Chapter 1.
Off to Privet Drive

It was the beginning of summer and Harry, Ron and Hermione were getting off the Hogwarts express for possibly the last time. Saying goodbye to their friends who they didn't know if they'd see again. Harry looked around and saw Mrs Weasley waiting for Ron and Ginny. Where were the Dursleys?

"Harry mate come on, ive got to tell mum im not going home just yet. I'll need backup!" Harry's best friend Ron Weasley tugged at his arm.

"Ron...look you and Hermione you don't need to come" Harry had told them this at least ten times on the train.

"Were both coming with you Harry" Ron said finally.

Harry walked with Ron and Ginny over to Mrs Weasley who smiled at the sight of them.

"Harry dear its good to see you" she pulled him into a hug. Then turned to Ron and Ginny and hugged them too. "Of course i will insist that you come straight with us to the Burrow, but im sure you will want to see your Aunt and Uncle before you do"

"Mum, I'm going with Harry to the Dursleys just until his birthday and then we'll be back for Bill and Fleur's wedding."

"Yeah Mrs Weasley Dumbledore wanted..." Harry paused. Thinking of Dumbledore made his heart drop. Still he carried on. "He wanted me to return to the Dursleys once more"

"Yeah Hermione's coming too...actually where is Hermione?" Ron looked around; there she was hugging her parent's goodbye. She walked over to Harry and Ron.

"Right, are we going then? Oh hello Mrs Weasley" Hermione smiled.

"Hello Hermione dear" Mrs Weasley's smile had faded. She obviously doesn't want us going back to the Dursleys Harry thought. "Is it really necessary you all have to go there?" she continued. "Ron have you even asked the Dursleys if you can stay with them?"

"Well…no...But…" Ron mumbled.

"It is necessary I go Mrs Weasley, Ron and Hermione both insisted to come with me"

"But Harry why is it that…"

Suddenly Ginny spoke. "Mum just let them go, they'll be back soon enough" She looked at Harry who nodded appreciatively. Ginny smiled at him and his stomach flipped.

"Well I guess there's no changing your minds" Mrs Weasley sniffed. "Just stay out of trouble and send us an owl when you need picking up ok?" She hugged the three of them goodbye.

"There they are" Harry looked as the Dursleys got out of their car onto Kings Cross. They don't look happy Harry thought. Well why would they? Harry remembered their last encounter when Dumbledore had collected him. It was painful to think of Dumbledore but Harry smiled as he remembered that moment. He turned and started to walk over to them with Ron and Hermione thinking how he would convince the Dursleys to let his friends stay. Someone grabbed his arm. He heard a voice "Harry!" he turned around. It was Ginny.

"I know we broke up, but we can still be friends right? And when this is over…"

"Yeah" Harry knew what she meant. He looked into her eyes and she hugged him.

"I'll see you soon" she whispered. "Stay safe ok?" She then kissed him on the cheek and pulled away from him. He wanted her to come with them but he couldn't put her in danger.

"Yeah see you soon" Harry replied. He turned to see Ron and Hermione waiting for him. Hermione seemed rather anxious.

"Harry how are we going to get them to agree to let me and Ron stay?"

"Leave it to me" Harry hoped this would work. He approached the Dursleys who were looking at him as though repulsed. "Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia for part of this summer, my friends Ron and Hermione will be staying with me. I'll be gone by my 17th birthday. You'll never have to see me again"

Uncle Vernon went red with anger and Aunt Petunia looked revolted. "Under NO circumstances will your freaky little friends be staying with us. Get in the car boy…now!"

"Well Vernon, remember when you picked me up last year. A few of my friends had a chat with you. They might want to pay you a visit if you don't let my friends stay." Harry was referring to when 'mad eye' moody and some other people from the order had given him a warning. Vernon looked outraged and had now turned blue.

"Fine, but you had better be gone by your birthday and if there's one sign of trouble their out. you hear me boy?"

He turned to Ron and Hermione who were watching nervously. "Ron..Hermione, its fine..come on!" he smiled at them and winked. They smiled back and rushed over. Put their trunks in the car and they set off for privet drive.

They arrived at Privet Drive and Harry was feeling worried about how the Dursleys would treat Ron and Hermione. The car ride had been mostly silent except for Uncle Vernon's disapproving grunts every 5 minutes. All of them stood in the hallway for a few seconds. Harry shuffled nervously at what would happen next.

"You have a nice house Mr Dursley" Hermione said politely. Harry looked at her startled. Ron was awkwardly looking around the room. Uncle Vernon ignored Hermione's comment and faced all of them, looking very angry and folded his arms.

"Right, theres to be no talk about that school or anything to do with it. You will stay out of my way at all times, any trouble and I will throw you out myself" he said sternly glowering at them.

"Yes of course Mr Dursley we wouldn't…"

"Hermione leave it, you don't need to be polite to him" Harry interrupted. He looked at Ron who looked like he was struggling not to say anything.

"Always been ungrateful you have boy, you need to learn some manners. Me and Petunia have fed and clothed you for the past 17 years and this is how you repay us" Harry knew better than to get into this argument again.

"Yeah ok, where are they sleeping?" Harry said bitterly.

"The boy, he'll have to sleep in your room. And you" he pointed his chubby finger at Hermione. "Stay in the guest room, but don't mess it up" He was now almost shouting every word he said. Keen to get out of his way the three of them took their trunks upstairs.

