It
was a dark night, over cast, so that even the stars nor the moon
could light up the darkness. A thick mist was gathering in what
appeared to be a field of stone monuments. Most were falling apart,
beyond repair and gave the appearance that it had not been visited in
years. The graveyard was hundreds of years old and had been filled
some time ago most of its occupants were so many generations apart
form the now living that they had been forgotten. It was the perfect
place for the secret meeting that would take place that very night. A
tall figure was standing in a small clearing devoid of any statues.
It seemed as though he had appeared there out of thin air. Several
figures suddenly appeared out nowhere as the man had done moments
before. All bowed in worship of the man before them. One of them
stepped forward slightly and the man grabbed him by the scruff of his
neck and threw him onto the ground before him.
"FIND
HER!!!!" Voldermort screamed at the grovelling Wormtail at his
feet.
"Yes But master..."
"No buts, I had enough
of your incompetence you little worm. We need her. She has inherited
the powers I need back. If it weren't for that Potter we needn't
bother but to defeat him I need those powers"
A figure
cloaked in black stepped out of the mist.
"My Lord" she
said with a bow.
"Ahhh Bella. You have found what I
want?"
"Yes My Lord."
"Good. Where is
she?"
"Living with a muggle couple in Australia My
lord."
"Excellent. Wormtail how is it that Bella was
able to find her but you could not?"
"I..I t...tried My
Lord." He stuttered. Voldemort glared at the man before him.
"Shall
I fetch her for you My Lord?"
"No I will deal with this
myself"
"As you wish My Lord"
With this the
woman disapperated.
"Wormtail you shall accompany
me"
"Ye..Yes My Lord"
With that they both
disapperate.
Voldemort and Wormtail appear outside a small
house in a quiet street. It is 7.00pm.
They quietly approach the
house. Then Voldemort breaks down the front door. Walks into the
living room and sees a couple watching TV. The woman sees Voldemort
and lets out a scream and runs from the room. The man stands up and
faces Voldemort.
"You know why I'm here muggle give me what
is rightfully mine"
"You can never have her"
"Very
well it's going to be like that is it"
Voldermort had a
twinkle in his eye as if it delighted him that he was going to have
to kill this man.
Voldemort takes a step forward towards the man
and the man flees the room.
He trips on the stairs and Voldemort
suddenly appears before him and there is a flash of Green light and
the words Avada Kedavra echo up the stairs.
The woman appears
again and hits Voldemort with a chair there is then another flash of
green light and her body hits the floor next to her
husbands.
Thousands of miles away Harry Potter woke up with a
searing pain in his scar. It was the third time that week. He had had
that same dream a number of times now. He climbed out of bed and put
on his glasses. He couldn't ignore it anymore was it a premonition
or was it just a dream? He didn't know but he decided that someone
needed to know just in case.
He thought about the possible
candidates. Hermione? No she would just worry and then consult a book
or tell him to write to Dumbledore. Ron? No, Ron would panic, and
then be no help at all. Ginny? Ginny? Now where did that come from?
He couldn't confide in Ron's little sister.
But she's not
so little any morea voice sounded in his brain.
"Shut up
you." Harry said. "Oh God. I'm talking to myself. Maybe the
daily prophet was right... I am going insane."
Back to the
matter at handhe thought.
Sirius? Yes. That was the answer
Sirius. He would write a letter to his godfather. He would know what
to do.
Harry went over to his trunk and pulled out a quill and
some parchment and sat down at the desk. It had been put in his room
after it was removed from Dudleys because he couldn't fit his
birthday presents in his room and after all Dudley never used it.
He
wrote:
Dear Sirius,
I've been having a recurring
nightmare for the past few nights and...
All of the sudden
Harry stopped writing as the reality of the last few months flooded
back to him. Sirius was dead. Plain and simple. He was never coming
back. Tears welled up in Harry's eyes as a vision rose from his
subconsciousness to claim him. He watched as Bellatrix Lestrange cast
the spell that had been Sirius' death sentence, then watched as his
godfather, eyes wide with shock fell through the veil to the other
realm.
At least he is with his best friend now.Harry
thought bitterly as he wiped tears from his eyes.
"For Merlin's
sake Harry, you're being ridiculous. Stop crying like a little girl
and grow up." He scolded himself.
