Chapter One: Breakfast at Number Four

It was ghostly quiet on Number Four, Privet Drive. Harry Potter lay awake in his small upstairs bedroom, thinking. It was 11:57 PM, only three short minutes before his 16th birthday and he, for the second time since he started at Hogwarts six years previously, didn't care if any of his friends even acknowledged the day, or that no one had written to him all summer long. Even the Daily Prophet seemed to have neglected delivering his subscribed copies, which rendered him oblivious to the occurrences of the wizarding world.

This peculiar boy had a lot to think about too. About thirteen months ago, Lord Voldemort, the most feared and powerful Dark wizard, had risen back to power after a half dead existence for about fourteen years. Through a sad and dangerous turn of events involving the International Triwizard Competition in which students representing three wizarding schools competed for the Cup and a thousand Galleon prize, Harry came face-to-face with the Dark Lord after his bodily return. Harry barely escaped with his life, but his schoolmate, Cedric Diggory, was not so lucky. Lord Voldemort murdered him.

When Harry had been only a year old, Voldemort had killed his brave parents before turning his wand on Harry. However, his mother's death protected Harry from the death curse, which rebounded on Voldemort, resulting in his downfall. No one knew why it was Harry whom Voldemort had attacked. Harry though, found out exactly why only a month ago.

Professor Dumbledore had explained it. A year before Harry was born, a prophecy claimed that in essence, he Harry, was the only one with the special powers to destroy Voldemort. It also stated that the in the end, one would have to kill the other because neither could live while the other survived. This burden felt like a heavy weight in Harry's chest. He was no murderer, but did that mean he must play the role of the victim?

If I had known that, I wouldn't have been so stupid and Sirius wouldn't have died, Harry thought to himself, painfully. He blamed himself for Cedric and Sirius' death, but especially grieved over Sirius. Sirius Black had been Harry's godfather and best friend to Harry's father James Potter. Black was the closest thing to a father or brother that Harry had ever known. Unfortunately, Voldemort discovered this information and found it to be useful, using it to make Harry believe Sirius to be in danger. Harry, in an effort to help him, brought himself and several of his friends into danger, at which Sirius had come to the rescue, dying in the process at the wand of his distant cousin Bellatrix Lestrange, the torturer of Harry's schoolmate Neville Longbottom's parents. Harry felt yet another pang of guilt and grief arise in him for the millionth time that summer.

He finally knew why he had to stay at his aunt and uncle's house, but it didn't make him like it any more. His Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, and cousin Dudley Dursley, made life a living hell besides all the stuff on his mind. However this summer they were, however forced, relatively nice to him. Harry knew that this was because the Order of the Phoenix had told his only living relatives that any mistreatment would result in the disturbing visit of wizards to their nice, spotless Muggle home.

He also finally knew why the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts School were so keen on protecting him. It was because of the prophecy and how Voldemort tried to kill Harry that made him susceptible to the torment of the Death Eaters, although much of that was reduced by the few prominent ones caught shortly after Sirius's death.

It was finally dawn. Harry waited a while before going downstairs for breakfast. He walked downstairs after he dressed, and saw that it would be mini-pancakes for the meal that morning. Dudley's diet Harry thought. Whatever, at least it's kind of working. It was true. Dudley had lost an enormous amount of weight in the past two years. However he was still as blubbery as a whale and the sagging skin from his weight loss made him look like a walrus.

"Oh, hello Harry," Aunt Petunia said forcefully, glaring at her husband and son.

"Yes, err, good day Harry," Uncle Vernon muttered, glancing at him, before turning his rather large nose and eyes back to his newspaper. Harry noticed that on the front page, several people were noted missing.

"Whatever. Hey, Harry." Dudley said with great forcefulness.

Uncle Vernon left the room to watch the morning news and Dudley went out claiming to be going to Mrs. Portkiss's for tea. Harry snorted with amusement, but said nothing as he took his seat by himself at the breakfast table.

Or at least he thought he was alone with his pancakes.

