30,000 feet over the Atlantic Ocean
Harry sat in the first class seat next to Dudley reading a book about muggle police training and SWAT team tactics. He also had his headphones on listening to music. Dudley was also listening to the radio, but not to music. He had on a sports show that was rebroadcasting a soccer match between the British National Team and Spain. He was also reading a book that McGonagall had sent him. He had transformed it to appear to be a standard muggle paperback. Harry could tell pretty much what was going on in the football match by the expression on Dudley's face.
They had left the ranch yesterday and driven to the Dallas-Ft. Worth airport. Jack and Pablo took turns driving, and the only stops they made were for petrol. They ate and slept in the motorhome while it was in motion. When they arrived at the airport, the two Americans solemnly shook hands with the boys, then pulled them into bear hugs.
"Quite a difference in you two since you came," said Jack. "We're going to miss you two. If you ever decide to leave England, just hollar. There will always be a place for you here." Pablo gave each of the boys a silver and turquoise necklace and a Black Hills Gold ring with their initials on them.
The boys boarded the plane dressed in their western clothes. Their wands had been transfigured into ball point pens, which they had in their shirt pockets. Dudley's dueling wand, along with Harry's katana sword had been packed away in their trunks. Harry had no idea of how they were going to get all of their things through customs, but Jack had told them not to worry about it. The other odd thing in their luggage was the 10 gallons of pure habanero pepper juice extract. They had spent two days crushing and squeezing the peppers in order to get that amount. They had to wear gloves during that operation due to the strength of the extract.
"There is something called a 'capsican scale' that they use to test the heat of the peppers. A hot jalepeno pepper registers about 5000 on the scale. A habanero registers roughly 350,000 on the scale. It is about the hottest thing on earth. At least in a liquid form." Jack told them. "If you get the juice on your hand it will break out in a rash and burn. God help you if you have some on your hand and go to use the restroom. They would hear your screams on the other side of the Atlantic."
"What on earth are we supposed to do with this stuff?" Harry asked.
"Well, Dudley here has gotten used to properly spiced food, figured that we would send him a little something to spice up the food at home." Jack grinned. "It is actually a little surprise for your enemies. Harry, I have to keep you just a bit in the dark on this one in case Voldemort happens to catch a whiff of it. Dudley knows and he will clue you in when its safe to do so. You and all of your friends have specific jobs to do and each knows their own part, but not everyone else's part. That is the safest way to run an operation like this."
Later in the flight, Harry and Dudley spent time figuring out their customs declarations and filling them in. Just about the time that they were finished, their was a dinging sound and the captain came on over the PA system.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please bring your seats up to the upright position and fold in your tray tables. We will be landing at Heathrow in just about 10 minutes. The weather is a nice 72 degrees with clear skies. We hope that you enjoyed your flight and thank you for flying American Airlines."
When the plane landed and taxied to the gate, Harry and Dudley got off and headed to the baggage area. When they arrived, there was a man in a gray chauffeur's uniform holding a sign with their names. Harry went up to him and tapped him on the shoulder.
"Welcome home, Mr. Potter. My name is Jenkins. I work for the Prime Minister's security detail and will be taking you through customs and on to your destination. May I have your passports?" Harry and Dudley handed them over.
Jenkins took them over to customs, handed the officer the passports and showed them his ID. The customs officer did not look happy about it, but he stamped the passports and cleared the boy's luggage without looking into it. With that done, he led Harry and Dudley out to a waiting limousine. They received a few open mouth stares from people who watched these two apparently American boys in western clothes get into an obvious government limousine. Jenkins did not give back their passports.
"From what I understand, these passports are not exactly correct. I was instructed to return them to the ministry." They rode in silence for quite a while until the car suddenly pulled over next to a nondescript brick building. The door was opened by a young female constable.
She winked. "Wotcher, Harry."
"Tonks! You look so, …so,… normal!" Harry was overjoyed to see a familiar friendly face.
Tonks made a face. "Lets grab your things and get inside." The boys quickly got their luggage and went in to the building. Jenkins tipped his hat at them and sped off. Once inside, they took hold of a portkey and, with that familiar tug behind the navel, disappeared.
