Hi Readers,
Thanks for the great replies. I really love them. I only have one thing to say about this chapter and that is warning…. The last line does contain a curse word. It is the B word. I wouldn't have added it but it fits contents of the character or in this case painting's character. I just thought I would warn you.
Chapter Six
Petunia was walking downstairs to rejoin the others and, as she neared the door, she could hear Molly Weasley's loud voice in the hall. Molly was accusing Petunia of allowing this attack to happen. She went as far as to accuse of her not taking her responsibilities in taking care of Harry serious enough.
Petunia burst into the room at that and yelled, "You screaming Harpy! How dare you say such of things behind my back?"
"Who are you calling a harpy? You snippy…" Molly started to yell as she pulled her wand.
"Molly," Arthur's voice broke in stopping his wife before she could finish her ranting. "This is not the place or time," he said putting a restraining hand on her shoulder.
"Yes, it is. You heard the stories Ron had told us about how she treated Harry. No Christmas Presents! No Birthdays! She even locked him in a cupboard! I bet she locked him up right now!" Molly yelled.
All eyes were suddenly on Petunia. Petunia sighed deeply and said, "You are right. I did lock Harry up in a cupboard but only to protect him from Vernon. He tried several times over the years to get rid of Harry. I woke one night to find him in the bathroom holding him under water trying to kill him. I contacted the Headmaster on every instance and told him to come get Harry. He told me that my home was the only safe place for Harry. He even talked me several times into staying with Vernon after I decided to leave."
"He what?" Remus said shocked, out raged, and angered all at once. "Why?"
"He said that Lily put a blood ward on Harry and that moving from Privet drive would disrupt it. I guess he was right because Harry was attacked here and he never was at home," Petunia said sadly walking to fireplace to looking at the pictures on the mantle. Lily's picture was there smiling at her and waving. She had failed her sister and she knew it.
"That isn't quite right," an old woman said breaking into the conversation. "Blood wards are a bit more complicated then that."
"What do you mean?" Fudge asked, hiding a sly smile. He was worried that everyone would blame him for this attack originally because he failed to put the proper protection on The-Boy-Who-Lived. Now though he could point the finger at Albus and he could come out being seen as the boy's protector.
"Well, sir, blood wards are on a person, not a place, and they normally only protect them from one person. It wouldn't matter who else would try to harm Harry or where he lived. He would always be safe from harm from that one person or the member of their family the wards were attached to," the woman said.
"What?" Petunia said shocked and a bit upset. "Are you telling me I stayed with that man for ten years and I didn't have too?"
"I'm afraid so. I don't know where Albus got his information but he got it wrong," the old woman said.
"Thank you, Madam Figwig," Fudge said.
"Your welcome, oh and the wards are back to normal. The wizard that tried to attack Lord Potter used several dark spells to bring them down. He was only able to take out areas. I think that is why he tried to attack the young Lord by the bushes. He wasn't able to get any closer," Madam Figwig said.
"Thank you," Fudge said again and this time the old woman walked away. "Mrs. Dursley, I hate to bring up this now but I must. You do know that harming any child is against our laws right?"
"Yes, I do," She said.
"You are not putting the blame on Petunia are you?" Remus asked.
"No, of course not," Fudge said stammering. "It is her husband I am blaming and maybe Albus. She did try to protect the boy and leave but was talked into staying for his safety. No, I don't think she caused Harry harm personally at least not intentionally."
"I wouldn't count on it," Molly muttered.
"Molly," Arthur hissed. "Not now!"
Molly huffed and walked away from the others standing there with her arms crossed glaring at Petunia. Remus ignored Molly and went to Petunia. "Tell me, is that why you left?"
"I left because I was tried all of it. I was tired of watching him harm Harry and myself," Petunia said meekly.
Remus nodded. "I understand and trust me. I don't think anyone blames you. Do they?" he asked looking at Fudge intently.
"No, never," Fudge said and he walked to Petunia putting his own protective hand on her. "I promise. I will do everything in my power to make sure your husband is punished for harming you and Lord Potter."
