CHAPTER THREE:

As soon as he said goodbye to Sirius, Harry ran back in to speak to his aunt. She was sitting quietly with Rosie, both nervously waiting for a decision that would change their lives.

"He said yes" Harry laughed, too delighted to think of anything beyond the fact that he was going to see Sirius, not just for the rest of the summer, but forever more. He would have a home, with no Uncle Vernon. Dudley, yes, but Harry knew he would behave in a wizard's house. And Dumbledore couldn't say anything because Harry was still with his aunt.

Aunt Petunia nodded. She had been sitting silently for the past few minutes, and had that look of disbelief that people have when they can't believe that, this time, something has gone right. Suddenly she smiled. It was not the practised business smiles that Harry was used to, or the cold smiles that she used to pretend to people that she cared for her nephew. No, this was a young, radiant smile that seemed to bring out the green tints in her pale eyes, that showed the signs of magical power that existed in this woman.

Harry thought she looked beautiful in that moment, more beautiful than in any dress or after any trip to the salon.

"We'll have to make plans" Aunt Petunia said carefully. "Vernon cannot know we are leaving until we're gone otherwise he'll stop us." Harry nodded. "Right" his aunt continued, "It's only a few hours until dawn. Harry, go to your room and pack your things. If Vernon does see that you have then just tell him that you've been invited to stay somewhere for the rest of the summer. He won't stop you, he'll just be glad to get you out of the house. Rosie, go home and get your things, and tell whoever you tell at the place, then come back here. You can sleep in the guestroom for the night and I'll just say an out-of-town friend was desperate for a place to stay the night because of how late she arrived. I'll deal with Dudley's and my things. Is Siri expecting us any particular time?"

Harry shook his head. "No. We can just floo over whenever we want." The ministry had connected the fireplace on Dumbledore's orders to make life safer and easier for Harry.

"Good. Tomorrow, after Vernon goes to work, then." Harry nodded numbly. "This was really happening.

Harry went upstairs while Rosie disappeared in the kitchen. Harry wondered how she was going but didn't ask. He carefully packed away all of his clothes and books, his Firebolt and his magical equipment. He checked every nook and cranny, aware that he would not be returning here ever again. He settled into sleep with that thought, his dreams, for the first time that summer, of hope not death.

The next morning he was yelled awake by his Uncle to make breakfast. He hurried downstairs, aware that this was the last time that this would happen to him. He would be free.

"Yes, Uncle Vernon" he nodded as he ran into the kitchen to orders. He quickly made bacon, eggs and coffee for his uncle, who ate quietly then left for work as soon as he'd checked the post (a nervous habit of his now, which amused Harry greatly).

As soon as he had left, Rosie rushed downstairs. She was dressed in jeans and t-shirt, still dishevelled but bright-eyed and bouncing. Harry got the impression that she was as ready to leave home as he was, and he wondered now what Aunt Petunia had meant by "the place" and got a fleeting impression that Rosie had not had a good life either. However he was not willing to spoil her mood by asking now.

Upstairs he heard groaning that suggested that Aunt Petunia was waking Dudley. He snickered, and glanced across at a grinning Rosie. "Wait about three minutes and we'll have a full-on tantrum on our hands" he explained as he began cooking breakfast for the four of them, Rosie moving around to help. Harry however appeared to be wrong about his three-minute tantrum warning. It took four.

"I won't! I shan't! Freaks! You're a freak! I do not have a sister! Dad will be angry! Hey, what is that - "

The shouting stopped. Harry and Rosie looked up curiously, but five minutes later a much quieter Dudley entered the kitchen behind Aunt Petunia, who took over helping with breakfast while Rosie stepped forward to meet Dudley.

"I'm your freak kid sister, Rosie Evans" she grinned.

"Dudley Dursley."

"I know."

"Lucky you." Dudley's voice was cool but not threatening. He sounded more hurt than anything else. "Well, let's eat. I have to go upstairs and pack in a few minutes." Aunt Petunia served the food and they ate in silence, Dudley leaving after only ten minutes. Harry and Rosie followed him up a few minutes later, Rosie going in to pack up Dudley's things that were in Harry's room, and Harry going in to talk to his cousin.

"Are you okay?"

Dudley ignored him for a minute, carefully packing DVDs into a cardboard box. Harry waited.

"My life is upside down" Dudley announced. "Last night, I went to bed; I went to Smeltings, I had a normal girlfriend, Wizards were freaks like you, I did my homework, went out with my friends, lied to my mother, and did everything else that normal guys do. I wake up this morning and discover that my whole family are magic, and that my life is going to change forever. Mum wants me to go to Hogwarts if they'd accept me, but why would I want to go that stupid place?"

Harry was tempted to yell at Dudley for his degrading talk, but he knew that was not what his cousin needed now. He stepped into the room and opened the wardrobe doors to begin packing Dudley's clothes. "My life changed when I got that letter, and when I met Sirius. My life has never been easy, Dudley, but no-one's ever is, not really. But you got something that I didn't, being lied to all these years - you got to be a child. Count yourself lucky on that count. You'll be ok; Sirius will take care of you, so will Aunt Petunia, you have a new family member to love and be loved by, and magic is a gift that you were deprived of, it's good if you use it right. And Hogwarts is cool, they let you grow up properly instead of all those rules and canes like at your school - behave, and you can get away with murder. Plus ghosts, and secret passages, and feasts."

Dudley looked up but said nothing. They packed in silence, stopping only for a bite to eat around lunchtime. By three p.m. they were packed, Aunt Petunia had wrote a letter to Vernon, and they were all flooing into the kitchen at Grimmauld Place. Harry appeared first and called out to his godfather, followed by Rosie, then Dudley and finally Aunt Petunia, luggage hurtling behind by some charm of Aunt Petunias'. Harry stepped aside as box after box followed him out.

"Harry!" Sirius boomed, five minutes later. Harry guessed that he had been up in the attic, for he was covered in dust and everywhere else in the house was clean now. He grabbed the younger man and pulled him into a tight hug, before turning around to face his old lover and daughter.

"Pet! Rosie!" he grinned. "Nice to see you both, really it is. And this young man is Dudley?" Aunt Petunia nodded. Sirius grinned, then pulled Aunt Petunia into his arms and kissed her like he had wanted to for years. Harry supposed it was quite possible he had.

"I have something to tell you" he told them, "But Pet first. Harry, Rosie and Dudley, why don't you guys go unpack your things. Harry you're in your old room, Dudley is the room on the left and Rosie on the right." Harry nodded and led them upstairs. He was too far away to hear when his Aunt let out a gasp and began to cry.