Chapter 2
Petunia's Secret

Harry stood in the living room, still stunned by the odd occurrences of the night. He realized the furniture was still stuck to the walls, and quickly made to get them all off. After he had finally manage to rearrange the living room back to its original state, he sat down and switched on the television.
Last winter he'd cancelled his subscription to the prophet, and the normal television news was his only source of information. The opening notes of the news came on. It was now eleven o'clock. He hadn't realized it was that late. Where were the Dursley's? They usually weren't out that late. He wasn't worried by any means, more curious. Then again, maybe Snape had pulled a similar trick on them as the advance guard had when they came to pick him up last July.
A muggle newscaster came on.
"And the terrorist threat to the United States came last night," He said. Looking to another camera he stated; "But. Now our top story tonight,"
This was it. Harry moved to the edge of his seat.
"After three and a half hours, Terry Boot was finally returned to his family, after being kidnapped. The police have not named a suspect." He looked to another camera again. "Good news for egg lovers!"
Oh, well. It was obviously a slow Newsday if you can start a sentence with 'Good news for egg lovers' as the third story.
He sat back again. But sat up once more when he heard a commotion outside. The Dursleys were back. Uncle Vernon yelled something he couldn't understand. He heard a key slide into the key hole. The door opened.
"I can't believe that stupid man. Dragging us out to…and what kind of a name is Re-" Vernon stopped and saw Harry sitting in the living room. "What's happened in here?" He pointed to a long ruffle in the carpet.
"Um…" Harry realized it must have been from Snape and he's rearrangement.
"Has something…? Has someone…? Oh, Bollacks, I don't care," He sat down in an armchair across the room.
"Where have you been?" He asked. Dudley and Aunt Petunia followed Vernon into the living room. Dudley's hair was a bit out of sorts.
"It's no business of yours where we've been." Vernon said. "And anyway what are you doing down here. I thought you'd locked yourself into that room of yours."
"I came down." Harry answered in a short non-committal way.
"Well," Petunia stretched up her arms. "I'm tired. I think it's time for bed for all of us." And not wishing to argue, Harry followed her up stairs with Dudley, leaving Uncle Vernon alone in the living room.
He closed and locked the door on his bedroom.
Hedwig was standing outside the window, tapping it lightly with her beak. Harry crossed to the window and opened it. He dropped a dead mouse in her cage and jumped on a perch.
"Been hunting?" He asked. Hedwig hooted in reply. "Well, I'm sure that's better then the seed Uncle Vernon buys. She hooted again.
And for the first time in day's It didn't take long for Harry to fall asleep.

But he did not awake In the morning. His eyes opened quickly. Someone was yelling outside. He smelled smoke in the distance. The clock read 3:42. He'd only been asleep for four hours. And even though the was an improvement, he was still tired. He swung his legs over the bed and dressed. Harry unlocked and opened his bedroom door. Dudley's door was open. He peaked in, but no one was there. Uncle Vernon, and Aunt Petunia had also left their beds. Harry quickly journeyed downstairs to see what was wrong. He looked all through the house. They weren't inside. But, they were outside.
Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and Dudley all stood outside facing toward what looked like a dozen centaurs. Harry opened the door and ran out.
"What the Hell are you doing!" He screamed.
"Ah, Harry." He recognized the one out front. It was Ronan, the one who hated humans. "We were just talking about you."
Each of the centaurs were carrying a torch.
"Yes," None other then Lucius Malfoy strolled out from the middle of the herd.
"You," Harry was stunned for the second time that night. "You're supposed to be in Azkaban!"
"Ass-key what?" Vernon muttered.
"The Wizard Prison" Petunia said.
"The dark lord has long awaited this day," Malfoy said. "And now it's finally come."
"How did you get out?" Harry asked.
"Read the Daily Prophet tomorrow morning. I'm sure they'll tell you all about it." He laughed. "Now, Kill him."
"Kill me?" Harry asked.
"Yes, Mr. Potter." Ronan said, walking up to him. "For too long the stars have told us we are between two wars. And now they have sent us a terrible sign. That the one who will defy the dark lord will soon bring about our downfall. We wish to stop that."
"What about the others?" Another one asked from behind, who Harry recognized as Bane.
"They are of no concern," Ronan replied.
"Don't worry about them," Lucius walked over to the Dursleys.

"Now, see here!" Uncle Vernon marched strait up to Malfoy. He shook his finger as he spoke. "I don't want any kind of your lot around this neighborhood!"

"I was just thinking the same thing…Rompendo!" He drew out his wand and the three Dursley's were thrown back against the wall, sticking to the brick just as Snape had done with the furniture.

"Normally we don't hurt foals, but we are willing to make a sacrifice if it means…" Ronan began.

"Shut up for a minute will you!" Harry yelled trying to get the Dursley's down.

"No, Attack him!" Lucius screamed, pulling his hood over his face.

"Come on," Harry succeeded in getting the Dursley's down, but not fast enough, as a whole herd a centaurs was now charging for them.

"Get in the house, Get in the house!" Vernon was screaming. They managed just in time.

"They can't get in here, can they?" Asked Dudley, panic stricken.

"Probably," Harry said, rolling his eyes as if all of this was completely normal.

"You're not worried?" Petunia asked.

"No, see this is the part where an owl, or a phoenix, or a flying car or something comes and saves us." Harry replied. "But, Just in case." He bashed open the cupboard under the stairs and pulled out his school things as a hoof knocked loudly against the door.

"They're trying to ram the door down!" Petunia Yelled.

"I see that!" Said Harry, Impatiently. "He was flipping through his 'Standard book of Spells: Grade 5' "Oh, right…Well I got that question wrong on the O.W.L." He pulled out his wand. "Protego Maximus!" A Purple bubble was conjured around them.

