Disclaimer: The Harry Potter world, and all that is in it, belongs to J.K. Rowling. She just lets the rest of us borrow it to use as our inspiration. For that I am enormously grateful.

A/N: Much thanks to my new beta Candi and also to my little sis, for your help with my terrible grammar and spelling

Chapter 3

"Harry, dear, are you sure you're alright?" Mrs. Weasley carefully questioned.

"I'm fine, but you may want to check on Ginny's hand." He replied jokingly, trying to divert the attention and the roomful of sympathetic gazes he was receiving. Ginny gave him an exasperated look as she continued to rub her obviously smarting hand, then winced as her mother shot her a glance that clearly stated there would be a discussion later. "However," Harry added, seeing the unspoken communication between mother and daughter, "The look she put on my Uncle's face, now that was brilliant."

"He's lucky that's all he got." Remus Lupin muttered as he approached the couch and the small group sitting there. Harry looked at him in surprise, not expecting such a comment from the mild-tempered man, and noticed his normally weary eyes were ablaze with anger.

"Honestly, you guys, it's not a big deal." Harry said trying to refocus the group, "There are more important things right now, like getting my Aunt back."

"Which is why I need you to tell me every detail you can remember from your vision Harry." Albus Dumbledore stated as he reentered the room, with Kingsley Shacklebolt following. He quickly settled himself on the now vacant couch across from Harry and nodded expectantly. "Try to remember anything you can, sometimes the smallest details can help the most."

"Yes, sir" Harry replied as he began to rack his brain for any information that may reveal his Aunt's location. He began telling Professor Dumbledore everything he could pull from his memory. He tried to remember exact phases that were spoken, details of rooms, even strained to recall any artwork that he had seen in the hallways. It wasn't until he began describing the room where the hidden access to the dungeons had been when it hit him. "Oh, wait!" He exclaimed. "In that room, there was this big thing on the wall. Like one of those coat of arms you learn about in History classes." He looked at Dumbledore hopefully. Then quickly continued when he saw the professor's eyes light up. "It was red and gold with lions on it. There was a phrase written under them . . . It was . . ." He struggled to remember, "Moment mei, no, Memento mei, yeah I think that was it. It seemed really out of place to me because it reminded me of Gryffindor." Harry explained. "Does that help any?"

"Immensely, Harry," Dumbledore replied. "I know of that family quite well." He turned from Harry to the group of anxious people huddled around the room. "Kingsley, will you be so kind as to ask Tonks to find her mother and meet us back here?"

"Of course, sir" The auror replied and quickly left.

"Please continue, Harry," Dumbledore requested. "Remember, every detail counts."

Harry was slightly irritated that the Headmaster didn't elaborate any on this recent revelation, but continued nonetheless. He explained about the bookcase opening to reveal the hidden staircase, the dim, dank passageway to the cell and the route they had taken to get to it. He paused, as he was about to describe the cell his aunt was being held in. "Professor," Harry asked shakily, "Do you think . . . I mean, would he . . . Is she going to be alright?"

A blinding heat suddenly shot through Harry's head and a sense of aggravation and anger rose up within him. He griped his scar as the Dursleys living room briefly swam out of focus.

"Harry?" He vaguely heard.

"He's not too happy." Harry whispered when the pain began to subside.

"I'm sure he isn't Harry, however, that may work to our advantage." Dumbledore stated in his usual knowing tone.

"Why is that, Professor?" Hermione asked joining the conversation. Everyone had been so quiet that his friend's question startled Harry briefly.

"Leverage," Mad-Eye Moody grumbled as comprehension swept across most of the adults in the room.

"What do you mean, Professor?" Harry asked.

"He means, that Voldemort will try and use your aunt as a bargaining chip, to use a Muggle term." Dumbledore explained with a grin. "He has surely discovered by now that the other abduction attempts were failures. And am I correct in believing that your Aunt does not know the contents of the prophecy?"

"I didn't tell her." Harry answered somberly. His eyes fell to the rug at his feet as his guilt returned in full force.

"Which is a very good thing, Harry, for otherwise they wouldn't have a reason to keep her alive." The wise professor explained.

