Chapter 6

Over the next month, Dudley learned many new spells and hexes. He could immobilize, stun, or tickle anyone. He was really proud of how well he was doing. It was mid January now; they'd had a modest Christmas, with just a few gifts. They'd been in constant contact with the wizarding world. Harry's friend Ron had turned up for a while, assuring the Order that they were all fine; that Harry was trying to fulfill his mission. He did however say that it was extremely difficult and that it was going very slowly.

Harry had also been sighted in Godric's Hollow, which according to Dedalus, was where he lived the first year of his life with Lily and James. Petunia felt an odd pang of sadness. Ever since she had admitted to herself that Lily had done nothing wrong, she could finally allow herself to mourn over the death of her sister. She'd been very quiet lately, something they all had noticed, but decided to ignore on the whole.

"Is that where You-Know-Who killed them?" she asked quietly. Dedalus nodded.

"Dumbledore knew Harry would want to go back there at some point, though why Potter would choose now is beyond me."

"Why?" Hestia asked.

"Well, you all know how You-Know-Who has been keeping tabs on every place connected to Harry?" the room nodded. "Well, why would the place where You-Know-Who first hunted him be any different? Harry and Hermione were being careful enough; they had the Invisibility Cloak and Pollyjuice potion. Apparently You-Know-Who's snake found them."

"His snake, but how?!" Hestia was shocked, she had heard rumors about that snake having special powers, but no animal could really be that… human.

"Well, I heard this all from an old friend who lives in Godric's Hollow," Dedalus continued. "He said the snake had been disguised as Bathilda Bagshot, at least, it was living in her house."

"Does that mean…" Hestia was horrified. Dedalus nodded sadly.

"Yes, she's been dead for months. Anyway, my friend heard a ruckus going on in Bathilda's house, so he crossed the street to see what was going on. He was halfway over when he heard a loud scream and saw Harry and Hermione- I guess the potion had worn off- falling out of the window with You-Know-Who and his snake hanging out after them. They Apparated before they hit the ground and my friend got to safety before You-Know-Who noticed him."

"Wow." Hestia whistled. Harry was having too many close shaves. If he was caught, it was over. There would be no hope, as he was there last.

--

That night they were listening to the wizarding broadcast on the magical radio. Vernon's temper had been rising all day for no real reason; he just needed to be angry every once in awhile. As they listened about the numerous Muggle killings, his temper peaked. He had worked with one of the women killed. This wasn't fair. They had never done anything to these wizards, and they were being killed or hunted anyway. For fun! These so called 'good' wizards were all bloody cowards.

This is exactly what he told Hestia and Dedalus. "Now see here…" Dedalus had no idea what to say. He basically agreed with Vernon, but would not say so. There were plenty of wizards who could do something but wouldn't. And that wasn't fair, but for this Muggle to insult him and Hestia, to call them cowards? After all they had done for them? "Believe me Vernon, I would much rather be out on the front line than babysitting you lot!"

"Oh yes, I'm sure you would! You cowards won't even say the man's name, much less fight him!" he was livid by now. It's not like he wanted to be here, watched 24/7. "I'm just some stupid Muggle am I? I'm not as afraid of him as you are. Voldemort!" Ha, that showed him! The effect he'd been hoping for had passed through the room. Dedalus paled and Hestia flinched. The room was silent save for Vernon's panting.

"What was that?" Dudley suddenly jumped up. He was sure he had heard movement outside. The others heard it too. Dedalus and Hestia whipped out their wands and crept towards the front door.

Before they could reach it, a jet of green light caused it to collapse. Petunia screamed, giving away their position. Six cries of Stupefy and six jets of red light ran through the house. Dudley knew what that spell did, he immediately hit the floor. His parents fell beside him, unconscious.

Dedalus had blocked the curse, but Hestia had been too slow. She was blasted backwards as three curses hit her. Her wand fell in front of Dudley. He picked it up and crept behind the couch. Only two seconds had passed, though this all seemed to be happening in slow motion. He could hear the Death Eaters, who had found them at last, laughing as Dedalus finally fell. This was it. This was the time to finally protect himself with magic.

"Wingardium Leviosa," he whispered. He sent a side table zooming towards a Death Eater, who fell over with the blow. Dudley then sent a string of stunning spells towards the men who were no longer laughing. His aim was horrible as he couldn't see around the couch without exposing himself. He heard another Death Eater fall.

Four against one, he knew he couldn't do much. He'd already given away his position, and faster than he would've thought possible, the reaming Death Eaters surrounded him. Their hoods were up, so he couldn't see their faces. Before he could even think what to do, a jet of red light shot straight towards his face, and the world went black.

--

"Ah!" Harry clutched his forehead.

"What's happening?" Ron asked. Harry's face had just gone completely blank. He glanced at Hermione, who looked worried.

Harry was again staring through the red slits of eyes. He was in a dark room, lit only by a few torches. There were about ten Death Eaters in the room, all laughing at something in the middle of the room. He glided towards them soundlessly. As he approached, they all abruptly grew silent and parted ways so he could witness the spectacle. Five people were slowly rotating upside down on invisible hooks. He studied their faces as they turned. Two of them were Order members, but the other three he didn't know.

After Godric's Hollow, he'd had fewer ways to track the boy down, but if these people were who he thought they were, this would be perfect. The boy would surely come after them.

