It had been precisely three weeks since Harry had come back to Number Twelve Grimauld Place and it was safe to say that he would rather be anywhere else but there. He had only spent a third of the summer break at the Dursleys. He had tried to run away from them after they had another huge fight and the Dursleys did absolutely nothing to stop him. Apparently, Harry was being rather short with them all summer and mouthing off whenever he found the opportunity. The fight that was cause for Harry's daring escape attempt happened when the Dursleys were playing host to one of Dudley's teachers one night. Harry had been very curious as to what Dudley's teacher had come to say so he decided to eavesdrop. The teacher was visiting during the summer to talk about an honors program that she wanted Dudley to be a part of. "A real prestigious program," Harry had heard her say. He was outraged at the thought of Dudley being given such a privilege when he knew damn well that he didn't deserve it. He waited for an hour and a half, lurking just out of sight and listening for a reason to start something when finally he heard one.

"I must tell you Mr. and Mrs. Dursley that your son is quite the gentleman," the teacher had said with what Harry felt was a very stuck up tone. "I saw him just the other day helping a little boy across the street and I have also seen him helping other boys with their homework." Vernon and Petunia swelled with pride as the teacher raved on and on about their wonderful son. "He is also very intelligent. He has top marks in all of his classes. You both should be very proud of your son."

Harry peeked his head around the corner to see Dudley's big grin and Petunia smothering him with kisses.

"Thank you, Ms. Petty we have always been proud of our Dudley," said Vernon very pompously. "He takes after his parents well, he does. He has his father's intelligence and his mother's caring nature."

Harry had heard enough. He was getting nauseas listening to the strain of lies issuing from his uncle's huge purple face. "You have got to be kidding me!" he yelled as he emerged from his hiding space. Mr. Dursley, who had just taken a sip of tea, spit it out all over Ms. Petty's face.

"I can't believe you three believe this garbage!"

"Go upstairs boy," Vernon said in a voice of deadly calm.

"Did you know," Harry continued, ignoring his uncle completely, "that when you aren't looking he beats up the same boy he helped across the street until he gives him all of his pocket money?"

Petunia gasped in horror. Vernon's face was growing a violent shade of purple.

Harry had of course known this from eavesdropping on Dudley dozens of times whenever he was with his gang. Harry had so little choice of activity and so much frustration that the only thing for him to do was to cause trouble. "Did you also know that when nobody is around, he threatens boys to do his homework for him? Or that he is only getting the grades he has now because he sends threatening notes to boys who don't let him copy their work?"

Ms. Petty was staring silently at Harry as if he was a figment of her imagination that had appeared out of nowhere. Dudley sat wide-eyed at Harry with a look that said, "You did not just say that."

Mr. Dursley was now standing and he looked very much like a volcano that was about to erupt.

"UPSTAIRS YOU!" he yelled, causing spittle to fly from his mouth.

"HOW DARE YOU TREAT OUR GUESTS WITH SUCH RUDENESS!" he screamed louder as his face changed from purple to red.

"UPSTAIRS NOW!"

Harry had never seen him so angry before. He assumed that since Dudley never got this sort of praise before, Mr. Dursley wouldn't want anything to ruin it if he did. Especially if it was Harry who would be the one to ruin it.

"NO!" Harry bellowed. He was a little surprised at his own daring but felt no regret. He would not let Dudley get a reward for something they thought they saw him do.

Petunia gasped again only this time she sounded more offended than surprised. Vernon was somewhat stunned by Harry's response and he stood there silently for about five tense seconds before he remembered that he was in an argument.

"What did you say to me boy?" his voice was deadly calm again.

"I said no," Harry replied, trying to mock his uncle's tone. Petunia, Dudley, and Ms. Petty were looking back and forth between Harry and Vernon like they were following a tennis match.

"If I have to come over there you will regret it boy," Vernon said, eyeing Harry dangerously.

"I'd like to see you try something you great purple faced walrus."

