Harry floated in a world of darkness littered with fuzzy faces that loomed over him. They swam in and out of his vision whispering dire warnings about what lay ahead of him. A larger clearer face then loomed in his vision, that of Bellatrix. She was laughing at him with that cold cackle and exclaimed "We know what hurts you Potter, we know who you love, you cannot hide it from us." Her face faded as Harry sat up in bed his brow sweating and his scar aching. He rubbed his forehead as the ache subsided and faded away entirely.

The vision had been so eerie especially the way it had played on one of his most dreaded fears. He knew, now that Sirius and Dumbledore were gone, that Voldemort would find then find out about Ginny. Chills went through him at the mere thought of the likes of Bellatrix knowing how much he cared for Ginny and the rest of the Weasleys. Another thought occurred to him and unsettled him greatly. His scar, it hadn't hurt for a year now. Suddenly tonight it had acted up again; why had it done so? Could Voldemort have invaded his dreams and discovered Harry's worst nightmares?

Harry stood up from the bed and went to the window while Ron snored away on the camp bed that Uncle Vernon had stored away. Harry looked out at the predawn sky, he could still make a few remaining stars in the sky and wondered if Ginny was watching those same stars. He closed his eyes and leaned his face against the cool glass of the window. He really couldn't stop thinking about her and how much he missed her now that he wasn't near her. He knew in his heart that where Ginny was, was where his home was. He had to protect that home that he knew he would one day come to, once Voldemort was gone.

He opened his eyes and saw he had fogged the window slightly with his breath; it was as opaque as the fog outside. Harry knew what that fog meant and shuddered; were the Dementors near? Were they coming for him as he stood there at his window pining away for Ginny? If his scar's hurting meant anything, it meant he was leaving himself open for Voldemort to read his fears and desires and to know that he cared for Ginny. Though, if Ron was right, Voldemort likely already knew. Harry could feel a huge knot of worry in his stomach now and couldn't get back to sleep.

He was about to close the curtain when he saw Mrs. Figg's lights were still on. A quick glance at his table clock showed it to be four in the morning. Harry was wondering if anything was awry with Mrs. Figg's behavior, standing outside late at night and then leaving her lights on. He couldn't see why anything would be wrong, he was just being paranoid he thought.

Closing the curtain he sat back down on the bed and waited for the sunrise, too full of worry to get back to sleep. He sat there going over scenarios in his mind of what the Dark Lord was likely planning. Horrendous visions of the Burrow being attacked by giants, werewolves, Inferi, Dementors, and who knew what other foul creatures Voldemort had at his command. He could see in his mind's eye the beautiful wedding for Bill and Fleur being destroyed by Lord Voldemort's forces. He punched his leg angrily 'Stop thinking of that, your're just broadcasting yourself for Voldemort, if he's spying into your mind again.'

He couldn't be, could he? Hadn't Snape said that distance and eye contact mattered? Just thinking that name made him boil with anger, the thirst to bring to justice those that had escaped it for so long. Harry was grinding his teeth just remembering that scene on top of the tower now. How cold he had felt soon after, knowing that Dumbledore was gone. He doubted that Voldemort could spy on him when Harry was awake but what about when he slept? Hadn't Voldemort influenced him with the dreams of the Department of Mysteries and Sirius being in danger?

What would happen if he started getting dreams of the Weasleys in danger? What if Ginny was put in the same situation as she was in the Chamber of Secrets? His fists balled up with inner frustration Harry resigned himself that he should have mastered Occulmency and wondered if it was too late to learn how to do it properly, who would teach him that now? 'I'll have to teach myself now, I'm on my own' Harry thought and knew that wasn't entirely true. He did have Ron and Hermione, not to mention the rest of the Weasleys, prominent among them being Ginny. Then there were his friends Luna and Neville, and Lupin and Tonks.

Yes, he did have those he could count on still, but could he bear to risk them in that way? He knew that all of them would say 'Yes' if he asked them. He just wasn't sure he was ready for that kind of responsibility and yet he felt that was what Dumbledore had been readying him for. Hadn't he told him to entrust Ron and Hermione with the knowledge of the Horcruxes? Who else could he tell? For he knew that once he told anyone else they were as tied to his mission as Ron and Hermione. There would be no leaving behind anyone who knew about the Horcruxes.

