A/N: hey guys sorry I haven't updated in ages, tbh I've been more interested in reading other people's fanfiction and when I've not been doing that I've been chilling at home and hanging out with my mates now they're mostly all back from uni. There's also the fact that I think this part in the book is quite dark emotionally and I've been way to happy to seriously get this right. Also I passed my exams so I'm on the Uni course I want to do
OK this chapter sucks it's taking forever to write and I don't think I got it right. Let me know any improvements. Hopefully the next chapter won't take as long.
The bold and characters all belong to JK and whoever else has the copyrights, do I need to put a disclaimer on every page?
"A Peck of Owls,"Hermione read.
"He left!" said Mrs. Figg, wringing her hands. "Left to see someone about a batch of cauldrons that fell off the back of a broom! I told him I'd flay him alive if he went, and now look! Dementors! It's just lucky I put Mr. Tibbles on the case! But we haven't got time to stand around! Hurry, now, we've got to get you back! Oh, the trouble this is going to cause! I will kill him!"
"She wasn't the only one." Molly cried, "The sneaking thief should never have left you Harry." All the while glaring at him.
"Mrs. Weasley, I know why you're mad and everything but I just thought, can you even do a patronus charm, Dung?"
It was Dumbledore that answered, "Although Mundungus may not appear to be, he is a capable Wizard, sometimes we Order members use that charm as a method of communication."
Hermione opened her mouth to ask more about how that worked but a look from Ron which clearly said 'get on with it' made her decide to just ask once the chapter was over.
"But -" The revelation that his batty old cat-obsessed neighbour knew what Dementors were was almost as big a shock to Harry as meeting two of them down the alleyway. "You're - you're a witch?"
"I'm a Squib, as Mundungus knows full well, so how on earth was I supposed to help you fight off Dementors? He left you completely without cover when I'd warned him -"
"This Mundungus has been following me? Hang on - it was him! He Disapparated from the front of my house!"
"Good. You're putting the pieces together though you shouldn't have let that distract you from the situation." Moody said.
"I didn't. I'm always able to think of lots of things at once in these situations, usually I just voice the most prominent questions."
"Yes, yes, yes, but luckily I'd stationed Mr. Tibbles under a car just in case, and Mr. Tibbies came and warned me, but by the time I got to your house you'd gone - and now - oh, what's Dumbledore going to say? You!" she shrieked at Dudley, still supine on the alley floor. "Get your fat bottom off the ground, quick!"
The twins couldn't help but snigger here.
"You know Dumbledore?" said Harry, staring at her.
"Everyone knows Dumbledore, Harry." Ron said rolling his eyes at him.
Before Harry had even opened his mouth to retort though Hermione defended him by saying, " Not muggles though Ron and given until a minute before he'd considered her one all his life I think he's still processing it. Like Harry said, his worlds were colliding."
"Of course I know Dumbledore, who doesn't know Dumbledore? But come on - I'll be no help if they come back, I've never so much as transfigured a teabag."
"You know neither have I" Bill said with a slight smile, "I'm not sure that really shows how magical she is."
"You haven't transfigured a teabag!" Sirius said in mock-outrage, "What sort of wizard are you?"
Harry was glad to see him joking around again; throughout the Dementor attack he'd stiffened visibly and when he'd spoken it had seemed rather forced to Harry.
She stooped down, seized one of Dudley's massive arms in her wizened hands and tugged.
"Get up, you useless lump, get up!"
"Go Arabella!" The twins cheered.
But Dudley either could not or would not move. He remained on the ground, trembling and ashen-faced, his mouth shut very tight.
"I'll do it." Harry took hold of Dudley's arm and heaved. With an enormous effort he managed to hoist him to his feet. Dudley seemed to be on the point of fainting. His small eyes were rolling in their sockets and sweat was beading his face; the moment Harry let go of him he swayed dangerously.
"Wow, Harry when did that happen?" Ron asked leaning across Hermione to look at him.
"When did what happen?" Harry asked, thoroughly confused.
"When did you get the muscles to lift that tub of lard?" Ron replied smirking. Fred and George were also gawping at him from around Dung and Sirius, clearly remembering the last time they'd seen him.
Annoyed on the scrawny comment he nevertheless answered with, "Quidditch." To which the boys nodded and went back to listening to Hermione.
"Hurry up!" said Mrs. Figg hysterically.
Harry pulled one of Dudley's massive arms around his own shoulders and dragged him towards the road, sagging slightly under the weight. Mrs. Figg tottered along in front of them, peering anxiously around the corner.
"Keep your wand out," she told Harry, as they entered Wisteria Walk. "Never mind the Statute of Secrecy now, there's going to be hell to pay anyway, we might as well be hanged for a dragon as an egg. Talk about the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery… this was exactly what Dumbledore was afraid of -
What's that at the end of the street? Oh, it's just Mr. Prentice… don't put your wand away, boy, don't I keep telling you I'm no use?"
"CONSTANT VIGILANCE!"
"Oh Harry and Moody had such high hopes for you." Tonks said shaking her head sadly.
"I wasn't actually putting it away Tonks, I'd like to see you support my cousin and keep your wand steady."
It was not easy to hold a wand steady and haul Dudley along at the same time.
"See!"
Harry gave his cousin an impatient dig in the ribs, but Dudley seemed to have lost all desire for independent movement. He was slumped on Harry's shoulder, his large feet dragging along the ground.
"Why didn't you tell me you're a Squib, Mrs. Figg?" asked Harry, panting with the effort to keep walking. "All those times I came round your house - why didn't you say anything?"
"Dumbledore's orders. I was to keep an eye on you but not say anything, you were too young. I'm sorry I gave you such a miserable time, Harry, but the Dursleys would never have let you come if they'd thought you enjoyed it. It wasn't easy, you know… but oh my word," she said tragically, wringing her hands once more, "when Dumbledore hears about this - how could Mundungus have left, he was supposed to be on duty until midnight - where is he? How am I going to tell Dumbledore what's happened? I can't Apparate."
"If she knew that the Dursley's liked Harry miserable then surely you Dumbledore, knew too!" Sirius seethed. "You go on about him being safe and protected there but who's there to protect him from them? Couldn't you at least of sent someone there to talk to them, to keep them in line!"
"Sirius I have made it clear my position on the matter, if you would like to know all my reasons then please ask them once the chapter is over."
"I've got an owl, you can borrow her." Harry groaned, wondering whether his spine was going to snap under Dudley's weight.
"Harry, you don't understand! Dumbledore will need to act as quickly as possible, the Ministry have their own ways of detecting underage magic, they'll know already, you mark my words."
"But I was getting rid of Dementors, I had to use magic - they're going to be more worried about what Dementors were doing floating around Wisteria Walk, surely?"
