HP 6 - A different Half-Blood...

The Visit

Harry woke up with a start when he heard the front door slam. Uncle Vernon had come home from work. He looked at his clock and it was the usual time for him to come home. He sat up. His hand was still clasped around his mother's gift. He searched around for his glasses and found them on the floor after almost stepping on them. He realized it was probably the longest he had slept since he got back. He yawned and looked over at his door. A sandwich had been pushed under it. He was hungry, so he summoned up the energy and went to get it. He ate half of it and set the plate down on the desk. He had left the box on the bed, and when he saw it, he began to think about it again.

Instead of wallowing in grief, he thought about the photos. He took them over to the bed and sat back down. He searched for the one that moved, the one with his parents. It was in the middle of the pile. He looked at it again. They seemed so happy, but he wondered why there was a dance at Hogwarts. The only ball he had gone to there was during the Triwizard Tournament, which had not been held in over a hundred years. He flipped it over to the back and read the message again.

He could tell by the photo and message that she really liked his father. They were already planning to live together. This detracted from his earlier notion that his father might have forced her to be with him, because of.... the clattering of plates downstairs shattered his train of thought.

"Dudley are you finished?" he heard his aunt say.

"Yeah," Dudley grunted.

"Petunia..." Uncle Vernon started in a slightly loud and irritated voice, "...why do you keep taking meals up to that boy? If you stop, he'll come down to eat like a normal person! People will start getting the wrong ideas."

"Vernon, I don't think he'll come down," his aunt said, uncertainly.

"So, let him starve!" his uncle said, apathetically.

"Oh, Vernon, what will the neighbors say then?" his aunt retorted.

"It doesn't mean we have to be his servants and bring him his food!" Uncle Vernon growled.

Aunt Petunia lowered her voice and Harry had to strain his ears to listen, "Vernon something happened to him. He's really depressed, and I am not going to withhold him meals because it seems too demeaning!"

This seemed to end the discussion. Uncle Vernon was probably very disgruntled, now. He had probably never thought Aunt Petunia would act this way. It took Uncle Vernon completely by surprise last year when she overrode his decision to kick Harry out. The tapping on the plates eventually stopped and he heard footsteps coming up the stairs. She shoved a plate of food through the cat flap.

He had just eaten, but Aunt Petunia fought Uncle Vernon over that plate of food and it seemed wrong not to eat it. So, he jumped up, snatched it up and ate again. When he had finished, he put it on the desk, too, and turned his chair toward the window. He looked out and the sun still lit up the sky. As he mulled over his presents, he got lost in his thoughts. He never heard the car pull up into the driveway or the slamming of its doors, but the ringing of the doorbell broke his train of thought.

"HARRY!!!" Uncle Vernon's loud voice roared through the whole house.

He wondered if the Weasleys sent another letter, again, and it was the mail carrier at the door. He opened his door and started down the stairs. His uncle was at the foot of the stairs. His face was beet red and showed a mixture of fear and intense anger, and as Harry looked by the front door, he knew why. Three people were standing there and looking up at him: a portly man in a crisp black suit, who looked odd without his traditional lime green boiler hat, a women with a square jaw, short gray hair and a very professional business suit on, and a second young man, wearing horn-rimmed glasses and had a respectable navy blue suit on that clashed tremendously with his flaming red hair and freckles. Three people he knew as Cornelius Fudge, Amelia Bones, and Percy Weasley.

Harry could not see what Uncle Vernon was so upset about. They were dressed just like very respectable Muggles. The visitors started to look around curiously, as all three of them were from wizarding families and had probably never been in a Muggle home.

"WHAT are they doing here!?!" Uncle Vernon gritted through his teeth.

"I don't know!" Harry responded in a defiant voice.

Harry looked over to his guests and indeed was baffled as to why they had arrived. He was sure he had not done anything illegal, and if Fudge was coming here to apologize, why was Madam Bones here? An awkward silence broke out as Uncle Vernon turned his reddened face to the visitors. Fudge was the first to speak.

"Hello, Mr. Dursley. I am Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic..." he paused as Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia's eyes darted around looking for eavesdroppers.

Fudge continued, slightly confused, "...that means I am the leading government official of the magical community. This is Madam Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and Percy Weasley, my assistant."

