Chapter Two: A Surprising Situation
"Boy!" Vernon yelled, eyeing the wizard in his living room with loathing and fear, "get your school stuff and get down here. You're leaving." To Snape he growled out, "You better not do anything to my family...just take Harry and get out."
Harry didn't wait around to see what Snape's response to that would be. He ran back upstairs and threw all his stuff into his trunk, grabbed Hedwig's cage and grunting, dragged it all down the stairs. All the noise had finally woken Dudley, who was coming out of his room rubbing his eyes. He eyed Harry's trunk and ran back into his room with a squeal. Harry bit back his laughter and continued into the living room, affecting a surprised look when he saw Snape.
"Let's go, Potter," Snape snapped, his eyes glittering with loathing, "I do not have all day to play nursemaid to a boy who thinks too highly of himself." He held up what looked like an old chewing gum wrapper. "I know I don't have to tell you what a portkey is or how it works."
Harry flinched at the reminder of last year's events, and for a fleeting moment, he thought he saw Snape's expression soften, but it was gone so fast, it must have been his imagination. He stood with one hand on his trunk and the other on the portkey, and he soon felt the familiar tugging sensation at his navel as the world blurred around him. Abruptly it stopped, and he found himself laying on the ground in the alleyway behind the Leaky Cauldron. Snape was standing beside him, looking over at something. Harry stood up and brushed himself off, looking to see what had the man's attention. He grinned when he saw the familiar red hair that categorized the Weasley family.
"Harry, you all right?" Ron cried as he ran up. He looked up at Snape with a distrustful expression.
This was repeated by the twins Fred and George, and Ginny who were right behind Ron. They all stood in a loose circle about Harry as if to protect him. When Mrs. Weasley caught up to them, she smiled at Professor Snape.
"Thank you Professor, for bringing him. We can take it from here."
Snape just nodded and then disappeared with a pop.
"Well, now that that's done, Fred, George, why don't you take Harry's trunk into your room. We'll be staying here tonight, as Hermione won't be able to come until tomorrow," She explained to Harry, "She did send me her list. Did you get yours dear?"
While Mrs. Weasley was talking the twins were doing as they were told...sort of. They were arguing over who got to carry which end of the trunk. This of course ended in disaster, when they dropped the trunk which opened and dumped everything out onto the ground, including the odd box Harry had received last night. He quickly rushed to help put everything back in, hoping no one had noticed. No such luck. Mrs. Weasley spotted it immediately.
"Oh how lovely Harry," she exclaimed, "Where did you get it?" She picked it up and opened it before Harry could protest. When she had done reading the short note she frowned at him. "What was it that was in here Harry? It could have been cursed."
Harry reluctantly pulled the chain off, feeling bereft without the reassuring feel of the cool stone. She gingerly took it from him and looked apologetic. "I'm going to have to send this to Dumbledore. You'll get it back if there's nothing wrong with it dear."
She picked the box up and placed the chain inside it, then pointed her wand and the box was instantly wrapped in brown paper. "I'll just go and post this now. Ginny dear come with me and we can get yours and Hermione's things. You two can go ahead and start." She smiled and walked up to the wall, and tapped three across three down, and went inside, followed by Ginny.
Harry looked over at Ron who waited until they had gone before pulling Harry to the side. "Hey Harry, there's something I need to tell you," he said, sounding urgent.
"Well," Harry asked, "what is it?" Several visions of horror passed through his mind, and he was unprepared when Ron blurted out, "I've been made prefect."
"What?" Harry said, incredulous, "Don't scare me like that! I thought something really horrible had happened to you."
"It is horrible Harry," Ron complained, "I won't be able to sit with anyone I know on the train, and and well I'm sure there're worse things too."
Harry rolled his eyes. "For one thing Ron, Hermione is sure to have made prefect. Aren't there lists or something you could look at? And as for there being worse things, you get a lot of freedom as a prefect."