He took the piece of
parchment and screwed it up into a ball and then angrily threw it
across the room. It missed the wastebasket and landed on the floor.
Harry stared at it fro a few moments before it suddenly and without
warning burst into flames. Harry watched as it slowly curled and
disintegrated as the embers died. Discarding his emotions in much the
same way Harry took his wand from the desk and waved it at the
offending pile of ash on the floor, which disappeared. Harry didn't
need to worry about the consequences of performing magic while on
holiday because this year he had been granted permission by the
ministry of magic. Fudge wasn't pleased when Dumbledore had come to
him with the request but then again Fudge didn't really hold much
of a position anymore. With the announcement of Voldemort's return
which the minister had been deigning all year, he had lost the
majority of the magical community's support and most were calling
for an election to nominate a new minister. Many hoped that
Dumbledore would take the position. But those who knew him personally
knew that he would not. Harry really didn't care who became
minister as long as the took the necessary steps to help the
wizarding community prepare themselves for Voldemort's next
move.
Back to the matter at handHarry thought pushing his
musings aside.
Harry finally decided on writing to Professor
Lupin. Though not really a Professor anymore, after calling him so
for a year Harry just couldn't seem to correct himself no matter
how many times he had been asked to call him Remus. Though not as
close as Harry had been with Sirius he was the closest thing to a
father that Harry now that Sirius was dead, and he knew he would have
some advice at least to give him even if it were just to put his mind
at ease that someone knew his troubles.
He wrote:
Dear
Remus,
I have been having a recurring nightmare for the last
few days and thought that maybe if I told someone it might help the
order figure out what Voldemort is up to next. I dreamed that he is
searching for someone. The dream didn't specify who or where they
could be found but I remember something about Australia being
mentioned. Whoever this person is they are in danger because it
sounds as if Voldemort has been looking for them for a long time and
is really keen on finding them. In the dream Voldemort killed a
muggle couple. I have been scanning the muggle news for information
but I suppose if it really did occur in Australia we wouldn't hear
about it in England. In fact I don't even know if this dream was
real. I don't even know why I'm writing this letter except
perhaps to give myself some piece of mind. You don't need to worry
about me the Dursley's and I have maintained a sort of mutual
silence. I don't talk to them they don't talk to me. I don't
get in their way they don't get in mine. Uncle Vernon however urges
me to write to you every three days so that Moody doesn't show up
on the doorstep. I think he made quite an impression on him. Well I'm
sure you have more important things to be doing than reading this
letter so I guess I'll see you when I see you.
Harry.
He
awoke a very annoyed Hedwig and tied the parchment to her leg. She
took flight her wings cuffing Harry on the shoulder as she flew out
the window. She let out a high-pitched swark to show her annoyance
knowing that Harry would get into trouble if his uncle Vernon heard
her. Sure enough he heard the roar of his uncle's voice.
"Shut
that Bloody bird up"
He glanced at his watch 6.00 am.
There was no point in going back to sleep now. He got out some of his
homework and started.
Question 1: Which spell forces someone to
assume their anamagi form?
Question 2: How many registered Anamagi
are there?
Question 3: How does one become an Animagus?
Harry
worked for just over an hour until the smells of breakfast cooking
down stairs registered in his senses. He opened the door to his
wardrobe and quickly got dressed. On the way out the door he tried to
flatten his messy hair as his uncle was always complaining about how
untidy it was.
Harry
descended the stairs and joined the Dursley's for
breakfast.
"Morning." Harry said as he sat down at the table.
He didn't receive any response apart from a grunt from his
uncle.
"Well come and get your breakfast. Or do you want me to
feed you as well?" Aunt Petunia said to him.
Harry took his
plate from the table and walked to his Aunt who was stationed in
front of the stove cooking pancakes. She slid one onto his plate and
then shooed him away with a flick of her wrist. Harry rolled his eyes
and went back to the table. Aunt Petunia had long ago abandoned
Dudley's diet, sick of all the tantrums. She now made Dudley's
school uniform as the school had refused to have them specially made.
Dudley sat at the table across from Harry with a large stack of
pancakes on his own plate. His eyes narrowed as he noticed Harry's
wand protruding from his pocket.
