Story Banner by the marvelous Suzy
Disclaimer: All characters (except Abby Carson and her family members) and the main premise of this story are copyright J.K. Rowling and her Harry Potter series
Hello! For those of you who followed Abby Sa13+ then you know this is the sequel to it, but for those of you who are discovering this for the first time have no worries! I've provided a little summary if you will of what this story will be about. I hope you enjoy it and please feel free to leave comments. They are always appreciated
Summary:
Abby Carson left Hogwarts at the end of her fifth year with a bundle of mixed feelings. She was mourning the death of Sirius, a long time mentor to her and her friends, and the loss of both of her mother and father who decided that the Death Eaters hold the key to their future. Thanks to the kindness of Mr. and Mrs. Weasley Abby spent the summer with the Weasley's, visited often by Hermione, who Abby was pretty sure came for other reasons than just to spend time with her. But Abby misses her boyfriend Harry and is looking forward to accompanying Dumbledore to collect him from the Dursleys. The bunch is in for a trying year, both emotionally and mentally as they struggle to find a way to beat Voldemort and stop both prophecies from coming true.
Chapter One: The Dursleys
I had been sitting on the couch in the Weasley's cluttered but cozy living room just waiting for Dumbledore to arrive. I was spacing, as the Weasley's had noted I did quite often these days, just listening to the sounds of the various things around me. After giving myself one last moment of staring I brought myself back to the room around me and stood up.
I hadn't seen Harry all summer and to be quite honest I was missing him horribly. After the incident at the Ministry I was eager to be close to Harry, if not just to be with him but to protect him. We had a bull's eye on our backs, and the fact that Harry was stuck with his ignorant and rude aunt and uncle did not help to calm my nerves that something was going to happen to him. We had been writing of course, mostly about random things, but including in important issues as well. We had developed quite a coded system with one another, and we were pretty sure that if anyone had intercepted our letters they would probably think that we had fallen off our rockers.
Ron, Ginny, and I had been keeping a very close eye on the Daily Prophet, which was now going on and on about the threats You-Know-Who posed to society as well as tips on what to do if you were to encounter a Death Eater. Perhaps the most disconcerting news that we had read about was that Ollivander, the maker of all of our wands, had disappeared a couple of weeks ago. It was very apparent that Death Eaters had snatched him since the store was left in shambles, but the question as to why they took him was hovering ominously over our heads.
I walked over to look out the window into the somewhat dark fields outside. I stared at myself slightly in the reflection of the glass, still feeling self conscious about how I looked. Since I had first transformed into my animagi form my features had been changing. My dark brown hair was now pretty much black. My pale skin, which I didn't think could get any paler, now had a smooth marble look to it, and my blue eyes were more sapphire looking than ever, the green specks around my irises practically glowing. I had known that I was going to change a bit, but I hadn't been expecting this much of a transformation, and to be quite honest I felt like I was a different person.
My senses had gradually started to strengthen over the summer, especially right after I practiced flying around the fields, as well as my telepathy. I could be sitting in the living room and hear clear as day the thoughts of Mrs. Weasley four floors up. I didn't mind as much, since it made it easier for me to avoid walking in on Ron and Hermione who were having little conversations alone. I could tell that something was brewing between the two of them, even if neither one was willing to admit it to one another, and to be quite honest it made me happy. I had always felt that Ron and Hermione were soul mates and it was about time my feelings became a reality. Ginny had also been having good relationship luck, her and Seamus going strong through the whole summer. I was glad that Seamus had found someone who was worthy of him because he is an incredible guy.
I continued to look out at the fields, my lips turning into a little smile as I saw Dumbledore in his robes approaching the house. I turned around and pulled my bag off of the couch before hollering up the steps to Mrs. Weasley that I was on my way out.
"Oh do be careful dear!" said Mrs. Weasley, hurrying down the stairs so she could give me a hug before I left.
Mrs. Weasley's curly orange hair was curlier than ever, and her dresses with unique prints and aprons gave you a feeling of welcome no matter who you were. I gave her a gentle squeeze as she wrapped her arms around me.
"Don't worry Mrs. Weasley. I am with Dumbledore, remember?"
"Yes, well, not to insult the man but he is getting up there you know?"
I gave her a little smile. "I'll be careful. We shouldn't be too long."
"Tell Harry I'll have some warm dinner for both of you when you return. I don't imagine they feed the poor boy when he's over there...he always comes back looking so scrawny!"
I let out a little laugh at the same time Dumbledore's fist knocked on the wooden door. I went over and opened it to find Dumbledore standing there, admiring us both with warm smiles. I returned it, but I could sense the weakness in Dumbledore. He looked tired, like a rag that had been worn thin, and there were deep purple circles under his eyes that could be seen clearly despite the darkness outside.
"Good evening Molly, Abby," said Dumbledore, nodding to each of us respectively.
"Hello Albus," said Molly with a warm smile, giving him a little hug as well.
"Shall we be on our way?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes, I believe so!" I threw my bag over my shoulder and stepped outside, pulling the wooden door shut behind me. "How will we be traveling this evening?" I asked, ready to transform if I needed to.
"I believe Apparation ought to do the trick," said Dumbledore, extending out his arm for me to take hold. I wrapped my hand around it, slightly concerned by how thin it felt, before being sucked into the uncomfortable suction tube. We landed in the middle of the street, with small brown houses that all looked the same on either side of us.
"This will be his house," said Dumbledore with a gentle smile.
