Disclaimer: Don't own it, never will. Wish I did though.

Final Days Of Torture

A soft tapping noise came from the window, where a large snowy owl waited (rather impatiently) in the moonlight for the boy to awake. In the distance the miniscule figure of a flying owl could be made out in the starry sky. The floor of the room was littered with spare pieces of parchment, books a pile of old Daily Prophets and a new one lying on his bed, and old pieces of clothing far too big for anyone, let alone the tall, skinny boy that lived in the room. Harry Potter had been taking detailed notes using sources from a thick, heavy book titled The Darkeste Hours and Spelles to Use Againste Them, but now lay slumped, snoring gently, on the desk.The quill he had been using had rolled off the table and onto the floor, but thankfully the bottle of ink remained intact and out of reach of the boy's, or rather young man's, hunched figure.

The moments ago distant figure of an owl could now easily be made out as Pigwidgeon, and even though the owl was only two meters from the closed window, it kept flying, and hit the window with a resounding thump.

Harry jumped up and had his wand in his hand before either owl could come to their senses. The dark circles under his eyes gave away his sleepless nights and obvious worries about the recent event of Dumldedore's death, and as he realized what had happened he relaxed, walked to the window and opened it for the two owls. Hedwig gracefully swooped in and landed on the desk, while Pig recovered enough to take up his usual eccentric flying around the room. Pig had two letters attached to his leg, and instead of chasing the crazy owl in an attempt to get them, he opened Hedwig's cage for her and filled a little bowl with owl treats. When Pig realized Harry wasn't chasing him around the room, he gave up and landed too. As Harry untied Pig's letters and carried him to Hedwig's cage to have a drink, he gave Hedwig a thankful pat. She was the most faithful pet a person could wish for, and the only sympathetic being in the house that he could physically talk to in his torturous last few weeks living with the Dursleys.

Glancing at the letters, Harry recognized Ron's untidy scrawl and Hermione's neat cursive.

Opening up Ron's letter he read:

Hey Harry!

Did you hear the news? The Chudley Cannons WON their last game, AND I WAS THERE TO SEE IT! Dad managed to get free tickets from some lady at the ministry, and they let us in to MEET THE CANNONS!!!

They won by miles, easily beating Bulgaria. Most of Bulgaria's good players have left though- we know most have joined leagues with You-Know-Who. Actually, Krum contacted the Order and asked to join. They are still looking through his records and checking him over, making sure he isn't a spy, but it's looking good for him. He's coming to stay with us at the Burrow in a few days while he waits for the final meeting and vote for his induction.

I don't know what you said to Ginny, Harry, but it sure has ruined her holidays. She spends the whole time crying and moping about (Only when she thinks we aren't looking). Even Mum is sad when Gin is around, but then again she probably knows what you said. She knows everything.

Listen, mate, I need to go, but we will be there to pick you up at 7 o'clock tomorrow, the 30th.That ok? Mum is all excited and rushes around organizing the wedding, driving absolutely EVERYONE crazy. Anyway, see you in two days!

From Ron

Harry frowned at Ron's description of Ginny, and was obviously set to mull it over, but when he read about the wedding, he was quite startled. He had completely forgotten about Bill and Fleur's wedding. For the past few weeks he had been caught up in his own world, with regular (but rather meager) food trays being pushed into his room, and where everything revolved around making Voldemort pay for what he had done to the innocent witches, wizards and muggles whose lives he had destroyed, literally, or by ruining families and setting the world in a state of continuous grief.

His mind had not totally been devoid of thoughts of Ginny; in fact, she was one of the main things he had been thinking about.

Turning away from these thoughts, he wrote a quick 'It's fine' on a piece of parchment, and moved on to Hermione's letter.

Dear Harry,

Are you ok? I know you grieving over Dumbledore's death- we all are. But starving yourself and endlessly researching how to destroy Voldemort won't bring him back. Yes, research. Yes, grieve. But slowly killing yourself through depression and blaming yourself isn't the answer.

I'm with the Weasleys and we are all coping ok, getting on with life, and getting excited about Bill and Fleur's wedding, Mrs Weasley in particular. I have been doing some research myself, and I am really finding some great spells in some of these old books from the back section in Diagon Alley. We haven't told anyone about not going back to Hogwarts, and it isn't certain if it will open, anyway. Ron and I kept quiet anyway.

