Through the Fire

Chapter One-Changes

Harry Potter better known as the boy, who lived, sat in his small bedroom at four Privet Drive where he stayed with his relatives every summer. His bedroom was small with all of Dudley's old and broken toys, packed along the left side of the room. On the other part of the room stood Harry's bed that looks more like a cot along with a flimsy blanket that barely covers him at night. Harry looks around the room one last time; the room he never claims as his, because this place is not his home it is his prison.

Today is Harry's seventeenth birthday. Wizards in the magical world once you reach the age of 17 you are considered an adult. Which means Harry will be able to live on his own. Once a wizard or witch reaches the age of maturity they will come into a magical inheritance. Harry does not know much about wizard heritages so he is unsure what he would receive magically, maybe an extra power boost.

Harry checks the clock once more and sees that he has five minutes. Harry gets up and takes one more look around his room making sure he has everything packed. As soon as the clock strikes midnight Harry will make his escape. Living with his relatives this summer was a complete nightmare. Uncle Vernon was constantly yelling. And who can forget the beatings between he received from both his Uncle and Dudley.

There were times during the summer Harry wished for his death. Harry hoped to Merlin the scars on his back heals before the start of school. And, he thanks the many gods for magic the more visible scars on his arms and legs already healed. How sad that his aunt Petunia never came to my rescue. The look of hate in her eyes should have been a clue. Harry can hear Petunia's laughter whenever Vernon would beat him until he passes out.a

During the beatings and the constant verbal abuse, Harry realizes his distrust for Dumbledore. The numerous times Harry begged Dumbledore to stay at Number 12 with Sirius before he died. Hurt and anger fills Harry when he thinks about his life without his godfather. The times Harry tries to stress that he and his relatives did not get along very well. The only answer the old bastard would give him was that staying with his family was for his protection. According to Dumbledore, the blood wards protecting him and his relatives from the seeing eyes of Death Eater's and Voldemort. Thanks to the sacrifice his mother made the night Voldemort killed his parents. Harry tried to do research to find anything on blood wards, but all the books and journals have disappeared from the school library.

Harry finally realizes that Dumbledore wants to keep him in the dark. Wants to keep him pliable, beaten and dependent on him. It is the reason he sends him back to his relatives each and every summer. Harry miss his godfather, thinking about Sirius Harry feels an ache in his chest. Sirius died at the end of his fifth year protecting him. Another person dies protecting me when I can protect myself! Harry made a promise to himself that night after what happened at the Ministry. He promises that Bellabitch would feel the depth of his pain before he kills her.

Harry turns his thoughts back to the matter at hand and looks back at the clock two minutes to go. Harry cannot keep the excitement he feels. He will never have to come back here. A couple of days ago he thought about going to stay with the Weasley's at the Burrow. Harry changed his mind he fears they will turn him over to Dumbledore, who will bring him back to his relatives. Harry realize that he can no longer count Ron and Hermione his best friends. Their actions after what happened at the Department of Ministries prove his suspicions. Also, he finds it strange that Hermione never spends the summer holidays with her family; she spends the majority of her time with the Weasley's.

Whenever Harry would try and speak to them, they would ignore him or tell him they need to stay away from for awhile before he drags them into more danger. Harry knows that Mrs. Weasley will harp at him about the dangers he puts Ron and Ginny in one breath. Then in the next she tries to encourage him and Ginny to get back together. Harry sighs and shakes his head in disappointment when he thinks of the stupid mistake he made. He should not have started a relationship with Ginny. Harry had genuine affection for her until she broke his heart by she cheated on him with Dean and Seamus that is something he cannot forgive. Harry feels he has been betrayed too many times in his life, first starting with Dumbledore and his now ex-best friends. Trust is important to him, and once broken you can never get it back.