Incidentally, the wizards who attacked Harry and Millie aren't actually Death Eaters. They aren't wearing Death Eater masks or anything. But Harry and Millie, too young to remember the war and without very much knowledge about it at all, don't realize that. So they call them Death Eaters because that's what they think the wizards are.

This is a significantly shorter chapter than the past few, because I realized that my chapter length was being inflated over time.

The next chapter will be the last one before Hogwarts starts, I think.

Disclaimer: I don't own this stuff.

When Harry finally stopped screaming, Millie tensed up. She was glad that her friend was no longer in pain, but knew that she was next. She focused on Harry's hand in hers, bracing herself for the pain.

"Stupefy."

Millie blinked in surprise. Were they done torturing them? She hadn't thought that the stunning curse was something that a Death Eater would use. But then again, if they were stunning them, then that meant that there was something worse in store for them later.

She turned to Harry and was surprised to see him still conscious, his eyes looking over her shoulder. Why wasn't he stunned? If she hadn't been stunned by the curse, and neither had he, then who…?

She rolled over painfully, not letting go of Harry's hand, to see chaos.

Where before there had been five wizards, pointing their wands at Harry and Millie, now there were…quite a lot more, although she wasn't really in a mental state to count them.

For that matter, given the way the wizards (and at least one witch, Millie realized), were moving around, shooting spells at each other as they ducked and dodged, it would have been difficult to count them if she had been at her best.

"What's going on?" Harry asked.

Millie looked back at Harry and realized that he didn't have his glasses on. He was pretty much blind without them, she knew.

"I don't know," she responded.

She looked back up and tried to make sense of what she was seeing.

"It looks like there are a bunch of people dueling. One of the wizards who was attacking us is on the floor." Millie realized that she was slowly regaining feeling in her limbs. She was sure she wouldn't be able to stand, though.

"Who's dueling them?"

"I don't know. Aurors, maybe? I think they're winning, though."

"I hope so," Harry shivered.

Millie nodded. "I never want to feel like that again."

"Me neither."

Millie looked again at the battle. "There's more people on the floor now. I can't tell if they're the Death Eaters or not."

"Are they dead?" Harry whispered.

"I don't know. I doubt that Aurors would try to kill them, but…"

"Those Death Eaters probably don't feel the same way. They had no problem at all torturing us."

"Yeah."

Harry suddenly sat up. Or rather, he tried to, although he only got half-way up before his muscles could no longer support him and he hit the ground again.

"Miss Capon!" he said, urgently. "How is she?"

Millie looked to where the kitchen lady had hit the wall. "She's still against the wall. I can't tell if she's okay – she's definitely not awake, though."

"I hope she's okay," Harry said. "This is all my fault. If I hadn't been here…"

"Shut up, Harry!" Millie said, angrily. "This is not your fault. It's their fault." She gestured in the general direction of the Death Eaters.

"But they were after me," Harry said. "It's my fault that you got hurt, and that Miss Capon is…"

"No, it's not!" Millie glared. She punched Harry on the arm lightly, although the movement hurt her shoulder muscles, still in pain from the Cruciatus curse.

"How is it not?" Harry asked. "You said so yourself. They were after me."

"So? It's your fault that they're after you, is that what it is? Or is it your fault that I didn't run away like a coward?"

"N-no, I mean…" Harry stammered, unsure.

Millie sighed. "Look, Harry. You're my best friend. It's not your fault I got hurt, it's mine, because I was willing to stand up for you."

Harry looked even more upset. Millie groaned inwardly. Clearly she had said the wrong thing.

"I'm sorry," Harry said. "You shouldn't have. Ever since you stood up for me against Dudley, being friends with me has only got you in trouble."

"Merlin, Harry, how thick can you be?" Millie asked incredulously. "I mean, seriously, how can you say that? I didn't have any friends before. Now I've got you, my grades have gone up, and I really don't care about getting in trouble or dealing with Dudley and his gang." Millie paused, unused to baring her feelings this way. She pushed on regardless. "Harry, standing up for you against Dudley was the smartest thing I've ever done. And like I said, you're my best friend."

