Chapter 3

A/N:  Well, first off, I want to thank Ami for all her help, this story would be terrible without all her help.  Thanks!  Second, this is my first attempt at a novel length story, and I don't know how it will work out.  If you have any suggestions please let me know!

Harry awoke from his dreamless sleep as the sun crested the horizon.  This was the first night in over a month that his rest had not been disturbed by endless nightmares.  Sitting up in bed, Harry pushed the curtains out of the way and yawned tremendously.

Once again the silence in the dormitory caught Harry's attention.  The walls were bare of the usual Quidditch posters, and the absence of his classmates' trunks made the room seem larger.  The sun shone through the sole window of the dormitory, reflecting off of a fresh pitcher of water.  Harry picked up the pitcher and poured himself a glass of the refreshing liquid.

The house elves are already hard at work it seems, Harry thought to himself.   Won't Hermione be pleased.

Ice-cold water dribbling down the front of his shirt brought Harry back to reality.  It seemed Fred and George Weasley were already hard at work as well.  They must have planted their new joke items before the end of the term last year.

"Guaranteed to make a mess with every sip," Harry grumbled as he headed to take a shower.  "Oh well, I did encourage them."

***

Harry descended to the common room after his shower without bothering to comb his wet hair.  It wouldn't matter anyway.  Humming happily he headed toward the portrait hole, ready to begin his Dursley-free summer. 

The hallways, like his dormitory, were eerily silent.  The absence of Hogwarts' usual school crowd made the castle feel…lonely.  Even the paintings were on vacation.  Many of the picture frames were empty, most with notes informing anyone who cared to read them that the occupant would be back at the end of the summer.  Where they had all gone, Harry couldn't even guess.

Once Harry even had to backtrack to avoid a conference of suits of armor that had decided to gather in one of the corridors; it sounded like they were holding a tournament.  Filch would just love cleaning that up when he returned.  Even the ever-present caretaker had decided to take a holiday.  Either that or Dumbledore had forced him to take a break.

Harry reached the Great Hall without any further trouble.  The giant double doors swung open at his touch, and the creak of the hinges echoed through the mostly empty room.  The four house tables were pushed off to the side, and the staff table was set up in the center of the floor.

"Harry," Dumbledore said as he rose from his chair.  "Come join us.  We are just breaking our fast before leaving to retrieve your belongings."

Snuffles, who was sitting at the base of Dumbledore's chair, gave Harry a welcoming bark, and trotted over to greet him.  Harry gave Snuffles a quick scratch behind the ear before sitting between Professor McGonagall and Hagrid.

Hagrid greeted Harry with a huge pat on the back.  "Hiya 'Arry!"

"Hullo Hagrid," Harry smiled, "Professor McGonagall."

"Good morning Mr. Potter," responded Professor McGonagall.  "I trust you had a good nights rest?"

"Yes.  Very well, thank you," Harry said while buttering a piece of toast.

Harry ate in silence while studying the other occupants of the table.  To his left sat Hagrid, Hogwarts' groundskeeper and Care of Magical Creatures teacher.  Professor McGonagall sat on his right, followed by Professor Dumbledore.  Beyond the Headmaster was tiny Professor Flitwick, and on the far side of the table sat the Potions Master:  Professor Snape.

Throughout the meal, Hagrid kept up a running commentary about his travels over the past month.  Apparently, he had been to visit Madam Maxime, the Headmistress of Beauxbatons, and they had taken a "long relaxin' vacation in the mountains."

At the end of the meal, Professor Dumbledore rose and walked over to Harry.  He placed his hand on Harry's shoulder and asked, "Are you ready?"

Harry nodded and rose, politely nodded to Hagrid and Professor McGonagall, and followed the Headmaster out of the Great Hall.

"Harry, since you cannot yet Apparate, we will use Portkeys to reach the Dursleys'.  Do you still have your phoenix that took you here?"

Harry nodded, "It's up in my dormitory."

"Well then," Professor Dumbledore said, "Why don't you demonstrate your skill with summoning charms and save us both a walk up to the tower."

Harry nodded and pulled out his wand.  "Accio phoenix!"

Moments later, the small wooden carving that Harry had left by his bed shot down the hall and into Harry's hand.  The phoenix ruffled its miniscule wooden feathers and squawked indignantly at Harry before perching atop his index finger.  Dumbledore reached out and stroked the wooden phoenix, which trilled happily at the attention.

Dumbledore turned to Harry and said, "This phoenix, Harry, acts as a Portkey between Hogwarts and any wizarding establishment in Europe.  All you must do to activate it is state your destination whilst holding the phoenix as you are now; it works like Floo powder.  To return to Hogwarts, just use the same password you did to get here."