I had never met the Dursleys, nor had I ever seen a muggle home before. Harry had explained it wasn't much different than a wizarding home, only things didn't move on their own accord. Following Dumbledore's lead I walked down the little paved sidewalk up to their front door. Dumbledore held up his hand, which I noticed was completely black on one finger, and gave a couple of knocks.
"Who in the blazes would be coming about at this hour?!" I heard a man bark from the other side of the door. From what I had heard I figured it was a safe assumption to say the man was Harry's uncle.
Dumbledore and I both waited patiently as we heard the chain to the door lock slide across the medal before the wooden door swung open.
Upon first sight of the man I had a strong urge to laugh, but I held my features together well. Uncle Vernon was pleasantly plump, as my mom once told me was the polite way to refer to people on the heavier side, with a short trimmed mustache that made him look like he belonged in a cartoon. He stared out at Dumbledore and me with small beady eyes that showed a mixture of annoyance and loathing.
"Who in the blazes are you two?" he barked at us.
"Hello Mr. Dursley, I am Albus Dumbledore the Headmaster at Hogwarts..."
Before Dumbledore could finish Mr. Dursley had yelled out in frustration. "Don't talk about that outside!!! The neighbors could hear you!"
Just as Dumbledore was about to respond I heard footsteps on the stairs and I knew they were Harry's. I wanted to push the man out of the way and run to Harry, but I figured the man would not be pleased with some random girl barging into his home.
"It's alright Uncle Vernon. I told you they were coming to pick me up," said Harry, his head appearing just above Vernon's shoulder.
Harry did look thinner to me, but not too bad. His dark brown hair was a shaggy mess on the top of his head, and his green eyes shone with excitement from behind his glasses. If my eyes were serving me correctly it did look like Harry had grown a couple of inches over the summer, and his face had toned a little bit, making him look more manly and less boyish.
"Oh, yes, you did. Well bring them inside quickly before the neighbors get curious!"
With an annoyed wave Vernon moved so Dumbledore and I could come in. He slammed the door behind us, peeking out one of the side windows to make sure that no neighbors were peeking from behind their own curtains out at us. Once he was sure he shuffled back a few steps to stand by a woman I believed was Harry's Aunt Petunia.
She was tall and thin, her eyes just as beady as her husband's, and everything on her body was crisp and precise. She stared at me curiously, and I could tell she was jealous of my features. Standing next to her was who I assumed was Dudley, Harry's cousin. He was also pleasantly plump, but not quite as much as his father, but to my surprise he had softer features. His heart beat, which had been steady when we were standing outside had quickened quite a bit, and his cheeks started to flush when I turned to look at him.
"And who may I ask are you?" asked Petunia, eyeing me from head to foot.
"This is my girlfriend Abby," said Harry, wrapping an arm around my waist. "Abby, this is my Uncle Vernon, my Aunt Petunia, and my cousin Dudley."
I could tell that Harry was trying to be polite but I knew it was difficult for him to mask the hatred.
"It is a pleasure to meet you all," I said with a little smile.
Dudley's mouth fell open slightly at the sound of my voice. Harry had become aware of Dudley's staring and was slightly annoyed by it.
"Well, since we have a lot to do I suppose we should be on our way," said Harry, turning himself so he could look at me. "I just need to grab my suitcase."
"I'll help," I said with a smile. "You can show me your room."
"Be down in a second Professor?" asked Harry, wanting to make sure it was okay.
"Oh yes, take your time." Dumbledore turned his attention fully to the Dursleys. "You have a lovely home. May I ask how long you've lived here?"
I followed Harry up the stairs, not hearing Vernon's response, but I could tell that he was annoyed with Dumbledore already. Harry led me down a little hallway before opening the door to his room and shutting it closed behind me. Now that we were alone for a moment I felt more comfortable pulling him into a rather forceful hug. Harry stumbled, slightly surprised by the force, but pleased to have me in his arms nevertheless.
"I have missed you so much," Harry said, his voice mumbled because his mouth was against my shoulder.
"I have missed you," I said softly, releasing from the hug so I could kiss him.
We kissed for a couple of moments, both of us glad to have our lips together after such a long period of time before letting go. I watched him as he threw some last minute things into his suitcase before slamming it shut. Hedwig was in her cage, eyeing us both curiously.
"Hello Hedwig," I said, walking over to her. I reached my finger in and rubbed it against her soft wings. She seemed to appreciate it but I could tell she was annoyed at being stuck in this cage. "We'll let you fly around at the Weasley's," I said with a smile. That seemed to brighten her mood.
"Ready?" said Harry, pulling out the handle on his suitcase.
"As always," I said, grabbing Hedwig's cage and following him out of the room and down the steps.
The Dursleys were glaring at Dumbledore who just continued to smile warmly, admiring the different aspects of the house.
"I think we are ready Professor," said Harry.
"Ahh, well thank you for the little bit of hospitality you offered us," said Dumbledore before turning around, opening the front door, and walking out.
Harry followed Dumbledore, giving them a little nod before he went. I smiled warmly at them all, knowing all three were confused as to how someone so beautiful could be a witch. I was more concerned about Dudley whose face was so red I thought he was going to pass out.
Once the door was closed behind us Harry and I turned to look at Dumbledore.
"Where exactly are we going Professor?" asked Harry.
"To see an old friend," said Dumbledore warmly.
"And why are we seeing him?" I asked.
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "Because we need to recruit him."