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Chapter 4: Harry's Departure
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Harry awoke at the Dursleys, with his scar burning. This was not unusual, as he knew he dreamed about Voldemort... again. He remembered the dream perfectly. Wormtail was being told of a plan that Voldemort thought was going better than expected... because of his illness? Interesting, Harry thought. It also wasn't unusual that Voldemort was plotting Harry's death, since, well, when wasn't he?
Harry put his glasses on. He'd been at the Dursleys for about two weeks since the Ministry incident, and Voldemort was recovering from his illness. Harry wondered if he could catch the flu, too, since Voldemort had used Harry's own blood to resurrect himself from... whatever he was.
Harry didn't really want to think of this, though. He knew now that he was the only one who could kill Voldemort... after the Ministry incident, Dumbledore had taken him back to his office and showed him the prophecy Voldemort had so desperately wanted. Harry knew that eventually, he would either be the murderer or the murdered.
Harry hoped it wouldn't be the last one.
It was nearly 11. Harry's birthday was the following day. That meant that he would be headed to Ron's. He would give Ron and Hermione an oral account of the events at the Ministry. They were both there, but they didn't see the sick Voldemort... Harry wondered if Voldemort's condition would frighten Ron as it did Fudge. He read in the Prophet that Fudge might be sacked any day now for 1) not believing Harry (Harry smirked a little when reading this and thought I told you so) and 2) forcing the labor of every official in the Ministry in common Muggle work. It looked like his replacement (if he was sacked) would be Rufus Scrimegour.
Harry wondered how he was getting to the Weasley's this time. Before his second year at Hogwarts, Fred, George, and Ron rescued Harry from his room with the Ford Angela. Year three, Harry had left on his own and found the Weasleys in Diagon Alley. Year four, Mr. Weasley, Fred, George, and Ron used Floo Powder to retrieve Harry. Year five, a group of Aurors sent the Dursleys off to an award ceremony for a contest that did not exist to rescue him.
Now, it was time to see what would happen this time.
Harry then remembered: Dumbledore was taking him. Dumbledore told him in a letter that he inherited all of Sirius Black's possessions, including a disgruntled house-elf, Kreacher. Kreacher was sent by Harry to work in the school kitchens at Hogwarts. Dumbledore also said that he was going to get classes from him at Hogwarts this year, but about what, Harry didn't know. Dumbledore said it would help him fight Voldemort.
But what about the flu?
The Dursleys would laugh themselves to death if Harry told them he was worried about catching the flu. They already thought he was strange... he didn't need to prove it.
Well, it wouldn't matter if Dumbledore found the anti-virus.
11 o'clock.
Doorbell rang.
Dumbledore.
Harry panicked and threw everything he could into his school trunk.
He panicked even more when he remembered that he didn't tell the Dursleys that Dumbledore was coming to take him away.
"WHO'S CALLING AT THIS BLOODY TIME OF NIGHT!" screamed Uncle Vernon.
Harry ran down the stairs and saw Dumbledore in the doorway.
"Good evening. I'll take it Harry told you about my arrival?"
The unfriendly silence lasted until Dumbledore said politely with a smile, "Well, I'll take it he did not." He stepped in. "Ready to go, Harry?"
Harry bolted upstairs, finished packing, and bolted back downstairs. Harry nearly tripped over himself twice.
"Farewell. But before I actually leave, I must tell you that you should let Harry come back here one more year before the magic I placed on this house runs out. He comes of age next year, at 17 years of age. Thank you for your hostility- I mean, hospitality." Dumbledore left a few cough drops in a bowl he conjured up on the Dursleys' perfectly clean kitchen counter.
"They're an assortment of my favorite flavors. They're only cough drops. Ta!"
Dudley, Harry's overweight cousin, eyed them fearfully. The last time he ate anything a wizard left behind, his tongue became four feet long. This was one treat he was going to avoid at all costs.
Dumbledore took Harry's hand and Disapparated (Dumbledore Disapparated, he brought Harry along) and appeared at the Burrow.
"This is where I leave you, Harry: you are in good hands now." Dumbledore Disapparated again, leaving Harry at the Burrow.