Chapter Twenty-Eight: More Battles and Relatives
As Harry appeared in the back lawn of 4 Privet Drive, he saw that the back door was open. As he cautiously walked through the door, a familiar soapy dish pan was swung at Harry's head.
"What are you doing here?" hissed Aunt Petunia.
"I was checking to make sure that nothing has happened here," said Harry.
"Well, nothing has happened here. Just leave before any of the neighbors see you," demanded Aunt Petunia.
Suddenly, an ominous green light entered through the lights of the windows.
"Damn! Get Dudley and Uncle Vernon upstairs and lock the door! I'll handle this," said Harry as he pulled out his wand and called his sword to him while thinking of the spell he had just read about the day before, "Spelliarma Resista!"
"GO!" yelled Harry as he realized that Aunt Petunia was still standing in the kitchen, frozen in fear.
Harry crept towards the living room and watched as the door was blown to pieces. Three Death Eaters walked into the house.
"Anybody home?" laughed the voice of Lucius Malfoy.
"Let's get this over with," came the voice of Wormtail, formerly known as Peter Pettigrew.
"I hope that no one from that blasted Order shows up," said the voice of Walden Macnair as he drew his ax, "It will make things quicker and easier."
"Well, hello there. You really should have told me that movie night was at my relative's house," mocked Harry as he stepped out of the shadows, "I swear that if you leave now, I won't be forced to wipe the asphalt with your hides."
"I don't think so, Potter," said Wormtail, "We're not leaving empty-handed. Crucio!"
Harry easily deflected the spell with his sword.
"What an amateur you are Wormtail. What did you think this was for, decoration? No, no, I took a leaf out of MacNair's book," goaded Harry, "Tsk, tsk, tsk, looks like I'll have to teach you boys a hard lesson. Lucius knows how powerful I am. Look at him; he's shaking in his mask!"
'SHUT UP!" screamed Malfoy, "I'll teach you to disrespect me! AVADRA KEDAVRA!"
The spell flew through the room. Harry didn't even move as the spell collided with the fireplace.
"Lucius, my dear friend, you really must learn to control you anger. It's doing terrible things to your temper," provoked Harry, "STUPEFY!"
The spell flew across the room so quickly that none of the Death Eaters had a chance to react. The body of Lucius Malfoy was thrown out of the house and landed with a sick crunch onto the pavement.
"Now it's my turn, Potter. Don't think you'll catch me off guard with a weak spell like that," said Macnair as he lifted his ax, "There's no one to save you now."
"I don't need anyone else," said Harry as he stashed his wand.
Macnair rushed Harry, who side stepped and tripped Macnair.
"I thought you would be a worthy challenge," said Harry, "I guess that teaches me for thinking."
Macnair jumped to his feet and began a flurry of attacks that Harry easily blocked. Macnair swung hard at Harry's side. Harry blocked the blow and placed a hard kick to Macnair's ribs, breaking a few. Macnair dropped to his knees in pain. Harry grabbed Macnair's head and thrust his knee into it, knocking him out.
"So Wormtail, looks like your back to your old self," commented Harry as he turned to see Peter start twitching and squeaking, "You look exactly like you did the night Remus and Sirius unmasked you."
"One difference," sputtered Wormtail, "I'm still alive whilst Sirius is dead."
"Why you little rat!" spat Harry as his anger rose, "Sirius lived with honor and love. All you have is disgrace and lust. You are not a man. Even the term 'rat' is above you. You're too low even for dementors. I bet they'd have a hard time sucking out your soul, seeing as how you don't have one. You sold out your friends, who would have died for you, just for a little taste of power. Look where your lust has landed you: friendless. Not even your comrades respect you. You're a disgrace to the name wizard. You are a pitiful excuse for a human. Do you even have a spine? Can you make your own decisions? You're always allying yourself with those with more power than yourself."
"Argh!" growled Wormtail as he turned and transformed into a rat.
Harry quickly transformed into a lion and bounded after him. He quickly caught up to the rat and scooped the tiny rodent into his paw. Harry glared behind his lion's green eyes and shook his head. He transformed back.
