The car ride to the Apparition destination was quite awkward, Celosia looking out the window with Dudley in between her and Petunia. Dedalus had constantly hummed to himself, trying to spark up conversation but soon stopped trying once he realized the Muggles wouldn't answer him.
Once they reached their destination, they all quickly got out of the car, Dedalus shrinking it with a flick of his wand as Petunia set a hand to her heart. "Better get used to the sight of magic." Celosia warned. "You'll be seeing a lot of it."
"Alright, now, Mr. Dursley, if you'll hold onto my arm, I will Apparate you to our destination. Celosia will be taking your wife and son."
Celosia held her arm out for Petunia and Dudley to hold on either side of her. Dudley stared at the arm in front of him, seeming just as hesitant as his parents. "Might want to hurry before Death Eaters or Dementors find us." Celosia said impatiently and at the mention of Dementors Dudley immediately slipped his arm through hers.
At the action Vernon latched himself onto Dedalus, the two Apparating immediately. Petunia seemed shocked at this before his son spoke up. "Come on, mum." At his son's pleading voice Petunia sighed, holding onto Celosia's other arm as she turned, bringing all three of them through a tight spinning sensation.
Once they stopped Celosia let them go, the two trying to steady themselves. "If you have to throw up, I suggest you do it inside the house." Celosia warned, pulling her wand out. Hestia and Dedalus were already set on adding more protective charms and Celosia motioned towards the open door, Vernon on the other side of it. "Go on, then." She insisted and the two rushed into the house, watching as Celosia slammed the door. They all peaked through the window beside it, Celosia pointing her wand to the sky and muttering spells under her breath.
After about half an hour of setting up the charms and Dedalus bringing the car back to full size, the three wizards walked inside, the Dursley's belongings floating right behind them. Petunia and Vernon were seated on the couch, Dudley in between them. They were all close together and watched as their belongings unpacked themselves, zooming into the living room, kitchen or upstairs to their bedrooms.
"Like it so far?" Hestia asked, not bothering to introduce herself. She heard things about the Dursleys and they were absolutely horrid Muggles.
"It's horrible!" Petunia exclaimed. "It's small, dirty and dark!"
"Better get used to it then." Celosia said emotionlessly, disappearing up the stairs without another word.
A few days have passed and the Dursleys were surprisingly settling in with the three wizards in their new home. They complained often about the space but soon gave up the fight, knowing that Celosia, Dedalus and Hestia wouldn't change their minds and wouldn't hesitate to use magic on them when their patience ran out.
The use of magic around the house was frequent, too frequent that Vernon and Dudley got used to it. If they were eating at the kitchen table and the plates would float towards them, they were no longer phased by it. Petunia seemed to flinch still and was quite hesitant but was trying to become comfortable. Who knew how long they would be living with the wizards.
The fifth day had passed and Celosia walked into the kitchen, Hestia and Dedalus already magically setting the table and serving the food. The Dursleys were seated awkwardly, hands in their laps as their food was placed onto their plates. They watched as everything quickly started to settle themselves down. Dedalus kept his wand up, about to fill the mugs with coffee with a flick before Celosia noticed the Dursley's discomfort.
"Please Dedalus, allow me." She held a hand up, snatching the pot before Dedalus could do anything. The Dursleys took notice and looked at her, watching as the woman manually started filling up their mugs, Hestia placing a carton of milk and some sugar in the middle of the table. "How do you take your coffee, Vernon?"
The man merely stared at Celosia as she poured the dark liquid into his cup. "Bit of milk." He managed to mutter out and Celosia nodded, grabbing the carton and pouring a little in before moving onto Petunia.
"Two sugars and a some milk, right?" She recalled and looked up at her sister. Their eyes connected and they seemed lost in the moment for a brief second. Petunia nodded and Celosia pulled away, adding two cubes of sugars and taking the milk carton, pouring a small amount in. "Just like me."
"Harry's birthday passed." Hestia noted, taking a seat at the table. "I wonder if he's used magic yet."
"He probably did." Celosia muttered, stirring her sister's drink. "Knowing the things he has to do."
"The Order contacted us last night, while you were sleeping." Dedalus informed from his spot against the counter. "Of course they would have told us earlier if they could but the relocation mission was successful."
"Wonderful." Celosia smiled, moving to Dudley, who was seated beside his father. "Do you usually have coffee, Dudley? Would you like something else? Milk? Tea? Juice perhaps?"
Dudley looked at his aunt, a sweet smile on her face. At that moment you wouldn't have guessed she was a witch with the way she was manually pouring her family drinks for breakfast. "Milk's fine."
"Of course." Her smile seemed to widen and she set the coffee pot down, grabbing the carton of milk yet again and starting to pour the thick liquid into her nephew's mug.
"Celosia, something happened." Hestia muttered.
"Oh?" The woman kept pouring, not really paying attention to the conversation. She wanted a distraction from everything. If she was left alone to think, her mind would wander to the worst things.
"Mad-Eye died."