"You would think so in a just ministry" Hermione muttered under her breath before continuing.
"Oh, my dear, I wish it were so, but I'm afraid - MUNDUNGUS FLETCHER, I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!"
"Yet 'm still 'ere."
"Barely" said Sirius smugly, nudging him to look over at Mrs Weasley's death glare.
There was a loud crack and a strong smell of drink mingled with stale tobacco filled the air as a squat, unshaven man in a tattered overcoat materialized right in front of them. He had short, bandy legs, long straggly ginger hair and bloodshot, baggy eyes that gave him the doleful look of a basset hound.
The kids plus Sirius, Remus and Tonks couldn't help but snigger at his description while Moody's normal eye look at Harry, impressed by his observational skills.
He was also clutching a silvery bundle that Harry recognized at once as an Invisibility Cloak.
"S'up, Figgy?" he said, staring from Mrs. Figg to Harry and Dudley. "What 'appened to staying undercover?"
"I'll give you undercover!" cried Mrs. Figg. "Dementors, you useless, skiving sneak thief!"
"Dementors?" repeated Mundungus, aghast. "Dementors, 'ere?"
"Yes, here, you worthless pile of bat droppings, here!" shrieked Mrs. Figg. "Dementors attacking the boy on your watch!"
"Blimey," said Mundungus weakly, looking from Mrs. Figg to Harry, and back again. "Blimey, I -"
"And you off buying stolen cauldrons! Didn't I tell you not to go? Didn't I!"
"I - well, I -" Mundungus looked deeply uncomfortable. "It — it was a very good business opportunity, see -"
Mrs Weasley looked positively fuming now. "BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY! How dare –"
Kingsley interrupted her rant though saying, "Molly, it's rather late, perhaps it would be better to get the chapter over with first."
She simply nodded at his logic but didn't lessen her glare at the now cowering man.
Mrs. Figg raised the arm from which her string bag dangled and whacked Mundungus around the face and neck with it; judging by the clanking noise it made it was full of cat food.
Molly and somewhat surprisingly Sirius smirked at this.
"Ouch - gerroff - gerroff, you mad old bat! Someone's gotta tell Dumbledore!"
"Yes - they - have!" yelled Mrs. Figg, swinging the bag of cat food at every bit of Mundungus she could reach. "And - it - had - better - be - you - and - you - can - tell - him - why - you - weren't - there - to - help!"
"Keep your 'airnet on!" said Mundungus, his arms over his head, cowering. "I'm going, I'm going!"
"Sounds like you were lucky she's a squib, Dung." George said grinning.
"Lucky? You got any idea 'ow painful those tins were?" Dung replied grimacing.
And with another loud crack, he vanished.
"I hope Dumbledore murders him!" said Mrs. Figg furiously. "Now come on, Harry, what are you waiting for?"
Harry decided not to waste his remaining breath on pointing out that he could barely walk under Dudley's bulk. He gave the semi-conscious Dudley a heave and staggered onwards.
"I'll take you to the door," said Mrs. Figg, as they turned into Privet Drive. "Just in case there are more of them around… oh my word, what a catastrophe… and you had to fight them off yourself… and Dumbledore said we were to keep you from doing magic at all costs… well, it's no good crying over spilt potion, I suppose… but the cat's among the pixies now."
"That was probably what I found most weird." Harry interrupted, "All my life Mrs. Figg has used the muggle sayings like it's no good crying over split milk then suddenly she'd slipped into using all these magical sayings. It was like she was becoming a very different Mrs. Figg to the one I grew up with."
Sirius removed his arm from the back of Harry's chair and suddenly looked down at his hands sadly. Knowing that this woman would of seen Harry grow up, probably even cared about him all the while he was wasting away in a prison cell. Then Harry grabbed his hand in a show of comfort. Looking into Harry's eyes Sirius saw a piercing understanding and what appeared to be a kindred sadness. Except Sirius knew it was his fault for not being a part of Harry's life and as the guilt threatened to wash over him Harry shook his head at him as though knowing what he was thinking. He gave him a sad smile before returning to look at Hermione.
"So," Harry panted, "Dumbledore's… been having… me followed?"
"Of course he has," said Mrs. Figg impatiently. "Did you expect him to let you wander around on your own after what happened in June? Good Lord, boy, they told me you were intelligent… right… get inside and stay there," she said, as they reached number four. "I expect someone will be in touch with you soon enough."
"Got that right." Harry muttered thinking of all the letters from that night.
"What are you going to do?" asked Harry quickly.
"I'm going straight home," said Mrs. Figg, staring around the dark street and shuddering. "I'll need to wait for more instructions. Just stay in the house. Goodnight."
"Hang on, don't go yet! I want to know -"
But Mrs. Figg had already set off at a trot, carpet slippers flopping, string bag clanking.
"She was still in her carpet slippers? Why was she carrying the cat food then?" Hermione asked, as though expecting the Order to know the answer, though all they did was shrug.
"Wait!" Harry shouted after her. He had a million questions to ask anyone who was in contact with Dumbledore; but within seconds Mrs. Figg was swallowed by the darkness. Scowling, Harry readjusted Dudley on his shoulder and made his slow, painful way up number four's garden path.
The hall light was on. Harry stuck his wand back inside the waistband of his jeans, rang the bell and watched Aunt Petunia's outline grow larger and larger, oddly distorted by the rippling glass in the front door.
"Diddy! About time too, I was getting quite - quite -Diddy, what's the matter!"
Harry looked sideways at Dudley and ducked out from under his arm just in time. Dudley swayed on the spot for a moment, his face pale green… then he opened his mouth and vomited all over the doormat.
"Eww." Cried the younger half of the room while Dumbledore's eyes twinkled.
"Good job you've got those reflexes Harry." Ron said looking rather disgusted.
"DIDDY! Diddy, what's the matter with you? Vernon? VERNON!"
Harry's uncle came galumphing out of the living room, walrus moustache blowing hither and thither as it always did when he was agitated. He hurried forwards to help Aunt Petunia negotiate a weak-kneed Dudley over the threshold while avoiding stepping in the pool of sick.
"He's ill, Vernon!"
"What is it, son? What's happened? Did Mrs. Polkiss give you something foreign for tea?"
"Why are you all covered in dirt, darling? Have you been lying on the ground?"
"Hang on - you haven't been mugged, have you, son?"
Aunt Petunia screamed.
"Dramatic or what?" Tonks said rolling her eyes.
"Yeah, I don't know what they were thinking like anyone would willingly take Dudley on." Harry answered triggering a smile from most around the room.
"Phone the police, Vernon! Phone the police! Diddy, darling, speak to Mummy! What did they do to you?"
