Chapter Forty
Everyone turned towards the door as it began to open. Heavy footsteps sounded and Vernon appeared in the doorway.
"Pet!" he called, "I'm ho-" he stopped dead in middle of the doorway as he spied the group gathered in the kitchen.
"What's going on here?" he growled, looking at them.
"Vernon dear," Petunia said, "the schoolteacher sent home a note for-" she didn't get to finish as the walrus whirled on Harry.
"What did you do this time, freak?!" he bellowed, face turning purple with rage. He took a step toward the boy, but unlike the previous years, he stood unafraid, simply looking at the purple-faced man currently advancing on him.
"Now see here!" exclaimed Augusta, brandishing her wand, causing Vernon to stop his advance, beady eyes locked on the small piece of wood.
Remus and Sirius each placed a hand on Harry's shoulder before stepping in front of him, wands also raised.
Sirius opened his mouth as if to say something, closed it again, lowered his wand, and shook his head, "you know what? It's not even worth it," he turned to the rest of his family, "they're not worth it," he waved at the Dursleys, "let's just leave."
"Padfoot, that's your best idea yet," said Remus, putting away his own wand, "let's go. Dee!"
The small elf popped in, causing the three Dursleys to sputter and Petunia to shriek.
They were soundly….ignored.
Dee bounced in front of the group, "what can Dee be doing for yous?"
"Pack up the trunk," said Remus, "head for plan B."
Dee bowed, "yes sir Mister Remoos!" she said.
She was about to pop away when Petunia shrieked, "wait!"
Dee glared at her, "I is not listening to bad people who hurt young master!" Vernon had started toward the elf when he was suddenly blasted into the wall. Dee gave Petunia the most hate filled glare any of them had ever seen on an elf, before snapping her fingers and popping away. Vernon slumped to the floor, out cold.
Petunia ran to her husband, shrieking, "what did that creature do to my Vernon?!"
Sirius gave an evil grin, "far, far less then we would have. Trust me."
Petunia's hands fluttered to her throat, "w-what are you going to do to us? Diddy! Come here!"
Dudley however, did not move. His face looked like a mix of sheer terror and absolute rage. Rage won out as he turned to Harry and charged shouting, "this is all your fault! Stupid free-"
He didn't get two steps before he was suddenly suspended in the air by his ankle, Sirius' wand aimed straight at him.
Dudley Vernon Dursley, spoiled brat and bully extraordinaire, did the only thing he could do in this situation, he peed his pants while screaming his head off before passing out to the sound of his mother's shrieking.
Petunia screamed, "Diddykins! You leave him alone!"
Sirius gently lowered Dudley to the ground next to Vernon, "sorry," he said lazily, not sounding sorry at all, "only wanted to stop him getting to Harry. Didn't mean to make him wet himself," Sirius grinned slightly.
Petunia glared at him from between her unconscious husband and son, "what will happen to us?"
"That," said Remus, running his wand over he two Dursley males, causing Petunia to shriek and cover them….badly, "is not our problem. They'll wake up in about five minutes."
"by then," said Augusta with a stern glare, "we will be long gone from this horrid house and it's horrid inhabitants!"
Harry tugged her sleeve, "Gran, what does 'inhabitants' mean?"
"it just means the people who live in a place," she said with a slight smile at Harry's ever-present curiosity.
Harry smiled.
Dee popped back into the room, "everythings is being ready," she said.
Sirius smiled at the elf, "thanks Dee," turning to the group, he held out his arms to Remus and Augusta, "shall we?"
Remus took Sirius' arm and Harry's hand. Harry, ever the gentleman, offered his other arm to Aunt B. She took it with a smile, then the group Disapparated, leaving Petunia still sitting on the floor beside her family.
…
Fawkes sat on his perch in Dumbledore's office. He had been left with instructions from the headmaster to watch the many gadgets that were linked to Harry and come to him if there was any change. Unbeknownst to Dumbledore, the goblins had moved any linked charms to a small statue years ago, and the only change would be if they broke.
Fawkes was currently fighting an inner battle. His mind and body both fighting to free him of the potions Dumbledore had fed him for years. With a final cry, Fawkes fought free of the potions just as the gadget linked to the wards on Privet Drive shrieked and belched black smoke.
Fawkes cried again and flamed out.
…
Minerva McGonagall sat in her office, sipping a cup of tea and looking over the timetables for her Gryffindors. The first through fifth years' were done, and she was relaxing for a moment before starting on the rest. Setting down the tea, she was just about to pick up her quill when a ball of fire flashed above her desk, causing her to jump slightly.
She just managed to say "Fawkes what-" when he touched her shoulder and they both flamed away.
She found herself standing in Dumbledore's office she took in the view of the headmaster's many trinkets when she noticed the black smoke. Quickly coming to a conclusion as to why Fawkes had brought her here, she banished all traces of the smoke and cast a spell at the trinket that had the little gadget whirring merrily once more. With a look to Fawkes, he flashed her back to her office before resuming his perch once more.
Fawkes sighed mentally and trilled to himself, for now, even though he was free, he knew it was best to stay right where he was. The bearded one who was far from as light as he seemed would become suspicious if he disappeared. If that happened, Fawkes knew he would go for the boy immediately. Fawkes trilled again, he would not allow that to happen.
