DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and
owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to
Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros.,
Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is
intended.
Harry Potter and the Tomb of the Founder
Chapter One- New Beginnings
Harry threw down the paper. After all the events of the past week the ministry was still being ridiculous about everything that had happened over the last year.
Harry walked into the bathroom and splashed water on his face. He looked into the mirror trying to forget the article and events of the past week. His pale thin looking face brought the thoughts straight back.
He had black bags under his eyes from all the nightmares he had been having and his pale child-like look had returned worse than ever. Harry shook his head at his reflection but he couldn't truthfully say that he was surprised.
Just a week ago Harry lost his godfather Sirius Black in what people were now referring to as 'The Battle of the Ministry.'
That night Harry had lost his only father figure. Harry was on the verge of falling into despair when was told about a prophecy that same night after return to Hogwarts. A prophecy that would either make him kill the monster who had taken so much from him or die as another one of his victims.
He dragged his feet as he crossed the hall and entered his room. 'Three o'clock.' he thought looking at the clock on his side table. He had received the evening paper at about eight and had sat fuming over it since.
He crawled into bed and stared up at the ceiling. 'Why'd I do it?' his thoughts began. 'If I didn't have to go playing the hero Sirius would be alive right now and I would have never heard of the prophecy.'
Harry swiped off a rogue tear as he curled up and drifted off to sleep.
Harry Jumped out of bed and grabbed his wand from the bedside table. The door to his room shook hard from being beaten from the outside.
"Boy get out here now! Your Aunt has been calling you for near on half an hour. There are chores that need doing." Harry's uncles voice came booming through the door.
"Coming Uncle Vernon." Harry called quickly trying to find some clothes to throw on. Since being threatened at Kings Cross Station Harry's relatives had been a little more bearable but Harry had no doubts that no matter how many threats were made by Mad-Eye Moody the Dursleys would never let him off doing chores.
He dragged himself downstairs and into the kitchen. Everything was the same as it had been the year before. This was the one thing in Harry's life he knew would never change.
The Dursleys prided themselves on thinking they were perfectly normal. The kitchen was always perfect with nothing out of place or moved to a different spot. Just like all the other rooms in the house Harry always knew what to expect when he walked in.
Dudley sat on his side of the table stuffing his face with food as his many chins wobbled. 'Even boxing and vandalism couldn't make him lose weight'. Harry thought. But then looking at Vernon Dursley it wasn't much of a surprise.
The elder Dursley sat reading his paper, eating his own breakfast whilst Harry's Aunt stood spying on the neighbors out of the kitchen window. Harry shook his head as he reached for a piece of toast.
"Ruddy teenagers." Vernon said as he put down his newspaper to glare at Harry. "The front garden needs weeding and mowing."
"And when you're done you can do the back as well." his Aunt added not removing her eyes from whatever she was watching.
Harry nodded numbly as he finished his toast. He stood and headed out into the yard to begin weeding, not really seeing or caring what he was doing.
He was too lost in his thoughts to notice anything around him or see any of the Order members standing watch with worried looks on their faces.
'What will happen to me in the coming months? Will I be able to defeat him before he is able to kill my friends? Before he kills me? God just stop this now. How could I deserve this?'
The thoughts swam through his mind ducking and weaving themselves into theories and fears concerning his friends and the wizarding world. Maybe he should just stay on Privet Drive. He was safe there and without his presence in the wizarding world maybe Voldemort would back off a bit.
But deep down Harry knew that would never happen. Whether he separated himself from his world or not Voldemort would continue to cause him pain and the world pain as long as there were people he believed to be unworthy.
The sun slowly crossed the sky as he weeded and mowed the yard. It was coming on lunchtime when Harry heard a throat clear behind him. Turning to see who it was Harry felt a wave of anger surge through him as he continued to mow the yard.
"Harry," Dumbledore began putting his hand on Harry's shoulder.
"Go away" Harry told him as he continued to mow the lawn.
"Just listen for a moment Harry and if you still want me gone I will leave." Harry looked at the old Headmaster expectantly.
"In a week I will be sending Order members to collect you. We left you here for to long last time and I refuse to let it happen again. They will collect you at nine o'clock and take you to Grimmauld place." Dumbledore looked into the young man's eyes knowing what his reaction would be.
"No. I'm not going back there again." he said glaring at Dumbledore.
"Harry we can keep you safe there. You will be with your friends."
"You don't understand. I am not going back to that place whether my friends are there or not. Because of me those same friends you speak of were in the Ministry that night. They were all injured, could have been killed and Sirius did die. So I am not going back to that place. I will not put them in danger again." Harry stood defiantly glaring into Dumbledore's eyes. He would not fall victim to this mans manipulations again.
"Harry none of that was your fault..." Harry wasn't going to let him finish.
"No its not because if I had learnt Occlumency from a competent teacher I wouldn't have seen that dream and if I had known what was at the Ministry I wouldn't have gone there in the first place.
"Leading my friends in was my fault. Not helping Sirius with Bellatrix is something I didn't do that rips at me but going back to that house? The one you locked Sirius in for over a year. A year when you refused to look at me or help me or even talk to me? No I am not going back there again."
Harry walked inside and slammed the door leaving a sad looking Dumbledore standing in the yard before storming up the stairs to his room where he fell onto his bed with a fresh wave of guilt taking him over.
At dinner that night Harry received a letter from Ron and Ginny as well as a package and letter from Fred and George. He quickly took the letters and package from the owl and ran upstairs trying not to make his uncle angry. He put the letters and package on his bed before him moving the package away as he wasn't sure what the twins had sent him.
He decided he had better open the letters first and hope that the contents of the package were revealed to him before he had to open it. He pulled the three letters towards him and took the first one off the top. He could tell by the messy writing it was from Ron.
Harry,
How's it going mate? Dumbledore said he saw you today but refused to talk about it. He said that you might be joining us here in a week. That's brilliant!
Mum's sick with worry about you being with the Muggles but she always is so there's nothing different there. Can you believe the papers? It's ruddy ridiculous. After all that happened they are still making you look like the bad guy. They should be apologizing to you on the front page with Fudge and Percy on the cover.
Percy still hasn't come home. Git. He slammed the door in Mum's face again. I think I'm going to have to send both Percy and the Daily Prophet a letter. Maybe then they will both apologize.
Well Ginny and the twins are annoying me because they want to send their letters so I had better go.
Watch that package from the twins.
Ron
Harry laughed at the thought of Ron sending out a letter to Percy and the Daily Prophet. Harry doubted Ron could even write a letter that would pierce the hairlines of either Percy or Fudge's thick skull.
He pulled Ginny's letter towards him and ripped it open.
Harry!
How're the Muggles? Don't let them get you down. Everything's fine here. Fred and George have been spending a bit of time here since we got back from Hogwarts. This summer is going to prove very entertaining.
They have helped me plan out a heap of pranks on Ron so I don't get bored while we stay here. Dumbledore said that you might be coming here next week but we'll have to see.
Anyway I just wanted to say that I'm pleased that we got to know each other a little more over the last year and I look forward to seeing you soon!
Love, Ginny
Harry smiled. Ginny had grown a lot over the past year. He felt a bit sorry for Ron though. If those three were plotting against him he was in a world of trouble. He pulled the package and letter from the twins towards him.
Harry Old Chap,
We send you this letter with hopes that you are well. If you're anything like our little Ronniekins we know you will be eying the package we have sent you with great caution. As we know this will be your reaction we are truly proud that we have touched you so.
With the recent happenings and things Dumbledore has said we felt it our duty, nay our honor to send you a little 'Cheer Me Up'. Enclosed is a complete stock of all our products kept in a trunk we built just for you.
We only ask that if you use them to lighten up your stay at the Muggles you tell us the stories later. Business is booming and it's all thanks to your investment. If you ever need anything just ask. Merlin knows we owe you a lot. About one thousand Galleons worth.
Yours in Joking, Fred and George.
Harry looked at the Parcel for a moment before ripping off the paper. There was a box with an emblem on top. Harry grinned as he noticed that it was the emblem that the twins had designed for him after the first task in the Triwizard tournament.
It had a large picture of a Hungarian Horntail with a basilisk wrapping itself around its legs trying to catch a snitch as a picture of Harry flew over the top. In print below was his name with the legend, 'The Gryffindor Champion.'
He ran his hand across the emblem smiling. The emblem shone for a moment before words appeared above it saying. 'Recite the Marauder Code' Harry chuckled at the amazing way the twins had just given him a connection to hi father and Sirius without even knowing it.