Harry grinned weakly. "Thanks, Millie. You're my best friend too."

"And don't think I didn't notice you jump in front of that curse for me." Millie said. "Thank you."

Harry smiled awkwardly and shrugged, clearly not sure how to respond. Millie turned back to the dueling wizards, taking the excuse to have a conversation that wasn't about feelings.

"I think that Aurors are winning now," Millie said, excited. "There are…" She paused, astonished.

"There are what, Millie?"

Millie didn't answer Harry's question, staring as a white-bearded figure appeared in the midst of the fight.

"Millie?" Harry pressed, insistent.

Without taking her eyes off the man, Millie responded. "That's Albus Dumbledore," she said, her mouth open with astonishment. "Dad says he's the only wizard who ever could stand up to You-Know-Who."

"Oh," Harry said.

Millie continued to watch as the wizard quickly dispatched the remaining Death Eaters. There was no doubt that Dumbledore was an impressive wizard – it didn't take more than a minute before all five of the wizards that had attacked them were on the ground.

Abruptly the room fell quiet, apart from the sound of Albus Dumbledore's voice giving orders.

"Thank you, Dawlish," he said. "I'm glad you responded so quickly. Could you take these gentlemen into custody?"

""Of course, Professor."

"Come now, you don't have to call me Professor anymore. You graduated, what, fifteen years ago?"

"Yes, sir."

Dumbledore continued. "Kingsley, could you confiscate their wands? I don't think there's any doubt about what happened here this afternoon, but it never hurts to follow the rules."

"Of course, Professor Dumbledore."

"Are you badly hurt, Williamson?" Dumbledore asked another Auror, who was clutching his arm.

"No, just got hit by a Cutting Curse. What in Merlin's name was this, though?" he continued. "We came responding to a report of accidental magic, and ran into…what?"

"Well, by all appearances these five were engaging in some Muggle-Baiting, and to our luck, they ran into a Muggleborn or two," responded the Auror named Kingsley. "But why are you here, Professor?"

Dumbledore hesitated, and then looked over to where Millie and Harry were huddled on the ground, still holding hands.

"Well, these aren't just any Muggleborns," he said. "In fact, neither of them are Muggleborn at all." He looked at the two children kindly. "How are you, Mr. Potter, Ms. Bulstrode?"

Before Millie or her friend could respond, one of the Aurors cried out in shock. "Potter?" he asked, astonished. "You're telling me that these…people..." he kicked one of the Death Eaters on the leg at that, "were torturing Harry Potter?"

"Yes, Hit Wizard Greene, that is what appears to have happened." Dumbledore sounded kindly and polite, but from what Millie could see, he looked rather angry.

At his words, there was a sudden, wordless sound of anger from the Aurors. Millie wasn't sure what to make of it, not that she argued with the sentiment, of course.

Hit Wizard Greene looked livid. "Professor…" he hesitated, and then said, "I think these sorry excuses for wizards may…be lost for a few days in processing."

Another of the Aurors – or Hit Wizards, Millie wasn't really sure what the difference was – agreed loudly. "A few days? I think everyone in the DMLE is going to want a piece of them," he said.

"Now gentlemen," Dumbledore paused and then nodded to the one witch present, "and madam, while I share your sentiment, I think it will be necessary to ensure all the proper procedures are followed. If we are willing to torture those who oppose us, what makes us different from them?"

The Aurors looked mutinous at that. "Those who oppose us?" cried the witch indignantly. "These wizards tortured two nine-year olds, and one of them the Boy-Who-Lived. They deserve anything that's coming to them."

"Now, Hit Witch Lanly, I understand, but—"

Dumbledore was interrupted by a series of more cracks, and several more witches and wizards appeared out of thin air. They all had their wands out, but when they looked around they seemed astonished at the scene in front of them.

"What in Merlin's name?...Dumbledore?"

"Ah, the Obliviators are here, excellent. Brownwell, is it not?"

The Obliviator who seemed to be in charge nodded, looking astonished that Professor Dumbledore knew his name. "Yes, Professor Dumbledore. I…what happened here?"