"I thought you weren't
allowed to use that during the holidays." Dudley said.
"What
my wand?" Harry said taking it out of his pocket and playing with
it, never taking his eyes off Dudley.
"Dad." Dudley said
nervously.
"Don't worry Dudikins." Petunia said. "You know
that he almost got expelled for using it last year. He can't use it
outside of school." She glared at Harry.
"Well that's not
exactly true Aunt Petunia. You see this year the rules have been
changed. I'm allowed to use magic at home now in case some more
Dementor's show up or Voldemort's followers." Harry said
smirking at his cousin.
"Well you just make sure you keep that
away from Dudley." His Aunt said narrowing her eyes too.
"Well
you just make sure Dudley stays away from me. That way there can be
no accidents." Harry said innocently.
"Listen boy..." Uncle
Vernon said.
"Were you about to yell at me?" Harry
interrupted. "Because it sounded like you were going to and I just
finished a letter to my friends and I don't particularly feel like
writing another one. I'd hate to have to write to Moody and say
that you weren't treating me right."
"Well why don't you
just finish your breakfast and run along up to your room." Uncle
Vernon said in a polite tone.
"Wow
did that hurt?" Harry asked grinning at the chocked expression on
his uncle's face as he was speaking
"Dad..." Dudley whined
at his father wanting to see Harry get into trouble.
"Dudley be
quiet and finish your breakfast." He said glaring at his son over
the top of the newspaper.
Harry smiled and put his wand back in
his pocket and continued with his breakfast.
"Thanks Aunt
Petunia." He said standing as he finished.
"And what do you
plan on doing today?" Vernon asked him wondering whether he was
going to be hanging around the house.
"I'm going to Mrs Figgs
house." Harry told them.
"You've been spending an awful lot
of time there these holidays. You used to beg us not to make you go
there. What is it that you find so interesting now?" Petunia
asked.
"Well Mrs Figg is a squib." Harry said.
"A what?"
Vernon asked.
"A squib. It means that you were born into a
magical family but you're a muggle."
"All this time we've
had someone connected with...with your lot just around the corner?"
Vernon roared unable to control his temper any longer.
Harry made
his way down the hallway and out the front door, he didn't want to
be witness to another of his uncle's tantrums. He walked down the
road until he found Mrs Figgs house and then went and knocked on the
front door. He stepped back in surprise when Remus Lupin opened the
door.
"Hello Harry." He said pulling the door open for him to
enter.
"Professor Lupin. What are you doing here?" Harry
asked.
"Well I received your letter this morning and I thought
it was an issue best discussed in private rather than through a
letter. It was very careless of you to write such a letter, the
ministry may no longer be trying to intercept mail but Voldemort
still can. You need to be more careful Harry." He gently
admonished.
"I know." Harry sighed dejectedly. "But you
don't know what its like. Being locked up in Privet drive for the
summer not knowing what's going on in the world. I've watched the
news every night looking for anything unusual there's been nothing.
And then these dreams."
"I know how frustrating it can be not
knowing what Voldemort is up to Harry. Truth be told the order
doesn't even know what Voldemort is up too. We thought seeing as
though the ministry now recognises that he's back he would start
making his actions more known. The reason why there hasn't been any
strange happenings on the news is because Voldemort has completely
disappeared. There have been no attacks whatsoever." Remus said
frustrated.
"Nothing? He's done nothing? But what about my
dream?" Harry asked.
"As far as we can tell it was just
exactly that. A dream. Dumbeldore went and checked a lead but there
was nothing." He answered.
"But it felt so real." Harry
said.
But then again you did go racing down to the Department
of Mysteries risking yourself and your friends out of ignorance of
thinking that Sirius had been taken therea voice said in his
head.
"Harry you cant blame yourself for Sirius." Remus said
sadly as if he could hear what Harry was thinking. "It was
Voldemort's fault not yours."
"I am to blame Remus." Harry
said. "If I hadn't have gone on my stupid hero trip and decided
to save him myself without consulting anyone first he would still be
alive."
"Harry you can't think like that. Sirius wouldn't
have wanted it to be like this."
"Well we're not in a
position to know what Sirius wants are we?" Harry said.
