Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or Doctor Who, just the plot to this story.
Chapter 31: Summer With the Dursley's
~ HARRY ~
Harry gave out a sigh of relief as he closed the front door of 4 Privet Drive. The Dursley's had just left with Hestia Jones and Dedalus Diggle so that they would be protected through all this… whatever this was. Harry was still unsure of what was happening in his life. He didn't know what to expect from this point on—not that that was any different than the past seven years. The young wizard lightly banged his head against the door; as much as he hated his time in this house, he hoped that the Dursely's would be safe (or Dudley and Petunia, at least).
Harry couldn't help but think about his friends: where they were, what they were doing. He knew that they would be on their way soon with the Order. He had a slight déjà vu, remembering the time he first met Tonks and Amy, two years ago. So much had happened since then. Harry had lost two of his mentors in the past two years: Sirius Black, his godfather, and Albus Dumbledore, his headmaster. He didn't want anything else to happen to the people that he loved. He was going to keep them safe. "Whatever it takes," Harry muttered to himself, as he turned the lock on the door in front of him.
He made his way up to his bedroom to retrieve his things, then took a final tour of the house, which ended at a tiny cupboard under the stairs. Harry let out a deep breath and crossed his arms, leaning against the wall. He opened the small door and was hit with nostalgia: it had been almost six years…
Suddenly, a crash came from the garden in the backyard. Harry ran towards the door but, before he could reach it, the door swung open. He heard multiple variations of "Hey, Harry!" as he felt Hermione and Ron fling themselves onto him.
"Oh, Harry, we've missed you!" Hermione breathed out.
"Hermione," he struggled to release himself from his friends' grips. "It's barely been a month."
"A pretty long month, mate," Ron chimed in and smiled at his best friend.
"Harry!" The teenager turned around to see Amy, Fred, and George running towards him. They engulfed him in a group him.
"How many people are here in my backyard?"
"Well, taking everyone into account, including yourself, that would be..." Amy began counting on her fingers, "sixteen people in your backyard."
"Sixteen? Last I heard there was only supposed to be around 8 or 9 of you."
"Things have changed, Potter." Mad-Eye Moody limped his way through Harry's group of friends and entered the house. He turned back to looked at the wizards and witches. "Well, don't just stand there with your mouths all gaped open. Things to do! Places to be! Constant vigilance!"
Harry watched as a hoard of people entered the house and marched into the living room. First was Hermione, Ron, Amy, Fred, and George. They were then followed by Hagrid, who was clutching tightly on Mundungus Fletcher, a man who Harry had only seen once before. Closely behind were Arthur, Bill, and Fleur, along with Kingsley Shacklebolt. And lastly, Lupin and Tonks walked in, hand-in-hand, with none other than Draco Malfoy at their side. Everyone gathered together and sat down next to one-another as Mad-Eye went to give his speech.
Harry couldn't help but drown out the sound of Moody's voice as he took a survey of the room and his eyes landed on Hermione, who had been seated next to Malfoy. Harry's eyes drifted down he saw that they were holding each other's hands. He tilted his head in confusion, but then brought his eyes back up to see that Hermione was smiling. It had been a while since he had seen her smile. He also noticed how Malfoy no longer had a smug look spread across his face, as he had for the past six years. There was a new kindness to him. Moody's voice broke into Harry's head.
"... and that's who everyone'll be traveling with. You got that, Potter?"
"Hm?" Harry lifted his head. Everyone was looking at him. "Oh, the plan… yeah." He noticed Hermione squinting her eyes at him, disapprovingly.
"You'll be with Hagrid." She filled him in. "You two are going to ride together on the bike and head to Ted and Andromeda's with Draco and Mr. Weasley. When you get there, a portkey will be waiting for you. It'll take you to the Burrow, where we'll all meet up later tonight."
"Alright, then, Granger. Well done. Now: as we discussed." Moody nodded in Harry's direction. He was confused until he felt a hard tug at the back of his head.
"Ouch!" He held his scalp. "Amy!"
