Opening the door, Dudley stood there, looked first red, and then went as pearly white as one of the Hogwarts ghosts. Harry had a hard time not to laugh. Outside the door, stood Mrs Figg. She was wearing an emerald-green robe, and she looked very annoyed.
"Hello, Dudley. Is Harry home?" she said, but her eyes kept searching for Harry. Harry came down the stairs, since she didn't seem to be seeing him, and said, "Good morning, Mrs Figg. How are you?"
Mrs Figg looked at him for a moment, her eyes narrowed, and then she said, "Where's your wand, boy? Haven't I told you to never put it down?"
Uncle Vernon, who was just looking out from the kitchen, almost fell to the floor when he heard what Mrs Figg said. And then, when he saw what she was wearing, he actually did fall to the floor. His chin nearly touched his chest. The newspaper he had had in his hand fell to the floor with the Sports Illustrated facing the ceiling.
"Oh, hello Vernon", Arabella Figg said, and walked straight into the living room. Dudley, helping his father up, stared at Harry and Mrs Figg in amusement.
"What the bloody hell…?" uncle Vernon began, but Mrs Figg stopped him.
"No, Vernon, there is absolutely no time for that. Harry, I need to speak with you." Aunt Petunia, who had heard uncle Vernon swearing and Mrs Figg's voice, came out into the living room.
"Hello, Arabella", she said, sounding both amazed, and a bit worried. "How are you?"
"I have to talk to you and Harry, Petunia Dursley." Arabella Figg's eyes were black as they landed on aunt Petunia.
"About what?" Harry said abruptly, taking a step forward. "What is it this time?" The old neighbour glanced quickly at him, before turning to Petunia again. Her robe fluttered.
"It's about the Order of the Phoenix", she said. "And about the death of James and Lily Potter fifteen years ago."
The world started to whirl around Harry. He heard aunt Petunia gasp.
Trying to get hold of himself, or more likely, the whole situation, Harry stumbled across the living room and sank down in an armchair. He felt hot, like all his blood had rushed up to his face and then stayed there. He hid his face in his hands. Mrs Figg looked sternly at aunt Petunia and waved a hand against her.
"Sit down, Petunia, we have a lot to discuss." Harry looked up, suddenly his mind was clear.
"Won't this get you into trouble, Mrs Figg? I mean, with the Wizengamot and all…"
"No, Harry, Dumbledore – " aunt Petunia flinched when she heard the Headmaster's name – "has talked to them, and this is perfectly fine. Since your mother was a first class witch, Petunia will have no problems adjusting. Isn't that right, Petunia?"
Aunt Petunia threw a quick glance at uncle Vernon and Dudley, who both looked stunned.
"Yes, that's… that's right", she mumbled.
Harry could hardly believe his eyes. After admitting that her sister, Lily, had been a witch, aunt Petunia suddenly became even more nervous.
"Is this really necessary, Mrs Figg?" he said. "I mean…"
"Harry, this is information that both you and your aunt needs to hear. So be quiet."
"But what about… what about Vernon and Dudley?" Petunia said with a shrill voice. "They can't hear this!"
"No, you're right, Petunia. Vernon, Dudley, please go out in the kitchen and stay there. This is not for you to hear." Uncle Vernon's face became redder and redder.
"This is my house!" he growled. "What do you mean with 'this is not for you to hear'!"
"Vernon", aunt Petunia said and raised an eyebrow. "Please do as we ask you to."
Uncle Vernon grunted, but went back to the kitchen, with Dudley in one hand and the newspaper in the other. "C'mon, Duds", he said. "Obviously, we're not wanted here."
"I do hope that you have a very good reason for this!" Aunt Petunia said angrily, but her voice was shrill. Harry knew that she was afraid. Her eyes darted back and forth, made Harry feel almost sick.
Mrs Figg's eyes narrowed as she turned to Harry.
"Harry James Potter, wizard and student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, son to James and Lily Potter, by blood connected to Petunia Dursley through your mother Lily Potter Evans, from this day, you are now a member of the Order of the Phoenix. You have the right to remain silent. Everything you say, can and will be used against you in the Wizengamot in case of trial."
Harry stared at Mrs Figg. Despite the fact that she just had said all that without taking a breath once, he simply couldn't believe a word. Used against him in the Wizengamot? Member of the Order? Aunt Petunia looked at their neighbour, as though she thought the old woman had gone mad. And perhaps she was, Harry thought, when he heard what Arabella Figg said next.
"Petunia Dursley Evans, Muggle and wife to Vernon Dursley, by blood connected to Harry Potter through your sister Lily Potter Evans, from this day, you are now a member of the Order of the Phoenix. You have the right to remain silent. Everything you say, can and will be used against you in the Wizengamot in case of trial. Since you are the only Muggle connected with the Order in the war against You-know-Who and his Death eaters, you will be given a wand; a connection to the Floo Network and you will be given some magic on undecided time. This must be held strictly quiet, as no-one are allowed to know that you from this day and forth now are a witch."