Chapter Two

Tea with Aunt Petunia

Harry awoke the next morning feeling better than he had been feeling all summer. He still hurt terribly, but he was ready to live his life again. He gave the copy of the Quibbler Luna sent him a quick read. He shook his head and laughed at the article on the Crumple-Horned Skorkack, remembering Luna's particular obsession, and positively grinned at a story recounting a Wizard from Ipswich and his newly invented Death-Eater-Detector. He went down to breakfast still smiling. As he entered the kitchen, Uncle Vernon looked up. Seeing Harry's smile, Uncle Vernon gave a barely audible sigh of what might have been relief.

"Hmph. About time you were up and around", he said as Harry sat down at the table and helped himself to fruit and toast. "Your aunt would like some help with the gardening today."

Normally, this would have been given as an order, with threats to back it up, but it seemed that Mad-Eye Moody was able to generate a greater impression of menace, and so Uncle Vernon was forced to be civil towards Harry. Dudley said nothing, but was reading a book propped in front of him. Dudley's O-Levels had come in and they were none too good. In fact, in order for Dudley to follow his father into University and then ultimately into Grunnings, Dudley was being forced to attend remedial summer lessons in order to re-take his O-Levels later on in the summer. So Dudley was, for the first time in his life, studying hard. In fact, this summer was filled with firsts for Dudley. He did not bully Harry, because of both being scared to death of Mad-Eye, and a new found respect for Harry after he saved Dudley's life last year when they were attacked by dementors. Dudley was also visibly shrinking during the past school year. Fear and dieting had a lot to do with that, as well as Dudley's boxing training beginning to really pay off.

As Dudley and Uncle Vernon got up to leave, Uncle Vernon turned to Harry again.

"Oh, and when you're finished in the garden, Mrs. Figg is coming for tea while Dudley and I are out, and your Aunt wants you there to help entertain."

Harry, in the past, would have dreaded tea with Aunt Petunia and Mrs. Figg, but that was before he found out Mrs. Figg was actually a Squib, and a friend of Dumbledore. He wondered what Aunt Petunia's reaction would be if she found out her batty, cat-obsessed neighbor was in fact a part of the magical community.

Harry spent the rest of the morning pruning Aunt Petunia's flowerbeds and mowing the lawn. After lunch, Harry cleaned himself up, and helped Aunt Petunia prepare the tea. When the doorbell rang, Harry went to answer it. He opened the door, and his jaw dropped. Not only was Mrs. Figg there, but Professor Lupin. Mrs. Figg, looked as she always did, but Professor Lupin was dressed in slightly better clothes than the threadbare ones Harry had seen him in last.

"Well? Are you going to invite us in or stand there staring?" Mrs. Figg hadn't changed, at any rate.

"Hello, Harry", Lupin said quietly with a small smile on his tired features.

As Harry let them enter and shut the door, Aunt Petunia came through the hall to greet her guest.

"How are you, Arabella dear, I hope the heat--"

She stopped dead with a look of shock on her face. Evidently she was not prepared to see Lupin standing in the front hallway with Mrs. Figg. Her eyes went back and forth between them.

"Hello again, Petunia" Lupin said. Catching her eyes, he added "No, Arabella is not a witch. She was born without magic. However, she was born into a wizarding family, and has been a great help to us."

"Come, Petunia, let's have some of this excellent tea you've got set out for us. We've got a lot to talk about". Mrs. Figg patted Aunt Petunia on the arm and gently let her to a seat at the kitchen table still slightly numb with shock.

"Harry, dear, why don't you pour out for us and take a seat. This concerns you also".

Harry did as Mrs. Figg told him and sat down excitedly, intensely curious for the first time this summer about what was going on. Lupin took a sip of his tea and began to speak.

"The last time we talked, I spoke about Lily and James and their work against Lord Volemort," he began. "I also spoke about exactly why Voldemort came against Lily and James, and why they were killed.

Harry felt an unpleasant lurch in his stomach as Lupin said this. Voldemort killed Harry's parents because of a prophecy which said that the one to defeat him would be born in July to those who had defied him three times. What Voldemort hadn't learned was that Voldemort himself would mark the boy as his equal, and that one would have to kill the other. Harry unconsciously rubbed his scar, the mark Voldemort left on him as a baby.

"As you know", Lupin continued, "Voldemort cannot harm Harry as long as he calls this his home. This was the charm which Dumbledore placed upon him and which you sealed, being Lily's last living blood relation. However, we have learned that Voldemort and his followers may attempt an attack. And it is you, Petunia, that we are afraid might be the target."

Harry looke at Aunt Petunia in shock as she gave a great shuddering gasp of horror and buried her face in her hands. While he understood Voldemort's desire for him to die, to kill Aunt Petunia, whose only crime seemed to be the fact she was his mother's sister and had taken harry in, made Harry faintly sick to his stomach. While he hated the Dursleys for their treatment of him for fifteen years, they did not deserve to die at the hands of the Death Eaters. Aunt Petunia looked up at Harry after a few moments, fear and anger mixed on her face.

"Kill him quickly then! I want this to be over, you out of this house, and a normal life back! Why my fool of a sister and her good-for-nothing husband couldn't mind their own business and stay out of it is beyond me. Because of her my whole family is dead, and now it looks like it's my turn."

Harry's surge of anger at the way Aunt Petunia spoke about his parents was stopped short by the shock of what she just said. Her entire family killed by Voldemort? Was this why she hated his parents so much? Harry's thoughts were racing, but Lupin spoke again.

