Flames Of Destiny : Conflicting Emotions // HJP [2]

Prologue

"The Curious Case of Harry Potter: Fame or Folly?"

By Thaddeus Muddlefoot, Senior Correspondent for the Daily Prophet

For a boy whose only claim to fame is surviving an attack from You-Know-Who as an infant, Harry Potter has certainly been making waves lately—and not in the way one would expect. Once simply known as The Boy Who Lived, Potter now seems determined to turn himself into a central figure of controversy, with his most recent claims leaving much of the wizarding community scratching their heads.

The latest? That You-Know-Who has returned.

Yes, you read that correctly. Harry Potter, a schoolboy barely of age, now insists that the Dark Lord has risen again. It's a statement so bold, so utterly without foundation, that even the Ministry of Magic has dismissed it as absurd. Yet, Potter clings to this story, painting himself as a key witness in a grand conspiracy that no one else seems to be able to confirm.

Potter's delusions—or tall tales, as some would say—have sparked no small amount of chatter. "A tale worthy of Harry Potter," one anonymous source snidely remarked in passing. "Next, he'll be telling us he's the heir of Merlin himself!" It seems that the wizarding public is quickly losing patience with the boy who seems to think that his scar entitles him to special treatment or unquestioning belief.

In fact, it's becoming more common to hear wizards joke about Potter's antics. If someone has an accident or a small misfortune, it's not uncommon to hear quips like, "Let's hope he doesn't have a scar on his forehead, or we'll have to start worshipping him!"

What's more, it seems Potter has taken a liking to the attention. Whether he's playing Quidditch or stirring up trouble at Hogwarts, Harry Potter always seems to be at the center of some spectacle. And let's not forget his frequent run-ins with authority, including well-respected Ministry officials. Could it be that Potter enjoys the limelight just a little too much?

One thing is certain: Minister Cornelius Fudge isn't buying it. According to insiders at the Ministry, Fudge is concerned that Potter is attempting to destabilize public confidence for his own gain. "It's all about attention," one Ministry employee commented under the condition of anonymity. "Potter loves being the center of things. If he's not famous for being The Boy Who Lived, he'll find some other way to keep everyone talking about him."

So what's Potter's endgame? Is he simply a boy desperate to stay relevant in a world where his fame should have been long forgotten? Or is there something more troubling at play—a young man who is losing touch with reality and risking the peace of mind of the entire wizarding world in the process?

The Ministry, of course, remains firm in its stance. There is no credible evidence to support Potter's claims. You-Know-Who is gone, and has been for years. The wizarding world is safe, and we should not let the unsubstantiated stories of a schoolboy cause unnecessary panic. After all, Potter's glory days—if you could even call them that—are well behind him.

In the end, perhaps it's time to stop paying attention to Harry Potter and start focusing on more pressing issues. After all, how much longer can we indulge the fantasies of a boy who seems intent on turning himself into a tragic figure, even when there's no tragedy to be found?

With an angry flourish, (Y/n) tore the article in half—then again, and again, until the paper was nothing but small, shredded pieces littering the floor.

"Hey!" Ron protested from across the room, looking over his shoulder. "I was gonna read that!"

"What for?" she snapped, turning to face him. "You don't need to read that rubbish when it's badmouthing your best friend!"

Ron opened his mouth to argue, but before he could speak, the door creaked open, and Hermione poked her head in.

"Hey," she said, glancing between them, "if you two are finished, Mrs Weasley wants us in the next room... to clean Harry's."

Ron groaned loudly, flopping back on the bed. "Blimey! I came here to hide for five minutes! What's Mum planning, cleaning this house like we're trying to wipe out the trace of every dark wizard who's ever—"

"Ron!" Hermione hissed, glancing nervously over her shoulder. "Sirius might hear you!"

"I don't care," Ron muttered, getting to his feet reluctantly. "I'm tired."

As he dragged himself out of the room, Hermione stepped aside, her eyes lingering on (Y/n) for a moment before she spoke again.

"You coming?"

"Yeah, in a minute," (Y/n) replied, forcing a small smile.

Hermione nodded and closed the door quietly behind her, leaving (Y/n) alone in the room.

(Y/n) sighed.

She had hoped that returning to the Burrow would offer some peace and quiet after the chaos of Hogwarts. But she'd been wrong. Barely a week into the summer holidays, Mr Weasley had announced that they'd be joining the Order of the Phoenix—a secret society fighting against Voldemort. That had been when things took a turn for the worse.

Percy, the real (Y/n) Weasley's third brother, had come home to announce his promotion at the Ministry. She'd expected Mr Weasley to be proud, but it had ended in a horrible row. Percy's promotion had come at a price—his loyalty to Cornelius Fudge, who had now declared Dumbledore as his enemy. Percy's support of the Ministry created an enormous rift between him and his family, and ever since, he and Mr Weasley hadn't spoken a word to each other.

Now, (Y/n), along with the Weasleys and Hermione, were stuck at Grimmauld Place—the headquarters of the Order, and Sirius Black's family home. The house was old and creepy, and cleaning it felt like an endless task. With no televisions, no internet, and no Muggle distractions, she'd read every comic in the house. Even worse, she couldn't write to Harry about any of it. She, Ron, and Hermione had all promised Dumbledore they wouldn't tell Harry anything, no matter how much they wanted to.

She felt awful about it. She knew how much Harry would want to know what was happening, but a promise was a promise.

Hermione kept saying Harry would be angry when he found out they'd kept things from him.

But what could she do?

(Y/n) sat back on the bed, staring at the pile of shredded newspaper on the floor. Everything about the situation made her feel helpless and frustrated. She hated how they were treating Harry, how the Daily Prophet was spreading lies about him. She hated being stuck in this grim old house with nothing to do but clean.

But most of all, she hated not being able to help the one person who needed them the most.