Remus,
realising that Harry wasn't going to let this go no matter how much
he argued decided to change the subject.
"Well anyway.
Dumbledore wants you at Grimwauld place for the rest of the summer.
The Weasley's and the Grangers are already there as well as some
other kids from your school who's parents are in particular danger
or are members of the order." He said.
"I don't want to go
back there. Not now not ever." Harry said.
"You don't have a
choice Harry, Dumbledore wants you there. That's why I'm here, to
take you to him."
"I don't care what Dumbledore wants."
Screamed Harry. "If he had of told me everything when I asked him
in first year I would have been prepared for this. I'm not going to
that house just so Voldemort can try and use me to kill him and so
that he can ignore me for the entire summer."
"Harry like I
said you don't have a choice." Remus said firmly.
"When are
we to leave?" Harry asked realising that there was no point in
arguing.
"Today. We will go and collect your things from the
Dursley's and then we will floo there. We had the fireplace
temporarily linked to this one." He said pointing at Mrs Figgs
firplace. "So just let me know when your ready."
"I'll
never be ready to enter that house but if I have to I guess now is as
good a time as any."
Harry and Remus left Mrs Figgs house and
returned to the Dursleys. Harry opened the front door and then made
his way into the living room. There he found Uncle Vernon sitting is
his chair completely still with a look of uttermost horror on his
face. Harry checked him for signs of life but there were none.
Fearing for the lives of the other members of the family Harry
quickly moved into the kitchen where he found his Aunt dead with a
similar expression on her face. Harry sank to his knees in despair as
sobs wracked through his entire body. Remus sank down onto the floor
next to him in complete shock and wrapped his arms around the boy
while he sobbed. Harry knew that the Dursley's weren't the best
of people but even they didn't deserve such a fate. When Harry had
recovered he stood up and realised that there was one person missing.
Dudley. Harry searched the entire house looking for his cousin
without luck. Feeling that it was time to leave Harry and Remus got
his trunk from upstairs and carried it the front door as they were
about to leave Harry heard a movement coming from the cupboard under
the stairs which had been his bedroom long ago. Remus heard it too
and motioned for Harry to be silent. He pulled his wand out of his
robes and slowly approached the cupboard. He counted one two three on
his fingers and then pulled the door open and aimed their wands at
who they found inside....
"Dudley."
Harry gasped as he found his cousin who was in the cupboard in the
foetal position. Dudley let out a little whimper and raised his
eyes.
"Harry?" he said.
"Yeah Dudley. Its me, you can
come out now they're gone." Harry said.
Dudley crawled out
from hid hiding spot and stood up. He noticed Professor Lupin and let
out another whimper and hid behind Harry (which wasn't very
affective seeing he was twice the other boys size.) Dudley let out
another significant yelp as several loud pops were heard as several
wizards apparated into the house. Albus Dumbledore walked up to them
the usual twinkle in his eye was missing. Mrs Weasley ran into the
hallway and engulfed Harry in a large and then proceeded to place
numerous kisses around his face mumbling things like "I'm so glad
your safe" "We thought you were dead" "Oh Harry."
"I'm
fine Mrs Weasley, really." Harry said pushing her off him slightly
embarrassed.
"Oh of course dear." She said regaining her
composure. "Sorry about that."
"No problem Mrs Weasley."
Harry said smiling at her.
"You must be Dudley." She said
looking past Harry to the boy behind. Dudley's only response was to
squeak and try and conceal himself behind Harry again.
"Yes.
This is Dudley." Harry introduced stepping aside so that Dudley
could be seen by all. "Dudley, this is Mrs Weasley."
"'lo"
he mumbled.
"Well, Albus I think these two have been through
enough. I assume Dudley will be coming with us until you can find him
somewhere else to stay?" Mrs Weasley said.
"Well that is
entirely up to the young man I'm afraid. Dudley, you can come with
us or you can go to your Aunt Marge's." Dumbledore said turning
to face Dudley.
Dudley stood in awe of the man in front of him. He
didn't know exactly who he was but he could tell that he was
important.
"Anywhere but Aunt Marge's." Dudley managed to
get out after a few moments of silence.
"Well that's settled
then." Dumbledore said with some of the twinkle returning to his
eyes at the fear in Dudley at the possibility of having to live with
Aunt Marge. "I hope you don't mind travelling by Port key
Dudley."