The miniscule phoenix blinked lazily up at Harry and settled down as if to take a nap.  Dumbledore placed his hand upon Harry's shoulder and gave him a quick nod of encouragement.  Taking a deep breath, Harry lifted the phoenix up to eye level and clearly enunciated, "The Dursleys' of Number 4, Privet Drive."

A soft orange and gold glow emanated from the phoenix as it took off from Harry's finger.  The small model flew around his and Dumbledore's body leaving a sparkling trail of stars in its wake.  The bright stars encircled the Headmaster and the Boy-Who-Lived and closed them off from the castle around them.  The wall of stars began to swirl quickly around them, picking up speed until Harry couldn't make out anything except for the golden radiance surrounding him.  Slowly, the swirling began to fade, and the sparks dissipated revealing Harry's room at the Dursleys'.

The phoenix that brought them here was hovering in front of Harry's face, the golden glow fading once more back into its small wooden body.  Harry brought his hand up and the phoenix landed on his finger, wrapped its feet and wings around the digit, and ceased moving.  A bright flash of light shot from the phoenix and when Harry could see again, the small bird was encased in gold and glittering from the eye sockets were tiny rubies.

Dumbledore removed his hand from Harry's shoulder and walked around the room that Harry had been living in for the past four summers.  He stopped by Hedwig's cage and produced an owl treat for her from the folds of his robes.  Still stunned by what had just transpired, Harry studied the remarkable "Portkey" that had just brought him here. 

"Umm, Professor?"

Dumbledore turned towards him and smiled benevolently, "Yes Harry?"

"Excuse me for my use of language, but… what the hell was that?"

"That Harry," Dumbledore answered, "is the Portkey you will be using to get to your training lessons this summer, many of which will not be held on Hogwarts grounds."

"But, that didn't act like a regular Portkey.  It didn't even act like that when it took me from here to Hogwarts!  Not that I'm complaining you understand, it was a much more enjoyable way to travel."

The Headmaster walked back towards Harry.  "When you came to Hogwarts, the Portkey was bringing you back to its 'safe house' where it is programmed to take you if you are ever in danger.  Therefore, it takes you in the fastest way possible, just as it will when you return from here.  However, when you leave from Hogwarts, it makes the ride, as you put it, 'Much more enjoyable.'"

Harry looked down at his finger where the phoenix lay.  "And what happened to it now?" he asked.

"It will stay like that until you leave from Hogwarts again.  A ring is a little easier to carry around than a little phoenix, don't you agree?"

"Yes sir," Harry agreed.

"Good, well in that case-"

The sound of Harry's Uncle thundering up the stairs interrupted Dumbledore.  "BOY!! WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? AND WHO'S THAT YOU'RE TALKING-"

Uncle Vernon stopped abruptly when he opened the door and saw Professor Dumbledore standing next to Harry.  His mouth gaped open like a fish, and all the blood drained out of his face; an effect that Harry found most comical.  Dumbledore took advantage of the sudden silence and began talking before Uncle Vernon had a chance to recover.

"Mr. Dursley," he said, extending a hand.  "My name is Albus Dumbledore, the Headmaster at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."  When Uncle Vernon didn't respond, Professor Dumbledore lowered his hand and continued.  "I don't know how well informed you have been of the events of the past year, but due to the resurrection of a particularly evil wizard who is set on killing Harry, we have decided to move Harry to Hogwarts for the remainder of the holiday.  He is beginning some training to help him survive through this trying time.  I hope you understand the seriousness of the situation, but I assure you that Harry will be back here as usual at the end of the school year next summer."

The expressions on Vernon Dursley's face during the Headmaster's speech were so amusing that Harry considered it a miracle that he was able to hold in his laughter.  His uncle's face deepened to a virulent shade of red when Dumbledore mentioned Hogwarts, making his pudgy face closely resemble a radish with a mustache.  When he heard about someone trying to kill Harry however, his anger drained away, replaced with an extremely smug look that increased exponentially when he learned that Harry was leaving.  This lasted until he learned that Harry would be returning in a year's time, when once again Uncle Vernon did his impression of a radish.

"Now you look here," Uncle Vernon said as he advanced on Professor Dumbledore.  "I don't care who you think you are, but you will leave my house immediately and never come back!  And take that…that…THING with you!" he exclaimed pointing at Harry.

"And if I were you, I wouldn't waste your time with that good-for-nothing bastard.  Just let whoever wants to kill him, have him.  It would save everyone a lot of trouble."

"Mr. Dursley!" Dumbledore said quietly, enough power radiating from his voice that Harry was surprised his uncle didn't run from the room screaming.  "Is that how you truly feel about your nephew?"