His father and Sirius having been part of a group with Remus Lupin and the traitor Peter Pettigrew was one of the few things he knew about his father and Sirius. The Marauder's Map and his Dad's invisibility cloak were some of the few possessions he had from them and they were both used in their marauding.
"I solemnly swear I am up to no good." he said clearly. The small box, which could before fit in his pocket grew to become as big as his school trunk. The lid popped open and Harry saw stairs leading into the trunk.
He walked down the stairs amazed at the inside. It was nearly as big as his bedroom and it was full of pranks and items used for mischief and mayhem. He looked at the far wall and grinned when he saw a Gryffindor flag hanging on the wall between the shelves.
'The twins may be trouble but they sure are great friends.' he thought. He began to look at all the items on the shelves. He found Weasleys Whiz Bangs and Extendable Ears but what really caught his eye was the Changeable Chewy. It was a new item whose label said that it could turn you into whoever you desire for an hour or until you spit it out.
Harry grinned as he remembered how in second year he, Ron and Hermione had made an advanced potion they shouldn't even have known about so they could turn into some Slytherins and enter their common room. Harry was glad to see you didn't need a piece of the person for these to work. And it didn't look like they would taste as bad as the potion either.
He passed by the Skiving Snack Boxes and laughed as he picked up the Fred and George equivalent of a Whoopee Cushion. He found an excellent prank for Dudley and walked out with the Whoopee Cushion and treat for Dudley in his hands.
He took the Whoopee Cushion out of the packet and placed it on his uncle's chair. The wizard version emitted a spell when sat on before disappearing into nothing. The spell then made the person pass wind every time they attempted to sit down or stand up.
He placed the treats in the fridge and walked upstairs to await the chaos.
The week quickly passed by in the Dursley household. Harry kept busy and began to feel a little relief since the argument with Dumbledore. It still hurt to think about it, but he felt a lot better. It had been two weeks since it happened and he had to try to keep going.
Harry's uncle was fuming that he was keeping so busy. Most of it was picking on the Dursleys with many pranks and jokes that the twins had given him but he also had some fun threatening to get Mad-Eye Moody to come and see them if they tried to punish him.
It was now a night before the order planned to come and get him and he was packing his things into the trunk that Fred and George had sent him. He needed to get away from the Order and Dumbledore. For once he wanted to have a decent holiday.
He had a plan to get away that would involve the twins. He just hoped that they would help him and not turn him over to the Order.
Harry shrunk the box back down to size and slipped it in his pocket. He put a piece of Changeable Chewy in his mouth and thought about Dudley. Grinning in the mirror for a moment he ran out into the hall trying not to laugh as the stairs shook.
He walked out the front door and down the street. He could see Mundungus Fletcher sitting by a wall yawning and gave a silent laugh. He saw Mrs. Figg walking back home from the shop and knew that there mustn't be anyone else around.
He ran quickly around the corner and through a dark alley. He stopped in a dimly lit street before taking out his wand and holding it out before him.
Harry grinned as the Knight Bus cracked into existence before him. The large triple-decker bus cast a shadow over him in the little light that existed.
"Good evening! My name is Stan Shunpike and welcome to the Knight Bus. I will be your conductor for this evening. This here's the driver Ernie Prang. So where will it be this evening?"
"Diagon Alley." Harry grunted out in Dudley's voice.
"That will be one Galleon, two if you would like one of our specially made Knight Bus t-shirts."
Harry gave Stan one Galleon and got on the bus. He took a bed close to the back so he wouldn't have to have a conversation with Stan and Ernie. Harry grinned as he looked out the window. The order didn't suspect a thing.
The trip on the Knight Bus was quite quick as there was no one else onboard. It was a very short period of time before Harry heard Stan call, "Diagon Alley"
Harry stepped off bus and looked around. He stood before the Leaky Cauldron and no one else was around. He slipped into a short alley next door to the pub and spat out the gum and slipped on his invisibility cloak.
He crept through the pub careful not to run into anyone before heading out the back into the courtyard. He tapped the correct brick and watched with a grin as the archway opened before him.
Although it was dark people still ran around the large street going about their business before the shops closed. Harry walked down the street until he found the twins store. He looked up at the large emblem, two linked W's with a wand and a hat.
He could see the lights still on inside so he slipped in. Once inside it was easy to hear the twins loud voices.
"The sales today were great. We were two hundred galleons over the estimate." one of the twins said.
"That's great." Harry said pulling off the cloak. The twin at the table fell off his chair in surprised as the other one laughed.
"Harry, what are you doing here?" The twin on the floor asked as he stood.
"I ran off from Privet Drive. Dumbledore is sending someone tomorrow to take me back to Grimmauld Place but I don't want to go so I snuck away. Can you guys help me?" they nodded.
"What can we do for you?" one asked.
"Firstly you can tell me who's who." The twins chuckled before telling Harry that George was wearing blue and Fred orange. "Right, thanks. I just need a place to stay and a disguise."
The twins looked at each other and nodded. "You can stay in the room upstairs." Fred told him.
"As for a disguise, we have a product that goes on the market tomorrow. It is a pack of potions that will change your appearance. We have fixed it so they only where off when you take the remedies that come with it." George said as Fred ducked off to another room.
George sat Harry in a seat before talking again. "We invented them for the Order but we know you're a worthy cause. How did you escape from Privet Drive anyway?"
Harry pulled a couple of Changeable Chewies out of his pocket and George laughed. "It was simple really. The Order thought I was Dudley off to pick a fight with a ten year old." Harry and George laughed until Fred entered the room and joined in when Harry told him how he'd escaped. They found it funny that it happened to be on Mundungus Fletcher's watch again too.
After they sobered Fred and George pulled out the potions kit and began asking Harry questions. Harry just waved a hand to stop them from talking and said, "You decide."
The twins whispered for a moment before pulling two potions out of the kit and putting them before Harry.
"Okay," George began "You need to take all of these potions. I know they might be a bit gross but they work. Oh and I will need your glasses for a moment."
Harry dished up his glasses and drank a potion. It was disgusting. He coughed and spluttered for a moment before asking. "What was that?"
"That was the hair changing potion." Fred explained. "Quickly drink the other one, it changes the color of your eyes."
Harry quickly drank the potion before George handed him something.
"I fixed your glasses into contacts. Put them in now then we'll hide your scar." he explained.
Harry put in the contact lenses and looked at Fred and George. Fred pulled out a cloth and a jar from the box and walked towards Harry.
"This is just a paste that has a charm on it to make whatever it covers to be disillusioned and just look like normal skin." Harry nodded and Fred began to put it on his scar.
It took about five minutes for the paste dry, and George handed him a mirror grinning. He looked at his reflection and grinned as he saw a blue eyed, blonde haired young man with no glasses or scar looking back at him.
"This is great guys. Now we just need a fake name." They all sat trying to think of a name.
"What about Barry Brindolow?" Fred asked.
"No it sounds to fake." George said. "What about Nicholas De Mimsy?"
Harry glared at him before his mischief gave Harry an idea. "What about James Evans?"
The twins nodded at his choice of names before Fred looked at his watch.
"Well we had better get back to Grimmauld unless you would like mum turning up here to see if we're okay."
"There's a fridge with snacks upstairs so help yourself. If you need anything wait till tomorrow. People wonder out of Knockturn Alley at night." George finished before waving and disapparating.
Harry walked upstairs and climbed into bed. Tomorrow he would buy the books he would begin to study from. He smiled at what he had done that day and drifted off to sleep.
Harry woke early the next morning. He got dressed and walked out into the cobblestone street. He walked down through the archway and into the courtyard in the Leaky Cauldron.
He walked up to the bar and ordered breakfast. He smiled to himself as Tom the barman didn't recognize him at all before taking a seat.
By the time he had finished his meal the hustle and bustle of Diagon Alley had already began. He walked down the street and entered Gringotts. He remembered the first time he had come to the wizarding bank, amazed to see the Goblins that ran it.
He smiled at how much he had matured over the years and gotten used to a world he had never known. He fished his vault key out of his pocket as he walked up to a service desk.
"I need to go down to my vault please." Harry said clearly.
"And do you have your key sir?" Harry nodded and placed it on the desk. The Goblin examined it for a moment before holding his hand in the air and clicking his fingers.
"Right this way sir." Harry jumped as the Goblin appeared behind him. He followed the goblin into the vault area and climbed into the mine cart that he was pointed towards.
"Hold on tight." The Goblin told him as the cart began to move.
Speeding through the underground Harry looked down below them and saw a spurt of flame coming from an unknown source.
"Are there really dragons down there?" He asked. The Goblin just grinned menacingly.
"If I told you that I'd have to kill you." Harry gulped at the answer.
