Notes - It was never my intention to wait this long before starting my 7th book. I apologize for the delay. The book itself is about half written already, so hopefully it will not take me too long to get it up (I'm hoping to do so before HPDH comes out). Please remember that this book seven is based on my book six, Harry Potter and the Eye of Isis, and no parts of HBP are to be considered. Also, this story will be told from multiple perspectives. The first chapter, which is truly more of a prologue, will be told from many points of views but the following chapters will not switch as frequently. And don't be surprised if you read a chapter or two that don't include Harry's perspective.

Enjoy!

Chapter 1 - The Burning

July 24, 1997 - Harry Potter

Harry lay in his cot finally succumbing to sleep but not without great resistance. He'd fallen into the nightly routine of holding a vigil at his window; his wand firmly in his hand as he watched the skies, and the neighborhood for signs that something was happening, or that someone was coming for him. It was sometime after midnight on this evening that he'd moved to his bed as he fatigued and, as in nights before, it looked as if the only struggle he'd managed to find was within him and with his own bed sheets. They were twisted around his torso, and his right arm hung awkwardly off the mattress, his fist dangling just above the floorboard with his wand still clutched tightly in his grasp.

In the weeks since he'd returned from Hogwarts Harry had found it very difficult to sleep. Not just because the second war had broken out in full force, or that he felt completely useless (because Professor Dumbledore had told him he could not help until he was of age, causing Harry to count the minutes until he turned seventeen), but because Dobby had taken up the habit of sitting under Harry's window and staring at Harry during the night. It was a sensation that Harry found difficult to get use to. Not only had the staring been strange but Harry also found himself worrying constantly about Dobby's own health if he wasn't sleeping. He'd ordered him to sleep repeatedly, he'd even made Dobby a bed out of one of his aunt's sitting chairs (much to her chagrin), but never saw Dobby actually sleeping. It did not mean that Dobby did not sleep. Being Harry's house-elf he was obliged to obey any order given but he did not sleep until he was certain that Harry was too. The small elf was now sitting beneath the window, his knees drawn up to his chest and his head resting on his knees, snoring lightly.

And it was on this night sleep had become their enemy.

Harry coughed involuntarily. One cough turned into several and with a fright he shot up to his feet gagging from the stifling sensation that the smoke flooding into his room was giving to him. His eyes watered as he strained to see through the thick grey matter seeing a fiery red glow surrounding his door. Though it didn't seem possible, Harry gripped his wand even more tightly as he reached down with his free hand and nudged Dobby. Dobby woke quickly, coughed a bit as well, but did not need to be asked to do anything. He quickly erected a shield around the both of them so they could see and breathe more easily. After the shield was in place they moved to Harry's trunk and Harry removed two items: his invisibility cloak and his wand holster which contained Gryffindor's wand. He quickly strapped the holster onto his left shin and then picked up his small elf. Dobby immediately perched himself on one of Harry's shoulders and once there, Harry flung the cloak around them. He immediately strode for the door and when he was close enough he kicked it as hard as he possible could. The door buckled under the stress of the heat and the force of Harry's blow. Harry winced back as the flames licked the broken door. He took a deep breath to calm himself and stepped into the corridor immediately noticing that his aunt's door and Dudley's door were still closed. Every fiber of his being screamed at him to run, knowing full well this was no ordinary house fire but he couldn't do it without making sure his family was safe. Bastards they were but still family nonetheless.

He went to Dudley's room first, finding his cousin still sleeping soundly, a little too soundly. Harry couldn't get Dudley to wake no matter how hard he nudged him or how loud he shouted. It made the obviousness of the trap even more apparent. A charm or potion had to have been used to make Dudley sleep so soundly, so Harry assumed his aunt and uncle were also in an oblivious slumber and that this was a ploy to keep him in the house as long as possible. He needed to move quickly, and was no longer concerned with using magic or breaking any magical decrees. He pointed his wand at his cousin. "Recedentia!" The window flew open and Dudley went soaring out. Harry didn't even look to see where Dudley had landed he immediately Apparated into his aunt and uncle's bedroom. They too were transported from the house and then Harry, still under his cloak, Apparated into the front yard of the house. Dobby appeared next to him louder than Harry had wanted. The whip cracking sound alerted whoever it was in the shadows across the street that a house-elf had just appeared in Harry's front lawn.

"I told you he had an elf." Harry heard a man say.

