" Harry admonished, once Dobby's last black piece was captured.

"But Dobby did win, Harry Potter! None of his pieces is left!" Dobby gazed up at Harry worshipfully.

Harry rubbed his forehead and blinked at the house elf. "Dobby... I won. You see only my pieces are left. I'm red, you know," Harry replied, befuddled.

"When Harry Potter wins, Dobby does, too," the house elf replied, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

That shut Harry up. Harry was silent a moment while he considered Dobby's words. He supposed it was true in the grand scheme of things, but certainly not in checkers.

"Dobby has chores for doing back at Hogwarts, Harry Potter," the elf said, breaking Harry's silent musing. "I be seeing you tomorrow, Harry Potter?"

"Yes, Dobby, bright and early," Harry smiled at Dobby, who bowed, before disappearing with a pop.

Uncle Vernon returned home from work half an hour after Dobby disappeared. Harry wondered if he had started working late simply to try to avoid the strife that was ongoing at number four. Sure enough, as soon as Vernon walked into the door he was met with the deep burly shouts of his sister as she condemned Vernon's nasty little tosser of a nephew-in-law and the bitch he was married to. A loud slap interrupted Marge's ranting, which she followed up with a shrill shriek. "No matter what the miserable brat did, you're not to insult my wife!" The argument downstairs continued on as Harry smiled at a memory from earlier that day.

o ------ o ------ o

Aunt Marge had burst into his room right as he was mid-stroke writing a 'V' in his vanishing essay. His sudden jerk dashed a line of ink up through three lines of writing. "Petunia told me it was your fault that Ripper's been deranged. How dare you infect him with your freakishness!" Thoroughly irritated, Harry put down his quill and stared at the window.

"It wasn't me!" he said in a tight voice.

"Oh yes it was, you lying filth!" A strong aroma of urine accompanied her as she walked up directly behind his chair and grabbed his ear. "How dare you! Get up!"

Wincing in pain as she pulled and pinched his ear, Harry stood quickly and tried to follow the tug on his ear. "Let go!" Harry shouted.

"No! I don't know why Vernon lets you get away with all your miserable failings but I won't! The correction officers at St. Brutus' must be far too lenient with the likes of you! I'll beat some much needed proper respect into you. You'll never dare touch my Ripper ever again!" Marge tossed what looked to be a bullwhip on the carpet and pulled a roll of duct tape from a bulging pocket in her long skirt. She yanked on his ear, causing him to stumble after her towards the wardrobe.

"Aunt Petunia! Come up here now or something terrible will happen," Harry screamed as he fought against Marge's grip. There was no way Harry was going to let this go meekly. He didn't do anything to Ripper. Professor McGonagall was going to be coming back soon and Harry knew she wouldn't be pleased to find him covered in welts. After seeing what she did to Ripper, Harry would have loved to see what she could to Aunt Marge, but he didn't want to get the welts that would instigate his professor's retribution.

They struggled some more as Marge fumbled with the duct tape while keeping an iron-grip on Harry's ear. Meanwhile Petunia ran into the room and hastened to Marge's side. "Marge, dear, please! I told you there are people watching him. We'll be in terrible trouble if it's found out we're whipping the boy." Petunia grabbed Marge's arm and tried to pull her off Harry.

"Petunia, you're too soft on the boy; some proper disciplining is the answer here! By the time I'm done with him, he won't be off squealing until I'm long gone," Marge ranted, trying to heave Harry back against the wardrobe again. "If anyone gives you trouble, tell them I did it. If anyone is mad enough to chase me for administering some proper discipline, I'll loose the pack on them!" Marge shifted and pushed Petunia off her.

"Aunt Petunia," Harry intoned maliciously, "you remember what happened two summers ago. Something far worse will happen if she isn't stopped. Now." Harry struggled against Marge and managed to free himself, but she grabbed his forearm as he tried to jump away.

"Stay put, you hooligan!" Marge snarled as they wrestled.

"Marge! Stop! Please!" Petunia cried. "You don't know what you're doing!"

Finally Harry got in one sound knee to Marge's gut and she loosened her grip enough for him to twist away and jump to the hand bell.