"I'll let Auror Dawlish here fill you in. I am going to return young Mr. Potter and Ms. Bulstrode to their homes."

"Potter?" exclaimed one of the Obliviators in shocked tones, as Dumbledore walked over to the pair of children. Auror Dawlish began speaking in quiet tones to Brownwell, and one of the wizards conjured ropes to bind the five Death Eaters.

Harry was still clenching Millie's hand so hard that it hurt. Millie didn't mind, as she was certainly returning the favor.

The white-haired wizard approached, smiling kindly at them. "Are either of you hurt?" he asked, peering over his spectacles.

"Uh, no?" responded Harry, sounding doubtful. "I mean…"

"Harry hit his head when he was…was…being tortured," said Millie quietly. "And his glasses broke."

Harry glanced at Millie, and then, using the hand not being held in a vice grip, felt the back of his head. Millie saw him wince at the movement.

"Episkey." With a wave of Dumbledore's wand, Millie saw Harry's pain relieved. Well, at least that pain, for if Harry was at all in the same state as Millie, every part of his body was screaming out in protest, after…

"Now, when you say torture, Ms. Bulstrode, do you mean…"

"They used the Cruciatus Curse," Millie responded, shivering at the memory. Harry clenched her hand even tighter, if that was possible.

Professor Dumbledore's face seemed to turn to stone. All at once, instead of the kindly old man that he had previously appeared, Millie could see the powerful wizard that even You-Know-Who feared.

"These wizards will not be bothering you again, you can be sure of that. Using an Unforgiveable Curse on two children…the Wizengamot will not look kindly on that."

Millie tried to smile, but it came out as more of a grimace. Right now, she wanted nothing more than to be back home, curled up under the blankets, or sitting on a couch in her living room chatting with Harry. Not here, in the cafeteria, surrounded by wizards and shaking uncontrollably from remembered pain.

"How is Miss Capon?" Millie asked, abruptly remembering.

"The Muggle?" asked Professor Dumbledore, smiling slightly. "She will make a full recovery very soon. Fortunately, the attackers were focused on Mr. Potter here, and didn't hurt her as badly as they could have. She will have no memory of this incident, of course."

Millie sighed in relief, and she felt Harry do the same beside her.

Dumbledore straightened suddenly. "Now, it is time to return you two to your homes," he said, offering his hand to Harry to pull him up.

Harry stood up, leaning awkwardly because he refused to let go of Millie's hand. With Dumbledore's help, Millie stood as well, groaning as her aching muscles nearly refused to support her.

"Do not worry," the wizard said. "The pain should wear off in a few hours, at most. The effects of the Cruciatus Curse on children your age are not well studied, which is a fact that we should be most grateful for, but with a good meal and a good night's sleep, you should be back to yourselves in the morning."

Harry and Millie leaned on each other to stay upright.

"Now, I do have one rather important question," the old wizard said. "Somehow, these wizards were able to locate you, Mr. Potter, despite the wards that I placed over you. Do you have any idea how that could be?"

Harry shrugged. "I don't know, Professor Dumbledore. I didn't do anything, I think?"

Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "Well, it need not have been something you did. Wards are a tricky thing, particularly those based on blood and love. When we return you to the Dursleys, I will see about reapplying the wards."

"The Dursleys?" asked Millie indignantly. "You can't send Harry back there!"

Dumbledore turned to her and looked at her curiously. "Ms. Bulstrode, the Dursleys are Harry's only blood relatives. He is staying there for his own protection."

Millie stared angrily at the wizard, but before she could say anything, Harry interrupted. "Uh…Professor Dumbledore? I haven't stayed at the Dursleys for a couple of months."

Dumbledore's mouth dropped open in surprise. Millie hadn't thought that the famous wizard could be surprised, but apparently she was wrong.

"For two months?" the professor asked. "Where have you been living, then, may I ask?"

"With us!" Millie responded, her awe for the wizard outweighed for the moment by her angry thoughts about the Dursleys. "Those Dursleys are awful, and Harry is better off far away from them."