They nodded respectably to the Dursleys, but they did not get a response until the clogs in Uncle Vernon's head clicked.

"Oh! You're here to take the boy away! Did something illegal, no doubt! They're taking you off to prison, eh boy? It's about time, too!" Uncle Vernon finished clearly in glee and bouncing up and down on his toes.

Harry leaned up against the wall at the bottom of the stairs with his arms crossed, glaring at Uncle Vernon. Madam Bones was looking at him, too, with an eyebrow raised, looking quite forbidding. Percy, as pale as he was, had a half-smile on his face, clearly remembering the conversions on how the Dursleys treated him. It took Fudge aback, and he looked around for some explanation or possibly thought it was a joke.

"Mr. Dursley, Harry hasn't done anything wrong," Fudge said, suppressing a laugh with difficulty. "We're here to give him something."

Uncle Vernon's smile faded. Fudge looked around and asked, "Is there somewhere we could sit down?"

Harry was wondering what they could possibly be giving him. The Medal for Magical Merit? No, Professor Marchbanks would have come. Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia, however, just stared at Fudge, as though his request was beyond reasonable.

"The lounge is in here," Harry finally said, breaking the silence. He glared at Fudge as he walked by him, leading the way. He would never forgive Fudge for how he treated him or his godfather. Uncle Vernon was not happy at all.

"Hey..." Uncle Vernon broke off, realizing that there were three grown wizards in his house and clearly remembering all of his previous encounters with wizards.

"Don't worry Uncle Vernon. They are from the Ministry, I doubt they will curse you," Harry said and shot another angry look over at Fudge, who definitely saw it.

Harry sat down in an armchair. Fudge and Madam Bones sat on one of the couches, Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia sat down cautiously on the other one. Percy remained standing by Fudge and Madam Bones. Harry saw Dudley's face peering out from the doorway, but shot back behind the wall. Dudley had been on the receiving end of three magical attacks, so far, and was not eager for a fourth.

"Well," Fudge started, "Harry...."

However, Harry was still staring at him intently.

"Ummm, well first, I and the rest of the Ministry offer a complete apology for the way we treated you. If we had listened, perhaps we would have saved many lives. Rest assured we are completely working on combating...You-Know-Who... and tracking all the Death Eaters you identified, when you saw 'him' return. We have alerted everyone to his presence and all the Ministry is working to find... You-Know-Who....We... I am really sorry, for everything," Fudge said regretfully.

Harry did not say anything, but he looked out the window at the black Ministry car in the driveway and saw there was a driver waiting.

"We came here for something else, though," Fudge paused. "Sirius Black..." he started, but Uncle Vernon broke in.

"Black? That good-for-nothing, murdering godfather of yours!?!" he shot an angry look over to Harry, but continued. "That's what this is about!?! Did you morons finally catch him? Petunia and I have been living in fear that he'd turn up and kill us if we didn't.... Well, honestly, you think... your lot... would have found him faster than this! Well, boy, you don't have that threat hanging over us anymore, eh! And he's been writing him, that's aiding and abetting! You can throw him into a cell right next to his... his godfather!"

Uncle Vernon was looking hopefully at the visitors for it to be true, but it faltered when he looked into their faces. Madam Bones looked very cross and she was looking at him with an increasing dislike. Fudge was at a loss, again, and Percy shifted uncomfortably. Harry leaned back on the chair and messaged his temples with one hand. This was not a topic he wanted to talk about with anybody, much less his uncle and Fudge.

"Mr. Dursley, I don't understand," Fudge began dumbstruck.

"Understand WHAT? You caught him, d-didn't you?" Uncle Vernon stammered.

Fudge looked at Harry and said, "You didn't tell... them?"

Fudge was astounded and Harry thought that maybe he finally figured out what home life was like for him. Madam Bones also looked at him, but her eyes were full of sympathy.

"Tell me what?" Uncle Vernon demanded.

"Mr. Dursley, Sirius Black was killed over a month ago," Fudge said, quietly.

Aunt Petunia clapped her hand over her mouth. She understood. Uncle Vernon was less sympathetic, as he jumped to his feet.

"Dead? So that's what's been wrong with you!?! Your criminal godfather got himself killed just like your worthless parents! That's the reason you stay shut up in your room every damn day!" he yelled, staring accusingly at Harry.

