This story is fictional, any likeness blah blah blah, you should know this by now. Original characters and story elements are mine, the credit for the rest go to their respective owners.
Harry Potter and the Rebirth of Hope
JPx
Chapter One: Just Another Summer
It was just another ordinary summer day at Number 4 Privet Drive. Rain pelted down onto the window of the smallest bedroom of the too normal house in the suburb. The boy entering manhood just stared blankly out of his window as the sky continued its lament. The not so normal fifteen year old with a peculiar scar on his forehead liked to think the Gods were weeping for his lost godfather. He knew only too well that he had been crying nightly for Sirius, the only father figure he ever knew, and the dreams that taunted him nightly were enough to torment anyone. Every night Sirius gracefully arched through the veil to never return. All summer young Harry Potter had blamed himself for that useless death.
Some days his bulbous cousin Dudley would ask, "What was wrong with you last night? Crying over another lost boyfriend?" then he would chuckle causing his four chins to start jiggling. Harry thought maliciously that it was an improvement from his cousin's previous five chins.
Harry didn't even rise to his bait anymore. Most days he tried to spend the ticking seconds of each day as far away as he could from these people.
His thoughts were busy with assigning blame for the death of his godfather. It was his fault he went to the department of mysteries, it was his fault for not looking at the mirrors sooner, it was his fault, and no one could tell him different. Though he didn't entirely blame himself…
It was also Snape's fault for not teaching him Occlumency properly, it was also Snape's fault for not breaking character to the most evil Defense teacher to ever curse Hogwarts, Delores Umbridge, to let Harry know that his message at the end of the year was received.
It was also Dumbledore's fault. He could have taught Harry Occlumency. He could have told Harry the prophecy when he asked for it all those years ago. He could have done something, anything to let Harry know to not go to the department of mysteries that fateful night.
It was Bellatrix's fault. She cast the spell that caused Sirius to fall through that damn veil. She's the one who laughed and didn't care for her family. She was the one that would have to pay.
But Harry knew in honesty whose fault it was, the wizard whose name still struck fear in the average wizarding community, Voldemort. He was to blame for everything, his parents, his godfather, having to live at this God forsaken house. Voldemort caused all this badness, Neville's parents, the constant fear, Cederic, it all led back to this one source. All because this stupid kid was mistreated, he decided to take it out on the world, Harry had been mistreated too, but he would take it out on Tom.
This summer really hadn't been different from all of Harry's other summers at this house. He had been put to work as the unofficial maid, cleaning after what was left of his family. They had him in the garden pulling weeds, and the wretches barely fed him. What he got to eat was mainly vegetables and meat, this was Dudley's new diet to help with his boxing training, and of coarse Dudley had double to eat over Harry. The combination of work and diet had him toned and rather skinnier than usual. Mrs. Weasley (the closest thing Harry knew to a mother) would not approve.
Between chores Harry would sit in his room desperately trying to get some schoolwork done, but whenever he was alone his thoughts drifted to Sirius. He did get a few letters this year though, though they hardly lifted his spirits as he was hoping. His best friends from his school to learn magic, Hogwarts, didn't really have much to say.
Harry,
Mum, Dad, and I have gone to Ireland for the summer. You wouldn't believe it here, everything's so green! Really, it's peaceful here, you would love it. Maybe once everything at home is calmed a bit we can get you out of England for a while. I want to see America, I've read a lot about their wizarding communities and it's so different there.
Have you heard from Ron? I haven't and I'm really concerned about those thought scars. I know he didn't really complain that much, but he seemed a little different. I'm still feeling better, I have to have a potion a day and walking a lot flares up some pain, remind me that I have to find out what I was hit with. I can't find it in any of my books.
I know you've probably spent the summer blaming yourself about what happened to Sirius. You also probably don't want to hear this but don't blame yourself. If anything, blame Voldemort, I do, and I'm sure everyone else does, including Sirius.
Well, I better get going. I'll be home next week; hopefully you can get away from those people that are somehow related to you. If you can, let me know and I'll try to be wherever you are.
Love,
Hermione
Harry did get a little uplifted by her letter. Over the years she had become like a sister to him. His reply held hardly information though.
Hermione,
Thank you for the letter. A peaceful place, I'll have to go there to see what it's like for once, then again trouble would probably track me down wherever I go.
Ron did write, mostly about Quidditch though. I can't believe you don't know what you were hit with; you must be dying to get to a library.
I know I shouldn't blame myself for Sirius, but it is partially my fault. I won't say it was all me, but I could have listened to you and not went. There were so many things I could have done differently, but I didn't. I'll live with it though.
I hope I can get away from here too. I'll let you know as soon as I know. Hope you have a great week, you've earned it.
Harry
Harry did also receive a short note from a tiny owl too. This was from Ron, who over the years had basically become the brother he never had, though Ron had many.
Harry,
Just cillin' at the Burrow here, how are you there? Hope those gits aren't giving you too much hell. Just tell us if they are, we'll get you out, even without Dumbledore's say so.
Did you hear? Of coarse you didn't, two new brooms are coming out this summer! The Nimbus FX and the Firebolt SE. Both are gonna be awesome.
