Chapter 2 - Fawkes
Harry stared at the old copy of Advanced Potion Making.
"Harry, we can really use this to our advantage."
Harry stared intently at the old book.
He sighed, "Fine."
Hermione gently lifted the text out of his hands, but leap back in surprise as the room was lit with a burst of bird-shaped orange-red fire.
"Fawkes?" Harry gasped.
With another burst of fire, the Phoenix materialized a letter out of the air in front of Harry, who grabbed it as it materialized.
Dear Harry:
Fawkes will have delivered this letter to you, under the circumstances that my body has died. If this is the case, I leave this Phoenix to you. Just call him and he will come. It is my wish that you keep him with you. I believe you may find several good uses for him. I trust that you have continued with your task of finding all of Voldemort's remaining Horcuxes. Don't mourn my passing, as I have told you, in spirit I will always be here, as long as everyone remains faithful to me.
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore
Harry blinked. He showed the letter to Ron an Hermione, who read it over silently. Fawkes disappeared in a third flash of fire.
"We need to go," he said.
"Now?" Ron raised his eyebrow.
"Now… Mundungus might have the locket… He was taking things from Sirius' house."
"Lets wait… at least until tomorrow," Hermione suggested. "We need a plan."
"Alright…"
"Get down here! It's time for supper!" they heard Aunt Petunia scream obnoxiously from downstairs.
They slowly walked down the stairs and towards the dinner table. Eating with the Dursley's was always very awkward. No one talked. No one laughed. No one breathed at an audible level. The one time that Hermione had tried to start a nice conversation, Vernon and Petunia had glared at her so hard that she didn't make another noise until she was back in the safety of Harry's room.
They sat down at the table, in the three oldest chairs, which were positioned very closely together, leaving more than three fourths of the table for the other three, as Petunia placed an overcooked pork roast down next to the steaming brown-green broccoli, very andante green beans, and soggy microwave garlic toast. Vernon and Dudley instantly took five generous slices of meat each. Once they were done stuffing their plates, Petunia took a slice and then placed the serving fork on the opposite side of the plate from Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Harry sighed, reached over, and served Ron, Hermione and himself. He noted, as usual, Dudley's plate was devoid of any vegetables.
This cheerful mood continued throughout the whole culinary experience.
As they were finishing, Harry looked up and said, "We are leaving tomorrow."
Vernon nodded, so slightly that it was barely noticeable.
Harry rolled his eyes and led Ron and Hermione back upstairs.
"Let's pack," Harry said, grabbing his Firebolt, "we are leaving first thing tomorrow."
They spent the rest of the evening getting ready to leave, then went to sleep at a fairly early hour.
The next morning they grabbed their things and headed out of the dreary door for what they hoped to be, the last time. Harry stuck out his wand arm, flagging the purple, triple-decker Knight Bus.
They walked up the steps and saw Stan's replacement, another young teen who looked like he was only a year or so older than Harry. Stan was still held up in the Ministry of Magic after being accused of being a Death Eater.
"Hello, my name is Geor-" Harry cut him off by stuffing some gold into his hands and pushing his way onto the bus.
"We are in in a hurry. Go to Diagon Alley."
"Right Mr. Potter," he said right before quickly passing the instructions onto Ernie, the old driver.
Ernie shifted the bus into a higher gear and the new conductor stumbled, fell to the floor, and then slid gracefully into the back wall of the bus.
The rest of their trip was primarily uneventful until they reached Diagon Alley, baring the one time that Ron was tripped as George, the new conductor, slid under his feet, causing Ron to fall forward and land on top of Hermione, who looked slightly disoriented. Harry helped Ron up, and saw that he looked a little embarrassed.
The bus stopped, and George slid to the doorway, to talk to the witch stepping out of the Leaky Cauldron, and conveniently swept the slick floor on the way past with his uniform. Harry, Ron and Hermione walked into the Leaky Cauldron, as the woman cleared the steps.
AN: Whoa! I updated the story! I know it is short but i will hopefully have a longer chapter or two done soon... maybe by the end of the week... MAYBE...