Disclosure - The characters are not mine, but that doesn't mean I can't play...
"Harry, have you thought of how you're going to tell your Aunt and Uncle that we are staying?" Hermoine asked, as they collected their trunks and began to leave the train.
"No, I guess I'll just play it by ear." Harry mumbled. He was seriously reconsidering his earlier decision to allow his friends, Hermoine and Ron, to stay with him over the summer at the Dursleys. His Uncle Vernon hated the fact that Harry was a wizard. When Harry had discovered this fact at the age of eleven his uncle had forbid him to discuss anything to do with magic while in his household. Luckily, he was in the household only a few weeks out of the summer, as he spent the rest of the year at his school. Hogwarts was a school for witches and wizards, and Harry loved it very much.
Now the school was in trouble. Dumbledore, the headmaster, had been murdered, just a few days before. He has been Harry's mentor, and Harry had much respect for the older man. His death had hit Harry very hard. Professor Snape, a man Harry had never trusted, had killed him. Dumbledore had trusted Snape, because Snape had told him that he had changed his dark ways. Dumbledore had trusted the good in everyone, and that was the only mistake Harry thought he had ever made.
Snape had been working under Lord Voldermort. That was Harry's greatest enemy. He had been a powerful dark wizard who had wanted to rid the world of everyone who was not 'pure-blood'. Muggles were non-magic people, and muggle born were those born into the magical world without magical parents. Voldermort hated Muggles and muggle-born. He called them mudbloods.
Harry, whose mother had been muggle born, had weakened Voldermort when Harry had been a baby. Voldermort had learned of a prophecy that said a child would grow up to defeat him. He had tried to kill Harry, but his magic had rebounded, causing Voldermort to become little more than a spirit. It had taken several years, but Voldermort had regained his body, and was growing more and more powerful It was due to this that Harry had allowed his friends to follow him home.
Harry's mother had lost her life, protecting Harry from Voldermort. It was her love that had saved Harry, and the bloodline, which filtered into his Aunt Petunia, was what kept Harry safe while at the Dursely's house. However, this year Harry turned seventeen, and would be coming of age. This meant he would no longer be under that protection. It meant also that while Harry would have to stay with his Uncle's family for a few more weeks, it would also be for the last time.
This thought made Harry smile as he walked towards the Dursely's. His Uncle Vernon was easy to make out, as he was the largest man at the station. His red face moved back and forth taking in all of the strange people loaded down with trunks and owl cages and even a boy with a very strange looking plant, who had left the platform with Harry. His Aunt Petunia kept her head down and she twisted her handkerchief in her hands. She would hate for any of her nosey friends to have learned that she was there. Her son, Dudley, learned up against a pillar, tried to appear inconspicuous. His previous experiences with magic folk had all turned out badly for Dudley. He had been given a pig's tail the first time he had met a wizard, and he had been given a ton tongue toffee once by Fred and George, Ron's older brothers. Dudley had been a fat overgrown bully when Harry had been younger, now he was a large muscled overgrown bully.
"Come on," Uncle Vernon motioned as Harry walked up.
"Umm, Uncle Vernon, I would like you to meet my friends, Ron and Hermoine," Harry said. Uncle Vernon turned around and glanced at the two, absentmindedly, before starting to turn forward once more.
"Uncle Vernon, Ron and Hermoine are going to be staying with us this summer," Harry announced.
Uncle Vernon stopped in his tracks, "Excuse me?" He questioned, his face turning red.
"Ron and Hermoine are going to be staying with us this summer." Harry said once more.
"And what makes you think I would allow your friends, from that school, stay at my house for the summer?" Uncle Vernon asked, his voice unnaturally patient, as they where in a public location.
"Because Dumbledore is dead and your going to want as much protection around the house as possible this summer." Harry stated.
"Dumbledore is dead?" Aunt Petunia said, her hand going to her throat.
"Well, if the old man has died then you know longer have to keep your promise, Petunia. Harry, you and your friends can find someplace else to stay." Uncle Vernon said, a satisfied smile on his face.
Hermoine rushed forward and placed her arm upon his sleeve. It was harder to tell who was the most surprised by this action, "Mr. Dursley, you need us at your house this summer. When Harry comes of age, Voldermort is going to come looking for him. The first place he will look is going to be at your house. He is not going to be happy that Harry is not there and he will most likely kill you, if we are not there to offer you protection."
Uncle Vernon paled considerably and looked at Harry, who nodded. He then looked at Petunia and Dudley. "Very well then, come along."
Hermoine, Ron and Harry followed the Dursely's to the car. Upon reaching the car, they found a problem, which Uncle Vernon was quick to point out. "How are we going to fit all of your things in the trunk? Someone will just have to leave their things here."
Ron took out his wand and said, " Oh, that is no problem." With a flick of his wand, he had shrunk the boxes to where they could fit comfortably in the trunk of the car.
