The Dursleys sat in their small living room, having been used to the size after living there for a year. It was very boring and Dudley found himself with nothing to do except sit in front of the television, which Hestia had magically repaired after the incident. Usually he would be alright with it, but lately he wasn't the usual stubborn and spoiled brat he was before. The revelations and reality of the situation him and his family were in were nagging away at him, and there was no way he could just get passed that. His parents did nothing but sit in front of the TV with him, not like they had anything else to do. Harry was out hunting some Dark wizard and Celosia hadn't come back, nor had they heard from her.
Many letters came, this time sent through Floo from Order members so no owls would come within the area. Of course Dedalus and Hestia took great care in making sure the letters weren't a trap and hexed, although the chances of Death Eaters knowing where the Dursleys were was improbable. Only selected Order members knew, and even they hadn't sent many letters.
Every single letter that flew in was ignored, no matter what they said. Only a few of them were about Harry, and when Dudley had wanted to know if it was safe for them all again, Hestia would shake her head and say it was a scam. The letter could have been written by anyone with hopes of getting the Dursleys beyond the protective wards so they could be tortured for information.
Once ten months passed, several letters were coming in, all of them saying that Harry was alive. Dedalus and Hestia continued to ignore them, knowing that if it was true, Celosia would walk in through the doors, seeing as she was the only one with access and knowledge of the location.
Dudley was very upset about this and often felt overwhelming thoughts fill his mind. What if the letters were true and Harry had defeated the Dark wizard? There was the possibility they were safe already, completely. No more need for protection. Maybe the reason no one has come in yet was because Celosia was –Dudley gulped- dead?
He shook his head, knowing that his aunt was strong and even though he hadn't appreciated it before, Harry was strong too. Vernon and Petunia might not have thought so but Dudley knew for sure they were.
After another letter came in, the Dursleys, Dedalus and Hestia were all in the living room, watching television before Hestia jumped up from her seat, holding her wand out and keeping the letter levitated and at arms' length. "Something wrong?" Dedalus asked, standing up as well. This gathered the Dursleys' attention and they looked over. Never had Dedalus or Hestia questioned each other on a letter.
"It's a Howler." Hestia said in a quiet voice.
"Are you sure?" Dedalus asked after a moment of silence.
"You want to make sure?" Hestia snapped. "It doesn't seem hexed. Why would any threat send a Howler?"
"What's a Howler?" Dudley asked but his question was ignored.
"Perhaps they have someone captured?" Dedalus offered. "It's possible. We haven't been in touch with the Prophet or any sort of outside communication for ten months. Anyone could have been captured and have had to send this at wand point."
"Let's find out, shall we?" Hestia levitated the letter onto the wooden table in the middle of the room, Vernon and Petunia seeming to cringe backwards. Obviously they didn't know what a Howler was. Dudley was still curious, but not as fearful as his parents. He was however being cautious that something might pop out of the parchment and hex him.
With a flick of Hestia's wand, the letter opened itself from the small envelope before transforming into what looked to resemble a mouth. "JUST WHAT DO YOU FOOLS THINK YOU ARE DOING?" A womanly voice started to shriek, all the Dursleys jumping back into the couch cushions. "IT IS OVER! HARRY WON! GET THAT THROUGH YOUR THICK SKULLS AND GET TO HEADQUARTERS!"
The letter curled itself up and burst into flames before leaving nothing but a small wisp of smoke. Everyone was silent and Hestia shrugged. "Molly Weasley's voice. She sounds like herself, no alert in her tone."
"Could easily be charmed, or under Imperius." Dedalus waved off. "We have to stay with our original plans. None of us believe anything unless Celosia comes back."
"What if she won't?" Dudley suddenly asked aloud, making everyone turn to him. "You said this was a war, right? She left so what if she was…er, attacked? Or worse?"
"No surprise." Petunia sneered.
"Celosia is a strong witch." Hestia defended, making Petunia slouch into her husband's arm. "If Celosia was indeed dead then we could expect Harry Potter himself to come here."
"What if the boy got himself killed as well, eh?" Vernon asked.
"You better hope not." Dedalus said in a deadly voice. "And even if he was, we wouldn't even be having this conversation, let alone breathing air."
A knock at the door made them all silent and two wands were drawn out, pointing at the wooden door. There were several locks on them set with heavy charmed chains so there would be no physical way to burst through.
Hestia made a motion for everyone to be quiet as they listened. Several long and quiet seconds passed before they heard a whisper of a voice saying, "Alohomora." One of the chains on the locks fell loose and Petunia gripped Vernon's hand tight.
Whoever was behind the door tried the handle, and when it didn't open, another Alohomora was used. When the door still didn't open the voice on the other side huffed. "Are you kidding me? I bet this was Hestia's idea, what did she do, put in a thousand Muggle locks onto the door?"
Everyone's brows furrowed as they recognized the female voice. Another one, male and younger, mumbled something before the same female let out an exclamation. "Oh hush Harry, I'm not going to burst the door down and scare everyone!"
"That's pretty much all the proof we need." Dedalus said suddenly. "That's definitely them. Only those two can penetrate the wards and make it as far as the front door."
With a flick of his wand the door flew open, Celosia and Harry visible in the doorway. "Well, finally." Celosia said as she tucked her wand in her boot. The two stepped into the house and Celosia locked eyes with Petunia, who had shot up from her seat.
Without a word, Petunia flung herself at her younger sister, clutching her tightly. Dudley was surprised just as much as everyone else; Petunia had just made a negative outburst about her sister mere minutes ago. "You're safe!" Petunia exclaimed.
"Yes, and you are as well, I trust?" Celosia said in short breaths and Petunia released her. "I'm glad you're well and no harm came to you."