Harry remembered Slughorn hiding away from the Death Eaters and Voldemort. Harry at the time didn't truly realize why he had been in hiding, having no idea why Voldemort would want Slughorn so badly. Now he knew; Slughorn had known about the Horcruxes, having told Tom Riddle all about them. Slughorn knew too much and that's why the mere knowledge of the Horcruxes was dangerous. Telling anyone about them was like a death sentence from Voldemort. Harry couldn't accept that kind of responsibility for someone's life like that, not for Ginny anyway.

He started as the first rays of dawn slipped into the room from behind the curtains. He still didn't feel tired, more anxious then anything else, he felt restless just sitting here when he should be working towards the location of the remaining Horcruxes. It was then that he looked at the time. It was nearly seven in the morning now. He remembered the prank he was going to play on Dudley and grinned. Yes it was time to make breakfast, the last breakfast he would make for the Dursleys and it was going to be a very special one; with the help of a few ingredients from Fred and George.

It was all he could do to pass the time. He had to wait. It was too soon to leave just yet. He prepared a simple meal. Cooking wasn't his expertise but then it wasn't really hard to make some eggs and bacon. He made a plate for each of the Dursleys, the largest being for Dudley. His appetite wouldn't be able to resist the largest portion of food, Harry thought wickedly as he added in the final secret ingredient. The table was set by the time Vernon and Petunia had come into the kitchen. They both eyed him suspiciously.

"I thought I would make you all a sort of farewell breakfast, since after today I won't be here anymore." Harry said to his uncle and aunt.

Uncle Vernon made a grunt and sat down in one of the chairs, leaving the plate with the larger portion for Dudley. Aunt Petunia, with a narrow-eyed gaze at Harry, seemed to be debating on what to make of the situation. Dudley appeared next into the room and made a beeline for the food. Harry watched as Dudley went for the biggest plate and began eating without saying a word to anyone. Harry just shook his head hiding a grin and left the kitchen, he was chuckling to himself as he entered his room and saw Ron waking up now.

"'Morn, Mate." Ron said as he yawned loudly and stretched.

"Hey, Ron. Come on downstairs. You won't want to miss the show." Harry said mischievously. It felt good to finally get some revenge on Dudley himself.

Ron just grinned as he got out of bed, still wearing yesterday's clothes, and joined Harry in going down stairs to rejoin the Dursleys. Dudley had just finished wolfing his food down as they entered the room. Dudley looked up at his mother with an expectant look on his face and spoke in a high-pitched voice.

"I would like more-" Dudley stopped in mid sentence as he released with horror that his voice had so abruptly changed. His startled look jumped to Harry and Ron who were stifling laughs at Dudley. Uncle Vernon shot the boys a nasty look and Aunt Petunia immediately went to her son and gave Harry a horrified reproachful look.

"Think it's funny, don't you? Constantly bewitching my son, are you? I told you once, Boy, and I've told you a dozen times, I do not put up with that sort of nonsense!" Uncle Vernon said furiously as his face went purple with rage. He was standing up from the table now and began stomping his way over to Harry and Ron.

"I wouldn't." Ron said raising his wand at the approaching Uncle Vernon who stopped stone still.

Uncle Vernon looked nervously at the wand and backed away from Ron. Harry smirked at his Uncle and turned away from them as Dudley continued to blubber in that high squeaky voice. He had to remember to tell the Twins their Mice Rice worked perfectly. It was then that there was a knock at the door.

"I'll get it" Harry said quickly to the Dursleys; thinking that it was probably Hermione.

Harry and Ron went to the door while Ron watched the kitchen over his shoulder to see if Vernon was watching. Harry opened the door and Hermione smiled at the both of them.

"Oh, good. You're awake." Hermione said, seeming worried as she entered the house at Harry's invitation.

"Yeah, Harry wanted to prank Dudley." Ron said as sounds of Dudley's squeaky voice could be heard from the kitchen. Hermione looked incredulously at the both of them.

"Well I just hope that doesn't draw the Ministry's attention. That's the last thing Harry needs." Hermione said scathingly at Ron.

"What are you talking about? It wasn't my idea, he did it all on his own!" Ron said, exasperated.

Harry shook his head in amazement chuckling a little at the pair of them. Usually this show would make him irritated but he had realized recently the reason they fought like this and he knew that somehow they had to get over it.

"What are you laughing at?" Ron shot at him.

Harry shook his head and raised his hands defensively and opened his mouth to say something but was drowned out by the bellowing of Uncle Vernon. He had entered the hallway now and looked to be barreling down on them. Hermione squeaked at his furious look and stood behind Ron.

