full chapter 1of fan fiction
Harry’s Journey: Chapter 1

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. Thanks peihua for editting it for me.. am new to posting fan fictions on net.. guide me along, will you?

Dragging his feet as though they were lead, Harry Potter walked along Magnolia Crescent, taking as long as he could to reach Number Four Privet Drive. His mind had not yet left Hogwarts, not yet left Albus Dumbledore.

"I ask only this: that you allow Harry to return, once more, to this house, before his seventeenth birthday, which will ensure that the protection continues until that time." Dumbledore had told the Dursleys. Harry wondered for a moment whether the Durselys knew that Dumbledore was dead. Of course, he had sent Hedwig home with a letter saying that he would be returning earlier than before but he did not expel the thought that Uncle Vernon might have burned the letter without even reading it. They had not been at King's Cross when he reached London and Mr Weasley had given him a lift in one of the Ministry cars he had gotten to Magnolia Crescent. Harry had suggested that he had better walk in case Uncle Vernon had not expected his return. He had been most outraged when Dumbledore had turned up at their doorstep late that summer's night fetching Harry to The Burrow. Even though it was a bright afternoon that day, Harry thought he had better not risk it.

Harry was grateful that Ron and Hermione had decided to go with him everywhere he wanted to go. "We're with you whatever happens." Ron's voice rang out in his mind. In spite of this dark and dangerous time, Harry could not help feeling happy that he had them as his best mates. They had gone through so much together. The Socerer's Stone, The Chamber of Secrets, saving Sirius, helping him during the Triwizard Tournament, fighting in the Ministry... Harry's heart ached as he thought about the prophecy and Sirius' death. He wished that he was still in his first year, pure at heart, not knowing about the prophecy, not learning about the Horcruxes. But he could not turn back now. Dumbledore died helping Harry solve the mystery of the Horcruxes, help Harry get the locket out from the potion, which turned out to be a fake Horcrux. Harry was not going to give in to Lord Voldemort. He had to find the rest of the four Horcruxes, destroying the last one himself, not to fulfil the terms of the prophecy, but for revenge. Harry remembered his words to Dumbledore...

"...it could be me next, couldn't it? But if it is, I'll make sure I take as many Death Eaters with me as I can, and Voldemort too if I can manage it."

Harry knew that either he or Voldemort would have to die in the end. The prophecy said so. "Neither lives while the other survives." The words still haunted Harry, and he could not believe it was Professor Trelawney who made that prophecy. Harry sometimes wondered if it were not Dumbledore who had heard it, if it were someone else, perhaps another Headmaster, would things have been different? If Snape had not overheard the prophecy, or rather, had heard the full terms of the prophecy, would things have been different? Thinking of Snape made his insides burn with hatred and anger. Harry could hardly spend a moment without thinking of the flash of light from Snape's wand that had blasted Dumbledore off the Astronomy Tower, killing the greatest wizard Harry had ever known. The wizard who had so kindly given Snape a second chance to turn over a new leaf, to prove he was not a Death Eater as much as Dumbledore was.

But he killed him. Harry thought angrily.

"Harry?" came Hermione's voice. Harry had almost forgotten that Ron and Hermione were behind him. He looked up and found himself in front of the walkway to Number Four Privet Drive. Taking a deep breath, he walked up to the door and rapped it hard three times before stepping back, waiting for his uncle to open the door.

Harry stood outside the house, waiting. For a moment, he thought there was no one at home and Ron seemed to think that way too.

"Should we come back later?" Ron asked, trying to peer through the window over the hydrangea bush Harry once lay upon, hiding himself from view while listening to the evening news. Suddenly, someone pressed a face to the window and Ron backed away with a shout of alarm. The person screamed and heavy footsteps could be heard, apparently running away as fast as he could away from the window as though it had been Ron who had frightened him one way or another.