In all the kerfuffle nobody seemed to have noticed Harry, which suited him perfectly. He managed to slip inside just before Uncle Vernon slammed the door and, while the Dursleys made their noisy progress down the hall towards the kitchen, Harry moved carefully and quietly towards the stairs.
The twins then started to hum the Mission Impossible song which caused everyone to look at them strangely, though those who knew what it meant also had a slight smile on their face though.
"Where did you hear that guys?" Hermione asked slightly confused.
"Oh well you see, you know Angelina? She's half-blood and her mum always take her to the … sinma?"
"Cinema."
"Yes that and she watched it and then started to hum it when someone told us our … well that it was an impossible mission and she explained it to us." The twins told her excitedly.
George continued on saying, "It sounds totally awesome ( ;P sorry couldn't resist) and she told us that if it was till at the cinema when we graduate then she'd take us to see it, if not then we could probably watch it on video."
"But whatever you do, don't tell dad about it when we next see him. We'd prefer to see it first then talk to him about it." Said Fred. ( a/n btw I did some research and the film didn't actually come out til '96 and it's '95 now but let's pretend it came out a year early)
"Who did it, son? Give us names. We'll get them, don't worry."
"Shh! He's trying to say something, Vernon! What is it, Diddy? Tell Mummy!"
Harry's foot was on the bottom-most stair when Dudley found his voice.
"Him."
Everyone hiss in outrage at that.
"Come off it!" Sirius said fiercely, "You just saved his worthless life for Merlin's sake!"
"Umm Sirius, dementors are invisible to muggles, Dudley also isn't the brightest bulb in the box, plus I don't even think he was accusing me here more like telling them I was involved."
"Could of said it better then." Sirius started to mumble.
Harry froze, foot on the stair, face screwed up, braced for the explosion.
"BOY! COME HERE!"
With a feeling of mingled dread and anger, Harry removed his foot slowly from the stair and turned to follow the Dursleys.
The scrupulously clean kitchen had an oddly unreal glitter after the darkness outside. Aunt Petunia was ushering Dudley into a chair; he was still very green and clammy-looking. Uncle Vernon standing in front of the draining board, glaring at Harry through tiny, narrowed eyes.
"What have you done to my son?" he said in a menacing growl.
"Nothing," said Harry, knowing perfectly well that Uncle Vernon wouldn't believe him.
"What did he do to you, Diddy?" Aunt Petunia said in a quavering voice, now sponging sick from the front of Dudley's leather jacket. "Was it - was it you-know-what, darling? Did he use – his thing?"
Although everyone knew what she was talking about it didn't stop the Weasley boys, Neville, Dung and Sirius from bursting into laughter hearing it. Most of the women in the room just looked at them in disgust.
Slowly, tremulously, Dudley nodded.
"I didn't!" Harry said sharply, as Aunt Petunia let out a wail and Uncle Vernon raised his fists.
Sirius threw Harry a sharp glance here and he knew there was no way the talk Sirius wanted to have with him would be put off until another day.
"I didn't do anything to him, it wasn't me, it was –"
But at that precise moment a screech owl swooped in through the kitchen window. Narrowly missing the top of Uncle Vernon's head, it soared across the kitchen, dropped the large parchment envelope it was carrying in its beak at Harry's feet, turned gracefully, the tips of its wings just brushing the top of the fridge, then zoomed outside again and off across the garden.
"OWLS!" bellowed Uncle Vernon, the well-worn vein in his temple pulsing angrily as he slammed the kitchen window shut. "OWLS AGAIN! I WILL NOT HAVE ANY MORE OWLS IN MY HOUSE!"
But Harry was already ripping open the envelope and pulling out the letter inside, his heart pounding somewhere in the region of his Adam's apple.
Dear Mr. Potter,
We have received intelligence that you performed the Patronus Charm at twenty-three minutes past nine this evening in a Muggle-inhabited area and in the presence of a Muggle.
The severity of this breach of the Decree for the Reasonable Restriction of Underage Sorcery has resulted in your expulsion from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Here Hermione stopped reading and said, "You were actually expelled?"
"Well yeah, you guys knew that, right?"
"No Harry, all we knew was that everyone was yelling and that my dad told us Dumbledore was trying to sort it out because they were trying to expel you. No-one told us that they actually expelled you." Ron explained wide-eyed, imagining just as Harry had, a Hogwarts where Ron and Hermione were but Harry wasn't.
"Oh." Was Harry's adequate response.
Ministry representatives will be calling at your place of residence shortly to destroy your wand.
As you have already received an official warning for a previous offence under Section 13 of the International Confederation of Warlocks' Statute of Secrecy, we regret to inform you that your presence is required at a disciplinary hearing at the Ministry of Magic at 9 a.m. on the twelfth of August.
Hoping you are well,
Yours sincerely,
Mafalda Hopkirk
Improper Use of Magic Office
Ministry of Magic
Harry read the letter through twice. He was only vaguely aware of Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia talking. Inside his head, all was icy and numb. One fact had penetrated his consciousness like a paralyzing dart. He was expelled from Hogwarts. It was all over. He was never going back.
"And there's the pessimist we all know and love." Ron said lightly leaning backwards in his chair.
He looked up at the Dursleys. Uncle Vernon was purple-faced, shouting, his fists still raised; Aunt Petunia had her arms around Dudley, who was retching again.
Harry's temporarily stupefied brain seemed to reawaken.
"It seems that there were some wrackspurts around you Harry." Luna pointed out in her dreamy voice.
"You might be right Luna quite a few things seemed to be happening to me that night." Harry responded kindly.
It was comments like that which made Snape want to leave the room and never look back. It was the sort of thing which his father would have scoffed at and probably mocked but Lily, his lovely Lily, she would have said something kind like that and it made him feel rather sick. He decided then and there that tomorrow he would be sick or called to some emergency, anything that would stop him from being here for this. He'd ask Minerva to relate to him the important parts when she returned to the castle. Yes, that's what he'd do.
Ministry representatives will be calling at your place of residence shortly to destroy your wand. There was only one thing for it. He would have to run - now.
"Oh Harry …" Hermione sighed.
"Although it was a logical thing to do, especially given the way the Ministry is acting, you could have had a little more faith in us to have sorted it out. You know we'd never allow them to break your wand." Sirius said with a slight smile.
It took all Harry had to not snap at him. How was he suppose to have faith in adults that didn't seem to want to extend the same courtesy to him?
Where he was going to go, Harry didn't know, but he was certain of one thing: at Hogwarts or outside it, he needed his wand. In an almost dream like state, he pulled his wand out and turned to leave the kitchen.
"Where d'you think you're going?" yelled Uncle Vernon. When Harry didn't reply, he pounded across the kitchen to block the doorway into the hall. "I haven't finished with you, boy!"
"Get out of the way," said Harry quietly.
