It was days after Dumbledore's funeral and Harry was sitting in his bedroom at Privet Drive staring glumly out the window. While sitting there, all Harry could think about were the tasks ahead and nothing else, not that he would let himself think of anything else. This was mainly because he did not want to think about what occupied his dreams, and that was Ginny. In a few days time however, he would have to face her. He did not want to see his heartbroken face that he had seen on the Hogwarts Express a few days ago. He missed holding her in his arms; he missed the calmness that she gave him.
He wished he could have her with him to help him cope with the loss of his mentor. Dumbledore had been so much to him, not only a mentor, but a friend and the closest thing to a grandfather Harry had ever had. He needed Dumbledore to guide him; he needed Dumbledore to tell him that it is okay to be with Ginny despite the dangers. Harry eventually came to the realization that he could not rely on anyone anymore.
"Boy, get down her now! I need to have a word with you!" Harry groaned as his uncle called him into the living room. "What the hell is this ruddy bird doing in my house?"
For the first time Harry noticed the beautiful bird sitting on the couch. It was Fawkes. "Honestly Uncle Vernon, I have no idea why he is here. The last time I saw him was Dumbledore's funeral." Harry turned to Fawkes and with a pop he was on Harry's shoulder. There was a note attached to his leg that Harry detached, but before he could read what it said, he was interrupted by his uncle.
"Did you say Dumbledore's funeral? Isn't he the freak who came and picked you up last year?" Vernon had an evil glint in his eyes. He waited for Harry to nod and then continued. "Well then, I want you in your room now! You are not going to come out except for restroom breaks once a day. Meals will be brought up to you, and if I see you or any of those blasted birds you will be sorry. Now go!"
Harry decided it was best not to argue so he walked slowly up to his bedroom, which would now be his prison. Once in his room Fawkes flew over to Hedwig's perch and landed next to her. Harry decided he should open the letter. "It couldn't hurt to read this, it has to be from Dumbledore since Fawkes delivered it. But how old is it, did he write this before we left for the horcrux or was it even older than that?" Harry's ,ind raced at the thought of hearing from his former headmaster.
Dear Harry,
If you are reading this then I have undoubtedly moved on to my next greatest adventure. I hope you do not blame yourself for my death, you hold yourself responsible for much that is beyond you own fault. I am writing this as your are in Gryffindor tower retrieving your invisibility cloak, I want you to know that I am dying as I write this last letter to you. I have slowly been dying since I destroyed Marvolo's ring. As I have said before my reflexes are not what they used to be. I want you to know that I have told Severus that when the times comes when Mr. Malfoy will pursue me to my death (yes, I knew of Mr. Malfoy's plan long ago,) to end my life himself. I would never have a student become a murderer.
Harry, you always asked why I trusted Severus so much, well the answer was simple. I trusted Severus because he made an unbreakable vow with me. If his allegiance was returned to the death eaters, he would be dead. Now I hope that answer will satisfy your suspicions.
Next, there is the business of my will. To you, who have been like a grandson to me, I leave everything. This includes all my possessions, 853,600,000 galleons, three homes throughout the world, and of course Fawkes. I know money means nothing to you, but I want you to have it.
Last I have two pieces of advice. One is more serious than the other. First, Tom hid himself in places that were significant to him. Second, do not let Ms. Weasley get away. Love will be your greatest weapon. You need her with you; it will do no good to push her away.
Until you too join me in death, which will be many years from now, remember these words, I will never truly be gone until none who remain are loyal to me. Do not mourn too long, after all to the organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.
Yours most sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
When Harry finished the letter his eyes were moist with tears. Even in death Dumbledore knew exactly what to say. Harry turned to Fawkes who nodded and let out a hopeful trill. Harry walked over to his desk knowing what to do. He took out a piece of parchment and wrote a note explaining Snape's situation to Professor McGonagal. He had just sent Hedwig out the window when there was a knock on his door.
"Harry, may I come in?" It was the voice of his Aunt Petunia. Harry Wondered why she even bothered to ask, usually she treated him like he was the scum on the bottom of her shoes. She entered his room and sat down at his desk. She surveyed the mess around her of stray owl treats and old parchment before she began. "Harry, I feel that it is time that we have a talk. I owe you an apology for the last sixteen years. I truly want you to know the reason I have been so cruel, not that any of what I am going to say is going to justify anything."
