Lion\'s Locket

Severus returned to Hogwarts and quickly rushed up to the Headmasters office. If Voldemort had truly found a weakness on the wards protecting Potter this could be very bad. He stopped in front of the Gargoyle and snarled a moment. What was the password Albus had set at this point in time?

“Lemon Drop.” Severus snarled and watched the Gargoyle jump aside. Once the Gargoyle was out of the way he hurried up to Albus’ office. He didn’t know if the Headmaster was even up as it was very late. Actually if anything it was early in the morning. Severus stopped outside of the door reaching up to knock.

“Come in Severus.” Came Albus’ voice from the other side of the door. Severus snarled and opened it before walking up to Albus’ desk. Albus was sitting in his chair behind the desk in a garish orange and green nightrobe.

“I just got back from a meeting with the Dark Lord Albus. He says he found a weakness in the wards protecting Potter.” Severus snarled. He watched as Albus frowned. Albus didn’t know of any kind of weakness in the wards.

“He must be trying to confuse us Severus. There are no weakness’ in those wards.” Albus stated.

“Albus he seemed very sure about it. He even told me to watch over and protect Potter this year because he would begin to lose his memory.” Severus snapped. Albus stared at Severus as he said those words then looked down.

“Nothing harmful to Harry can get through the wards around his families home.” Albus assured Severus again. Severus frowned at that then looked at the old man.

“What about an inert magical item, one that needs to be put on or triggered?” Severus asked. Albus blinked then jumped up out of his seat.

“I never thought of that. When it originally would come to the house it would be harmless.” Albus cried out in realization. Severus growled at this then swept from the office glancing back.

“I suggest you collect Potter from his home in the morning to find out if something has come through.” Severus stated before sighing and rubbing at his black eyes. He had a feeling it was already to late though.

HPLVHPLVHPLVHPLVHPLVHPLVHPLVHPLVHPLVHPLVHPLVHPLV

Harry awoke on his bed at 6:30 in the morning. He glanced at his clock to see the time before sitting up. He had a bit of time before his aunt would come and let him out of his room to use the bathroom. He blinked and looked around his very bare room before shaking his head. He didn’t even notice as one of his hands moved to the Lion pendant around his neck.

He blinked as he felt the metal under his hand. He glanced down at his bare chest and the pendant then sighed. He would have to take it off and hide it from his family. He reached up to take it off only to find himself unable to remove it. The chain would move about but he could not get it to move over his head.

Harry blinked and gulped. He had no idea what to do about this. He wondered at the fact he couldn’t remove it. It was a gift sent by his dead godfather wasn’t it? Harry looked towards his owl Hedwig who sat in her cage and gulped.

“Well girl. I might have guessed wrong on this pendant, but nothing harmful can get through the blood wards.” Harry said to comfort himself about the situation. Hedwig hooted softly to Harry as though to comfort him. He smiled a bit then moved and dressed making sure the hand me down shirt he put on covered the pendant. It really wouldn’t do for his family to find out about it now. If they couldn’t remove it they would start to think he was doing magic and that would get him starved for at least a week.

He could hear the beginning of movement in his aunts and uncle’s room. He sighed softly and stood waiting to be let out. He’d have about 10 minutes in the bathroom then be ordered to make breakfast. Once he was done cooking he’d be sent back to his room where he would have to stay till evening. It was the same thing that happened everyday while he was stuck at the Dursley’s.

He raised his head as the locks to his door began to be undone. He took a deep breath as the door was opened and his aunt’s horse like face became visible in the doorframe. Harry looked at the woman and took a slow deep breath. She looked like she had had a bad night. A bad night for his aunt translated to a bad day for him.

“Okay boy get up and get into that bathroom. I want you clean and downstairs in 10 minutes and cooking. If you are not down there, don’t expect anything.” She snapped at Harry as she turned away. Harry sighed silently and hurried into the bathroom. He took a quick cold shower then dried off as best he could before dressing again. He hurried down the steps towards the kitchen glad to see only 8 minutes had passed.

Harry started to pull out everything he needed to make breakfast from frying pans to eggs and bacon. He started up the stove and began to make the pile of food he knew would be needed to feed his whale of a cousin and uncle. He started to set it all out on the table as he finished it. Only as he placed the last platter of food onto the table did he hear the knock at the door.

Harry watched his aunt go to the front door and quietly grabbed a piece of toast to slip into his pocket to eat later. He turned to head towards his room when he noticed his aunt backing away from the door looking scared. Seeing his aunts face Harry stiffened and spun to see Albus Dumbledore walking into the house with a bright smile on his face.

