Chapter Three: The First Letter

Tonks took the liberty of healing a terrified Dudley, who was shaking so badly when she gave pulled out her wand on him. All of Dudley's cuts and bruises vanished, leaving behind minor red marks on his skin. Moody took the liberty of casting a charm on the front and back door of the house, to prevent anyone from entering. He then cast Anti-Apparation Jinx around the house as to prevent any magic folk from Apparating into the house.

"Dudley, you may feel a little weird, but we're going to go out towards the play ground and Disapparate from there," Harry explained quietly.

Dudley looked at Harry as though Harry were speaking a foreign language. "W-What's that?"

"Oh," said Harry remembering that Dudley had never been exposed to magic of this kind. "Er…I think you call it…teleporting?"

Dudley merely stared at Harry.

"We'll have to go a little ways away from the house," Mr. Weasley said. "Since Mad-Eye's put up that jinx," he continued, sounding slightly irritated.

Moody limped toward the back door. "Come on you lot," he growled, opening the door. "Once we leave, the doors will seal shut and not let anyone enter,"

"Do you have to be so bossy?" Tonks asked, as she passed Mad-Eye, scowling at him. "I know your older than everyone, but give it a rest!"

Moody decided to ignore her comment. Everyone began to pass him, but before Dudley could pass, he held out his hand and Dudley almost leapt in shock.

"You'll need to be Disillusioned,"

Again, Dudley looked as lost as a fish out of water. "H-huh?"

"He's going to blend you in with the surroundings, so that way no one see's you or thinks anything suspicious," Harry explained. Dudley looked panic stricken. "Just hold still,"

Moody tapped him hard on the head, and Dudley screwed his eyes up in pain. Then, he disappeared. He let out a cry of shock.

"W-Where's my b-body?" he said, looking around wildly as though his body had walked away from him.

Harry laughed quietly. "This is how the charm works. You'll blend in with everything,"

"Take Harry's arm," Moody snapped. "So you won't be wonderin' off anywhere,"

Harry felt Dudley grab a piece of his shirt. Then together, they stepped out into the foggy darkness. Night had fallen, and still the fog had not lifted. It was the perfect cover, seeing as a whole band of witches and wizards were waltzing out of a house that was just broken into.

They all set off down the street, towards Magnolia Crescent, into the playground that Harry was in earlier. He saw no sign of the battle with the Inferi earlier, and could not help but look around to make sure nothing was coming. They stopped in the playground, just under the cover of some trees.

"Alright, this should do," Moody growled, limping towards everyone as they stopped. Harry felt Dudley slam into him. "Alright, Harry…you'll Disapparate with Tonks. And you," he added pointing to Dudley. "Will go with Arthur,"

Harry could tell that if he could see Dudley's face, he would probably be wondering how it is that Moody could see him. "Grab hold of Arthur boy!" Moody barked. Harry heard Dudley whimper, but saw a piece of Mr. Weasley's robes move. Harry moved over to Tonks and gripped her arm.

"On three…One…Two…Three!"

Harry once again felt that familiar sensation as though being sucked down a drain pipe. Everything swirled around him and then, he saw the street appear before his very eyes. Everyone else had appeared shortly after he and Tonks. Harry could hear Dudley whimpering as though he had just been through a horrific ride at a theme park.

"Everyone in one piece? Good! Keep moving," Moody said roughly, pulling out the Put-Outer and extinguishing the lights in the square. They moved across the square, towards the spot in which Harry knew to be where Twelve Grimmauld Place was. In the blink of an eye, the house appeared, squeezing between Numbers Eleven and Thirteen. Dudley let out a cry of shock.

"Alright everyone, inside!"

They marched up the stairs, and a wave of dread swept over Harry. He would have liked very much to never return to this house, but he had no choice. He knew that he would one day have to return; he never expected it to be so soon. Elphias opened the door, as Harry and the others followed, once again into the Headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix.

The house, as Harry remembered it was never too welcoming. It still looked as gaunt and old as it did last time, but Harry noticed that Mrs. Weasley must have decontaminated the house once more; because now it looked more worthy of a living space. The door which led to where the Order had many of their meetings was closed, and Harry could hear voices.

"Molly's already started the meeting," Arthur said, as they passed the door. "Harry, get your cousin settled in and then report back down here once you're done; I expect Ron, Hermione and Ginny are upstairs waiting,"

Everyone shuffled off into the room, and Moody took off the charm from Dudley before leaving. Dudley was still shaking and looking around as though something would jump out and eat him alive. Harry looked to the space where the portrait of Sirius's grandmother was; someone appeared to have cast some sort of charm over it, to where she did not awaken each and every time the door opened.

"Dudley, follow me," Harry said, as he proceeded up the stairs. Dudley kept close behind him, careful to not touch anything. Harry opened a door on the second floor, and was greeted in the form of a bushy haired character flinging its arms around him.

"HARRY!"

Hermione had thrown herself at him; somehow knowing he would pass through the door. Harry was nearly thrown backwards by the force in which she had thrown herself at him.

"Hello Hermione," Harry said, hugging her in return.

"Ron and I were so worried about you! We heard about the attack! Are you okay?" she asked, speaking very rapidly. "How could he send Inferi after you? It's a miracle Evelyn was there!"

She then looked behind Harry and saw Dudley standing behind him, looking mortified at the scene. She pulled Harry into the room and stared at Dudley. "Who are you?"

Dudley was much too nervous to speak.

"That's my cousin,"

Hermione backed away slowly. "The one that's always picking on you?" she asked curiously. "W-Why is he here?"

