Professor Albus Dumbledore sat at the head table at Hogwarts School of
Witchcraft and Wizardry eating his breakfast with the rest of the staff who
had remained for the summer holidays, when a beautiful, white, snowy owl
swooped down gracefully into the Great Hall.
The owl came and landed right beside Professor Dumbledoor.
"Hello there." He told the white owl.
Professor Dumbledoor untied the letters from her leg and gazed at them. One for him but one also for Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley.
"What is it Albus ?" Minerva McGonagall, Professor of Transfiguration asked.
"This is Harry Potter's owl." He told her and with the mention of Harry's name, all the other staff turned towards the Headmaster.
Professor Dumbledoor opened the letter and read it allowed for all the staff to hear:
Dear Professor Dumbledoor, I will be unable to return to school this next term. My Uncle has been promote and transfered. We are all moving to America. My Uncle has gotten me into a magical school in America. He checked them out and found this one to be the best. Thank you for all you've done for me. It means alot to me. Yours Truely Harry Potter
As Professor Dumbledoor read the letter the sparkle in his eye vanished. All the staff frowned. It was if a grey cloud had settled over all the staff.
"Harry's in the trouble." Professor Dumbledoor informed all the other staff quietly. "Miverna, Severus and I will go and collect Harry. We shall then inform the Ministry, when we return."
They left the staff table quickly and headed off to #4 Privet Drive. They were all very worried. They had never had a student down right quit in the middle. Even with parents moving. Harry had never shown any signs of being close to his relatives. Something wasn't right.
When the teachers arrived at #4 Privet Drive nothing looked out of the ordinary. Professor Dumbledoor knocked politely on the door. After a few minutes they heard what sounded like thunder coming towards the door. A blond boy about 15 or so opened the door and stared at them blankly.
"This must be Harry's cousin Dudley." Professor Dumbledoor thought but out loud he said "May we speak to your Mother and Father."
As Dudley turned to leave Professor Dumbledoor noticed specks that looked like blood on his clothing. Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall eyes widened as they noticed it too. A moment a blond, horse faced woman with a long neck appeared in the door way. Her eyes became the size of sauces as she saw who it was and knew in a moment why they were here.
"Can I help you?" she asked.
"I am Professor Albus Dumbledoor. And this is Professor Minerva McGonagall and Professor Severus Snape." he told her pointing to his companions. "And you are?"
"I am Petunia Dursley." she answered a little worried at the wizards before her as Dudley cowered his blubber sticking out from either side or her. "What can I do for you?"
"We are here to see Harry Potter." Albus Dumbledoor told her.
Petunia scowled with what Professor Dumbledoor was saying. He was studied her and he knew that she wasn't going to tell them everything that she knew.
"He went to work with his Uncle Vernon today." she said lying.
"We can wait." Professor Dumbledoor said patiently.
Petunia invited them in and they sat in the living room. Petunia didn't want to make them angry.
Petunia asked "Can I offer you some tea ?"
"Please and thank you. " The three Professors said all at once.
Professor Snape glanced around the room at the photos on the mantel and the ones that hung on the wall. Not one of Harry. It was as if Harry didn't even live there.
Petunia returned with the tea and had placed it in front of each person. She sat down with Dudley very close beside her.
Professor Snape asked "Do you have any pictures of Harry ? Do you not have any picture of his parents ?"
"Why ?" Petunia asked. "He's not our child. And I never loved my sister. She was that kind, you know."
All three teachers opened and closed there mouths a few times before anyone said anything. They stared at her with a mixture shock and horror. They had all know Lily. They were so different.
"He's you're Nephew." Professor McGonagall said finally, breaking the silence.
"Yes, he is." Petunia answered.
"Too bad." Dudley added.
Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall glared at him.
They heard the door open and Vernon Dursley trampled thought the door. He put down his bag and called to his wife and son. "Petunia, Little Tyke."
Petunia hurried out of the room followed closely by Dudley. The staff could hear the Dursleys whispering among themselves. The teachers rose a bit trying to find out what they were whispering about. They returned quickly to the room. And Vernon Dursley was the first to speak.
"You can go. Harry is staying at a friend's tonight so he will not be returning til tomorrow evening very late. I'm sorry you came all this way."
"Well we need you to go get Harry unless you can explain why, while I was at breakfast this morning I received a letter from Harry telling me that he will not be returning to Hogwarts this next year. We have never had a child just up and quit in the middle of there time at Hogwarts." Professor Dumbledoor asked.
"I have been transfered to America" Vernon answered.
"He needs to be with his family." Petunia added "we will be too far away for him to go to school here."