"We don't know for certain whether or not there will be an attack, but we have taken steps to protect you. On Friday evening, Dudley has a boxing tournament. We need you to make an excuse not to go watch it. We will visit you then and set the plan in motion. Until then, Arabella here will have an accident in her home which will require extensive renovation. You will kindly allow her to stay with you during the renovations. Say nothing to your husband about our plans. Harry, do not leave the house, and get your things packed up and ready to move."

As Lupin stood, he placed his hand on Petunia's arm and bent close. Harry just caught him as he whispered "Be strong, Petunia, we'll see you through this."

Harry showed them to the door. Mrs. Figg looked around carefully and nodded to Lupin. With a crack, he Disapparated. Mrs Figg turned to Harry.

"Well, see you soon, and try to get on with Mr. Tibbles. he's very sensitive."

With that, Mrs. Figg left. Harry returned to the kitchen where Aunt Petunia still had her face in her hands. As he started to clear the tea, she looked up.

"Go up to your room and stay there until dinner. I don't want to see you or hear you right now."

During the next few days, Harry couldn't help noticing that Aunt Petunia's eyes were slightly red and puffy and she was more apt to be cross and short, even with Uncle Vernon and Dudley. Uncle Vernon kept looking darkly at Harry, suspicious that he was the cause of Aunt Petunia's troubles, but he did not say anything. If he knew exactly what was happening, Harry was sure that not even the fear of retribution of Mad-Eye would prevent Uncle Vernon from thrashing him within an inch of his life and throwing him out.

Mrs. Figg had moved in the next day, due to the tree in front of her house falling on her house and completely collapsing the roof and the front walls. Harry took some measure of pleasure in the fact that Mr. Tibbles seemed to enjoy tormenting Dudley. Friday came, and with it Dudley's tournament. Aunt Petunia told Uncle Vernon she wasn't going to go watch, because she wanted to keep Mrs. Figg company, and besides, she wanted to make a special post tournament treat for her "Dinky Diddums". As Vernon and Dudley left as evening was falling, there was a state of tension and readiness between the three remaining inhabitants who were gathered around the kitchen table. Shortly after Eight, there was a loud crack in the drawing room. Harry, Aunt Petunia, and Mrs. Figg went to the drawing room, where they saw Lupin with another Wizard Harry had not seen before. Lupin nodded at them and indicated the other wizard.

"This is Hamish MacDougal. He is an auror currently on leave of absence to care for his infirm parents"

Hamish grinned at Harry. He looked about the age of Bill Weasley, Ron's oldest brother. He was burly, with a great mane of raven black hair.

"Aye, and frightful ill they are too", he said with a wink. "We dinna know when they'll get better"

Lupin looked at Petunia. "He is to be your constant bodyguard. During the remainder of the holidays, he will take polyjuice potion and assume the identity of Harry here. This will be fairly easy as he will be staying mostly in Harry's room as he has done all summer. However, you are not to go out without him. When school starts, he will remain, but this time as one of Arabella's cats. Hamish here just finished the spells necessary to become an animagus, but Dumbledore has persuaded him not to register quite yet. There will be other guards around, Petunia, but you won't be able to see them. You will be as safe as we can make you. Harry, we are leaving tonight. You will be staying at headquarters for the rest of the holidays, just like last year. Only, no one is to know you are there. All your mail and other correspondence will be sent here, and Hamish will forward it using Hedwig. So, she will have to remain during the holidays as well. We will be leaving shortly under strictest secrecy. Do you all understand the plan?"

Harry, petunia, and Mrs. Figg nodded. "Remember, Petunia, treat him just like Harry. No one is to know. Harry, go get your trunk. Hamish, the potion." Hamish took out a hip flask and Lupin took out a scissors and trimmed Harry's hair, making sure to collect every strand.

Harry retrieved his packed trunk from his room, telling Hedwig she was to stay and behave for Hamish. When he returned, the potion had done its work, and he looked into his own eyes.

"Everything packed, Harry?" Lupin asked. Harry nodded. "Good. I'll need you to take out your father's cloak and be sure your broom is secured to your trunk."

Harry did as he was told. Lupin waved his wand, and Harry's trunk shrank to no bigger than a matchbox sized car.

"Put your trunk in your pocket, and get ready to put the cloak on". Lupin turned to Aunt Petunia. "This will be over soon, Petunia. Soon it will be back to normal."

Lupin turned to Harry and nodded. They both put their cloaks on and slipped out the front door. Lupin found Harry's arm and guided him down Privet Drive. After a couple of blocks, they stopped and a car pulled up next to them. They both got in the back seat and the car took off. Harry recognized the driver at once.

"Evening, Dung. Right on time. Were you seen?" Lupin said.

"Wotcher, Remus, Wotcher, Harry" Mundungus grinned as he drove through the night. "Everything go well tonight? And of course I wasn't seen, I ain't been caught in years." Harry grinned underneath his cloak. Mundungus was a crook and con man who worked for the Order.

Presently, they drove through a rather seedy part of London, finally stopping at a dingy square surrounded by run down houses. Still cloaked, Harry and Lupin got out of the car, and walked to one end, between numvers 11 and 13. As Harry focused, a house began squeezing into existence between the other two. Number 12, Grimmauld Place. Lupin spoke out of the night.

"Welcome back to headquarters, Harry"