Disclaimer: See Chapter I

Chapter 3: The Price of Exit

Harry numbly shook his hand as Petunia finally reacted.

"I thought you were dead, we got a telegram saying something to you had happened in the Falklands…"

"No, you hoped I was dead." Alexander spoke genially as he took over a chair that was normally Vernon's domain alone. "That telegram from the Ministry of Defense said I was wounded remember? At Goose Green?"

Vernon nodded slowly and asked, "That doesn't make much sense. You said you left behind that nonsense with Lilly and gone into the Army in what, December? And…"

"And by mid June I was in a field hospital after that scuff-up at Goose Green, the new boy who stopped a few rounds with his knees."

Alex took his cane and tapped the sides of both knees one at a time. "Stainless steel, Birmingham's Best." He laughed and continued. "After that I spent about four months learning how to walk and run again, but that stupidity earned me one thing. A free education, courtesy of John Bull and the loving British people at Sandhurst and the University of Cheshire."

Seeing their confusion, he explained, " My commander recommended me and a friend of mine who had did something just as stupid to be trained as officers and a follow-on education."

"So after going through that, I was commissioned and sent to the Royal Green Jackets. I got this in South Armagh." He tapped the green eye. "Car bomb exploded. Took the terrorist in it with it, but also took four lads at the outpost, an RUC traffic cop, and my eye with it."

Petunia looked horrified. Dudley gasped out, "That isn't a real…"

"No, it's a bit of glass, see…" Where upon he took the pinky on his left hand and poked out the eye, held it up for a second, and placed it back in as though playing with one's eyeball was a normal thing to do.

Petunia made a grasping sound and hurried to the privy. Dudley stared at his uncle with what looked like shock…and awe, while Uncle Vernon looked as though words were failing him.

Harry, who had seen people frozen into comas and attacked by giant spiders, wasn't as badly fazed though something about the eye seemed familiar.

As Uncle Alex put it back in, the eye turn right and then left before focusing directly on Harry. Harry watched it, and then saw it turn itself over, briefly seeing the white of the eye.

Wait, that's the same kind of eye Mad-Eye Moody has!

As though he could read Harry's thoughts, Alex winked, startling Harry.

Before Harry could speak, Vernon had regained his composure.

"So what are you doing here? Surely the Army has a posting for you overseas…"

"Yes, it would be nice, but even though they kept me on I had to take medical discharge after that nice eight month trip to Saudi Arabia. After all, with the Soviets gone, there wasn't much need for men like me, so I made my way out before I was thrown out in the downsizing that followed."

Vernon grunted, "So are you looking for work?"

Alex laughed, "No, I'm quite happy working for Struan's Tobacco in Belize, but I was transferred over here recently and I was hoping we could talk business."

Harry had to stifle a grin for there were really only two things that got Vernon worked up: abusing him, and making money.

Vernon asked hurriedly, "Oh? What sort of business?"

"A thousand quid worth."

Vernon's eyes widened as asked if Alex wanted a drink before they started business. Alex demanded a scotch, with one ice cube and no water as Vernon hurried to get his drink for him.

"Anyhow, the assignment I'm on I figured I'll be able to combine business with, if not pleasure then at least fulfill my duties as an uncle."

Vernon looked confused.

"I'm authorized two people to help me establish this hunting lodge for the company near the Welsh border around Hereford. Way I figure, I can get acquainted with my nephews while at work."

"And what does this have to do with business?"

"Simple, I'm offering you a business contract to supply hand tools to Struan's Construction which is opening in Belfast in October. I'm authorized a two thousand pound advance on just to open talks. Interested?"

Vernon looked astonished, for to him this was as though a bag of money had just dropped into his lap. He nodded, but before he could speak Alex went on.

"Good, now there is one condition." By now, Petunia had returned and was listening intently. Money was as appealing to her as it was Vernon.

"The boys will be with me during the summer. I'll be returning the two of them to you about three days before school starts for either of them. Both of them will miss their birthdays more then likely here." Seeing the horrified expression on Aunt Petunia's face, Alex chuckled.

"Don't fret Petunia, it isn't as though I'm taking them with me to darkest Africa. Just a trip into the backcountry of Wales, nothing much really. Besides, I'll leave a forwarding address where you can forward, at the company's expense, his and Harry's birthday presents."

Vernon looked at Petunia, who still seemed undecided. Harry couldn't exactly blame her as the thought of spending the rest

"Did I also mention that the time there would be spent at physical labor? It looks as though Dudley could use a bit of conditioning."

Petunia nodded, asking, "All right just please bring back my Duddikins back in one peace."

Alex grinned, "Believe me, he'll leave a boy but return a man. Now the barrister to contact here is one that has worked for Struans for years." He pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket but then spoke to Dudley and Harry, "Before I go on, I want you two to pack lightly, bring one set of civilian clothes besides what you are wearing now, a good coat, toiletries, and something to read or amuse yourself with on the trip up there in a separate bag from your traveling cases. Also, since I know both of you go to boarding school, pack up your kit and bring it down here. You can store it at my place down the street. Either of you have any pets?"

"Yes sir, an owl."

"Don't worry then Harry, my housekeeper Linda happens to have an owl herself, and has all that is needed to keep one spoiled rotten."