That remark finally set Vernon off. He was charging full speed ahead at Harry with his head pointing forward like a bull ready to strike. Harry dodged left just out of Vernon's way causing him to run headfirst into a shelf. All of the decorations on the shelf tumbled off and shattered into hundreds of pieces. Petunia screamed. Vernon appeared to not have noticed for he simply turned around and charged again with his arms outstretched. Harry dodged him again and Vernon knocked over a rather large and expensive vase. Harry had never seen his uncle act like this, especially while a guest was present. Harry must not have been the only one that the tension and frustration were getting to.

By now Petunia was crying and Ms. Petty had gone full speed out the door in fear for her life. Vernon continued to chase after Harry and break priceless item after priceless item. Dudley soon joined in the fun while Petunia watched helplessly from the stairs. Harry was running out of space to escape. The room was small enough already but now he had to dodge fallen debris as well as Dudley. Before when it was just Vernon it had been easy, but now he was getting tired and he needed a way out but he also needed his things and they were locked away in his trunk upstairs.

After dodging Vernon and Dudley by diving behind the couch, Harry got up and headed towards the door that had been left ajar by Ms. Petty and ran out into the warm evening air. His heart was thumping rapidly in his chest and there was a stitch in his side but he continued to run. He was surprised to see the two of them still following him and he quickly turned right down into the alleyway. He reached the backyard, sprinted across the lawn, darted into the house, closed the door, and locked it shut behind him. As soon as he heard the click of the lock, Vernon reached the door and started pounding on it. He looked like a caged animal deprived of its dinner. Harry realized half way through his victory of successfully stumping Vernon that Dudley was no longer with him. Without hesitation, Harry ran to the front door and bolted it shut just as Dudley's huge hands closed around the doorknob. Dudley knocked a few times and then proceeded to ring the doorbell furiously as if it would help him to get inside.

He could still hear Vernon pounding on the back door and screaming, "PETUNIA! LET US IN! STOP HIM!"

"Oh no," Harry said. His aunt was still in the house. She would probably call the police on him. He turned from the front door and to his surprise Petunia was still standing on the stairs. She wasn't on the phone or even trying to let them in, she simply stood there staring at him.

"Aunt Petunia," Harry said calmly, trying to reason with her, "I'm going to get my things from upstairs and then I'm going to leave through the side window. Please do not let them in."

Petunia just stood in the middle of the stairs, staring at him as if he were mad but saying nothing. Harry would have already been gone if she hadn't been blocking the way to his room.

"Please, will you let me get my things?"

He was trying very hard not to seem threatening for he knew that if he said anything wrong then she would panic.

When Petunia still didn't budge, Harry began to walk towards the stairs slowly. He heard her issue a small whimper and he stopped again.

"All I want are my things. My belongings are upstairs, I just need to get them."

He had almost mentioned to her that his wand was upstairs. He didn't want her to suddenly become brave just because she knew he was unarmed. He wouldn't have used it on her but his wand was still a good thing to have handy in situations such as these.

He began walking towards her again only a little faster. He could still hear Vernon banging on the door and he knew that he would eventually break it down.

He began to ascend the staircase when Petunia finally decided to speak up.

"You can't go," she said in a weak voice.

"What?" asked Harry.

"The headmaster wouldn't want you to. He'll punish us if we let you go."

There was the Petunia Harry knew. She was always thinking of herself. She wasn't at all concerned for Harry's well being.

"No he won't, now let me get my things."

"No, you have to stay," she said.

"Let me pass," he replied as he put his hand inside his pocket to make it look like he was grabbing for his wand. Petunia's eyes darted to his pocket and she flinched slightly. Her lip was starting to tremble but she still wouldn't budge.

"Your mother used to do that," she whispered suddenly. Harry froze. Petunia never talked about Lily unless she was forced to.

"Yes," she hissed, "you never knew that your dear sweet mother used to threaten me with her wand?"

Harry was speechless. Was she telling the truth? Harry couldn't tell. No, she was just lying. She was just trying to push his buttons.

"You're a liar," Harry said loudly, "my mother wasn't that kind of person."

"How would you know that?" she breathed. "You don't even remember her. But that's all right. She's not worth remembering."

"Stop it! Don't talk about her like that!"

Harry's insides were boiling. He hadn't been this angry since his Aunt Marge had criticized his parents.

