It was a warm average day on Privet Drive, lawns being mowed and cars being washed. It had been a rather quiet year on Privet Drive, other then the rampant gossip about the state of the government and the strange events in the country. To one Vernon Dursely though none of that mattered, all that mattered was that his home life was quiet without that boy around. Vernon at that moment was spraying down his car with the hosepipe when a loud CRACK shot through the air. Vernon jumped sending water everywhere including on himself, there at the end of the drive stood three teenagers.
Harry with his two best friends Hermione and Ron walked up the drive toward Harry's uncle Vernon. Vernon just stared shakily at Harry thoroughly put off guard. He stammered for a moment before being able to coherently speak. Harry and Ron had made sure their stuff had been sent to the Burrow since they would be there soon enough. Pig and Hedwig had been sent there as well since they wouldn't need them on privet drive. Hermione had told them that she had sent her things along with a letter to her parents explaining that she would be Apperating home later.
"Y-your not supposed to be back until Tomorrow" Vernon said looking between Ron and Hermione, his hose just hanging down his leg now pouring water over his shoes.
"Decided to save you the trip, don't worry though I'm only going to be here a couple days and then I'm gone for good." Harry said scornfully at his Uncle, he would be glad to see the last of this place and he was sure that Vernon would be glad to see the back of him. Vernon just stared at them as they stalked by him.
"And what do you think your doing having… them here, I won't allow it boy." Vernon said his face going red and the vein in his forehead beginning to pulse. Vernon seemed horrified at the very idea and didn't notice Ron whirl around with his wand drawn out, which he pointed at Vernon's throat. Vernon was stone faced looking down at one very angry Ronald Weasley.
"It's really not up to you, Harry may not be of age but me and Hermione are and will demonstrate all that we've learned at Hogwarts." Ron said as Vernon flinched at the very mention of Harry's school. "Yes HOGWARTS" Ron said louder clearly enjoying the look of terror on Vernon's face with a wicked grin reminiscent of the Twins. Harry couldn't help the smile seeing Ron threatening Vernon with the wand.
Hermione looked coldly at Vernon but did give Ron a worried glance, "That's enough Ron come on." she said with a dismissive glance to Vernon and turned away from them as Ron lowered his wand. Vernon just stood there in shock as the three entered the house. Harry gave him a last glance before entering the house and seeing Vernon shutting off the hosepipe. Harry led his two friends up stairs passed a stunned Petunia. As they entered his bedroom Ron snickered behind Harry.
"Did you see the look on that great lump? I don't think it would hurt just to jinx him a good one." Ron said with a vindictive look on his face as he waved his hand with an imaginary wand casting. Hermione just looked at him with a slightly exasperated look but couldn't help grinning at him.
"Yeah but I don't think your dad would like that too much do you?" Harry said with raised eyebrows but smiling all the same. It was going to be a good last visit for once at this place. Ron and Hermione would definitely make sure he wasn't oppressed like he usually was by the Dursley's. He also had a parting gift for Dudley he had been planning on giving him when he finally did leave, something to remember Harry by.
"So we only have to stay a few days then Harry?" Ron asked sitting down on Harry's bed.
"Yeah, so long as I visit once a year and can still call this place home. Until my birthday, that is, and then..." Harry said trailing off and really thinking about the idea of leaving this place for good. Never having to be glared at or having to listen to the grinding of teeth from Vernon or Petunia's cold judgmental stares at him. It was a liberating feeling knowing that he would be truly free of the Dursley's from his life in a matter of days.
"Well we have to plan our next steps I mean when is the wedding being held Ron?" Hermione said looking over to Ron.
"She said they have it planned in about two weeks and she definitely wants you there, Harry." Ron said looking pointedly at Harry to confirm Harry was definitely going there.
"Yeah… " Harry said a bit distantly thinking of the Burrow and those that lived there. His thoughts strayed to Ginny and he remembered a time where they ran along the lakeside, the sun shining in her fiery hair.
"Harry?" Hermione asked looking a bit concerned at him.
"What?" Said Harry startled out of his daydream. He wished he could stop thinking of her, each time he did he found it harder to resist the impulse to go back to her.
"Boy you do have it bad mate." Ron said shaking his head in amazement.
"Shut up, Ron." Harry said shortly and looked away from them. "I've got to talk to my Aunt. She's the only one that I can ask where my parent's lived. She has to know." Harry said, leaving them in the room behind him not wanting to talk about Ginny and how much he missed her.
Harry went down the stairs hurriedly and walked into the living room where Dudley sat in one of the chairs glued to the TV with a blank drooling stare. Harry had a nasty impulse to really glue Dudley to the TV but ignored it and entered the kitchen. Aunt Petunia was standing at the kitchen sink washing dishes, Uncle Vernon was not in sight. Harry wondered vaguely where he was.
"Aunt Petunia." Harry began and Aunt Petunia stilled her hands as her back grew even more rigid then it already was.
