Harry Potter Breaking The Chains

"I have my sources…" he explained evasively, "and an owl."

"You make it sound so mysterious," she said. She could tell he wasn't being entirely forthcoming with her but decided to let it go for now.

"This is kind of weird, don't you think?" she asked him suddenly. "We've been talking so much over the summer through letters, but we've never really talked like this in person."

"I guess so," he agreed, "but we have plenty of time to get accustomed to it."

She awarded the comment with a dazzling smile. "You've changed a lot since last year."

"Well it's like I was saying to you over the summer," Harry explained, "you've got to live your life and really enjoy it; otherwise you won't have anything worth fighting for. The minute we let Voldemort stop us from living, he wins."

"Wise words," she commented.

"Yes, well I've had a lot of life experience in my 16 years to give me an interesting perspective."

"That's the understatement of the century," she laughed. "So are you excited to be going back?"

Harry thought a moment before replying "Yeah, I guess. I always used to think of Hogwarts as home, while the Dursleys' was just a place I went to stay over the summer before I could go back home, but after the past couple years Hogwarts doesn't feel quite so homey to me any more. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy to be getting out of the Dursleys' house, but it's just not the same as it used to be."

"I'm sorry, Harry," she said sadly. "But just think, in another year you'll be 17, and you'll be coming here for the last time. After that you'll be able to go out and make someplace your new home. You'll get to choose who you live with and what you do with your life."

"Yeah, you're right. Soon enough my life will be mine to control. So you said you were going to regale me with the story of the attack on Diagon Alley," he prodded.

"Oh, right, I did say that I would, didn't I?" She chuckled softly. "Alright, well sit tight 'cause you're in for quite a story. So we went to Diagon Alley to buy our school supplies, like I already told you. Ron went with Mum to pick something out at Quality Quidditch Supplies, some books on strategy, I think. Anyway, Bill took me to the Magical Menagerie because I wanted to look at all the animals. I knew I wouldn't get to buy one, but I wanted to look anyway."

"I absolutely fell in love with this little bundle of fur," she said as she pulled Em out of the carrier and into her lap where she proceeded to scratch her as she continued her story. "Anyway, Bill told me it was time to move on, so I put the kitten down, and we walked out of the store. Just as we were walking out, there was a whole bunch of 'pops,' and all of a sudden there are a good 20 Death Eaters standing in front of us."

She took a big breath before continuing. "It took me a second to realize what was happening, and the spells were already coming at me as I went for my wand. The spells aimed at me were blocked… Bill must have put up a shield I guess. I don't know, I never asked him about that. Anyway, they also shot spells at the building behind us, which sent us scrambling out of the way. I twisted my ankle in the process, but I was up and dueling with a couple Death Eaters for a minute. Then I was disarmed from behind. I never even realized anyone was behind me."

She shivered slightly as she went on. "So one of them grabbed me from behind pinning my arms down and dragged me into an alleyway. I couldn't see where we were going because I had my back to him. All of a sudden this jungle cat, must've been a panther or something, comes streaking through the alley. He leaps onto some boxes and up over our heads. Before I know what's going on, the man holding me is slumped on the ground, unconscious, and a man, couldn't have been much older than you or me, is binding them up."

She smiled at the memory of her savior. "He told me that I was safe with him, grabbed me, and next thing I know we're right outside the Burrow. He told me to run inside and wait for the rest, that he would make sure they made it home safely. When I turned back to thank him he was gone."

"That's quite the story," Harry said. He was grinning inwardly but was maintaining his outward composure. "You're sure lucky this mystery man was there."

"I know," she told him. "I just wish I knew who he was. He didn't give me his name, not even his first name or anything. But he knew who I was. He had long hair like yours, but it was a light brown. He had brown eyes, but the panther that came through had green eyes that seemed so familiar: similar to Em's here and Hedwig's owl friend and… you," she said turning towards him.

"Really?" Harry asked somewhat uncomfortably. He had to stop his throat from gulping in his nervousness.

"Yeah, and now that I think about it, he was about your height and build as well, and apart from the color, his hair was exactly the same as yours as well," she thought out loud, quickly making connections and jumping to conclusions. Her eyes began to light up, and she was about to speak when the compartment door swung open and Neville stuck his head in.

"There you guys are," he said in a friendly tone. His eyes widened as he took a second glance at Harry, but he refrained from commenting. "Mind if we come sit with you?" he asked gesturing toward himself and the blonde girl next to him.

Harry quickly answered, "Sure, Neville. It's great to see you, and you too Luna. How did your summers go?" He glanced over at Ginny, and she was looking at him intently clearly trying to impress upon him that their conversation was not over and would be concluded later.

Harry half smiled at her and slightly inclined his head to let her know that he understood.

They spent an hour or so chatting about their summers, Harry not really contributing much about his own summer except for his morning workouts and meetings with Remus. Luna had not caught any of the Crumple-Horned Snorkacks she and her father had been searching for. They had apparently been hot on the trail when they ran into a colony of Fuzzwuffles which prevented them from following the path they were on. They weren't able to find any signs of the Snorkacks after that.

Neville had a new wand which he wasted no time in showing everyone in the compartment. It was cherry wood with unicorn hair as its core. He told some story about his Great Uncle Algie that Harry only vaguely paid attention to. It had something to do with his toad Trevor, but Harry wasn't entirely sure where he fit into it.

Ginny told them about her summer at the Burrow and about Ron being a prat. She explained to Neville and Luna about how she lied about seeing Dean Thomas and how her brother reacted as a result. Neville was very sympathetic, saying that he had no right to try to control her life like that, to which Harry added his agreement. Luna, on the other hand, merely said, "Oh that's just because Ronald knows that Dean's hair is infested with glumpees, which we all know are perfectly harmless for guys but can be quite hazardous for women." The other three occupants of the compartment exchanged looks and silently agreed not to comment on that statement.

After a time, Ron and Hermione emerged from their prefect duties bickering as always. They each talked briefly about their summers, and Neville, Luna, Ginny, and Harry each gave abbreviated versions of their previous descriptions. It was a peaceful and pleasant ride, although Harry became slightly uncomfortable whenever he caught Ginny looking at him wonderingly. They got some snacks off the food cart as the woman came by, and Harry shared his spoils with the others. He told them all that he had a gift for each of them that he'd give them when they got back to school.

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