"I don't want to cause Vernon any trouble. I just want him out of my life," Petunia said.
'Hem, hem' Delores said clearing her throat. "Minister, I hate to point this out but it was Mr. Dursley that the dark wizard took the hair from. I'm wondering how he got it."
"I'm wondering that myself," Remus said shocked the toad could actually think intelligently. "I suggest someone go over to Privet drive to check up on Mr. Dursley."
"Yes, and send someone to talk to Albus and this Snape person. They might know something about this attack," Fudge said smiling.
"Yes, Minister," Rufus Scrimgeour said and he the rest of the Aurors left the room.
"Now, that is handled, I think we should leave Mrs. Dursley and her family alone. If you need anything madam, I'm just right down the street. Don't hesitate to contact me," Fudge said and he shooed everyone towards the fireplace so they could leave by floo.
Molly walked up and said, "I think I will go get my children."
"They are upstairs in Harry's room the first door on the right," Petunia said calmly.
"Thank you," Molly said and she left.
As Molly opened the door, Fred, George, Ron, Ginny, Harry and Dudley all fell to the floor landing at her feet. "Hi, Mum," Fred said looking up smiling.
"I told them not too," Percy said walking into the room.
"Traitor," George muttered.
"Enough all of you, we are leaving," Molly said gathering up her children to leave.
"Bye Harry," Ron said as he was shoved towards the fireplace.
"Bye Dudley! Bye Harry," Fred said.
"See you, mates," George said.
"Bye," Ginny said.
And one by one, Molly guided her children into the fireplace; she was planning on being the last to leave. So, she could give Petunia a piece of her mind but Arthur had other plans. He stood behind his wife and said, "Time to leave my dear."
"Yes, Arthur," Molly said and she too vanished into a burst of green flames.
Arthur turned to Petunia said, "I'm sorry for the trouble my wife's words have caused you."
"Thank you," Petunia said.
Arthur smiled said good-bye to Remus and he left to join his family. Harry and Dudley walked up. Dudley asked, "Is Dad in trouble?"
"It looks like it," Petunia said.
"I'm sorry," Harry said.
Petunia pulled both boys closer to her and said, "It isn't your fault, either of you. It is mine and Vernon's."
"More like Albus and Vernon's," Remus growled sounding a bit inhuman.
"So, Professor Dumbledore really prevented Aunt Petunia from leaving Uncle Vernon?" Harry asked.
"Yes, he did," Petunia said sadly.
"How much did you hear?" Remus asked Harry.
"Most of it," Harry admitted. "I think I know who I'm protected from with the blood ward."
"Who?" Remus asked.
"Voldemort," Harry said and he explained to Remus, Aunt Petunia and Dudley on what happened with Professor Quarrel.
This was the first time that Remus heard all of this and he wasn't happy. He, like Petunia, knew that Albus had used Harry and it could have gotten him killed. This bit of news gave Remus a new prospective on Albus Dumbledore and his motives. He was using people, and not just Harry either. He had used Remus to get news on Harry. Remus had idea that he used James and Lily. Remus couldn't help but wonder who else Albus had used over time and how many people he wrote off after he was done with them.
"Harry, I want you promise me that you won't go looking for You-Know-Who just because he can't touch you. He might find way to hurt you anyways," Petunia said.
"She is right. Lily put a protection on you and she wouldn't want you to waste it. Use your head Harry," Remus said. He knew deep down that Voldemort failed twice now. He would keep coming after the boy until he no longer could. Was Voldemort behind this attack today? Or was Albus playing games? Remus didn't know but he was going to find out.
Lucius Malfoy made his way down the deep passageways underneath his house to a large chamber like opening to find a black shadow-like creature hovering in the center of it. "Where is the boy?" Voldemort inhuman voice demanded.
"It didn't work my Lord," Lucius Malfoy said bowing to his master.
"What do you mean it didn't work?" Voldemort snapped. "I thought you said it was full proof!"