I can't wait to see you Harry, and I'll be there to pick you up.

Remember, don't starve yourself.

Love, Hermione

'How does Hermione know I'm studying?' He muttered to himself, and then smiled grimly. She was right about him. He couldn't get over the death of his friend and mentor, Dumbledore. 'Well, I might as well take her advice,' he said with a sigh.

He picked up his quill and wrote a quick reply to Hermione. He attached the letter to Pig's leg along with the message to Ron and sent Pig out the window. Turning his attention back to his thick book and pile of notes, Harry turned to a new chapter and began to read.

After a few moments, a tiny smile appeared on his lips, and after he let his thoughts turn for a moment, he wrote a long letter to Remus Lupin requesting some information.

At six o'clock the next night, Harry Potter walked up to his uncle, who was sitting in the kitchen drinking a cup of coffee while Petunia washed the dishes. Harry decided to make the conversation as quick as possible.

"I'm being picked up by my friends tonight. I won't be coming back," Harry said.

"Good. Glad to be rid of you." His uncle grunted back.

"I need to leave magical protection so you aren't attacked by Dark wizards," Harry stated calmly. He then watched as his uncles face went red, purple, a previously unknown shade of blue and then back to red as he thought about his choices. It was so obvious what he was thinking Harry found it hard not to laugh.

Vernon glanced at Petunia, who said with a rather pathetic look on her bony face, "Only if the neighbors can't see it!"

Harry fought the urge to roll his eyes as he left the kitchen. He was surprised it had gone down so well. He had expected at least some minor explosives to go off when he told his uncle. But then again, they didn't know Dumbledore was dead, and after the talking to he gave them last holidays, he didn't expect them to object too much. Harry sighed and began to pack all his belongings into his trunk. It wouldn't be long before he was picked up.

Twenty minutes later, Hedwig landed on the windowsill with a letter. Harry walked over, untied the letter, and thanked Hedwig for the delivery. She merely looked around, walked to her cage and sat in it expectantly. Harry closed the cage and placed it on top of his now-packed trunk.

Just as he was about to open the letter, he heard Petunia give a petrified scream, and loud thuds as he heard Dudley run through the house, away from the scream.

Harry ran down the stairs with his wand held tightly in his hand. As he entered the lounge room, he found everything perfectly normal, apart from Aunt Petunia cowering in a corner.

"What on earth were you screaming about?" He asked, annoyed.

Petunia pointed silently at the fire, which was bright green, and had the head of none other than Arthur Weasley sitting in it.

"Hello Harry. Sorry about that, I was just making sure there was a fire going before we came...I didn't was another episode like last time..."

Harry laughed. "That's ok. How are you?"

"I'm fine, but I think we should postpone this conversation until we get over there to pick you up. See you in a moment, Harry!" With that, Arthur disappeared with a faint pop.

Seconds later, Arthur stepped out of the fire and shook Harry's hand.

"It's great to see you, Harry! The others will be arriving in a minute." Arthur said.

Right as he said that, Tonks stepped out of the fire. She smiled and stepped forward, promptly tripping over the coffee table and falling onto an armchair.

Laughing, Harry pulled her up and said, "Hi Tonks."

Tonks, who was laughing too, said, "Thanks Harry. How are the muggles treating you?"

"About as good as ever." He replied.

With that, Lupin appeared in the fire, and said, "Hello Harry. Got your trunk yet?"

Harry shook his head and went upstairs with Tonks to get it.

"Let Hedwig fly to the Burrow. She can't come by Floo." Tonks said.

While Harry let Hedwig out, Tonks took the trunk downstairs, and Harry followed her with Hedwig's cage.

As they entered the lounge room, Lupin put the finishing touches on the protective spells. "That should do for now. Did you get my letter Harry?" He asked with a strange look in his eyes.

"Um...I was about to read it before Aunt Petunia screamed." Harry replied.

"Okay. Well, are we ready to go?"

Everyone nodded. Harry muttered "Goodbye" to Aunt Petunia, who was still in the corner, took a pinch of Floo powder from the bag Lupin held out to him, stepped into the fire and yelled "The Burrow".

I hope you like it. It's my first fanfic, and I will (hopefully) update tomorrow. If I don't get more than 5 reviews in a week I probably won't keep going...Let me know what you think. BTW I'm hopeless at writing conversations, but I hope I will get better. I will respond to every reviewer!