As he turned to look who was across the street he noticed Arabella Figg running street towards Number Four. He almost shouted out to her but stopped himself when he remembered he was under his cloak and he needed to remain silent if he had any chance of finding out who attacked his home, but before he could reach them the sound of sirens in the distance caused them to casually stroll away. Harry followed the two hooded Death Eaters as they left the scene. He quietly walked behind them until they reached the park. There he saw them preparing to Apparate away. In desperation to know who they were he quickly removed his invisibility cloak and Apparated onto the playground.

He tried to look nervous as he held his wand in the air and shouted, "Accio Firebolt!" Naturally, that stopped his would be killers from leaving. They immediately ran towards him and Harry was grateful that his broom arrived before they reached him. He mounted it quickly and darted into the sky hoping they would have means to follow him.

"Now what?" one asked. "We can't let him get away!"

"Accio brooms!" The other shouted. When the first two brooms arrived they quickly charmed them and took off into the air after Harry.

Harry knew they had no hope of keeping up with him, let alone catching him, unless he let them. Two charmed brooms were no match for his Firebolt.

July 24, 1997 - Arabella Figg

Arabella Figg hastily flung her dressing gown around her body as she charged out of her front door. She feared the eerie orange glow that was beginning to light up the neighborhood was coming from the Dursley home. Her thoughts jumbled in her mind as she ran towards the fire. When she came around the bend her fear was realized as she saw the Dark Mark hovering in the air above Number Four, Privet Drive. Instead of turning around, Miss Figg continued towards the burning home and didn't stop until she was standing in front of it, her mouth agape as she stared at the flames destroying the house.

"I hope no one is in there," said a neighbor. "Has anyone called for help?"

Help. That word sent shivers down her spine. She should have called Dumbledore before she'd even left the house. Now she would have to get all the way back there just to floo him. What had she been thinking?

Minutes felt like hours but it hadn't taken long at all for her to get back to her house and contact Dumbledore. He dispatched members of the Order immediately and they were there by the time she scurried back down the street. She was relieved to see Remus Lupin, Nymphora Tonks and Alastor Moody. They were watching along with the neighbors as the fire brigade began to put out the fire. After a few moments Moody began walking around the parameter of the house as the fireman worked on the fire. He had his wand concealed slightly as he pointed it up at the Dark Mark hovering in the sky. He was trying his best to place a glamour charm on it (knowing he could not remove it, it would have to fade on its own) so that it would look like more smoke.

Lupin immediately went to Miss Figg's side when he saw her. "Did you see Harry?"

She shook her head. "Haven't you?"

"We can't get in until the Muggles put out the fire," he said impatiently, clearly wishing he could simply smother the flames himself. "They found his family in the garden still asleep and couldn't figure out how they'd managed that."

"Still asleep?" she asked aloud.

Lupin nodded quickly. "Yes, it seems that the Dursleys managed to escape the fire in their sleep. The paramedics can't even wake them now."

"Well, Harry must have saved them." Miss Figg concluded. "That means he got out as well. Why wouldn't he wait here for help? He knew someone would come, didn't he?"

Lupin only nodded his head. He wasn't at all surprised that Harry not only got out of the fire safely, but that he also saved his family and disappeared. Harry's last priority would be to wait, especially if he saw who had done this, or worse yet, was still under attack. Lupin offered none of this to Arabella Figg though. There was no reason to provide her with so much information.

"Why don't you go on back home? Professor Dumbledore will contact you once we have this sorted out. There's no need for you to be out here in the dead of night. I'm sure Harry's fine."

"Quite capable of taking care of himself, isn't he?" she mumbled as she turned and headed away without Remus Lupin saying another word to her.

July 24, 1998 - Parvati Patil

"Get up!" A quiet, yet harsh male voice insisted as he shook Parvati's shoulder. She had barely woken when her father moved quickly across the room she shared with her twin sister and did the same to Padma. Parvati quickly jumped out of bed and went to her father's side. He looked back at her with a very disapproving look and she knew what it was for. His letters in the past year had warned her repeatedly of his feelings on the boy she was dating. He never wrote a harsh word against Harry but always he addressed his concerns of his daughter dating the-boy-who-lived. And it was quite clear that he felt danger approached and it was Harry's doing.

"Papa—" She tried to speak to defend Harry but he just held one finger in front of his mouth to quiet her and she obeyed.

Parvati and Padma quietly followed their father from their small house. Padma was clearly more frightened than Parvati. Neither knew what was going on and the confusion of the moment was frightening.

"What's going on?" Padma whispered, her voice shaking with fear.

"Your mother warned me—"

"What?" both girls nearly shouted at him.

"Shh," he insisted again. "She didn't really leave us." He had told his daughter this two years ago when their mother had taken an undercover assignment for the then minister Cornelius Fudge. "She's infiltrated the Death Eater ranks," he said even more quietly, "and tonight she received information that they were going to attack here."