"It should have been but we did not foresee the wolf being there. He stopped the attack," Malfoy said bowing low shaking with fear.
"Fool! I need the boy. I need a body," Voldemort yelled and he hovered inches away from Malfoy.
Lucius backed up. He knew what had happened to the last person Voldemort bonded with and he didn't want to become the next person. "My Lord, give me time. I can find one for you," Malfoy said.
"No," Voldemort said stopping inches from the man that cowered before him. "I have another idea. This is what I want you to do." And Voldemort filled Malfoy in on his plans. Malfoy agreed readily to do what his master wanted for none of it had anything do with him sharing his body with the Dark Lord's soul.
Albus Dumbledore sat in his office trying to answer some very tough questions. It seemed that someone looking like Vernon Dursley attacked Harry at Rosewood Hall. During the course of the investigation, the Minister had found out his part in keeping Harry in an unsafe situation, or that is how Cornelius wording it. "Cornelius, I assure you I had nothing to do with the attack on Mr. Potter. I would not harm the boy," Albus said.
"You did harm him though; or are you telling me that Petunia did not contact you asking you to find a new home for him after her husband tried to murder the boy?" Fudge said.
"Murder is strong word. I would use misguided attack," Albus said.
"I will use murder. It is what he was trying to do. Did you or did you not ignore Petunia's pleas on taking the boy from that house," Fudge snapped.
"I did," Albus said holding up his hand preventing Fudge from speaking. "I only did it because Petunia is the boy's only family left. I thought in time Mr. Dursley would finally come to accept the boy and at least tolerate having him in his home."
"It didn't happen did it," Fudge snapped. "You caused a boy that our people considered a great hero great harm. "I would not be surprised if they turned you in for it."
"This is the other reason I wanted Harry there, Cornelius I know how our people treat heroes. I am one remember. He was just a boy. He wouldn't understand why they love you one moment and hate you the other. Harry needed a normal childhood. Was it as happy wanted it to be? No, I do regret most of what he had to endure but was better what our world would do to him," Albus said.
Fudge sputtered because he saw the pain and anger in the old man's eyes. "Well, yes, I'm sure you know more then most on that point," Fudge said.
"I do. Now, if you feel the need to hang me out to dry as the muggle say then do it. I'm an old man. It has happened before but I ask you not to drag Harry into this. I do not think he would want to have his life growing up at Privet Drive told in the local papers and around ever wizard and witch's home," Albus said firmly.
Fudge nodded. "Fine, I will drop the matter for now only for Harry's sake," Fudge said and he picked up his hat and prepared to leave. "Good night, Albus."
"Good night," Albus said not bothering to get up to see Fudge to the fireplace. Fudge found his own way out leaving the old man to his private thoughts.
Fawkes flew over to Albus landing on his arm. The bird rubbed his head against the old man's cheek. "Thank you, Fawkes. I am alright."
"What are you going to do now?" one of the paintings on the wall asked.
"They know about what you did?" another said.
"You wormed your way out of that one," said another.
"It was the truth," Albus said.
"Yes, but that has always been your strong suit hasn't it Albus. You tell the truth or as much as you want people to know," said the first painting speaking again.
"What do you mean by that?" Albus asked turning to the painting of Phineas Nigellus.
"You know what I'm talking about," Phineas said coldly.
"I assume we are not talking about Mr. Potter now are we?" Albus asked.
"No, we are not. We are talking about what you did to my Great-Great-Grandson. I noticed you didn't tell Fudge that the Potter boy wouldn't have to live with Petunia and that muggle husband of hers, if you had told the truth about Sirius being the Potters secret keeper now did you?" Phineas said accusingly.
"That is in the past, Phineas. Bringing up Sirius now would only cause undue harm for everyone involved," Albus said.
"No, it would cause you harm. The people would finally see you what you really are," Phineas snapped.
"And that is?" Albus asked.
"A manipulative old Bastard!" Phineas snapped vanishing from his painting the Headmaster's office and going back to the one hanging at the Black family home.