Chapter Text
Chapter One - Abandoned and Betrayed
I am not and never will be J.K. Rowling and as a result gain nothing from this little flight of fantasy.
I am sure many of you remember this story when it was posted more than 4 years ago now. I apologize for taking it off line but a series of disasters left me homeless and computerless and there was no way I was leaving my baby on line without adequate supervision.
Unfortunately time has moved on leaving my story in a bit of a time warp. I have spent the last week juggling around trying to update it but it cannot be done without damaging the story beyond repair. It was written before book 5 had come out but placed in a position where Harry was at the end of his Lower 6th as a result I invented a series of events that happened during Harrys 5th and 6th year which are totally non-compliant with the story such as Dean and Seamus dying, where I can I have updated facts but there are many elements that must remain or the story as a whole comes tumbling down. Please bare this in mind when you hit any incongruences! However I love this story and I think it has enough strength to stand on its own two feet, once you get into it of course. I have improved a few chapters which have bugged me for a while but the story is the same one that you know and hopefully love. The story is complete and I will upload it as quickly as ever I am allowed.
And so to begin…
As Harry relaxed back into the seat of his uncle’s car, he felt a warm glow of satisfaction. His uncle and aunt sat poker-straight in the front, seething with the indignity of the threats that Moody, Tonks and all had made just before he had been whisked out of the station. Maybe, just maybe, this summer would be more bearable than others - an opportunity to heal and come to terms.
Harry shuddered. Bearable? No, there was little chance of that when every time he closed his eyes, the events of his fifth and sixth year paraded past him like some obscene catwalk show and the bloody prophesy ‘kill or be killed’ repeated itself on a permanent loop.
“Out, boy.” Harry jerked back to reality to find himself in front of 4 Privet Drive, with the Dursleys already out of the car and making their way into the house. Quickly Harry grabbed his trunk and began to drag it laboriously up to his room. This year, like last year, nobody stopped him and, with satisfaction, he settled his belongings into his room and lay back on the bed.
Harry had perhaps been lying there for an hour when a bellow from downstairs forced him to pay attention to his surroundings again.
“Harry!”
“Harry! Damn it, boy! Are you deaf, as well as stupid?” raged Vernon Dursley.
Reluctantly, Harry swung himself off the bed and made his way to the lounge. The Dursleys sat rigidly on the squashy furniture leaving Harry with only the options of standing before them like a naughty child, or sitting on the floor. One look at his uncle’s face told Harry to brace himself in preparation for another tirade, but it was his aunt who spoke.
“Can that bird of yours carry messages for us?” she asked.
Harry looked at her in astonishment. Considering the Dursleys hated all things magical, why on earth would they want to use Hedwig?
“Well?” she prompted.
Finally, too surprised to speak, Harry just nodded.
“At last,” snarled Vernon. “Then go and get the ruddy bird.”
This was too much for Harry. “Why should I lend her to you? What message would you want to send?”
“Isn’t that obvious after the way those friends of yours threatened us again? Last year was bad enough - birds popping up every few minutes, and you idling your time away in the day and then screaming the house down at night,” growled Vernon. “If that headmaster thinks we’ll keep you for one minute longer, he’s much mistaken.”
So, the kind intervention of his friends was about to blow up in Harry’s face. He might have known Vernon-the-Bully would not appreciate another taste of his own medicine. At least this time, Vernon wasn’t just going to throw Harry out, but then again, that hadn’t worked before his fifth year. Instead, Aunt Petunia had just been sent a howler.
Harry wasn’t sure why they wouldn’t put up with him now. The summer before sixth form hadn’t been too bad. He’d only stayed for a short time before heading back to school early for special training. But obviously his uncle resented another summer of having to treat Harry like a human being. It seemed Uncle Vernon was trying a different approach to get rid of his troublesome nephew. Harry wasn’t sure how Professor Dumbledore would take this, but he wasn’t going to complain if it meant he could be with people who actually cared about him - even if it meant going back to all those memories of Sirius.
Harry had been at Privet Drive for two tedious days since his uncle had insisted on sending the letter. He had basically been ignored, except for occasional mutterings about “how long can it take”, and “I’ll give him to the end of the week and then you’re out”. Harry just lay on his bed and waited. He didn’t care any longer. He was numb. Even Dudley’s smirks and taunts were easy to ignore.
It was Thursday when the doorbell finally rang and Harry heard Aunt Petunia usher Professor Dumbledore into the lounge. Harry dragged himself off the bed and made his way downstairs to join them only to be met by his uncle’s glare and hiss. “We are talking about you, boy, not to you. Get back to your room and wait.”
