This Chapter: Dementors are making their way towards King's Cross station. Harry and friends make their way towards Number four Privet Drive.
Chapter Four: The Dursleys
Suddenly the sky was filled with bright red fireworks. Everyone stopped what he or she was doing. The adults, Mr. Weasley, Mrs. Weasley and the platform guard had their wands out and at the ready. Mr. Weasley and Mrs. Weasley had turned and placed themselves in front of the children.
Harry turned to Ginny. "Please stay here," he said with a pleading look in his eyes. Ginny consented with a nod of her head. As Harry turned to Ron and Hermione, he noticed that Alistair moved to stand next to Ginny.
"Ready?"
"Let's go."
"Ya, let's."
Hermione agreed with a nod of her head.
Harry turned and ran for the parking lot. Hermione, Ron and Neville right on his heels.
As the four weaved in and out, and around Muggles in the station, Muggles could be heard muttering: "Obnoxious kids." "What's your hurry?" and "Where's the fire?" Obviously the Muggles could not see or hear the commotion that was occurring right outside in the parking lot.
As Harry made his way to the exit that lead to the parking lot, an archway with three sets of double doors. Harry crashed into what seemed to be nothing.
"HARRY!" Ron yelled as he collided with him. Neville caught Harry and Ron before they both fell to the ground.
"Hermione?"
"I don't know," she said as she shrugged her shoulders.
"Damn, you kids can run!" said a rasping voice. All of a sudden Moody appeared, whipping off an invisibility cloak, was huffing trying to catch his breath. Remus appeared right after, but did not seem so out of breath.
"Before joining any battle, you need to see," and Moody pointed, "where you are needed. We've got Dementors coming in, on the outskirts trying to box us in. We have several families that need help. They're probably youngun's, here Hermione," here Moody throws the invisibility cloak at her, "cover the right side of the parking lot. Ron you cover the left side," here Remus throws his own invisibility cloak to Ron. "Use your best judgment on the worst cases, and get them back here. Hope your Patronus charm is good enough."
"Harry your with Remus, Neville your with me. Keep your wand at the ready!"
"Harry."
"Yes Remus."
"Think protection only. No heroics now."
"All right, let's go."
Moody brought the barrier down and Harry, Remus, Neville and Moody ran forward. Harry couldn't see Ron or Hermione, but he assumed that they also ran forward.
As Harry ran forward, the first thing he noticed was a family; the parents were twenty feet ahead of a Hogwarts student, trying to ward off a Dementor. "Expecto Patronum" Harry yelled, as he pointed his wand forward. Harry's silver stag Patronus appeared, charging towards the Dementor, Harry finally reached the girl, and she appeared cold and clammy.
"Run, catch up to your mum and dad." Harry turned back to face the oncoming Dementors, Harry head several cracks, it seemed that reinforcements were arriving.
Harry spotted another family, one that was hiding between cars, and directed his Patronus Prongs in that direction, while Remus watched his back.
As Harry and Remus approached the family, Harry noticed that the cold felt stronger, it seemed that more Dementors were also arriving.
As Harry joined the family, he told them. "You guys are going to have to run!"
"But its ccoolldd."
"Do you want to die?"
"NNNOOO." Some one stuttered.
"Then go. We'll cover you."
Harry watched as the family slowly got up, looked at each other, and moved silently towards the back of the car they were leaning against. The boy, looked towards the Dementors, turned back, and shivered, set his shoulders.
"Ready?" asked the dad.
"Ready."
With that the family, almost as one took a deep breathe, and started running towards the entrance of Kings Cross station.
As Harry watched the family run towards the entrance, he suddenly jumped when he realized that a Patronus not of his own making was charging down not quite fifteen feet from where Harry and Remus were standing. The Patronus looked like a large dog.
"Thanks."
"Don't mention it. That's why we're partnered."
"How we doing Moony?"
"Not to good, but not to bad either."
"See any one else?"
"Nope. How about you?"