"Really you owe me an apology for treating me like filth?" Harry sarcastically asked not even bothering to look in his aunt's direction.
"Please just sit and listen and all I can do is hope that you will understand." She sounded so desperate that Harry had to look at her. When his eyes met Petunia's he saw them filling with tears and pleading him to at least listen. When she realized that he would listen she continued. "I haven't always hated magic you know. Your mother always used to come home on holidays or write and tell me all about her adventures at Hogwarts. I was always mesmerized by her tales and wished that one day, I would be able to accompany her on one. Well, I eventually I got my wish. Your grandparents and I were at Hogwarts on special invitation from Dumbledore. We were there to see Lily receive and award from Professor Slughorn because of her outstanding potion skills.
"On our last night there, Lily and James got special permission to take my family and I into Hogsmead. Of course we all agreed, I was absolutely thrilled at the thought of going into an all magic village. Have you ever visited that particular village?"
"Yes, I have been visiting Hogsmead since ,my third year. However, last year the trips were cancelled because a girl almost died on the path leading back to the school." He paused at the thought of Katie Bell almost dying from touching that horrid necklace.
"Oh! How dreadful, that must have been horrible to witness. But sadly I know that feeling. While in Hogsmead we were having a splendid time. I was amazed at the smells and tastes of Honeyduke's. We even got to go into the Three Broom Sticks and I got to drink the most amazing drink imaginable. I think it was called a butterbeer. However, when we were on our way to the castle, we noticed we were not alone. We could not see them but James said that he could sense their magic. He could always tell when something was not right. Then, out of nowhere, Lily was running towards our parents and a bright green light was shot at both of them. They fell to the ground and Lily gave out a horrifying scream and would not let go of our dead parents. At the time I had no idea what was going on. Then some one aimed a spell at me and I fell to the ground in the worst pain I have ever experienced. I couldn't think of anything but the pain, every inch of my body was in agony." Aunt Petunia had tears pouring down her cheeks while she looked to Harry for answers.
"The curse that hit you was the Cruciatus curse, it is an unforgivable curse and only death eaters use them. It causes immeasurable pain, some people have been driven mad by the pain. The curse that killed my grandparents was the Avada Kedavra curse, it's also an unforgivable curse, the worst of all. You can only use these if you have pure hatred and loathing going through you or just enjoy seeing people in pain," He didn't want to go on any longer fore he wanted to hear the rest of his aunt's story.
"After the curse was lifted, James helped me to my feet and told Lily and I to run. As soon as we started to run we found out who was attacking us. There was a group of five hooded men attacking us. James took on three of them and Lily took on two. James and Lily were both on their last opponent when you could tell something went terribly wrong. Just as they finished dueling Voldermort showed up.
"He said that he wanted them to join his death eaters, he needed their powers. James and Lily immediately refused which infuriated Voldermort. Suddenly a second duel began. This time the spells, curses and charms were more intense. Buildings along the high road were being destroyed by stray hexes. Then something terrible happened. Then something terrible happened, a streak or purple hit my sister, your mother. It looked as if she was dead. I rushed out of my hiding place to her side. Tears were falling from my eyes while your father continued to battle Voldermort. Then finally some relief came, Dumbledore appeared next to James and Voldermort and his followers disappeared into thin air. Dumbledore turned towards your father and I and told us to go back to the castle.
"James picked up Lily and we ran all the way up the castle. When we got there I fainted and woke up next to my sister in the hospital wing. Your mother was in her seventh yeah at Hogwarts when this happened. She was moved to St, Mungos when Madam Pomfrey found she could not help Lily. Lily stayed in St. Mungos for weeks and I visited her every day of it. However, after she was well I ran away and vowed to never have anything to do with the magical world ever again. I could not bear to witness something awful like that happen to anyone I loved ever again. I wanted to distance my self entirely from all magic including your parents. I regret almost every day but I ran away from your mother and eventually my regret turned into false hate." She had finished her story and looked to Harry with tears falling freely from her eyes.
Harry could not help it, he stood, walked over to his aunt and wrapped her in his arms. She sobbed onto his shoulder and Harry though, "I will never let this happen to anyone ever again. He has ruined too many lives. He killed my parents, made my aunt hate magic, caused Sirius's death and Dumbledore's, and on top of all that I'm not allowed to love because of him. This will not last any longer I have to defeat him." He let go of his aunt and looked her in the face, "It's okay aunt Petunia I'll forgive you. I understand what you went through, I have witnessed many deaths and many more injuries. I just wish you would have told me sooner so I could have maybe had a chance at a better life."
