A/N : Replying to hikaru117, thanks for the encouragement and this is supposed to be a Snape mentor story, so there will be no slash. Feedbacks appreciated!
Chapter 11 : Back to Privet Drive
"Ouch!" Harry yelled. He was on his way back to the Gryffindor common room, and had just hit onto a wall ungracefully. Rubbing his forehead, Harry resumed his walk, still immersed in his thoughts. He had been considering Professor Trelawney's words, but failing to make sense out of it. 'The savior' most likely refers to him, but who is the enemy bound to be kin? He had only one ultimate enemy, Voldemort, and never would Voldemort be his life-saver. "Unless I join him, and become a Death Eater," Harry thought wryly. Harry was positive that it was never going to happen.
"My boy, do you mind giving me the password so that I can grant your entrance? You have been staring at me for more than two minutes now, and it's pretty embarrassing." Harry jumped at the voice of Fat Lady. "Sorry, just thinking about something else. Party." Fat Lady allowed his entrance.
"Mate! Come celebrate!" Ron yelled. Before Harry had time to register Ron's word, he was blasted off his feet by a bunch of Weasleys' Wildfire Whiz-bangs. Soon, he joined the fight, throwing Dungbombs at Seamus and Dean, who were brave enough to fling numerous Bombstatic Bomb on Harry. The common room was in complete chaos until Professor McGonagall finally decided to put a halt to this. The subdued pack tidied up the room under the stern eyes of McGonagall before going to bed.
"Harry, why did Professor Trelawney ask for you?" Ron asked. "She came to tell me that I'm in for a bad summer." Harry replied sarcastically. "You must be kidding me." "No I'm not." "You can't be serious." "I really am not, Ron." Finally believing Harry, Ron rolled his eyes before falling asleep in mere seconds.
Harry sighed. He was still considering whether or not to tell Ron and Hermione about the third prophecy of Professor Trelawney. Hearing Ron's snore, he made a decision. He wasn't going to burden them with the weight of being friends of the bound savior. Suddenly, the weight he had pushed aside fell back into place, and Harry found himself shuddering at the thought, before falling into a disturbed sleep.
It was the last day of school before the summer holidays. Harry was packing his luggage in his dormitory slowly, not willing to leave Hogwarts for Privet Drive. Ron, sensing Harry's distress and reluctance, was making jokes with Neville, hoping to enlighten the atmosphere. It worked. Harry doubled up over a lame joke Ron made, with tears of laughter trickling down his cheeks. Deciding that he wanted to make the best of this final day with his friends before a long separation, Harry pushed aside his gloom and joined the fun.
"Time for end-of-term feast guys." Neville stated after checking his watch. Disentangling himself from the pile of bodies, Harry groped for his glasses. He tidied up his appearance before walking to the Great Hall for the feast.
Just when Harry dropped to his seat at the Gryffindor's table, a small piece of note appeared in front of him. Snatching it up, Harry recognized Dumbledore immediately.
Harry,
Kindly meet me at my office after the end-of-year feast.
Sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
Harry turned to the High Table in search of the blue twinkling eyes of Dumbledore, but to no avail as the headmaster had not arrived. He didn't have to wait for long though as Dumbledore paced into the Great Hall moments later, standing in front of the student body to give his usual leaving speech.
"Another year gone! Firstly, I would like to congratulate Gryffindor for winning the house cup for the fifth year running." Applause rang from all tables except the Slytherins', who were sulking openly. "Of course, all houses did well too, so another round of applause for every one of you. Remember to take a good rest and clear your minds before you come back for a new school year. Let the feast begin!"
After the somber leaving feast of last year with Cedric's death, this year's end-of-year feast was much more rowdy. Underaged students seized their last opportunity to perform magic, sending hexes all over the hall just for the sake of fun. By the time Harry finished his dinner, he had his eyebrows turned purple and sprouted out a pig's tail that reminded him of Dudley. When he saw Dumbledore leave the hall, he hastily muttered the counter charms before pacing to Dumbledore's office.
"Come in, Harry dear." Dumbledore greeted Harry and motioned him to have a seat. Harry obeyed silently, observing Dumbledore and trying to guess the aim of this meeting. "Well Harry, it's quite late now and I wouldn't like to deprive you from your sleep, so I'll skip the pleasantries and go straight to the point if you don't mind." Harry nodded.
"Harry, as much as I want to treat you as a child, you have shouldered a grown wizard's burden and proved that you can live up to it. You are growing up and I would like you to have a say in your life, trusting that you will make rational decisions based on the current scenario." Harry felt warmth spreading through him at Dumbledore's words. "Now that you know the full contents of the prophecy and also the blood wards protecting you in Privet Drive, would you still agree to return to Privet Drive for the summer holiday?"
Harry gasped. He had voiced his reluctance to return to Privet Drive to Dumbledore on several previous occasions, all in which the older wizard rejected the plea firmly. Harry had not been expecting a say on this matter anytime soon. Grateful at Dumbledore's respect, Harry smiled at Dumbledore which he returned. However, Harry soon realized that he did not understand what the blood ward was.
"Err.. Professor, do you mind to elaborate more about the blood wards?" "Oh, so you have not talked about this information with Miss Granger yet?" Dumbledore chuckled softly Not waiting for Harry's reply, he proceeded to explain the theories of a blood ward.
"Your mother died to protect you, and one of the most powerful and ancient magic Voldemort did not acknowledge is love. Upon the death of your mother, I made a decision to trust the ancient sacrificial protection to protect you until you turn of age. Thus, I activated the bond of blood charm, in Privet Drive, where the last of your relatives lived. While you can still call home the place where your mother's blood dwells, there you cannot be touched or harmed by Voldemort. He shed her blood, but it lives on in you and her sister. Her blood became your refuge. You need return there only once a year, but as long as you can still call it home, there he cannot hurt you. Your aunt knows this. I explained what I had done in the letter I left, with you, on her doorstep. She knows that allowing you houseroom may well have kept you alive for the past fifteen years."
Harry was overwhelmed with the information, but it didn't take him long to understand the importance of the blood wards to his survival. He made a choice, fast. "I will stay at Privet drive." Upon hearing Harry's decision, Dumbledore breathed in relief. "You are always so mature, Harry. Me and the Wizarding World thank you for this. I hope you have a good holiday. Goodnight." Harry turned to leave after bidding farewell. "And Harry, one particular professor requested that you report your well-being to me every week." Dumbledore added with a familiar twinkle in his eyes. Harry nodded, not needing to ask who that anonymous professor was.
It wasn't long before Harry, Ron, Hermione and friends boarded the Hogwarts Express. In several hours, they arrived at platform nine and three quarters. Entering muggle London, Harry saw Uncle Vernon waiting for him at the entrance. Harry barely exchanged holiday wishes with his friends before he was whisked away by Uncle Vernon. "Another two months of being ignored," Harry said to himself, unaware of the surprises and hardships the future had in store.
References :
Italic parts(not the letter) are taken directly from Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix. All credits to J.K. Rowling.