Chapter 1.

The Dursleys worst fear.

Private Drive was quiet. The houses had nothing moving inside or out. Light crept onto the tidy houses. The windows glistened as the suns rays rose. The gold numbers on the houses blared, casting a blinding light onto the street. As the suns rose, an owl flew through the open window of number four, private drive.

The owl fluttered onto the top of a dresser. Her amber eyes fell upon the jet black, untidy hair of a boy, fast asleep in his bed. The boy turned in his sleep, yet he did not wake up. The owl spread her wings and flew to her masters bedside cabinet. Her amber eyes looked longingly at her masters sleeping face. She hooted loudly, and the boy woke with a start.

He reached for his glasses, and quickly put them on. The boy stroked the owl, and held out his other hand for his letter. She dropped the letter into his hand and flew to her cage. The boy hadn't noticed, he was busy reading his letter through. It read:

Dear Harry,

Mum says you can come and stay with us! Hermione will be here on Thursday, perhapes you can home then! The wedding is going to be on Saturday. Mum says that we have to wear our dress robes, seeing as it is formal. Ginny is really upset because Ginny and "Phlems" sister have to be flower girls. Ginny, of course, is complaining about this. Well any ways, Dad says that he'll be able to get Ministry cars to pick you up on Thursday. Dad would get you at noon on Thursday. Just write back if that is okay with you. Can't wait to hear from you!

Ron

It took Harry a few seconds for this letter to sink in. He then ran to his desk, leaded up his quil with ink and wrote:

Ron,

Yes, please come get me! I'll be ready to go at noon! See you on Thursday!

Harry

"Hedwig, come her. I have a reply for you!" Said Harry, holding out his arm.

Hedwig flew down from the top of her cage. She perched gently onto Harry's arm, and stuck out her leg for harry to attach his letter. He carried Hedwig to the window and stroked her beak and feathery body. He then let her take off, and he leaned his cheek upon his hand. He watched Hedwig soar until out of site.

Harry hadn't seen or talked to Ginny since the day they had broken up. Harry had the odd feeling that Ginny hadn't quite gotten the message. He felt that he couldn't bare to look into her gentle face. See her flowing, wavy, flaming red hair. To brush against her as they passed in the hall; or to pass food to one another at dinner, perhaps.

No, he would have to bare with it because he wanted to see and be with Ron and Hermione again. Or should he be saying one last time? He couldn't help but to keep thinking that something might happen to them. This thought would wake him late at night and worries would creep over him.

Harry tore away from the window and looked at the clock. It read seven a.m. and Harry let a huge yawn escape him. He hear movement coming from Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon's room and new they were awake. Harry then started searching for cloths to dress in.

Harry walked into breakfast an hour later feeling wide awake. He sat down and served himself some eggs and bacon. Uncle Vernon sat reading the paper and snorted angrily at the headline to an article. Dudley sat watching a boxing show on television. Aunt Petunia sat sipping her coffee with pursed lips. Harry then thought to warn them that Mr. Weasley would pick him up at noon tomorrow.

Harry cleared his throat and said, "um, Uncle Vernon?"

"Now what do you want?" Ba his uncle from behind his newspaper.

"Well, you see," Harry began, "my friend Ron has invited me to come stay for the rest of the holidays. His dad's going to come pick me up tomorrow at noon."

"And why," said Uncle Vernon lowering his paper, "would we need to know this?"

Harry, feeling dumb founded answered, "er, well, I thought you could have some warning."

"Hmpf, some warning. Well I'll tell you boy, we will be glad when your "freakish magic" is out of the house!"

"Vernon, the window is open! Please be careful about when you use the word... magic." Aunt Petunia whispered.

"Yes dear, I'll try," muttered Uncle Vernon.

Harry cleared his throat again and said, "well that way you know, now I'm going to go pack."

Harry ate his last piece of egg, and left the table in a rush. Well at least he had been brave enough to tell the Dursleys that he would leave. He ran upstairs and turned the door handle to his room. Harry then started picking up things from off the floor and throwing them in his trunk. He was leaving the Dursleys, and Harry couldn't have been happier.

