Present:

After his return to Hogwarts Harry had stayed in Hagrid's hut for a while and had joined his busy godmother for dinner. She had then spent the evening with Professor Dumbledore which had made him wonder once again whether there was more to their relation ship than they would let on.

He had spent the evening in the Gryffindor common room with some of the students who had recovered from the flu as well. It was a fun evening and he returned to Minerva's quarters rather late. She still was not back though and he shook his head in amusement.

When Harry got up in the morning, Minerva was already in her office. He grabbed a toast and a cup of tea and sat down at her desk.

'Got late?' he grinned at her. Minerva blushed slightly.

'Yes, we had a lot to discuss.' She looked down on her papers.

'I see.' His grin broadened.

Minerva did not comment and concentrated on her paper. Harry just enjoyed to watch his godmother.

Finally, she looked up and there was something in her expression which he could not read.

'Sorry, I was distracted. There is a lot to be done in these next days before the students arrive. We will have a meeting for lunch by the way.'

Harry was confused. 'A meeting? With whom?'

'The Dursleys' she looked at him while he coughed out some tea.

'What?'

'Your blood protection needs to be renewed. Therefore, you need to spend some time at Privet Drive. I thought we could meet them for lunch and then I will, unfortunately, have to leave you there overnight. Albus said it is necessary.' She sighed when she saw his reaction.

'Don't make such a sad face Harry. I promise to pick you up tomorrow morning after breakfast again! We have a meeting of the Order tomorrow and I want to bring you along. The meeting will be at the Burrow so you will have a great time with the Weasley kids. Hermione might be there as well.'

He looked sceptical and still very sad. Minerva squeezed his hand over her desk. 'Harry, it is just one day in Privet Drive!'

He looked down. 'I know. But somehow I thought I was off the hook this time. It felt so good to stay with you that I almost forgot about the dreadful alternative.'

'But you will stay with me again afterwards. I don't want to get rid of you, Harry.'

She saw that she had hit a nerve and regretted to have neglected him last night. Staying with Albus had not been planned but she was glad she had done so anyway. The timing was just not good and she cursed the Dursleys' once again. Harry was really dreading to go back there.

Harry was quiet and tried to hide his emotions which were still welling up.

Minerva got up and pulled him into a bone crushing hug. 'Harry, I promise I will be there tomorrow to pick you up.'

'Okay.' He mumbled into her shoulder and held on tightly.

'I have something special on my mind for the last day of the holidays by the way. So you should pack some stuff for the next few days. We will go there directly from the Burrow.'

Harry looked at her with curiosity but Minerva would just smile a mysterious smile. 'Go pack and I will see you again soon. I will have to work on a few things so I will be here in the office.'

Harry reluctantly left the warmth of her embrace and headed to his dormitory to get his backpack done.

When he was done packing he returned to Minerva's quarters. His godmother was ready as well and they stepped into the fireplace to floo over to Arabella Figg.

Mrs Figg already awaited them. She quickly hugged Minerva and patted Harry's shoulder.

'Good to see you, my dear boy. You have grown quite a bit throughout the last school year. Hello, Minerva dear. You look well.'

Both smiled at Arabella gratefully. 'Hello Mrs Figg. Nice to see you again.' Harry answered a bit sheepishly.

'Are they at home?' Minerva went straight to the point.

'Yes, they are. Dudley just went into a tantrum because his favourite television programme was postponed to tomorrow.' She rolled her eyes and Harry pulled a face.

Minerva saw his hesitance to face his family again and squeezed his shoulder reassuringly.

'Come on, Harry, let's get it over with.' She softly pushed him out of Arabella's house towards Privet Drive 4 and rang the bell.

Petunia Dursley opened the door and looked confused from Harry to Minerva and back to Harry.

'Hello Mrs Dursley. I am Minerva McGonagall. Lily's former mentor and Harry's godmother. Would you be so kind as to invite us in? After all, Harry is living with you usually!' her tone was very friendly taken into consideration how much she despised them.

Petunia was too surprised still to object and opened the door for them.

Minerva sighed. 'Harry, why don't you lead the way to the living room? I don't intend to stand around in the corridor until your aunt has found her decent behaviour again.'

Harry grinned and went ahead – the noise of the television a clear indication of the right way anyway. Petunia was following completely bewildered and called for her husband to join them.

Dudley was sitting in front of the loud television and did not pay attention to their entrance. Harry and Minerva sat down on the sofa but he would not acknowledge their presence at all.

Minerva briefly waved her wand and the television screen went blank with a flicker.

'Hey!' Dudley awoke from his TV slumber and wanted to protest more- he was stopped though by the glare of a stern looking woman in weird clothes.

Only then did he realise that his cousin Harry was sitting next to her and it dawned on him that she must be one of these rather strange and frightening freaks.