"Dudley," Harry muttered. "Dudley! YOU IDIOT! OPEN THE DOOR!" The door opened abruptly, but it was not Dudley who opened it.

A large, beefy man with thick neck was standing by the door, purple in the face with rage. It was Uncle Vernon, and judging by the expression on his face, he had received the letter but was determined to keep Harry out of the house.

"What have you done, boy? Been sent home from the mad school?" he sneered unpleasantly. His tiny eyes fell upon Ron and Hermione. "And you brought... you brought your lot here?" he demanded angrily, looking around to check that his neighbours had not been watching from their windows. Harry thought their neighbours must be mad to watch his uncle's house on such a beautiful summer's day.

"They are my friends and don't worry, we won't stay long. Not until after my birthday, of course," Harry said irritably. He did not even pause to wonder if the Durselys still remembered his birthday or not.

"You are not stepping into the house," Uncle Vernon said, closing the door.

"Please, sir. We- We came on Dumbledore's order," Hermione said, her voice shaking slightly. "He said if Harry returns before his seventeenth birthday, the lingering protection that had-"

"All right, all right," Uncle Vernon grunted, pulling the door open and looking around anxiously again as though afraid that neighbours might hear what Hermione was saying through their open windows.

Harry, Ron and Hermione stepped into the house. Not much have changed since Harry left the last summer. The living room remained as spotless as ever and Dudley's pictures were still standing on the mantelpiece. Hermione looked around carefully, knowing that it would not be wise to touch the things in the house. Ron, however, sat down on the couch comfortably, looking around with eagerness.

"You get off the couch!" Uncle Vernon barked at him and Ron jumped off as though electrified.

"Let's go up to my room," Harry said.

"Wait... You haven't given me an explanation! Why are you back earlier than usual?" Uncle Vernon said.

"Wouldn't want to if I can help it," Harry muttered. “The school's closed... temporarily. So we are sent back home early for summer holidays."

"And why did you bring them with you?""Because they will be leaving with me. I won't be staying here for long. And I might not come back," Harry said, choosing his words carefully in case it caused his uncle outrage; his uncle tends to overreact at any word suggesting that magic might be going on.

"What do you mean by that, boy?"

"It means that I will be leaving and going far away and not returning forever. This is what they call 'not coming back'," Harry said, apparently trying to get away from his uncle as soon as possible.

"I meant where will you be going and why aren't you coming back?" Uncle Vernon snapped.

"You won't want to know where I am going 'cos you hate them, don't you? I won't be coming back because... I might not be able to," Harry said.

"And what exactly do you mean by 'might not be able to'?" a voice came from behind them. Aunt Petunia was standing by the foot of the stairs. Harry studied her expression carefully. Her bony face was wrapped in an look of concern admist of the usual angry, impatient glare she reserved for Harry.

"I might be dead by then. Say goodbye to Dudley for me when I go, won't you?" he replied flatly, pushing past his aunt and heading up the stairs to his room.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Nothing much happened during the rest of Harry's stay in Number Four Privet Drive. Dudley and his gang had managed to keep themselves out of Harry's way having heard from Dudley that Harry had brought his gang back from his freak school. Not that Dudley's gang was afraid of Harry, but since they were afraid of Dudley and he had forbidden them to beat Harry up, they kept themselves well out of his way. Harry was grateful for that. He already had a lot to deal with without having to take his wand out and scaring Dudley's mates too. The three of them kept themselves mostly to Harry's room in case of triggering off Uncle Vernon's nasty temper that had grown in him ever since they set foot in the house. Aunt Petunia gave them leftovers for meals for they did not join them for dinner. Harry was thankful that both Ron and Hermione were willing to accompany his short stay at Privet Drive without any complaints despite the cold treatment his aunt and uncle gave them.