"Pitiful, here, I'll send you to a place where you'll feel at home," said Harry as he tossed the rat into the air and banished it. The rat would land in a painful slump in the sewers of New York City.
Harry collected the body of Lucius Malfoy and brought it into the house. He placed the body back to back with Macnair. He bonded the two together with ropes.
"Remus Lupin," said Harry as he pulled out his communication mirror.
"Yes, Harry," said Remus as he answered the call.
"Moony, I'm currently at my relative's house and I was wondering if you could come and collect a couple of my dearest friends," said Harry as he placed as much sarcasm as he could into the sentence.
"I'll be right there," said Lupin.
Harry immediately heard a crack that told him his old professor had arrived on the premises.
"Harry, what happened?" asked Lupin as he saw the bodies.
"Didn't Dumbledore tell you?" asked Harry, "I thought that there would be a chance that Voldemort might come to try and extract information from them, so I came here to try and talk with them. As soon as I arrived the Dark Mark appeared and I was forced to fight three Death Eaters."
"I see two bodies, where's the third?" asked Lupin.
"The third was Wormtail. I banished him away. When I finished, I called you. Could you take them to the Ministry? Make sure to display them," added Harry, "For now, I must talk with my relatives."
Harry walked up the stairs and checked the bedrooms. Harry found that the only locked door was the bathroom. Harry forced the door open and found Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and a much skinnier Dudley huddled by the toilet.
"It's all right, you may come out now," said Harry.
"What the bloody hell was all that racket?" shouted Uncle Vernon.
"Three of Voldemort's lackeys came in an attempt to gain information form you," explained Harry, "You're lucky that I arrived when I did. If I hadn't, you lot would be dead by now."
"What if they come back?" asked a frightened Aunt Petunia.
"They just might do that. I should have an answer for you by the time I leave," said Harry, "I do know that members of the Order of Phoenix will want to set up a watch on the house. I'll try to set up a way for you to contact me should something happen. Professor Dumbledore should be here soon to explain in detail."
Harry walked down the stairs and sat at the kitchen table to relax. He heard someone walked down the stairs after him. Dudley walked into the room and sat across from Harry.
"Dudley, I'm really impressed. I never thought you would diminish in size. I seem to be proven wrong left and right today," said Harry, "What inspired your drastic change in appearance?"
"I was finally beaten during a boxing match. I was undefeated for sixteen straight matches until some tiny midget used his speed to beat me. Throughout the summer and during school, I've been training to increase my speed and agility. Now, I'm faster than ever," said Dudley as he puffed his chest up, "You look different yourself,"
"That's not all that's different," chuckled Harry as he made his face look like his uncle's.
"Wha-!" shouted Dudley as he fell out of his chair in shock.
"Harry, please refrain from frightening your cousin," said the calm voice of Albus Dumbledore, "Such a thing doesn't set a good example."
Harry stood as he realized that Dumbledore and Mr. Weasley were standing in the doorway.
"I'll go fetch my aunt and uncle," said Harry as he dashed up the stairs.
When Harry finally found his aunt and uncle and told them the news, they were less than thrilled.
"What do you want?" demanded Vernon as he and Petunia reached the kitchen.
"With your permission, we would like to set up a watch on your house," said Mr. Weasley, "For your protection, of course."
"As long as no one sees you, I don't care. Anything to get you out of my house," said Vernon.
"Very well, anything else?" asked Dumbledore.
"Professor, I request that a means of communication between us is opened so that they may contact me," said Harry.
"I suppose that can be arranged. I see you have found the wonders of using mirrors. I shall create another that Mrs. Dursley here would be able to use. She barely has enough magic but she has enough never the less," said Dumbledore as Aunt Petunia fainted.
Dumbledore conjured a duplicate mirror and bewitched it.
"Tell Mrs. Dursley when she awakens that all she needs to do is say Harry's name and it will alert him," said Dumbledore as he handed the mirror to Vernon, "Good evening."
"Bye, then," said Harry awkwardly as Dumbledore and Mr. Wealsey left. Harry apparated backed to his dormitory. That night, Harry had a nightmare about the entire night that Sirius died.