Chapter 2: Number Four Privet Drive

Much had happened, in the months that Harry spent away from Hogwarts. Nothing and no one was safe anymore. The seemingly quiet street that Harry had promised Dumbledore he would return to was left in a shamble after the return of the boy wizard. Harry and his family, if that is what one would call them, had been under great distress when Harry had returned with the news. Would the spells of the family hold now with Harry's protector gone? Would they see the rise of wizards around them? Were they all in danger if Harry was to stay? All of this, one night, was proved to be true. A great battle in the street, a great mess left for both the muggles and the magic communities alike and death and injuries to follow. The only thing standing between Harry and the dark sides now was his Aunt Petunia.

Harry was very surprised to see just how many wizards did live around Privet drive and the other surrounding streets. The muggles, who had viewed the commotion in the street, had all had their memories erased. The witches and wizards returned to their homes, which with a flick of the wand and a little spell here or there returned to their old, normal appearance. The only muggle to remain aware of what had happened were Harry's aunt, uncle and the urchin who was their son. It became clear to Petunia just how strong the magic that ran through her blood really was, when their home was not touched in any way by the commotion. Sadly Harry's uncle, Vernon had been returning home from work, and didn't quiet make it to the house in time. Harry was surprised, even with himself, at how well he had defended the little family he had left. And though the curses flew thick and harsh all around, Vernon only suffered minor injuries and was quickly rushed inside for immediate care from Aunt Petunia.

This one major incident occurred before the thick fog set in. It was always present now on Privet drive, making everyone and everything seem to change from its brilliance to a withering shade of brown. It always rained. The grass was brown and water logged. The trees had all lost their leaves prematurely. Not even Hedwig would leave the safety of the Dursley's house.

The only good to come from the incident was the new found respect for magic and a freedom Harry had never dreamed of having with the Dursley's. It was actually bearable and somewhat welcoming, even Dudley had taken to a better disposition towards Harry than before. Harry had been sure that the attack on Privet drive would be the last straw before kicking him out of the house completely. But the realization set in, for Petunia and Vernon that things were not as it seemed in their small community.

Harry's friends and fellow wizards were even permitted around the house. Mrs. Weasley, was a now welcomed guest as her expertise in magical remedies had helped to cure uncle Vernon's, overly dramatized, injuries. Steps were taken once again by members of the Order of the Phoenix to keep Privet drive from another unfortunate attack.

Many of the Muggles from around the circle had moved on, they supposed by their own choice. But really the Ministry of Magic had placed the ideas in their heads. Most, if not all the houses on the street were occupied by half blood families, living a life of muggle disguise and yet taking part in the protection of the Chosen One.

Harry had become very tired of the new title, he was aware of his destiny now but other things had to happen before he could continue on his predicted battle with the Dark Lord. He was still much filled with anger, at the passing of Dumbledore and his god father. But even angrier that he had risked his life and Dumbledore had been weakened by some wizard who was out on the same quest. R.A.B filled Harry's thoughts and his dreams. Nightmares had started to occur. The thought just never left him.

Ron was a constant at the Dursley house, having sworn not to leave Harry alone on something as important and as dangerous as his now life changing plans. The fireplace, in the Dursley's house was un-bricked and was made into a direct link to the Burrow. For security measures, the Ministry of Magic had been allowing only the Weasley's and Harry to travel by flew between the two homes. Not even Hermione was permitted between the two places.

Hermione also visited often enough, she had been granted a muggle permit to drive and used it often, to commute between Harry's and the Burrow. It was a welcome change to have Harry's friends permitted at the Dursley's but after the attack, and some quick remedies by Mrs. Weasley Vernon and Petunia had loosened the reigns on Harry's visitors. In fact, Vernon and Arthur Weasley had taken part in many great muggle magic conversations, while, Petunia and Molly had shared some recipes over tea and biscuits they had prepared, 'the muggle way'.

One, very warm, but strangely foggy night Harry sat alone in his room, long after everyone had gone to bed. The air on Privet drive was very hot and thick, even Hedwig wouldn't leave the coolness of the house for her evening hunt. The presence of the Dementors was about as looming as the night of the attack and nothing he did could calm the sense of uneasiness. He paced the length of the room, which was cluttered with everything and anything he could through on the floor. He knew he was safe within the house, and yet he felt a longing to be out and looking. For what, he didn't know. He had an idea in the back of his mind of what, but he didn't know where to start. This was most frustrating as his guide was gone, and he knew this was going to be something he would need to face alone, but longed so much to have someone to help him. He knew his friends would demand he allow them to help, but it would be dangerous and he didn't want to risk anymore lives.