"Here is your vault sir. Key please." Harry handed him his key and the goblin opened the door.
The Gold, Silver and Bronze shone brightly from the little light available. He quickly scooped a bag full of it and walked out of the vault.
Back outside in Diagon Alley Harry walked toward the bookstore happy that no body seemed to be recognizing him. He opened the door to Flourish and Blotts as Tonks walked by looking at everyone with suspicion.
He walked to the Defense Against the Dark Arts section and quickly found guides to the Ministry used and regulated editions of charms and defensive magic. He took them from the shelves and picked up a few more about the Ministry and Dark Arts Defense League Offensive Magic guides before going to the counter.
The young man who served him looked at him strangely. Harry hoped he didn't recognize him. He walked outside and walked back down the street. He grinned as he saw Snape walking along looking at all the faces in the crowd with a firm smirk placed on his lips.
'Dumbledore must be making him search for me.' he thought.
Harry walked back down the street stopping in at Quality Quidditch supplies to see if any thing new was out. He didn't buy anything as he knew he may not be able to play Quidditch unless his life ban was lifted.
As he entered it was to total pandemonium. There were people everywhere and to top it all off the twin's voices floated over the top of everyone else's giving a show using their items.
"And here I hold our new invention the Weasley Whirly Dinger. It seems like a normal lollypop but when you give it to an un-expecting relative or friend it makes them spin into a tightened and twisted mess. George if you will."
George pulled a sweet out of a packet and popped it in his mouth. He was immediately pulled and twisted and ended up looking like a rung cloth or a twisted piece of licorice.
"Harmless of course and will wear of in under half an hour. Those will be sold from tomorrow onward and will cost a cozy amount of five sickles a half dozen. Now for something completely different." Fred told a cheering crowd.
The twins went on to show the crowd many products extracting cheers and laughter and applause before bidding them farewell and walking out the back.
"Good show guys. Didn't know you had made that many products." Harry grinned.
"Harry you insult us," Fred said.
"Do you believe we are just a couple of pranksters unable to think of anything except ideas the great Marauders left us?" George continued.
"Two pitiless wrecks who have little to do but design a couple of unfurnished pranks instead of a range of quality ones?" Fred asked looking about to cry.
"It hurts Harry it really hurts." George said covering his heart with his hand.
"I only meant that I didn't realize you had that many more than you put in my trunk. Thanks for that by the way, I didn't get a chance yet." Harry grinned as the other two immediately dropped the charades and patted him on the back.
"Don't worry about it. You were what got our business out of our heads and into reality. We were glad to help you." Fred said.
"I just hope you can put the school into mischief and take after me and Fred here." George finished.
Harry grinned as he came up with an idea. "Sorry guys I'd rather take after old Padfoot, Moony and Prongs."
The twins looked surprised. "What do you know Harry? And you forgot Wormtail." George told him.
"No Wormtail just followed the others around. You've met him before." The twins continued to look bewildered as Harry continued.
"Treacherous rat. Put Padfoot in Prison, had Prongs killed and left poor old Moony on his own. I ever meet the wretch again I'll make sure he gets what's coming to him." Harry couldn't help it and laughed as he saw the totally lost and awed expression on the twin's faces.
"Are you saying you know The Marauders?" Fred asked eagerly.
"Know them? I am one by blood. You've met two of them and I know you have heard of the other two more than once." Their eyes went wide.
"It was your dad and his friends." George said.
Harry nodded and ticked them off on his fingers. "Dad was Prongs, a Stag Animagus. Sirius was Padfoot, a Dog. Lupin was Moony, Werewolf. And Peter Pettigrew was Wormtail. A treacherous little wimp that takes the form of a rat." The twin's eyes widened.
"So you're like royalty?" Fred said as he bowed low.
"No wonder you had no problem donating one thousand galleons to a joke shop." George said before they all burst into laughter.
"Anyway Harry we need to talk." Fred said suddenly serious. "Come upstairs so we can sit down."
They walked up the stairs and sat in the room that Harry had slept in the night before. He dumped the books he had purchased on the bed and noticed the twins looking at them curiously.
"Just some defense books. Can't wait to try them out." they nodded.
"That's partly what we wanted to talk to you about Harry. We were at Grimmauld Place last night and they were talking about wanting to give you some special training." Fred began.
"Now at this time they thought you were still at the Dursleys and were preparing to come and get you so we had to play our lines right." George told him,
"But the Order was trying to find a way to hide your magic so you could perform it outside school. Since Fudge is still saying you're a loony they can't ask him to give you a license early so they were looking for a spell." Fred explained
"We let slip that we knew of a spell we have been using for years now to hide the magic we use on our items so no one, not even the Ministry, will know about it." George said excitedly.
"So Dumbledore said that when you leave the Dursleys he would like us to perform this spell on you. So in accordance to Dumbledore's wishes, even though they are not as he planned, we have decided to use the spell on you so that you can train." Harry grinned as the twins were bursting with excitement.
"Plus because we are such wonderful friends we are going to teach you to Apparate and learn and train with you on weekends." George said.
"That's great guy's. When can we do this?" The twins looked at each other.
"Right now." they told him and George lifted his wand.
"Don't worry Harry. Just stand still. You will only feel a slight warmth." Fred explained.
George stared at him for a moment then grinned "Ready? Abscondere Magus Persequor!" Harry felt a rush of warmth and smile.
"Is that it?" The twins nodded. "Thanks guys."
"Don't worry about it but we had better finish what we had to tell you." Fred said. "Not long after you arrived this morning we got a floo call from mum. She told us you were missing and that Dumbledore blamed himself and they are all really worried. We talked to Ginny and Hermione who were in tears and Ron was all pale but we said you were fine and that you were Harry. Probably off in hiding being smart." Fred said.
Harry smirked at how the twins could cover the truth yet still place faith enough in people for them to believe.
"They said the whole Order is out looking for you and that they hoped you didn't get found by Snape because he was really annoyed and Ron thought that if he found you your likely to hurt each other more than help get you to Grimmauld. We know you may not want to hear this but we had to tell you." George said.
"We don't mind either way but if you were arguing with whether to stay here or there we thought you should know how everyone's reacting." Fred finished.
"Thanks for telling me. I'm still not going back there though. I feel bad hurting them but that place... not so soon." The twins patted him on the back before telling him they had to go back to work.
Harry picked up one of the books and began to read it. He was amazed how much more detail specialty books went into about the range and types of spells used compared to his textbooks.
He paged through The Ministry Registry of Authorized Charms and How to Cast Them. Every so often he stopped to write down a spell to learn and he did the same with the other books he had bought. It was nearly dinnertime when he put down the books and gave it a break.
"Still at it then Harry?" Fred asked as he came up the stairs.
Harry nodded. "I haven't been able to practice anything yet though. I don't want to destroy anything in here with spells." Fred grinned at him.
"Well Harry come with me and I will show you a wizard's gym. It's open till ten pm so we can get two hours training in before they shut if we go now." Harry nodded and grabbed a cloak. He hadn't got a chance to go shopping yet because he would be in Diagon Alley for a while yet.
"Where is it?" Harry asked.
"On the corner before Knockturn Alley. Most people stay away from it because of the location but it's a good place to keep your dueling form up." Fred explained.
They walked down the dark cobblestone street and toward the alley where Harry had accidentally landed on his first floo ride.
"This Harry is Willie Wizards Dueling Dance Floor. Its got a weird name but it's a great place to practice." He pushed the door open and entered.
The room was a lot larger on the inside and Harry was amazed to see three or four rooms leading off into the back.
"How can I help you this evening?" A man wearing dueling robes asked.
"We would like to use a room until ten please." Fred told him.
"Right this way sir. That will be two galleons." Fred gave him two galleons and they were led into a padded room.
"You may use this room. Enjoy." The man left and Fred drew his wand.
"Now if there are two of us we can come here for friendly duels but if it's ever just you just tell owner who you just met that you would like a magical workout for one. It's a setup of moving practice dummies and targets you can hit with spells." Harry nodded. "So would you like to duel?"
"Love to." Harry grinned at George before they both raised their wands and paced around each other.
The duel started fast. Curses and spells flew around the two of them as they either dodged or blocked one after another. The two continued sparring as Harry got off a few of the new spells he had learnt.
He had found a binding curse which issued ropes from the users wand which tied up the person it hit and a jinx that would force the person into short term memory loss making it hard to remember what you were about to do until the spell is removed.
It was after fifteen minutes that Harry got a disarming charm past George and successfully won the mock duel.
"I can see why you made such a good teacher Harry. You're a fast learner when it comes to dueling." Harry helped him up and grinned happily as they started again.