Hedwig often return late in the night carrying letters from the Order of the Phoenix asking how the three of them were and whether the Dursleys had been mistreating them. Harry could hardly reply that other than eating leftovers for three meals a day and not being able to step out of his room without facing the nasty temper of the Dursleys, his holiday had been really enjoyable. Remus Lupin had offered to go on the journey with them and promised to wait for them in The Leaky Cauldron but Harry had refused point blank in his reply without giving him a reason. Lupin had not replied since and Harry took it that he had received it. He still had to pass by The Leaky Cauldron anyway since they were going to Diagon Alley to visit Fred and George before leaving for Godric's Hollow. He could argue with Lupin that he wanted to go on the journey alone with no one else other than Ron and Hermione.

As 31 July grew nearer, Ron and Hermione started to prepare for their departure. They started to clear up whatever they had taken out and left around in Harry's room, which was easy since they did not have much to clear except for clothes which they had washed themselves and hung them out to dry. The Durselys gave no sign that they either knew or cared that Harry's birthday was drawing nearer and that he would be leaving them forever after that night. Harry thought he would not care either, about leaving the Dursleys, but was surprised that he had the sick sort of feeling in his stomach when 31 July arrived.

He carried his backpack stuffed with his clothes, Invisibility Cloak and even the Marauder's Map though he knew he might not need it as he had already decided not to return to Hogwarts, into the living room. Ron and Hermione followed him out into the living room too, and all three of them were surprised to see the Durselys waiting for them on the couch, Dudley squeezing between his parents, an expression of fear etched across his face.

"Where will you be going?" Aunt Petunia asked, her voice quavering ever so slightly.

"So you remembered. I thought you had forgotten, having not spoken to me for weeks," Harry said. "To London. Then to my parents' house." Aunt Petunia pursed her lips, an act which she usually did when she disapproved of something."We'll get going then," Harry said. "Take care of yourselves... and... err... Bye." He was not accustomed to saying such things to the Durselys. The most he ever said whenever he was leaving for school was just a simple "Goodbye." But this time was different. He might be leaving for good. The Durselys might not see him ever again. For some reason, Harry found it hard to leave the house, to leave the Dursleys. They had, after all, taken care of him for sixteen years. No matter how miserable they had usually left him, Harry still had some feelings for them. It had not been easy for his uncle and aunt to bring him up while tolerating criticisms from Aunt Marge.

Uncle Vernon merely grunted, though in an odd sort of way as though he was uncomfortable. Dudley continued to coward to the back of the couch as much as possible and given his large mass, it was proving to be a difficult feat. However, Aunt's Petunia's eyes filled with tears. Harry did not know what to do. He stood in the middle of the living room, Ron and Hermione by his side, pausing in an act of pulling up the backpack which had slid off his shoulders. Hermione gave Harry a slight push and he started slowly forwards, walking towards Aunt Petunia, who was sobbing silently now, trying not to look at anyone in the room.

"Take care of yourself while I am away, won't you? And Dudley. Keep an eye on his diet," Harry tried to add jokingly. But Aunt Petunia continued sobbing. "Don't worry. I will be fine. If things go well I might even get to come back every year for a bit of reunion."

Aunt Petunia looked up from the floor and stared into Harry's green eyes. "Write back, won't you? So that we know you are all right."

"By owl?" Harry asked without thinking. Uncle Vernon gave him a murderous glare and he quickly added," I'll try sending through mail if I can get to a post office near enough."

Uncle Vernon turned his gaze back to Ron and Hermione. Then, to the trio's amazement, he grunted, "Take care of him for us, will you? Not that I care but-" His voice trailed off into nothingness.

"Of... of course we will take care of him, sir," Hermione said. “Don’t worry. Harry can take care of himself too." Ron nodded quickly in agreement.

"Well, we'll be off then. Bye..." Harry gave Aunt Petunia an awkward pat on the shoulder and turned to leave. Dudley stopped shifting about in his seat and looked at him.

"Bye, Big D," Harry said, trying to grin. For some reason, Dudley managed a slight grin back.

"Bye, Harry," he replied.