An instant later Marge was on him again. She grabbed his arm and twisted him around to face her before she bunched her fist and punched Harry in the stomach causing him to wheeze. Petunia was standing right next to them, trying to find a way to separate them amidst their tangled limbs and the flailing, ringing, hand bell.

Dobby popped onto the scene with a happy smile that instantly turned sour. Marge landed another punch and Harry threw her off him after a hard knee to her crotch. Marge shrieked and Harry yelled, "Stay away from me!" Dobby glared at Marge, snapped his fingers, and Marge fell over unconscious.

Dobby glowered, "You will not harm Harry Potter!" He bounced on his feet and ran to Harry, intent on assuring Harry's well being. Aunt Petunia pointed at Dobby and shakily asked, "What did that thing do to Marge?"

It was Harry who replied, "I suspect she's only unconscious." He turned to Dobby. "Ugh... Dobby, do you know any healing spells?" Harry groaned in pain.

"Dobby knows. He is taking care of Harry Potter," the elf said as he examined Harry. Dobby snapped his fingers again and a warm soothing sensation spread over Harry's body and washed away his aches and pains.

Harry lay still a moment before stretching and with a groan stood up on his feet. "That was wonderful, Dobby, thank you." Harry grinned at the house elf. "You really are a hero." He knelt before the elf and pulled him into a tight hug.

Petunia meanwhile had started to drag Marge out of the room. Harry glowered at them over Dobby's shoulder. "Dobby, would you mind teaching that nasty woman a lesson for me? If you could just vanish all of her hair into the dustbin in the kitchen, and find the dog in this house - it should have curly hair - and turn it pink, I would very much appreciate it," Harry said in tones of ice.

Dobby's happy face twisted in momentary indecision before hardening in determination. "Dobby will do that sir, filthy Muggle won't get away with hurting Harry Potter!" Dobby marched over to Petunia and Marge and snapped his fingers again. Petunia shrieked as Marge's hair vanished and pulled even harder as she finally got the large woman out of Harry's room. Dobby followed in their wake and shortly thereafter a frightened yip could be heard from downstairs.

Dobby reappeared in Harry's room and asked if he wanted any lunch. "Yes, please, Dobby, a ham and cheese sandwich with some potato crisps and a glass of pumpkin juice would be grand," Harry replied. He didn't know what McGonagall would have done, but Dobby's revenge was more than good enough. When Dobby left Harry was in a good humor and enjoyed his lunch thoroughly before resuming his reading for the rest of the afternoon.

o ------ o ------ o

Harry's reminiscing was interrupted when Vernon crashed into his room. "How dare you do that to Marge," he growled. "Don't you think we'll just sit back and take that from you," Vernon finished with a glare.

Harry stared coolly at Vernon over the top of Your Magic and You before replying, "Everything would be fine if Marge would just leave me alone. I don't go looking for her, you know... she comes for me."

Vernon snorted and glared at Harry, "First this happening with Ripper and now you've cursed Marge bald... You won't be convincing me that none of it was your fault, boy!" He smacked a fist into an open palm.

Harry laughed softly under his breath. "I didn't cast any of the magic that's on Ripper or Marge; it's been my watchers both times. They're watching right now, and if you try anything, you'll be lucky if they turn you into a pig!"

Vernon trembled as he quietly snarled, "I won't have you threatening me, boy... If your aunt were not so set thinking we'd be worse off with you gone, I'd have been rid of you long ago." He turned and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

Harry returned to his book and tried to concentrate as he reread a section in chapter two about gaining awareness of the magic within. After reading through the theory once more and the primary example of how to achieve the awareness, Harry put the book down, and flopped onto, his bed and stretched. He really was getting tired of all this reading. It was exciting at first and so very interesting, but why did it have to be so much work?

A while later, Harry finally sat up and began the laborious task of quieting his mind. Unfortunately, it seemed as if it just wouldn't shut up because no matter how hard Harry tried, stray thoughts kept springing up before he could feel anything.

By the time Harry went to sleep the best he could accomplish was the feeling of a slight hum, and he wasn't even sure if it was due to his magic or the sound of the vacuum cleaner Aunt Petunia was using in the other rooms upstairs. It was just after ten o'clock that Harry finally gave up and went to sleep, his head throbbing from what he thought was his own exertion.

o ------ o ------ o

He sat in a grand chair within a very Muggle living room. There was a television set in the wall-side bookcase across from him. He himself sat immediately before a coffee table that was laden with an opaque decanter along with a few stray cups that were placed amongst a scattered pile of ancient looking magical tomes.