Harry sighed reluctantly and looked at Professor Dumbledore, who just nodded. As Harry left the room, he felt a swirl of magic and realised a silencing charm had been placed around the lounge. Left with few other alternatives, Harry returned to his bedroom slowly and began to pack the few items that he had taken out of his trunk.
The creak of the stairs alerted Harry to the arrival of Professor Dumbledore.
Knocking, he entered Harry’s room without waiting for a response and looked around at the sparse furnishings sadly.
Harry sat up, “Are you taking me back to Grimmauld Place, sir?”
Professor Dumbledore shook his head. “No, Harry. I’m afraid I must ask you to remain here.”
“But they don’t want me!” Harry exclaimed. “And this time, I truly believe Uncle Vernon will throw me out.”
“No, he will not. We have managed to come to an agreement. I am not sure that you will entirely like it, but I’m afraid it’s necessary,” said Dumbledore with a sigh.
Harry looked at him curiously and then nodded for him to continue. With a sweep of his wand Professor Dumbledore conjured himself an armchair and pulled it beside Harry’s bed.
“You understand that in remaining here you are protected by blood magics far older than anything Voldemort has allowed for?”
Harry nodded.
“If you remain here until you come of age in the Wizard World - a mere month, I think. Isn’t it?” questioned Professor Dumbledore.
Again Harry nodded.
“Well, if you stay until your birthday, those magics will solidify and have a permanent effect without you needing to return here anymore.”
Harry looked at Dumbledore trying to read his eyes and expression. “So, I stay here until my birthday and then that’s it? Was that enough to convince Uncle Vernon to keep me?”
“Unfortunately, no,” sighed Professor Dumbledore. “However, I have made two other concessions, which you will have to abide by.”
Harry groaned, “Go on, sir. I might as well know the worst.”
“Firstly, you will not use your owl. I will take Hedwig with me and care for her.” Dumbledore held up his hand to quiet Harry’s spluttering. “I’m afraid it’s necessary. Your relatives dislike the noise and inconvenience. I will speak to the other members of the Order and ensure that they also keep to the agreement.”
Harry was furious. “But, sir, they are only doing this so that I can’t complain about them. I won’t be isolated again. Last year was bearable because of the threats the Order made. You can’t make me go back to the way it was before. You can’t!”
“Harry, you must. This is not optional. I cannot keep you safe without the extra security of the blood magic. You have to stay here, and therefore, you will abide by the agreement.”
Harry felt a ferocious heat surge through his body. “I can’t see these blood magics having that much effect. I still have my friends and family killed and tortured by Voldemort, so what point is there?”
“Harry, I must ask you to trust me. I wouldn’t have you do anything that was unnecessary, which is why I need you to keep the other part of the agreement that I made.”
Harry raised his eyebrows. “What.”
Dumbledore looked almost apologetic. “Harry, your relatives are terrified of your magic. There have been several times when you have used wandless magic in anger, and this is their main reason for not wanting you.”
Harry glowered. “Well, if they treat me properly, I won’t get angry and there won’t be a problem,” he snapped.
“I’m afraid that won’t be enough to placate them. So, I have agreed with the Dursleys that you will take a containment potion,” explained Dumbledore.
“A what!” yelled Harry.
“A potion that contains your magical ability.”
“Why on earth should I drink something that will leave me open to attack by Voldemort and every Death Eater that ever was!” Harry roared vehemently.
“Because I am telling you that you must. We need the magic that your presence here creates. Therefore, you will put up with the Dursleys and all they demand, because if you do not the prophecy makes it very clear what will happen,” replied Dumbledore sadly.
Harry was livid. Anger coursed through every bone in his body leaving him shaking and lightheaded with the adrenalin surge. “I do not like this and I won’t agree to this. It’s insanity! As far as I can see, it’s going to get me killed. In fact, it will probably be a competition between Voldemort and the Dursleys as to who gets there first. I won’t do this. You can’t make me.”
The regret on Professor Dumbledore’s face was etched deeply. “I’m very sorry, Harry,” he said as he flicked his wand. “You must understand that I am fighting a war with many lives at stake and I cannot allow the misguided judgments of a sixteen year old wizard to put them in jeopardy. You will understand after your birthday. I will come and collect you, and you will see the bigger picture. I have tried to explain now, but if you won’t accept my decision, I’m afraid that I can and will make you obey.”
Dumbledore carefully removed the vial from his pocket. He had brought it along as a precaution because he’d feared such concessions would be necessary. Gently, he tilted Harry’s head back and poured the liquid between his lips, holding his mouth closed and forcing him to swallow. Then with a mournful backward glance he pocketed the wand that lay on the bedside table and exited the room.
A tear trickled down Harry’s cheek - the only thing that could move after the Petrificus charm that Dumbledore had used to subdue him.