DISCLAIMER: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Chapter 20
Season In Hell
Harry mulled over what Remus told him. He was surprised at the lack of emotion it caused to have the wards at Privet Drive fall. He had never truly considered it home, despite the fact that Dumbledore had said at long as he considered it home it offered protection. To Harry it was a detention center where he was simply serving time until he was paroled at 17, even before he had found out about Hogwarts. He was still taken aback by the fact that he really had no feelings on its destruction or soon-to-be destruction. He did feel some small relief that his relations had been removed. He didn't want the Dursleys to be hurt, even if he couldn't say he was sorry that the Dursleys would get to experience their own season in hell.
He couldn't help but chuckle softly to himself as he thought about the Order dealing with the Dursleys on a semi-permanent basis. Perhaps, they would finally understand why he hated going there so much. How difficult they could make life for others. He hoped rather in vein, he knew, that Dumbledore would be saddled with them. He wished for a moment he had Rita's talent. He sure would like to be a beetle on the wall during the conversation between Dumbledore and the Dursleys about what happened at Privet Drive.
The chaos in the Order previously this summer was nothing to what was going on now. With Albus stuck at the school, no one knew exactly what to do with the muggles that were obviously displeased with being at headquarters. Except for Dudley, of course, that was because the obese boy was laying in front of Mrs. Black's portrait where he had passed out as soon as he heard her screaming and saw it moving. Petunia would not allow them to use their 'abnormal ways' on her son and the members of the Order absolutely refused to pick him up physically. She was torn between fussing with her Ickle Diddykins and screeching at the various member of the Order who made the mistake of wandering into her presence that 'she would not tolerate their freakishness and needed to be sent home.' Vernon Dursley on the other hand was purple in the face. He ranted and raved about calling the police and demanding that he be shown to the phone immediately. He raged endlessly until Kreacher passed by muttering how the Noble House of Black had been soiled once more by the blood traitors. Whether Vernon was in shock or someone had secretly put a calming draft in his drink, no one was quite sure.
It took ages, or so it seemed to the members of the Order for Albus to arrive. When he did he headed straight for their guests. He did his best to explain that they were no longer safe in their home.
Petunia screeched, "What do you mean no longer safe? You people came and took that wretched boy away! You didn't say anything about having to leave our home!"
Albus exercised his patience to the fullest extent. "I understand you are upset, Petunia, but this is getting us no where. Would you rather we return you to certain death?"
Petunia stopped mid-rant. She knew she could not protect herself and her family from these people if they truly wanted to harm them. "Why did you have him go away for good then? Why didn't you tell me what would happen when you had me sign those papers? Because you knew I wouldn't do it! How dare you freaks treat us this way! This is preposterous!"
Albus gaped at her. He stuttered. "S-s-sign?"
Several of the Order members were taken aback. There was muted whispering throughout the room. Did Albus Dumbledore, most powerful wizard in this century stutter? What is going on? Is Harry dead?
"SILENCIO!" Albus roared. The effect was instantaneous. In the deathly still stillness Albus pointed his wand at Petunia Dursley and allowed her to speak.
"Could you tell me what exactly you are referring to, Petunia?"
"The papers, the guardianship papers..."
Had the room not been spelled to quiet, the sound of Tonks falling over the coffee table as she backed up would not have been heard. However, given the astonishing news they had all received, her shock or at least what they assumed was her shock was understandable. Everyone's eyes quickly returned to the scene before them.
The quaver to Albus' voice could not be missed. "You signed guardianship papers, in regards to Harry?"
"You know I did."
Albus was torn between wanting to beat this idiotic woman to a pulp and needing the information she could provide. The power that he radiated was tremendous. He did his best to rain it in so as not to terrify the woman any more then she already had been. "Who had you sign these papers, Petunia?"
"That freak that my sister knew, that good for nothing husband of hers friend." Petunia shrieked.
"Could you describe him please?" Albus asked in a false polite tone, beginning to regain some of his composure.
"Light brown hair splashed with gray, shabby clothes, worn looking."
Albus faltered a bit, then turned to Kinsley who was closest to him. "Could you find me a picture of Remus please? Surely there must be one here somewhere."
The wait was excruciating. When Kinsley finally returned he thrust the picture at the woman. "Is this the man, Petunia?"
She screeched and dropped the photo. "H-h-he's moving." After a minute, she replied, "Yes, yes that's him."
Abruptly all of the glass-fronted cabinets on either side of the mantelpiece shattered. Albus took a deep cleansing breath and repaired them. "Thank you, Petunia. I am sure Hestia and Emmeline can help you to your rooms."
Albus turned toward the room. We will approach this in an organized manner. He released the room from its spell and motioned for Dedalus Diggle to follow him. The rest of the members slowly followed suit.
"Dedalus, I need you to check the court offices first thing tomorrow morning to see if anything has been filed. Kingsley, Mundungus I need you out checking your contacts for any news. We need to verify that this was indeed done by Lupin. Molly, Arthur I need you to see if your children or Hermione have any information regarding this. Arabella, I need you to return to see if you have any magical signatures on your instruments. Also, we still need to locate the two of them, I am becoming increasingly concerned about the two of them. Indeed I am troubled, we must consider this little stunt may in fact orchestrated by Voldemort's followers."
Molly gasped. Several others headed out to complete their tasks. Albus sighed as he was left alone in the makeshift office. He rested his head in his hands. Not even when he faced and defeated Grindelwald, had Albus questioned his control like he had these past few weeks. It had been such a long time since anyone, including himself, had cast doubt on Albus' decisions. Now suddenly it seemed as if the whole world was going spare. Albus knew he had to pull it together. They had to crack on.
Upstairs Ron, Hermione and Ginny were trying to figure out just what was going on. Harry had disappeared presumably with Remus, he had taken the time to write them and the letters were in his hand they were sure. They gathered all the letters together looking for clues as to where he might be, and what was going on. They had found nothing.
What they had overheard was frightening. Remus had nullified Harry's guardianship? Why would he do such a thing, and why now. They had all known Harry wasn't happy at Privet Drive, in fact he often spent most of his time there hoping to get out. No one was quite sure why he had to return there and if Harry knew he had certainly never said. They knew Molly had tried to get Harry to the Borrow as quickly as possible but that Dumbledore was against it. They grabbed some extendable ears and headed back down to their hiding place. Something was going on with Harry, and they were determined to find out what it was.