Harry had spent a lot of time over the past few weeks in the magical gym. It was now a week before his birthday and as the twins had promised they were teaching him how to Apparate.
"Alright Harry, I know from what people tell you Apparating is hard. This is not true. It only becomes hard when you get nervous." Fred told him. "What you need to do is believe you can do it and will yourself forward with your magic."
"Imagine that you are on the other side of the room and then will yourself to be there." George told him.
Harry thought of the other side of the room and willed himself to be there. After a few minutes there was a loud CRACK and Harry landed on the other side of the room. The twins applauded and had him do it back and forth for a few hours.
"Now we will try apparating further tomorrow. For now have a break." Fred and George left him upstairs and went down to the shop where they had left a sales witch in charge.
Harry picked up his cloak and decided to go and buy his things for school. He picked up the thick parchment letter describing his school needs for the next year off the desk and walked downstairs.
Harry saw a few members of the Order around and grinned that it had been about three weeks since he had left the Dursley's and the Order was still unable to find him. The twins had told him a few nights before that Snape was still being forced to look for him and it was now Harry chuckled as he saw the greasy haired potions master grabbing random people in the crowd and looking into their eyes.
Harry slipped down the street and entered Madam Malkins Robes and was measured up for his robes before asking them to drop them off to the twins store and paying. He then continued on to Flourish and Blotts and bought his schoolbooks.
He never was quite interested in textbooks but felt relatively happy as he remembered how they helped his results in the Owls. He had received a letter only two days before giving his scores.
Mr. Harry James Potter
Gryffindor, Hogwarts Age Fifteen
O.W.L Results
Defense Against The Dark Arts Theory: Outstanding Practical: Outstanding
Herbology Theory: Acceptable Practical: Exceeds Expectations
Astronomy Theory Acceptable Practical Acceptable
Charms Theory: Exceeds Expectations Practical: Exceeds Expectations
Transfiguration Theory: Exceeds Expectations Practical: Exceeds Expectations
Divination Theory: Poor Practical: Poor
Care Of Magical Creatures Theory: Exceeds Expectations Practical: Outstanding.
Potions Theory: Exceeds Expectations Practical: Exceeds Expectations
OWLS: Eleven
One owl is awarded for Exceeds Expectations and over. Zero for Acceptable and under. A score with a after it means an honor in that test.
Harry had been very pleased with his Eleven Owls. Percy and Bill had both got twelve and he bet that Hermione had earned at least that. After reading the letter he had sat and thought of his friends.
He hoped they weren't to mad at him for running away but he also needed that time away from everything.
He shook his head as he paid the clerk to remove the memories. He had bought all the books for subjects he had passed and received owls in but also bought the potions texts because even if he didn't make Snape's class he was going to study Potions.
He walked out of Flourish and Blotts and bought the remainder of his school needs. As he was returning to the twins store he could see a bunch of people crowded around the window to Quality Quidditch Supplies.
He walked up to the crowd to see why they were so excited. In the window sat a brand new broom model. It had a fine black wood handle with beautiful red twigs and a gold polish name flaring across the handle.
Phoenix.. Harry raised his eyebrows as he read the card underneath it.
The Phoenix broom is the new line from the manufacturers of the Firebolt. It has improved speed, brakes and turning charms as well as a high altitude charm allowing you to go higher and faster than you ever have before.
It has been named the Phoenix because in test runs with Victor Krum piloting the broom it was said to turn and fly as swiftly as a Phoenix.
Price on request.
Harry walked inside to take a better look at the broom. It was beautiful that's for sure. But what if he got his Firebolt back? The Firebolt that Sirius had given him.
'No' he thought 'I will not think of Sirius. The broom he gave me will be kept so it isn't damaged.' Harry walked to the store clerk and asked for the price.
"The Phoenix is brand new today. It has a current sale price of five hundred and ninety-five Galleons. Not even Quidditch league players have been able to buy this broom yet." Harry nodded before leaving the shop.
Five hundred and ninety-five Galleons. He went back to the twins shop to dump his school gear before heading back to Gringotts.
He caught a cart down to his vault and asked the goblin. "Is there any way to find out how much money is in this vault?"
"Yes there is. Would you like to find out?" The goblin asked. Harry nodded his head and the goblin put his palm to the door. He muttered something Harry couldn't hear and a piece of paper appeared. He handed it Harry and it read.
Vault of Harry James Potter
Total: 14988 Galleons 12983 Sickles and 11500 Knuts.
Total withdrawals in last decade: 300 Galleons 200 Sickles and 75 Knuts
Harry looked in surprise at this sheet. He could easily afford the broom. He hadn't even dinted the gold silver and bronze that had been sitting down here.
He asked the goblin to open the vault and withdrew Five Hundred and Ninety- Five Galleons. He thanked the goblin as he stepped back into the foyer and walked back toward Quality Quidditch Supplies.
The clerk's draw dropped as he placed the money on the desk and requested a Phoenix broom. Harry grinned to himself and looked around the shop adding another ten galleons for the snitch he placed onto the table as the man walked out.
"May I ask your name sir? You are the first owner of a Phoenix broom in all of Britain." He clerk said happily.
"James Evans." Harry told the man who quickly began to write out a receipt.
"Thank you sir. I'd like no one to know who I am if that's okay with you. I wouldn't want anyone bugging me to see my new broom." Harry lifted the broom from the desk and nodded at the clerk before leaving the shop.
Harry felt happier than he had felt in so long. This broom was something he had bought just for himself, no one else could understand how strange and joyous it felt for Harry to be able to spoil himself.
Then again this was Harry's summer.
He entered the twins store again and slipped out the back. Fred immediately saw Harry and looked suspiciously at the parcel.
"What you got there Harry?" Harry grinned widely.
"A worthy investment. Is George around?" Fred nodded. "Go get him and meet me upstairs."
Harry sat the broom on his bed. It was still wrapped up and Harry was finding it hard not to just jump on it and fly away. The twins came in a moment later and grinned at him.
"So what have you got?" Fred asked excitedly.
"I decided that I would buy a new broom. Since Sirius has died I don't feel like I can ride my Firebolt again. That's if I get it back at all, so I replaced it." Fred and George looked at each other.
"So you bought another Firebolt?" George asked.
"You haven't been to Quality Quidditch Supplies today have you?" the twins shook their heads. "Then you wouldn't have seen the new design by the makers of Firebolt?"
The twin's eyes went wide as Harry held the package up. He ripped the paper from around the broom and smiled as the twin's jaws dropped.
"It's the new Phoenix broom. I don't want anyone to know I have this because I want to surprise the other Quidditch teams. I think when you teach me to Apparate long distances tomorrow we will need to go somewhere we can ride a broom. The Burrow maybe so we can have some fun."
The twins nodded numbly. "Can we touch it?" Fred asked stupidly.
Harry chuckled and handed them the broom. He watched them ooh and ahh over it before picking up a book on advanced charms. He had made a large list of charms and spells he should learn and had only learnt about a quarter of them. He planned to learn more about them when they went to Hogwarts.
The twins went back downstairs leaving Harry alone. He picked up his new broom and examined it tenderly. The handle was perfect. The broom itself was light and the tail twigs were amazing. They seemed to meld perfectly with each other as if they were plumage.
Harry felt like he had put his money in the right place.
The next day Harry rose early. After having breakfast at the Leaky Cauldron he returned to the shop and found the twins waiting in the upstairs room.
"Ready to learn to Apparate a longer distance?" Fred asked eying Harry's broom.
"Yeah I'm ready to go. What do I do?" Harry asked.
"Think of the Burrow. Just imagine standing in the kitchen. If you haven't been to a place where you are apparating to it's a little harder. You need to think of the name of the place you are apparating to and trust your magic to get you there." George explained.
"So I just think of the Burrow and imagine I'm in the kitchen and Apparate?" Harry asked.
"That's it." Fred said. "Give it a try. We'll take your broom and meet you there."
The twins disappeared with a pop and Harry was left on his own. He thought about all the fun times he had had at the Burrow. He thought of lunch in the kitchen and the twins setting off wet start fireworks in the backyard. He pushed all his magic behind himself and felt the world disappear before appearing with a crack.
He stood in the kitchen of the Burrow. It was as he had always remembered it.
"Well done Harry." Fred said. "Now show us this broom of yours."
Harry laughed as he took the broom and flew out the back door.
Harry tore through the air with precision and grace. He was flying faster and more precise than he had ever been able to in his life.
Harry was again glad that this summer had been taken for himself. He flew for a few hours before landing in front of a pair of ecstatic looking twins.
"Here you go." He said handing the broom to the two. "Have a ride."