Harry awoke early on Thursday morning and felt happiness dawn over him. He leapt out of bed so quickly that he made himself light-headed. He dressed as quickly as he could. He then double checked his room, just to make sure he wasn't leaving anything behind.

Harry whiled away the hours by pacing his room. He read a book for a bit, but that got boring. Around noon he started feeling anxious to leave. Twelve o'clock had just finished ringing on the Dursleys coo-coo clock, when there was a load knock on the front door. Harry could hear Uncle Vernon's foot steps moving to the door. The click of the lock and then

"You!" And harry jumped at the sound of Uncle Vernon's horrified yell.

Harry bolted down the stairs and saw standing in the doorway, Mood, Lupin, Tonks, and Mr. Weasley. Uncle Vernon turned to his nephew, who was laughing now at the horror on his uncles face.

"You didn't say a whole party was coming," he snarled, glaring at Harry.

"That's because I didn't know they were coming," replied Harry, walking past his uncle.

"Watcher Harry," said Tonks beaming at him.

"Hello Harry," said Moody in his gruff voice. He was wearing a patch over his magical eye today. The other two, simply smiled and nodded. Harry was grinning at them, feeling ever so happy.

Harry just couldn't believe it, but his uncle was finding his voice back, "why exactly, does he," he pointed at Moody, "have to be here?"

"Because I so happen to be part of Harry's guard," growled Moody.

"Now Alastor, be nicer," said Lupin in a warning . He then turned to Harry, "do you have yours stuff ready?"

"Yes," said Harry.

"Well then go get it and we'll be off. Tonks go ahead and help him." She walked in and followed Harry upstairs.

Tonks today had long gold hair. She had this tied back in a pony tail. Harry and Tonks began dragging Harry's trunks, with cage, down the stairs. They caught each others eye and laughed, remembering what had happened the last time Harry got picked up. It had happened when he was fifteen.

They descended the stairs to find all three of the Dursleys staring at Moody, Arthur, and Lupin. Aunt Petunia seemed to be wishing them all ill for entering her house. Dudley was moving his hand over his bottom instinctively.

"Well, Harry looks like he's ready to leave so," said Lupin smiling, "it's been nice talking to you."

"Yes and now we," said Uncle Vernon , "wont have to worry about our worst fear coming true."

"And what," said Moody glaring at Uncle Vernon, "happens to be your worst fear?"

"Moody, please, this is not the time for-"

"Lupin, don't worry, I wont go over board."

Lupin looked as if this was against his better judgement. He glared at Moody angrily, but looked away. Arthur stepped forward, reaching for Moody, but Lupin stopped him and gave him a warning look.

"Well our worst fear," said Uncle Vernon, "is that someone will find out that me and Petunia are related to magic people, like you!"

There was silence for a few moments until Moody started laughing. The Dursleys exchanged looks and starred at the laughing Moody. Lupin raised his eyebrows looking perplexed, and Arthur seemed to be confused. Tonks about dropped Harry's trunk, yet Moody didn't notice a thing. He just chuckled and finally growled, "ah, but Dursley it has all ready come true!"

"Wha-that's impossible," spluttered Aunt Petunia.

"No it isn't my dear Dursley, I'm afraid not," laughed Moody sounding quite pleased.

"But, our neighbors don't-" said Uncle Vernon shaking his head.

"Ah, but it isn't your neighbors, who know!" Said Moody smiling.

"Then WHO?" Asked Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon.

"Why the whole magical community knows!" Said Moody laughing again.

"Wh-what?" Whispered Aunt Petunia, horror struck.

"You heard me," said Moody, "bet you didn't know that did you? Well all or people know and they've known since Harry was one. Interesting how works, I mean you have been hiding a secret that every one all ready knows, well at least us magic folk."

"Well at least normal people, like us, don't know," said Uncle Vernon triumphantly.