"Oh, I understand. They will keep her prisoner hoping to lure someone there who does know what the prophecy says." Hermione said, nervously glancing at Harry.

"He's using her as bait!" Harry exclaimed almost jumping out of his seat.

"Yes, Harry," Dumbledore, replied shortly. "However I want to make it quite clear that you are not to take the responsibility of rescuing her upon yourself. Your safety, for obvious reasons, is of the utmost importance. The Order will formulate a plan to bring her back as quickly as possible. Am I understood?" He asked warningly.

"Yes, sir" Harry mumbled returning his gaze to the floor.

"Good. Now, there are a few other things we do need to discuss," Dumbledore stated, regaining his usual cheerful demeanor. "The wards surrounding your house are being strengthened as we speak, however, I must stress the necessity of you staying within these-"

"You actually expect me to stay here still! Even after everything that has happened today!" Harry demanded. "Do you honestly think that my Uncle is going to allow that?" He looked disbelievingly at the old wizard in front of him. Glancing around the room, he saw that only Remus Lupin and the two elder Weasleys seemed to also know of the earlier incident with his Uncle. The anger that flashed across all three faces was unmistakable to Harry.

Dumbledore sighed wearily, "Harry, I have explained to you previously why this house is the safest place for you during your holiday."

"The blood bond? But my Aunt isn't even here anymore." He tried to reason. "And even if this is the best place to hide from Voldemort, surely it isn't the safest with my Uncle as furious as he is?" Harry stared pleadingly at the Headmaster and pointedly ignored the usual gasps that accompanied his use of Voldemort's name.

"The blood bond is still offering its protection because your cousin, Petunia's son, is still residing in this place. I have also asked the Weasleys to stay with you because their family has a similar blood bond. Molly, Arthur, and I put it in place when you started spending part of your summers with them at the Burrow. As long as the Weasley children are at the same place as one of their parents, they are offered many of the same protections you have in your Aunt's home, as are you when you are with them. So with these added protections and the extra wards, I can assure you Harry, the Weasleys, the Grangers, and yourself will be quite safe here."

"But my Uncle Vernon . . ." Harry started.

Dumbledore raised his hand to quell the question. "I am quite sure that Molly, Remus and Arthur will be more than happy to help your Uncle keep his temper under control." Then he turned from Harry, eyes twinkling, "and I think your friends have already shown that they are willing to also, if need be." Harry followed his gaze and saw Ginny blushing a true Weasley red under the Headmaster's amused smile. "Now before I leave to run some quick errands, I think I will also have a little chat with your Uncle. I will leave you all to get yourselves settled. Oh, and Molly, there will be a guard arriving shortly to take yourself and the Grangers to collect any possessions you may require for your stay."

Molly nodded slightly and then turned toward the two somewhat still shell-shocked looking Grangers as the wizened wizard rose and slipped into the hall.

Ron, Ginny and Hermione had all started discussing possible places his aunt could be being held and Harry sat listening to them all, not really adding anything consequential to the conversations, but nodding occasionally when necessary.

"Harry," Dumbledore said as he reentered the room a few minutes later, "Would you indulge an old man with one more quick word?" He motioned toward the front hall and Harry rose and followed obligingly.

As they reached the foot of the stairs Dumbledore turned toward the teen and quietly said, "Harry, I hope you can understand the reasons we have decided you should stay here. And I hope that by having your friends here with you, it will make it easier for you to cope with," Harry nodded as the old Professor paused and carefully studied him. "There is one other thing I wanted to discuss with you." He added cautiously, "Am I correct to assume that you have not divulged the contents of the prophecy to your friends yet?"

"Professor, knowing would just put them in even more danger, I couldn't do that. They already risk too much just by being my friends." He sighed.

The wizened professor looked weary as he began, "Harry the burden of fulfilling the prophecy may be yours and yours alone. However, you can draw great strengths from your friends. I think you will find we are all willing to support you through this in any way we can. Just think about it, Harry. We both know the dangers of withholding information for too long." With a solemn nod he slowly turned and started toward the door.

Harry stood there for a moment contemplating what he had been told. Then hesitantly headed back to the living room, and his waiting friends.