Unlike Harry, risking the lives of muggle or magic, the dark forces were thriving with the death of Albus Dumbledore. Many more deaths had occurred and more and more sightings of Lord Voldemort had been reported. The Daily Prophet was a now welcome delivery at Privet drive as it carried more information, normally, about the strange deaths and happenings that muggle news just had no clue about. Vernon and Petunia had actually welcomed the new magic news and attention after more muggles, people they were acquainted with, were killed mysteriously by an explosion in a coffee shop. Muggle news had said it was a gas explosion caused by a leak in one of the baking ovens. But in reality, it was a planned attack on a former Death Eater. Vernon and Petunia were stunned to hear that people they had been, close with at one point in time, were under so many dark forces and that so many were in fact magic. At first it seemed almost amusing for Harry to see this new epiphany come to his once so stubborn and stuck up family, but now he began to worry even more.

The thing that worried Harry the most was losing more people he knew. Even though he did not feel close to the Dursley's before, this new realization had brought them closer or at least made living there bearable. And all though he would never forget the injustice he faced with them, he now worried that he brought danger to their lives just because of who he was. Dark wizards had started attacking and searching for him, this was made clear by the attack on the house. But a greater magic was at work in this place. This brought a strange peace and a new, more nurturing quality to Petunia and her family. Harry had almost begun to enjoy it.

He was happy to know that everyone, in this small house on Privet Drive, were safe and sound and asleep in their beds. He had placed his wand on the windowsill on his last pass of the room. He was still pacing nervously; Hedwig's eyes would open every time he passed her in the darkness. From the door, sweat rolling down his hot face, he whispered something and the tip of the wand began to glow silver. He had been practicing on his non verbal spells at every chance he got. Once he was sure he could conduct them in his sleep, he turned his mind to other charms and spells that were not considered non verbal and had managed to make them work, including his Patronus spell. He felt the need to keep this spell with him and functioning whenever the presence, or the feeling, that Dementors were around. Miraculously, as the wand sparked silver and stayed brightly glowing on the window sill he felt a peacefulness and weight drift away from him. Perhaps now he would be able to sleep.

The portrait of his mother and father seemed to sigh happily as Harry finally settled himself and had sat down on the edge of his bed. He was visibly tired and yet he had a feeling that sleep would not come to him again that night. Too many things played on his mind. But he forced himself to lay down at least, and rest.

No sooner had his head fallen on the soft pillow, there was a faint rapping at his bed room door. He sprang to his feet and snatched the wand off the window sill, "who has gotten into this house?" he asked himself as he slowly made his way to the door. He placed his hand on the knob, his wand ready in his other hand, and opened the door only the smallest crack. The hallways was dark still, "who's there?" he asked.

"Harry, it's me," Dudley whispered at the door.

"What are you doing awake?" Harry asked pulling the door open finally and letting his wand fall to his side.

"Were you going to curse me?" Dudley said, fear rising in his voice.

"I may have," Harry said walking back across the room and placing the wand back on the windowsill. It began to glow silver again as Dudley's eyes grew wider, "no one ever comes to my room, least of all you. How was I to know it wasn't some dark wizard coming in the night to this house," he added as he came back to the door. "You can come in you know. I'm not going to hurt you," he said to his wide eyed cousin.

"Th... thanks," Dudley said cautiously stepping inside and feeling a strange sense of peace and comfort in the bedroom, "it is cooler in here," he added as the air in the room felt lighter.

"Is it too warm for you," Harry chuckled a little, "would you like me to make it snow?"

"You can do that?" Dudley asked with a smile, "Change the weather and what not. Maybe make this terrible fog leave."

"Well, not that," Harry sighed.

"I didn't think so after what Mrs. Weasley had told Father," Dudley said stepping over some of Harry's clothing that littered the floor. "You know, even though we would never have admitted it before, you can tell we are cousins," he added as he sat down on the edge of Harry's bed.

"Oh really," Harry asked raising one eye brow. Harry and Dudley looked nothing alike; Dudley was short, round, blond. Harry had grown like a weed, he was tall, dark and handsome, with his brilliant green eyes and slate black hair.

"Yeah, we both live in the pig sties we call rooms," Dudley said with a chuckle.

"I haven't seen your room," Harry said matter of factly as he pulled his desk chair close to the bed.

"Oh you'll have to, it's a mess. Can you use magic to clean it?" Dudley asked lazily, "that would be wonderful."

