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Harry Potter and the Terra of Umbra	By : Fyre Category: Harry Potter > Het - Male/Female Views: 1537 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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It was times like these that Harry sincerely wished that he could block out the world. The sun was pouring in through his blinds, the birds were singing happily and he could hear the sounds of children laughing outside. How could it be so cheery when the world was so empty? When he felt so alone, so damaged and lost. Sirius was gone�he was dead and for the second time in a row he had not been able to prevent it from happening. He felt as if it was his fault. Sirius should be the one living and he�well; Harry didn�t even want to think about himself.

His mood had only dampened, staying with the Dursley�s. It was constant torture, day in and day out. It was nothing new, really. He had heard everything that they had to say but now he believed the rubbish that spilled out of their mouths.

You�re worthless, Potter.

Even worse then anything that the Dursley�s had to say was Sirius� funeral, which was taking place tomorrow. A small group of people were supposed to be coming to get him in a few hours, Harry realized with a glance at his alarm clock. Hermione had written to him the day before with this information.

His mood had brightened a little upon realizing that he would be leaving the Dursley�s household and that he�d be with Ron and Hermione again but he wasn�t sure he was ready to face Grimmauld Place again, to face the fact that Sirius was really dead.
Harry sighed, rolling over onto his stomach to burry his face within his pillow. Only a half hour left, Harry, he told himself. He had nothing left to do until they arrived. He�d packed his trunk and had readied Hedwig he had even told the Dursley�s that he would be leaving for the rest of the summer that morning at breakfast. They had been happy to get rid of him, as they usually were but Uncle Vernon had almost lost his breakfast when Harry had informed him who would be coming to get him.

Harry smiled into his pillow. If there was one thing that could cheer him up it was the shade of green Uncle Vernon�s face had turned when he�d found out that it was the very same man who had bent his rifle six years before. Dudley�s face had turned a lovely shade of puce then as well. Harry had known that he was thinking of the pig tail that he�d gotten out of that experience. He had to remember to thank Hagrid again for that�

Hedwig hooted then and Harry turned to look at his only companion. Her golden eyes were glued to the window and he groaned. Apparently it was time for a fly. Taking another look at his alarm clock, he climbed out of bed and padded across his bedroom floor. �You�re going to have to be fast, girl.� He said softly, opening her cage. She did not move, still gazing at the window.
Irritated that he had gotten out of bed for her to do nothing he made to move back towards the bed when something hit his window. His hand reached instinctively towards his back pocket for his wand but Hedwig hooted again. Harry took a hesitant step forward and looked through the blinds.

Standing in front of the house was a familiar red headed figure, a rock in his hand. Ron.

He opened the window, the faintest of smiles on his lips. �Ron!� he shouted, just moments before another rock came soaring at his head, hitting him directly in the forehead. He heard Ron shout and an indigent scream from Hermione, along with the roaring laughter of Kingsley. He thanked Merlin that Ron didn�t have a hard throw, rubbing his forehead where the rock had hit him. The laughter was contagious and he found himself chuckling for the first time in days.

�What were you thinking!?� Hermione�s shrill cry came through his window. Something�s never changed. �Oh Harry! Are you OK?�

�I�m fine, Hermione�� Harry called down to her. �I�ll be down in a second!� He picked up the rock that was by his foot and threw it back out his window before he closed and locked it again.

With his mood lightened, he took Hedwig�s cage and trunk and headed down the stairs. He could hear voices in the kitchen and paused upon hearing Kingsley speaking.

�Don�t worry, Mr. Dursley. Harry will be in safe hands.� Kingsley�s strong voice echoed in the small stairway. He waited at the bottom of the steps for the elder man. He didn�t want to face the Dursley�s one more time. He heard his uncle mutter something under his breath but couldn�t make out the words.

�Pardon me?� Apparently Kingsley hadn�t been able to hear him either.

�I won�t worry.� No. Harry knew that he wouldn�t. He chanced a peak into the kitchen. Uncle Vernon�s back was too him but he could see the crimson red on the back of his neck and he knew that his uncle�s face was flushed puce in anger. Rolling his eyes he ducked back out of the kitchen and went back to Hedwig.

Kingsley said his goodbyes and Harry knew that it was forced. In seconds the Auror had joined him by the stairs. �All set, Harry?� he asked, reaching to take the trunk that was lying against the wall.

�Yeah.� Kingsley smiled and took the trunk, leading Harry outside. �Unfortunately we had to come by bus. It�s not the safest way to travel but using any sort of magic wouldn�t be safe right now. We believe our movements are being traced by our magical signatures.� He informed Harry.

�HARRY!� There was a flash of brown and Harry found himself staggering off balance, his arms full of a very happy Hermione.

He smiled against the top of her head, rolling his eyes. �Hello Hermione.� He said.