"We could make special arrangements for Harry. The only time that he spends here is in the summer. He never comes home for the holidays." Professor McGonagall commented sternly.
From above there heads the teachers heard a creak and the quiet sound of a door opening. With a nod from Professor Dumbledoor, Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall moved towards the stairs. They both gasped at the sight before them. Hearing his staff gasp, Professor Dumbledoor joined them at the bottom of the stairs. A tear sparkled from Professor Dumbledoor's blue eyes. At the top of the stairs Harry stood. He looked as if he was a boy of 6 not a boy of almost 15 years old. Harry's body was black and blue, swollen, and dry blood covered his body. His clothing was vomit soaked and his eyes were dull.
All three teachers approached Harry slowly. Harry flinched back until his back was against the wall. He was frightened. They had never seen him so frightened.
"It's alright Harry. I won't hurt you. I never will." Professor Snape said softly.
"It's ok now, Harry." Professor McGonagall reassured him as tears flowed down her face.
"They will never hurt you again." said Professor Dumbledoor quietly.
After a few minutes of thought Harry slowly approached them. He was still unsure a bit but when he finally reached the Professors' arms. The professors hugged him. Harry felt safe as he sobbed in there arms softly. The teacher held him gently not wanting to let this child go. The moment seem to last for a lifetime.
The silence was broken when Vernon Dursley cleared his throat and said "He fell down the stairs."
A look fury passed on Professor Dumbledoor's face. The other teachers gave them death looks. They have never seen anyone do that. No wizard or witch would dare do that to there child.
"You will be brought up on charges and the Ministry will be investigating you." Professor Dumbledoor told them harshly.
"We will be taking Harry's trunk and leaving." Professor Snape said with a glare that would make a grown man cry.
Dudley who had been quiet for a while finally spoke up from behind his parents. His blubber visible even behind both of them.
"We burnt the trunk of evil." Dudley informed the Professors.
The teachers were all amazed. Not even Professor Dumbledoor could speak he was so enraged by what they had done. Harry, still in the teachers arms and barley able to speak began to whisper and they had to move close just to hear him.
"My wand and cloak are in the floor boards in the bedroom." Harry said in a soft whisper. Professor McGonagall went in to the room and retrieved the items. She returned in tears. All three raised there wands in angry.
"No !" Harry cried softly. "there not worth it."
With that the teacher carried Harry gently out the door leaving the Dursley were they stood. Shaking from there encounter with the Professors. They returned to Hogwarts and Harry's salvation.
The owl came and landed right beside Professor Dumbledoor.
"Hello there." He told the white owl.
Professor Dumbledoor untied the letters from her leg and gazed at them. One for him but one also for Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley.
"What is it Albus ?" Minerva McGonagall, Professor of Transfiguration asked.
"This is Harry Potter's owl." He told her and with the mention of Harry's name, all the other staff turned towards the Headmaster.
Professor Dumbledoor opened the letter and read it allowed for all the staff to hear:
Dear Professor Dumbledoor, I will be unable to return to school this next term. My Uncle has been promote and transfered. We are all moving to America. My Uncle has gotten me into a magical school in America. He checked them out and found this one to be the best. Thank you for all you've done for me. It means alot to me. Yours Truely Harry Potter
As Professor Dumbledoor read the letter the sparkle in his eye vanished. All the staff frowned. It was if a grey cloud had settled over all the staff.
"Harry's in the trouble." Professor Dumbledoor informed all the other staff quietly. "Miverna, Severus and I will go and collect Harry. We shall then inform the Ministry, when we return."
They left the staff table quickly and headed off to #4 Privet Drive. They were all very worried. They had never had a student down right quit in the middle. Even with parents moving. Harry had never shown any signs of being close to his relatives. Something wasn't right.
When the teachers arrived at #4 Privet Drive nothing looked out of the ordinary. Professor Dumbledoor knocked politely on the door. After a few minutes they heard what sounded like thunder coming towards the door. A blond boy about 15 or so opened the door and stared at them blankly.
"This must be Harry's cousin Dudley." Professor Dumbledoor thought but out loud he said "May we speak to your Mother and Father."
As Dudley turned to leave Professor Dumbledoor noticed specks that looked like blood on his clothing. Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall eyes widened as they noticed it too. A moment a blond, horse faced woman with a long neck appeared in the door way. Her eyes became the size of sauces as she saw who it was and knew in a moment why they were here.
"Can I help you?" she asked.
"I am Professor Albus Dumbledoor. And this is Professor Minerva McGonagall and Professor Severus Snape." he told her pointing to his companions. "And you are?"
"I am Petunia Dursley." she answered a little worried at the wizards before her as Dudley cowered his blubber sticking out from either side or her. "What can I do for you?"