As he took his first bite, Aunt Petunia Dursley sat down across from Harry and, to Harry's astonishment, smiled warmly at him.

"Do you like them?" she asked pleasantly, referring to the tiny pancakes on Harry's plate.

"Yes," Harry said cautiously.

"Good," she replied. There was a brief moment of silence, broken by Petunia.

"I know today is your 16th birthday. Happy Birthday," she said somewhat nervously.

"Er-Thanks," Harry said, snapping his jaw shut after realizing it was hanging open in surprise. He couldn't believe his ears. Am I dreaming?

"I'll bring you your present tonight when your uncle falls asleep. Oh, Harry, I am so sorry! I've treated you so awful this summer. But you know how Vernon is; magic frightens him. It frightens Dudleykins and I also, but I just have to talk to you." She was on the verge of tears.

Harry didn't know what to say, so he stayed quiet. He was very much in shock. Aunt Petunia was apologizing to him!

Aunt Petunia glanced towards the living room where her husband was starting to stand up so he could leave for work. She stood up quickly as Vernon strode into the kitchen.

"Eat quickly," she said in a familiarly stern voice, glaring at him fiercely as usual.

"I'm leaving for work, Petunia dear," Vernon said, planting a kis on Petunia's cheek. "Are you sure you'll be alright alone with the boy?"

I'll be fine dear. You have a good time at work." Petunia smiled. Vernon turned on Harry.

"You, Boy!" he snarled, wagging his chubby finger at Harry. "If you give your Aunt any trouble, you're out. I'll let that Voldy-idiot get you. You understand, boy?"

"Yea, whatever," Harry said moodily.

"I'm serious!" Vernon spat. "If you do on 'm' thing, you are out of here and-" Harry interrupted him.

"-And my wizard friends will knock on your stupid Muggle door and jinx you." Harry said, quite satisfied with how his uncle's eyes bulged and his face purpled at the mention of the members of the Order of the Phoenix. Vernon only stared for a few seconds before collecting his wits again.

"Fine, but be good to your Aunt, all right? And write to the weirdoes that you're fine. " And with that, he strode out of the house, slamming the front door behind him.

Petunia and Harry were silent for a bit. Her face, as well as her posture, relaxed as she sank down into the chair opposite of him.

"I want to know, Harry" she said solemnly.

"Know what?" Harry asked, confused.

"Everything that's happened to you." Aunt Petunia clarified patiently.

"Where do you want me to start?"

"Start at your first year of Hogwarts" she said.

So Harry told her. He told her about the Mirror of Erised where he saw his family, the Sorcerer's Stone and how he had thwarted Voldemort's plan for a return. He told her how in his second year he discovered he was a Parselmouth and had killed both the basilesque and the memory of Voldemort's youth that had terrorized the school. He told her, painfully, about Sirius Black, how he found he was his godfather, how he learned to fight off dementors, and how Gryffindor won the Quidditch House Cup. Then he relayed to Petunia his fourth year, with his mysterious entry into the Goblet of Fire, his crush on Cho, the Yule Ball, the final challenge, Cedric's death, and Voldemort's rise. Lastly he told of his most difficult fifth year with the insults from the Daily Prophet, the expulsion of Dumbledore, the horrible Defense teacher Professor Umbridge, Harry's outbursts and detentions, the development of Dumbledore's Army and Sirius's death. Harry refrained from mentioning his visions, Occlumency lessons, or the Order for reasons he couldn't even comprehend. He just had a gut feeling that he shouldn't tell her too much.

The entire time, Petunia just sat quietly, listening. Harry paused before telling Aunt Petunia about the prophecy. He wasn't sure if he should tell her, lest somehow Voldemort got ahold of the full contents of the prophecy.

Harry rubbed his scar gently. It was pulsing a low dull pain, which was normal. But as his pause grew, so did the pain.

"Dumbledore told me why my mom and dad died and why Voldemort attacked me." He paused again, noticing that Petunia didn't flinch at the sound of the name.