'You should use your brain once in a while and get some exercise outside, Mr Dursley. It is appalling that you are such a lazy and fat boy already!' Minerva looked at him with disgust and Dudley just stared at her.

Petunia was about to say something to defend her son but was interrupted by Vernon Dursleys' appearance.

'Petunia, why do you disturb me before lunch? You know that I prefer to take my time with the newspaper. Oh…' he stopped his ranting when he saw Minerva and Harry sitting in their living room.

Minerva got up and offered her hand to greet him. He looked at it and ignored it deliberately.

'I don't know about your normal surroundings but in this house we do not like unexpected visitors.' He told her.

Minerva's mouth was the famous thin line already and Harry was waiting for her to explode. When she spoke though she somehow managed to do so in a very controlled way. Her voice was cold as ice – a huge contrast to the velvet warm tone Harry got used to during his holidays.

'Mr Dursley, I do not care what you expect. I am Minerva McGonagall – Harry's teacher and godmother. I would have thought as an adult you would be able to put up a decent behaviour but apparently your manners are even worse than I ever thought they would be. Maybe I have to be grateful that you have neglected Harry over the years – otherwise, he might have become as much of an idiot as your son.'

Her words even sent down shivers on Harry's spine while he eyed his aunt and uncle nervously.

'How dare you speak to me like that in my own house?' his uncle was stupid enough to try to argue with his godmother.

'I dare a lot more if you force me to! I would suggest you sit down and we have a talk before we have lunch.'

'Lunch?' aunt Petunia was bewildered.

'Yes lunch. From your son's and husband's appearance I would get that you usually do not skip any meals. And we intend to join you for lunch today. Maybe you could offer a bit of tea before?'

'Eh, excuse me?' Petunia was completely taken aback by this confronting lady who made all her requests in such a polite tone that she could not even blame her of any rudeness.

Minerva rolled her eyes and looked at Harry. 'Don't your relatives not even know how to brew a tea?' she seemed desperate and took out her wand.

Vernon, Petunia and Dudley jumped back at the sight of it.

Minerva pretended not to notice it and murmured a spell. A pot of tea as well as five cups appeared on the table in front of them. Then she gestured them to sit down and surprisingly enough Vernon and Petunia obeyed without any argument.

Harry poured tea in all cups and Minerva sat back comfortably. She looked very austere when she started to speak again.

'Just to make this clear – you can spare me all kinds of excuses – I know very well how you treated Harry during all these years he was living under one roof with you. It is disgusting and completely unworthy. Maybe you try for a moment to imagine Dudley growing up in this kind of arrangement. Would you appreciate that?'

Petunia and Vernon looked at each other uncomfortably whereas Dudley seemed to use his brain for the first time in his life and showed a contemplative frown.

'Harry never had a choice, unfortunately. His parents got killed and he was dependent on your support. He still is to a certain amount. Mrs Dursley, out of respect for your dead sister Lily – who loved you despite her better knowledge by the way – I would appreciate if you can at least be polite to Harry whenever he is in your house.'

'Leave her freak sister out of the picture' Vernon roared.

Minerva shot him a death glare which made him relapse into silence again.

'She was not a freak most certainly but a very intelligent and caring woman. The opposite of her sister and her parents apparently. But we cannot chose our upbringing, can we Mr Dursley?' she looked at him questioningly. Of course, he would not get the hint.

'One more thing before Mrs Dursley can start preparing our lunch – I will always know how you treat my godson. And in my freak world - as you like to call it - I am a very powerful witch. You have been warned!'

There was a deadly silence at the table – Vernon shot Harry a hateful look and Petunia tried to busy herself with her tea cup. Dudley was speechless and just sat there staring ahead.

'Well, Harry, why don't you show me your room while your aunt is taking care of our lunch?' Minerva asked her godson.

Harry nodded and Petunia automatically got up and headed towards the kitchen.

'Which way, Harry?' Minerva had gotten up as well and looked at him questioningly.

'Upstairs.' He tried to ignore uncle Vernon's look and led his godmother out of the living room and upstairs into his tiny room.

'Hm, it's probably a bit untidy. I don't know…' he trailed off.

'Harry, you haven't been here for a long time. I don't care how it looks in there. Let's just see whether you still need some of your stuff here which I could take to Hogwarts with me already. And then we just keep out of their way until lunch.' She smiled at him reassuringly.

'Okay.' He opened the door and peered in. It was, of course, rather untidy – just as he had left it. Dust was everywhere and Harry had to sneeze when he walked in his room.

He blushed slightly 'Sorry…'

Minerva chuckled and cleaned the whole mess with a swift move of her wand. Then she sat down on his bed and watched him while he looked through is remaining belongings. He put some of them on a pile in the corner – not many though.

Minerva's heart went out to him and she made a vow to spoil him in his new home at McGonagall Manor. When he was finished he quietly sat next to her and stared on the floor.

