Author's Notes: This chapter starts at the end of  Harry's 5th year of school. There are SPOILERS for OOTP in this chapter – Be Warned!

Chapter 9

A New Relation

Harry sat in Dumbledore's office.  Harry felt numb. He still couldn't believe Sirius was dead and now the prophecy hung over his head like a dark cloud. It was the day before term ended and Dumbledore had called him to his office. Harry thought sarcastically that it couldn't be anything worse than he'd already been dealing with.

"It's come to my attention, very recently, that there is another of your mother's relatives still living." Dumbledore said.

"Really?" Harry tried to sound interested, but the relative was probably just like Aunt Petunia, so he figured he shouldn't get his hopes up.

"They have expressed an interest in having you come to live with them. Would you be agree to that?  I am  confident it will be a better situation than with the Dursleys." Dumbledore looked closely at Harry.

Harry nodded.  Anything had to be better than the Dursleys, and if Dumbledore knew this relative, Harry supposed…he could survive a summer with him, then he would be back at Hogwarts.

"Very good. You will have to return to your aunt's house for a short time, then they will come and fetch you.  There is a small ritual that must be done to ensure that the  protection charm will pass from your aunt to the new relative."

Harry nodded, trying to seem like he was following along.

"I will owl you to let you know the day."

Harry nodded again.

~~

Harry had been back at Privet drive for two days when the owl came from Dumbledore. It was tea time. Uncle Vernon had made the usual comments about "bloody owls" but uncharacteristically didn't stop Harry from reading the letter. The warning from Harry's friends at the station had seemed to have some effect on his uncle. Harry read the letter quickly. 

Harry,

Your relative will be coming tomorrow at 10 am to pick you up.  You may tell the Dursleys today that you are leaving them, but that your aunt must be home at 10 am in order for you to leave.  Be packed and ready.

Dumbledore

Harry couldn't believe it, he reread the letter again. 

"Well, important news, is it?" Uncle Vernon asked with a sneer.

"It is, as a matter of fact.  I'm leaving tomorrow." Harry replied.

"Leaving?" Dudley asked, his mouth full of scone.

"Aunt Petunia, you'll need to be home tomorrow morning, in order for me to go." Harry turned to his aunt.

"What am I to do with it?" Aunt Petunia snapped, although Harry noticed a look about her eyes that made him think she already knew what it was about. He looked at her for a moment longer and Aunt Petunia nodded.

Harry went upstairs and owled Ron and Hermione to tell them he was leaving the Dursleys tomorrow morning and that he didn't know where he was going but that he would owl them again as soon as possible. 

"Hedwig, stay at Ron's until I send for you.  I don't know where I'll be." She nipped at his finger and then stretched her wings and flew off towards the horizon. 

He suddenly realized he didn't know if he would be living with a wizarding family…He opened his trunk and started putting his belongings in. He was packed in an hour…and now just had to wait until the next day.  Who was this relative?  Dumbledore had never even said their name. Harry wished that Sirius was alive, maybe Sirius would know who the relative was…or Hagrid or Lupin.  Harry wished that he hadn't sent off Hedwig already – he could have owled either one of them to ask if they knew of a relative of his mother's.

Although it seemed like it took forever, the next morning finally came.

Harry was on pins and needles as he watched the clock. He desperately hoped the new relative was an improvement from the Dursleys although anyone would have to be better than them. He checked his room for the fifth time to make sure he had packed everything, he really didn't have a lot of belongings, but he wanted to make sure he left nothing behind.

There was a knock at the door. Harry hurried out to the landing. Aunt Petunia opened the door….

A/N: giggle!  I just had to do a cliffhanger! The next chapter will be posted in a week!