"You're going to stay here and explain how my son-"
"If you don't get out of the way I'm going to jinx you," said Harry, raising the wand.
Now it was Harry's turn to sigh. In some ways he wished he'd been able to jinx his uncle but knew that if he had there was a good chance that he'd be expelled from Hogwarts.
"You can't pull that one on me!" snarled Uncle Vernon. "I know you're not allowed to use it outside that madhouse you call a school!"
"Madhouse?" hissed several people around the table, yet Dumbledore just chuckled. Seeing the questioning looks he simply replied with, "Well I think there is a certain amount of madness at the school."
"The madhouse has chucked me out," said Harry. "So I can do whatever I like. You've got three seconds. One - two -"
A resounding CRACK filled the kitchen. Aunt Petunia screamed, 'Hide!' Uncle Vernon yelled and ducked, but for the third time that night Harry was searching for the source of a disturbance he had not made. He spotted it at once: a dazed and ruffled-looking barn owl was sitting outside on the kitchen sill, having just collided with the closed window.
Ignoring Uncle Vernon's anguished yell of 'OWLS!' Harry crossed the room at a run and wrenched the window open. The owl stuck out its leg, to which a small roll of parchment was tied, shook its leathers, and took off the moment Harry had taken the letter. Hands shaking, Harry unfurled the second message, which was written very hastily and blotchily in black ink.
Harry —
Dumbledore's just arrived at the Ministry and he's trying to sort it all out. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR AUNT AND UNCLE'S HOUSE.
DO NOT DO ANY MORE MAGIC. DO NOT SURRENDER YOUR WAND.
Arthur Weasley
Dumbledore was trying to sort it all out… what did that mean? How much power did Dumbledore have to override the Ministry of Magic?
Was there a chance that he might be allowed back to Hogwarts, then? A small shoot of hope burgeoned in Harry's chest, almost immediately strangled by panic - how was he supposed to refuse to surrender his wand without doing magic? He'd have to duel with the Ministry representatives, and if he did that, he'd be lucky to escape Azkaban, let alone expulsion.
Sirius and Remus both couldn't help but snort with the others at this.
His mind was racing… he could run for it and risk being captured by the Ministry, or stay put and wait for them to find him here. He was much more tempted by the former course, but he knew Mr. Weasley had his best interests at heart… and after all, Dumbledore had sorted out much worse than this before.
"Right," Harry said, "I've changed my mind, I'm staying."
"Well that's one way to totally confuse the muggles." Tonks said cheerfully.
"True but they would probably be even more confused if I told them every time a decision was made; it was basically unmade or changed a minute afterwards." Harry replied.
He flung himself down at the kitchen table and faced Dudley and Aunt Petunia. The Dursleys appeared taken aback at his abrupt change of mind. Aunt Petunia glanced despairingly at Uncle Vernon. The vein in his purple temple was throbbing worse than ever.
"Attractive." Tonks said sarcastically.
"My dear cousin, I had no idea that you went for that type. Here I was thinking that you'd go for someone slightly less groomed, calm as anything and not a git."
Blushing slightly Tonk retorted with, "Well it's so hard to get all three categories there Sirius, I mean you're only one at a push? But I suppose old clothes don't help you much."
"Oi! I'm exceptionally well groomed; anything about me that's not you can put down to Azkaban." He replied indignantly, unaware of the snickers from other in the room at his lack of defence to the other points.
"Who are all these ruddy owls from?" he growled.
"The first one was from the Ministry of Magic, expelling me," said Harry calmly.
"As you do," Ron said rolling his eyes.
"Well what should I of done? Panicked?"
He was straining his ears to catch any noises outside, in case the Ministry representatives were approaching, and it was easier and quieter to answer Uncle Vernon's questions than to have him start raging and bellowing. "The second one was from my friend Ron's dad, who works at the Ministry."
"Ministry of Magic?" bellowed Uncle Vernon. "People like you in government! Oh, this explains everything, everything, no wonder the country's going to the dogs."
"We have hardly any contact with the Muggle Government so we can hardly be blamed for that. Honestly he should place the blame on the guilty parties rather than looking for scapegoats!" Hermione said with passion.
Harry momentarily curious said, "So does that mean we have some contact with their Government? They know about magic?"
"Obviously Harry. When the wizarding world went underground, in order to keep magic hidden we needed the help of their leaders to keep it contained. As the years passed less people believed in magic until those that did know about it knew not to discuss it for fear of being called crazy. It is in 'A History of Magic', you should know this."
"Yeah but history is boring," Ron interrupted, "and if we ever need to know something then we can just ask you."
Sensing a full-blown argument about to unfold Harry said, "Well it's good to know anyway Hermione, thanks but perhaps we should get on with the reading or we'll be here all night."
When Harry did not respond, Uncle Vernon glared at him, then spat out, "And why have you been expelled?"
"Because I did magic."
"AHA!" roared Uncle Vernon, slamming his fist down on top of the fridge, which sprang open; several of Dudley's low-fat snacks toppled out and burst on the floor. "So you admit it! What did you do to Dudley?"
"Nothing," said Harry, slightly less calmly. "That wasn't me -"
"Was," muttered Dudley unexpectedly,
"Git" The Weasley children, Neville and Sirius chorused.
and Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia instantly made flapping gestures at Harry to quieted him while they both bent low over Dudley.
"Go on, son," said Uncle Vernon, "what did he do?"
"Tell us, darling," whispered Aunt Petunia.
"Pointed his wand at me," Dudley mumbled.
"Yeah, I did, but I didn't use -" Harry began angrily, but –
"SHUT UP!" roared Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia in unison.
"Go on, son," repeated Uncle Vernon, moustache blowing about furiously.
"All went dark," Dudley said hoarsely, shuddering. "Everything dark. And then I h-heard… things. Inside m-my head."
"That's something that confused me. Dudley has always been pampered and gotten his own way so I don't know what he would have heard."
"If I were to make an educated guess I'd say that he probably heard his victims or saw himself in their positions." Remus said solemnly.
Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia exchanged looks of utter horror. If their least favourite thing in the world was magic - closely followed by neighbours who cheated more than they did on the hosepipe ban - people who heard voices were definitely in the bottom ten. They obviously thought Dudley was losing his mind.
"What sort of things did you hear, Popkin?" breathed Aunt Petunia, very white-faced and with tears in her eyes.
But Dudley seemed incapable of saying. He shuddered again and shook his large blond head, and despite the sense of numb dread that had settled on Harry since the arrival of the first owl, he felt a certain curiosity. Dementors caused a person to relive the worst moments of their life. What would spoiled, pampered, bullying Dudley have been forced to see?
"How come you fell over, son?" said Uncle Vernon, in an unnaturally quiet voice, the kind of voice he might adopt at the bedside of a very ill person.