Just then an owl flew in, dropping an letter on Harry's lap. Petunia's eyes bulged as Harry ripped open the letter and read the contents:

Harry-

I understand your aunt is being very kind right now, and wants to know what's going on in your life. However, I beg you not to tell her about what we discussed in my office. I am outside. I want you to come outside right now. It is no longer safe there. I will explain more when you leave. If you are not outside in one minute we will come in to take you.

-Professor Dumbledore

Harry tore up the letter and walked over to the trash can, dropping the bits in.

"Who was that from?" Aunt Petunia asked.

"Oh just my friend...Neville." Harry lied. He heard the mail truck arrive. "I'll get the mail."

He strode over towards the door, but halfway there his scar burst into pain. His eyes watered as he staggered to the door.

A hissing evil voice sternly said. "Tell me the prophecy."

Through his watery-blurred vision he saw that Aunt Petunia was changing. Gone was the reddish-gray hair and cloudy green eyes, marking her as Lily Potter's sister. Gone was Petunia's horsey face and feminine body. She was replaced by a tall bony man in black robes with red eyes.

"Voldemort," Harry whispered in horror. He ran for the door but before he could open in, the door flew open and Dumbledore, surrounded by Order members Tonks, Lupin, and Moody, entered, wands raised. However, Lord Voldemort had Disapparated before any of them could place a spell. Dumbledore knelt next to Harry.

"Hello Harry. Are you all right?" Dumbledore peered at him from his familiar half-moon spectacles concernedly.

"I'm fine, Professor." Harry said as he was helped up by Dumbledore. He then asked in amazement, "How did you know."

"Your aunt sent us a letter through Hedwig a couple hours ago." Dumblefore cleared his throat. "It appears that Voldemort found a way to get past the ancient charm. It seems that she was attacked while writing it this morning, as it was sent incomplete. Harry, the only way he could harm or even touch you in this house is by stopping the link between the blood in your and your aunt's veins in this house." Dumbledore looked at him sadly. Harry understood.

"She's dead, isn't she?" Harry asked, knowing the answer.

"Yes, I'm afraid so." Dumbledore sighed. "I will have to talk with the Ministry. I believe Mr. Weasley might need to handle some of this. Even if Voldemort used a Polyjuice Potion and not a Muggle machine."

"What will happen to me?" Harry asked, irritated that he was always the center of the whole Voldemort problem.

"Well, I think we should take you to the safe house." Seeing Harry's sad expression he said, "It will be healing. Besides, room there needs to be made there for the Order and I think there are a few of Sirius's possessions that he would want you to have." Harry winced at the mention of Sirius. But he had to admit that Dumbledore, as usual, was right. But a though came to him.

"But what if Voldemort finds me? I can't endanger everyone in the safe house like that!" Harry exclaimed.

"For now, you should go there. I'd rather our members were around you. He wouldn't dare go to a place where he would be outnumbered by so many prepared wizards. I doubt he'd touch you yet."

Harry couldn't argue with that. He showed Tonks and Lupin his room and started packing his trunk but Tonks stopped him. She waved her wand, muttering something and all of a sudden, Harry's possessions shrunk enough to fit nicely into his trunk. This included all Harry's clothes, spellbooks, parchment, quills, and Kedwig's cage. She then jinxed it to make it light as a feather. Harry looked at her amazed. Tonks blushed.

"What? My mum taught me some household spells. They're kind of handy."She grinned.

"Don't let her make you an omelet with magic, though," Lupin smiled.

They all grinned for a few seconds. Harry checked his pockets to make sure his wand was still there. Just then there was an "aha!" from Moody downstairs. Lupin, Tonks, and Harry rushed downstairs. Harry's gut told him Moody had discovered Aunt Petunia's body.

His gut was right. Lying in the cupboard under the stairs, where he had spent the 1st 11 years of his life, was his Aunt Petunia, dead.

"Harry, come now. It's time to go," Dumbledore said softly, guiding Harry firmly by the shoulder out the front door and down the lawn.