"Sorry, Harry," she giggled. "Mad-Eye's orders."
"Wait, what do you need my hair for anyway?"
Moody revealed a small flask which he had been keeping in his belt. He opened it and Amy place the hair into the flask. "There'll be eight Harry Potter's in the air tonight."
"No..." Harry came to a sudden realization. "You can't do that, I… I won't let you!"
"What're you gonna do? Fight us for it?" Fred asked.
"Yeah, fifteen of us against one of you. Merlin, I'd hate to be in that fight!" George laughed.
"I can't have seven of you risking your lives for me!"
"Why not?" Ron stood up. "We've been doing it for years. Why stop now?"
"Everyone here's overage, Potter." His eyes shifted to Amy. She nodded. "They've all agreed to the risk." Moody summoned the 'fake Harry's'. With that, half of the group stood and gathered into a line. Hermione, Ron, Amy, George, Fleur, Malfoy, and Mundungus all got ready to become Harry Potter.
Everyone had transformed into Harry, and it was kind of unsettling.
"Amy? Which one are you?" Fred called as he looked around the room. One of the Harry's—probably Amy—approached him. "Oh, Amy. As much as I want to kiss you right now, it would be a bit strange for me under these circumstances." Amy made a disgusted face.
"Oi, Potter's!" Moody yelled.
"Yes?" Eight voices called, in unison.
"You might want to start dressing. We don't have much time." Moody passed around a bag, which Harry saw was filled with copies of the clothes that he was currently wearing. The fake Harry's began to quickly strip down, not caring since they were in another person's body. They all pulled on the clothes and each put on a pair of glasses that matched his own.
"Eugh, Potter." Harry assumed this was Malfoy. "You know: you could probably use magic to fix that eyesight of yours. It's terrible, really."
"Alright, everyone. Outside! All of you!"
Everyone exited the house, but Harry turned back to look at it for a moment before continuing. As much as he hated it here, he hated it even more that he would never be coming back. He sighed.
He joined a group which consisted of three more Harry's: Ron, Hermione, and Amy.
"Be safe, you guys." Amy smiled at them. "It's possible the Death Eaters may show up. If they caught wind of this—"
"We could all be in danger." Hermione furrowed her brow.
"I think we're gonna be alright." Ron gave everyone a reassuring smile and patted Harry on the back. "We'll see you soon, mate."
They all joined into one last group hug before meeting with their flying partners around the backyard.
"Yeh alrigh' there, Harry?" Hagrid yelled over the roar of the motorbike's engine. Harry answered with a thumbs up and placed the goggles over his glasses.
"Now, remember, everyone. Rendevous at the Burrow in about an hour. Make sure you're there, we won't come looking for you.
"Ready! Bill, off you go!" A thestral swooped past Harry. "Kingsley!" Another thestral. "Remus! Nymphadora! Arthur!" Three brooms took off into the air. "Fred and Pond; good luck." Amy gave Harry a wink as they left the ground. "Hagrid, time to go. I'll follow behind with Mundungus."
"Here we go." Hagrid revved the engine and drove off into the air.
The air was cold. So cold. Harry had flown before, but never in the sidecar of a flying motorbike. They flew higher and higher into the sky until he could no longer see the houses on the ground. For a short while, he could see all of the other pairs around him, on their thestrals and broom's, but they soon disappeared and were replaced by dark shadows. The Death Eaters had found them. Shots of green and red lightning passed on either side of him. He didn't notice until after a few moments that one of those curses had hit Hedwig. The owl and her cage began to fall from the bike. Harry didn't want to believe it. He didn't want her to be gone.
His grieving was soon over when Hagrid pressed hard on the accelerator.
"Hagrid, no! We have to go back!"
"My job is to keep you safe, Harry. No turnin' back!"
The air grew colder and colder as they continued along their fast-paced journey. Harry no longer heard spells being cast by the wizards around him.
Hagrid laughed. "I think we lost 'em!"