"You had better put Dudley right, boy, or I'll fix you! I won't have you doing this to him!" Uncle Vernon shouted now, his face going brick red. He glared at Ron and Hermione, both of whom glared back at him with equal anger.

" I don't want your freaky friends here, anymore! I've had enough of your kind coming in here, wrecking my home each time, and terrorizing my family to boot. Well, no more, boy. It's time you get out, after you fix Dudley -- but I want your little freakish friends out, I won't have it! Do you hear me?" Vernon was now standing in front of Harry glaring at him, Harry was incensed with his Uncle; he couldn't stand being bossed around by him and he wasn't going to take that anymore.

"I don't think so, we're going up stairs and you can't stop us. I will be leaving here… but when I'm ready and not at your command." Harry growled through his clenched jaw resisting the urge to jinx his Uncle. Harry looked to Ron and nodded toward the stairs, they started up when Vernon reached out and grabbed Hermione's arm.

"Oh no you don't you little tart-" Vernon began but was cut off by Ron turning on him with his wand out.

"Stupefy!" Ron yelled and a jet of red light smashed into Vernon knocked him back into the wall and he slumped to the floor unconscious. Ron was seething standing there glaring down at the unconscious Vernon. Hermione looked stunned but then worriedly she looked to Ron.

"Ron you shouldn't have.. He wouldn't.." Hermione began in a reproachful tone.

"He deserved it; no one gets away with insulting you Hermione," Ron said simply turning. Away from the unconscious Vernon, Hermione blushed slightly and started to follow Ron upstairs when Aunt Petunia came into the hall. She screamed at the sight of her unconscious husband, running to his side she looked up horrified at Harry.

"What have you done? Why are you doing this to us?" Aunt Petunia said tearfully.

"Isn't it obvious? We've never been on best of terms, have we?" Harry said scornfully as he followed his friends up the stairs, ignoring his aunt's cries. Before he got too far though he turned to look at his aunt and uncle, no matter how angry he couldn't leave them like this.

"Ennervate" Harry whispered and pointed his wand at his uncle, not caring at this point if the ministry knew. Ron had just used a spell himself and they would probably blame him for that as well. His Uncle was waking up now and Harry continued up the stairs to his bedroom.

Harry walked to his door seeing Ron and Hermione standing outside of it waiting for him. They entered and sat down all of them silent for a moment; none of them seemed certain where to start.

Ron looked over to Hermione and was the first to speak sounding a bit apprehensive.

"So you went by the Burrow? How was my mum?" Ron had asked Hermione. Harry watched silently knowing that the response was not going to be to Ron's liking.

"Well.." Hermione started looking tense. "She was angry but I think she understands I mean really you're just as safe here as there, I think. I didn't stay too long though -- just long enough to talk to your mum and Ginny." Hermione told Ron and then looked to Harry.

"Ginny… What did you two talk about?" Harry asked.

"Well, now let me finish before you get angry but" Hermione paused glancing toward Ron as if for support. Ron seemed to unconsciously sit closer to Hermione as she turned back to Harry.

"I told her about the mission, Harry, not all the details -- but really, Harry, I had to. She's my best friend and is like a sister to me." Hermione said defensively as Harry gave a look of growing anger. "Really Harry, you can't expect us ALL to bottle things up," Hermione said quickly unfaltering under his angry gaze.

"What do you mean bottle things up? Hermione she can't know about the Horcruxes, her life is already in enough danger as it is!" Harry said looking between both Ron and Hermione. "So how much DID you tell her?"

"Just that we were going on a mission that would be exploiting a weakness of Voldemorts" Hermione said as Ron flinched at her side and looked reproachful at the mention of that name. "I didn't tell her about the Horcruxes but I told there were things that we had to find to help us destroy Voldemort. Harry I think and so does Ron that she deserves to know, she helped us in the Department of Mysteries -- remember, Harry?" Hermione said to him insistently.

Harry had been clenching his fist and pressing it hard into his leg in anger. His thoughts were in turmoil over Ginny and what was the right thing to do.

'How could she do this? She's putting Ginny in danger…

'She's already in danger'

'Who's fault is that?'

'Mine'

'No Voldemort's, he's the one that wants to kill everybody.'