"But why?" Padma asked.

Their father peered at Parvati. "I don't think you need an answer to that."

"They attacked Harry?" It wasn't really a question; Parvati was realizing what was going on. "They attacked him and failed again. They're coming for me?"

He nodded quickly. "Apparently, Harry stole something from You-Know-Who's and he wants to trade. He will never let you live if he takes you."

"You have to let me contact Harry," Parvati said urgently. "I have a way to. He'll come if he knows. It hasn't happened yet. He'll take us away."

"No!"

But Parvati did not listen to her father and she ran back to her room to grab the charmed medallion. She quickly enabled it and stuffed it in her pocket. Before she could return to her father and sister an explosion rocked the home. She quickly dove under her bed, dodging fragments of stone and wood as her house blew apart. She closed her eyes and remembered everything she'd read about Apparation and hoped for the best as she attempted it for the very first time.

July 24, 1997 - Arthur Weasley

Sleep did not come easily for Arthur Weasley. It was a feat not managed easily even with a good sleeping draught, but there he was hunched over in an overstuffed armchair, snoring lightly. It had been a long day, coupled with a long month, and year so far. A year ago he couldn't have imagined anything worse than losing his wife but he'd realized there were things much worse than that and he was living through them. His wife was gone, his son had turned Death Eater and Harry had been forced to kill him. Bill and Charlie were off in Egypt; neither saying why nor neither being sent by their employers or by Dumbledore on Order business. Fred and George were both quite successful in the shop and secretly developing as many aids as possible in the fight against Voldemort. Ron was barely speaking and Ginny was enraged most days. Her red hair had turned a deep, violent shade of red. Quite unnatural, it resembled true red, like paint. And Harry, his hand on the family clock just spun in slow circles. Arthur imagined it was because he was at Privet Drive and the clock just couldn't recognize where that was. But he never truly knew. If he hadn't learned what happened to the clock when a family member died he might have wondered if Harry had survived the summer thus far. On top of all of his family worries he was, of course, the Minister for Magic, and had to go about the business of the wizarding world day in and day out. It was no wonder that his hair was falling out at an increasing rate.

An annoying repetitive noise woke Arthur from slumber. He looked groggily to the window where he saw an owl pecking repeatedly at it. He finally pulled himself out of the comfortable chair and let the owl in. He wasn't entirely surprised to see Hedwig, however she was acting queer. There was no letter attached to her and she kept flying around in a circle hooting almost hysterically at him.

"What is it girl?" he asked as he followed her about. "Are you hungry?"

She hooted loudly at the question and flew towards the kitchen but that wasn't her destination. Instead she stopped at the family clock and perched herself atop of it. Arthur looked carefully, noticing that Harry's hand was no longer spinning slowly in a circle. It was pointed firmly at traveling. Just as Arthur started to soak in what his meant the hand swung to mortal peril.

July 24, 1997 - Harry Potter

Harry rushed towards the pile of rubble dreading what he would find. They had come for her so quickly he honestly hadn't expected it. He was shocked when the small medallion he'd charmed for Parvati had begun heating up his pocket. It took him several minutes to even realize what it was, but when he'd pulled the distress signal from his trouser he immediately understood that she was under attack. Without thinking about the situation, and trap he'd be flying into, Harry immediately landed and Apparated to her home in Southern England.

"Parvati?" he whispered quietly as he reached what was left of the house. "Padma? Mr. Patil?" Harry heard a small noise, and then a moan. He walked to his right and heard the moan again. He quickly began removing the stone near him and finally saw a hand. Without thought of being underage still he pointed his wand at the hand and levitated the body of a girl out of the rubble. He wasn't sure if it was Parvati or Padma but he found out as soon as he set her in the clearing.

"Padma." He stroked her hair out of her face. "It's Harry."

"They…" she whispered. "Came for… her."

The knot in Harry's stomach grew larger and harder. "It's okay, don't speak. I'm going to help you." Unsure how he could help exactly, Harry pointed his wand at her. "Petrificus totalus." Nothing else came to mind but he thought if he could freeze any injury she had that may give him time to get her help. "Dobby," Harry looked for his elf and Dobby showed himself, "take her to St. Mungo's and then come right back to me." Dobby nodded and with a crack he and Padma were gone.

Harry knew he didn't have much time. He took one more sweep through the rubble but didn't locate Parvati. Unfortunately, he did locate her father, who was clearly killed in the attack. Knowing there was nothing more he could do, he put his invisibility cloak around him again and Apparated to the safe spot he and Parvati had designated hoping she had managed to escape unharmed. He breathed a sigh of relief as he came through the clearing in the woods and saw Parvati sitting in the shadows of a large rock in the rear of Hagrid's garden. He walked over to her immediately and engulfed her in the invisibility cloak.