"T-tripped," said Dudley shakily. "And then –"
He gestured at his massive chest. Harry understood. Dudley was remembering the clammy cold that filled the lungs as hope and happiness were sucked out of you.
This caused Sirius, Harry, Ginny and Neville to shiver involuntarily, some more extremely than others.
"Horrible," croaked Dudley. "Cold. Really cold."
"Okay," said Uncle Vernon, in a voice of forced calm, while Aunt Petunia laid an anxious hand on Dudley's forehead to feel his temperature. "What happened then, Dudders?"
"Felt… felt… felt… as if… as if…"
"As if you'd never be happy again," Harry supplied dully.
Sirius gave Harry's shoulder a quick squeeze, hearing this.
"Yes," Dudley whispered, still trembling.
"So!" said Uncle Vernon, voice restored to full and considerable volume as he straightened up.
"You put some crackpot spell on my son so he'd hear voices and believe he was - was doomed to misery, or something, did you?"
"Is that man a complete idiot?" Hermione exclaimed.
"Yes," came the response from the lads around the table, while Harry and Ron gave her 'I can't believe you just asked that' looks.
"How many times do I have to tell you?" said Harry, temper and voice both rising. "It wasn't me! It was a couple of Dementors!"
"A couple of - what's this codswallop?"
"De - men - tors," said Harry slowly and clearly. "Two of them."
"And what the ruddy hell are Dementors?"
"They guard the wizard prison, Azkaban," said Aunt Petunia.
"I think that was the most shocking thing of the night." Muttered Harry.
Sirius asked sceptically, "More so than being attacked by Dementors? You're Aunt was your mother's sister, it isn't that surprising."
"After all that you've read so far in the books, I can't believe that you haven't grasped what their household is like regarding magic and anything related." Harry said darkly, "if it wasn't for the fact that the neighbours know I live there they would deny my existence at every point."
That comment resulted in many growls and dark looks thrown at the book or headmaster.
Two seconds of ringing silence followed these words before Aunt Petunia clapped her hand over her mouth as though she had let slip a disgusting swear word. Uncle Vernon was goggling at her.
Harry's brain reeled. Mrs. Figg was one thing - but Aunt Petunia?
"How d'you know that?" he asked her, astonished.
Aunt Petunia looked quite appalled with herself. She glanced at Uncle Vernon in fearful apology, then lowered her hand slightly to reveal her horsy teeth.
"I heard - that awful boy – telling her about them - years ago," she said jerkily.
Snape couldn't help but twitch at that, remembering the time when he told Lily about them.
"If you mean my mum and dad, why don't you use their names?" said Harry loudly, but Aunt Petunia ignored him.
"I don't think she meant your dad there Harry." Remus said quietly.
"Really? Then who?"
"I'm not sure but I believe that your mother grew up near another wizard who knew about our world before Hogwarts. I believe that might have been the boy Petunia was referring to. After all your father would have been a man when he first meant Lily's family officially."
Harry couldn't help but lean forward intrigued to learn this new thing about his mother. Two things stood out for him though; Remus seemed to imply that his parents didn't start going out until late Hogwarts or after Hogwarts, it was something that Harry would have to ask later, another was Harry couldn't suppress the feeling that Remus did in fact know who the wizard was that grew up with his mother but was reluctant to reveal it as he seemed to be mostly talking to the table at that point.
She seemed horribly flustered. Harry was stunned. Except for one outburst years ago, in the course of which Aunt Petunia had screamed that Harry's mother had been a freak, he had never heard her mention her sister.
Remus who had been shaking his head when he heard the word freak completely froze as the sentenced was finished.
"You mean you never knew anything about your mother before Hogwarts?" Tonks couldn't help but blurt out in her anger and shock.
"No." Harry said quietly. "I didn't even know they were called Lily and James until Hagrid got me before the start of first year."
Looking as though ever word cost him to keep his voice level, Sirius asked, "Does the surname Evans mean anything to you?"
"Umm I'm guessing it's meant to but I don't have a clue."
With a very pained expression Snape said, "It was your mother's surname."
This followed with silence and a lot of anger filling the air. Harry was quietly happy that he'd learnt that about his mother but the sadness about only just learning it was the more overwhelming feeling. Hermione, shaking slightly with repressed emotion continued on.
He was astounded that she had remembered this scrap of information about the magical world for so long, when she usually put all her energies into pretending it didn't exist.
Uncle Vernon opened his mouth, closed it again, opened it once more, shut it, then, apparently struggling to remember how to talk, opened it for a third time and croaked, "So - so - they - er - they - er - they actually exist, do they - er - Dementy-whatsits?"
Aunt Petunia nodded.
Uncle Vernon looked from Aunt Petunia to Dudley to Harry as if hoping somebody was going to shout 'April Fool!' When nobody did, he opened his mouth yet again, but was spared the struggle to find more words by the arrival of the third owl of the evening. It zoomed through the still-open window like a feathery cannon-ball and landed with a clatter on the kitchen table, causing all three of the Dursleys to jump with fright. Harry tore a second official-looking envelope from the owls beak and ripped it open as the owl swooped back out into the night.
"Enough - effing - owls," muttered Uncle Vernon distractedly, stomping over to the window and slamming it shut again.
Dear Mr. Potter,
Further to our letter of approximately twenty-two minutes ago, the Ministry of Magic has revised its decision to destroy your wand forthwith. You may retain your wand until your disciplinary hearing on the twelfth of August, at which time an official decision will be taken.
Following discussions with the Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the Ministry has agreed that the question of your expulsion will also be decided at that time. You should therefore consider yourself suspended from school pending further enquiries.
With best wishes,
Yours sincerely,
Mafalda Hopkirk
Improper Use of Magic Office
Ministry of Magic
Harry read this letter through three times in quick succession. The miserable knot in his chest loosened slightly with the relief of Knowing he was not yet definitely expelled, though his fears were by no means banished. Everything seemed to hang on this hearing on the twelfth of August.
"Well?" said Uncle Vernon, recalling Harry to his surroundings. "What now? Have they sentenced you to anything? Do your lot have the death penalty?" he added as a hopeful afterthought.
"Hopeful?" Hermione said interrupting herself.
"Umm … maybe you should read on before exploding." Harry told her. Glancing down at the page Hermione seemed to swell with indignant rage but when she spoke it was so cold and calm that it sent shivers down many a person's spine.
"I've got to go to a hearing," said Harry.
"And they'll sentence you there?"
"I suppose so."
"I won't give up hope, then," said Uncle Vernon nastily.
"What?" Many cried.
"That's it, Dumbledore. I don't care about the blood wards or anything else. He is not going back there, even if I have to kidnap him myself!" Sirius said furiously, "And I swear that if you do anything to prevent me from doing that, then you'll regret it for the rest of your days."