“Professor Dumbledore what are you doing here?” Harry asked in surprise. The blue eyed old man turned and smiled at Harry.

“Harry it’s good to see you are doing well. It seems there was a flaw in the wards around your home so it’s no longer safe for you to stay here. I came to take you to Hogwarts early and was hoping to help you pack all your stuff.” Albus said his eyes twinkling away. Harry stiffened hearing that there was a flaw in the wards protecting.

“What kind of flaw Professor?” Harry asked. He had a feeling now he knew that the pendant hadn’t been what he had hoped it would be. He shifted nervously as Albus sighed.

“It seems magical items that require a trigger can get through the wards and too you. Of course that means cursed items as well. It seems Voldemort has figured this out. I just found out early this morning so came to get you as soon as I could.” Albus explained. Harry turned and rushed up to his room to pack his stuff. He quickly gathered it all then brought it downstairs with Hedwig. He glanced up to see his headmaster just smiling at his family as though his visit was a normal occurance while his family glared at him.

“I’m ready to go Headmaster.” Harry said moving forward. Albus glanced at Harry’s stuff before quickly shrinking Harry’s trunk then releasing Hedwig from her cage. He glanced at the cage then shrunk it placing both Harry’s trunk and Hedwig’s cage in pockets. He then nodded to the Dursley’s and went outside with Harry.

“I will be side along apparating you to Hogsmead with me. From there we will need to check your presents you got last night but I suspect anything from Voldemort will come tonight.” Albus said not knowing about the pendant. Harry nodded and smiled at the Headmaster as they hurried to the edge of the wards. Once past the wards Harry grabbed tightly onto Albus and the two of them vanished with a pop only to reappear just outside of the wards around Hogwarts.

“So how long will I be staying here Headmaster?” Harry asked softly as they walked towards the school. Albus looked at Harry and smiled softly before taking a slow deep breath. He was hoping to send Harry to the Weasley’s within a week.

“I’m not sure yet Harry. I hope by the end of the week that you’ll be able to go to the Weasley’s.” He told Harry truthfully. Harry nodded at Albus’ words and continued to follow the man. Harry wondered if Albus always stayed at the school or if he had a home he returned to normally during the summer.

“Thank you headmaster, I am curious though do you stay here all summer or do you normally go back to your own home?” Harry asked tilting his head. He wanted to make conversation for a bit. He was ignored and never allowed to actually talk at his aunt’s and uncle’s, so being able to now he took advantage of it.

“I do spend most of my time at Hogwarts, but during the summer I do visit my private estate once in awhile.” Albus admitted as they entered the school. The two of them walked up towards the headmaster’s office, Harry taking slow deep breaths and enjoying the feeling of being home.

“So what are we going to be discussing Headmaster?” Harry asked as Albus said the password to let them into his office. Albus smiled as he moved behind his desk and motioned for Harry to sit.

“Well first I was hoping you would show me everything that was sent to you since the end of school. I want to be sure that nothing was from Voldemort.” Albus explained. Harry nodded and pulled out all his presents except the pendant. Once all of the items sat out in front of Albus Harry looked up at him.

“That’s everything sir.” Harry said as he sat back. Even though the chain of the pendant was still around his neck Harry didn’t remember about it. Albus looked through each item carefully then nodded and smiled at the young man.

“It looks like you are safe Harry. None of the items were dangerous.” Albus said relief obvious in his voice. Harry smiled and stood slowly.

“Thank you Headmaster, but now I really would like to know where in the castle I am staying till I can go to the Weasley’s.” Harry said with a slight smile. Albus smiled back at Harry his eyes twinkling kindly.

“Understandable Harry. The fact is there is really only one place I can give you to stay, and that is within the Gryffidor dorms. I’m sorry you will be alone there but I hope you understand.” Albus said with a shrug. Harry nodded and stood gathering his trunk up.

“It’s okay Headmaster I fully understand. Then I will see you later.” Harry said as he headed out of the office and towards the dorms. Albus sighed in relief that Harry was safe and leaned back in his chair. Harry didn’t notice any of this as he hurried into the Gryffindor dorms and dropped his trunk with a smile.

The common room and dorms were obviously in disuse right now but it still felt wonderful to be within them. He collapsed into the biggest comfiest chair within the common room smiling. So far it seemed maybe his summer was going to be interesting anyways.