Chapter 3: Leaving Privet Drive For Good

The past day and a half past fairly quick for Harry, spending one whole day with the Dursley's shopping and now packing and making sure everything was ready for tonight. His trunk was a littler heavier due to the amount of cloths Harry bought the day before. He had considered testing Uncle Vernon to see just how generous he would be towards Harry but thought against it fearing that if he pushed Uncle Vernon too far he'd take away everything he'd already gotten Harry.

It was almost dinnertime and Harry was still at the Dursley's, he figured the Order would wait until dark to come and get him. He did one more sweep of his room to make sure he had everything. Harry had the feeling this would be the last time he would be at the Dursley's and didn't want to leave anything behind. If he really inherited Grimmauld Place then there would be no point of coming back here next summer. He finished his search and decided it was time to warn Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia about the visitors.

"Harry its time for dinner!" Uncle Vernon called.

"Coming!" Harry yelled from the top of the stairs. He was actually starting to like the nicer side of Uncle Vernon and Dudley, there were brief moments when Harry felt he was part of a family but those moments wouldn't last long because his Aunt Petunia was still reserved and distant, even more so within the last day.

Dinner was quiet as usual, Dudley staring at the TV, Aunt Petunia just watching her plate with intense concentration, and Uncle Vernon stuffing his face full of food. It had grown dark outside by the time Aunt Petunia was serving everyone desert in the living room. Harry figured it was time to let them know about his leaving.

"Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon," Harry paused. "I want to let you know that I'll be leaving tonight. The people you met on the platform will be coming to get me any time now and I didn't want you to be startled when they arrived."

"You're leaving?! But why, I thought you had to stay because of your Aunt and her connection to your mother," said Uncle Vernon.

"How did you know about that?" Demanded Harry. How could he have known about the charm, Harry had not told him and he was quit sure Aunt Petunia wouldn't want to reveal any connections she had to the wizarding world. Harry slowly put his hand in his pocket to grasp his wand.

"That Professor of yours told us about it, that's why we couldn't throw you out last year." Uncle Vernon said nervously. Something wasn't right, why would Dumbledore tell his Uncle, of all people, about the charm? He glanced over to his Aunt who was stone stiff with fear.

"Which Professor?" Harry cautiously asked while at the same time slowly rising to his feet. As Harry rose from his couch so did Dudley and Uncle Vernon. Harry could sense the two of them trying to corner him, but he couldn't keep and eye on both. Uncle Vernon was straight ahead of him while Dudley was directly to his right and Aunt Petunia was slowly trying to back into the dinning room.

"Well," Uncle Vernon started. "I think it was Bumble Bee, Dumble-Dee," He stopped and starred directly at Harry. "I know who it wasn't . . . it wasn't that fool Sirius Black!"

Before Harry could react there was a white flash and Harry could feel Dudley's fist connect with his head. His knees began to buckle and he could hear people laughing at him. But before Harry could collect himself, another fist was driven into his stomach completely knocking the wind out of him and sending Harry to the floor.

"NO, DON'T HURT HIM!" screamed Aunt Petunia.

"Oh shut up! We'll deal with you next!" Dudley hissed. Harry slowly looked up, he was still seeing double but could see the figures begin to change their shape. Uncle Vernon changed into a man Harry recognized from that night at the Ministry; he was the Death Eater Mcnair.

"You should have let Sirius kill me that night in the Shrieking Shack," the new voice laughed and Harry immediately knew who had taken the form of Dudley.

"Dudley was the perfect choice for you Wormtail, you both posses RAT like qualities," Harry said with a venomous voice. Still on all fours Harry turned his head to stare directly into Wormtail's eye. Rage was building within him. This was the man that framed Sirius for his own death, which imprisoned Sirius for 13 years. Years that Harry could have had with his godfather, years that he could have done without the Dursley's. Harry tried to go for his wand but Mcnair kicked him in the head causing Harry to lose the little balance he had left. Everything had a white haze to it.

"EXPELLIARMUS!" a female voice shouted. Harry could hear some one smashing into the wall behind him. He was on the verge of passing out but tried to hang on to see who his rescuer was.

"WORMTAIL!" another voice roared.

"Ah Remus, perhaps we can continue this another day," said Wormtail. And with that, Harry could hear the snaps of the two Death Eaters apparate.

"We need to get out of here Remus, more will be coming now that the charm is broken," said a scruffy voice. Harry was still faced down on the floor, his head pounded and he was still fighting to stay awake. He was about to attempt to push himself up when two soft hands gently rolled him over.

"Lumos," the soft voice whispered. The light wasn't as harsh as Harry thought it would be but it still blinded him to the person now holding him in their arms. He tried to focus but all he could make out was an outline of an angelic face. Then an idea crossed Harry's mind. Maybe this was his guardian angel coming to watch over him, maybe he was closer to death then he realized. He felt a warm smooth hand caress his face, never before had a touch made him feel so alive. This must be an angel, what else could have this affect on him?

"He's in pretty bad shape Professor. I doubt we can move him," said the female voice. Without warning Harry felt himself being lifted into the air. Was this it, was he dying? Before he could dwell on it, he felt a new set of arms now hold him.

"I will take Harry, you three grab all of his belongings, he won't be returning. Mad Eye, Charlie and Bill, get the real Uncle Vernon and Dudley out of the attic and get them to a hospital," said a stoic voice. Harry could feel the person turning around.

"My dear madam, if you'd please follow these gentlemen they'll take you with them once they've collected your husband and son." The voice paused and took a long breath. "This place is no longer safe for your family, once they've healed go into the country, I will contact you when it's safe to come back." Harry couldn't hear the person's response because the pain in his side grew worse, causing him to let out a slow moan.

"Albus get going, we'll take care of everything here," said the scruffy voice. Another wave of pain coursed through Harry's body, the person holding him tightened their grip and for a second Harry felt a very strange sensation but then it stopped.

"Oh my goodness, what happened Albus?" an old woman's voice shrieked.

"I'll explain later Minerva, find Poppy and tell her Harry has severe head trauma. Once Snap is done helping the others at Privet Drive he'll start working on the potions," said the stoic voice. Harry felt himself being carried up a flight of stairs and moments later being laid upon a bed. He was losing his battle with unconsciousness but before he blacked out completely he heard the female voice from before.

"Everything will be okay Harry, I won't leave you."