"Nope. Meet at the entrance?"
"Yes."
Harry and Remus stood at the same time. They cast their Patronus charm once more, and ran for the entrance; they turned to face the Dementors only to learn that the Dementors that had been on top of them, when they ran for it were retreating.
Harry felt stunned, Dementors retreating? Then something caught his eye. Harry suddenly had an expression of awe on his face; both Moony's and his Patronus's were busy charging the Dementors.
Harry looked at Remus, and noticed that his face was slightly red, of course it could have been from the long run back to the entrance, but Moony had a slight smile on his face.
Pretty soon more Patronus's were joining Harry's and Remus's in corralling the Dementors.
"Moony?"
"What are they going to do with them?" Harry asked of the Dementors.
"Those that were captured, I'm not sure. But the Ministry must have something up their sleeve." Remus responded, the parking lot was full of Muggles and Wizards, the Muggles had responded to an emergency, many were whispering of a terror attack that been fowled.
Remus led Harry back to the entrance of Kings Cross station.
"HARRY!"
Harry was engulfed in a fierce hug. By the time Mrs. Weasley had finished checking Harry over, on whether he was injured, Harry had regained his breathe and his balance.
Ginny and Mr. Weasley were standing back to one side; both Ron and Hermione had already gone through Mrs. Weasley's body check. "All right dear?"
"Yes," Harry answered.
"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING? Just taking off like that! And you," she said as she pounded her finger into his chest, "you had to encourage him, didn't you?"
"But, but Molly . . ."
"Don't you Molly me! They're just baby's."
"It was either help them, by keeping them with us or they'd probably get themselves killed." Remus ended in an almost shout.
"Oh."
"Look we want them prepared, that means we need them to know what can happen in a battle. Besides Molly," Remus leaned forward "Harry has the strongest Patronus that I've ever seen."
"Ron and Hermione can also do a Patronus."
"Really?" Remus turned and looked at Ron and Hermione. Ron was blushing at the unexpected compliment from his mother while Hermione was smiling sheepishly and looking towards Ginny and Alistair, not meeting Remus's eyes.
Harry looked to Ron, and mouthed to him, have you told her yet? just as Neville joined the group.
"Oh dear," Molly said.
"What's wrong? Do I have something on my back?"
"No, no dear."
"I'll take it Molly."
"Yes of course Arthur."
"Neville, can I talk to you privately please?"
"Sure Mr. Weasley. Have you seen my Gran sir?" was heard as they walked away.
"Mum?"
Mrs. Weasley was watching Arthur and Neville. Ron walked forward, raised his arm and moved his hand in front of her face.
"Did you want something Ronald?"
"Um, yes. Yes I do."
"Well speak."
"I'm going with Harry, Mum."
"What did you say Ronald?"
"That I'm going with Harry!"
"All right dear. Of course you are coming to the wedding?" Molly raised her eyebrow at them.
"Yes Mrs. Weasley."
"Yes Mum."
"Yes Mrs. Weasley," Hermione chirped in.
"What you too, dear?"
Hermione smiled, nodded her head in agreement. "Well at least I won't worry as much knowing you'll be with them dear."
Harry and Ron looked at each other and kind've smiled sheepishly at each other; mostly happy that Mrs. Weasley hadn't exploded about Ron being to young, or maybe the fact that neither Ron nor Hermione had permission from the Dursleys.
Shortly thereafter Adara was cracking jokes, along the lines of the twins, trying to make everyone laugh to break the tension.
As Adara teased Andrew and Andrea about their reactions to the Dementors, the older students and adults smiled in indulgence as Adara ran around. Remus and Moody were talking; Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny and Alistair were standing around Neville. Though the Coachman's had also experienced loss, Neville unfortunately had lost not just his parents but it seemed he had lost his grandmother as well.
Augusta Longbottom had been ambushed at home. It appeared that she had just arrived home from Dumbledore's funeral, when the ambush had taken place. On a separate attack on St. Mungo's Janus Thickey ward for long-term residents, all four patients were killed. This of course included both of Neville's parents, Frank and Alice.
