Harry stalked up the staircase that led to the headmaster's office. Normally he would have been happy to get out of his relatives house this early in the summer but he was not at all thrilled about being summoned like a dog to Dumbledore's office.Albus called him to enter and Harry entered.
Professor Dumbledore smiled at him. "Harry, thank you for coming."
Harry took a seat. "You look better then last time we spoke."
"The potion Severus brewed stopped the poison from the ring spreading. I'm still a bit weak but I'm getting there." Albus said.
He had only lost his hand to the poison from the horcrux he had destroyed, the ring. He had nearly been killed but Severus had found a cure for the poison and had saved the old man's life. Other then exhaustion the only sign of the ordeal was his artificial hand. Harry hated the sight as it reminded him of Wormtail.
"What did you bring me here for?" Harry asked.
Dumbledore smiled. "I want you to return here in the fall."
Harry shook his head. "We've already discussed this old man, I am going to hunt horcruxes. I want this war to be over, the quicker the better."
Dumbledore explained. "I'm not suggesting as a student, which can wait till this is over. I think that Hogwarts is the best place for you to be as we hunt."
Harry glared. "I'm not going to sit back and let you and the order hunt with out me." The order had been told about the horcruxes after Dumbledore nearly died.
"No. I was suggesting we make this base. You can live here and go hunting from here. Many of the order will be here this year." Dumbledore explained.
It was true. Severus had agreed to return to potions. His push for DADA has always been part of his double life but now that he had been ousted as a spy, he was happily returning to his lab. Remus would be resuming his post as the DADA teacher and several aurors would be stationed there as well.
Harry sighed. "You will not stop me from going hunting when I need to, or try and get me to return to classes before this is done?"
Albus shook his head. "No. You have permission to leave the grounds at any time and you'll not be expected in class but I do have a recommendation."
Harry knew what was coming. "You want me to resume my training with Snape?"
Albus nodded. "You need to learn how to block Voldemort out. Severus can help you with that as well as I believe with searching for horcruxes."
Harry was reluctant but he had called a small truce with the man after he saved Dumbledore. "Are you sure he will agree to this?"
Dumbledore nodded. "He was the one who recommended it both. He wants this war done sooner, perhaps more then anyone."
"I assume I need to return to Privet drive until my birthday?" Harry asked.
Dumbledore sighed. "You know that you can not stay here in the summer and it would be safer. Unless of course you were willing to stay at Grimauld, the wards have been strengthened."
Harry shook his head. "I'll not enter that house again. I gave it to the order to use, I have no intention of ever calling that place home."
"You may change your mind one day Harry, but until then I would ask you return to Privet drive for two weeks. The Weasleys will come for you on your birthday."
Harry nodded. "I'll see you at the wedding then?"
Dumbledore nodded. "Yes."
Harry left the office. He found Remus and Tonks waiting for him in the entrance hall as they were to accompany him back to Privet drive. Remus had known what the talk was about and was anxious to learn if Harry had agreed.
Harry knew from Remus' look he had been told. "I have agreed to come here in the fall. Not as a student but to make it my base."
Remus nodded. "I'm glad Harry. You know your parents and Sirius would want it this way."
Harry looked towards the entrance of the dungeons. "I just hope that I can co-exist long enough with Snape for this to work."
The three of them made their way out onto the grounds and when they got beyond the wards Remus apparated him to Privet Drive. Two more weeks Harry reminded himself, and he would never come back.
Remus turned to him. "You know I wish you'd come with me but I'll not ask you to face Grimauld place."
Harry nodded. "Thanks Remus. It's just too much for me right now."
Remus nodded. If there had been any other place that he could go he would have as well. Remus had not been able to find work other then teaching at Hogwarts a few years ago and now returning. Money from James and later Sirius had kept him going. He knew Remus would be happy to return to school as well. He hugged the older man who was the closest thing to a father he had left in the world and headed back inside.
000000000000000000000
Vernon Dursley watched as his nephew had come up the front walk and had come into the house. The boy had been the bane of his existence for sixteen years and he never let Harry forget that.
"Boy, get in here." Vernon demanded.
Harry walked into the sitting room. "Uncle, my name is Harry."
"You ungrateful little brat. We have kept you in this house all these years and fed you." His Uncle screamed.
"Starved me and used me as a slave you mean. Well you don't have to worry in two weeks I come of age and I'll be gone for good." Harry stated.
"Good riddance to you!" Petunia muttered.
Harry turned on his Aunt. "You're my mum's sister. I never got how you could hate me so much. But for the sake of my mum I'm going to protect you."
Vernon looked at the boy. "Protect us?"