"Come now, I'm sure it's not that bad," Dumbledore responded. "In any case, it was Mr. Potter's blood relation to the Dursleys that protected him from incidents like this in the past."

Millie stared at him in horror. "You're saying that…that convincing him to leave the Dursleys was the reason that this happened? It's my fault that Harry and Miss Capon were hurt?"

"No more than it's mine!" Harry responded, letting go of Millie's hand and turning to face her. "Neither of us knew this was going to happen, and it's not like I didn't want to leave the Dursleys' house."

After a second, Millie shrugged, and looked away. As she looked up, she saw Professor Dumbledore looking at the pair of children with a curious expression on his face.

"In any case, I believe it is time for the pair of you to return home." The Professor paused a second, and then said, "Miss Bulstrode, if it makes you feel better, you may walk with us as we go to Mr. Potters' relatives home. I need to speak to your parents anyway, and I will walk you home after we see Harry safely home."

Millie fumed in silence. She couldn't very well argue with Professor Dumbledore himself, the most powerful wizard in Britain. Still, though, she hated the idea of Harry having to go back to the Dursleys home.

So she held her anger in as she stood up painfully. What she was angry at, she wasn't really sure. Was she angry at Dumbledore, the Death Eaters, the world itself? Maybe all of them.

As they walked shakily out of the school, Harry asked, "How can we leave in the middle of the day? School's still going on."

Professor Dumbledore chuckled. "Come now, Harry, we're wizards. Letting you go home early is no effort at all. In fact, I believe that all of your classmates will find an unexpected half-day today, in honor of Halloween."

"But what about the parade?"

"Parade?" Dumbledore asked. "I must confess, I did not know anything about a parade. I'm sure it will end up happening some other time."

At that, Harry fell silent. Millie could tell that, even if he didn't show it in his voice, Harry was a little nervous about returning to the Dursleys. Although there had been some…heated discussion…at the beginning of the summer, when Harry had first started staying regularly at the Bulstrodes, eventually the Dursleys had just accepted Harry's new living situation. She didn't want to think what the fat pig and his horsey wife would think about Harry coming back again after all.

Partly to distract Harry, and partly because she was actually curious, Millie spoke up. "How did you find us, anyway? I mean…how did you know to come when those Death Eaters were attacking?"

"I sincerely doubt that those wizards ever actually took the mark, actually," Dumbledore said. Millie didn't really understand what he meant, but she ignored her confusion as he continued. "They were, in fact, rather unaccomplished wizards. They didn't realize that the Trace would note magic in the neighborhood of underage wizards. Not only that, but the Trace showed that the magic was not merely accidental magic, but fully formed spells."

"I don't get it," Millie said. "What do you mean, the Trace?"

"The Trace is a magical detection system that encompasses all of the British Isles," Professor Dumbledore responded. "It can tell when magic is used anywhere in the United Kingdom, although currently it only reports magic use near an underage witch or wizard. Normally, the Trace is used for one of two reasons – to detect accidental magic so Obliviators can deal with it if the incident is too severe, or to punish an underage witch or wizard for using magic before they have turned 17. In your case, the amount of magic was sufficient to warrant Hit Wizards to respond, since two children below Hogwarts age shouldn't have been able to cast spells, at least not spells with that much power. It was happenstance that a few Aurors happened to be available to respond as well."

"So the Aurors came because those Death Eaters cursed us, and they could tell that it wasn't us using the magic."

"You have grasped the essentials, yes."

"But why did you come? The Aurors and Obliviators looked surprised to see you," Harry said. Millie was glad to see that his mind had been taken off the upcoming confrontation with the Dursleys.

"Ah, that, my boy, was because of you. After your parents' deaths, I put you with the Dursleys, and set up some protective wards for your protection. At some point this morning, one of the instruments in my office indicated that the wards had fallen. I was at the Ministry for other business this morning, however, and didn't see the instrument until a few minutes ago. It was fortunate that I found you here in time to help prevent anything worse happening, although I do wish I had been a few minutes earlier to spare you the pain of the Cruciatus. I had wished no children should ever be subjected to that foul curse."

Millie remembered the pain she had felt, and nodded vigorously. "That was the worst experience of my entire life," she said.