�Oh�I�m so happy to see you! Are you-� She stopped, changing her mind quickly. �You�ve grown!� He knew that was just a statement to change the subject and he merely shrugged, going along.

�I guess.� He said. Hermione let go of him and smiled, moving out of the way so Ron could say his hellos.

�Hey mate.�

�Ron.�

Hermione crossed her arms, standing between the two. �Aren�t you going to hug?�

�Are you kidding? Men don�t hug.� Ron said, looking at her for a brief moment.

�Men. Right�� She turned and trotted off to join Kingsley and Hagrid. Ron glanced at her again before he and Harry hugged, breaking apart quickly before she could turn back around and see them.

She didn�t need to turn around to see for herself, she knew her boys well enough to predict it. �Are we leaving now?� She asked.

�Yeah. We have to get back to the bus stop quickly. The next bus to London comes in ten minutes.� It hadn�t been a long walk from the bus stop to Privet Drive and Hermione was eager for the chance to really talk to Harry. She had spent the last couple of days doing nothing but worrying over his safety and it had begun to drain her. Seeing Harry today had helped clear some of that worry.

She felt like a mother. Absently Hermione wondered if this was how Mrs. Weasley felt 24/7, worrying continuously over the safety of her children. �Come on, Harry! We�re leaving.�

Harry smiled and followed the three away from Privet Drive, keeping his gaze firmly in front of him, not once looking back at the Dursley�s.

* * * * *

The bus pulled away behind them and Harry found himself standing in front of the Leaky Cauldron. Hagrid had barely opened the door to the pub when Tom bustled out, a small piece of parchment in his hand and a phoenix feather in the other. �You.� He huffed, thrusting the two parcels into Kingsley�s hand.

Kingsley flipped over the note and took one look at it before stuffing the parchment into his pocket. �Hagrid, I need to go. Keep him safe.� He said, sounding worried as he squeezed his hand around the phoenix feather.

Hagrid knew the signs and nodded, stepping closer to the trio. �Be careful out there.�

In a flash of white light, Kingsley was gone.

It felt as if he had watched the last few moments in slow motion. When Kingsley disappeared from view, Harry finally snapped back to reality. �What just happened?�

�The Phoenix feather is a portkey. Something must have happened. We have to get you to safety, now.� Hagrid said, pushing the three teenagers into the pub. Tom closed the door behind them, after taking a cautious look around the street outside.

�A portkey? Why?�

�Don�t ask questions, Harry.� Hagrid said gruffly, leading them to the back door. �Just keep walking.� Hagrid pushed open the back door and pulled out the large pink umbrella he carried with him everywhere. Six years later, Harry still thought Hagrid looked a little ridiculous with the bright pink umbrella.
He tapped the bricks quickly with the tip of his umbrella. Harry realized that Hagrid seemed to be shaking. This didn�t comfort Harry any. Hermione squeezed his shoulder but gave a small nod that it was alright. He wasn�t so sure how alright it was but nodded, to comfort her more then himself.

They stepped through the hole that the bricks had made for them and Harry had to do a double take.

Diagon Ally didn�t seem half as beautiful as he remembered it to be. The streets were pretty empty with the occasional witch or wizard leaving and entering a store ahead of them. He could remember clearly the first time that he had been on the very same street, gazing in wonder at the stores that were flourishing with life. This looked like one of those old ghost towns that his history teacher had been so enthralled by back in grade school. Diagon Ally gave off an ominous feeling and he was no longer comforted by it.
Hermione was at his side, grasping tightly to his hand, her fingers twined with his. This was his source of comfort. The small hand enclosed in his own and Ron at his side. Hagrid was trudging along behind him; Harry could hear his heavy footsteps on the cement. Hermione was the first to break the silence that had fallen upon them since Kingsley had left to meet with the rest of the Order.

�Harry�?�

He looked at Hermione blankly, her expression tense and worried. Her hand had tightened on his own. Prepare yourself for the questions�

�Yeah?�

�How�How are you feeling?� her voice was no louder then a whisper and he felt anger churn in his stomach. How was he feeling? How was he feeling?

�What do you mean, Hermione?�

Hermione�s cheeks turned pink and her hand slipped out of his. Ron bit down on the inside of his chin. �You know what she means, Harry�� he said.

�About Sirius?� She nodded. He closed his eyes, coming to an abrupt stop in the middle of the sidewalk. �Oh, I�m doing just great.� He said, his voice spitting with venom. �The only family I had left is dead and I couldn�t do anything about it. I�m real peachy, Hermione.�

�Harry-�

�No, Ron. I understand�� Hermione�s voice trailed off and she looked back at Hagrid, her gaze meeting his. �Hagrid, do you mind waiting outside?�

�Be quick. Best we get Harry back quickly. I�ll be standing outside the door. Yell if ya need me.�

Hermione slowly turned back to her friends. �Come on�let�s go inside. Harry, I think we should talk.� She said, pointing at the shop across the street. Another familiar landmark, Flourish and Blotts. He felt a pang of guilt stab at his heart and with a solemn nod he followed Ron and Hermione across the street and into the bookstore.