Harry was about a second from hexing him. He did not care if Fudge and Madam Bones was there. One more crack about his parents. He stared directly at Uncle Vernon, hand on his wand. Fudge was probably sensing danger as he looked from Harry to Uncle Vernon, and he stood up.

"Mr. Dursley, please! Please, calm down!" Fudge insisted.

Uncle Vernon looked in fear at Fudge, as though just remembering what he was. He sat down reluctantly and stared at Fudge, who sat back down, too.

"Alright, well... Harry, I wasn't exactly expecting this.... well, about Black...."

Harry tore his piercing gaze away from Uncle Vernon to stare at Fudge.

"I have talked to Dumbledore about him, as well as other... people, and we at the Wizengamot feel that we were wrong. We agree that he was innocent of..."

But yet again Uncle Vernon leapt up and interrupted Fudge.

"INNOCENT!!!" he roared, his face turning beet red and spraying everyone with spit. "You never mentioned that he didn't actually kill anybody! You had us all believing he would turn up and attack us! Damn it boy, I will not tolerate this! You're lucky if I don't throw you out on the street right now for lying to us this whole time! I've had it! It's your fault Dudley was attacked by those dementiods or whatever! You're dangerous to my family! Your parents were no different, putting you off on their decent relatives, after going out and getting themselves killed!"

That did it. Harry was on his feet with his wand at his side.

"DON'T TALK ABOUT MY PARENTS LIKE THAT!" he yelled.

"I CAN TALK ABOUT THEM HOWEVER I WANT! THIS IS MY HOUSE!!!" Uncle Vernon shot back, his cheek twitching.

"Oh, really? Say it again, I dare you," Harry whispered dangerously and he raised his wand.

"Stop! Stop!" Fudge and Madam Bones were on their feet, Fudge was trying to bring sense to them, and Madam Bones was too shocked to speak.

"Harry, put down the wand. You don't want to get into any more trouble, do you?" Fudge added in a soft voice, trying to calm Harry down.

It did not work. Harry turned and poured what was left of his rage from last year out onto him.

"Any more trouble?" Harry sneered. "Does that mean you think I still imagined those dementors?"

His voice was increasing at every word. His wand felt as though it was burning red-hot in his hand. Fudge was half-terrified, half in shock as Harry moved closer to him.

"...or that I'm still a dangerous lunatic that you had the newspapers make me out to be! Better yet, signing all those educational decrees and letting your Senior Undersecretary cut my hand open! SEE!" he half-shouted.

He pulled back his sleeve and showed the visitors the back of his hand. The scar said quite unmistakably, I must not tell lies. He looked into their astonished faces.

"Wait... why don't you tell my uncle who sent the dementors on me and his son last summer? Go ahead. TELL HIM!!!" Harry yelled.

Fudge was shaking and mumbled something not understandable, but Uncle Vernon rose to the occasion.

"What do you mean, boy?" he asked, looking furiously at Fudge, thinking it was he was responsible.

"Mr. Dursley, the d-dementors were-were sent by Dolores Umbridge. I knew nothing about it. She was fired and facing charges. I really do apologize," Fudge gulped.

Harry knew that would not settle the matter, Uncle Vernon's temper was rising and he was about to unleash his fury on to Fudge. Harry was smiling. It was probably the first time they ever were on the same side of an argument, but Madam Bones finally joined the conversation.

"That is ENOUGH! We are not here to talk about each other's problems or mistakes. Now, please everyone, SIT DOWN!" Fudge and Madam Bones took their seats. Uncle Vernon's red face turned white. He sat down most likely out of fear from repercussions for disobeying Madam Bones, who did not look like a women to be trifled with. Harry, however, stayed standing.

"Harry, you have every right to feel angry, but please hear Mr. Fudge out. This is important," she said in a soft, yet stern voice, and allowed time for Harry to think it over. He sat down slowly with his back posed as though ready to attack and his eyes darting between his uncle and Fudge.

"Alright," Fudge started, still quite shaken, but soon got back on track. "We have cleared Sirius Black of all crimes he was accused of. We have been informing the wizard community that Peter Pettigrew is alive and is the one responsible for the... massacre. More importantly, the sacrifice of his life to save yours merits something more than just an acquittal."