Uncle Vernon turned red once again, "I thought you weren't able to do…magic outside of school."
Ron, not used to Uncle Vernon's moods grinned at the man, "Me and 'Moine are seventeen. We've already come of age. We can do magic whenever we want."
"Not in my house, you won't. I won't have it. I won't have you doing that bloody stuff in my house!" Uncle Vernon's voice had started to rise, and Aunt Petunia began to glance around nervously.
"Calm down, Vernon. I'm sure Harry will sort this all out with his friends, once we get home."
They squashed themselves into the car, the Dursely's cramped into the front, Harry, Ron and Hermoine in the back. It looked like it would be a long and horrible ride, until Hermoine, who had mastered silent spells, took out her own want and the back seat of the car widened considerably. The three friends grinned and sat back to ride in comfort.
As they pulled into the drive, Hermoine shrunk the backseat to its normal size. Uncle Vernon smiled and Dudley laughed as the three scrambled from the back seat. "Nice ride?" Dudley asked.
"Quite comfortable, actually." Hermoine replied, with a sweet smile on her face.
Dudley stood open mouthed as the three gathered their belongings and walked into the house. "Hermoine, you can stay in the guest room. Sorry if it smells like Aunt Marge's dogs. Ron you can kip out with me."
They deposited their things in their room, then went downstairs to talk to the Dursely's in the kitchen.
"There will be rules to follow as long as you're in my house," Uncle Vernon informed them as they took their seats. "First, there will be no magic in my house."
"Mr. Dursley, first let me assure you that you will not have to worry about your neighbors finding out about the wizarding world," Hermoine broke in, "However, Ron and I have come here in order to protect you and your family. We are adults, and we know how to use our magic wisely. We must insure some safety measures have been put in place, for once Harry turns seventeen, the protection currently on this house will be gone. If Voldermort does not make his move upon Harry's birthday, than we will leave to Harry's other house, and you will never see us again. However, if he does attack, like we think he will, then you will be glad we have such measures around.
Uncle Vernon sat back and seemed to actually listen to Hermoine as she spoke. For some odd reason, he actually seemed to be impressed with her ability to speak straightforward to him.
"You and the boy, you promise no one will see you?" he asked, nodding towards Ron. " You promise you won't do anything out of the ordinary while you are here?"
"I promise no one will know that we have done any magic," Hermoine stated. "And I know how to act around, my parents are dentist. They own their own practice in London. I have been raised in the non magic world."
"And him?" Vernon tilted his head.
"Ron, we will work with." Hermoine raised her hand as Ron started to open his mouth. "He is not used to a pure non magical life, but I am sure we can have him converted in no time."
Uncle Vernon sat back and seemed to think deeply on this. After a moment he grunted, "Do what you must. Just make sure no one sees you. Put whatever protection you need on the house, but I think I may be taking the family away for a little while around Harry's birthday, just to be on the safe side."
And so began the trio's life at the Dursely's. Hermoine seemed to be the peacekeeper amongst the bunch. Aunt Petunia loved the fact that Hermoine could help her with the house duties. Hermoine gladly prepared the meals, as she loved to cook. She had confided in Harry that it reminded her of potions. Unbeknownst to Aunt Petunia, Hermoine used her wand for the rest of her chores. All Aunt Petunia cared about was the fact that her house had never been cleaner.
Uncle Vernon grudgingly accepted the fact that there was nothing he could do about the added company. He did seemed impressed when Hermoine and Ron had placed their protection spells on the house in the early twilight hours of dawn, in order that the neighbors would not see. He seemed fond of Hermoine and talked to her about her parent's practice. Ron he ignored much like he had always ignored Harry. When he did refer to either of them, he called Harry 'the boy' and Ron 'that other boy'.
The person who was acting the most out of character was Dudley. He often had bullied Harry in the past, once he had discovered Harry could not do magic outside of school, however, Harry now had Ron at his back. Dudley did not dare to try anything. Even more odd, Dudley had taken to watching his appearance. He now dressed very stylishly, and kept his hair and nails neat. He spoke in a calm manner, and did not throw tantrums. It was Harry who discovered why.
Harry had noticed that Dudley always seemed to enter at breakfast the same time as Hermoine. He held the door from her as she passed into the kitchen, and he would either sit next to her, where he could pass her the dishes, or across from her, where he would glance at her from time to time.
"Hermoine, the oaf has got a crush on you." Harry had told her one-day, as Dudley had left the room to gather the mail. Dudley now even helped with some of the smaller chores. Ron laughed and Harry snickered as Hermoine blushed.
"I know. I thought I would just ignore it until they leave. I have not done anything to encourage it." Hermoine sighed.
