Hi everybody…another long week is over…and I'm so tired right now…I would just plop down on my bed and never move again if I didn't have Au Pair tugging at my conscious.

I think the joke contest went pretty well! I have indeed picked a winner: ShOrTnSwEeT9013, whose joke about a married couple gave me laugh cramps. Congrats, Binky – I'll be contacting you with more information!

So, I'm done with my ranting for now. Back to Au Pair.

Disclaimer: Nothing in this story is mine, except for Peine the owl and perhaps the name Tabitha.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

At 11:45 the following morning, Harry was ready and waiting in his room for Dumbledore to show.

He had already cleared it with Tabitha, not bothering to excuse himself with the Dursleys. It was Monday, a weekday, and they would all probably be too busy to even notice Harry's absence.

The minute and hour hand on Harry's watch had just joined at twelve when a small burst of flame appeared in midair next to his bed, with Dumbledore and Fawks the phoenix following a second later.

"Hello, Harry," Dumbledore spoke, dusting off his robes of ash.

"Good morning sir," Harry replied

When he had finished, Dumbledore cocked his head, and asked, "Wouldn't you like to know how I take my tea, Harry?"

"Er…sorry?"

"Did you receive a pamphlet from the Ministry a few weeks ago?"

And Harry remembered, "Oh, you mean, how do I know it's really you, sir, and not an impersonator?"

The Headmaster's eyes twinkled. "For future reference, I enjoy several spoonfuls of sugar, and just a dash of milk. I doubt there is any way a Death Eater imposter could discover that information, since my tastes change monthly. Now, are you ready to go?"

Harry nodded.

"Excellent. Well, Fawkes is going to take us directly to one of the meeting offices in St. Mungo's. Hold on to his feathers tightly, now. There, that's it."

"Professor?" Harry asked, grasping the bird's tail awkwardly. "Couldn't you just Apparate us there?"

Dumbledore smiled. "No, I cannot, and I shall explain why when we get there."

Harry took the hint, and shut up.

o-o

"So Harry, I believe you wanted to know why I didn't simply Apparate to and from Privet Drive instead of using my phoenix as I did?"

They were sitting in a cozy office in the hospital. The top floor of St. Mungo's was largely comprised of meeting rooms and physical therapy gymnasiums. This was a corner office, with window views of urban London on two of the walls. A large table sat in the center with several chairs tucked underneath. According to Dumbledore, the room had been placed under privacy charms to ensure that no one could listen in on their conversation. Harry was glad of this – he didn't need any more information on his whereabouts getting leaked to Voldemort.

"I did, sir."

Dumbledore nodded and explained. "Before you arrived at Privet Drive last month, I placed a number of protection charms on your Aunt and Uncle's house to keep any – er, unwanted persons out. Many of those spells I have invented myself, but one is an anti-Apparition charm. No one can Apparate in or out of the house or its property unless given permission by the caster."

Harry interrupted. "But Mr. Weasley, and Fred and George – "

"All received my approval," Dumbledore finished. "It may not seem this way, but –"

The office door opened, and Dumbledore was interrupted by Mr. Weasley, who apologized quietly for being late.

"Not at all Arthur, not at all." Dumbledore gestured for him to sit in an unoccupied chair near him.

When the distance between them was shortened, Harry would see more clearly how terrible Mr. Weasley looked. Underneath his lopsided glasses, his eyes were rimmed with red. Worry lines that Harry was sure hadn't been there on Saturday morning creased his forehead, and his robes were disheveled.

"I was just explaining to Harry about the protection spells that were placed on his home." He turned back to Harry. "Two weeks ago, when you woke to find that your bedroom ceiling had apparently disappeared -"

"You know about that?" Harry winced.

"Oh yes," Dumbledore smiled. "The reason for Arthur's delay in helping you was his need to request my withdrawal of the anti-Apparition in order for him to come to you."