"We are here to see Harry Potter." Albus Dumbledoor told her.
Petunia scowled with what Professor Dumbledoor was saying. He was studied her and he knew that she wasn't going to tell them everything that she knew.
"He went to work with his Uncle Vernon today." she said lying.
"We can wait." Professor Dumbledoor said patiently.
Petunia invited them in and they sat in the living room. Petunia didn't want to make them angry.
Petunia asked "Can I offer you some tea ?"
"Please and thank you. " The three Professors said all at once.
Professor Snape glanced around the room at the photos on the mantel and the ones that hung on the wall. Not one of Harry. It was as if Harry didn't even live there.
Petunia returned with the tea and had placed it in front of each person. She sat down with Dudley very close beside her.
Professor Snape asked "Do you have any pictures of Harry ? Do you not have any picture of his parents ?"
"Why ?" Petunia asked. "He's not our child. And I never loved my sister. She was that kind, you know."
All three teachers opened and closed there mouths a few times before anyone said anything. They stared at her with a mixture shock and horror. They had all know Lily. They were so different.
"He's you're Nephew." Professor McGonagall said finally, breaking the silence.
"Yes, he is." Petunia answered.
"Too bad." Dudley added.
Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall glared at him.
They heard the door open and Vernon Dursley trampled thought the door. He put down his bag and called to his wife and son. "Petunia, Little Tyke."
Petunia hurried out of the room followed closely by Dudley. The staff could hear the Dursleys whispering among themselves. The teachers rose a bit trying to find out what they were whispering about. They returned quickly to the room. And Vernon Dursley was the first to speak.
"You can go. Harry is staying at a friend's tonight so he will not be returning til tomorrow evening very late. I'm sorry you came all this way."
"Well we need you to go get Harry unless you can explain why, while I was at breakfast this morning I received a letter from Harry telling me that he will not be returning to Hogwarts this next year. We have never had a child just up and quit in the middle of there time at Hogwarts." Professor Dumbledoor asked.
"I have been transfered to America" Vernon answered.
"He needs to be with his family." Petunia added "we will be too far away for him to go to school here."
"We could make special arrangements for Harry. The only time that he spends here is in the summer. He never comes home for the holidays." Professor McGonagall commented sternly.
From above there heads the teachers heard a creak and the quiet sound of a door opening. With a nod from Professor Dumbledoor, Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall moved towards the stairs. They both gasped at the sight before them. Hearing his staff gasp, Professor Dumbledoor joined them at the bottom of the stairs. A tear sparkled from Professor Dumbledoor's blue eyes. At the top of the stairs Harry stood. He looked as if he was a boy of 6 not a boy of almost 15 years old. Harry's body was black and blue, swollen, and dry blood covered his body. His clothing was vomit soaked and his eyes were dull.
All three teachers approached Harry slowly. Harry flinched back until his back was against the wall. He was frightened. They had never seen him so frightened.
"It's alright Harry. I won't hurt you. I never will." Professor Snape said softly.
"It's ok now, Harry." Professor McGonagall reassured him as tears flowed down her face.
"They will never hurt you again." said Professor Dumbledoor quietly.
After a few minutes of thought Harry slowly approached them. He was still unsure a bit but when he finally reached the Professors' arms. The professors hugged him. Harry felt safe as he sobbed in there arms softly. The teacher held him gently not wanting to let this child go. The moment seem to last for a lifetime.
The silence was broken when Vernon Dursley cleared his throat and said "He fell down the stairs."
A look fury passed on Professor Dumbledoor's face. The other teachers gave them death looks. They have never seen anyone do that. No wizard or witch would dare do that to there child.
"You will be brought up on charges and the Ministry will be investigating you." Professor Dumbledoor told them harshly.
"We will be taking Harry's trunk and leaving." Professor Snape said with a glare that would make a grown man cry.
Dudley who had been quiet for a while finally spoke up from behind his parents. His blubber visible even behind both of them.
"We burnt the trunk of evil." Dudley informed the Professors.
The teachers were all amazed. Not even Professor Dumbledoor could speak he was so enraged by what they had done. Harry, still in the teachers arms and barley able to speak began to whisper and they had to move close just to hear him.
"My wand and cloak are in the floor boards in the bedroom." Harry said in a soft whisper. Professor McGonagall went in to the room and retrieved the items. She returned in tears. All three raised there wands in angry.
"No !" Harry cried softly. "there not worth it."
With that the teacher carried Harry gently out the door leaving the Dursley were they stood. Shaking from there encounter with the Professors. They returned to Hogwarts and Harry's salvation.