"My Lord," Macnair cleared his throat. He turned to him. "It is indeed Potter's relatives. Sources told us long ago that these two," he cocked his head toward the witch and wizard, "were protecting them from us. We found them with the taboo." A smile curled over his lips. Macnair had no more to say, though he looked extremely pleased with himself. He would be rewarded later.

"Dispose of the other two. Potter will come for his family." He began laughing. His followers copied him. "Potter will die for these Muggles!" his high piercing laugh rang throughout the dungeon, blending oddly with the low, gruff laughs of those around him.

Harry opened his eyes. He was lying on his bed in the brightly lit, warm tent. Hermione and Ron were staring at him, waiting for the news. "He's got the Dursleys!" Harry was shocked. Why the hell would any of them say Voldemort's name? How could Hestia and Dedalus not know it was tabooed?

He slammed his fist against the metal pole that supported the bunk. "Their killing Hestia and Dedalus right now!" Hermione and Ron were silent, not knowing what to say or do. "I guess we should get ready." They stared blankly at him. He cleared his throat, knowing all the reasons they shouldn't go, but knowing he had to anyway. "Come on!" Hermione and Ron stood up with him as he began packing up their tent. Hermione opened her mouth to say something, but Harry stopped her. "They're the only family I've got left, no matter how maddening they are." She nodded.

A few minutes later they had their belongings all packed up. "Harry, where are they?" Ron asked. Though Harry had never been there, he knew the exact location. "They're at Macnair's house."

"Oh. Well where the bloody hell does he live?" Ron asked. He was ready to go on another adventure. He hadn't been back long, but ever since that first night, they really hadn't done anything. He was so bored!

"Come on," Harry beckoned them closer to him. Ron and Hermione put their hands on his shoulder as he turned on the spot. When he opened his eyes they were on a deserted, grimy road. He knew he'd gotten the place right. They were a fair distance from the house, but Harry could immediately pick out the correct one. He began to walk towards it, but Hermione stopped him.

"Wait Harry, he obviously wants you to barge in there so he can kill you!" He stopped, she was right of course, as always.

"Hermione, he knows I'm coming anyway. He's probably already prepared for us. What else can we do but just barge in?"

"Let's just be a little cautious," Hermione timidly suggested. She still had nightmares from Godric's Hollow; she did not want a repeat.

"Ah!" Harry repeated. He clutched his burning scar. He could hear the distant ringing of laughter within his own head. "Hermione he just killed Dedalus and Hestia, the Dursleys are next, we've got to go!"

"Hold on mate," Ron put his hand on Harry's shoulder. "You-Know-Who knows you can read his mind, hell, he probably knows you were just in there. He's not going to kill them until after you go in there trying to save them. You'll know the second they're dead, and then there would be no reason for you to go. He knows that, and he'll wait as long as we wait." Harry nodded, knowing Ron was right. Voldemort would wait to kill him first and then kill the Dursleys.

"What do you reckon we do?" he turned to Hermione, who was deep in thought.

"I've got an idea!" she finally said after a minute or so of thinking. Harry had been trying to see into Voldemort's mind again, but all he'd been able to distinguish was that Voldemort was in the same room as before with fewer people this time. Hestia and Dedalus were indeed dead, but the Dursleys were still rotating upside-down.

He shook his head and looked at Hermione who was elaborating on her brilliant plan. He would impersonate Macnair with the little amount of Pollyjuice position they had left. Hermione and Ron would be following underneath the Invisibility Cloak. There wasn't much to this plan, the only reason they weren't already moving was the fact that Voldemort was in that basement dungeon.

There had to be all kinds of charms and spells in place by now to catch Harry. Even something as simple as a Foe Glass would completely blow their cover. Hermione suggested they set up camp and wait awhile until Voldemort's guard was down or until he left, if only for a moment. Harry reluctantly agreed, knowing she was right.

There were still three Horcruxes left to destroy. Ron would be carrying the sword in case they came across the snake while they were down there, but it would be extremely stupid of them to go getting themselves killed without anyone else to carry out the mission.

"Hermione, maybe you shouldn't go…" Harry began. She looked affronted, having come up with the plan. "It's just, if we were to mess up, and you know, die…" she didn't laugh. He hadn't expected her to. "If we do get killed, there should be someone left who knows about the Horcruxes who could tell the Order and get some help," Hermione looked like she wanted to throw a fit.

She knew Harry was right, but she hated begin excluded from the dangerous parts of adventures, no matter how many nightmares she had. She was just as capable as Ron and Harry, if not more so. Yet she gave in. This made Ron and Harry more relaxed, they both hated putting Hermione in these deadly situations, but she was usually so stubborn they had no choice.

--

So they waited. It took a week for Voldemort to finally leave, during which Harry had been able to Stupefy Macnair and take some of his hairs. They Obliviated his memory and sent him on his way. Once Harry watched Voldemort Disapparate, they began working. With amazing luck, Macnair left his house the same day. This was the perfect moment. Ron walked briskly underneath the Cloak, his wand in one hand and the sword in the other. Harry was using Hermione's wand and had just transformed into Travis.

Since they only had an hour at most, Ron and Harry practically ran to the house, leaving a cross Hermione behind. This felt a lot like breaking into the ministry, except even more was at stake with an even more dangerous situation. Voldemort could pop back in to the basement at any moment, and Harry highly doubted their disguises would fool him.

"Alohamora," Harry whispered. The door creaked open and he and Ron walked inside.

A/n: The next chapter will be very exciting. Hope you like it.