As Harry watched the twins flying around on his broom he smiled. He truly did have great friends.
Chapter One- New Beginnings
Harry threw down the paper. After all the events of the past week the ministry was still being ridiculous about everything that had happened over the last year.
Harry walked into the bathroom and splashed water on his face. He looked into the mirror trying to forget the article and events of the past week. His pale thin looking face brought the thoughts straight back.
He had black bags under his eyes from all the nightmares he had been having and his pale child-like look had returned worse than ever. Harry shook his head at his reflection but he couldn't truthfully say that he was surprised.
Just a week ago Harry lost his godfather Sirius Black in what people were now referring to as 'The Battle of the Ministry.'
That night Harry had lost his only father figure. Harry was on the verge of falling into despair when was told about a prophecy that same night after return to Hogwarts. A prophecy that would either make him kill the monster who had taken so much from him or die as another one of his victims.
He dragged his feet as he crossed the hall and entered his room. 'Three o'clock.' he thought looking at the clock on his side table. He had received the evening paper at about eight and had sat fuming over it since.
He crawled into bed and stared up at the ceiling. 'Why'd I do it?' his thoughts began. 'If I didn't have to go playing the hero Sirius would be alive right now and I would have never heard of the prophecy.'
Harry swiped off a rogue tear as he curled up and drifted off to sleep.
Harry Jumped out of bed and grabbed his wand from the bedside table. The door to his room shook hard from being beaten from the outside.
"Boy get out here now! Your Aunt has been calling you for near on half an hour. There are chores that need doing." Harry's uncles voice came booming through the door.
"Coming Uncle Vernon." Harry called quickly trying to find some clothes to throw on. Since being threatened at Kings Cross Station Harry's relatives had been a little more bearable but Harry had no doubts that no matter how many threats were made by Mad-Eye Moody the Dursleys would never let him off doing chores.
He dragged himself downstairs and into the kitchen. Everything was the same as it had been the year before. This was the one thing in Harry's life he knew would never change.
The Dursleys prided themselves on thinking they were perfectly normal. The kitchen was always perfect with nothing out of place or moved to a different spot. Just like all the other rooms in the house Harry always knew what to expect when he walked in.
Dudley sat on his side of the table stuffing his face with food as his many chins wobbled. 'Even boxing and vandalism couldn't make him lose weight'. Harry thought. But then looking at Vernon Dursley it wasn't much of a surprise.
The elder Dursley sat reading his paper, eating his own breakfast whilst Harry's Aunt stood spying on the neighbors out of the kitchen window. Harry shook his head as he reached for a piece of toast.
"Ruddy teenagers." Vernon said as he put down his newspaper to glare at Harry. "The front garden needs weeding and mowing."
"And when you're done you can do the back as well." his Aunt added not removing her eyes from whatever she was watching.
Harry nodded numbly as he finished his toast. He stood and headed out into the yard to begin weeding, not really seeing or caring what he was doing.
He was too lost in his thoughts to notice anything around him or see any of the Order members standing watch with worried looks on their faces.
'What will happen to me in the coming months? Will I be able to defeat him before he is able to kill my friends? Before he kills me? God just stop this now. How could I deserve this?'
The thoughts swam through his mind ducking and weaving themselves into theories and fears concerning his friends and the wizarding world. Maybe he should just stay on Privet Drive. He was safe there and without his presence in the wizarding world maybe Voldemort would back off a bit.
But deep down Harry knew that would never happen. Whether he separated himself from his world or not Voldemort would continue to cause him pain and the world pain as long as there were people he believed to be unworthy.
The sun slowly crossed the sky as he weeded and mowed the yard. It was coming on lunchtime when Harry heard a throat clear behind him. Turning to see who it was Harry felt a wave of anger surge through him as he continued to mow the yard.
"Harry," Dumbledore began putting his hand on Harry's shoulder.
"Go away" Harry told him as he continued to mow the lawn.
"Just listen for a moment Harry and if you still want me gone I will leave." Harry looked at the old Headmaster expectantly.
"In a week I will be sending Order members to collect you. We left you here for to long last time and I refuse to let it happen again. They will collect you at nine o'clock and take you to Grimmauld place." Dumbledore looked into the young man's eyes knowing what his reaction would be.
"No. I'm not going back there again." he said glaring at Dumbledore.
"Harry we can keep you safe there. You will be with your friends."
"You don't understand. I am not going back to that place whether my friends are there or not. Because of me those same friends you speak of were in the Ministry that night. They were all injured, could have been killed and Sirius did die. So I am not going back to that place. I will not put them in danger again." Harry stood defiantly glaring into Dumbledore's eyes. He would not fall victim to this mans manipulations again.
"Harry none of that was your fault..." Harry wasn't going to let him finish.
"No its not because if I had learnt Occlumency from a competent teacher I wouldn't have seen that dream and if I had known what was at the Ministry I wouldn't have gone there in the first place.
"Leading my friends in was my fault. Not helping Sirius with Bellatrix is something I didn't do that rips at me but going back to that house? The one you locked Sirius in for over a year. A year when you refused to look at me or help me or even talk to me? No I am not going back there again."
Harry walked inside and slammed the door leaving a sad looking Dumbledore standing in the yard before storming up the stairs to his room where he fell onto his bed with a fresh wave of guilt taking him over.
At dinner that night Harry received a letter from Ron and Ginny as well as a package and letter from Fred and George. He quickly took the letters and package from the owl and ran upstairs trying not to make his uncle angry. He put the letters and package on his bed before him moving the package away as he wasn't sure what the twins had sent him.
He decided he had better open the letters first and hope that the contents of the package were revealed to him before he had to open it. He pulled the three letters towards him and took the first one off the top. He could tell by the messy writing it was from Ron.
Harry,
How's it going mate? Dumbledore said he saw you today but refused to talk about it. He said that you might be joining us here in a week. That's brilliant!
Mum's sick with worry about you being with the Muggles but she always is so there's nothing different there. Can you believe the papers? It's ruddy ridiculous. After all that happened they are still making you look like the bad guy. They should be apologizing to you on the front page with Fudge and Percy on the cover.
Percy still hasn't come home. Git. He slammed the door in Mum's face again. I think I'm going to have to send both Percy and the Daily Prophet a letter. Maybe then they will both apologize.
Well Ginny and the twins are annoying me because they want to send their letters so I had better go.
Watch that package from the twins.
Ron
Harry laughed at the thought of Ron sending out a letter to Percy and the Daily Prophet. Harry doubted Ron could even write a letter that would pierce the hairlines of either Percy or Fudge's thick skull.
He pulled Ginny's letter towards him and ripped it open.
Harry!
How're the Muggles? Don't let them get you down. Everything's fine here. Fred and George have been spending a bit of time here since we got back from Hogwarts. This summer is going to prove very entertaining.
They have helped me plan out a heap of pranks on Ron so I don't get bored while we stay here. Dumbledore said that you might be coming here next week but we'll have to see.
Anyway I just wanted to say that I'm pleased that we got to know each other a little more over the last year and I look forward to seeing you soon!
Love, Ginny
Harry smiled. Ginny had grown a lot over the past year. He felt a bit sorry for Ron though. If those three were plotting against him he was in a world of trouble. He pulled the package and letter from the twins towards him.
Harry Old Chap,
We send you this letter with hopes that you are well. If you're anything like our little Ronniekins we know you will be eying the package we have sent you with great caution. As we know this will be your reaction we are truly proud that we have touched you so.
With the recent happenings and things Dumbledore has said we felt it our duty, nay our honor to send you a little 'Cheer Me Up'. Enclosed is a complete stock of all our products kept in a trunk we built just for you.
We only ask that if you use them to lighten up your stay at the Muggles you tell us the stories later. Business is booming and it's all thanks to your investment. If you ever need anything just ask. Merlin knows we owe you a lot. About one thousand Galleons worth.
Yours in Joking, Fred and George.
Harry looked at the Parcel for a moment before ripping off the paper. There was a box with an emblem on top. Harry grinned as he noticed that it was the emblem that the twins had designed for him after the first task in the Triwizard tournament.
It had a large picture of a Hungarian Horntail with a basilisk wrapping itself around its legs trying to catch a snitch as a picture of Harry flew over the top. In print below was his name with the legend, 'The Gryffindor Champion.'
He ran his hand across the emblem smiling. The emblem shone for a moment before words appeared above it saying. 'Recite the Marauder Code' Harry chuckled at the amazing way the twins had just given him a connection to hi father and Sirius without even knowing it.
His father and Sirius having been part of a group with Remus Lupin and the traitor Peter Pettigrew was one of the few things he knew about his father and Sirius. The Marauder's Map and his Dad's invisibility cloak were some of the few possessions he had from them and they were both used in their marauding.