"Listen Harry I reckon Hermione is right, we need help to track all these Horcruxes down, I mean do you even have any idea where they might be?" Ron spoke up pulling Harry out of his train of thought.

"I've got a few ideas; there's the Orphanage where he grew up, there might even be something at his father's home, at the Riddle house." Harry said to them as he pondered where the Horcruxes would be located. He thought that there was a good chance that Nagini was at the Riddle house, that it would be just as likely that Voldemort himself was there. He however had no idea where the Locket would be and even more troubling was the identity of the mysterious R.A.B.

"We also have to consider that we don't know where Voldemort has his headquarters. It could be at that Riddle House for all we know. " Hermione piped up, Ron at her side nodding silently in agreement.

Harry couldn't argue with that since Voldemort had used the place back in his fourth year but would he still be there? He wasn't so certain of that, the place did warrant investigation he thought.

"Harry, don't tell me you expect just to walk up to these places. If Voldemort has placed one of his Horcruxes there, then there will be traps. Just look at what happened at the Cave with you and D-dumbledore." Hermione's voice had wavered over the name, the pain of his death was still fresh in all their minds Harry thought looking at his two best mates.

"Yeah, I know what you mean" Harry said. He was pensive for a moment and then taking a deep breath he spoke again. "Alright say I agree to letting others come like Neville and Luna. They did help at the Department of Mysteries and at the attack on Hogwarts. However, I don't want Ginny there, I don't think I could handle it if I saw her hurt I wouldn't be able to continue the fight without helping her. Nothing can compromise this mission and if I wavered for one minute, if I let myself be distracted I will fail and that can't happen." Harry finished shaking his head slowly. He felt himself shaking slightly with images of Ginny under attack; he remembered the scene at Hogwarts. He had stopped his chase after Snape, he had helped her even if she didn't need it and that couldn't happen again.

First Ron and then Hermione nodded to Harry's demand they knew when Harry had made up his mind.

The door to the bedroom slammed open has Vernon stood in it's frame, his face scarlet with rage.

"Well boy you've done it now with your little freaks, I'll call the police if you don't get out right this instant!. I'll have the lot of you taken out of here and I don't care what you do or say I've had enough of you in this house!" Vernon bellowed with a manic glint in his eye, clearly thinking he had triumphed over Harry.

Harry stood up and faced Vernon now staring him square in the eye, this man had put him through so much hell through his life. Yet Harry couldn't bring himself to care now, not when there were more important things to attend to.

"Your're mental you know that? I don't need this anymore." Harry said pushing past Vernon's considerable bulk. Vernon gave all three a dirty look as they left the room.

Harry reached the bottom of the stairs and headed to the front door. He had to get out of this house. Would his uncle really call the police? Harry thought he just might and he would rather not be present just in case he did just that. Harry didn't think he could stand being here another hour let alone until his birthday. Ron and Hermione had called after him as they rushed to follow him outside.

Harry let Ron and Hermione catch up with him and he walked with them feeling the warm afternoon sun on his face. It was good to be away from that stifling house and he led his friends toward the play park. On the way he noticed Mrs. Figg again just watching him as they passed, it was an eerie blank look. Harry didn't know why it bothered him but there was something wrong with her he was certain.

Harry gave her a short wave and Mrs. Figg stiffly returned it, she then turned and scuttled back into the house.

"That's who's supposed to be watching you? No wonder you had to fight the Dementors off yourself. " Ron spoke at Harry's side.

"Yeah I guess." Harry said as they continued to walk along the road not really wanting to think about the strange behavior of his batty old neighbor. Arriving at the small playground they each took a seat one of the benches that had been repaired since he was last here.

Hermione summoned up sandwiches she had prepared for them; she said Mrs. Weasley had reminded her to do this for them since she was sure the Dursley's wouldn't.

"Thanks Hermione, oh I'm starved" Ron said taking a bite into a sandwich and looking pleased it wasn't corned beef. Hermione smiled at Ron as they tucked into the food.

After sitting in silence as they ate, Ron looked around the quiet park the wind rustling their hair.

"Not much happens around here does it Harry?" Ron said looking about curiously.

Hermione had a frown etched on her face as she too glanced around the quiet park.

"It is a bit odd isn't it? It's a little too quiet" Hermione said looking apprehensive now.

Now that they had mentioned it Harry too felt there was too much stillness about them. The sun was hanging low in the sky now and Harry felt it had been long enough away from the Dursley house. He wanted to give them a special good bye before leaving; he couldn't stand that house for another day.