Mrs. Weasley spoke up too when Dumbledore opened his mouth to speak, "I agree with Sirius." It was a statement never heard before and it was this that shocked most people from their rages. "I know that it may seem shocking but surely you can tell that Harry shouldn't go there. I know it was initially done for Harry's best interest but I believe letting him return now would be a mistake. It has already been pointed out to me during the reading that I haven't listened when perhaps I should of and I believe that perhaps you have been susceptible to that same flaw."
"Thank you Molly but as I already said we shall discuss this at the end."
Well, if that's all," said Harry, getting to his feet. He was desperate to be alone, to think, perhaps to send a letter to Ron, Hermione or Sirius.
"NO, IT RUDDY WELL IS NOT ALL!" bellowed Uncle Vernon. "SIT BACK DOWN!"
"What now?" said Harry impatiently.
"DUDLEY!" roared Uncle Vernon. "I want to know exactly what happened to my son!"
"FINE!" yelled Harry, and in his temper, red and gold sparks shot out of the end of his wand, still clutched in his hand. All three Dursleys flinched, looking terrified.
"Good." Was the general consensus uttered around the table.
"Dudley and I were in the alleyway between Magnolia Crescent and Wisteria Walk," said Harry, speaking fast, fighting to control his temper. "Dudley thought he'd be smart with me, I pulled out my wand but didn't use it. Then two Dementors turned up —"
"But what ARE Dementoids?" asked Uncle Vernon furiously.
"Dementoids?" George asked entertained.
"I think we've found our new name for them Gred."
"You might be right Forge."
"You realise that it was Vermin that suggested that right guys?" Ginny said innocently.
They both paled dramatically before going, "ahh you're right, what were you thinking?" "What was I thinking, it was your idea!" They said pointing at each other, gaining a few smiles and chuckles around the room.
"What do they DO?"
"I told you - they suck all the happiness out of you," said Harry, "and if they get the chance, they kiss you -
"Kiss you?" said Uncle Vernon, his eyes popping slightly. "Kiss you?"
"It's what they call it when they suck the soul out of your mouth."
Aunt Petunia uttered a soft scream.
"His soul? They didn't take - he's still got his -"
She seized Dudley by the shoulders and shook him, as though testing to see whether she could hear his soul rattling around inside him.
"Of course they didn't get his soul, you'd know if they had," said Harry, exasperated.
"Fought 'em off, did you, son?" said Uncle Vernon loudly, with the appearance of a man struggling to bring the conversation back on to a plane he understood. "Gave 'em the old one-two, did you?"
"Harry," Neville said leaning across the table, "no offense but your family are idiots."
Harry simply smirked and said, "No offense taken, I completely agree with you and the books haven't even shown them at their worst."
"You can't give a Dementor the old one-two," said Harry through clenched teeth.
"Why's he all right, then?" blustered Uncle Vernon. "Why isn't he all empty, then?"
"Because I used the Patronus -"
WHOOSH. With a clattering, a whirring of wings and a soft fall of dust, a fourth owl came shooting out of the kitchen fireplace.
"FOR GOD'S SAKE!" roared Uncle Vernon, pulling great clumps of hair out of his moustache, something he hadn't been driven to do in a long time. "I WILL NOT HAVE OWLS HERE, I WILL NOT TOLERATE THIS, I TELL YOU!"
But Harry was already pulling a roll of parchment from the owl's leg. He was so convinced that this letter had to be from Dumbledore, explaining everything - the Dementors, Mrs. Figg, what the Ministry was up to, how he, Dumbledore, intended to sort everything out - that for the first time in his life he was disappointed to see Sirius's handwriting.
"Sorry," Harry quickly said to Sirius.
"S'alright, I hadn't realised Arthur had already sent you something."
Ignoring Uncle Vernon's on going rant about owls, and narrowing his eyes against a second cloud of dust as the most recent owl look off back up the chimney, Harry read Sirius's message.
Arthur's just told us what's happened. Don't leave the house again, whatever you do.
Harry found this such an inadequate response to everything that had happened tonight that he turned the piece of parchment over, looking for the rest of the letter, but there was nothing else.
And now his temper was rising again. Wasn't anybody going to say 'well done' for fighting off two Dementors single-handed?
"Well done Harry!" The twins yelled waving their hands up in the air in celebration.
Both Mr. Weasley and Sirius were acting as though he'd misbehaved, and were saving their tellings-off until they could ascertain how much damage had been done.
"…A peck, I mean, pack of owls shooting in and out of my house. I won't have it, boy, I won't-"
"I can't stop the owls coming," Harry snapped, crushing Sirius's letter in his fist.
"I want the truth about what happened tonight!" bar ked Uncle Vernon. "If it was Demenders who hurt Dudley, how come you've been expelled? You did you-know-what, you've admitted it!"
Harry took a deep, steadying breath. His head was beginning to ache again. He wanted more than anything to get out of the kitchen, and away from the Dursleys.
"Completely understandable Harry," Luna said dreamily, "they don't seem like very nice people."
"And that's putting it politely," Bill said from his end of the table.
"I did the Patronus Charm to get rid of the Dementors," he said, forcing himself to remain calm.
"But what were Dementoids doing in Little Whinging?" said Uncle Vernon in an outraged tone.
"Couldn't tell you," said Harry wearily. "No idea."
His head was pounding in the glare of the strip-lighting now. His anger was ebbing away. He felt drained, exhausted. The Dursleys were all staring at him.
"It's you," said Uncle Vernon forcefully. "It's got something to do with you, boy, I know it.
"Well he probably got that right at least," Ron mumbled before being elbowed by Hermione to shut up.
Why else would they turn up here? Why else would they be down that alleyway? You've got to be the only - the only -" Evidently, he couldn't bring himself to say the word 'wizard' "the only you know-what for miles."
"I don't know why they were here."
But at Uncle Vernon's words, Harry's exhausted brain had ground back into action. Why had the Dementors come to Little Whinging? How could it be coincidence that they had arrived in the alleyway where Harry was? Had they been sent? Had the Ministry of Magic lost control of the Dementors? Had they deserted Azkaban and joined Voldemort, as Dumbledore had predicted they would?
"Not yet at least," Harry grumbled.
These Demembers guard some weirdo's prison?" asked Uncle Vernon, lumbering along in the wake of Harry's train of thought.
"Yes," said Harry.
If only his head would stop hurting, if only he could just leave the kitchen and get to his dark bedroom and think…
"Oho! They were coming to arrest you!" said Uncle Vernon, with the triumphant air of a man reaching an unassailable conclusion. "That's it, isn't it, boy? You're on the run from the law!"
"Of course I'm not," said Harry, shaking his head as though to scare off a fly, his mind racing now.
