The Dursley's house was rather calmer than Harry had expected. He had sent a message to them earlier to notify him that he was returning for one night and then he would be gone forever. There was no reply. He assumed that they understood they would be soon rid of him. The idea of this being his last trip to their house was exhilarating to him. He did understand that it was for his protection that he stood there but freedom rushed through his veins. It was strange that he felt freedom of all things when the protection that was placed on him was about to expire.
They arrived at the house early in the morning. His uncle was about to leave for work and Dudley had acquired a job at a local grocery store. Moody said a few words to his relatives and then was gone. Harry's uncle and cousin then quickly left and they were left alone with Petunia. Her face was unreadable. Her main concern that there would be a young woman staying in her house overnight and she had no real place to put her besides the couch or the cupboard where Harry used to stay. The decision was made that Hermione would take Harry's room and Harry and Ron would sleep in the living room. Once this was all decided she mumbled something about running a few errands and warned them not to disturb anything.
"That was troublesome," Ron muttered.
Harry nodded. He watched out the window as Petunia pulled out of the drive. Ms. Figg stood across the street and waved at Harry. He waved back to her and noticed a familiar tabby cat at her side. The whole world knew where he was.
"We better make a plan," Hermione said sitting down at the kitchen table with a piece of paper and a pencil. "When do you want to leave?"
Harry came over to the table and sat across from her. "I want to be out of here as soon as possible. Do not even unpacking anything. We are leaving first thing in the morning before they all get up."
"You don't want to say good bye?" Hermione asked.
"I have no reason to want to. They are nothing to me really. I was locked away in a cupboard for 10 years because they wanted to bet the magic out of me. They knew I would be a wizard but tried to prevent it."
"Ron, what are you looking at?" Hermione asked.
Ron was standing at the window where Harry stood. "I don't think you should have foxes here," he said.
"It's probably an Auror," Harry muttered. "McGonagall was sitting across the street with Ms. Figg when we arrived."
Ron didn't answer. He came over and sat next to Harry. "Why did we come here so early anyways if all we had to do was spend on night here?"
"So we could plan out our next step without your mother breaking into tears," Hermione mumbled.
Ron sat in silent agreement. They decided that they would try to find their way to Godrics Hollow before they did anything else. The problem would be finding it. None of them knew where it was and so it was impossible to Apparate there.
"We could try to contact Hagrid and see if we could use some threstrals," Hermione suggested.
"Do you really think he would help us do something as dangerous as we are about to without us explaining every aspect of it especially after Dumbledore died?" Ron commented dryly.
"We have to try," Hermione said.
"And while we are at it we might as well broadcast to everyone where we are going. I trust Hagrid with my life; do not doubt me when it comes to that. I just do not trust him with my secrets. He traded information on Fluffy for a dragon's egg."
"He didn't know it was Quirrel," Harry said sharply.
"Still, do you think he would help us? He's lost a large part of his life when Dumbledore died. He won't help us without some sort of explanation, and what are you intending to tell him? Are you intending to tell him everything that you've told everyone else? All you've told everyone is that you promised Dumbledore that you would finish something for him that he was unable to. Hagrid will want more."
"We will have to try," Harry said. He pulled a piece of parchment out of his bag and scribbled a quick note to Hagrid. Ron brought Hedwig over to him. "Do not leave without a response," Harry instructed her before he let her out of the back door. "That's settled. What's next?"
They spent the rest of the day planning out what they would do. Hermione insisted that she would have to do some more research on R.A.B. along with artifacts that may have been left behind by the founders. They decided this meant a trip to the Hogwarts library. Permission from McGonagall would be required but it would be handled once they were at Godrics Hollow. He figured it wouldn't be in too much use after the events on the towers.
"Everything appears to be settled up to a certain point," Hermione said looking at her notes. "All we have to do is get through tonight and then we'll be on our way."
Harry nodded. "It's time that we end this," he said.
Almost as he said that Petunia came in the door with a few grocery bags. She did not say anything to them. She quietly put the groceries away and started on some laundry. She carried the air of nervousness and tension as she stiffly moved through her chores. Harry tried to ignore her and set his mind towards the plan they were developing.
"I'm thirsty," Ron said. "I think I'll make some tea." He then proudly waved his wand and and set everything in motion for tea. It kind of reminded Harry of the days he spent in the Burrow watching Mrs. Weasley rule her domain. Her kitchen was at her every bidding with a flick of her wand. The household was her kingdom and it bowed to her every command. He knew she wished it was the same for her children.
"Thank you Ronald," Hermione said when he handed her a cup.
Ron poured a fourth cup and set it out on the edge of the counter next to the kitchen sink. The cup looked lonely as it waited for Petunia to take it. She hurried through the kitchen and stopped at the cup. Everyone looked up at her sudden stop. She looked at it not knowing what to do with it. The cup looked back at her as she looked at it. Eventually, she gingerly picked the cup up and took a small sip. Petunia let the tea sit in her mouth for a moment before she swallowed.
"Very good tea," she remarked and put the cup down. She then started other chores around the house.
They spent the rest of the day waiting for an owl. Hedwig returned very late in the evening. The reply was a simple "Will do." Harry thought of it as a good omen. He and his friends went to bed to only rise early the next morning. It was 3:00a when Harry woke everyone up. He wanted to leave quickly and secretly. There was no need to say his good byes to his relatives. They would probably welcome his absense forever. He and his friends quickly rummaged through the cabinets. There was a plate of sandwiches in the cold box with "Harry" written on an envelope. The envelope was heavy but there was no time. Harry quickly pushed it into his pocket and grabbed the sandwiches before they all ran out the door towards the park.
"Do you think they will be here this early?" Hermione asked when she looked around and saw only darkness.
"No," an unfamiliar voice said. There was a young woman swinging innocently on the swings. "I am afraid that your transportation has been canceled."
Harry drew his wand. "Who are you?"
"Friend," she answered. "Due to your paranoia and the entourage that you travel with I would presume that you are Harry Potter."
"That is true," he said amazed someone did not recognize him immediately.
"Very good," she said pleased. "I imagine all of you have brooms."
"We do," Harry answered for everyone.
"Then you better get them out. You will be following me for awhile."
"Under whose orders?" Harry contested.
"Does it really matter?" she answered. "I know about Dumbledore's plans and why you are running off into the darkness blindly. Let's just say I am a guide that the old man commissioned to help you if anythiing happened to him. Now we better hurry to beat the sunrise."
"Where are you taking us?" Hermione asked.
"To London Miss Granger, isn't that where your headquarters was stationed?"