"Come on let's go back" Harry said to the other two standing up now.

They walked back in silence, as a thin mist seemed to be forming on the ground now. He recalled something about mist begging a sign that the Dementors were breeding. An unsettling thought of Dementors being near made Harry quicken his steps. He knew that they could all handle a Dementor but there was no telling how many there might be, if there were any at all. It was just better not to risk a confrontation with them if they could avoid it.

It was as they passed Mrs. Figg's house that a shrill voice rang out, that of Dudley's heightened voice.

"Oi! You! I'm going to make you change my voice back!" Dudley had shrieked.

Harry, Ron and Hermione turned as one toward the voice and saw Dudley with his gang beside him. Dudley looked enraged yet there was definitely an air of fear on his face. Harry could almost laugh at this pitiful sight. Dudley's friends were all egging Dudley on to attack Harry.

"So you gathered your little gang to take me on Dudley? Do you really think that's going to work?" Harry taunted his cousin, Ron and Hermione going tense at his side.

"I don't n-need their h-help" Dudley said stepping forward from his gang and pointing a shaking finger at Harry. Behind Dudley his friends were stifling snickers and trying to look intimidating. "Shut it!" Dudley squealed at his gang.

"What's wrong Dudders? Losing control? Not such a big man anymore are you now?" Harry quipped at his cousin, defiantly noticing a look of desperate fear on Dudley's face.

"I w-won't let you g-get away with th-this." Dudley said to Harry raising his fists at him.

"I don't see how you're going to stop me, Dudley." Harry said recklessly knowing that performing magic in front of Dudley's gang would be pushing the limit. He found himself not caring though he had Ron and Hermione with him. Ron snickered at his side and seemed to agree. Hermione on the other hand didn't.

"Harry I think we better go back, something's not right," Hermione whispered at him.

Harry had to agree as he noticed a definite increase in the mist flowing around their feet. The air was growing colder and now the sun seemed to be hidden behind the houses around them, the sky was a fading orange color.

"Yeah let's go, I'm not bothering with him anymore." Harry said indicating Dudley and turning away. Dudley's gang broke out in laughs as they began to walk away from them.

"Come back here! I'm not through with you." Dudley screamed out, he could hear Dudley beginning to follow them. "Shut up, I told you I would knock him a good one, you just watch me!" Dudley was screaming at his gang now.

Harry's breath came out in a fog as he felt the temperature of the air grow to a deathly low level. The sky seemed to fade into blackness; he knew it before he heard the scream.

Harry, Ron and Hermione turned to see one of Dudley's gang on the ground shaking. Dudley himself was backing away quickly from the scene. It was, as Harry had feared, a Dementor was coming at them; it had already neared Dudley's gang.

"Wh-what happened t-to Piers?" One of Dudley's gang said shaking himself and looking about, unable to see the approaching Dementor.

"Get out of here!" Harry yelled at them all, hoping they would run while they still could. He could already feel cold gripping his chest as he pulled out his wand.

"L-lets g-get out of here!" One of the gang exclaimed before they ran off in different directions; Piers still lay on the ground. Dudley was on the ground crawling away whimpering and sobbing.

Ron and Hermione had their wands out now as well and Harry could feel the cold and despair trying to take hold of him. The Dementor was lowering itself over Piers.

"Expec-" Harry's spell was cut off as his vision went dark and he saw Ginny laying near death on the chamber floor. Harry couldn't focus on anything hearing her near death image in his head, he tried to push the image out. A Dementor had come up to the side of them and Ron and Hermione turned to it pointing their wands at it.

"Expecto Patronum" Ron and Hermione shouted and a silvery otter and terrier shot out of their wands and attacked the Dementor. Harry was able to look up now as the terrible scream faded, he pointed his wand at the Dementor over Piers.

"Expecto Patronum!" Harry yelled thinking of Ginny safe at the Burrow. A silvery stag shot out and ran the remaining Dementor off.

Almost immediately Piers stirred and started to crawl away himself.

"Get back… st-stay away f-from me.." Piers stuttered and looking extremely shaken got to his feet and stumbled away.

"Oh let's get out of here before any more show up, Harry," Hermione said through chattering teeth. The air was still deathly cold, however Harry didn't think any more Dementors were near -- at least not yet.