"I just want you to know that I have always loved you like a son. I just wish I could have taken better care of you. I want you to know that you can always, from now on, come to me for anything." Harry smiled and thanked his aunt for her support just as pig flew in the window. Harry laughed because Fawkes seemed to have the same attitude towards pig as Hedwig did, Aunt Petunia left with a promise of an excellent dinner while Harry took the letter from the small owl. It was in a red envelope and Harry recognized it as a howler.
"Harry James Potter!" Came Ginny's shrieking voice to rival her mother's. "You are not getting off as easy as you think! I am in no more danger with you than I am with out you! In case you haven't noticed my family is the biggest bunch of blood traitors in history! I have decided that we aren't breaking up because I love you! I Also happen to know that you love me too, so stop be such a noble git! I'll see you in a couple weeks as my boyfriend. Goodbye Love!" The letter caught fire and turned to ash. Harry couldn't help but smile, "she is the love of my life," he thought to himself. He was filled with happiness, that is until Uncle Vernon came bursting through the door.
"Boy, come over here right now! Bring me a belt." Harry refused to move so Vernon came to him. He looked at Harry with the utmost loathing and punched him. " I- DON'T KNOW- WHO THAT- VOICE- WAS BUT I- DON'T WANT- ANYMORE- OF YOUR- NONSENSE!" Uncle Vernon spoke in-between blows to Harry, who was getting angrier by the second. Then out of no where the air in the room seemed to stop and Harry was floating in the air, white sparks coming from his finger tips. His emerald eyes were no longer sparkling but instead they were glowing, Harry also had an aura of white around him that seemed to be flowing straight into Vernon. All the love in Harry was being poured into Vernon causing him intolerable pain. Aunt Petunia ran into the room and froze, she did not know what to do all she could get out of her mouth was, " run Harry, get somewhere safe." With that Harry went crashing to the ground. He looked from the agonizing display that was uncle Vernon to his pitying aunt and ran out the door with Fawkes, Hedwig, and pig behind him flying towards the Burrow. Harry stopped and held out his wand to signal the Knight Bus. It appeared out of nowhere, And to Harry's surprise Stan was again the conductor. "'Ello Harry! I owe you a thank you; it was you who convinced the minister to let me out of Azkaban. That is beside the point, where would you like to visit this evening?" He looked down at Harry's face, " Bloody Hell, what did you do to yourself?"
Harry looked at the young man with sad pleading eyes. "Please just get me to the Burrow. Please?" And before he knew it he was stepping off the Knight Bus and walking towards the Burrow.
"Hey Ern, what do you reckon happened to him? Do you think he got into another duel?" Stan watched Harry walk to the front door. He hadn't seen anyone look like that since Azkaban.
Ernie just watched as the young boy walked into the building where he knew he would be safe. "Come on Stan, we have a lot of stops and not a lot of time. He's safe now." With that the Knight Bus disappeared into the knight.
Harry got off of the bus and looked to a place that he called home. He knocked on the door knowing that the Weasley's would be eating their dinner. He heard shuffling behind the door and then saw the warm face of Molly Weasley. She took one look at his face and pulled him quickly inside.
"Oh Harry, what happened to you? Oh you poor thing! Arthur get in here, Harry's hurt!" Mrs. Weasley was near hysterics at the beat up looking Harry.
"Harry, son, what happened? Who did this to you?" Arthur immediately began to think that it was death eaters. Then the rest of the Weasley family came running to find out what had happened to Harry.
"It was my Uncle Vernon." He was close to breaking down when Mrs. Weasley took him into a tight hug. "He heard Ginny's howler, and he started to beat me. Then all I remember is rising in the air somehow with white all around me. Then in a distant voice I heard me Aunt telling me to run and get to a safe place. I got out of the house and signaled the Knight Bus and now I'm here."
Ginny rushed to Harry's side and just wrapped her arms around him. She couldn't believe it happened but it did. She promised herself that she would get revenge on that bloody bastard. No one should ever be treated that way, especially Harry. She looked into his once bright emerald eyes and saw sorrow. She desperately want revenge on that awful muggle and she knew all her brother's would love to help, but first she needed to come up with a plan and she need Fred's and George's help.