Disclaimer: Alas they are not mine. But that is just the way life goes.

Saying Goodbye Once Again

The day after the Death Eater attack, the students were informed that they would all be sent home that evening on the Hogwarts Express. Their families had been informed of the situation, and they should be arriving home the next morning. Harry wondered if the Dursleys would bother to pick him up at the station. But those thoughts were pushed to the back of his mind as the day progressed, and he packed his things and said his farewells to some of his friends and teachers.

Late in the afternoon he went to Dumbledore's office hoping to speak to him concerning what he was to do that summer when he reached the age of adulthood. He gave the password to the gargoyles and let the spiral stairs take him up to the Headmaster's office and was about to knock when he heard voices from inside which froze his hand.

"So it is confirmed." Came Snape's voice.

"Yes. I'm sorry, Mr. Malfoy, but it has been confirmed that you mother's body was found this morning." Dumbledore's voice sounded remorseful.

Harry could hear a sharp intake of breath, presumably from Draco. And then he heard a voice that was so much unlike the inflated self-important one that he had always heard from Malfoy. "This is my fault." It whispered.

"Draco, you must not think that way. Lord Voldemort decided to kill you and your mother the moment your father failed him. It was only a matter of time. He was just playing with you, to punish your father." Dumbledore tried to explain to the boy. "No one is to blame except the Dark Lord himself."

Harry could hear sniffling, as if someone was trying hard not to cry. "What is to become of me now?" He heard that same deflated voice say.

"You and Professor Snape will remain at Hogwarts this summer, as will I. You will be protected, Draco." Dumbledore answered.

Harry turned then, heading down the stairs not wanting to run into Malfoy and Snape as they left the office. He would wait in the hallway with his invisibility cloak on. But he heard Draco say one more thing as he was descending the stairs. "My father, I'm assuming will be safe in Azkaban, but there is another who will need protection."

Harry did not hear the rest of the conversation. He was too far away. He assumed that Draco was speaking of a close family friend or cousin that he had not heard of. But it mattered not. Harry had a lot to think about. He had always hated the Draco Malfoy he had met on his first day at Hogwarts, but this Draco sounded small and deflated. The boasting, sneering Draco was not the one he had heard in that office. Harry, though the thought repulsed him in a way, thought that he now had something in common with Draco. They both had lost their mothers to Lord Voldemort. And both mothers had died trying to protect their sons that they loved. Harry knew he would never be friends with Draco Malfoy, but he now felt a small amount of pity for the boy.

Harry never did get a chance to talk to Dumbledore that afternoon, with several teachers rushing in and out of his office, but when he returned to the Gryffindor common room Hermione was waiting for him and holding a piece of parchment, with Dumbledore's unmistakable scrawling letters on it.

Harry immediately opened it.

Harry,

I will arrive at #4 Privet drive at approximately 11:30pm on the night before your 17th birthday. I wish to remove you from that place before there is a chance of attack by the Death Eaters. You might wish to inform the Dursleys that for their own safety they should take an overnight trip that night. I would not wish to be in residence there at midnight.

Yours truly,

Albus Dumbledore

"Hmm. He says that he will remove me from the Dursley's the night before my birthday, but does not say where I am to go." Harry said wondering.

"I hope it's the Burrow." Said Hermione. "Mum and Dad said I could spend some time there this summer again. We can all three be together again." Harry too was hoping that he would go to the Weasley's home, but something told him that for his own protection, it would not be so.

He said a tearful goodbye to Hagrid, who was still mourning his giant spider friend Aragog. And took a last glance at Hogwarts as he readied to board the train. He could see high above on the Astronomy tower stood one lone figure. It was impossible to make out exactly whom the person was, but Harry could see pale blonde hair shining in the sunlight, and knew it must be Malfoy. He watched as another figure strode out of the Tower door. This figure was wearing billowing black robes and had the darkest jet-black hair. He saw the second figure place a hand on the firsts shoulder, but also saw the first figure pull away resentfully. He remembered his own resentful behavior after Sirius' death, and understood. Then as the whistle blew he turned and boarded the train, saying a silent goodbye to Hogwarts once again.

Author's Note: I know it's a short chapter, but it works out right that way. Next chapter. Back On Privet Drive.