Ron brightened at this prospect. "Say you're right Harry. I guess I was just too shocked to think straight. I mean I didn't even show Mum. I actually got to the letters first this time. There is a list, I just didn't read it." He pulled two letters out and skimmed over the second one. His eyes widened and he stared at Harry with excitement and dread. "You've been made prefect too, Harry! But so has Malfoy." His mouth twisted into a grimace of distaste.
Harry blinked. "Me? Let me see that." He grabbed the letter from Ron and read. Sure enough under Gryffindor prefects his name was listed along with Hermione Granger, Angelina Johnson, and Ronald Weasley. He felt in his pocket for the package he had put in there earlier and pulled it out. He carefully opened and took out the shiny gold prefects badge, then looked at all the other papers. They outlined the duties and privileges. At the sound of feet running towards him, he quickly put the badge back in the box and shoved it back into his pocket.
"Oi, Harry, what have you got in your pocket there?" George asked grinning.
What has it got in its pockets? No it wouldn't say would it my precious....
Harry blinked. "What did you just say?"
"I just asked what you had there Harry, you all right?"
Harry shook his head to clear it. He could have sworn he had heard someone else speaking. "Er...yes...yes I'm fine George."
"Great," Fred said, "Then tell us what you have. We won't leave you alone until you do, don't you know."
Harry sighed and showed them the badge. He tensed and waited for them to make fun. However they both looked at each other and let out a loud whoop! "All right! Harry's been made a prefect. Now we can get away with everything! Here Harry hand over the box, I want to see who else." Before Harry could protest, the list of prefects was torn from his hand.
"Hey! Ron! You're a prefect too? But why hasn't Mum gone crazy?" George asked.
"Er...well..I haven't exactly told her yet."
"Oh don't worry about it. She'll get an owl here soon telling her. That's what happened with Percy. Not that anybody needed the information considering that's all he would talk about all summer long."
"Erm...maybe we should get going," Harry suggested tentatively, "I mean we still have to get a lot of stuff."
"Quite right Harry old boy," George agreed, "And Fred and I have a lot of planning to do. Thanks to our anonymous donor of course." He grinned at Harry as he and Fred made their way into Diagon Alley. Harry ignored Ron's confused look and followed after them.
It had taken nearly all day for the shopping to get done, and Harry was glad to be up in the room he and Ron were sharing. Ron was sitting on his bed looking at the new transfiguration book (they were taking advanced transfiguration now). "I can't believe they expect us to learn all this stuff! I mean who can even understand it?"
Harry looked over at the page he was on. It was how to transfigure a person, temporarily, into a cat or a dog. (they wouldn't be learning any other animals until their sixth year) "Hermione can probably. Transfiguration is her best subject."
"Oh yeah. I meant normal students. Like you and me."
Harry just shook his head. "I'm sure that when we get to that lesson in class, you and I will at least pass." He didn't tell Ron that he had been studying harder this summer since that was the only thing that would keep him from thinking about the Triwizard Tournament and the events after. The basics from the first four years if studied properly made the advanced lessons much easier to understand, if not easier to perform.
"I'm tired now, g'night Ron."
"G'night Harry."
The lights dimmed as both boys settled under their covers. Once again, Harry fell asleep almost as soon as his head touched the pillow.
"Where are you?" he called out into the oppressive darkness. He strained his sharp ears for the slightest echo, but there was nothing. Just the darkness and the heaviness of the thing hanging around his neck. He was closer. He knew it. He just needed to go a little further. But he couldn't do it without help, without knowing his friend was okay. And what about the creature? Where had he disappeared to? He called out again, making himself hoarse with screaming their names. Nothing. Feeling disheartened, he sank to the ground.No, must go on. It must be destroyed. He stood back up and continued going, covering his ears when the voice started again. Then he blinked in surprise. There was light up ahead, a strange light. He could see people in it! He started running, then came to an abrupt halt. He watched as a boy was murdered and as other strange events unfolded. Then the voice became unbearable, interrupting his concentration.
Ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg gimbatul ash nazg gimbatul ash nazg gimbatul....
Harry woke with a start. He looked over at Ron who was snoring away, and relaxed. He was glad he hadn't woken anybody up. He lay back down and stared at the ceiling, hoping morning would come soon.
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