Harry nodded. Then he remembered something. "Sir, do you know why the Ministry never contacted me about that day? I mean, I used accidental magic, didn't I?"

Dumbledore was quiet for a few moments. "I cannot say why, Harry. But surely, you don't wish that they had?"

"Of course not!"

"Well then, the matter is settled." Dumbledore said bluntly, and changed the subject. "Since we're already on the subject of protection, I should explain the events of Saturday." He cast a quick glance at Mr. Weasley, who expressed no emotion. "A number of precautions were taken so that you would be able to visit the Weasleys before yesterday."

"But Ron only Owled me that morning."

"Funnily enough, Mr. Weasley seemed to have forgotten to actually invite you, having assumed from all the hubbub that you had already been asked." Harry smirked at his friend's predictability. "Anyway, a team of Ministry of Magic workers spent a good deal of Friday afternoon securing the Burrow property, the field where the family usually has their picnic, and the path that connected the two spots. One of the spells that was placed on the area was the anti-Apparition charm. Just as it is on Privet Drive, no one could Apparate to or from the Burrow unless they had received permission from the caster of the spell. Only a few people were given that power, and even they could only Apparate around the property, not into or out of it."

"So," Harry connected the dots in this head. "Fred and George had to see you and the Ministry of Magic before they came to get me?"

"Correct. Misters Weasley needed to ask the Ministry if they could leave the Burrow and reenter it later, and they needed my permission to enter your aunt and uncle's house and leave from it with you. And even then, they could only Apparate to a designated corner of the Burrow property. Everywhere else was blocked.

"While you were all at the campground, Death Eaters broke into the Burrow, having assumed that you were there, Harry. At around that time, Arthur went back to check on the house. I should mention," Dumbledore added, "that he was one of the only people involved who was able to Apparate around the Burrow. He came back immediately to warn you all of the danger."

"It was my fault." Mr. Weasley croaked, speaking for the first time since his arrival. Harry saw that he had his head buried in his hands. "It's my fault…that M – Molly is…is… I shouldn't have…shouldn't have gone back…I should have ran into the woods and come straight to you, Dumbledore!"

"You mustn't blame yourself for putting the others in danger, Arthur," Dumbledore comforted him. "You panicked; you weren't responsible for your actions. And unless you were the masked wizard who pointed his wand at Molly and used the Cruciatus on her twelve times, then you are in no way responsible for her current state."

"I didn't know," Mr. Weasley continued, now sobbing. "I th – thought that the others would know to stay there…I didn't think that M – Molly would follow with everyone… I was going to Apparate to the safe spot and go directly to the Mi – Ministry…I d – didn't know…"

Long minutes of silence passed. Dumbledore seemed to think that letting Mr. Weasley cry himself out was the best way to help him, but Harry was thoroughly uncomfortable watching a grown man cry.

Finally, when Mr. Weasley had calmed a little, Dumbledore spoke, although rather tentatively. "Arthur…would you mind if I explained the rest to Harry?"

Mr. Weasley rubbed his eyes. "Of course not. Go ahead, I'm sorry for distracting you," he mumbled weakly.

Dumbledore shook his head. "Not to worry, not to worry… Well Harry, I understand how complicated this Apparition protection must seem to you. Just about every member of the Weasley family had some different restriction regarding Apparition from another. Even I myself am a bit iffy on the matter. But there was one person who understood all of this, and had the most authority in the situation. Do you know who I speak of?"

Harry shook his head.

"The Ministry official who set the charm." Dumbledore answered his own question. "Yes, this mysterious wizard, whom nobody I've talked to seems to know much about. I believe there is a Death Eater working in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement."

"And nobody knows who he – or she – is?" Harry bit his lip.

Dumbledore shook his head. "No, no one in the Department is sure who cast that specific charm, and the record containing the names of those workers who were at the Burrow on Friday is missing."

"Well, what about Fred and George? Didn't they have to see the person to get permission to leave?"