"Hermione, guest rooms there, see you in a minute" Ron followed Harry into his room. "You can take the bed. Ill go on the floor"

"I'm not complaining about that mate" Ron answered sitting on Harry's bed and putting his stuff down. Pigwidgeon was flying around in his cage eager to be let out. "Blimey, the muggles are bad, and I thought my mum was scary when she gets angry" Ron looked at Harry. "Where's your fat git of a cousin anyway?"

"I dunno but i can't wait to see his face when he finds out you and Hermione are staying here" Harry smiled at the thought as he sat down next to Ron.

"Yeah and i can do magic outside of school now, want me to turn him into a slug or something?" Ron said excitedly

"Or you could give him his pigs tail back" Harry laughed

"Yeah...or maybe we should just throw him out the window?"

"Ron you can't use magic against Harry's cousin. It's illegal to use magic against muggles. you know that" Hermione had entered Harry's bedroom.

"I wasn't going to actually do it Hermione. Anyway since when were you so in love with Harry's Aunt and Uncle?"

Hermione frowned. "I was just being polite before Ron, something you don't seem to know very much about"

"And were they being polite to us Hermione?"

Harry stopped listening and let them argue. He didn't really want to hear them bickering about the Dursleys anyway. He felt happy for the first time at Privet Drive that his two best friends were with him in his final return. His thoughts were interrupted by Petunia. "Come now if you want to eat anything at all." she yelled at them.

"Great, I'm starved!" Ron said and leapt to his feet forgetting about his argument with Hermione.

When they arrived in the kitchen Dudley was sitting alone already eating. When he looked up he froze. His jaw dropped and his fork landed on the floor with a clatter. "Who are they?"

"Well Dudders" Harry smiled. "There my friends and they will be staying here for a while" Ron began talking.

"Yeah and you know, I can do magic outside of school now. I hear you make a great pig" Ron grinned at Harry who smiled back. Dudley looked terrified and seemed lost for words.

"Ron leave him alone" Hermione scowled. She looked at Dudley and smiled, I'm Hermione Granger.

"DON'T TALK TO MY SON!" Vernon had entered the room and looked simply furious. Hermione stared at Vernon. Ron opened his mouth to say something but Hermione grabbed his arm. "Ron, leave it"

Harry sat down. He didn't like the way Vernon had talked to Hermione but he thought best to ignore him. Dumbledore had wanted him to come back and stay till his birthday and he wasn't going to ruin it by getting thrown out. He looked at Ron and Hermione who were staring at him. "Sit down, ignore it" they did as he said.

The next two weeks went by at Privet Drive with nothing really happening. They played exploding snap and wizards chess. Hermione read mostly which amused Ron... "It's the start of summer, were not even returning to Hogwarts and she still studies. Mental if you ask me." Dudley made sure he was out of there way scared at what they might do which suited Harry fine. Vernon and Petunia just acted like the three of them weren't there. The day before Harry's 17th birthday had arrived. He was looking forward to getting out of there and going to the Burrow.

"Got an owl back from mum, she says dad will be here with the ministry cars tomorrow morning" Ron informed them.

"So I still need protection then?" Harry said dully.

"Yep fraid so, but its for the best really I mean…Hermione? Hermione are you ok?" Ron stopped talking as he looked at Hermione. Harry saw she was holding the daily prophet and looking rather pale.

"Harry, Ron, remember Justin Finch Fletchely from Hufflepuff? Him and his parents were murdered…last night." she fell silent. The three of them stood in Harry's room quietly for a moment. Voldemort was ruining more lives. This just made him more determined than ever. More deaths were happening every day. He felt the rage and desire for revenge build up a bit more. Harry saw now tears were forming and falling down Hermione's face.

"Why does all this have to happen?" She asked sadly.

"That's why we need to stop it. The sooner the better." Harry said.

Ron hugged Hermione; Harry thought it was unusual for Ron to do this. But then Ron and Hermione had become more secure in their friendship with each other since...Dumbledore's death. Harry felt a lump in his throat. When Ron and Hermione broke away she looked like she felt better. Harry placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked at him and smiled. "I'm guessing your dad will arrive early tomorrow morning Ron, we should get some sleep" Harry said.

Hermione bade them goodnight and left Harry's bedroom. Harry looked at the clock as he got into bed. 11:14 pm. it was nearly his birthday.

"Night Harry" Ron muttered.

"Night Ron" five minutes later Harry heard Ron's loud snores.

Harry was walking out of privet drive along the path. "Come on little Harry, only a little further to go now" he knew that voice…where did he know that voice? Then the woman laughed. It was an evil laugh. One he definitely knew. He saw some dark figures coming towards him, he started to panic...they were Voldemort's death eaters he knew it. Charging towards him, he had nowhere to go. He started to run.
Harry awoke with a start, shaking and covered in sweat. He heard that familiar evil laugh from outside. but...this wasn't a dream. He looked at the clock. 1:02am. Something clicked in his brain. Harry leapt out of bed. "RON...RON…WAKE UP!" he shook Ron in desperation.

"Wha…Whasgoinon?" Ron mumbled sleepily.

"Ron, the death eaters, their here! Get up!" Harry wished Ron would move quicker.

Ron opened his eyes suddenly and jumped up.