"Po...Port...Port key sir?" Dudley stuttered.
"I'm
sure your cousin can fill you in on that aspect. Well, why don't
you two go upstairs and pack your things while we clear up a few
things with the ministry." He suggested.
Harry grabbed Dudley's
arm and pulled him upstairs.
"Dudley, you'll need to pack just
clothes and things. None of your games and things will work where we
are going." Harry said moving to his own room.
"No games."
Dudley said horror plainly written across his face.
"Don't
worry Dudley. There's heaps of more fun stuff to do. I can teach
you to fly if you would like."
"Fly?" Dudley asked in
awe.
"Yes. In the wizarding world we fly on broom sticks and
play a game called quidditch. Its awesome I can teach when we get
there."
"Boys you had better be packing and not chatting up
there we have only a few minutes." Mrs Weasley called from
downstairs.
"Harry?"
"Yeah Dudley."
"Is that how
your parents died too?" Dudley asked him.
"Yeah. Voldemort
showed up our house when I was just a baby and killed my
parents."
"But why does he do these things? Why would he chose
to start such a life?" Dudley asked.
"That's a good question
Dudley, but I'm afraid no one knows the answer except Voldemort
himself." Dumbledore said coming into the room.
"Oh." Dudley
muttered and left the room. He returned to his own and began packing
his things into a bag. It didn't take very long and soon both boys
were ready to go.
Both
boys having finished their packing returned downstairs. The slowly
approached the lounge room imagining the site that had been there
before. The bodies were no longer there and the lounge room looked
exactly the same as it had this morning when Harry had left the
house. If they hadn't saw with their own eyes the destruction that
had been there just moments ago neither would have believed that
anything out of the ordinary had occurred.
Albus Dumbledore stood
up from the arm chair when he saw the boys enter the room.
"What
happened?" Dudley inquired. "It looks as though nothing has
happened at all."
"Well we couldn't leave it the way it was,
the muggles would start to panic. The authorities have been informed
of the situation of course but believe that there is already a unit
on scene. Well take your bags and place a finger on this plate. Harry
when you get to Grimwauld place you know what to do. Dudley take this
piece of paper and memorise the address on it. Quickly now."
Professor Dumbledore said.
Dudley took the piece of paper from
Dumbledore's out stretched hand and read it over and over again
saying it quietly to himself. When he felt that he had memorised the
address he handed the piece of paper back to Dumbledore who carefully
placed it back into his pocket. Dudley placed a finger back onto the
Portkey.
"I will being seeing the two of you later on. Are
you ready?" Dumbledore asked. Both boys nodded.
"Right then.
1...2...3...Portus."
Harry felt the familiar jerk behind his
naval and closed his eyes, moments later he opened them again and was
surprised to find himself standing on the pavement in Grimwauld
place. He turned when he heard a sort of groaning noise to see that
his cousin was lying on the pavement beside him. He smirked slightly
remembering that this was the first time that he himself had not
fallen down. He offered his hand to Dudley who accepted it and hauled
himself off the pavement.
"That was incredible. I never felt
anything like it. What a rush." Dudley exclaimed. Harry turned and
stared at him for a few moments.
There was a loud pop behind
them and Harry whipped out his wand.
"Lower your wand boy.
Lets get inside." Moody growled. Harry and Dudley picked up their
luggage and started to walk. Moody took Dumbledore's 'Put-Outer'
from his pocket and extinguished all the lamps in the street. Dudley
watched with a look of awe on his face.
"Where are we?"
Dudley asked.
"Shhh. We cant talk until we get inside then I'll
explain everything." Harry said silencing his cousin.
They
walked up the street until the found houses eleven and thirteen.
"I
don't understand." Dudley said. "Where's twelve? The piece of
paper said twelve!!" He said looking at his cousin as if this were
some sort of joke.
"Dudley think about the number you memorized.
Think about twelve." Harry said.
Dudley did as he was told
and Harry watched as his cousin almost fainted when fist a door
appeared and then followed by walls and windows. Harry smirked at the
expression that was on his cousins face.
"Come on, hurry."