Celosia froze, stopping when Dudley's mug was ¾ full. Dudley looked up at his aunt, her smile gone and her eyes widening in surprise. He didn't know who this Mad-Eye was but he probably was a friend of hers.
Composing herself, Celosia filled his cup to the rim, settling herself in the chair across from Dudley and beside her sister, Hestia on her other side. She poured herself some coffee, stirring it slowly.
"He died for a good reason." Dedalus said, trying to comfort her.
"Yes, of course." Celosia smiled softly. "He was a wonderful man. Loyal to the very end." She sipped at her cup, the hot liquid burning at her throat. "I hope no one else dies."
Everyone ate their breakfast quietly, feeling the emotional tension in the air. Soon after they were all doing their own business, the Dursleys watching television in the living room, Hestia and Dedalus in another room, Celosia sitting with her relatives.
Dudley watched the many Muggle shows for the past hours, laughing along with his parents. It was a good distraction from the danger they were in, and the fact there were wizards around them. Personally he didn't mind it anymore. His mother had exaggerated- they really weren't bad. It was actually kind of cool. Celosia's bell-like laughter joining theirs made him remember Harry's words before they parted ways.
After lunch, Vernon and Petunia were sitting in front of the television, Vernon sleeping and Petunia reading a book. The sound was down low, and was the only thing that provided them a source of sound. Dedalus was seated with them, staring intently at the Muggle television, fascinated by their story lines and technology.
Hestia was in her room, and judging by the thumps and sounds coming from it, she was practicing her duelling. Celosia was in her own room, organizing the few things she had brought with her when there was a knock on her door.
She looked up, in the middle of folding a blouse when Dudley stood in the doorway. She stood straight, smiling at him. "Is there something you need, Dudley?"
Her voice was sweet and kind, making him look at her. She had been nothing but nice to him individually the moment they stepped into the house, and Dudley had then learned that his mother lied about Celosia being a horrible person. She was his family as well, and obviously didn't resent him. "No, nothing in particular." He muttered and Celosia set her things down, further tucking her wand down her boot as she sat on the bed, patting a spot beside her.
"Come sit." She encouraged and with a moment of hesitation, Dudley trodded in, sitting beside her. "You have your mother's hair."
"Thanks." He muttered, not sure if it was a compliment. "What was my mum like? As a kid?"
"Very smart." Celosia began, much to Dudley's confusion. He thought she would be saying ill things about his mother. "Amazingly smart. She was a passionate woman too, very determined to do something she wanted and to get it."
"Oh." He nodded, staring at the red carpet floor. The room was very tidy, and although not very big, had enough space. "What about my other aunt?"
Celosia stared at the boy, knowing that he wanted to learn more. Obviously Petunia wouldn't have given him answers. "Lily was very sweet. She was passionate and smart as well, and friendly with everyone. She liked to do things her own way, and hardly allowed anyone to tell her what to do, even if it was me and your mother. She was full of love and caring. She died protecting your cousin."
"Do you think she'd love me too?" Dudley asked boldly, the words escaping his mouth before he could stop them.
"Well surely she wouldn't approve of how you've treated Harry as well." She admitted. "But yes, she would have loved you. You're still her family after all, just like you are mine."
Dudley seemed to accept this answer, and looked at Celosia in the eye. She could see it in the depths that he was mustering up all the courage he had to ask these questions. "Do you hate me for how I've treated Harry?"
Celosia was surprised herself at the question. He was shooting questions at her and she knew this was the one and only chance he could do it- the one and only chance he could get answers that he wanted. "I don't approve of what you did, and am quite disappointed that you treated him like that." She admitted. "But I don't hate you. I could never hate you. You're still my nephew just like Harry is and I will take care of you and keep you safe."
He looked at her again and she smiled softly, the corner of Dudley's lips turning upwards. "There's something I don't understand." He admitted. "How come Harry couldn't come with us?"
"Because you need protection." She answered simply.
"But he does too. Why couldn't he have come with us?"
"What we're protecting you from is after Harry." Celosia explained, confused that he didn't know this. "Haven't your mother or father told you this?"
He furiously shook his head and Celosia let out a deep breath. "If we were in trouble why did we have to leave our home, couldn't you have put protection around that instead?"
"The only reason you haven't been touched by You-Know-Who from our world is because Harry and your entire family have a bond." Celosia explained, carefully choosing her words so she could help him understand the basics of the situation. "There was always a protective charm around your home because it was a blood charm that connected Harry and your mother. Once Harry turned seventeen the charms broke, and normal charms around the area wouldn't have helped as effectively. The…people from our world-"
"You can say it." Dudley interrupted. "The words about the magic world. I don't mind."
"Alright." She nodded, continuing on. "The dark wizards that work for this He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named will target Privet Drive as soon as they could have after the 31st. They would stop at nothing and use the most advanced and powerful magic to break through. They want to know where Harry is so they can kill him, and that is why we've brought you here. Death Eaters wouldn't have guessed you were here and they won't unless they decide to carefully search over the entire world."
"Why are they after Harry?"