"What the Bloody Hell is this!" Vernon screamed.

"It's a shield, it'll keep them out for a moment or so." Harry said, still impatiently.

"And then what?" Dudley Screamed, almost tearing up.

"Then the Ministry will send an owl." Harry said, as hoofs continued banging against the door.

"And…?" Vernon said.

"And! Lucius Malfoy is an escaped Convict! Ministry! You do the Math!" Harry screamed, more impatient then before.

And then the banging stopped. A Sudden scream came from the garden.

"BLOODY OWLS!" Came the call from Outside, followed by a loud CRACK, meaning that Malfoy had Disapparated.

"What's that smell?" Petunia said. "Something's…"

"…Burning." Harry finished for her as flames from the centaurs torches started licking their door. "Well, I have to say I didn't expect that." Starting to panic as well, Harry Began Thumbing through his books again.

CRACK

CRACK

CRACK

CRACK

Four Wizards had apparated outside. The centaurs began screaming. And slowly the cheering died down.

"Do you think they've gone?" Petunia Asked.

"Only one way to find out," Harry took down the shield and slowly opened the front door. Four dark figures stood in the garden. Each clearly holding a wand.

But Suddenly a light appeared above one of them, and quickly flew to a nearby streetlamp.

It was Dumbledore, Holding the Put-Outter high in the air.

"Professor!" Harry Screamed and Ran outside.

Lupin, Tonks and Another woman Harry Did not Recognize stood there as well.

"Lupin!" Harry and Lupin Shook hands and Tonks Ran up and Hugged him.

"Nice to see you again Harry," Lupin said. He smiled and looked around the Neighborhood as the lights continued flipping on with the Help of the Put-Outter.

"Hello," The other woman said. "I'm Amanda Brown."

"Ms. Brown is our new Minister of Magic, Harry." Dumbledore said. "The Wizengamot just finished their voting last week."

"Oh, Hello Minister," Harry Said,

"Please, Call me Ms. Brown." She was a young woman. Probably only around 30 or 35. She had long brown hair, and was even taller then Ron. He shook her hand.

"I demand an Explanation!" Vernon Stormed onto the Garden, fuming. "You, all of you! You get off my property now!"

Ignoring Uncle Vernon's crazy rant, Dumbledore said, "I'll be back in a few hours to pick you up, your coming back to our new headquarters. This attack proves what I've thought all along."

"Please, sir, Why did?" Harry Began.

"Please Harry, I'll be back in Just a few hours, I'll answer everything then. But, I need to sort out these Centaur's now. I'll explain Everything when I return!"

And with that short explanation, Four Loud CRACKs ending that evenings assortment of wizards.

"Alright," Uncle Vernon said, as though all he wanted was a moment to speak. "What is going on here?"

"You know as much as I do…" Harry started.

"You need to…" Vernon looked as if he was going to explode!

But, Aunt Petunia Interrupted him. "Harry," He stared at her. So did the others. "Tell me about Voldemort."

It was now 5:30 in the morning. Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, and Dudley were all gathered around the fire.

"And the woman," Harry Swallowed. "Bellatrix. She used some kind of spell on Sirius and he fell through the veil. The one with the voices."

"Then, What happened?" Petunia Said, wide eyed and on the edge of her seat.

"I fought Bellatrix alone. But then Voldemort came. She told him about the smashed prophecy, and he tried to fight me. But like I said before, We can't duel because of our wands. Then Dumbledore came."

"The man outside with the crazy lighter?" Vernon spoke for the first time.

"Yes." Harry Responded. "He managed to fight off Voldemort. And the Entire Ministry walked in on is so they were forced to believe Dumbledore that Voldemort was back."

"And then?" Aunt Petunia asked.

"And then I came home." He said. " Still have the scar from…" He showed them his hand, which said "I must not tell lies." in faint red.

"Oh, my," Petunia Said.

Dudley leaned in to see as well. "Wicked," He said smiling.

"You wouldn't think so if you were cutting your hand open every night!" Harry had to look away for a second. He was finally having a moment with the Dursley's and he didn't want to ruin it now. At least it was better then the yelling.

"So this whole time, you've been, like, this action hero!" Dudley said. Harry Stared at him.

"What?"

"I have something to tell you too, Harry," Petunia said. "I…Uh…I've been in contact with Dumbledore for quite some time now."

Harry's eyes widened.

"He told me, that when the time came, you deserved to know. And I believe now is the right time." Petunia Said.

"Know what?" Harry stammered.

"About the veil." Harry looked up, hoping suddenly that Petunia would tell him some way to get Harry Back.

"Dumbledore built it."

"What!" Harry didn't realize what she said.

"Dumbledore built the veil that killed You godfather." She said.

"Dumbledore. Why?"

"He wouldn't tell me. But I think you should know that Sirius' Death is not your fault. He also said that he would tell you why he built the veil."

"Dumbledore." Harry was confused. Not sure what to make of this new Information.

"I've kept you here to protect you. Dumbledore told me I must." Harry looked back up at his Aunt. "My blood…my sisters blood runs though me as well. As long as you are around me, you will always be protected, Voldemort cannot touch you."

Still stunned, Harry stood up. Uncle Vernon looked like he was in shock.

"Why've you been in contact with Dumbledore?" Harry asked his Aunt.

"For this Particular kind of situation. Most of the time he doesn't tell me much. I don't get details, it's all very cryptic, but…"

CRACK

At that very moment Dumbledore appeared three feet from Harry. Startling him, and knocking Uncle Vernon back into Consciousness. Dudley fell onto a chair.

"Ready to go?"