Chapter Five

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            Harry felt a strong force pull him from the ground. He grabbed Dumbledore's robe for dear life. If this is what it feels like every time you apparate, Harry thought to himself, I don't think I'll learn how. Harry was just about to loose his lunch when he fell onto solid ground. As he looked around, he was suddenly disappointed. Because, as he looked around, it was not Hogwarts that he saw, rather Platform 9 3/4. Suddenly, Hermione's voice filled his head, "Haven't you read, Hogwarts: A History? You cannot apparate or disapparate on school grounds." Of course he knew this, the countless times she had reminded him and Ron.

            "Professor, why are we taking the Hogwarts Express?" Harry asked Dumbledore.

            "Let's just say it will give us time to have a little chat shall we?" Dumbledore replied.

            Harry was as bewildered as ever as Dumbledore showed him into one of the train's compartments.

            "Now Harry; listen carefully because it is very important. Not all people are what they seem. I have the unpleasant task of telling you that for your entire 15-year life, you have been lied to. Now what I am about to tell you is difficult to understand. So please keep your questions until the end.

            "Now, the Dursleys, why they were, and still are, missing from Privet Drive. Harry, your aunt and uncle are supporters of Voldemort. Not necessarily Death Eaters though. They have just become so because your Aunt Petunia was a Squib. I assume you know what that is Harry?"

            "Yes sir" said Harry.

            "Well, when she found out she could do magic, she quickly joined Voldemort and his supporters. When she did, she asked him to give you Uncle Vernon powers so he could join them and become a faithful servant. Voldemort did so, which is very unlike him, mind you."

            "Now your Aunt and Uncle could not hand you over to Voldemort because my friend Arabella Figg was, and still is, guarding you. Secret -keeping is a very confusing thing, but since your whereabouts were stored within her, Voldemort was, and is, unable to find you when you are with them. And when you awoke to find them missing, they most likely had been summoned to his side."

            "Now, I know that this going to be hard for you to understand, but as you know Hogwarts is the safest place for you at these times."

            "Yeah, I know," Harry replied.

            "Well then, Dumbledore remarked, "since we've gotten that out of the way, let's speed things up a bit." As he said this, the scarlet steam engine quickly sped up.

            "Are you going to be all right Harry?" Dumbledore asked.

            "Yes sir," Harry replied. "I'm just taking it all in."

            "Well, if you need anything, I disarray you'll figure out the password to my office to talk to me," Dumbledore said with a smile and a quick laugh.

            Suddenly Harry's voice started, "Sir, will there still be Quidditch matches with all of this dark stuff going on?"

            "We'll just have to see Harry," Dumbledore said.

            "Also sir, would you happen to know who the Gryffindor prefects are?" Harry asked. "Not that I want to be one, I just wanted to know if Ron and Hermione were."

            "Ahh, yes. You wouldn't want to be a prefect, now would you Harry," said Dumbledore. "Well, you'll be happy to know that Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley are both Gryffindor prefects. I am certain that they will still "hangout" with you rather than the other prefects. They are good friends, do your best to keep them, will you?" said Dumbledore as he patted Harry's knee reassuringly.

            "Well, looks like we're here," said Dumbledore. And as the Hogwarts Express turned a corner whole of Hogwarts Castle came into view. The train came to a halt and Harry and Dumbledore emerged from the train.

            "Well, let's get a move on then," Dumbledore said. "Your luggage will be brought up as usual. I will accompany you up to Gryffindor Tower. All of the teachers are here already if you need to talk to them. Ahh, here is a carriage!"

            So, Harry and Dumbledore got into the carriage and proceeded to the castle.

            Soon they had arrived and Dumbledore and Harry made their way up to Gryffindor Tower. After they had said farewell, Harry made his way up the familiar staircase to the boys' dormitories. As he flopped down on his all to familiar four-poster bed, he thought to himself, It feels good to finally be back home!