"I solemnly swear I am up to no good." he said clearly. The small box, which could before fit in his pocket grew to become as big as his school trunk. The lid popped open and Harry saw stairs leading into the trunk.
He walked down the stairs amazed at the inside. It was nearly as big as his bedroom and it was full of pranks and items used for mischief and mayhem. He looked at the far wall and grinned when he saw a Gryffindor flag hanging on the wall between the shelves.
'The twins may be trouble but they sure are great friends.' he thought. He began to look at all the items on the shelves. He found Weasleys Whiz Bangs and Extendable Ears but what really caught his eye was the Changeable Chewy. It was a new item whose label said that it could turn you into whoever you desire for an hour or until you spit it out.
Harry grinned as he remembered how in second year he, Ron and Hermione had made an advanced potion they shouldn't even have known about so they could turn into some Slytherins and enter their common room. Harry was glad to see you didn't need a piece of the person for these to work. And it didn't look like they would taste as bad as the potion either.
He passed by the Skiving Snack Boxes and laughed as he picked up the Fred and George equivalent of a Whoopee Cushion. He found an excellent prank for Dudley and walked out with the Whoopee Cushion and treat for Dudley in his hands.
He took the Whoopee Cushion out of the packet and placed it on his uncle's chair. The wizard version emitted a spell when sat on before disappearing into nothing. The spell then made the person pass wind every time they attempted to sit down or stand up.
He placed the treats in the fridge and walked upstairs to await the chaos.
The week quickly passed by in the Dursley household. Harry kept busy and began to feel a little relief since the argument with Dumbledore. It still hurt to think about it, but he felt a lot better. It had been two weeks since it happened and he had to try to keep going.
Harry's uncle was fuming that he was keeping so busy. Most of it was picking on the Dursleys with many pranks and jokes that the twins had given him but he also had some fun threatening to get Mad-Eye Moody to come and see them if they tried to punish him.
It was now a night before the order planned to come and get him and he was packing his things into the trunk that Fred and George had sent him. He needed to get away from the Order and Dumbledore. For once he wanted to have a decent holiday.
He had a plan to get away that would involve the twins. He just hoped that they would help him and not turn him over to the Order.
Harry shrunk the box back down to size and slipped it in his pocket. He put a piece of Changeable Chewy in his mouth and thought about Dudley. Grinning in the mirror for a moment he ran out into the hall trying not to laugh as the stairs shook.
He walked out the front door and down the street. He could see Mundungus Fletcher sitting by a wall yawning and gave a silent laugh. He saw Mrs. Figg walking back home from the shop and knew that there mustn't be anyone else around.
He ran quickly around the corner and through a dark alley. He stopped in a dimly lit street before taking out his wand and holding it out before him.
Harry grinned as the Knight Bus cracked into existence before him. The large triple-decker bus cast a shadow over him in the little light that existed.
"Good evening! My name is Stan Shunpike and welcome to the Knight Bus. I will be your conductor for this evening. This here's the driver Ernie Prang. So where will it be this evening?"
"Diagon Alley." Harry grunted out in Dudley's voice.
"That will be one Galleon, two if you would like one of our specially made Knight Bus t-shirts."
Harry gave Stan one Galleon and got on the bus. He took a bed close to the back so he wouldn't have to have a conversation with Stan and Ernie. Harry grinned as he looked out the window. The order didn't suspect a thing.
The trip on the Knight Bus was quite quick as there was no one else onboard. It was a very short period of time before Harry heard Stan call, "Diagon Alley"
Harry stepped off bus and looked around. He stood before the Leaky Cauldron and no one else was around. He slipped into a short alley next door to the pub and spat out the gum and slipped on his invisibility cloak.
He crept through the pub careful not to run into anyone before heading out the back into the courtyard. He tapped the correct brick and watched with a grin as the archway opened before him.
Although it was dark people still ran around the large street going about their business before the shops closed. Harry walked down the street until he found the twins store. He looked up at the large emblem, two linked W's with a wand and a hat.
He could see the lights still on inside so he slipped in. Once inside it was easy to hear the twins loud voices.
"The sales today were great. We were two hundred galleons over the estimate." one of the twins said.
"That's great." Harry said pulling off the cloak. The twin at the table fell off his chair in surprised as the other one laughed.
"Harry, what are you doing here?" The twin on the floor asked as he stood.
"I ran off from Privet Drive. Dumbledore is sending someone tomorrow to take me back to Grimmauld Place but I don't want to go so I snuck away. Can you guys help me?" they nodded.
"What can we do for you?" one asked.
"Firstly you can tell me who's who." The twins chuckled before telling Harry that George was wearing blue and Fred orange. "Right, thanks. I just need a place to stay and a disguise."
The twins looked at each other and nodded. "You can stay in the room upstairs." Fred told him.
"As for a disguise, we have a product that goes on the market tomorrow. It is a pack of potions that will change your appearance. We have fixed it so they only where off when you take the remedies that come with it." George said as Fred ducked off to another room.
George sat Harry in a seat before talking again. "We invented them for the Order but we know you're a worthy cause. How did you escape from Privet Drive anyway?"
Harry pulled a couple of Changeable Chewies out of his pocket and George laughed. "It was simple really. The Order thought I was Dudley off to pick a fight with a ten year old." Harry and George laughed until Fred entered the room and joined in when Harry told him how he'd escaped. They found it funny that it happened to be on Mundungus Fletcher's watch again too.
After they sobered Fred and George pulled out the potions kit and began asking Harry questions. Harry just waved a hand to stop them from talking and said, "You decide."
The twins whispered for a moment before pulling two potions out of the kit and putting them before Harry.
"Okay," George began "You need to take all of these potions. I know they might be a bit gross but they work. Oh and I will need your glasses for a moment."
Harry dished up his glasses and drank a potion. It was disgusting. He coughed and spluttered for a moment before asking. "What was that?"
"That was the hair changing potion." Fred explained. "Quickly drink the other one, it changes the color of your eyes."
Harry quickly drank the potion before George handed him something.
"I fixed your glasses into contacts. Put them in now then we'll hide your scar." he explained.
Harry put in the contact lenses and looked at Fred and George. Fred pulled out a cloth and a jar from the box and walked towards Harry.
"This is just a paste that has a charm on it to make whatever it covers to be disillusioned and just look like normal skin." Harry nodded and Fred began to put it on his scar.
It took about five minutes for the paste dry, and George handed him a mirror grinning. He looked at his reflection and grinned as he saw a blue eyed, blonde haired young man with no glasses or scar looking back at him.
"This is great guys. Now we just need a fake name." They all sat trying to think of a name.
"What about Barry Brindolow?" Fred asked.
"No it sounds to fake." George said. "What about Nicholas De Mimsy?"
Harry glared at him before his mischief gave Harry an idea. "What about James Evans?"
The twins nodded at his choice of names before Fred looked at his watch.
"Well we had better get back to Grimmauld unless you would like mum turning up here to see if we're okay."
"There's a fridge with snacks upstairs so help yourself. If you need anything wait till tomorrow. People wonder out of Knockturn Alley at night." George finished before waving and disapparating.
Harry walked upstairs and climbed into bed. Tomorrow he would buy the books he would begin to study from. He smiled at what he had done that day and drifted off to sleep.
Harry woke early the next morning. He got dressed and walked out into the cobblestone street. He walked down through the archway and into the courtyard in the Leaky Cauldron.
He walked up to the bar and ordered breakfast. He smiled to himself as Tom the barman didn't recognize him at all before taking a seat.
By the time he had finished his meal the hustle and bustle of Diagon Alley had already began. He walked down the street and entered Gringotts. He remembered the first time he had come to the wizarding bank, amazed to see the Goblins that ran it.
He smiled at how much he had matured over the years and gotten used to a world he had never known. He fished his vault key out of his pocket as he walked up to a service desk.
"I need to go down to my vault please." Harry said clearly.
"And do you have your key sir?" Harry nodded and placed it on the desk. The Goblin examined it for a moment before holding his hand in the air and clicking his fingers.
"Right this way sir." Harry jumped as the Goblin appeared behind him. He followed the goblin into the vault area and climbed into the mine cart that he was pointed towards.
"Hold on tight." The Goblin told him as the cart began to move.
Speeding through the underground Harry looked down below them and saw a spurt of flame coming from an unknown source.
"Are there really dragons down there?" He asked. The Goblin just grinned menacingly.
"If I told you that I'd have to kill you." Harry gulped at the answer.
"Here is your vault sir. Key please." Harry handed him his key and the goblin opened the door.