Harry looked at the floor. He could feel the eyes of everyone in the room burning into him.

"We are awarding him the Order of Merlin, First Class, for his sacrifice and for his wrongful imprisonment in Azkaban for twelve years. As I have heard, you and he were close, and he regarded you as his closest relative and as his heir. Therefore..." Fudge drew himself up, and turned to Madam Bones, who withdrew a gold embroidered, black box about the length and width of a small book, from her briefcase and handed it to Fudge. "...as Minister of Magic, I present you this award, on behalf of your godfather, Sirius Black."

Fudge knelt next to Harry, who had one hand clasped around his mouth, and did not say anything. His throat was so tight it felt like someone was choking him. Fudge opened the box and presented him the award. It was gold circle, with red ribbon laced around the edges, and with fancy writing saying,

Order of Merlin

First Class

For bravery, selfless sacrifice, and innocence proven too late

Harry kept his mouth close, but took the Order of Merlin from Fudge. He would not cry not in front of Fudge, someone he did not respect. He choked back the tears, and nodded only.

"Alright," said Fudge, who thought Harry would actually say something. "Harry, we are all really sorry for your loss and for the way you were treated. Rest assured we are doing everything to rectify the matter. All the educational decrees have been receded and Dolores Umbridge is facing charges for her illegal actions."

Harry again nodded, this time meeting Fudge's eyes, who accepted it as a 'thank you' and stood up. His aunt and uncle did not say anything.

Madam Bones chimed in, "We know Sirius Black had nothing to do with You-Know-Who, and he has been finally cleared of the crimes he did not commit. Pettigrew will not be safe for long. We will find him. I am sorry for your loss, Harry, but Mr. Black died fighting You-Know-Who, and that is a death any relative could be proud of."

Harry looked at her and remembered Death Eaters killed her brother and his family. However, before he could say anything, Uncle Vernon decided that he had been quiet too long.

"What is all this You-Know-Who, nonsense? What is wrong with you people?" He spat at them, clearly not showing any regard to Harry's feelings at the moment. "Who is You-Know-Who?"

"Voldemort," Harry responded, prepared for the usual reaction.

Fudge flinched, clasped his heart, and looked around wildly. Madam Bones flinched slightly, but seemed to overlook it and stared at Harry, almost with pride. Percy jumped slightly, and started to shake a little. Meanwhile, Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia were watching their behavior as curious as the three visitors had been when his aunt and uncle reacted to the word "magic".

"What the heck was that about," Uncle Vernon said, still very confused.

"Most of the wizarding world is afraid to say his name," Harry responded tonelessly.

"What?" Uncle Vernon said smirking.

"Mr. Dursley, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is a very powerful Dark wizard, who did many terrible things and no one has been able to stop him. It is not a joking matter. He has killed and tortured many victims, and many people are still afraid of him," Fudge said looking disgruntled.

"But you say it, boy. Why?" Uncle Vernon asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Because I have met him, many times in fact... and I've met his followers. I've used his name and they haven't killed me... yet, anyway," he said bitterly and looked at the fireplace.

"Met him? That lunatic who killed your parents?" Uncle Vernon said, astounded.

"Yah," Harry said, dangerously.

"When?" Uncle Vernon demanded.

"Well, let's see..." Harry gritted through teeth, his temper was rising as he said every word, "in my first year of school, my second year, two years ago, and about a month and a half ago. Not to mention him giving me this," he said and pointed to his scar.

"And he hasn't managed to kill you? Doesn't sound very powerful to me," Uncle Vernon scoffed.

"Well, as someone else has died almost on every one of those occasions... but next time I meet him, I will try very hard to get myself killed. Just like my parents, right?" Harry jeered and was already on his feet, staring Uncle Vernon dead in the eyes.

"Harry," Fudge was looking shocked, "what a thing to say, surely your uncle doesn't want you dead."

"Oh, I don't know about that. Maybe you should ask him," Harry smirked.

"Don't start, boy. You're about one step from getting the beating of your life!" Uncle Vernon said getting up.

"Enough! Stop, please!" Fudge said desperately.

Harry looked at him, but Uncle Vernon, however, said, "I think it is time for you to leave. You gave him the medal. I'd say your business is done here. Leave and don't come back... ever."