Harry reached forward and pulled Dudley into the room and closed the door behind him.

"Let me explain," Harry said.

There was a knock at the door; Harry opened it to find Ginny Weasley staring at him; at that moment, a loud crack filled the air; Ron had Apparated into the room. Harry was relieved to see he had past his re-testing.

"Hermione, thanks for telling us he arrived!" Ginny snapped, as she walked past Harry and Dudley, frowning at Hermione.

"He only just got here," Hermione said quietly.

"Hello Harry!" Ron said, not noticing Dudley standing beside him.

"Hi Ron," Harry said.

"Is that your cousin?" Ginny asked, as she sat down upon the bed. "He doesn't look mean," she added.

"Yes, well, Harry was about to explain what's going on," Hermione said as she sat down on a nearby bed.

"My house was attacked by Death Eaters," Harry explained, before anyone else could cut him off. "They apparently took my Aunt and Uncle…we don't know why though. This all happened during the time I was attacked by the Inferi,"

Hermione looked as though someone had swung a huge weight against her face. Ron lost all the color in his face, as well as Ginny.

"My cousin was just knocked unconscious," Harry said. "So, we all decided to bring him here…since we don't know whether or not the Death Eaters would have come back for him,"

"Why would they break into your house?" Ron asked. "I mean, you weren't there…so what was the sense of them kidnapping your Aunt and Uncle?"

Harry pulled the letter out of his pocket. "I don't know, but I think this might explain something," he said waving the letter. "It's a letter from Dumbledore. It was written to my Aunt,"

"Have you read it yet?" Hermione asked.

"No,"

"Well, lets read it," Ginny said, standing up and moving towards Harry. Hermione and Ron followed. Even Dudley moved closer. Harry unfolded the letter and his heart began racing as he saw Dumbledore's handwriting.

Dear Mrs. Dursley,

As you are reading this, I trust that you will use your best judgment as to what you are about to read. As I am aware, you have not been in contact with your sister Lily in some time. It is my deepest apologies to inform you that she was murdered on Halloween night. Her husband James Potter was also murdered. On your doorstep, is the only survivor of their brutal attack; their son, Harry. I find it necessary to explain certain information to you, and to inform you as to why I am writing this letter, and leaving Harry within your care.

Lord Voldemort is a very powerful dark wizard, who has attempted in taking over the world in which we, magic folk, live in. His powers and skills are unmatched, and dare I say, even by me. Harry is, as I have come to believe, in more danger than you can ever imagine. There was a prime reason Lord Voldemort went to the home of the Potters; the complexity of it is far too detailed to explain in this letter, however, there is something that I have come to find out.

Upon Lily's death, she provided Harry with a protection. He cannot be harmed by Lord Voldemort, as long as he is living somewhere outside of our world with a living relative who shares the same blood as he. This, in turn, has caused me to locate you; the only remaining relative of my knowledge. Upon you accepting this request, the protection I have placed will be sealed. As long as Harry is in your care, he cannot be harmed by Lord Voldemort.

I trust that you will take Harry in. And I trust that you will treat him as one of your own. There are, of course, many more details surrounding the events that have happened within the last twenty four hours, and I shall be sending them along in another letter, as so you are better aware of what is going on.

I believe that you and your family are in no danger. The charm should provide protection for you too, and also for your Son. In eleven years, I shall be calling for Harry to attend school, and he will only need to spend holidays and summer vacations with you, as the protection lasts until he becomes of age.

I shall be sending another letter, in due time, with a more thorough explanation about the importance of Harry's survival and care under your roof.

Wishing all the best,

Albus Dumbledore

Everyone looked up at Harry. Harry was shocked; he would have thought Dumbledore might have explained more in the letter, but Harry realized Dumbledore had to think fast…as he had explained to Harry the night of Sirius's death.

"Blimey, that didn't explain much," Ron said, breaking the silence.

"Well it did explain why Harry had to stay there," Hermione explained.

"And Dumbledore said he'd be sending another letter along," Harry said. "So, I'm sure he explained everything to my Aunt and Uncle,"

Everyone sat down, except Harry. His brain seemed to be processing at a fast rate. He did not understand the importance of the Death Eaters kidnapping his Aunt and Uncle. What would they have that Voldemort would find useful?

"So…some man put a spell on you when you were a baby?" Dudley asked, in a small voice. Everyone looked at him. Harry looked at him, both surprised and afraid to answer.

"Er…yeah," he said slowly. "He killed my mum and dad, and then went for me, but couldn't kill me…he was gone thirteen years, until he came back three years ago,"

Dudley looked as though he had a million more questions running through his head, but Harry remembered the meeting.

"We're supposed to be down at that meeting," he said to Ron and the others.

"Oh that's right," Ginny said, rising quickly.

"Mum said you can come?" Ron snapped.

"Yes! I am apart of the Order too!" Ginny hissed.

Ron rolled his eyes. "I still say you're too young,"

Ginny ignored him and walked straight towards the door. Hermione followed and then Ron.

"Dudley, we'll be back…just try to relax," Harry said calmly. "Everything's going to be okay,"

Dudley nodded, and laid down on the bed, which belonged to Ron. Harry was just about to shut the door behind him, when Dudley called his name.

"Harry,"

"Yeah?" Harry asked, turning to face him.

Dudley was staring at him, in a way he had never done before. There was no trace of rudeness, or smugness in his pudgy face. There was sorrow.

"Sorry about your Mum and Dad,"