"The wards that have been around this house fall when I come of age. It would leave you a sitting duck. I have agreed to put you under a fideiius charm." Harry said.
"That was what your parents were under when they were killed." Petunia pointed out.
"Well then you better hope that I am a more loyal secret keeper then my parent's choice was." Harry stated and stormed up the stairs.
He went over to his desk and began to write a letter to Hermione and Ron who he knew were both at the Burrow for Bill's upcoming wedding to Fleur. Harry wrote and let them know that he would be going back to school. He knew Hermione and Ron would both return as students. Their parents had all been insistent on this and now that he would be at the school if he wasn't even there as a student.
00000000000000
The two weeks passed quicker for Harry then he could have imagined. His Aunt and Dudley even tried to be civil towards him when he ventured from his room. They both knew that for better or worse their safety relief on him and the charm that he would help cast.
Bright and early on the morning of his birthday Albus Dumbledore and Remus Lupin showed up on his doorstep. "Time to go Harry." Albus stated.
Remus was a bit happier. "Happy birthday cub."
Harry smiled from ear to ear and turned to his family. "I'm leaving. Professor Dumbledore will cast the charm. It'll protect you as long as I live."
Dumbledore went to work on the spell while Harry and Remus got his trunk and items. Harry had to add some blood to the spell as the secret keeper. He turned to look at the house one last time before he left.
"Well I guess this is goodbye."
His Uncle grunted at him "Good riddance."
Dudley stepped forward though. "Thank you Harry, for the park and for doing this." Dudley stuttered.
Harry was a bit surprised by his cousin but he shook hands with him. "Keep safe Dudley."
His Aunt surprised him even more. She handed him a small box and a letter. "The box has things of your mother's that I should have given you long ago. The letter is from me. Read it if you survive this war."
Harry fought the tears in his eyes. "Thank you Aunt Petunia."
He was about to leave before he went back to her and hugged her, and to his surprise she returned the embrace and even kissed him on the cheek. He left without another word. For one moment he felt like he had been a part of that family. It was a shame it had only taken sixteen years to get there.
Remus took him and they apparated to the burrow. Harry looked at the building and heard the voices coming from inside. This place had been more his home then Privet drive had ever been. The Weasleys and Remus, and Sirius when he was alive, the closet thing to a family he ever had.
As if reading his mind Remus smiled. "When the war is over Harry you'll have a family and a home of your own."
"Thanks Remus."
0000000000000000
Inside he was surrounded by the Weasleys and the Delacaurs who had arrived recently for the wedding. The ceremony was the day after tomorrow so many of the guests were soon coming and the house was busy with planning.
Harry was happy to see Percy was there. "Hey Percy, glad to have you back."
Percy nodded. "I'm glad to be back. I've really missed you all. Fudge and Scrimegore had me all twisted around."
Rufus Scrimegore had been killed recently by death eaters but Voldemort's plan to take over the ministry had failed. He had failed to take over heads of the more powerful departments and the aurors had been able to stop the coup. Kingsley Shacklebot was the new minister of magic, a loyal member of the order. Percy was now working for him and had made peace with his family a few weeks before.
Ron and Hermione came and hugged him. "We're so glad you're returning to school Harry." Hermione beamed.
Ron nodded. "I wish we didn't have to take classes though either. We should get to go with you."
Harry shook his head. "Your parents are right. It's safer for you this way. Besides you can help me with the research and planning."
Molly was soon hugging him and trying to ply him with food as she knew Harry would barley have eaten and the twins and the other Weasley brothers were all joking and laughing with him. Fleur and her little sister were both thrilled to see Harry as well.
They got a reprieve from wedding plans and they went out to the quiditch pitch and played a few games before they had an early dinner for his birthday.
He received a number of gifts including a mini floo glass from Moody, a sweater and sweets from the Weasleys, books and a dragon hide wand holster from Charlie but it was his gift from Remus that meant the most to him.
"A pocket watch." Harry said with a smile.
Remus nodded. "Tradition to give the birthday boy a watch. It's usually a wrist watch but that has been in the Black family for centuries. I know Sirius would have wanted you to have it."
Harry smiled as he could remember seeing Sirius with it a few times. The black crest was on the back. "Thank you Remus, it means a lot."
Harry was one of the few people who knew that Remus and Sirius had been in a relationship since they had been in school together. It had been strained when James had been killed and Sirius imprisoned but they had mended fences and had been talking of marriage when Sirius was killed. Sirius had named Harry heir of the Black family but he had left a chunk of money and a property as well to Remus.
When the birthday cake, shaped like a snitch came out, Harry blew out the candles and made a wish.
Ginny turned to him. "Did you make a wish?"
He nodded. "But I can't tell you or it won't come true."