12 Grimmauld Place
"Harry!" No sooner did they appear at Order headquarters than Harry was bowled off his feet by a red-headed tornado named Ginny. She tackled him, grabbed his ears and laid a kiss on his lips that was full of passion. Once Harry recovered from the shock, he returned the kiss with feeling, letting all the love and desire for this girl transfer back to her.
"Ginerva Weasley! What do you think that you are doing!" Molly Weasley stood with her mouth agape. "You let Harry up right now!"
Arthur stood there also looking bemused. "Molly, I think that you may have something burning in the kitchen. Let off the kids, honey. It has been a long time." He reached out to help Harry to his feet. "Glad to see you son. You're looking good. In fact, I don't think I have ever seen you so healthy." He then shook hands with Dudley. "I don't know how to thank you for saving Harry and bringing him home safely."
Dudley was overwhelmed as Molly and Ginny both grabbed him in a bear hug. "Dudley, I just want you to know that you are part of this family now. You have become quite the young wizard. Minerva has been telling me how proud she is of you."
"Did I hear someone call my name?" Minerva McGonagall stepped out from a room off the side. "No sooner did I floo in than I heard my name. Harry, Dudley, welcome home. Let me look at you. Its hard to believe that you are the same two boys who left. Harry is so well and Dudley… I see a confidence in you that I have rarely seen. You have kept me busy sending and grading your study work, but you have really pulled off a miracle with your studies."
"Excuse me, Professor," Harry asked. Where are all of the others?"
"They are at Hogwarts. We are only using Grimmauld Place as a transit point right now. We don't know how much it has been compromised since Dumbledore died. He was the secret-keeper and, since you own it, you have to name a new keeper."
Harry thought. "I don't want to put this on someone who Voldemort and his crew knows to be part of the Order. It would be too easy to kidnap or kill them. Dudley, would you be willing to be the Secret-keeper?"
"I don't know, Harry. What would I have to do?" Minerva explained the duties and Dudley nodded. "I can do that"
Harry took Dudley's hand. "In that case, I hereby name Dudley Dursley as the Secret-Keeper for 12 Grimmauld Place." A golden glow surrounded their hands. "Now, shall we get out of here and go to the school?"
Minerva produced a portkey and, grabbing their luggage, the whole crew disappeared.
Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft
When they got to Hogwarts, they were greeted by the rest of the Weasley clan, Lupin, Hermione and a very excited Dobby. They had portkeyed directly into McGonagall's office, startling the portraits. Harry looked over at the portrait of Dumbledore, but it was asleep. He looked questioningly at McGonagall.
"I really do not know why he has not awakened, Harry. Normally a portrait will awaken as soon as the funeral is over, or after a week of death. Albus has decided to rest a while longer, apparently." They got ready to leave the office. "Before you go, Mr. Dursley, I would like to try something." She got down the Sorting Hat. She placed it on Dudley's head and the Hat got to work.
"Hmmm.. A bit old for this, aren't you? I see a lot of intelligence here, you would do well in Ravenclaw. You seem to have some guile and ambition also, but not really strong enough to be a good Slytherin.. Hmm .. I see that you can also work well with others, this is definitely a Hufflepuff trait, but most of all young man, I see courage. You gave up your comfortable life to help your cousin, stepped into a whole new world against the wishes of your parents. You have also spent months learning and training yourself for battle in a war that was not your own.. This could only mean…. GRYFFINDOR!" The last word was shouted aloud.
"I knew it!" McGonagall smugly exclaimed. She reached in her desk and brought out a Gryffindor tie and handed it to Dudley. "Mr. Dursley, I have taken the liberty of placing all of your test results into a record here. Even though you were self-study, the records will forever show that you have received a Hogwarts education. Every bit of material that you studied was part of the Hogwarts curriculum. Your American O.W.L. results have been entered into the records, and the Ministry has assured me that they will be honored on a reciprocal basis just as if you were an exchange student. Welcome to Hogwarts and Gryffindor House."
Dudley blushed. "I don't know what to say. I have just been concentrating on learning to survive."
Minerva nodded. "After Hogwarts reopens, we would be happy for you to finish your training here and take your N.E.W.T.s. You have made a nice little amount into your Gringott's vault. This would assure you of a good career." With that, the group headed to the Great Hall to see their friends.
Somewhere in England, Voldemort stirred.
"Something is wrong."