Harry was unsure whether to tell him that this was an owl used to the wizard world, but then he noticed Alex idly playing with his watch chain. Suspended at the end of which was the Hogwarts seal showing the four houses, and the Hogwarts words: DRACI DORMIENS NUNQUAM TITILLANDUS.

Alex grinned as he finished, "Good, now move along both of you. Time is like money, and I don't like losing either." He then went back to discussing the contract with Vernon and proceeded to give the phone number of a broker who would help arrange the deal.

As Harry ran up the stairs to his room, he wondered how this was going to affect his studies. Unlike Dudley, he didn't have the luxury of a work free summer.

Yet, he decided to think of that later as he had packing to do.

*      *      *

Harry hurried up and starting packing. Without much time, he grabbed a pair of slacks, a blue collared button shirt, pair of socks, a down jacket he had, and stuffed them into a black traveling bag he had been given by one of the neighbors for helping fix their car. His toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, and comb) he stuffed into a plastic bag and put them in with his clothes.

Everything else in his room he shoved into his two traveling cases and two suitcases, taking time only to make sure he had everything. Harry wanted to leave nothing for his Aunt and her husband to paw over. Placing them together, he grabbed Hedwig in her cage and began pushing the whole ensemble towards the stairs.

Alex, who had been sipping a drink, looked up as he saw Harry moving his luggage to the front door. "Hold on Harry, I'll give you a hand." Alex put down his drink on a coffee table and ran up the stairs.

Quickly, he grabbed a case and carried it down the stairs. Harry clutched Hedwig's cage and a suitcase ran down and deposited it next to the door. As he turned to get the other one and the case he saw Dudley had carried down his other suitcase and trunk down the stairs and was pushing it towards the door. Not looking at Harry's eyes, Dudley pushed them next to Harry's other luggage, and started to carry down his luggage.

Alex asked, "Well what you waiting for Harry? Help him."

Together, Harry and Dudley carried the assorted suitcases down and piled them near the door.

"Wait here, let me bring my car around. It'll save us a bit of time just carrying the kit over to my place in shuttles."

With that, he put on his derby, picked up his cane and ran out the front door. Within two minutes, a black Land Rover had pulled out of the parking lot of the house down the street and had pulled in front of the Dursleys. Alex jumped out and opened the rear door and started loading luggage into the rear.

Harry and Dudley quickly helped out and within minutes had loaded it. Alex bid farewell to Vernon and Petunia, reminding them to merely drop any birthday presents off at his house down the street so his housekeeper could forward them to him. Dudley kissed his mother goodbye after he shook hands with his father. Harry merely nodded towards the glowering gaze of his Aunt and her husband as they loaded up in the Land Rover.

Pulling out of the Dursleys driveway, Alex did a U-turn in the empty street (it was about 8 PM and everyone was at home sitting in front of the television watching the weekend game between Manchester United and London Arsenal) and drove the few yards to his house.

There, Alex got out and ordered them, "Right lads, leave the bag with your toiletries and civvies in the car, and dump the rest of the inside. Then, make yourself comfortable as I want a bit of tea 'for we leave. Understood?"

Both boys nodded as they started unloading the car. Hedwig was flapping her wings and seemed to want to go out, but Harry calmed her down with an owl treat he had stashed in the cage next to the water.

The door to Alex's house opened as a tall, pert woman with auburn hair came out.  She wore gray wizard robes over what looked like a green dress. "Need anything, Alex? I got everything rather well settle. And I have a pot of Earl Grey on the boil."

Alex went up and kissed her briefly on the lips as his hand shot into her robes. It was obvious he had been touching something he shouldn't have as his housekeeper laughed and slapped him away. Laughing, Alex turned towards his open-mouthed nephews.

"Lads, I present to you my housekeeper Linda Soames. She'll be keeping care of your kit while you're away. But before I continue, let's head in."

Arm around her waist, Alex lead his nephews into the house. It seemed to be like the Dursley house, albeit a bit unfurnished with some items still in packing crates. There were the usual things of television, couch, a handsome pair of chairs, and a coffee table in the living room.

Quickly, the boys and Alex moved everything into the living room.

But just as Harry was about to ask where to move the luggage to, Alex motioned Harry and Dudley aside as he closed the door. Alex looked quickly to see that all the curtains were closed then grinned at Dudley, "Want to see something neat, Dudley?"

Dudley, looking puzzled, nodded.

Tossing his hat and cane onto the sofa, Alex got up and looked straight down the hallway towards a room. "Linda, is the room next to the master bedroom empty?"

"Yes, Alex"

Taking a deep breath, he stared at the luggage. Squinting, he spoke.

"Wingardium Leviosa!"

With that command the assorted cases and trunks rose up and flew neatly into the room he was looking at and neatly stacked and sorted each other out. One stack of Harry's, another with Dudley's.

Harry was in awe for this was the first time he had seen a wizard execute a major spell without the use of a wand. Alex, his uncle, must be one hell of a wizard to pull something off like that. If that is so, then what the fuck was he doing in the British Army, and not…Harry lost his train of thought as Alex spoke to Dudley, who had watched the whole thing open mouthed.

"Go get some tea from Linda, I have business to discuss with Harry here."

Dudley nodded and left them.