7th HP Book - The Beginning
It was twilight as Harry walked almost mechanically along Wisteria Walk, his head was buzzing; was he truly about to leave Privet Drive forever? When Dumbledore picked him up from this same place just last year, he had said Harry would only come back to retrive his belongings then leave and never return. The thought of Dumbledore brought a burning sensation to his eyes and Harry struggled to fight back tears. It had been just two short weeks since Dumbledore's funeral. Tonks and Lupin were around somewhere, they were instructed to give Harry his privacy, but Harry did not wish for them to catch him crying again. First his parents, then Sirius and now Dumbledore? He had never felt so hopeless in his life. Voldemort would just continue to pick off everyone that he held dear until there was no one left.
Harry's eyes locked on the door to the home he had loathed as far back as he could remember, but this time, it looked different somehow. Could he really be sad that he was finally leaving Privet Drive? Harry waved these thoughts away like flies, he must just still be upset about Dumbledore. Harry rose his hand tentitavely to knock on the door, took a deep breath, and knocked. There was bustling around to be heard inside the house and finally the lock clicked and the door opened the tiniest crack. Aunt Petunia's horse-like face appear through it, she looked Harry up and down and finally, silently, let him in. The house was depressing. The windows, which looked normal with curtains drawn on the outside, were boarded up, the door had about eight shiny new locks on it, and the once blindingly clean kitchen looked as though it was in desperate need of attention.
Uncle Vernon, eyes locked on Harry, said quietly "What are you doing here boy?", Harry started to explain but Uncle Vernon cut him off. "We waited for you like usual at that train station and you never came." Harry took this moment to truly take in his uncle's appearence. Uncle Vernon had lost weight, his moustache was now a depressing, wilted, grey reflection of it's former self, his suit was wrinkled and broken in, quite unlike the crisp fresh-from-the-cleaners look he usually wore. "Well?" said Uncle Vernon, eyes instintively darting around at all the windows and doors, as if expecting to be attacked from all sides. "School let out early this year," Harry explained, and, deciding not to waste any more time, he added "I've come to get my things and...and then I'm off to live with my friend Ron's family." Uncle Vernon didn't ask anything more, just stared at him as though he were asleep, with his eyes open. Aunt Petunia, however, who Harry had almost forgotten was also in the room, said so quietly Harry barely heard her "Is..has he...is Voldemort killing again?" Harry turned to face his Aunt, and for the first time in his life, truly felt pity for her. She looked terrified, pale, and whispy. Harry walked toward her slowly, and very awkwardly, embraced him Aunt for the first time in his life. Aunt Petunia clung to him as though he was her last hope in the world. Harry said "Yes Aunt Petunia, he is." She started sobbing on his sholder, and Uncle Vernon walked over slowly and took her from Harry.
Feeling very out-of-place, Harry decided to leave them together and go upstairs to pack up the few things he didn't bring with him to Hogwarts, his trunk and Hedwig's cage had already been taken to The Burrow. He found his bedroom, not untouched as it usually was whenever he returned, but a complete mess. It was exactly clean and tidy when he left it, but the room looked as though it had been hit by a tornado, books, bed sheets and parchment thrown all over, drawers emptied and the entire closet contents on the floor. Harry's first thought was that a death-eater had been here, but then he realized, it must have been Aunt Petunia, desperate to know how to guard herself, and her family, against Voldemort. Harry simply picked up a bag from the debris and began to root through it, finding what he needed. He picked up the loose floorboard and was releived to see that it had remained untouched, there were a few daily prophets, some quills, and old textbooks still there that he tossed into the bag. With one last quick glance around the room that had been his home for the past four years, he walked back into the living room.
Dudley was sitting on the sofa, he had lost weight too, sitting and staring at television screen. His eyes wandered slowly to Harry, then back to the television, he said dully "you're leaving then? never coming back?" "yes." and Dudley, spoiled, pampered, bullying Dudley then said "Harry, I'm sorry." and Harry didn't need an explanation, he understood perfectly, "thanks" he said softly, and walked back into the kitchen. Aunt Petunia had a small glass of brandy in front of her and Uncle Vernon was watching the news. They both stared at him as he walked in, then went back to their own activites. Harry took a deep breath and said "Well, er, bye then", Uncle Vernon nodded and Aunt Petunia gave him an odd look that might, to Aunt Petunia, have been a smile. Then, turning around slowly, Harry opened the door, and left Privet Drive.