But Harry knew that something was wrong. "Ah!" Harry grabbed his forehead. He was here. Voldemort was here. He could feel him.
"Stupefy!" A beam of light hit Hagrid straight in the chest. He passed out immediately.
"No! Hagrid!"
He heard a snake-like voice in the distance.
"Avada—"
Before Voldemort could speak the whole curse, Harry was able to deflect the dark wizard using 'Expelliarmus.'
We're going to crash. We're going to crash. Harry tried to grab ahold of the steering wheel, but they were only a few seconds away from the impact.
Harry didn't remember what it felt like when he hit the ground, but he knew for sure that he was feeling it now.
He groaned and coughed himself awake. He realized that he was lying on the couch in an unfamiliar family room. He looked around and the first thing he recognized was the face of Draco Malfoy, who was sitting on a chair next to him.
"Hagrid… where's Hagrid?"
Malfoy turned towards him. "Potter, you're awake. Finally. The portkey is going to expire soon. We have to get out of—"
"Hagrid. Where is he?" Harry firmly asked again.
"He's in the kitchen." He sat back in his chair. "With Ted and Andromeda."
"And Mr. Weasley?"
"Waiting with the portkey. Waiting for us. Everyone's probably at the Burrow by now. Awaiting your arrival."
"Yeah, well… I'm sure Hermione just can't wait to get you back."
Malfoy went red and stumbled through his words. "I… I don't… what do you—"
"You were holding hands earlier." Harry sat himself up and held his stomach. He was in pain. "It wasn't that hard to put together."
"Yes. I suppose we didn't try to hide it." Malfoy sighed. "I'm sorry, Potter. I probably should have told you before, you know, public displays of affection."
"Eugh, Malfoy, I don't care about that." Harry let of a deep breath and turned towards his former rival. "Malfoy, I just want to make sure you're being good to her."
The pale boy looked at Harry with wide eyes, then down at his arm. "Potter… I have a mark—a scar—on my left forearm that represents all of the bad things that I have done over the past seventeen years of my life." He rolled up his sleeve to reveal the Dark Mark. harry had seen one this close before. "I've hurt people. A lot of people: you, Weasley… even Hermione. I… I almost killed Dumbledore—"
"But, you didn't—"
"But I was supposed to. And it just, it kills me knowing that I was in that situation… on that side of that situation." He closed his eyes. "I've done nothing but hurt and torture others because they were unlike myself. But, these past few months that I've spent, getting to know Hermione… it feels like all of that bad has been washed away. I'm a clean slate now. I, I joined the Order, I left my home, I moved in with Nymphadora. But most importantly, Potter… I've found something extremely brilliant with a girl that I like." He gave a faint smile. "And Hermione is part of the reason why I've has a change of heart. She's the main part, actually. She… she helped me. She did. And I'm never going to hurt her. Not again. Never again." He sat up straight in his seat. "So don't you go worrying about me and Hermione." His eyes went down to Harry's stomach. "You should be worrying about yourself right now."
Harry looked down and lifted his shirt. He had a large scar which spread across his skin.
"I think you were hit with a diffindo up there. I'm not sure episkey will fix that."
"Only one way to find out." Harry nodded.
Malfoy cleared his throat and drew his wand. He pointed it at Harry. "Episkey!"
Harry looked back at the gash that had once been there. The blood had gone and the wound had closed, but it left a mark. "Thanks… I guess." Harry fixed his shirt.
Into the room came four adults, two of whom Harry had never seen before. He assumed them to be Tonks' parents.
"Harry, Draco, it's time to go." Arthur Weasley smiled at the boys and led them into the front yard. Ted and Andromeda Tonks stopped Malfoy before they reached the portkey.
"Draco… please look after our Nymphadora for us." Andromeda smiled lightly at the boy. "We know she can handle herself, but with her current… condition… and all, I want you to look after her."
"Of course, Andromeda."
"Send her and Remus our love!" Ted called after them as they began to walk away.
Harry moved to be next to Malfoy. "What did Andromeda mean by Tonks' "condition?" Is something wrong with Tonks?"