"So you're back, are you?" Petunia shot at him.
"Yeah, for a few days but then I'll be leaving for good. Just have to ask you a few things first, though." Harry stated simply, crossing his arms as Petunia still had her back to him.
Petunia just stood there slowly removing her rubber dishwashing gloves. Still not facing him, she inclined her head. It was as though she were trying to pretend he wasn't there despite the fact they were having a conversation.
"Well? Out with it! What is it you have to ask?" Petunia snapped, half turning her head toward him.
Frowning at his Aunt, he began. "Well, for starters, I need to know where my mom and dad used to live. Godric's Hollow. I want to go there. Then…" Harry paused, unsure he wanted to ask this. It had bothered him two years ago when it seemed that Dumbledore had been in communication with Petunia and he had never known. He never asked Dumbledore just how much he HAD said to her. Petunia seemed to know more than she let on about the Wizarding world and Harry wanted to know everything now. No longer was he going to stand the secrets Petunia had kept from him. He wanted to know about his mother; about the life she had lead before being brutally murdered.
"I want to know about my mother, I want to know why you allowed me to stay here if you hate me so much." Harry finished, knowing that the feeling was mutual but still this was his Aunt, his mother's sister and he couldn't leave until he had it out with her about the past. His Aunt slowly turned toward him and he saw her eyes, which were not full of malice or fear. There was a sadness there that he had never seen before; she seemed to realize this by the way he looked at her. Petunia took a deep breath a blinked replacing the sad look with stiff indifference.
"Very well." Petunia said in a business like manner to Harry. "I'll tell you where she lived with." Petunia paused a moment seeming to think better then on calling his father names. "With your father. As for why you were even allowed to stay here… " Aunt Petunia stopped and chewed on her tongue. "I'll let the letters speak for themselves." Aunt Petunia said walking by him and up the stairs.
Harry stood there in the kitchen looking where Petunia had just gone. Taking a seat at the kitchen table he again puzzled on Vernon's absence, he could still hear the TV going on in the living room. Dudley was probably still glued to the television; a minute later Aunt Petunia came back into the kitchen carrying a shoebox, which she plopped on the table.
"There you are all the letters I received… from them. I kept them because I was asked to give them to you when you are of age. Well I guess you will be in a few weeks so there you go, you'll find your parent's old address in there as well. Now I don't have any more time for this none sense I have dinner to prepare." Petunia said turning away from a puzzled looking Harry.
Harry picked up the shoebox and looked to his Aunt who was now thoroughly ignoring Harry's presence and was now preparing to cook dinner for her son and husband. Harry turned from her seeing that he wasn't going to get anything else out of her now and proceeded to climb the stairs. Reaching his room he pushed the door open to see Hermione now sitting on the bed with Ron, their faces very close together. Immediately though Hermione was standing and facing away from Harry though he was sure he caught her blush. Ron gave Harry an awkward grin and glanced to Hermione and back to Harry.
"Harry you should knock, really.." Hermione said in a breathy voice.
"It's my room though." Harry said smiling despite himself.
"Well yes.. Your right… I just meant… Oh it's getting late, I told my parents I would be apperating home…." Hermione said sounding a bit frantic now.
"What? But we just got here." Ron said dismayed.
"Ron I… I can't spend the night… It's not proper." Hermione said trying to give Ron an exasperated look but hid her face because of the severe blush. She covered her face with a hand. "Oh you both are so horrible, I'll be back in the morning," She said as Ron got up from the bed he went to put his arms around her and CRACK she was gone and his arms only found air.
"Wait…" Ron said uselessly to the air looking very disappointed.
"It's alright Ron" Harry said to his best mate pulling out his desk chair and sitting on it. "We'll see her tomorrow, we have to do some planning now anyhow." Harry said putting the shoebox on his desk.
Ron who was looking distracted out the window at the slowly setting sun looked to Harry with a start.
"Yeah I know… So what's in the box?" Ron asked sitting back on the bed and nodding to the shoebox.
Harry opened the box and began to pull out letters, which still resided in addressed envelopes. There were four all together, one addressed to his Aunt and Uncle from his mother and father. Another addressed to his Aunt and Uncle but with no return address show. His throat choked as he recognized the familiar handwriting and saw the remaining two letters were also from Dumbledore with his handwriting though they were only addressed to his Aunt.
"Letters to my Aunt and Uncle from my parents and… Dumbledore." Harry said thickly the wound feeling freshly ripped open. It was still too soon after his death to not feel the pain of loss at the mere thought of his name. It had been the same with Sirius, he had lost so many that he cared for and this was exactly why he couldn't risk Ginny. If he lost Ginny the way he lost the rest he felt he would lose his mind. He bowed his head and clenched his eyes fighting the sting of tears in his eyes. He felt Ron's hand grip his shoulder silently standing now next to him.