Finally, a week before Harry's birthday, Uncle Vernon announced that the Dursleys were going on vacation. They would be gone three weeks, as Hermoine had assured him that they should be safe after that. "Just make sure I have a house to come home to boy," he told Harry. "You keep them in line, Hermoine."
For the next several days, Harry, Ron and Hermoine waited. Ron's parents had kept in touch and assured Harry they would be there for Harry's birthday. Other members of the Order of the Phoenix, a group of people who worked against Voldermort, had set themselves up at Harry's other house, Grimmauld Place, so they could be reached in a hurry.
The Weasley parents arrived the day before Harry's birthday. They also brought along Ginny, Ron's younger sister, and Bill, his older brother. The older three members of the family quickly set about checking the parameters of the house, insuring the protection spells Hermoine and Ron had set up where in working order, as well as adding a few more difficult ones they knew.
They then discussed the plan for the following day, as they thought that Voldermort would surely attack as soon as possible. At midnight, Harry, Hermoine and Ron would set themselves up in the guestroom. It was the center bedroom upstairs, and did not have any outside entrance. It would be the most difficult room for the Death Eaters to gain entrance too. The rest of the group would position themselves around the house. Ginny would stay next to the fireplace, where she could floo to the other house if help was needed. If the Death Eaters did not appear that day, then they would all leave to Grimmauld place the next day.
For lunch, Mrs. Weasley fixed them dinner. Remus Lupin had come to take watch until midnight. Everyone was to try to get as much sleep as possible before midnight. Ginny, who Harry had dated and broken up with earlier during the school year, and whom he still greatly loved, kissed him softly before she left for the living room couch. Mr. Weasley had thought it best that everyone should sleep where they would be stationed, so they would not have to rush to their places when the time came. Mrs. Weasley watched her daughter as she had kissed Harry in silence. She said not one word, only wiped a tear drop from her eye, before taking her husband's hand and leaning up to give him a soft kiss as well before they followed Ginny into the living room. Bill would be keeping watch in the kitchen, so he transfigured the table into a small bed where he would sleep.
The trio turned and made their way upstairs. Together they lay down upon the bed. Harry took one side as Hermoine crawled into the middle and rested her head on Ron's shoulder. Ron gave her a deep kiss, which she returned. Harry ignored the two for the moment the kiss took. He knew they had cared for each other and felt that if they where risking their lives for him than they deserved a memorable goodbye. Soon, they where all asleep.
At 11:45, Lupin shook them awake. "Only a few more minutes. I've already awakened the others. Tonks has come for me and I will be leaving shortly to get my own sleep. I've told Ginny to floo at the first sign of trouble and the Order will be here immediately."
Harry shook the older man's hand and then watched him exit the room. The three sat on the bedside waiting in silence. At three minutes until midnight Harry stood and faced the others. "This is stupid, to sit here and worry ourselves to death. Either they are coming for me or not. We may as well have some fun until they show up." He then walked over to Hermoine's trunks and pulled out a large book that he tossed in Hermoine's direction. Taking a deck of cards he faced Ron on the bed, " I'll teach you some muggle card games. They are mostly quite and we can still hear should anything happen."
Harry glanced at the bedside clock at saw that it was now 12:02. He had been seventeen for 2 minutes and nothing had happened. "Happy birthday, Harry," his friends wished him, before they settled down to their activities.
Over the next several hours Harry taught Ron how to play poker, gin rummy and goldfish. Hermoine had already read through two books and was just getting up to get her third when they heard a swooshing sound come from the downstairs fireplace. Quickly they took up their wands, thinking Ginny must have just signaled the others that Death Eaters had appeared.
Harry looked out the door and noticed that it was still dark outside. No morning light was filtering in from the window in the bathroom across the hall. He expected to hear fighting from downstairs, but for several minutes he could hear nothing. Finally, he heard Mrs. Weasley call out from below, "Harry, it's ok. You three can come down now."
"Harry, it could be a trap." Hermoine warned.
Before Harry could think of a way to tell if it was indeed a trap, he heard two loud cracks and suddenly the twins, Fred and George, where standing before him. Both ducked as Hermoine and Ron sent hexes directly at them.
"Hey, watch where you shoot those things!" Fred yelled
"You could take someone's eye out!" George exclaimed.
"What kind of treatment do you expect, you two, showing up with no warning at a moment like this?" Ron asked.
They came downstairs to find everyone gathered in the living room. Lupin was back, and he motioned Harry over to him. "Voldermort isn't showing up here today Harry."
"How do you know?" Harry questioned.
I'll explain everything fully once we get to headquarters. Let me just say that our intelligence has discovered that Voldermort know longer thinks you a threat now that Dumbledore is dead. However, Harry, he could not resist sending you a message on your birthday."
Harry looked around, not noticing anything out of sorts, "What kind of message?"
Lupin placed a hand upon Harry's shoulder. "He found you uncle and his family where they where staying. Harry, they are all dead."