Moody said prodding both boys and ushering them towards the front
door. Moody pulled out his wand and tapped the door once, many loud
metallic clicks were heard and the clatter of a chain. The door
opened.
They stepped into the hallway, which was completely in
darkness. Moody stood on the top step and released the balls of light
from the Put-Outer,
they flew back into their bulbs. Moody limped
inside and closed the front door. Harry felt as Moody limped past him
and he heard the hissing of gas as the gas lamps along the wall
sputtered to life. Harry gazed around at the familiar hallway and
sighed remembering the absence of the owner. He noticed as he moved
toward the kitchen that the picture of Sirius' mother had finally
been removed from the wall. As Harry walked into the kitchen he heard
two squeals as Hermione and Ginny got off their chairs and launched
themselves at him.
"We were so worried." Hermione said as
she let go. "We didn't know what had happened. Dumbledore just
burst in here and said that Voldemort had attacked Privet Drive and
that he needed all the Order members. And everyone got up and rushed
out. What happened?" Hermione said in a rush.
"Why is he
here?" Ron asked noticing Dudley behind Harry.
"Like you said
Voldemort attacked Privet drive. He entered my house looking for me
and killed my Aunt and Uncle. Dudley hid and was saved, he has
nowhere else to go." Harry said.
"I'm so sorry Harry,
Dudley." Hermione said sincerely. She too had no love for the
Dursley's but believed as Harry did that no one deserved that
fate.
Dudley just nodded at her and turned the other way not
wanting them to see the tears in his eyes.
Ron moved towards
Harry and they grasped each other's hands.
"Its good to see
you." Ron said to his best friend.
"You too." Harry said.
"Hows your summer been so far?"
"Alright, kind of boring
though. Fred and George's joke shop is going great so I've been
helping out a bit with that. They're actually paying me though so I
have money for our next year. But they're in the Order now so no
more Extendable Ears. They gave them to us before their first meeting
and took them right back off us after it. Whatever they heard must
have been pretty bad for them to enforce the no listening policy."
Ron said.
"So how come you're here so early Hermione. I
thought you were going home this holidays."
"Well I did for a
couple of weeks but I decided to come here instead. Mum and Dad are
really busy these holidays and I thought rather than sit at home
doing homework I may as well come here."
"Oh, your parents
didn't mind?" Harry asked.
"Well honestly they did mind,
they had hoped to see me for a few more weeks but agreed that this
was probably the safest place for me." She answered.
"Well its
good to have the three of us together here. I was dreading coming
here but its not so bad now that you two are here with me." Harry
said.
Hermione had tears in her eyes and hugged her friend
once more.
"Harry we know how deeply Sirius' death has hurt
you but just know that we are here for you and you can talk to either
one of us." She said as she glanced at Ron who nodded his head in
conformation.
"Thanks guys. That means a lot to me. I'm not
really sure I'm ready to talk about it yet but I will let you
know." He said quietly.
"Well Harry," Hermione said
effectively ending the conversation. "Perhaps you and Dudley should
take your things upstairs. I don't know which room Dudley will be
in but I think you and Ron are sharing the same one as last summer.
I'm sure Dudley can put his things in there until something can be
arranged."
She said sounding a lot like Mrs Weasley.
"Alright,
Come on Dudley. I'll show where to go." Harry said leading the
party from the kitchen into the hallway and then up the
stairs.
Dudley stared in wonder as he watched the pictures on the
walls move.
I think I'm going to like it here.Dudley
thought to himself.
They
made their way into the bedroom that Harry and Ron had been sharing
the last time they were at Grimwauld place. One of the beds was
unmade and messy so Harry figured this was the one that Ron had
claimed. He went over to the other one and placed his trunk onto the
bed.
"There's a bed under this one Dudley. When we are
ready to sleep I'll pull it out for you." Harry said. His cousin
just nodded and sat down on the bed.
"Harry do you think that I
can have some alone time?" Dudley said quietly.
"Of course."
Harry said standing and motioning for his friends to follow him.
They left the room and walked down to the living room. Harry
plonked down into one of the big armchairs and Hermione, Ron and
Ginny sat on the couch.
"He really needs some time alone."
Harry said breaking the silence. "I don't really think he's
dealt with everything yet. I mean when we found him he was more
scared than upset and then the Order members arrived and he was then
in shock. I think he's only just realized the full extent of
everything that's happened to him."