"YES IT IS! NOW LEAVE HERE AND TAKE HIM WITH YOU!  IF I EVER SEE HIM AGAIN I MAY JUST SAVE THIS PERSON THE TROUBLE AND KILL HIM MYSELF!"

Uncle Vernon then turned to stalk from the room, but was brought up short by the Headmaster's voice.  "Mr. Dursley! If-"

It was at that moment that Vernon Dursley did the bravest, and quite possibly the stupidest, thing he had ever done.  He rounded on Albus Dumbledore, the greatest Headmaster Hogwarts had seen in centuries, and threw a punch aimed at his face.

The effort, unfortunately for Vernon Dursley, was completely wasted.  His punch impacted the air about five inches before his target, and his body was immediately frozen in place by a wandless full-body bind cast by the venerable wizard.

It was all over before Harry could even think to move.  Stunned by what he had just witnessed, Harry could do no more than stand by and watch as the confrontation between his Uncle and Professor Dumbledore played itself out.

Dumbledore slowly pulled his wand out of his robes and trained it on his attacker.  "Had I known of your feelings toward Harry, I may have done this sooner."  Although his uncle couldn't move, Harry could see the fear reflected in his eyes grow significantly at the perceived threat.  "I had hoped that Harry could remain here with his relatives, but since that now seems very unwise I guess I will just have to find another home for him.  If you would kindly wait for me downstairs, I will join you in a few moments to discuss the consequences of your decision."

With a flick of the Headmaster's wand, Vernon Dursley floated out of the room, down the stairs, and out of Harry's life forever.

Professor Dumbledore turned to Harry, his face devoid of expression.  "I'm very sorry you had to witness that Harry, and I apologize for not checking up on you earlier.  Had I known…

"What's done is done, Harry, and as much as we would like to change it, we can't.  Now if you could please gather up your belongings, I will speak with your uncle."

The Headmaster walked out the door, but moments later he stuck his head back in.  "And Harry?  Don't expect to be returning here."

His head disappeared again, and Harry was left alone to pack for the final time.  He retrieved all his hidden treats from the loose floorboard, and packed all his belongings; they had grown over the past four years but still fit inside his one trunk.  Harry then retrieved Hedwig's cage from atop his desk and moved to the window to release her.  He didn't trust Portkeys, even this new one, enough to risk Hedwig using one.

Opening the latch, Harry fed Hedwig an owl treat.  "Meet me at Hogwarts, okay?" he whispered.  Hedwig hooted softly and nipped Harry's finger affectionately before flying out the window and winging her way to the distant castle.

After finishing his packing, Harry sat down on his bed to wait for Professor Dumbledore.  For some reason, Harry felt that it would not be a good idea to go downstairs right now.  He could not hear any voices but that didn't rule out the possibility that the Headmaster had used a silencing charm to keep Harry from having to hear what was going on.  Glancing around the room, Harry made sure that he had not forgotten anything.

Footsteps on the stairs alerted Harry that someone was coming, and he stood up just as Professor Dumbledore entered the room.  Without pausing, Dumbledore crossed the room and asked briskly, "Are you ready, Harry?"

"Yes sir."

"Then let's leave here.  I'm having this house officially quarantined to all wizards.  No one should have to deal with Muggles like that."  Dumbledore gave Harry a piercing glance.  "That means you will never be able to come back here Harry.  Be sure you have everything you need."

"I'm pretty sure I have everything, sir."

Dumbledore nodded and moved over to Harry's trunk and placed his hand atop it.  "Then we should leave."

Harry moved to join him.  Placing his left hand on the trunk, Harry initiated the Portkey.  "Caput Draconis."

Just before the phoenix pulled them back to Hogwarts, Harry noticed the corner of a letter sticking out from underneath his bed.  A letter addressed to him from Ginny Weasley.  But it was already too late.

***

Later that day, Vernon Dursley cautiously entered the room his good-for-nothing, ungrateful, freak of a nephew had occupied for the past four summers.  He went up with a pair of latex gloves, a metal trash bin, a bottle of kerosene, and a book of matches intending to incinerate everything that had been corrupted.

First went the bed sheets as well as any clothing left behind in the closet.  Next, the chair and desk were broken into pieces with the help of a hatchet; Vernon planned to use them in a bonfire later that year.  And finally were any stray items that the irate relative could find.

Vernon Dursley was about to leave the room to call the exterminator to make a sweep of the house when he noticed an envelope poking out from under the bed.  Carefully picking it up by the corner he was about to burn it, but curiosity got the better of him.  After replacing his gloves, he slowly opened the letter and read it.

When he finished, Vernon laughed harshly, happy that he could make his nephew suffer even after he was gone.  With one last chuckle, he lit a match and set the letter on fire.