Neville sat stunned in less than seventy-two hours his world had changed. Harry could see that Neville didn't know what to do, whether to cry with relief for his parents that their pain and despair was over, or to cry in despair for the death of Gran.
"But where will I live?"
"Neville don't worry. They'll figure it out."
"Hermione you think so?"
"Yes of course." She gave Neville a hug, while Ginny was on his other side.
"All right."
Harry tuned out the conversation that Neville was having, wondering if it would be better to have all his family and friends at the Burrow. Of course he could move everyone to a safe place, because it wasn't his place to control everyone's actions.
All of a sudden, a gloom the type a Dementor cast surrounded the large group, as a single Muggle seemed to approach the area that they were in.
"Freaks! I don't know where that stupid boy is at." He muttered under his breath.
Oh Merlin, Harry thought, just what I need, Uncle Vernon in a piss poor mood.
"Ah. Here boy hurry up. I don't have all day now. Took long enough just getting here, what with the terrorist threat and all."
Harry walked over to his uncle, with his trolley still by his friends. "Uncle Vernon?"
"Uncle Vernon!" Harry had to shout just to get heard. "Will you stop insulting people? Please? Besides some of my friends are coming over for a couple of weeks, and I don't think you want them to do any thing unusual, do you?"
Vernon leaned forward, trying to intimidate Harry, which was hard to do since Harry was now taller than Vernon Dursleys. "You lot can't do magic without being kicked out of that school."
That would be true, if they were minors. But my friends are now considered adults, so they won't get in trouble."
"Mrs. Weasley?"
"Yes Harry," as she moved forward to stand next to Harry.
"Would it be all right if Neville comes with us?"
"Well . . .?"
"I don't see why not Molly."
"Thank you Mr. Weasley."
So that makes for three friends over for the summer holidays, Uncle Vernon."
"WHAT!"
"Yes three."
"NO."
"What did you say Muggle?"
It seemed that all the adults had surrounded both Vernon and Harry. Moody was scowling at Vernon, while Harry motioned Hermione, Ron and Neville forward with their trolleys.
"Look Muggle, you'll take all four of them without comment or else."
Vernon squinted his eyes, "Or what?"
"Nothing actually, but you'll find that they'll go whether you want them to or not. Besides each one of us can show up at your house if you don't take them with you."
"FINE," Vernon spat. "But just so you know I won't feed them." With that Vernon turned to leave, both Remus and Moody stepped out of his way.
Ron and Harry moved just behind Vernon while Hermione and Neville followed. As the quartet followed Vernon out to where he parked the car, Harry motioned to hurry, that Vernon was upset and was capable of leaving without them.
Vernon arrived at the family car, unlocked the boot, went to the drivers' side and let himself in. Harry wasn't too surprised by his actions.
"Hermione, I'm sorry but we'll need you to do a lot of stuff for us, until we're of age."
"No worries Harry."
The quartet gathered around the boot of the car, so Hermione could perform an enlargement charm. Soon the boys had managed all four trunks and various smaller items into the boot of the car. As Hermione returned from leaving the trolleys at the entrance to King's Cross station, the boys were discussing about who was sitting where in the car.
"Hermione, why don't you sit in the front with Uncle Vernon, we'll sit in the back."
"Let me just do a . . . . . something." Hermione moved towards the car opened the passenger back door; the boys saw that she cast a spell, opened the front door and cast another spell.
"All done."
"Well what are you waiting for? A nod of approval. Get in the car before I leave you."
Neville and Hermione clamored in, while Harry gave Hermione Crookshanks cat holder while Ron gave Neville Trevor's rat cage. Ron climbed in next, since he needed the extra legroom. Harry was the last one into the car with Hedwig's cage, after handing Ron Pig's smaller cage.
