Journey to the Battlefront

DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything, Rowling does.

-Chapter Three-

On His Own

Through the darkness of the night

Tears the Knight Bus purple bright,

Bang along its crazy flight,

Poor passengers: what wretched plight!

By six in the evening, Harry was ready to leave Privet Drive for the final time. His trunk was packed and Hedwig was shut in her cage. He was not yet seventeen, so he dragged his trunk down the staircase without using magic while Uncle Vernon complained of the noise and Dudley watched him suspiciously from behind his half-open bedroom door. Harry ignored both of them. He left his trunk in front of the door and went back to get Hedwig. He was surprised to find Aunt Petunia standing outside his room. She was holding a packet. " This is for you." She said, holding it up to Harry.

" For me?" Harry asked in disbelief. It did not look big enough to contain Dudley's old clothes (even if he had been a normal-sized boy, which he was not) or coat hangers.

" These are…old photographs…of…Lily and me and your grandparents, taken years ago. I …found them among some old things and thought you might like to keep them." She pursed her lips in disapproval at Harry's wanting to keep them or at herself for considering so much, or perhaps at both.

Harry stared at her. He was trying to think if anything better had ever happened to him under that roof. The escape in the flying car had been fun, but not so good as this. "Thank you, Aunt Petunia." He said quietly. They looked at each other, her pale blue eyes held by his startling green ones till she finally looked away.

" Well," she said, in her usual snappy voice, " you are going away." She observed him and then started in a rush as if she wanted to say whatever she had to say as quickly as possible and get over with it. " Among strange people like yourself, I hope you do well and don't get yourself.."

"Blown up?" suggested Harry, repeating the words she had once used to describe her sister's death. Petunia stared at him and to Harry's astonishment, her eyes shined with tears and then something even more surprising happened. For the first time in her life, smiled at her nephew.

" You are just like her." She said. "Good luck and take care."

"Get going boy!" Uncle Vernon roared from the drawing room. "Your trunk is blocking the space here. Take it and yourself out and leave us for good."

Harry smiled to himself. Some people would never change.

-XXX-

A slight breeze ruffled Harry's hair as he stood at Magnolia Crescent, panting slightly. He looked around. He was absolutely alone. There was no muggle watching. There was no one at all, no man or stray dog to see him off embarking his journey into the night. He stuck out his wand arm. Out of nowhere, a purple triple-decker bus came hurtling to a stop in front of him. A man in violet cloak and top hat stepped out, saying: " Welcome on board the knight bus, emergency transport for stranded…"

"Hello Dedalus." Said Harry. Dedalus Diggle nearly fell over in shock. Harry got past him into the bus and it started moving at once. Dedalus followed him with his trunk and found him an empty bunk.

"Harry, what are you doing?" he whispered, "traveling all alone, where are you going anyway? When McGonagall hears.."

" The Burrow, Ottery St.Catchpole," cut in Harry, " and I did not know you were filling in for Stan Shunpike."

"Oye Ernie," shouted Dedalus, "take her to Ottery St.Catchpole. That would be ten sickles Harry," He continued to him, " and I'm working for the Order, but that's not the point, what are you doing alone in times like this?"

Harry handed him the money. "I can't be escorted all my life, can I? " He said coolly.

-XXX-

He reached the burrow in time for dinner. "Harry!" screamed Mrs. Weasley, "I don't believe this, Arthur would have gone for you, how can you turn up alone like this, anything could happen…" she hugged Harry tightly.

"I'm OK Mrs. Weasley!" Harry gasped.

"Let him breathe, Mum." Said Ron grinning.

Mrs.Weasley released him. "But you look so terribly thin dear, come and have dinner. Its lucky I made treacle tart tonight."

"Its not," muttered Ron, "she was saving it for your welcome lunch tomorrow."

The apparition test on the following day went off smoothly. They left the burrow with hugs and wishes from Mrs.Weasley, Hermione and Ginny and with sniggers from the twins. Mr.Weasley and Tonks escorted them to the ministry where they met Ernie McMillan, Justin Finchfletchley and Neville Longbottom. Quite expectedly, Harry noted, Draco Malfoy had not turned up for the test. Mrs.Longbottom, who accompanied her grandson, was pleased to see them and shook their hands regally. Neville was looking pale, so were everybody else. Ernie kept muttering "destination, determination, deliberation" under his breath and Ron kept patting his eyebrows nervously. Harry was trying not to think of the last time he had apparated; it brought back disturbing memories of salty air and an almost unconscious old man.

Twycross met them at the Department of Magical Transportation and they were all asked to apparate from one end to the other of a large hall. Everybody passed. Twycross gave them a final talk on the common mistakes people tend to make while apparating. "The ministry is aware," he said, "that some of you are still a few days to seventeen." Neville jumped guiltily. "Considering present circumstances, however," he continued without any signs of noticing, " we have decided to allow everyone to apparate from today."

"Cool!" said Ron, "now we can apparate home. Wow!" He disapparated from Harry's left and reappeared at his right, looking pleased with himself.

"Harry, Ron!" called Neville. He was running after them. Ron was now popping up all around. Harry stopped. "Harry," panted Neville, "I wanted to ask if the D.A is still on." His face was shining with determination.

"I am sorry Neville," said Harry, and he meant it too, "it isn't on now, but if it ever is again, you and Luna will be the first people to be informed."

Neville looked disappointed but he gave Harry a small smile. Saying goodbye, Harry started for the Burrow with Ron. Now there was only the wedding to wait for.

Chapter 4: Storms and Stunners

N.B: I'll be back!