"What took you so long, hm?" Hestia asked, hands on her hips.
"If you must know, I was in St. Mungo's for quite a while." Celosia sneered and even Petunia seemed to know that her sister had landed herself in a wizarding hospital. "I never made it to the battle, it was Severus Snape's Slytherin-like plan to put me under Cruciatus and keep me well out of the war and safe."
"Snape?" Dedalus repeated. "Why would Severus Snape want to keep you safe?"
"They're sort of in love with each other." Harry said casually and Celosia glared down at him.
"With that awful Snape boy?" Petunia screeched, eyes narrowed into daggers as she stared at her sister. "Why would you go for anyone like him?"
"Hush, we aren't in love like Harry said." Celosia rolled her eyes. "We just…have a thing. And Severus was always on Dumbledore's side; he was asked to become a double agent to earn Voldemort's trust. Albus was cursed and would have died anyways so he asked Severus to kill him so Voldemort would prove him even more worthy."
"I saw it." Harry confirmed. "He gave me his Pensieve memories, you can see them for yourself if you don't believe me."
"Who wouldn't believe the Boy Who Lived?" Dedalus said and Harry sighed.
"So I take it the news is good?" Hestia said, getting back to the matter at hand. Celosia broke out into a grin and Harry smiled.
"Yep." He nodded. "I killed him. He's gone."
Dedalus and Hestia started smiling and immediately dove at Harry to hug him and shake his hand furiously. "Thank you Harry Potter, for keeping the wizarding world safe once more!" Dedalus exclaimed.
"Oh please, you make it sound like the end of a horrible Muggle movie." Celosia sneered sarcastically. "But yes, I am very proud of you Harry. Escaped death yet again. James and Lily would have been proud also."
Dudley stood up and once Dedalus and Hestia's excitement was over he walked over to his cousin, the two staring at each other. Dudley had lost a lot of weight in the time he was in the house and Harry seemed to have grown a few inches. They were almost the same height and Harry didn't have to crane his neck high to look at the boy.
Harry opened his mouth, about to say something before he was cut off. Dudley lunged at him, wrapping his arms around his cousin in a tight, warm hug. Harry was surprised, just like everyone else in the room but soon Harry chuckled, hugging his cousin back and patting him on the back. "I'm glad you're safe, Harry!" Dudley exclaimed, sounding like he was fighting back tears.
"I am too, Big D." Harry nodded quietly, trying to sooth him. "I'm glad you're safe too. I wouldn't have wanted anything to happen to you."
"I know!" Dudley said and once they pulled back it was confirmed the boy was crying. "You really care about us, even at how shitty we've treated you! You send us here with wizards to protect us, and despite what mum and dad think, we didn't have any information about you at all so if those Death Eater people came you knew you weren't hiding us to save your own skin!"
"Well, you certainly have gotten smarter." Harry joked and Dudley wiped the tears from his eyes with the back of his hand, turning around to face Celosia. She looked at him with a smile and he too hugged her tightly.
"I was afraid you were in danger!" Dudley explained again, sniffing. "I didn't want to lose another family member, I didn't want to lose either of you! I've been worrying so much!"
"Shh." Celosia smiled, rubbing Dudley's back in circles as he pulled away. "We're all here, and we're safe. Nothing is going to harm you again."
"I bet Dudley was the only one in the family who was worried?" Harry said and turned to Vernon and Petunia. The two were staring at the scene and guilty looks pressed onto their faces.
"We aren't as heartless as you think, boy." Vernon started to roar. "Of course we had other things on our minds, like Dudley's education and our jobs-"
"I was worried about my sister to no end." Petunia interrupted her husband's selfish ranting. "She is the last Evans in my family left. I couldn't afford to lose her at all."
"And I know that mum, dad and Lily are happy that we've gone this far." Celosia agreed, reaching out to grasp her sister's hand. "Despite how horrible you've been to Harry, you're still my sister, Tuney. Harry didn't just want to protect you, I did as well."
"I'm happy you're ok." Petunia whispered and looked at her sister in the eye.
"I trust we can get out of here now?" Vernon broke into the family moment.
"Oh, you aren't leaving." Celosia smirked, letting go of her sister's hand. "I do believe you haven't forgotten my conditions? The house won't let you leave unless you need to go to work or school. Luckily for you I've already planned that out and the wards will only let you go to where you need to go, and not anywhere outside the town. Of course I care for my nephew and I've made sure he is registered at the finest school in this area, and that his fees are already paid. As much as I do love my sister, she has yet to sway you, Vernon. In fact, ever since we got here all you've said were selfish desires and worries."
Vernon cringed at his sister-in-law's words and then looked at Harry. He seemed to be fighting an urge to spit at the boy or glare at him, and settled with a neutral stare. "Good to see you, boy."
Harry merely nodded and turned back to the others, not caring for what his uncle had to say. "I bet you guys can fix the wards then? I need to get back, there are still a few Death Eaters roaming out there trying to find me for revenge."
"Won't be too hard to gather them." Hestia nodded. "Where will you be staying?"
"With me." Celosia smiled and then felt a blush creep onto her lips. "And Severus."
"Hermione and Ron too." Harry added and then smirked. "We should get back, I'm sure Celosia wants to see Severus again."
"We must thank him as well." Dedalus nodded, flicking his wand so his and Hestia's belongings upstairs were packing themselves. "But first we ought to go to Headquarters. Seems like Molly Weasley's Howler really was real."
"Oh it was." Celosia smirked. "She was trying to get your attention about the reality of the situation but you two are just too stubborn."
"Precautions had to be made." Hestia defended.
"I'll see you around." Celosia said to her sister and cousin, reaching out to touch Harry before they both Disapparated.