Hermione walked to the back of the store where a small group of tables were. She sat down, her hands curled into fists at the hem of her shirt. �We never had the proper chance to talk after�after what happened at the Ministry.� She said softly.

Harry was thankful for that. He hadn�t been ready to talk. Dumbledore had had to force him into conversation and look what had happened then. He knew that there was no way of getting out of this conversation though. He sat down across from her and frowned. �I know��

�I think we should, Harry. It might make you feel better.� Hermione said.
�I don�t think anything but revenge would make me feel better� but I�ll talk for you��
Just then it hit Hermione how talking worked for some but it might not work for all� something she did not realize before she suggested it. �Harry maybe another time if you... you know� need to��
Harry was never so grateful for his close bond with Hermione. She always seemed to know exactly what he needed.
�Thanks Hermi-�
�Look at who we�ve got here.�

Harry�s shoulders tensed and he didn�t need to turn around to know who was standing behind him.

�A mudblood, a Weasley and the Boy-Who-Lived,�

�Malfoy.�
Harry turned in his seat. It seemed he had been mistaken. There were two Malfoy�s standing only inches away from him. Lucius Malfoy stood slightly behind Draco, a hand on his son�s shoulder. Both were wearing the same identical smirk. The resemblance between father and son frightened Harry some.

�Potter.� Draco said smoothly, his eyes alight with something that Harry couldn�t quite place.

�Fairing well with the loss of your Godfather?� Lucius asked before anyone else could get a word in. The words took a moment to sink in and Ron made to stand up, wanting to draw his wand. Hermione took him by the arm, pulling him back into his seat.

Harry�s eyes narrowed dangerously, a look most would cower in fear from but Lucius and Draco stood unfazed, Lucius even looking mildly amused.

Harry stood up, pushing his chair in. �Don�t you say a word about Sirius�� He said softly.

Lucius smirked. �Are you making a threat, Potter?�

�I might be.�

He had the nerve to laugh, a low sultry laugh that could only belong to a Malfoy. He was deeply amused and Draco seemed to be as well, although he had taken a step back away from Harry, his hands stuffed into the pockets of his dress suit.

�Do not make petty threats that you�re not going to go through with, Potter.� Lucius advised. How stupid was this boy, honestly? He rolled his eyes skyward and stepped forward towards Harry. Harry tensed but didn�t retreat. Both Hermione and Ron stood up then.
Hermione came around to stand besides Harry, wrapping her hands around his arm. �Mr. Malfoy��

Lucius spared her a glance, scoffing. His hand reached for his pocket and Harry pulled out of Hermione�s grip, his hand moving with the swiftness of a seeker to his pocket and in a blink of an eye he had the tip of his wand pressed into Lucius� chest. �I wouldn�t advise that.� He said. He was only happy to take out some of his frustration on the Malfoy family. He was looking eye to eye with the elder Malfoy and he suddenly wondered if taking out his wand was really a good idea.

�Put your bloody wand away, Potter.� Draco snapped, coming forward again.
�Hey! Hey you! With the glasses and the mop top! Can you do me a favor kid? I can�t reach that book up there.� A young woman looking to be his age was standing in the middle of the aisle closest to them, pointing at a book that was on the shelf a few feet taller then her.
Harry broke eye contact with Lucius for a split second looking at the nearly five foot tall girl with confusion and relief for taking him away from the elder Malfoy. Unwilling to show his back to his enemy he walked with his eyes trained on Lucius. Upon reaching the young woman he said, �Which one would you like?�
�The one on the shelf right there� no there� no to the left� no right more�� When hearing this go on for several more seconds the Malfoy�s gave one last glare at the trio and left the bookstore with an air of supremacy.
�Ah, there you go boy, that�s the one!� As Harry took down a book about how to trim overgrown nose hairs, the young woman looked around the store eventually nodding her head to herself and saying �OK, now run along little one.� When he didn�t seem to move she promptly turned on her heel and skipped to the front desk.
�Bloody Hell what was that all about?� asked Ron, coming up behind him.
�Apparently she needed to know how to trim her nose hairs.� Harry said in bewilderment, not understanding how he had gotten away with drawing his wand on Lucius.
Hagrid came around the corner just then saying, �Hey you three that�s been plenty of time. We need to get undercover and the sooner the better� I�m pretty sure I saw a Malfoy going out.�
�Oh yea better not meet up with them� said Ron but Hagrid apparently missed the sarcasm.
It was dusk by the time they arrived at number 12 Grimmauld Palace. With Ron and Hermione around him Harry opened the front door and stepped into the last place Harry wanted to be without his godfather.
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Harry Potter and the Terra of Umbra