"Normal? Dursley look at your wife," said Moody contemptuously, "doesn't she keep the house a little to clean? A little unnaturally clean?"

"Petunia," said Uncle Vernon weakly, but she shook her head. "Petunia, you haven't-you haven't been using ma-ma-magic, have you?"

Aunt Petunia looked sadly at her husband and then slowly nodded. Dudley took a giant step away from his mother and Uncle Vernon gasped. Aunt Petunia closed her eyes and said, "my sister sent me a bottle of magic cleaning stuff when you and I got married, Vernon. I didn't start using it until after Dudley was born, and I've been buying it ever since."

"See Dursley, finding shocking surprises? Well we must be off we have to get to Arthur's before dinner so Harry can get settled in, and also Molly wont get to worried that we died. Plus to top it all off we have a limo waiting for us."

And with that Moody stumped out of the house. Arthur followed him, giving the Dursleys a last happy glance. Lupin signaled to Tonks and Harry to get a move on, and smiled vaguely at Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia before leaving. Tonks and Harry both moved down the last couple of steps. Harry said, "see you." And walked out the door.

Tonks and Harry walked to the car waiting for them, and carefully stowed Harry's trunk in the back. They then walked back to the car door and sidled inside. Harry sat next to Remus and Tonks, and across from them sat Moody and Arthur. Moody turned in his seat to talk to the driver. Moody growled, "the Burrow please," and turned back around. Lupin turned to face Harry looking at him with concern.

"Are you all right?" He asked questioningly.

"Yeah," Harry lied. In truth he felt like his life might be coming to a short end. Seventeen years, was fart to short to live. He also felt like a warn-out car tire, and that was because he would be seeing Ginny any moment. At this he didn't really react. Maybe he had gotten over Ginny, but Harry felt odd. Was there another girl, he would fall, head over heals for? No, he couldn't, and he wouldn't, because he was meant not to have anyone for the moment. But he still felt uncomfortable.

"Harry are- you-sure?" Lupin asked looking at him.

"Yes I'm fine Lupin, I promise," Harry said.

Lupin stopped asking Harry if he was all right, but kept glancing at him. Finally the Ministry car slowed to a stop outside the Burrow. Moody growled, "thanks," and climbed out of the car. Harry followed quickly but had barely taken one step forward when someone flung their arms about him in a tight hug.

Hermione Granger was hugging Harry and seemed too happy to speak. She released him and smiled up at him. "It's good to see you, Harry," she said.

"It's great to see you too, Hermione!" Harry said grinning. He looked around and said, "where's Ron?"

"Upstairs, come on. I"ll go up too, I just arrived myself," and they walked into the house.

Again, Harry had barely taken one step, this time into the house, when he was hugged yet again. Mrs. Weasley was giving him a motherly hug. Harry felt himself turn red and muttered, "hello Mrs. Weasley." Mrs. Weasley released him and held him out at arms length, looking at him.

"Harry dear, you look famished. You've grown a few inches as well. Ron has your bed ready upstairs, you can go and get settled in. Lunch will be ready in a little bit. I'll come and get you," said Mrs. Weasly giving him a last hug.

Hermione and Harry walked upstairs, and Harry noticed that the house seemed to hold more activity then usual. He could hear Bill and Fleur talking in Fred and George's room arguing about last minute decorations. Walking past Ginny's room he heard her arguing with Fleurs sister. He caught a few word such as, "I'm not wearing that," and "but you have to!" Harry and Hermione laughed silently and continued to go upstairs.

At last they reached Ron's room and they silently turned the doorknob. Ron's room seemed to be the only room in the house that was silent. It was still messy yet it held less activity. Pigwig was in his cage hooting loudly. Harry spotted Hedwig perched on the windowsill. And there was Ron, grinning at him from his bed.

Ron stood up and said, "good to see you mate."

Harry couldn't express his happiness, so he just smiled. So they sat down, on Ron's bed, and started talking about what had happened so far that summer.