"He'll be okay Harry
he'll pull through this, and so will you." Ginny said leaning
forward and placing a supportive hand on his knee. As Harry looked up
and into her eyes, he realized something that he had missed over the
years. Ginny was growing up. She was no longer the blushing young
girl who was too afraid to even sit near him, she had greatly matured
and was showing wisdom beyond her age. He also realized that
physically she had changed also, she was now more full figured and
taller. Harry realized that he was staring and dropped his gaze
muttering a quiet "Thankyou." Ron and Hermione both noticed the
look between the two but let it pass without saying anything.
They
were startled by the noise of the door downstairs opening and heard
the voice of Mrs Weasley from downstairs calling them to help her
with dinner. Harry and Ron were given the task of setting the table,
and Hermione and Ginny helped Mrs Weasley prepare the meal. While Mrs
Weasley was dishing out dinner again the bang of the front door was
heard and Professor Dumbledore, Remus Lupin, Tonks, Moody, Kingsley
Shacklepot, Mr Weasley, Percy, Fred and George all filed through the
door and took their places at the table. Professor Dumbledore
remained standing.
"Harry, where is your cousin?" he
asked.
"He's upstairs. He's dealing with everything right
now." Harry answered.
"Oh that poor boy." Mrs Weasley
interrupted. "What is to happen to him now?"
"I think he
has taken care of that himself." Professor Dumbledore answered
cryptically.
"Well he can't stay here Albus. I mean who would
take care of him. We're only usually here for Order meetings while
the kids are at school. That poor boy." She said.
"Molly it
has already been taken care of."
"If you'll excuse me" he
said addressing everyone now. "But I need to speak with Dudley."
With that he turned and left the room.
Everyone dug into the
food.
"I wonder what Dumbledore means by 'Its already been
taken care of' surely they wont send Dudley away." Ron
whispered.
"I suppose he'll be sent away somewhere, Possibly
to Aunt Marge's" Harry said regretfully. He had never really
known his cousin well but he decided even after all the years of
terror Dudley and his gang had placed upon him he still didn't
deserve what had happened to him. No one on this earth deserved to be
fostered to Aunt Marge. This day he had seen and gentler side of
Dudley one that his possibly could have liked. Dudley may be big on
the outside but today had been a wake up call, he was just as scared
and frightened as everyone else.
"Maybe he could come to
Hogwarts with us." Ron suggested. Hermione who had been following
the conversation groaned as this remark and Ginny slapped him upside
the head.
"Oww. What was that for?" he complained.
"Honestly
Ron." Hermione said. "When we get upstairs I am going to make you
read Hogwarts a History start to finish so we wont have to hear any
more silly remarks from you. If you had read the book you would now
that Muggles can't get into Hogwarts. Number one, Dudley can't get
through the barrier to platform 9 ¾. That means he cant catch
the train with us to Hogsmede station. If he tries to enter the
school any other way he just sees a great rubbish heap and Danger
signs. If he continues on then he gets transported elsewhere and his
memory is remodified."
"Yeah but Dumbledore could stop those
mechanisms, couldn't he?" Ron asked.
"I doubt it."
Hermione said. "Remember he didn't build Hogwarts he doesn't
know half the things about that place I bet. I mean remember when he
told Harry about the room of requirement. He didn't know what that
was, and he didn't know where the Chamber of Secrets could be found
either. And then there's...."
"I think he gets your point
Hermione." Harry interrupted grinning.
"Yes we'll." She
said slightly embarrassed. "You two should really read that book."
She said and went back to eating here dinner.
"Why when she can
quote it page for page for us." Ron said quietly to Harry. Not
quiet enough seeing Hermione heard him and scowled in his direction,
Ron saw and returned it. Harry just shook his head at the two and
continued with his dinner.
A loud bounding of someone running
down the stairs interrupted the quiet conversations. Moments later
Dudley burst into the kitchen and searched the faces at the table for
Harry's. When he had located his cousin he ran over to him.
"Guess
what's happened Harry!!" Dudley exclaimed loudly. "You never
will so I'll tell you." He said before Harry could get a word in
to question his cousin's behavior. "I'm..........