"Then why -?"
"He must have sent them," said Harry quietly, more to himself than to Uncle Vernon.
"What's that? Who must have sent them?"
"Lord Voldemort," said Harry.
"Although possible, doubtful Harry." Dumbledore told the room, "After all you must know by know that Voldemort wants you himself, he wouldn't allow anyone else to the honour."
"I know, I remember," Harry replied, "but you'd think without a soul I'd be easier to kill." It was this offhand comment that caused Dumbledore to stiffen slightly though Harry fancied only he noticed.
When Dumbledore responded though it was in a voice revealing his mind was deep in thought, "Yes, you would think so."
He registered dimly how strange it was that the Dursleys, who flinched, winced and squawked if they heard words like 'wizard', 'magic' or 'wand', could hear the name of the most evil wizard of all time without the slightest tremor.
"Lord - hang on," said Uncle Vernon, his face screwed up, a look of dawning comprehension coming into his piggy eyes. "I've heard that name… that was the one who —
"Murdered my parents, yes," Harry said dully
"But he's gone," said Uncle Vernon impatiently, without the slightest sign that the murder of Harry's parents might be a painful topic.
"Git" being the cleanest of exclamations heard to this.
"That giant bloke said so. He's gone."
"He's back," said Harry heavily.
It felt very strange to be standing here in Aunt Petunia's surgically clean kitchen, beside the top of-the-range fridge and the wide-screen television, talking calmly of Lord Voldemort to Uncle Vernon. The arrival of the Dementors in Little Whinging seemed to have breached the great, invisible wall that divided the relentlessly non-magical world of Privet Drive and the world beyond, Harry's two lives had somehow become fused and everything had been turned upside-down; the Dursleys were asking for details about the magical world, and Mrs. Figg knew Albus Dumbledore; Dementors were soaring around Little Whinging, and he might never return to Hogwarts. Harry's head throbbed more painfully.
"Back?" whispered Aunt Petunia.
She was looking at Harry as she had never looked at him before. And all of a sudden, for the very first time in his life, Harry fully appreciated that Aunt Petunia was his mother's sister. He could not have said why this hit him so very powerfully at this moment. All he knew was that he was not the only person in the room who had an inkling of what Lord Voldemort being back might mean.
"Well I suppose that although she doesn't appear to care, her sister was murdered by Voldemort." Kingsley said sagely.
Harry had never really thought about it like that before but he supposed that if Dudley was murdered by Voldemort he could perhaps empathise with his aunt; as though he didn't like Dudley, he was family and he wouldn't want him killed just like he didn't want to see him kissed.
Aunt Petunia had never in her life looked at him like that before. Her large, pale eyes (so unlike her sister's) were not narrowed in dislike or anger, they were wide and fearful.
The furious pretence that Aunt Petunia had maintained all Harry's life - that there was no magic and no world other than the world she inhabited with Uncle Vernon - seemed to have fallen away.
"Yes," Harry said, talking directly to Aunt Petunia now. "He came back a month ago. I saw him."
Her hands found Dudley's massive leather-clad shoulders and clutched them.
Mrs Weasley couldn't help but cluck in an annoyed way hearing this. She understood a mother's need to protect their children from the horrors of the world but at the same time she just couldn't help but be angry that Petunia couldn't extend that motherly instinct to her own nephew!
"Hang on," said Uncle Vernon, looking from his wife to Harry and back again, apparently dazed and confused by the unprecedented understanding that seemed to have sprung up between them.
"Hang on. This Lord Voldything's back, you say."
Yes."
"The one who murdered your parents."
"Yes."
"And now he's sending Dismembers after you?"
"Looks like it," said Harry.
"I see," said Uncle Vernon, looking from his white - faced wife to Harry and hitching up his trousers. He seemed to be swelling, his great purple face stretching before Harry's eyes. "Well, that settles it," he said, his shirt front straining as he inflated himself, "you can get out of this house, boy!"
"WHAT!"
"That slimy tub of lard better not of said what I think he said," Sirius growled out.
"If you think he told Harry to leave the house then you heard correctly, I didn't think you'd gone deaf in your old age," Tonks said cheekily but you could see her eyes flashing furiously at his words.
"Watch it, Nymphodora, if I'm old then Moony's too." Using her diverted conversation as a way to not leave that very moment and kill the stupid muggle with his bare two hands.
"Nah," she replied calmly, "Everyone knows Azkaban ages you three fold for each year you're in. Why else do you think you look so much like your mother this early on in life."
To say Sirius was gobsmacked would be a massive understatement, it wasn't until Remus said with a smirk that perhaps he should breathe that he realised he'd actually forgotten to even do that in his shock! "Take that back Tonks! That's probably worse than if you said I looked like Snape!" Shivering in disgust.
Snape, who also was shocked by Harry's treatment of the muggle and struggling to reconcile himself that the Potter clone might only be that way in looks, suddenly bared his teeth at Sirius.
"Well that's what you get when you call me Nymphodora," smirking at her revenge.
"I can't believe I'm even related to you," Sirius muttered glaring at her. He turned to Harry about to ask for his support when he saw him sitting very rigidly biting his lips that Sirius' puppy eyes turned into a glare and asked, "What?"
It was the final straw for Harry, who had tried so hard to not laugh at Sirius' misfortune burst into whole hearted laughter. It brought smiles and laughs from many around the table, though for Ron and Hermione it was a sad smile. Harry had laughed and smiled many times since he'd returned to Hogwarts this year though it was never as free as it was now; it was like seeing a light return to the world they once feared was lost. It was with great reluctance that Hermione continued to read once the laughter had died down.
"What?" said Harry.
"You heard me - OUT!" Uncle Vernon bellowed, and even Aunt Petunia and Dudley jumped.
"OUT! OUT! I should've done this years ago! Owls treating the place like a rest home, puddings exploding, half the lounge destroyed, Dudley's tail, Marge bobbing around on the ceiling and that flying Ford Anglia
Throughout this the atmosphere had slightly tensed up again but Harry who had already heard all this thought nothing of it. In fact when Uncle Vernon began listing off the incidents throughout the years it looked more like he was caught up in a wistful fantasy, when it came up to the car though Harry couldn't help but smile happily at Ron, Fred and George who were whooping and high-fiving each other.
- OUT! OUT! You've had it! You're history! You're not staying here if some loony's after you, you're not endangering my wife and son, you're not bringing trouble down on us. If you're going the same way as your useless parents, I've had it! OUT!"
Harry stood rooted to the spot. The letters from the Ministry, Mr. Weasley and Sirius were all crushed in his left hand. Don't leave the house again, whatever you do. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR AUNT AND UNCLE'S HOUSE.
