Harry said good-bye to Ron and Hermione and continued from Platform 9 and ¾
into the very busy Kings Cross Station. Uncle Vernon's scowling face did
not immediately appear and Harry had a moment to fish out the letter placed
into his hands by a very worried looking Prof. McGonagall. He sat down on
his trunk and unfolded the thick parchment.
Harry,
I can explain nothing in this letter lest it be intercepted. Someone will meet you at the train station. Go with them quietly. Do not lose them in the crowd and above all ask no questions! Everything will be explained at your destination.
Regards,
Professor Dumbledore
Harry stared at the parchment for a moment. Fine for Dumbledore to tell him not to lose whoever he was going with. He couldn't even find them in the first place. He jumped slightly when a hand was placed on his shoulder, he turned, wondering whose face he would be looking at next. However the person was cloaked and their hood was pulled out so far on their head that recognition was impossible.
"Who are you?" Harry asked stupidly. The figure placed one finger over what Harry supposed was the general location of his or her lips. The figure turned and Harry grabbed his things and followed it's swiftly retreating back . He had to run to keep up with whoever it was under the cloak. He ran for about ten minutes before arriving in a thicket. The figure put out a hand and grabbed Harry's wrist and after a moment that felt like forever to Harry's rapidly pacing heart the scenery began to swirl and fall away like water on walls. Harry twirled in the darkness, his body pulling away from his arm until he slammed dazedly into the ground. He blinked a few times and everything shifted into focus. He was standing in Mrs Figgs living room. He looked around at the figure who had brought him here and was faced with none other than his godfather, Sirius Black. There were four other people in the room, Mrs Figg, Remus Lupin, Professor Dumbledore and a short, round little wizard Harry had never seen before. Professor Dumble dore stood and smiled at Harry.
"Hello Harry, I am pleased to see you again so soon, although the circumstances of this meeting are far from pleasant. Sit please Harry, this is Mr Mundungus Fletcher, I am sure you are aquainted with the other members of our party, several others will be joining us shortly."
Harry sat on a doily-covered chair, wondering what on earth Dumbledore wanted to tell him.
He didn't have to wonder long.
"Harry, this will come as a shock to you, I'm sure, Peter Pettigrew has been arrested-" Mrs Figg began.
"Well that's great news! That means Sirius can come out of hiding! What's so bad about that?"
"Harry," Dumbledore continued, "Pettigrew was arrested for the murder of the Durselys."
Harry sat numbly, no, he hadn't loved the Durselys, he hadn't even liked them but still, they couldn't be dead. Could they?"
"I don't understand, they can't be dead, I mean why kill them? They're three of the most boring muggles you can find."
"The Durselys were tortured by Pettigrew for information, Harry," Lupin replied, "information on you, he wanted to know what kind of protections we had around you, naturally they didn't know, didn't even know that there were protections, when they wouldn't, couldn't tell him anything he killed them. Muggle please-men were alerted by the screams of your aunt and cousin. They found Pettigrew there, he was unable to apparate as that was one of the protections, when a major spell is used you cannot apparate, well, any ways the please-men found Pettigrew and hauled him off for questioning, Arabella saw them take Pettigrew away, she alerted the ministry and here we are."
Harry gaped, unable to think of anything to say.
Harry,
I can explain nothing in this letter lest it be intercepted. Someone will meet you at the train station. Go with them quietly. Do not lose them in the crowd and above all ask no questions! Everything will be explained at your destination.
Regards,
Professor Dumbledore
Harry stared at the parchment for a moment. Fine for Dumbledore to tell him not to lose whoever he was going with. He couldn't even find them in the first place. He jumped slightly when a hand was placed on his shoulder, he turned, wondering whose face he would be looking at next. However the person was cloaked and their hood was pulled out so far on their head that recognition was impossible.
"Who are you?" Harry asked stupidly. The figure placed one finger over what Harry supposed was the general location of his or her lips. The figure turned and Harry grabbed his things and followed it's swiftly retreating back . He had to run to keep up with whoever it was under the cloak. He ran for about ten minutes before arriving in a thicket. The figure put out a hand and grabbed Harry's wrist and after a moment that felt like forever to Harry's rapidly pacing heart the scenery began to swirl and fall away like water on walls. Harry twirled in the darkness, his body pulling away from his arm until he slammed dazedly into the ground. He blinked a few times and everything shifted into focus. He was standing in Mrs Figgs living room. He looked around at the figure who had brought him here and was faced with none other than his godfather, Sirius Black. There were four other people in the room, Mrs Figg, Remus Lupin, Professor Dumbledore and a short, round little wizard Harry had never seen before. Professor Dumble dore stood and smiled at Harry.
"Hello Harry, I am pleased to see you again so soon, although the circumstances of this meeting are far from pleasant. Sit please Harry, this is Mr Mundungus Fletcher, I am sure you are aquainted with the other members of our party, several others will be joining us shortly."
Harry sat on a doily-covered chair, wondering what on earth Dumbledore wanted to tell him.
He didn't have to wonder long.
"Harry, this will come as a shock to you, I'm sure, Peter Pettigrew has been arrested-" Mrs Figg began.
"Well that's great news! That means Sirius can come out of hiding! What's so bad about that?"
"Harry," Dumbledore continued, "Pettigrew was arrested for the murder of the Durselys."
Harry sat numbly, no, he hadn't loved the Durselys, he hadn't even liked them but still, they couldn't be dead. Could they?"
"I don't understand, they can't be dead, I mean why kill them? They're three of the most boring muggles you can find."
"The Durselys were tortured by Pettigrew for information, Harry," Lupin replied, "information on you, he wanted to know what kind of protections we had around you, naturally they didn't know, didn't even know that there were protections, when they wouldn't, couldn't tell him anything he killed them. Muggle please-men were alerted by the screams of your aunt and cousin. They found Pettigrew there, he was unable to apparate as that was one of the protections, when a major spell is used you cannot apparate, well, any ways the please-men found Pettigrew and hauled him off for questioning, Arabella saw them take Pettigrew away, she alerted the ministry and here we are."
Harry gaped, unable to think of anything to say.