The Gold, Silver and Bronze shone brightly from the little light available. He quickly scooped a bag full of it and walked out of the vault.
Back outside in Diagon Alley Harry walked toward the bookstore happy that no body seemed to be recognizing him. He opened the door to Flourish and Blotts as Tonks walked by looking at everyone with suspicion.
He walked to the Defense Against the Dark Arts section and quickly found guides to the Ministry used and regulated editions of charms and defensive magic. He took them from the shelves and picked up a few more about the Ministry and Dark Arts Defense League Offensive Magic guides before going to the counter.
The young man who served him looked at him strangely. Harry hoped he didn't recognize him. He walked outside and walked back down the street. He grinned as he saw Snape walking along looking at all the faces in the crowd with a firm smirk placed on his lips.
'Dumbledore must be making him search for me.' he thought.
Harry walked back down the street stopping in at Quality Quidditch supplies to see if any thing new was out. He didn't buy anything as he knew he may not be able to play Quidditch unless his life ban was lifted.
As he entered it was to total pandemonium. There were people everywhere and to top it all off the twin's voices floated over the top of everyone else's giving a show using their items.
"And here I hold our new invention the Weasley Whirly Dinger. It seems like a normal lollypop but when you give it to an un-expecting relative or friend it makes them spin into a tightened and twisted mess. George if you will."
George pulled a sweet out of a packet and popped it in his mouth. He was immediately pulled and twisted and ended up looking like a rung cloth or a twisted piece of licorice.
"Harmless of course and will wear of in under half an hour. Those will be sold from tomorrow onward and will cost a cozy amount of five sickles a half dozen. Now for something completely different." Fred told a cheering crowd.
The twins went on to show the crowd many products extracting cheers and laughter and applause before bidding them farewell and walking out the back.
"Good show guys. Didn't know you had made that many products." Harry grinned.
"Harry you insult us," Fred said.
"Do you believe we are just a couple of pranksters unable to think of anything except ideas the great Marauders left us?" George continued.
"Two pitiless wrecks who have little to do but design a couple of unfurnished pranks instead of a range of quality ones?" Fred asked looking about to cry.
"It hurts Harry it really hurts." George said covering his heart with his hand.
"I only meant that I didn't realize you had that many more than you put in my trunk. Thanks for that by the way, I didn't get a chance yet." Harry grinned as the other two immediately dropped the charades and patted him on the back.
"Don't worry about it. You were what got our business out of our heads and into reality. We were glad to help you." Fred said.
"I just hope you can put the school into mischief and take after me and Fred here." George finished.
Harry grinned as he came up with an idea. "Sorry guys I'd rather take after old Padfoot, Moony and Prongs."
The twins looked surprised. "What do you know Harry? And you forgot Wormtail." George told him.
"No Wormtail just followed the others around. You've met him before." The twins continued to look bewildered as Harry continued.
"Treacherous rat. Put Padfoot in Prison, had Prongs killed and left poor old Moony on his own. I ever meet the wretch again I'll make sure he gets what's coming to him." Harry couldn't help it and laughed as he saw the totally lost and awed expression on the twin's faces.
"Are you saying you know The Marauders?" Fred asked eagerly.
"Know them? I am one by blood. You've met two of them and I know you have heard of the other two more than once." Their eyes went wide.
"It was your dad and his friends." George said.
Harry nodded and ticked them off on his fingers. "Dad was Prongs, a Stag Animagus. Sirius was Padfoot, a Dog. Lupin was Moony, Werewolf. And Peter Pettigrew was Wormtail. A treacherous little wimp that takes the form of a rat." The twin's eyes widened.
"So you're like royalty?" Fred said as he bowed low.
"No wonder you had no problem donating one thousand galleons to a joke shop." George said before they all burst into laughter.
"Anyway Harry we need to talk." Fred said suddenly serious. "Come upstairs so we can sit down."
They walked up the stairs and sat in the room that Harry had slept in the night before. He dumped the books he had purchased on the bed and noticed the twins looking at them curiously.
"Just some defense books. Can't wait to try them out." they nodded.
"That's partly what we wanted to talk to you about Harry. We were at Grimmauld Place last night and they were talking about wanting to give you some special training." Fred began.
"Now at this time they thought you were still at the Dursleys and were preparing to come and get you so we had to play our lines right." George told him,
"But the Order was trying to find a way to hide your magic so you could perform it outside school. Since Fudge is still saying you're a loony they can't ask him to give you a license early so they were looking for a spell." Fred explained
"We let slip that we knew of a spell we have been using for years now to hide the magic we use on our items so no one, not even the Ministry, will know about it." George said excitedly.
"So Dumbledore said that when you leave the Dursleys he would like us to perform this spell on you. So in accordance to Dumbledore's wishes, even though they are not as he planned, we have decided to use the spell on you so that you can train." Harry grinned as the twins were bursting with excitement.
"Plus because we are such wonderful friends we are going to teach you to Apparate and learn and train with you on weekends." George said.
"That's great guy's. When can we do this?" The twins looked at each other.
"Right now." they told him and George lifted his wand.
"Don't worry Harry. Just stand still. You will only feel a slight warmth." Fred explained.
George stared at him for a moment then grinned "Ready? Abscondere Magus Persequor!" Harry felt a rush of warmth and smile.
"Is that it?" The twins nodded. "Thanks guys."
"Don't worry about it but we had better finish what we had to tell you." Fred said. "Not long after you arrived this morning we got a floo call from mum. She told us you were missing and that Dumbledore blamed himself and they are all really worried. We talked to Ginny and Hermione who were in tears and Ron was all pale but we said you were fine and that you were Harry. Probably off in hiding being smart." Fred said.
Harry smirked at how the twins could cover the truth yet still place faith enough in people for them to believe.
"They said the whole Order is out looking for you and that they hoped you didn't get found by Snape because he was really annoyed and Ron thought that if he found you your likely to hurt each other more than help get you to Grimmauld. We know you may not want to hear this but we had to tell you." George said.
"We don't mind either way but if you were arguing with whether to stay here or there we thought you should know how everyone's reacting." Fred finished.
"Thanks for telling me. I'm still not going back there though. I feel bad hurting them but that place... not so soon." The twins patted him on the back before telling him they had to go back to work.
Harry picked up one of the books and began to read it. He was amazed how much more detail specialty books went into about the range and types of spells used compared to his textbooks.
He paged through The Ministry Registry of Authorized Charms and How to Cast Them. Every so often he stopped to write down a spell to learn and he did the same with the other books he had bought. It was nearly dinnertime when he put down the books and gave it a break.
"Still at it then Harry?" Fred asked as he came up the stairs.
Harry nodded. "I haven't been able to practice anything yet though. I don't want to destroy anything in here with spells." Fred grinned at him.
"Well Harry come with me and I will show you a wizard's gym. It's open till ten pm so we can get two hours training in before they shut if we go now." Harry nodded and grabbed a cloak. He hadn't got a chance to go shopping yet because he would be in Diagon Alley for a while yet.
"Where is it?" Harry asked.
"On the corner before Knockturn Alley. Most people stay away from it because of the location but it's a good place to keep your dueling form up." Fred explained.
They walked down the dark cobblestone street and toward the alley where Harry had accidentally landed on his first floo ride.
"This Harry is Willie Wizards Dueling Dance Floor. Its got a weird name but it's a great place to practice." He pushed the door open and entered.
The room was a lot larger on the inside and Harry was amazed to see three or four rooms leading off into the back.
"How can I help you this evening?" A man wearing dueling robes asked.
"We would like to use a room until ten please." Fred told him.
"Right this way sir. That will be two galleons." Fred gave him two galleons and they were led into a padded room.
"You may use this room. Enjoy." The man left and Fred drew his wand.
"Now if there are two of us we can come here for friendly duels but if it's ever just you just tell owner who you just met that you would like a magical workout for one. It's a setup of moving practice dummies and targets you can hit with spells." Harry nodded. "So would you like to duel?"
"Love to." Harry grinned at George before they both raised their wands and paced around each other.
The duel started fast. Curses and spells flew around the two of them as they either dodged or blocked one after another. The two continued sparring as Harry got off a few of the new spells he had learnt.
He had found a binding curse which issued ropes from the users wand which tied up the person it hit and a jinx that would force the person into short term memory loss making it hard to remember what you were about to do until the spell is removed.
It was after fifteen minutes that Harry got a disarming charm past George and successfully won the mock duel.
"I can see why you made such a good teacher Harry. You're a fast learner when it comes to dueling." Harry helped him up and grinned happily as they started again.