Fudge looked at Harry and said, "I guess we... are you ok, Harry?"

"Yeah, I'll be fine," he said, defiantly, still staring at his uncle.

"Alright, let's be on our way," he said, looking around for his boiler hat, and suddenly remembered that he did not bring it. He looked over to Madam Bones, who nodded, before he walked toward the door.

"Goodbye, it was nice, umm... meeting you," she said to Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia, but clearly not meaning it.

Then she turned to Harry, "Again, I am sorry. I also wanted to thank you. My niece told me about the Defense group you organized and you taught her very well. Such spells will come in handy these days. She also got an O in Defense Against the Dark Arts, and her grades from all her classes were a lot better since you taught her all those spells. We are all so proud of her. Your father and mother would have been very proud of you. And as I hear it, you did quite well on your exams, too. Very good, Mr. Potter, until we meet again."

"Thanks," Harry said slightly unsure of what else to say, as they all began walking to the door.

Percy, however, broke his silence, turned around and said, "Sorry, Harry, I... well... I'll see you... later." He started walking to the door, but turned once again to say, "Happy Birthday."

He followed Fudge and Madam Bones out the door and they got into the black Ministry vehicle. Harry did not watch it leave, and turned to his aunt and uncle. Uncle Vernon was not calm at all. He moved closer to Harry, and was bearing down on him like a bulldog, gnashing his teeth.

"So! Decided to have some company over!?!" he half-roared.

"I didn't ask them to come," Harry said angrily.

"Do you realize people could've found out about... you!?!" he spat.

"The Ministry has many laws to stop them from doing just that, as well as ways to make people forgot things. Besides they even looked "normal"," he sneered.

"Don't talk to me like that you ungrateful burden! We should have gotten rid of you when you arrived on our doorstep!" Uncle Vernon shouted and Harry had his wand out again.

"Enough! Harry, go to your room. Vernon just let it go," Aunt Petunia yelled and that ended it.

Harry, with his hand clenched around the Order of Merlin, walked across the living room, past Dudley, who got out of his way, and went up the stairs. Uncle Vernon was breathing heavily, resisting the urge to go after his nephew.

"One more time and that's it!" Harry heard him yell.

Harry slammed his door shut. He was fuming. He was tired of it. Uncle Vernon was always bearing down on him. He doesn't care about anything that I have had to go through these last fifteen years. He wants to make my life miserable and its working, he thought. This was past the neighbors finding out about him. It was personal for Uncle Vernon. He wants me to suffer. He ran his hand through his hair and took a deep breath. I guess it's good to have Aunt Petunia on my side. She now knew what was troubling him, what had happened to him.

He walked over to the bed and sat down. He put the Order of Merlin next to his mother's box. It has been a strange day of ups and downs, he thought. Heartbreak, amazement, and the ever at his side, misery. He did not know what to think. There was so much that happened today. Aunt Petunia, his mother, Fudge, Percy, Sirius being cleared, Ron's invitation, and his O.W.L.'s were all popping in and out of his mind like the Snitch that was still streaking around the room. His mind was going in circles and he was exhausted again.

It was finally starting to get dark. He lay back onto his pillow and pulled off his glasses. The medal and the box were in front of him. His last thoughts dwelled on his mother and Sirius, knowing that he would never see them again. At last, he drifted off to a restless sleep.

He snapped awake, sitting straight up, calling out to Sirius, who had gone unrescued as he fell through the whispering veil, in yet another time in as many nights. Why did Lupin have to pull him back, every time? He was starting to hate him for it.

Why couldn't I just go with him? We could be together, and it wouldn't be my fault.... But it is my fault. It is my own fault that I am here alone. It was still dark. He looked at the clock. He only had a few hours of sleep.

Good, I don't want to start getting a lot of sleep, he thought bitterly. He got up and put the medal and the box from his mother in the bottom of his Hogwarts chest. Then he sat back down on his bed. When he woke up, he was shaking, but now he was stiff, his muscles were locked up as he leaned back against his bedframe. He was hunched over and just stared at an insignificant detail of hisbed, thinking. He felt like crying, after losing Sirius again, but he couldnot. He did not have any tears left. This was misery and there was still fourweeks to go.