Chapter 12
The Past
Harry,
There has been an incident at this location. We are unsure of the gravity of the situation.
You two will be the only ones sent, call for back-up if needed.
4 Privet Drive
Little Whinging
Surrey
Kingsley Shacklebolt
"This doesn't make any sense!" Harry exclaimed rereading the letter.
"Well, it is from Kingsley. Isn't it?" Ron said grabbing the letter from Harry.
"Yeah, I mean it is his writing." Harry assumed.
He had seen the same writing a million times before. However, this time something felt wrong. Usually when something happened the aurors met at the ministry then left together. Harry walked across the room, running his fingers through his hair. Thinking.
"Do your muggles still live there?" Ron said, obviously he felt unsure about the situation, too.
He thought for a second. He had taken them back home after the war. But, he didn't know if they still lived there. Their contact was limited to one letter a year. Dudley sent him a letter every year, basically making sure he was still alive. Harry did the same but, he ha no idea if Dudley told his parents. He never went into detail about his life. Dudley and his parents knew about his marriage. They didn't come of course, too many wizards. For them one wizard was one too many. Dudley had gotten married and moved out. Harry thought his uncle and aunt would still live there. Even he wasn't close to them, he even wished something like this to happen.
In his years working as head on the Auror Department, he had been dealing with small criminals. Some that used dark magic or attempted to kill. The department's main mission was looking for Voldemort's past death eaters. They had captured some however; their master had taught them a trick or two about hiding and disappearing. Some were in Azkaban: Avery, the Carrows, Jugson, Macnair, and Mulciber. There were still many out there. But, what would they want with the Dursleys?
"One way to find out." Harry said and flung his traveling cloak around his shoulder.
Ron did the same and they stood next to each other. Again, they spun into darkness.
They appeared in front of Harry's childhood house. It was exactly the same. There was the same perfect lawn and Harry's uncle's car was parked in the driveway. The sky above the was darkening, it was almost black.
"Well, here we go." Ron said as he and Harry stepped forward.
The door was unlocked. Harry knew this wasn't a good sign.
"Homenum Revelio" Ron said.
"There is someone here; Hermione is still useful even if she isn't here." Ron whispered.
Harry and Ron walked slowly through the hallway. They passed the cupboard under the stairs where Harry use to sleep. When they walked into the kitchen Ron gasped, there was a pool of blood and Vernon Dursley laid in it. Aunt Petunia lay across his chest. Harry hurried beside her.
Ron conjured a patronus taking form as a Jack Russell Terrier. Harry heard him whisper their location and a need for help. It disappeared into the darkness. Ron ran out of the kitchen.
"Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon" Harry said bending down to his aunt.
Neither responded. Harry placed his hand on his aunt's back. She didn't stir. He bent down next to her and lifted her into his arms. She was limp in his hands but, Harry felt a soft heart beat.
His uncle had deep cuts all over his huge body. Harry carefully placed a hand on his neck there was a very weak pulse.
He heard foot steps in the hallway.
"There in here." Harry heard Ron say.
Kingsley, Ron, and the other aurors appeared in the doorway.
"Their still alive" Harry answered their questioning faces.
Several of the aurors came forward. Harry moved as they carefully picked up his aunt and uncle.
"Why didn't you come to the ministry after I sent you the Patronus? How did you know that something happened here? The incident I was referring to was that we had a lead on Nott and Goyle. Susan Bones, you know the senior undersecretary has been killed." Kingsley said moving out of the doorway to allow the other to go out.
"Ron and I went to our flat to get changed. You sent us an owl. You sent us here. What do you mean she was killed? Where? By who?" Harry said absolutely confused by Kingsley questions.
"I didn't send you a letter!" Kingsley exclaimed.
Ron came in as Harry pulled the letter out of his pocket. He handed it to Kingsley. Harry looked at Ron who looked more terrified then Harry had even seen. Ron was staring at the edge of the kitchen counter. Harry turned around.
"I didn't send this. I didn't even know something happened here. You know I left after Ron's toast around 7 p.m. I had a lot of work to do I found Susan at her desk at around 8 p.m. That is when I sent the patronus." Kingsley said.
"What time is it now?" Harry asked impatiently
"About 9:30 p.m. Why--?" Kingsley said but, he broke off noticing Harry and Ron, they had both walked to the counter.
" 'Mione"
"Ginny"
Harry and Ron said the names at the same time.
Kingsley gasped and ran out the door. He was yelling at the other aurors. He said for two to take the injured to St. Mungo's. They rest were to come with him to the Burrow.
Harry and Ron stood motionless. In Ron's hand, there was a small ring with a square diamond and two names elegantly engraved on its silver band. In Harry's hand, was a small ring with a round diamond set in gold, there was two small wings engraved on its band.