The Cannons have a reformed team this year. Maybe they'll have a chance at the cup. Here's hoping!
Hope you're doing well after…that night. I still have scars. I can't believe Madam Pomfry came across something she couldn't immediately heal. And I can't get rid of the nightmares…
Everyone sends their best, I could list them but I don't want to sit here another hour. Got to go, I'll bug mum to get Dumbledore to get you out of there.
Ron
Harry was a little shocked at Ron's letter. Nightmares, scars, Harry could feel the guilt building back in him. He grudgingly wrote back though.
Ron,
I hope this finds you well. New brooms, nice, we'll have to check them out at Quality. I wonder what happened to my broom, and if I'll get to play next year, I hope so.
These people are ignoring me most of the time, so overall it's an improvement.
I'm sorry about those scars and nightmares; we never should have been in that mess. Anyway I'm gonna go.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Harry
The letters this morning had helped Harry face the day, but he stayed in his room for the morning. Midmorning broke Harry's train of thought with his Aunt's shrill voice.
"Get down here boy!"
Harry trudged down the stairs not wanting to deal with his family today. Last night hadn't gone to well, in between nightmares he cried. It was taxing going between his nightmares during his sleep and the nightmare that was his life.
"What?" he asked his horse faced aunt without caring what she wanted.
"Think you're doing nothing today? The house has to be cleaned for Dudley's birthday. Get to it."
Harry cleaned until lunch when he had a break and two slices of bread with bologna. That afternoon he thought he would go to the park to get away from what was to come. Before he could reach the door his Aunt stopped him again.
"I don't think so," she said. "The decorations have to go up too."
At five o'clock Harry had finished and he heard his uncle drive up. He knew Dudley and his gang of friends would be with him, so he ran upstairs to avoid any confrontation.
After a shower he headed back to the solace of his room, the rain still pounding itself out on the window.
Harry was again tormenting himself over the death of his godfather, when the only thing he didn't want to break his concentration happened, he could hear the Dursleys from downstairs.
"Really dad?!" came the voice of his oversized cousin Dudley. The voice grated against the inside of Harry's skull.
"Yup, all yours son," came the even worse voice of his Uncle Vernon.
"Happy Birthday!" the worst of them all screamed. His Aunt Petunia earned his loathing by being his mother's sister and letting his childhood happen the way it did.
"When can I take it out?" asked Dudley.
"Whenever this rain clears," replied Vernon.
"And we'll have to get Harry to wash it for you too," chimed in Petunia.
Harry muttered to himself "oh hell no," before going downstairs to see what the fuss was about. For fourteen years Harry had to tolerate his so called family, it truly ended now. He came off the stairs to a disgusting sight. Vernon and Petunia were on either side of Dudley in a very large group hug. Harry gagged at the scene in front of him. At least the party was over and Dudley's friends were gone.
Dudley saw Harry first; he smirked and mouthed "You wish you had a family."
Harry lost it, he didn't care about wands, he didn't care about laws, decrees, and he didn't care about this family for sure. He slowly walked up to Dudley like he was going to join in on the hug.
"I don't want anything you treasure double d's" and with that Harry punched Dudley as hard as he could in the nose, effectively breaking his nose. Dudley was knocked back but the group hug had saved him from falling. His nose started bleeding profusely, turning half of the giant ball of a head slick and crimson.
"What in the ruddy hell is wrong with you boy?" Vernon yelled while raising a fist to retaliate on Harry. But Harry expected this.
In a flash Harry had his wand out, pointed directly at Vernon's oversized head. His uncle froze but Dudley was ready to retaliate, whether Harry had that freaky wand or not. His fat cousin charged, but Harry spun out of the way. His cousin lost balance and tripped. Once Harry turned to avoid Dudley he was back facing Vernon. Harry went to get his wand back up but his uncle was already in swing. The oversized fist hit him squarely under his eye.
The pain reached Harry's brain as he reeled backwards. He stumbled backwards and landed into something mushy, before he knew what was happening Dudley had Harry's arms trapped behind him, his wand fell in the confusion.
"I've had enough!" bellowed Vernon Dursley like a wounded cow.
"Yeah, me too," muttered Harry.
But Vernon was on him, an overlarge fist landed in Harry's stomach.
"This has long been coming boy," Vernon said with certain madness in his eyes.
Before Harry could recover Vernon had picked up Harry's wand, he twirled it in his fingers smiling down at Harry. Harry was ready to murder the family when Petunia rejoined her husband and took the wand from him. When she grasped it Harry could hear a certain note of phoenix song filling his ears.
Harry's mind raced. Was she going to help him? Had the previous signs of actually being his mother's sister led to her regaining his wand for him? These absurd thoughts were quickly driven out of his mind when he heard an echoing CRACK.
The phoenix song died away as he saw two pieces of holly falling to the floor.
Harry felt injured, not from the hits of his uncle, not for the woman who was called his aunt breaking his wand, but from the actual wand. He felt like a piece of him died, on his road to despair, he felt his emotions veer off to pure rage.