Without a word Harry rushed after the fleeing Dudley with Ron and Hermione. They had just gotten within sight of the Dursley's house when they saw a shadowy figure seem to detach itself from the shadows around it. Dudley who was on the front lawn, was looking up at the figure in fear. As Harry, Ron and Hermione ran closer he saw that it was Bellatrix Lestrange standing towering over the quivering Dudley.

"Why hello, Potter" Bellatrix said in that drawling voice. Dudley, still on the ground began to scuttle backwards, letting out more sobs.

Bellatrix let out a laugh as Harry, Hermione, and Ron pointed their wands at Bellatrix. Bellatrix had her wand pointed at Dudley now and a wicked look spreading across her face. She flicked her wand and Dudley floated into the air hanging limply in front of Bellatrix. Harry wasn't willing to risk hitting his cousin to get at Bellatrix.

"Do you think you are faster then me Potter? Should I torture the little piggy before I start on your little friends? I hope you enjoyed meeting the Dementors again tonight, in fact here comes one now." Bellatrix said in a delighted voice as a swoop of dread overcame Harry.

He could see Ginny again lying cold and pale on the chamber's floor; Tom Riddle was standing over her and the words 'Her Skeleton will lay in the Chamber forever' floated in his mind. He was struggling with the memory pushing it away and forced himself to remember the day he first kissed her. The coldness and despair evaporated as the warmth of the memory flooded him.

"Expecto Patronum!" Harry heard Ron yell at his side as the world came back into focus for him. He could see Ron's Patronus attacking the Dementor.

"Careful Potter you might not be so lucky next time! Now you will come with me Potter; the Dark Lord will reward me for bringing his greatest enemy to him!" Bellatrix exclaimed. "If you do not I shall be forced to hurt your little piggy cousin now won't I?" Bellatrix laughed maliciously.

"Come with you? Azkaban really must have addled your brains if you think I'm stupid enough to fall for that!" Harry yelled back at her and he was raising his wand at her preparing to do something when the front door banged open.

"Leave my son alone!" Aunt Petunia had come running out and looked pale and scared half to death. Uncle Vernon was a few steps behind, but was still at the sight of a full-grown witch. Aunt Petunia was shaking badly but she came at Bellatrix with her hands up as if to rip Bellatrix away. Bellatrix turned to the oncoming Petunia she turned her wand at his Aunt, Dudley fell to the ground.

"Stupid Muggle woman" Bellatrix intoned and before Harry could cast a spell at the now open Bellatrix, Petunia had screamed at the sight her motionless son. White-hot light shot out of Petunia's hands and hit Bellatrix across the face knocking her back and away from Dudley. Petunia threw herself across Dudley's body and she tried to move him and begged him to get up.

Harry was too stunned for speech as was Ron, Hermione, and Uncle Vernon who was goggling at Petunia. Bellatrix had seemed to vanish into the shadows when three loud cracks drew Harry's attention away from his relatives. Lupin and Mr.Weasley had both apparated in the middle of the street both with wands out. They spotted Harry and the rest and still looking around for any danger lurking nearby.

"Harry where is she? Where did Bellatrix go?" Lupin asked as he hurried over to the three of them. Arthur having given his son a quick once over, went to the Dursleys.

"I don't know she just disappeared over there" Harry said pointing to the shadows between the houses.

"Alright, you three stay with Arthur; Moody is with Mrs. Figg now. She was under the Imperius Curse by Bellatrix, I have to make sure she isn't still around." Lupin said looking into Harry's face as if to make sure Harry was all right. Lupin gave Harry a reassuring nod and went into the darkness.

They moved back onto the front lawn of the house where Petunia was still clinging to her son sobbing. Uncle Vernon was just standing there staring at his wife as if he had never seen her before in his life. Mr. Weasley was unsuccessfully trying to get their attention.

"It's no good, you three help me with Mrs. Dursley and Dudley we need to get back inside immediately before anything else shows up." Mr. Weasley said looking a bit pale but steady. Harry, Ron and Hermione began to help Aunt Petunia up when Vernon came out of his reverie.

"N-no! I.. I won't… S-she's…" Uncle Vernon was pointing and accusing finger at Aunt Petunia now who was staring at her husband with a horrified look on her face. She reached out a shaking hand to her husband, her eyes full of tears.

"Ss-stay away from m-me… You lied to me, you LIED" Uncle Vernon's face was growing red as he stared at his wife with rage. Petunia was wilting now under his furious gaze. Harry was still stunned at this revelation and not sure he believed what he had seen. How could this even be?

