Paths to Glory and Ruin: A Harry Potter Fanfic
I had spent the last two weeks in my room, except for meals. Life has been pretty miserable-- the Dursleys hadn't changed a bit. I wished they would just leave me alone. I was still in quite a bit of shock over the recent events... Cedric's death had hit me hard. I'd had terrible nightmares every night since then. It was bad enough as it was without Dudley’s constant jeering. I suppose I’d started talking in my sleep. He taunted me every morning at breakfast.
But Dudley didn’t really matter that much. It wouldn’t concern him at all what sort of danger I and the rest of the Wizarding World were in. Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia had raised him well. He hated my world just like they did. It would make them perfectly happy if it fell into ruin.
Well, not me. Every time I thought about the fact that the man who killed my parents was alive and well again, I felt a cold, dreadful feeling creeping over me. It was awful, like a freezing hand was gripping my heart.
I sat on my bed, clenching my fingers together, staring at the floor. My hand reached for a quill. I’d gotten Hedwig out of her cage and she was perched on my windowsill. I scrawled out a message to my best friend Ron Weasley on a piece of parchment.
“Ron,
How have things been? I’m sorry I haven’t written yet, but I’ve been too worried that they would somehow intercept Hedwig. I miss you, but I do wonder what it will be like next year at school after everything that happened. I hope to see you sooner rather than later, and Hermione as well. It would be good to talk to someone who actually understands what I’m talking about and doesn’t make fun of it. Please write back soon.
-Harry”
Then, in the silence of almost midnight, I released my owl out the window. The streetlights shone down on the streets below, and I sighed looking out the window. I hadn’t left the house since I got home—I didn’t know if the Death Eaters would be waiting for me. I still kept a careful eye on Hedwig as she glided off into the night, making sure she wasn’t struck out of the air.
Then I was distracted by a faint popping sound down below me, where the Dursleys’ living room was. I was curious, but wary. My heartbeat quickened. What was it? It wasn’t a normal sound, I knew that. I gripped my wand, wondering who or what it was. I debated things in my mind. Should I stay put? Or should I go investigate?
But Dudley didn’t really matter that much. It wouldn’t concern him at all what sort of danger I and the rest of the Wizarding World were in. Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia had raised him well. He hated my world just like they did. It would make them perfectly happy if it fell into ruin.
Well, not me. Every time I thought about the fact that the man who killed my parents was alive and well again, I felt a cold, dreadful feeling creeping over me. It was awful, like a freezing hand was gripping my heart.
I sat on my bed, clenching my fingers together, staring at the floor. My hand reached for a quill. I’d gotten Hedwig out of her cage and she was perched on my windowsill. I scrawled out a message to my best friend Ron Weasley on a piece of parchment.
“Ron,
How have things been? I’m sorry I haven’t written yet, but I’ve been too worried that they would somehow intercept Hedwig. I miss you, but I do wonder what it will be like next year at school after everything that happened. I hope to see you sooner rather than later, and Hermione as well. It would be good to talk to someone who actually understands what I’m talking about and doesn’t make fun of it. Please write back soon.
-Harry”
Then, in the silence of almost midnight, I released my owl out the window. The streetlights shone down on the streets below, and I sighed looking out the window. I hadn’t left the house since I got home—I didn’t know if the Death Eaters would be waiting for me. I still kept a careful eye on Hedwig as she glided off into the night, making sure she wasn’t struck out of the air.
Then I was distracted by a faint popping sound down below me, where the Dursleys’ living room was. I was curious, but wary. My heartbeat quickened. What was it? It wasn’t a normal sound, I knew that. I gripped my wand, wondering who or what it was. I debated things in my mind. Should I stay put? Or should I go investigate?