CHAPTER 1 The Final Apparition
Number Four was an ordinary house that sat on Privet Drive. It was nearly identical to numbers three and five, except for a small sign that was pitched in the front yard which read for sale. No, just like it's owners, the Dursleys', only the ordinary could be expected from Number Four and the Dursleys' were perfectly happy with ordinary.
Today was not an ordinary day, however, this was the last day the Dursleys' would call Privet Drive their home. The exterior of the home had been relatively unchanged for years except for a few coats of paints. Inside, the house was now completely furniture less with barren walls to match. The house was deserted except for a middle-aged portly man pacing the kitchen. The buttons on his three piece pin striped suit were bulging under the considerable strain of the man's protruding stomach. A proud man, the portly fellow named Dudley Dursley would not admit he was too large for the suit and that it was time to visit the tailors for an alteration.
Dudley Dursley cursed under his breath as he paced the kitchen. "Where is he?" he thought to himself, "I told him nine o'clock sharp." Dudley looked around the kitchen wishing for something to eat. There was a brief moment that he wished he could conjure food out of thin air. He did not have that ability though. Unlike his cousin whom he lived with for eleven years when they were children, Dudley was a muggle and unable to perform magic.
Tired of waiting for his cousin, Dudley decided to give the house a final check and make sure nothing was left behind. He climbed the creaky steps huffing and puffing along the way. As he took the last step in celebratory fashion there was a knock at the door. "Who could that be", he muttered angrily.
There were knocks on the door again, this time faster and louder. "Alright, Alright! I'm coming! Hold on!" shouted Dudley. He slowly moved his way back down the stairs leaning back to counter balance his belly in order to prevent himself from toppling end over end.
A loud crack that sounded like a bullwhip echoed through the empty house. "What the devil?" cried Dudley fearfully as he stopped near the bottom of the steps, gripping the wooden railing with both hands, preventing himself from falling. Wispy black smoke licked the sparkling floor of the entryway to Number Four Privet Drive. Amid the thick smoke stood a man wearing a hooded crimson cloak that was just long enough so it gently touched the floor. "Ha. Har. Harry?" stuttered Dudley nervously unable to see through the smoke. "Yes." replied the cloaked man.
The smoke dissipated just enough to reveal the man's face. Green almond shaped eyes and a lightning bolt shaped scar were the first features visible on the man's face. Indeed it could be none other than Harry Potter. Harry Potter was a wizard and not just any wizard but arguably the most famous wizards of all time. He not only defeated the dark wizard known as, he who must not be named, when he was a baby but he also defeated him for a final time as a teenager during the Battle of Hogwarts.
Harry realizing he startled Dudley waved his hand clearing the smoke. "Hi Dudley." said Harry while attempting to give Dudley a hug. He was met however with an outstretched hand and Dudley saying, "You're late" sounding remarkably similar to his father. Harry shook Dudley's hand and was met with an extra firm shake from Dudley who was trying to show while he did not have magical power like Harry, he was still stronger. "I told you to come straight inside." Dudley spoke with a bite in his voice. "I know but that is considered very rude in the Wizarding World. I would have changed closed first but I ran into some problems at work." replied Harry.
Dudley thought for a moment on whether or not he should ask Harry what sort of problems he ran into but decided against it. He knew very well that his cousin was the head the Magical Law Enforcement Office. He thought the less he knew the better. The last time he asked about his cousin's work, Harry tried to explain to him the dangers of placing a chicken egg under a toad or something. It was all jibberish no matter how much Dudley tried to understand.
"Where is all the stuff?" asked Harry. "We are moving." replied Dudley sternly. Harry paused and rubbed his scar. It was a habit he kept after his battles with the dark lord, he who must not be named. "Well why did you need me to come?" questioned Harry. "I was cleaning out my." said Dudley taking a breath. "Well your old room I guess and I found some of your old things." he continued.
Harry could not believe what he just heard. They were family after all but he and Dudley rarely spoke. This was the first visit in almost a year. Harry expected Dudley would have just thrown the items out. "I put everything in a box in the cupboard under the stairs." stated Dudley.
"Acc…" started Harry while removing his wand from underneath his cloak but Dudley coughed loudly interrupting him. "Right. Sorry." said Harry stopping himself from saying the rest of the incantation as he proceeded to make his way to the cupboard. There was an awkward silence as Harry began to rifle through his childhood belongings. Dudley was unsure of what to say and Harry wasn't sure how he felt remembering all the bad times he had while he lived in the cupboard under the stairs.
The awkward silence between the men was broken when a semi-transparent deep blue otter appeared hovering three feet in the air appeared next to Dudley. "What is that thing?" questioned Dudley while remaining perfectly still. "It's a patronus." responded Harry as though Dudley should already know. Dudley started to ask what a patronus was but he was cut off by a voice. "Harry I need your help immediately. I am at the ministry." spoke a soft woman's voice. The otter danced in place waiting. "I'll be right there Hermione." said Harry with a grin and just as fast as the otter appeared, it was gone, leaving the men to their silence.
Harry flicked his wand towards the box full of his belongings making it disappear. "Right then Dudley. Till next time. Thank you." Harry said to Dudley extending his hand. "Sorry to have to go so soon but it's odd for Hermione to call me this way. It's actually quite difficult but a genius that Hermione is." continued Harry. "No Problem." said Dudley shaking Harry's hand while thinking how glad he was to be rid of Harry so soon.
Looking around the house a final time Harry spoke somberly, "Goodbye Dudley and Goodbye Number Four Privet Drive." He took a deep breath in and turned around quickly. The thick black smoke momentarily surrounded Harry's at his feet and with the same loud crack Harry was gone along with the smoke. He had disapperated from Number Four Privet Drive for the last time.