She stopped talking and smiled a sinister grin. She was playing with him. Why else would she smile at him like that? Her smile looked so evil. But this was so unlike his aunt. It was more likely something his uncle would do. Harry didn't care what she did to him he just wanted to be out of the house and away from her evil grin. He pushed passed her on the stairs and she winced slightly. As soon as he was passed her, he ran full speed towards his room and grabbed his school things. He pulled his wand out of his trunk and held it tight in his hand. He made his way to the steps and as he started to descend he noticed that Petunia was gone. He reached the bottom of the stairs and looked around. He could still hear Dudley pounding at the front door but he realized when he reached the living room that he couldn't hear Vernon's yells anymore.

Suddenly he heard a roar of anger and turned to see Vernon charging at him again. Petunia was right behind him. Dudley was still yelling stupidly at the door but Harry's heart pounding in his ears drowned out every other noise. He held his wand out in front of him like a sword and Vernon and Petunia stopped abruptly. Harry was aware that his aunt and uncle knew he was not allowed to do magic here but the sight of anything magical, especially a wand, would always strike them with fear. Petunia hid behind Vernon as he stood motionless and wide-eyed.

"Don't come any closer. I'll use it. I've done it before."

"You'll be expelled if you do," he spat, "you're too scared to use it."

Vernon sounded confident but he still didn't budge. "Go ahead," Vernon taunted him, "use it if you're so brave."

Before Harry had a chance to respond, there was a small pop and Mr. Weasley appeared beside him. Vernon started in fear as Petunia shrieked madly and crouched lower behind Vernon. Harry was pretty sure that the two of them hadn't forgotten what happened last time Mr. Weasley visited. Harry was relieved to see him.

"Harry, what do you think you're doing? Put your wand away!" he said completely ignoring their reactions. He sounded slightly out of breath and his hand was inside his pockets most likely grasping his wand. Harry obeyed. He felt safer when he was in the presence of Mr. Weasley. He knew that Vernon was afraid of him.

"GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!" Vernon yelled but flinched when Mr. Weasley pulled out his wand.

"I was hoping not to bring this out but I fear I have no choice. Harry is coming with me as it is clearly no longer an option to stay here." Arthur gave a quick but stern look at Harry that made him feel deeply ashamed. Harry never wanted to disappoint Mr. Weasley.

"Come on, Harry."

They had eventually left the Dursleys without any struggle. Vernon was so startled by Arthur's sudden appearance that he didn't bother to try anything else but yell. Being in the ministry, Arthur was able to get an authorized portkey to get to Number Twelve. Harry didn't exactly want to go there but he wanted to be anywhere but the Dursleys and hopefully be rid of them for good.

So here he was, the house in which Harry never imagined that he would be standing in again. If it was even possible, the old Black family house seemed darker and more unwelcome then it had ever been. The months that Harry had been away from this nightmare of a house had proved to be a huge welcome for new infestations. It was as if the creatures that had taken new residence had sensed that the house no longer belonged to anyone from the moment Sirius fell through the veil. The thought of having to exterminate the new inhabitants only prolonged the agony that Harry felt due to his recent loss.

Harry was sat on the floor staring up at the tapestry that was imprinted with the Black family tree. His eyes lingered the longest on the small burn mark that had once bared his godfather's name. He replayed the night at the department of mysteries over and over again in his mind and often wondering if there was anything he could have changed. But his mind wouldn't allow him to place the blame on anyone but himself. Every alternative choice that he thought he could have made kept coming back to the same ending. Sirius is dead and it's Harry's own fault. He thought about the same things every day and night; he even dreamed about them. He often walked around the house with a blank expression and not really paying any attention to where he was going. Hermione and the Weasleys were becoming very worried about Harry and would often spy on him to make sure that he wasn't doing anything stupid. It wasn't as if they hadn't attempted to communicate with him, it was just that whenever they did try to strike up a conversation Harry would only respond with one word and, if they were lucky, a weak smile. Mrs. Weasley feared for his sanity and Ron and Hermione felt like they were losing their friend.

"Harry, I'd like you to come down for some tea."

Harry had been so lost in thought that he hadn't noticed that Mrs. Weasley had entered the room.

"Come on dear, we all want to see you."