Harry regained his senses, "Where do I go now?" he asked, acutely aware of
the danger that shrouded anyone associated with him.
Dumbledore, sighed heavily, "I wish there was an easy answer to that Harry, the Weasleys have wasted no time volunteering to take you in but I'm afraid that it is not that simple. If you go to the Weasleys it could and probably would cost at least one life, so we have devised a plan that we think is in your best interest."
"It requires much moving on your part Harry, and it is by no means foolproof, but it will work as a temporary solution, for this summer at least. You will leave this house under the cover of an invisibility cloak, you will go, unescorted, by portkey to the mountainside cave that previously housed Sirius. Sirius will meet you there, but not for an hour or so after your arrival. You will remain there for a week, maybe more, maybe less. Then Remus will come, he will take you to his home for roughly two weeks, whereupon you will return to Arabella's, you will only be able to stay here for three or four days. You will then proceed to the residence of your friend, Ms Hermione Granger, you will stay there for perhaps a week, then the two of you will proceed to the Weasleys for the remainder of the summer, unless another arrangement is seen fit. At the Weasleys you will not be able to go outside, or sit near windows, I realize that this is very restricting, however failing to follow by these rules could cost more than one life Harry. You will not take the Hogwarts express as usual, instead Hagrid will arrive and escort you to the castle, Mr Weasley and Ms Granger may or may not accompany you this will be your choice. I'm sorry it has to be this way Harry."
Harry nodded mutely, a month ago, even an hour ago, he would have jumped for joy at the thought of living with Sirius, but now, now he wasn't sure at all about anything but the need to be alone, something he knew might not be possible, at least not often, for him later.
"You must be hungry dear, I'll get you something to eat, come to the kitchen." Harry, less hungry than he had ever been in his life, followed Mrs Figg dutifully into the kitchen, careful not to tread on Tibbles. Mrs Figg placed something that looked suspiciously like haggis on a plate and bustled out of the kitchen, leaving Harry to pick over both his food, and his thoughts, which were equally jumbled. Now that he knew why the Dursleys where dead and what was going to happen to him he had time to focus on the smaller mysteries. Why didn't he know that Mrs Figg was a witch before?, Now that Voldemort had his blood why did he need to kill him?, and most importantly, what would life be like? As Harry pondered these questions, picking dully at his food, the numbness inside him gave way to fear. What if he was to die? Worse yet, what if someone was to die because of him?
"I didn't ask for this!" Harry shouted, vaguely aware that they could hear him in the next room.
"I didn't ask for this." He repeated in a whisper. Harry pulled his tired body up from the kitchen chair and headed back to the living room. Harry was not yet fifteen but he felt like he was 300.
"The show must go on." He said bitterly to no one in particular. Sighing, an exhausted Harry Potter went back into the living room of Arabella Figg's house. He needed answers and he was determined to get them.
Dumbledore, sighed heavily, "I wish there was an easy answer to that Harry, the Weasleys have wasted no time volunteering to take you in but I'm afraid that it is not that simple. If you go to the Weasleys it could and probably would cost at least one life, so we have devised a plan that we think is in your best interest."
"It requires much moving on your part Harry, and it is by no means foolproof, but it will work as a temporary solution, for this summer at least. You will leave this house under the cover of an invisibility cloak, you will go, unescorted, by portkey to the mountainside cave that previously housed Sirius. Sirius will meet you there, but not for an hour or so after your arrival. You will remain there for a week, maybe more, maybe less. Then Remus will come, he will take you to his home for roughly two weeks, whereupon you will return to Arabella's, you will only be able to stay here for three or four days. You will then proceed to the residence of your friend, Ms Hermione Granger, you will stay there for perhaps a week, then the two of you will proceed to the Weasleys for the remainder of the summer, unless another arrangement is seen fit. At the Weasleys you will not be able to go outside, or sit near windows, I realize that this is very restricting, however failing to follow by these rules could cost more than one life Harry. You will not take the Hogwarts express as usual, instead Hagrid will arrive and escort you to the castle, Mr Weasley and Ms Granger may or may not accompany you this will be your choice. I'm sorry it has to be this way Harry."
Harry nodded mutely, a month ago, even an hour ago, he would have jumped for joy at the thought of living with Sirius, but now, now he wasn't sure at all about anything but the need to be alone, something he knew might not be possible, at least not often, for him later.
"You must be hungry dear, I'll get you something to eat, come to the kitchen." Harry, less hungry than he had ever been in his life, followed Mrs Figg dutifully into the kitchen, careful not to tread on Tibbles. Mrs Figg placed something that looked suspiciously like haggis on a plate and bustled out of the kitchen, leaving Harry to pick over both his food, and his thoughts, which were equally jumbled. Now that he knew why the Dursleys where dead and what was going to happen to him he had time to focus on the smaller mysteries. Why didn't he know that Mrs Figg was a witch before?, Now that Voldemort had his blood why did he need to kill him?, and most importantly, what would life be like? As Harry pondered these questions, picking dully at his food, the numbness inside him gave way to fear. What if he was to die? Worse yet, what if someone was to die because of him?
"I didn't ask for this!" Harry shouted, vaguely aware that they could hear him in the next room.
"I didn't ask for this." He repeated in a whisper. Harry pulled his tired body up from the kitchen chair and headed back to the living room. Harry was not yet fifteen but he felt like he was 300.
"The show must go on." He said bitterly to no one in particular. Sighing, an exhausted Harry Potter went back into the living room of Arabella Figg's house. He needed answers and he was determined to get them.