To Vernon it seemed odd that everyone actually fit in his car, but since he didn't see anything out of place he didn't say anything.
Hermione smiled to herself, only she and the boys noticed the small differences. She had added legroom for herself and pushed back the seats providing more legroom for the boys, and some distance for Harry from his uncle.
The trip from Kings Cross station in London to Number four Privet Drive in Little Whinging was quiet, largely in part because Vernon Dursleys did not want anyone playing with the car stereo. For the most part Hermione was the one paying attention; watching the route that Vernon took home.
Once at Number four Privet Drive, Vernon parked the car in the driveway, turned off the car and immediately got out. Leaving the group to make their way inside on their own.
Hermione climbed out with Crookshanks, not that it was hard, but at least Vernon could have shown some manners. Hermione returned the car to its original proportions, after helping the boys get the trunks out of the boot.
It took Harry, Ron and Neville three trips to get all the items inside the front foyer of Number four Privet Drive.
Upon closing the front door the voices from upstairs went quiet. Harry could hear footsteps then see his Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon coming down the stairs.
Aunt Petunia stopped in front of Harry; "I don't want them here!"
"That isn't your call."
"Well then you can feed yourselves. I want the house spotless as usual, and the garden in the backyard cared for." Petunia looked up and looked at the rest of the group; "No magic, no hocus pocus is allowed! Not in front of the neighbors, not in front of us. Absolutely nothing. Do I make my self clear?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Yes."
"Yes."
"Very well." A pause "A girl, well I can't have the neighbors talking. You'll have the guest bedroom until you leave, hopefully sooner rather than later. Especially since sweetums won't be here for several more weeks. Now you two will just have to bunk with Harry in his room. You guys deal with it yourselves, I've dinner to start."
Both Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon left the quartet alone. "Let's get these things upstairs before planning things," Harry said.
"All right."
"Yes lets."
Neville agreed with a nod.
"Sorry Hermione," Harry said as he indicated with his hands the trunks and various large items. Hermione only shook her head, both she and Ron took out their wands to lighten the weight of the trunks, making it easier for Harry and Neville to work together and carry the trunks to the two different rooms.
"Hermione do you need some time to unpack? Could you possibly do an enlargement spell first?"
"Merlin Harry, when you said you had the smallest bedroom you weren't kidding. There's barely any room in here with one trunk much less all of these. Ampliare. There that should do it."
"Mione?"
"Yes Ron."
"Could you also conjure some beds for Neville and I Please?"
Since the room was now triple its normal size, so when Hermione conjured the extra beds the room did not seem too crowded.
Ron and Neville moved their trunks next to a bed, claiming that one as their own, while Hermione went to unpack in the guest bedroom.
"Thanks, Harry."
"For what Neville?"
"For including me. For letting me stay here. I don't know what would have happened . . ."
"Neville," Harry approached him, "last year I was lucky Dumbledore let me express my feelings I wasn't the best person in those moments, to tell the truth I acted like a child, mind you an ignorant brat, but a brat none the less. You're still in shock, but when you're ready we can talk."
"Done?" Hermione asked when she came back to Harry's room.
"Yes Hermione we're done. Looks like we need to make some plans."
"What do you mean Harry?"
"Either my aunt won't cook enough food for all of us or she won't cook for us. So we need to get some money, basically to purchase food. Ron since we're in a Muggle neighborhood you can't use magic outside; any magic can only be performed in this room. That includes you too Neville. Understood?"
The others nodded in agreement. "All right. Since I'm not of age yet, I can't Apparate. Hermione I'll need you to go to Gringotts to get some Galleons and exchange them. Ron since you are of age, you'll go with her, both of you will need some sort of disguise, so no one will recognize you."
"But Harry I can't withdraw money for you. I don't think the Goblins will let me."
"Damn you might be right. So what do you think we should do? Any ideas?"
"Harry?"
"Oi Ron."
"I think the Goblins will let Hermione and I withdraw for you. Mum did it with a note from Dumbledore, Hermione could also."