Harry's eyes seemed to glow and radiate emerald green; suddenly his cousin released him yelping in pain. Vernon and petunia backed away in fear. They could feel a charge in the air when they heard their nephew muttering something incomprehensible. It sounded like low hisses and some other mangled language. Suddenly all three Dursleys were forced together back into a tightly squeezed family hug. Harry still muttering launched all three through the air where they crashed through the door of the cupboard under the stairs. He left them there, very, very cramped.
Harry went back to his room. He let Hedwig out of the window to fly in the rain and quickly lifted his trunk, before heading back downstairs. He could hear the three still moaning in the cupboard as he picked up the pieces of his broken wand pocketing them, then he slung open the front door to leave them forever. After leaving the house he saw what they were all squawking about earlier concerning Dudley's birthday on the side of the road like it was someone else's. It was his brand-new sports car; he guessed they left it indiscreet to surprise his cousin. He glared at the car with loathing for the family inside. His eyes glinted again and the car effectively started melting down to the wet pavement.
His emotions had been bubbling too close to the surface to spend the summer with the Dursleys.
"And Dumbledore knew it," muttered Harry.
He just started walking in the rain, his trunk drug behind him, with silent tears running down his cheeks mixing with the rain. He didn't know where he was going, and he didn't care as long as it was far away from where he was.
He knew the Order would know any minute now. Mrs. Figg (a squib, or a person born to wizards that had no magical abilities themselves) who lived down the road would report the car smoldering in the driveway. Who ever was watching him would know he was walking unprotected. The Ministry of Magic was surly sending an owl telling him he had been effectively expelled from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Most importantly to Harry right now was the comfort in knowing that he did not care.
Before he knew it he was in the park, the park where Dudley beat up children, where he smoked with his pathetic little friends, and where he broke swings for some unknown reason. But one swing still remained intact, so Harry sat in it. His head hanging freely down from his body, and he began to weep.
He didn't know how long he was there, but night had crept up on him and the rain had stopped. When he looked up someone had repaired the swing beside him and was sitting with him.
"Hello Tonks," was all Harry could come up with.
"Hey," was all she could come up with for a reply.
"So you're my guard duty tonight?"
"Nope."
"Oh, is someone else here?"
"Probably."
"So why are you here?"
"Harry, we need to talk."
He was a little perplexed by this, she wasn't being her bubbly self, and he was seriously wondering if it was her or not, even if her pink spiky hair was a giveaway.
He decided to test her, "what's really not your color?"
She grinned at his question coming from when they first met, "purple."
"So what's up?" he asked happy with her answer.
"Harry, I know you miss Sirius, but getting rid of your other family ties and most of all their blood protection isn't a really healthy way to grieve."
"They broke my wand!" Harry shouted losing his head completely.
"They…WHAT?" replied Tonks looking a bit stricken.
Harry pulled out the two halves of what was his wand. Tonks looked grim but mentioned something about telling Dumbledore as soon as possible.
After a few moments of silence Harry regained their conversation.
"Tonks, you don't know them, and you wouldn't live there, Sirius surely wouldn't"
"Following your godfathers footsteps?" she asked him concernedly.
"Is that a bad thing?" he asked back with a hint of a threat in his voice.
"He was my family too Harry, I too loved him, but his footsteps led to a lot of places I wouldn't want to go, really think about it, do you?
Her words stung with truth, and with a few new tears welling in his eyes he answered her with a whisper, "no."
She placed a comforting hand on his shoulder and said, "Look Harry, he's not really gone, he just moved on. But anytime you want to remember him just look to the brightest star in the sky. The dog star, he once told me."
Tonks had a faraway sad look to her face as she stared at a star, but Harry took her words to heart, and his spirits were lifted a bit. He decided to lighten her mood as Sirius would have.
"Thanks Nymphadora." He smiled at her.
"Enjoy that," she replied, "you only get one." She obviously was pleased with what could become her new "favorite cousin".
"So, what now? I'm not going back to the Dursleys, I don't care if they are memory charmed and that car is replaced."
"Oh we're not doing that," she replied, "we do know, you know, that they got what they deserved."
"So what?" inquired Harry.
"Let's see, HEY, ORDER MEMBER, CAN WE GET OUT OF HERE NOW?" she screamed into the night that still dripped from earlier rain.
Kingsly showed up, "So do you plan on making us charm this whole street Tonks?" he asked teasingly in his deep voice giving a wink to Harry.
"Young master Harry here and I would like to take our leave of this place as soon as possible to never return." Tonks came back with only a slight bit of sarcasm.
"As you wish milady," replied Kingsly, holding up a branch from the ground loosed by the storm, "Portus," he charmed the wood.
"Whenever you wish Har." She said with a smile playing on her lips as she arched her elbow to allow his arm to slip through.
Harry shook his head and looped his arm through hers and they each grabbed hold of the branch turned portkey. A familiar jerk behind the navel, and they were off.
This is my first fanfic, I hope to update it weekly if at all possible.
I gotta give mad thanks to Sirya Black for helping this chapter off the ground!
Hope you enjoyed.