"What? No! She's just… you know… pregnant."
"Pregnant!?" Harry stopped in his tracks. "Tonks is pregnant and she just risked her life for me? Her life and her child's life?"
"Cool it, Potter. She can protect herself." They continued walking. Oh, and by the way, I wasn't supposed to say anything about her being pregnant… so try not to mention it to anyone."
The unusual group of four reached the portkey.
"Ready everyone!" Arthur grabbed hold of the hairbrush sitting in the garden. "Hands-on! Three! Two! One!"
Harry felt his body being pulled onto the ground. He looked around and saw that they had reached the Burrow. A place that he had called home. He smiled.
A frantic Molly and Ginny ran towards them and into Arthur's arms. "Oh, Arthur! Are you alright? What happened? Everyone's been waiting!"
Ginny turned in Harry's direction and smiled wide at him. He walked up to her and took her in his arms. "Is everyone here?" He looked into her eyes. "Is everyone okay?"
Her expression saddened. "Harry… not everyone made it back."
"What do you mean? Who's not here?" He tried to run inside but she stopped him.
"Harry, it's Mad-Eye." She took his hands into hers. "Mad-Eye, he… he's dead. Bill told us when he got in. A Death Eater got him. And Mundungus Fletcher got away."
Harry was taken aback. Not only had he just lost his childhood pet, but now one of his mentors as well. He held back his tears. "Did everyone else get back safe?" He choked out.
"So far, yes. The last ones to show are supposed to be Lupin and George. They're to be here in just a few minutes."
A bright, blue light appeared in the dark: Lupin and George were thrown to the ground by their portkey. He could tell something was wrong.
"Mum!" Ginny yelled. She and her parents went to help Lupin, who seemed to be supporting George. He was covered in blood. "Lupin, what happened?" Ginny cried. Her brother was completely unconscious. Harry and Malfoy ran to help carry George into the house.
"He was hit. He got hit by a severing charm. His whole ear came off. He'll get better, though."
They pushed the door open and made their way to the couch to lay George down. As they entered the room, Harry found that they were surrounded by all of the other witches and wizards that had risked their lives for him. Everyone had turned back into themselves. The Weasley's ran to George's side. Hermione ran and engulfed Harry and Malfoy into a hug. Tonks and Remus reunited. Everyone comforted each other, happy to see their loved ones again.
"It was Snape." Remus broke the silence. Everyone looked at him. "He cursed off George's ear."
"Snape? But..."
"I saw him. On his broom."
"What's everyone looking at?" George slurred out. Fred knelt to him.
"How are you feeling, Georgie?"
"Saintlike," he murmured.
"What?" croaked Fred. "Are you alright?"
"Saintlike," repeated George, opening his eyes and looking up at his brother. "You see . . . I'm holy. Holey, Fred, geddit?"
Fred let out a small laugh and smiled at his twin. "Pathetic," he told George. "Pathetic! With the whole wide world of ear-related humor before you, you go for holey?"
"Ah well," said George, grinning at his tear-soaked mother. "You'll be able to tell us apart now, anyway, Mum. Only took 19 years and losing an ear for it to happen."
"Oh, George." Molly smiled.
"See, Mum? You're catching on already."
"This isn't good, Kingsley." Remus struck up a conversation. "Someone knew that we were moving Harry tonight."
"It could have been Mundungus. We haven't been able to find him since he got away." Kingsley looked around the room and addressed everyone. "I'm to be getting back to the Muggle Prime Minister now. Someone's got to look after him."
"We'll see you soon then, old friend." Remus smiled at the man, and Kingsley disapparated away.
"I suppose… I should get going, too." Hagrid stated. "I'll be staying over the hill, with the Lovegoods, if you need anything." He smiled at the gang. Harry ran over and hugged him. Hagrid laughed. "I'll only be gone a little while." And with that, he left.
"Well, what are you all sitting around here for, then?" George piped up. "Don't you all have a wedding to prepare for?"