Harry had spent a lot of time over the past few weeks in the magical gym. It was now a week before his birthday and as the twins had promised they were teaching him how to Apparate.
"Alright Harry, I know from what people tell you Apparating is hard. This is not true. It only becomes hard when you get nervous." Fred told him. "What you need to do is believe you can do it and will yourself forward with your magic."
"Imagine that you are on the other side of the room and then will yourself to be there." George told him.
Harry thought of the other side of the room and willed himself to be there. After a few minutes there was a loud CRACK and Harry landed on the other side of the room. The twins applauded and had him do it back and forth for a few hours.
"Now we will try apparating further tomorrow. For now have a break." Fred and George left him upstairs and went down to the shop where they had left a sales witch in charge.
Harry picked up his cloak and decided to go and buy his things for school. He picked up the thick parchment letter describing his school needs for the next year off the desk and walked downstairs.
Harry saw a few members of the Order around and grinned that it had been about three weeks since he had left the Dursley's and the Order was still unable to find him. The twins had told him a few nights before that Snape was still being forced to look for him and it was now Harry chuckled as he saw the greasy haired potions master grabbing random people in the crowd and looking into their eyes.
Harry slipped down the street and entered Madam Malkins Robes and was measured up for his robes before asking them to drop them off to the twins store and paying. He then continued on to Flourish and Blotts and bought his schoolbooks.
He never was quite interested in textbooks but felt relatively happy as he remembered how they helped his results in the Owls. He had received a letter only two days before giving his scores.
Mr. Harry James Potter
Gryffindor, Hogwarts Age Fifteen
O.W.L Results
Defense Against The Dark Arts Theory: Outstanding Practical: Outstanding
Herbology Theory: Acceptable Practical: Exceeds Expectations
Astronomy Theory Acceptable Practical Acceptable
Charms Theory: Exceeds Expectations Practical: Exceeds Expectations
Transfiguration Theory: Exceeds Expectations Practical: Exceeds Expectations
Divination Theory: Poor Practical: Poor
Care Of Magical Creatures Theory: Exceeds Expectations Practical: Outstanding.
Potions Theory: Exceeds Expectations Practical: Exceeds Expectations
OWLS: Eleven
One owl is awarded for Exceeds Expectations and over. Zero for Acceptable and under. A score with a after it means an honor in that test.
Harry had been very pleased with his Eleven Owls. Percy and Bill had both got twelve and he bet that Hermione had earned at least that. After reading the letter he had sat and thought of his friends.
He hoped they weren't to mad at him for running away but he also needed that time away from everything.
He shook his head as he paid the clerk to remove the memories. He had bought all the books for subjects he had passed and received owls in but also bought the potions texts because even if he didn't make Snape's class he was going to study Potions.
He walked out of Flourish and Blotts and bought the remainder of his school needs. As he was returning to the twins store he could see a bunch of people crowded around the window to Quality Quidditch Supplies.
He walked up to the crowd to see why they were so excited. In the window sat a brand new broom model. It had a fine black wood handle with beautiful red twigs and a gold polish name flaring across the handle.
Phoenix.. Harry raised his eyebrows as he read the card underneath it.
The Phoenix broom is the new line from the manufacturers of the Firebolt. It has improved speed, brakes and turning charms as well as a high altitude charm allowing you to go higher and faster than you ever have before.
It has been named the Phoenix because in test runs with Victor Krum piloting the broom it was said to turn and fly as swiftly as a Phoenix.
Price on request.
Harry walked inside to take a better look at the broom. It was beautiful that's for sure. But what if he got his Firebolt back? The Firebolt that Sirius had given him.
'No' he thought 'I will not think of Sirius. The broom he gave me will be kept so it isn't damaged.' Harry walked to the store clerk and asked for the price.
"The Phoenix is brand new today. It has a current sale price of five hundred and ninety-five Galleons. Not even Quidditch league players have been able to buy this broom yet." Harry nodded before leaving the shop.
Five hundred and ninety-five Galleons. He went back to the twins shop to dump his school gear before heading back to Gringotts.
He caught a cart down to his vault and asked the goblin. "Is there any way to find out how much money is in this vault?"
"Yes there is. Would you like to find out?" The goblin asked. Harry nodded his head and the goblin put his palm to the door. He muttered something Harry couldn't hear and a piece of paper appeared. He handed it Harry and it read.
Vault of Harry James Potter
Total: 14988 Galleons 12983 Sickles and 11500 Knuts.
Total withdrawals in last decade: 300 Galleons 200 Sickles and 75 Knuts
Harry looked in surprise at this sheet. He could easily afford the broom. He hadn't even dinted the gold silver and bronze that had been sitting down here.
He asked the goblin to open the vault and withdrew Five Hundred and Ninety- Five Galleons. He thanked the goblin as he stepped back into the foyer and walked back toward Quality Quidditch Supplies.
The clerk's draw dropped as he placed the money on the desk and requested a Phoenix broom. Harry grinned to himself and looked around the shop adding another ten galleons for the snitch he placed onto the table as the man walked out.
"May I ask your name sir? You are the first owner of a Phoenix broom in all of Britain." He clerk said happily.
"James Evans." Harry told the man who quickly began to write out a receipt.
"Thank you sir. I'd like no one to know who I am if that's okay with you. I wouldn't want anyone bugging me to see my new broom." Harry lifted the broom from the desk and nodded at the clerk before leaving the shop.
Harry felt happier than he had felt in so long. This broom was something he had bought just for himself, no one else could understand how strange and joyous it felt for Harry to be able to spoil himself.
Then again this was Harry's summer.
He entered the twins store again and slipped out the back. Fred immediately saw Harry and looked suspiciously at the parcel.
"What you got there Harry?" Harry grinned widely.
"A worthy investment. Is George around?" Fred nodded. "Go get him and meet me upstairs."
Harry sat the broom on his bed. It was still wrapped up and Harry was finding it hard not to just jump on it and fly away. The twins came in a moment later and grinned at him.
"So what have you got?" Fred asked excitedly.
"I decided that I would buy a new broom. Since Sirius has died I don't feel like I can ride my Firebolt again. That's if I get it back at all, so I replaced it." Fred and George looked at each other.
"So you bought another Firebolt?" George asked.
"You haven't been to Quality Quidditch Supplies today have you?" the twins shook their heads. "Then you wouldn't have seen the new design by the makers of Firebolt?"
The twin's eyes went wide as Harry held the package up. He ripped the paper from around the broom and smiled as the twin's jaws dropped.
"It's the new Phoenix broom. I don't want anyone to know I have this because I want to surprise the other Quidditch teams. I think when you teach me to Apparate long distances tomorrow we will need to go somewhere we can ride a broom. The Burrow maybe so we can have some fun."
The twins nodded numbly. "Can we touch it?" Fred asked stupidly.
Harry chuckled and handed them the broom. He watched them ooh and ahh over it before picking up a book on advanced charms. He had made a large list of charms and spells he should learn and had only learnt about a quarter of them. He planned to learn more about them when they went to Hogwarts.
The twins went back downstairs leaving Harry alone. He picked up his new broom and examined it tenderly. The handle was perfect. The broom itself was light and the tail twigs were amazing. They seemed to meld perfectly with each other as if they were plumage.
Harry felt like he had put his money in the right place.
The next day Harry rose early. After having breakfast at the Leaky Cauldron he returned to the shop and found the twins waiting in the upstairs room.
"Ready to learn to Apparate a longer distance?" Fred asked eying Harry's broom.
"Yeah I'm ready to go. What do I do?" Harry asked.
"Think of the Burrow. Just imagine standing in the kitchen. If you haven't been to a place where you are apparating to it's a little harder. You need to think of the name of the place you are apparating to and trust your magic to get you there." George explained.
"So I just think of the Burrow and imagine I'm in the kitchen and Apparate?" Harry asked.
"That's it." Fred said. "Give it a try. We'll take your broom and meet you there."
The twins disappeared with a pop and Harry was left on his own. He thought about all the fun times he had had at the Burrow. He thought of lunch in the kitchen and the twins setting off wet start fireworks in the backyard. He pushed all his magic behind himself and felt the world disappear before appearing with a crack.
He stood in the kitchen of the Burrow. It was as he had always remembered it.
"Well done Harry." Fred said. "Now show us this broom of yours."
Harry laughed as he took the broom and flew out the back door.
Harry tore through the air with precision and grace. He was flying faster and more precise than he had ever been able to in his life.
Harry was again glad that this summer had been taken for himself. He flew for a few hours before landing in front of a pair of ecstatic looking twins.
"Here you go." He said handing the broom to the two. "Have a ride."
As Harry watched the twins flying around on his broom he smiled. He truly did have great friends.