Minerva put an arm around his shoulder and pulled him close to her. He rested his head on her shoulder.

'It's just for one day, Harry. Then you have renewed protection and nothing will prevent you from staying with me in Scotland for a long time.' She ruffled his hair which made him finally smile.

'Do you want me to take these things with me?' she indicated at the pile in the corner.

Harry nodded and Minerva transfigured a little bag and made it all disappear in it.

They were interrupted by a knock on the door. Harry looked up astounded – never had anybody in this house bothered to respect his privacy. Usually, whoever it was would just come in and yell at him.

Minerva saw his reaction and called a soft 'come in' herself.

Dudley's round face appeared in the door. He stared at his cousin and the witch in front of him .

'Yes, Dudley?' Minerva asked impatiently.

'My mother says lunch is ready.' He mumbled and ran downstairs.

Minerva pulled Harry up and went into the living room with him. The table was set already and there was a nice smell coming from the kitchen.

They sat down and Petunia carried the plates with the food. Harry was about to get up to help her – he had been their servant for years anyway – but Minerva held him back with her hand.

'Maybe Dudley can help his mother?' she suggested sweetly.

Dudley and Vernon looked at her as if she was mental. Nevertheless, Dudley got up and moved his fat body into the kitchen.

Harry smirked and looked down on his plate.

Finally, everybody was sitting at the table and Minerva looked disgusted at the amount of food the Dursleys' were shuffling on their plates.

They ate in silence for a while until Minerva felt the urge to initiate some sort of conversation. She did not want Harry to feel awkward or have him too much time to worry about his stay at his family.

'Well, since I am a teacher, I would be interested in your favourite subjects at school, Dudley. Is there anything particular you like?' she asked almost kindly.

'At school?' Dudley stared at her in bewilderment – his fork mid way to his mouth.

'Yes, at school.' Harry could hear a hint of annoyance in his godmother's voice and smiled into his glass of juice.

'I don't know. I am not very good at school, I guess.' He shrugged his shoulders.

'Oh Duddy, don't undervalue yourself. He has good grades in most subjects.' Petunia addressed Minerva.

'I see.' Minerva inwardly sighed and did not try to talk with these muggles anymore.

After what seemed an eternity they finished their lunch. Petunia quickly got up and brought everything back into the kitchen. Vernon Dursley and his son were also happy to get up from the table and left their visitors without a word.

Harry had dreaded this moment and had to restrain himself from grabbing Minerva's hand and not let go until tomorrow. She sensed his discomfort and stroked his back.

'I will be back tomorrow, Harry, okay?' she said soothingly.

He nodded and looked at her desperately 'Do you have to leave already?'

Minerva sighed 'Yes, my love. I have a staff meeting in half an hour.' She kissed his cheek and smiled at him. 'Hey, you have faced so many more difficult situations. Don't tell me you are scared of staying here for one day only?' she tried to ease the tension.

'Of course not. I just miss you already.' He mumbled.

She hugged him tightly and kissed him once again. 'See you soon!'

With that she disapparated and did not even bother to speak to his aunt and uncle any more. Should they still think she was in the house with Harry…

Harry quickly went into his room and stared out of the window. He did not know how he had survived all these boring weeks of holidays in this house. Resigned he grabbed one of his old books from the tiny shelf and started reading it again. Somehow the day would pass.

In the evening, Dudley once more came to his room to call them for dinner. He was surprised to find Harry without his strange companion.

They went downstairs in silence and Harry sat down at the table.

'Where is this awful teacher?' uncle Vernon asked him.

'She had to go back to school and will pick me up tomorrow.' Harry mumbled.

'Great, make yourself useful then and get me something to drink' he demanded in his usual tone.

Harry got up in defeat and was halfway into the kitchen when an owl flew threw the open window. In amazement Harry watched the owl drop a howler in the middle of the table.

Minerva's voice was like thunder when she screamed at his uncle through the howler.

'Harry will not be serving you dinner, Mr Dursley. Get your fat son move around the house or do it yourself! If you mistreat Harry for just one second I will be there in an instant. You have been warned already!'

The Dursleys tried to keep their ears shut at the shrieking noise and looked at each other in horror.

'Harry, sit down!' aunt Petunia yelled at her nephew and Harry obeyed with a broad grin.

Nobody spoke during dinner and Harry went upstairs into his room afterwards. He sat down and wrote a small note to his godmother.

'Dear Minerva,

Thank you so much for the howler. It made my day! You should have seen their faces.

Miss you,

Harry '

He attached it to the Hogwarts owl which had brought the howler and had stayed in the garden afterwards.

He smiled when the owl departed and decided to go to bed early. The sooner he got some sleep the quicker his time with the Dursleys would be over.

Author's note:

Well, I hope you enjoyed the Dursley bit Had to use them at some point! Thank you for your kind reviews!

Will be back on Monday…