"Accio wand," Harry whispered holding his hand out to catch his wand that flew across the room. "Watch," Harry said as he moved his wand in a circular motion and things began to remove themselves from the floor and place themselves in their appropriate places within the room. Even the fallen feathers from Hedwig's cage flew into the waist paper basket.

"Wow, tomorrow want to come and do my room? Mum would die to see it clean," Dudley laughed as he admired the now spotless room. The portrait on Harry's bedside table caught his eyes. Lily and James waved happily to him from the picture. "Am I going crazy or did that picture move?" he asked feeling a little startled.

"It moved, don't worry, you're not crazy," Harry laughed.

"Don't be so loud," Dudley said hushing Harry, "mum is sure to hear you and wake up. Father sleeps like the dead, but will be shaken awake if anything disturbs mum."

"Don't worry," Harry smiled again, "I placed a spell on the room so that no one can hear us."

"You've got all the tricks up your sleeve," Dudley laughed more at ease now. "So who are they?" he asked pointing at the picture.

"My mum and dad," Harry said looking longingly at the picture. Sad expressions crossed Lily and James' faces.

"Oh, I'm sorry mate," Dudley said placing a hand on Harry's shoulder. It caught him off guard he was still getting used to this new kinder Dursley family. "It's funny though, your mum looks nothing like mine and they were sister."

Harry smiled, "they were probably more alike in other ways," he said.

"I doubt it," Dudley said, "she looks to kind, mums to much of a hypocrite."

"Thanks," Harry laughed as he pulled a book from under his bed, "would you like to see some other magical pictures?" he asked before he even realized what he had done.

"Sure," Dudley smiled as he opened the book Harry had handed him.

They sat laughing and watching the pictures for quite some time. Harry enjoyed telling his cousin all about his school friends and the fun they had, had. Even the pictures of people that had been lost to the darkness had been good to talk about. A weight seemed to leave him as he spoke about Dumbledore and about Sirius Black to this muggle boy.

"It must be hard Harry," Dudley said as he looked down at a picture of a funny looking old man in purple starry robes, "I mean the pictures move, they react to you. The only thing they don't do is talk back," he said as he and Harry waved again at a picture of his Mum and Dad and their friends. "It's almost like they are still alive, at least that's the impression I get."

"Yeah," Harry said as he looked off out the window, a thought had just hit him. Some pictures did talk back.

"Can you take magic pictures of anyone?" Dudley asked breaking the uncomfortable silence that had just developed between them.

"What do you mean?" Harry asked looking strangely at his cousin, "its like any other picture."

"So you could take one of you and I and it would work?" Dudley asked.

"Yeah," Harry answered still feeling confused.

"And it would move and everything?" Dudley had become excited.

"Yeah they are just like the pictures in the Daily Prophet," Harry laughed.

"I haven't looked at those before, just mum and dad have taken interest in them," Dudley said as he closed the book again.

"Then why have you taken such an interest in magic now?" Harry asked as he had finally gotten the opportunity to ask. "What brought you here, in the middle of the night anyway Dudley?"

"I couldn't sleep. Feeling really weird," Dudley answered pulling something from his pajama pocket, "I went downstairs to get some chocolate like Mrs. Weasley had told us to, and when I came back I saw the light under your door. I thought you might like one being awake as I was," he said as he handed half a chocolate bar to Harry.

Harry smiled; it was funny to see his cousin and his family taking to magical remedies. It was nice to see that they finally understood the danger and the horrors that were facing people. "Thanks;" Harry said and opened the bar. "Here, have some with me," he said and handed a piece back to Dudley, "you should be able to sleep after some of this."

"Is there any spell you can place on the house to keep them away," Dudley asked his voice sounding very much like a little child as he pointed at the window.

"I've been trying to find one," Harry admitted. "But the best I can do is small areas at a time or else the spell dies away too quickly."

"Ah well, that's alright Mate, I'm sure you need it more than we do. Besides there's always lots of chocolate in the house," Dudley smiled and rose from the bed, "but I better be off. Get some sleep Harry. The chocolate should help, you look like you need it!" he added and walked to the door.

Harry followed him to the door and opened it for him. Once Dudley was in the hallway Harry watched as he walked to his bed room door, "psst," Harry said just before Dudley entered his own bedroom.

"What?" Dudley said turning around and whispering once more.

"Tomorrow, we'll clean your room," Harry said and winked.

Dudley waved back to his cousin and disappeared into his own bedroom.

Harry laughed to himself as he closed his own door again. The chocolate wasn't the only thing that had helped