"That's an idea. We'll need several things from Diagon Alley, and we could use some supplies and things."
"What do you mean by supplies?"
"Well just off the top of my head I'm going to say groceries . . . how about some butterbeer?"
"Chocolate frogs?"
"Seriously Ron."
"Neville any ideas?"
"What! Sorry I was wool gathering."
"No worries. Hermione we should make a list of all the things we need from Diagon Alley; from Gringotts you'll need two things, a bag full of Galleons and at least five hundred in pounds, to go grocery shopping."
"Harry don't you think it's a little too much?"
"Come on Harry, we really don't need that much do we?"
"Look I'd rather be prepared than not prepared. Besides we'll be doing other things too, so the money will be needed."
All was quiet as the as the duo absorbed the information that Harry had said, Neville for the most part wasn't paying attention to the conversation.
"Ron?"
"Do you remember at the World Quidditch Championships the tent that we used?"
"Oh yeah."
"Do you have any idea where we can purchase one?"
"Ya, it's probably available at Dervish and Banges. But Harry, they're very expensive. Are you sure you want to waste your money on that?"
"Ron truthfully I don't want to stay here if it was up to me, I'd stay with Moony. But Dumbledore had asked me to return, to that the blood magic that my mum had used could renew itself."
"Then why don't you stay at Grimmauld Place?"
"Ron really, would you want to stay there? All the time? All dark and gloomy."
"You have a point."
"Besides I can't ask your mum if I could live with you guy's all the time, now can I?"
"Well I don't know, Mum would probably say it was all right." Ron said with a twinkle in his eye.
"All right enough of that anything specific for this tent Harry?"
"Lets see; there's the family room, the kitchen, and at least one, two, three, four rooms to be used as bedrooms and a fifth room to be used as a study slash library room."
"Anything else?"
"Oh ya at least two loo's."
"All right. That's enough for tomorrow. Anything we can do now?"
"Dinner should be ready. Let's go check."
"Harry?"
"Yes Hermione."
"Are they always like that?"
"Yes. Why?"
"They're horrid. Merlin, I know Ron eats a lot . . ."
"Gees. Thanks Mione."
"but to suggest that Ron is a pig is ridicules."
"True."
"And your Aunt Marge is worse?"
"Yes."
"I can't handle it."
"Neville you don't have too."
"But I'm here." He said from the bed he was lying on.
"Only for a little while."
"If we're going to be here, let's take a walk to the park."
"Why?"
"Ron do you want to do chores the Muggle way?" Ron's eyes popped open.
"Let's go."
"Are you sure? Is it safe?"
"Yes Hermione." Harry answered before he rolled his eyes at her.
Harry led the group to the park. Where the quartet took over the swing set.
"Harry why is your aunt so . . . . . spiteful towards you?"
"I'm not sure Hermione. My guess would be jealousy. Jealous of the fact that Mum was magical and she wasn't. Jealous of the fact that Mum was born. Who can tell for sure?"
Ron got out of the swing he had been sitting in, went around Hermione, "Push?"
"Yes please." Hermione eyes lighted up at the thoughtfulness of Ron's question. Neville joined in the silliness of who could swing the highest, while Harry watched.
Before Harry led the quartet out of the park, he pointed out the trees and bushes, where it would be best to Apparate to and from.
The quartet had played different games, like if they were ten years old rather than sixteen and seventeen respectively. The unexpected running showed how in shape Harry and Ron were compared to Hermione and Neville.
"Hermione, I think we'll also need some trainers."
"WHAT! Why?"
"Because if we're tired out with this. What barely two hours of playing, imagine what it would be like if it was a real battle?"
"He's got a point, Mione."
"All right, one more store to visit."
"No, I think this one we'll all need to go to. Just in case."
"What'd you mean Harry?"
Harry pointed at Hermione, "Girl," pointed towards all the others, "Boys."
"Like that makes a big difference." Hermione said as she made a face at Harry.