"You heard me!" said Uncle Vernon, bending forward now, his massive purple face coming so close to Harry's, he actually felt flecks of spit hit his face. "Get going! You were all keen to leave half an hour ago! I'm right behind you! Get out and never darken our doorstep again! Why we ever kept you in the first place, I don't know, Marge was right, it should have been the orphanage. We were too damn soft for our own good, thought we could squash it out of you, thought we could turn you normal, but you've been rotten from the beginning and I've had enough - owls!"
"I can't understand why he's saying that," Luna said sadly, "From what I know of Harry there's nothing rotten about him at all."
Embarrassed Harry replied, "Thank you Luna but the rotten thing he was talking about was my magic, in their world magic makes me a freak and a threat to their normality, though my Uncle was right about one thing, Aunt Marge was correct in saying I'd be better off in an orphanage than in their household. It's strange that that's the one thing me and her could ever agree upon."
Hearing Harry declare this many of the people in the kitchen sent a glare towards Dumbledore, whether they believed in Dumbledore's plan or not.
The fifth owl zoomed down the chimney so fast it actually hit the floor before zooming into the air again with a loud screech. Harry raised his hand to seize the letter, which was in a scarlet envelope, but it soared straight over his head, flying directly at Aunt Petunia, who let out a scream and ducked, her arms over her face. The owl dropped the red envelope on her head, turned, and flew straight back up the chimney.
"A Howler?" Ginny, Fred and George asked in quite different tones, Ginny's was more curious whereas the twins were grinning in anticipation.
"Not a very good one, sorry guys." Harry chuckled at the disappointed looks on the boys' faces.
Harry darted forwards to pick up the letter, but Aunt Petunia beat him to it.
"You can open it if you like," said Harry, "but I'll hear what it says anyway. That's a Howler."
"Let go of it, Petunia!" roared Uncle Vernon. "Don't touch it, it could be dangerous!"
"Well he got that right at least." Both Neville and Tonks said at the same time before looking at each other in surprise. Unfortunately for Neville he then went rather red as Tonks grinned and winked at him.
"It's addressed to me," said Aunt Petunia in a shaking voice. "It's addressed to me, Vernon, look! Mrs. Petunia Dursley, The Kitchen, Number Four, Privet Drive –"
She caught her breath, horrified. The red envelope had begun to smoke.
"Open it!' Harry urged her. "Get it over with! It'll happen anyway."
"No."
Aunt Petunia's hand was trembling. She looked wildly around the kitchen as though looking for an escape route, but too late -the envelope burst into flames. Aunt Petunia screamed and dropped it.
An awful voice filled the kitchen, echoing in the confined space, issuing from the burning letter on the table.
"I thought you said it wasn't a very good one!" Fred accused Harry.
Smirking slightly Harry just told Hermione to read on.
Remember my last, Petunia.
"Oh."
"Yeah." Harry said sighing, "Wish I understood what it meant though because it obviously meant something to Aunt Petunia but she obviously hadn't gotten a Howler before that incident."
Then Sirius sat bolt upright so suddenly Harry thought for sure someone had jinxed him before seeing the broad, slightly maniacal grin across his face.
"What?" Harry asked cautiously.
"Oh, nothing you need to worry your moppy little head about I just thought that your Aunt could do with getting some mail from me shortly."
Although slightly annoyed at the moppy comment Harry couldn't help but grin with the others, though made a mental note to ask Remus to check the mail Sirius sent beforehand as knowing Sirius he wouldn't just stop with Howlers.
Aunt Petunia looked as though she might faint. She sank into the chair beside Dudley, her face in her hands. The remains of the envelope smouldered into ash in the silence.
"What is this?" Uncle Vernon said hoarsely. "What - I don't -Petunia?"
Aunt Petunia said nothing. Dudley was staring stupidly at his mother, his mouth hanging open.
The silence spiralled horribly. Harry was watching his aunt, utterly bewildered, his head throbbing fit to burst.
"Petunia, dear?" said Uncle Vernon timidly. "P-Petunia?"
She raised her head. She was still trembling. She swallowed.
"The boy - the boy will have to stay, Vernon," she said weakly.
"W-what?"
"He stays," she said. She was not looking at Harry. She got to her feet again.
"He… but Petunia…"
"If we throw him out, the neighbours will talk," she said. She was rapidly regaining her usual brisk, snappish manner, though she was still very pale. "They'll ask awkward questions, they'll want to know where he's gone. We'll have to keep him."
"Of course that would be her reasoning," Ginny said waspily, "not that a whole magnitude of bad things could happen to Harry if he was kicked out."
"That isn't her real reason though Ginny," said Harry thoughtfully, "I mean they could of just told their neighbours that they refused to have a 'criminal' under their roof anymore and that I had gone to live in a detention centre or something. I really wish I knew her real reasoning there though."
Uncle Vernon was deflating like an old tire.
"But Petunia, dear –"
Aunt Petunia ignored him. She turned to Harry. "You're to stay in your room," she said. "You're not to leave the house. Now get to bed."
Harry didn't move.
"Of course," said Hermione, Ron and Neville sighing with slight smiles on their faces. Knowing what they were talking about Harry just pouted at them.
"Who was that Howler from?"
"Don't ask questions," Aunt Petunia snapped.
"Are you in touch with wizards?"
"I told you to get to bed!"
"What did it mean? Remember the last what?"
"Go to bed!"
"How come -?"
"YOU HEARD YOUR AUNT, NOW GET TO BED!"
"And that's the end of the chapter." Hermione finished, placing the book back down on the table.
"Alright everyone, how about we all re-converge tomorrow at 9am, Mr Longbottom, Miss Lovegood I hope you're alright with staying here for the next few nights I'm sure Sirius and Molly will help set up a room for you both."
"Of course," Sirius said quickly, "But not so fast there Dumbledore, it's now the end of the chapter so I want a word with you."
"Very well, how about we talk about this in the living room, I'm afraid it'll have to be quick though as I want to check what Dolores has been up to in my absence." Dumbledore said moving swiftly towards the kitchen door and up the stairs.
"OK Remus can you set up a bed for Neville, in Ron and Harry's room and help Tonksy here set up Luna in the girl's room? You guys don't mind sharing do you?"
"No" was the resounding reply in the room at the same time as Tonks went, "What's that suppose to mean? I can help Luna all by myself, I helped Harry pack remember! And Tonksy? Seriously?"
Smirking Sirius chose not to reply instead turning to Harry quietly telling him that once he was through with Dumbledore he'd be coming to talk to Harry tonight too. Everyone then started leaving the kitchen talking about what they read and what the next few days surely had in store for them.
Next chapter will be all the conversations being had. I know it's been forever but I hate author notes so I refused to put one up saying it's taking forever due to major writers block. I won't ever give this up though so whenever inspiration hits, I'll be writing for this story.