"Your father's dead." There was no easy way to say it, so he just did. "Dobby took Padma to St. Mungo's. I'm sorry but I can't stay with you. You stay under my cloak and go straight to Dumbledore. The password to his office is bumble bee. Can you do that?" She nodded numbly at him. He kissed her on the cheek and stepped out from under the cloak. He felt her watch him as he disappeared back into the forest.

July 24, 1998 - Albus Dumbledore

Dumbledore was pacing his office floor nervously. He wanted very badly to leave but stayed at Hogwarts in hopes that Harry would come to him. He could only imagine what was going on with the boy and Arthur had not been able to provide any useful information. Harry's home and the area near his home had been searched to no avail. Then Dobby turned up at St. Mungo's with Padma Patil and another search of the Patil home only turned up the body of Sunil Patil. It was obviously that Harry had been there though, why else would Dobby have turned up with Padma? And on top of that, Dobby had refused to answer questions or stay at the hospital instead he popped out as soon as he knew Padma was getting the attention she needed. There was no question in Dumbledore's mind that Dobby was working under direct orders from Harry.

He startled at the knock on the door. "Come in," he said hoping it was Harry and delighted when he saw the door open, no one walk in and it close again. "Harry—"

"No Professor," said Parvati, clearly sobbing as she pulled the cloak down from her head. "It's me, Parvati."

"Dear child," he spoke softly as he approached her and wrapped his arms around her. "I'm so sorry for your loss but so relieved to see you alive and unharmed."

"Harry sent me to you, Professor."

He smiled, realizing that took a great deal of trust on Harry's part. Instead of trying to run and fight with her Harry realized that he could not protect her and decided not to even try. For that Dumbledore was grateful. After embracing her for another moment he led her to a chair and helped her sit down. Parvati stared blankly at the fire as he approached it, quickly calling for Madam Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall. They arrived within moments of his call.

"Minerva… Poppy…" He almost smiled at them but the gravity of the situation didn't let him. "Miss Patil has just arrived. I do not wish for anyone to know she is here in our care at this time. Poppy, please make sure she doesn't have any injuries and I think a good sleeping draught is in order. She's been through quite an ordeal this evening."

"Yes, Professor." Madam Pomfrey immediately went to Parvati and escorted her out of the headmaster's office.

"Where is Harry, Albus? Didn't you expect him to come also?" Professor McGonagall asked nervously.

"I hoped, Minerva, but I'm not surprised. However, I am encouraged that he sent Ms. Patil here and did not try to hide her himself. It shows that he is beginning to trust me again."

"Do you think he still may come?"

"I will continue to hope, but I feel that Harry has taken matters into his own hands."

"How will he survive?"

"Harry has his own support network, Minerva. I haven't been able to figure out everyone in it but be assured that he is capable of hiding from anyone for a great deal of time. I will have to keep faith that he will come to me."

"Albus, his friends are but children. Not a one anywhere near strong enough or even clever enough to out think Voldemort."

Dumbledore smiled. "I think Miss Granger would be quite upset to hear your assessment of her cleverness. And Harry has more than classmates to rely upon. He has witches and wizards that have sworn to help him above all others—"

"Including the Order?"

Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, and some of these witches and wizards are members of the Order."

"Bill and Charlie Weasley?" She realized. "He sent them out on whatever escapade they are own?"

Dumbledore nodded not revealing all he knew of that mission. "I think it would be safe to say that all of the Weasleys have taken an oath of protection to Harry… possibly even Arthur."

Professor McGonagall sat in the large armchair in front of the fire and pondered this for a moment. "This concerns me greatly, Albus. Isn't this similar to what Voldemort does?"

"I'm not 100 certain of the oath the Death Eaters take, but I'm sure this doesn't compare, and most importantly, I don't think Harry intentionally started this. I believe it started with one person pledging to protect and help Harry above all others and inadvertently it has kept happening. From my understanding of what has happened, Harry has the members of Dumbledore's Army under a secrecy oath similar to the Order and a handful of those students have taken this oath. As far as the oath goes I believe it has been done without his request or suggestion. But I agree with you," he said as he sat in the vacant chair next to her. "It is concerning and we've no way to monitor it and he has not been forthcoming with information about what has happened when someone has given an oath to him."

"Who do you suspect has taken this oath? Might they be able to help us bring him in?"

"That would certainly seem to violate the oath if they were to tell me where he is."