"Not to change the subject on you, Hermione. When do you plan on visiting your parents?"
"I'm not sure. Why?"
"Well, I was wondering if you wanted to give that Portkey to your parents right away."
"Harry," Hermione said with exacerbation.
"Look Hermione," Harry stopped and looked at Hermione, "I know I'm on the Death eaters list, by extension so are you. Hermione did you tell your parents what's going on in the wizarding world?"
Hermione looked down at the sidewalk, opened her mouth as if to respond and closed it; she swallowed as if gathering her courage. "Um, well . . . . . not really."
"All right." Harry paused as he thought of the situation. "Hermione, I want you to take the Portkey to your parents. Make sure to explain about Dementors, make sure that everyone understands that it's not a joke that their lives will depend on it."
Hermione stared at Harry, first with an expression of horror, and then as the possibilities became real to her, a look of determination replaced the one of horror.
"You've made you point Harry."
"Good, Ron you're going with her."
"WHAT! Why?"
"Easy. Everything from here on out will be done in pairs. Look," Harry said at Ron's look of incredible astonishment, "that way, hopefully no one can sneak up on you."
"He's got a point," Neville said, as he watched the sidewalk and looked dejected.
"I'm sorry Neville; I can't believe we forgot about your Gran."
"It's all right Ron. But Harry has a point. Death eater's don't have a care of who they hurt or kill." Neville turned and looked at Hermione, "go before anything happens, because the questions that run in your head are worse than imaging the what ifs . . ."
Hermione gulped at the implications that Neville gave her. "Um. All right Neville. I'll go. Coming Ron?"
"Ya, ya, I'm coming."
"Oi, one more thing."
"Ya, what?"
"Be extremely careful. Remember everything that we've learned over the year's in defense."
"See you in a little while," Neville called.
Harry and Neville continued on their way to Number four Privet Drive. Neville was back in a funk, thinking of his Gran while Harry was hoping that he had made the correct decision in sending his two best friends to Hermione's home.
It wasn't long before both boys arrived back to Harry's aunt's house. No matter what occurred there, Harry would never call Number four Privet Drive a home, it would be for all intense in purpose a house.
As Harry walked in, following Neville, he noticed that the house seemed too quiet.
"Where have you been boy?"
"Out at the park, sir." Harry said cautiously.
"Fine," Vernon spat as he motioned for Harry to come into the living room. Neville took the time to run up to Harry's room.
"We have something to tell you," Petunia said as she handed Harry a thin letter.
"What's this?"
"A letter obviously," Vernon answered, while sharing a look with Petunia, that practically said dunderhead.
"Basically Harry," Petunia started, with a forced smile at Harry, and a gleam in her eye. "It says that our court date for your guardianship has been moved up, and will be heard on Friday. Don't worry we'll take care of all your money." A cough was heard. "Um, sorry interests."
"WHAT! You think you'll be able to use my money, what little there is, to make yourselves better. Fat lot!"
"Now hear this boy." Vernon leaned out of his chair to point at Harry. "We'll do what we want. We've taken care of you for almost sixteen years; we have a right to be paid."
"Paid? Is that what you call it?"
"Enough boy. You'll be ready to leave on Friday at 7:30 am. The court appointment will be at noon. But the court wants us there earlier."
"Yes, of course Uncle Vernon," Harry hoped that Tonks got back to him sooner, cause it looked like his second worst nightmare was about to come true. Harry couldn't handle the smile on his uncle's face, much less the gleam on his aunt's; it seemed just evil to him, or better yet too gleeful.
Chapter Four:
New Characters:
Alistair Coachman 5th year Gryffindor, Muggle born
Andrew Coachman 4th year Gryffindor, Muggle born
Andrea Coachman 2nd year Gryffindor, Muggle born
Adara Coachman 1st year Gryffindor, Muggle born
Spells:
Expecto Patronum Patronus Charm
Ampliare Enlarge
Aedifico Lectus create bed