Beyond the table three men knelt. Harry recognized Lucius Malfoy but couldn't place one of the other two. Suddenly Harry spoke and the voice that issued from his mouth was not his own. "Do you know how this tragedy came to pass Lucius?" he said in a coldly malicious voice.

Lucius spoke quickly and deliberately, "My Lord, the Ministry is investigating the matter carefully. It seems someone impersonating Amelia Bones issued the order while she herself was at a meeting with some of her Aurors. Nobody who knew of the Order questioned it until after the deed had been done. Nobody knows who the impersonator was, Madam Bones does not know how it happened, and steps are being taken to assure that such a thing will not happen again. I felt your summons while they were still investigating, my Lord. I know no more," Lucius finished and licked his lips nervously.

Cold rage laced Harry's high voice as he turned to the other man he recognized. "Macnair, I have sent you to speak with the dementors on my behalf... why have they allowed such a thing to happen? They know what it means to cross me."

The man positively quailed under Harry's gaze before he replied haltingly, "The-They have n-n-nnot agreed to join us yet, Ma-Master. They fear the Mi-Ministry more than they do you. They s-s-say the Ministry has found someone who can kill them if they disobey. I d-ddon't know who o-orr how."

Harry's fingers dug into the cushions of the chair's arms. "The dementors will rue the day they crossed me. Lucius! You and Macnair shall learn of this magic that can destroy those whom should be my most faithful creatures. This shall now be your greatest priority. Our fallen will be avenged," Harry snarled.

Harry stood and walked before the third kneeling man. "Avery, what news do you have for me? I expect results soon, Avery, not more delays," Harry threatened with extreme menace.

"Ma-Master I have a plan to get it! It is guarded day and night, but I will have someone else fetch it. They know what I am, Master, they won't let me pass!" Avery chattered desperately.

"More delays and difficulties. You have some time yet, Avery, but not much," Harry intoned. "Lucius, Macnair, you may go and inform Severus to attend me in ten minutes time," Harry ordered, fixing his eyes on a quivering Avery.

Harry drew his wand and raised it towards Avery. "You dawdle doing what should be a very quick and easy task, Avery. I find myself thinking you need some proper encouragement," Harry hissed over the footfalls of the other two retreating Death Eaters. The man before him trembled violently. Harry swiped his wand down towards him and incanted, "Crucio!"

o ------ o ------ o

Harry woke screaming. His scar burned and waves of pain pulsed through his body. The pain wouldn't stop; his scar was searing agony which dwarfed the pain that suffused his limbs. It was like the Cruciatus curse but different. His whole body was in pain, but while the Cruciatus curse felt as if his very bones were burning from the inside out, there was a certain liquid fluidness to this, as if liquid fire was burning through his veins, consuming him.

Harry's screams were not unnoticed. Vernon bellowed twice from the master bedroom for Harry to shut it before coming to investigate. Harry was oblivious to his irate uncle and continued to thrash upon his bed, screaming. Vernon undid the locks on Harry's door and burst into the room only to stop dead in shock.

Harry continued to writhe and suddenly flipped so that he caught sight of his Uncle Vernon's horrified stare. He couldn't see what so frightened his uncle. It didn't matter; the pain was all that mattered and it continued to tear through Harry. Slowly the pain began to lessen and Harry reached with a trembling hand for his scar.

Bang! A gun fired and Harry's breathe left him as he felt something powerful strike his stomach. He tried to gasp for air and his other hand flopped down to his belly. An expanding ring of pain bloomed from his belly, but not only that. Atop the pain he felt as if something were horribly wrong down there, something was missing. He vaguely noticed that his fingers were wet. Slowly pain and awareness fled and darkness fell upon him.

o ------ o ------ o

AN: Next Chapter : Interlude: The Day After

There will be a few interlude chapters scattered throughout the story where we will see events through other characters points of view.

This chapter was beta'd by Lisa. Please make sure to thank her in your reviews, for without her, my work wouldn't be as great as it is.