"No, the twins corresponded with them by owl," Dumbledore said regretfully. "But a team of Order members are researching the case now, and they will be making excellent progress as usual. Now Harry, I wanted to talk to you about the rest of your summer."

"You want me to leave Privet Drive , right?" Harry predicted.

"Actually, I don't see any reason why you should have to leave your Aunt's house until September," Dumbledore told him calmly.

Harry blinked in surprise. "But – professor – I mean, if the Death Eaters were able to break into the Burrow, don't you think there's a chance they could come to Privet Drive as well?"

The Headmaster shook his head. "No, I don't believe so, Harry. I was the one who placed the protection spells on the house, not a Ministry employee, and I am fairly confident that no one – not even Lord Voldemort himself –" (Mr. Weasley shuddered) "would be able to break them. Not to mention that your Aunt's blood protection will keep you safe as long as she is near you. Those are very strong forces to penetrate."

Harry still protested. "But…my Aunt is pregnant, she should be going into labor in the middle of August – she won't always be around –"

"Surely, they wouldn't leave you at home when they go to the hospital?"

"I wouldn't put it past them." Harry said darkly.

"Well, if that is indeed the case, then I will see fit to have you moved for as long as needed, until Petunia is once again healthy and home at Privet Drive." Dumbledore assured him, with a light tone of voice that would still cause him to regret arguing back.

Harry was completely shocked. He had been certain that Dumbledore would have him spend the rest of the summer in a safer place than his Aunt's. It was true that he wouldn't be able to stay with the Weasleys, now that they were semi-permanent residents of the Leaky Cauldron, and there weren't many other places where he was sure of being welcomed. But the one place Harry had been sure of Dumbledore's confidence in had been Hogwarts. Hadn't he heard over and over again that Hogwarts was one of the safest places in the world? Wouldn't Dumbledore be able to watch him personally? Wasn't it true that the school sometimes made special accommodations to house students who had no where else to go? Harry couldn't help but think that logic was on his side on his subject. He didn't belong at Privet Drive, and it said a lot about Harry's trust in Dumbledore's judgment that he let is pass without argument.

o-o

After the meeting was over, Dumbledore and Mr. Weasley took Harry downstairs to the Weasleys so he could see Ron and visit Ginny. Harry didn't ask about Mrs. Weasley, though, afraid that any mention of his wife would make Mr. Weasley break into tears again.

Harry was back at Privet Drive by two o'clock. He had missed lunch, but Tabitha was happy to fix him a tuna sandwich and bring it to his cupboard. They talked for a little while, and Tabitha left again to finish polishing the silverware, yet another one of the many pointless and time-consuming tasks the Dursleys had assigned her.

Harry was alone again. He fell back onto his tiny bed – the one he hadn't touched for five years until that month.

And the one I'll have to sleep on for another whole month.

Given the circumstances, Harry was surprised that he wasn't more upset with Dumbledore. For one reason or another, the Headmaster had condemned him to an extra month with three of his least favorite people. It was a shock – even Hermione had guessed that Harry would be able to leave Privet Drive. So why didn't Harry feel more hostile towards Dumbledore? Why did he even feel a little…happy about it?

Was it because the Dursleys were finally becoming bearable ? Harry actually laughed aloud at that thought. As if that would ever happen. Was he looking forward to seeing the new baby? Not really. Harry had long ago decided that three Dursleys was enough.

Harry turned to get more comfortable – no easy feat on so small a bed. He could only suppose that now, with the au pair living at Number Four, he would at least be certain that August wasn't going to be a completely horrible month.

o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o

Gosh guys, I'm sorry about this, but I'm going to have to put off the review responses until tomorrow or later this week. Please understand – I'm just so exhausted.

Trivia Question: Umm…what's the capital of Uruguay? (True, this has nothing to do with Au Pair, but someone needs to tell me so I can get my Spanish homework done.)

(Yawn)…adios…

LaRohaZeta