"No I d-didn't Vernon, you must believe me you must.. I didn't.. I didn't want to be like… like her, my sister. I told him… when I got my letter I told them NO.. I asked him and begged him… He said he would block it, would keep it from ever surfacing. That I would be a M-muggle and it would stay that way unless he…." Aunt Petunia's voice trailed off as she looked away from Vernon to Harry. Who had she been talking about? Someone had taken her magic away when she was young so she could be a Muggle? Who would do that? And the answer came to him, all those letters it made sense now. Dumbledore had blocked her magical abilities so Aunt Petunia could live as a Muggle and never enter the Wizarding World. Harry couldn't comprehend ever wanting to give that up.

In those tear filled eyes Harry could tell she knew what had become of the one that had blocked her magic. With Dumbledore's death many things had come undone and this appeared to be one of them. Mr. Weasley was trying in vain to make them go inside, Ron and Hermione were looking around checking to see if anyone or anything was near.

"So.. so you've always been a witch? Does that mean.. Is Dudley?" Vernon couldn't seem to summon the rest of the words to ask the question he desperately wanted an answer to.

"NO!" Aunt Petunia wailed looking at him now with anguish. "No he isn't, I know he isn't, it was just me Vernon please understand I never wanted to be a filthy-"

"Watch it!" Ron and Harry shot at her hotly. Aunt Petunia shot them an angry look.

"Listen please let's get inside it really isn't safe out here.." Mr. Weasley said pleadingly trying to get Dudley up.

"No! I won't have HER in my house, I won't have ANY of you in my house anymore!" Uncle Vernon spat shooting a very nasty look at all of them.

"Mr. Dursley really listen to reason it's dangerous out here please let us go inside." Mr. Weasley said desperately, he began to point his wand at Dudley.

"No don't you DARE touch my son!" Uncle Vernon bellowed grabbing for Dudley and lifting him up halfway, Dudley still seemed to be in a catatonic state. Uncle Vernon was pulling Dudley toward the front door swearing a storm at them. As Vernon pulled Dudley into the doorway he stopped them from following him inside.

"I don't want any of you here… I can't even look at you anymore." Uncle Vernon said venomously at Aunt Petunia who was sobbing now. Uncle Vernon pulled off his wedding ring, Petunia watching with growing horror. He threw the ring at her with a scornful noise and just before slamming the door he bellowed.

"This is no longer YOUR home." Uncle Vernon had slammed the door in their faces and they could see through the glass Uncle Vernon pulling Dudley away from the window.

Aunt Petunia had fallen to her knees holding the ring in her hand, her whole body trembling. Harry was not sure how to feel about this, he pitied her in some small way. Yet it was her denial of who she was that had brought all this down on her. Mr. Weasley looked angrily at the door for a moment but turned to them.

"I don't really think there is any point to staying here any longer. I want you boys and Hermione to take Mrs. Dursley back to the Burrow now. Don't worry about the ministry, they are uh… busy at the moment." Mr. Weasley said distractedly looking tense now. Had something happened?

"Why what's wrong dad?" Ron asked confused.

"Not now Ron please I have to get you all to safety, just take Mrs. Dursley with you now. The Burrow is still safe so that's where you need to go, now no more arguing. Remus isn't back yet and I need to go find him." Mr. Weasley said over Aunt Petunia's continued sobs.

Harry felt horrible now seeing his Aunt this way, he wasn't a vindictive person, but he had certainly been angry at the way he was raised by them. To see her like this though in such a state of misery; then Mr. Weasley's mention of the ministry trouble. Harry was worried now and was starting to agree with Mr. Weasley, it would be safer away from here. The Burrow had more protections then this place. If the Dementors and Bellatrix knew he lived here, they would just keep coming back.

How did she know though?

Mr. Weasley helped Aunt Petunia to her feet who was still crying, Hermione and Ron both took her hand.

"Come on Harry take my hand, we don't want to lose you." Ron said giving him a weak grin.

Harry took Hermione's and Ron's hands so they formed a circle and he could feel his vision warping and twisting as that compressing feeling enclosed around him. The last sight of Privet Drive vanished and was replaced by the empty field and towering house of The Burrow. Uncle Vernon had been right; Privet Drive was no longer his home; looking at the Burrow, a wave of relief swept through him. He was finally home, for however long it would be, he knew his real home was now in sight.