Disclaimer: I wish I owned the characters. Harry would have relatives who cared for him and Snape would have some closure. Alas, they are not mine. They belong to JKR, Scolastic, WB, etc.

sighs

Feedback is good. Constructive Criticism is excellent. Adoration is always welcomed.

Harry Potter and the Pillars of Truth

"I'm afraid that you will have to return to the Dursley's once more Harry."

Harry Potter regarded the benevolent twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes with cynicism.

"Of course, Headmaster." In the aftermath of Voldemort's aborted attack on Hogsmead, it had become increasingly evident that the blood magic that his mother had used to protect him had long since expired, but as he was not yet of age, there was little Harry could do to avoid his erstwhile guardians. He smiled thinly. "How long will I have to stay?"

Dumbledore steepled his hands, pressing his forefingers against his lips. "Hmmm. As you know, you need to stay at least a couple of weeks to renew the magic --" Harry snorted quietly "-- but it would be wise to stay longer."

The rest of the summer, Dumbledore meant. Grimmauld Place had long since been abandoned as Order headquarters, for there could be little doubt that Kreacher's betrayal of them to Narcissa Malfoy had alerted Voldemort of their location. Harry knew that there was some other location, protected under the Fidelius, that the Order used, but it was small and had no accommodations for one orphaned young man… or so he had been told the previous summer.

"I'll be leaving on my birthday."

"Harry, that would not be wise."

"Headmaster, I have no idea how you kept Vernon Dursley from turning me out the moment I turned sixteen, but my aunt is well aware that the age of majority in the Wizarding World is seventeen. I strongly suspect that if I do not leave on my own, they will cheerfully throw me out at midnight on the thirty-first of July." Harry barely controlled the sneer that wanted to crawl across his lips. "In fact, I expect that this will be one birthday party that the lot of them won't miss."

"Harry, I know that there are problems with your relatives, but surely you can manage to rub along together well enough for one last summer?"

"Respectfully, Headmaster, you have no idea what the hell you're talking about."

"Harry…"

"Not to worry, Headmaster, I'll manage well enough without your help." Harry stared at him for a moment. "It's not as if I've ever had it in the Muggle world anyway."

"Mr. Potter, if you insist on leaving your relatives, some other arrangements will have to be made."

"I am well aware of that, Headmaster. As I will be seventeen, however, you'll just have to accept that I am capable of seeing to them myself." Harry glanced at the clock. "I had best be going, if I am to make it to the Hogwarts Express. Good day, Headmaster."

With that, Harry walked out of the Headmaster's office, head held high. He passed Snape on the stairs and ignored the patented sneer sent his way. Ron and Hermione were waiting with the last of the coaches and Harry smiled. "Ready to go?"

"Mate, am I ever. One last summer."

Hermione cuffed him on the back on the head. "Really."

"No, he's right. After this…" Harry did not have to elaborate. After this, there would be no more carefree summers, or summers as carefree as they got. If Voldemort did not stage his annual attack, then the future held nothing but war, and if he did… well, the odds of any of them surviving were small.

Hermione sighed. "I know, Harry."

"Of course you do, Hermione. You know just about everything."

The bushy-haired girl -- no, young woman -- laughed. "Not yet, but I am trying."

"We know," said Ron, in a long-suffering tone. "But we love you anyway. Get in the carriage."

"You're not the boss of me, Ron Weasley."

"Not yet, anyway."

Harry glanced down at Hermione's hands, noting a new adornment.

"There something I should know?" he asked as he clambered up into the carriage.

Ron blushed redder than his hair. "Um…"

Hermione rolled her eyes. "It's a promise ring, we're not officially engaged yet."

"Mum'd have a fit if she knew…"

"Never mind your mum. She'd be thrilled, especially since the rest of the boys show no signs of marrying and Percy --" Ron winced and she veered away from that subject, which Harry thought was wise. "In any case, my parents would be less than happy if they knew I was even thinking about getting married."

"Whyfor?" Ron looked confused. "Sixteen's perfectly normal for courtship."

"For wizards Ron. Muggle girls don't typically marry so young, not anymore."

Ron boggled. "You're joking."

Hermione opened her mouth, but shut it again when Harry looked at her. As they'd grown older the social differences between the Wizarding and Muggle worlds had become much more evident. Now was probably not the time to discuss such radical issues as feminism and reproductive rights. Magic made so many things possible that sometimes they forgot just how different the Muggle world was… it wasn't just electricity and technology.

The carriage rolled to a stop just as the conductor was making the last call and the three of them rushed for the train.