"I hope that you will never be faced with that curse again."

Millie noticed at that moment that Harry was looking tense. To her surprise, she found that they had already made it to Privet Drive, and the Dursleys' house was only a little bit away.

She knew that Harry would never show it if he could help it, but she could tell that he was dreading the coming confrontation.

Dumbledore walked to the front door of Number Four, Privet Drive, and knocked three times.

An indistinct grumbling emitted through the door, before it opened and Mr. Dursley's large face was staring out at them. Millie was surprised to see him – she thought he would be at, since it was the middle of the day during a week day.

Mr. Dursley's eyes widened when he saw Professor Dumbledore in his Wizarding robes. "Get out of here," he said. "We don't hold truck with freaks like you."

"Please, Mr. Dursley," Professor Dumbledore responded, putting out a hand to prevent the other man from shutting the door. "I just want to return young Mr. Potter to you."

"Why?" Mr. Dursely asked gruffly. "Those other freaks wanted him to move in with them, and good riddance to bad rubbish, in my opinion. Why should I let him back?"

"Well, Mr. Dursley, or can I call you Vernon?" Mr. Dursley's face flushed angrily at the suggestion, and Millie had a sudden thought that maybe he had started choking on something. Dumbledore continued, "As I explained in the letter I wrote to your wife on this day eight years ago, Harry here needs to be placed with blood relatives for his protection." He paused, and then added, "Today, there was an attack on Harry at his school. This attack came because he had left the protection of his mother's blood."

Mr. Dursley's face took on a decidedly unhealthy looking shade of purple. "An attack?" he asked. "You tell me that there was an attack on the freak, and that I should let him back into my home. Are you blooming mad?"

"Please, Mr. Dursley," Professor Dumbledore pressed. "I understand that you have some fear of magic, but…"

"Don't use that word!" Mr. Dursley vehemently said, looking around as if there were eavesdroppers hiding in the bushes.

Millie looked around, but didn't see anyone. If there was anyone eavesdropping, they were pretty well hidden, although she couldn't figure out why anyone would want to be spying on Muggles like the Dursleys.

Dumbledore looked slightly flustered, although he kept his composure. "Despite your fear of…our world, surely you won't turn down your own nephew."

"He is a freak," Mr. Dursley snarled. "Doing freakish things, fighting my son with his freaky friend there," he pointed at Millie, and she glared back at him. "The boy has been nothing but trouble."

"But if you refuse to let him stay in your house, he may be attacked, and even killed," Dumbledore pressed. "Today he was even tortured. Do you wish your nephew pain?"

"I couldn't care less," Mr. Dursley blustered, face still purple. "Like I said, that boy has brought nothing but trouble for us. If he was attacked, I don't want anything to do with him. I don't want my son or wife in the middle of this freakishness. You freaks can deal with your own problems by yourselves."

Millie continued glaring at Harry's uncle, noting that the man still refused to use Harry's real name. Merlin, she hoped that the big lump got his way, if only so that Harry would never have to see him again.

"Please, Mr. Dursley," Dumbledore asked again. He hesitated, and then said. "At least, let me talk to your wife when she gets home."

"No!" Mr. Dursley shouted. "I have already told you. I will not allow that boy back in my house! There will be no further discussion, and you will not talk to my wife about it."

"Will you turn your back on your family so easily?" Professor Dumbledore asked.

"That boy is no family of mine – Petunia cut off her freaky sister years ago, and good riddance to her. The boy is not my nephew, and I refuse to allow him to stay here any longer. If the boy got attacked, then staying here would make us a target. I will not let my son or wife be attacked by freaks like you!"

Professor Dumbledore looked stunned, as Mr. Dursley shut the door in his face. His hand went to the door knocker for a moment, before pausing half-way there, and retreating.

"Well, that was an unexpected occurrence," he said, solemnly. "I'm afraid that after a declaration like that, you returning to your Aunt's house is no longer an option, Harry. I cannot resurrect the wards when both parties are clearly as unwilling as they are."

There was a second's pause, and then Millie whooped in happiness. Harry wouldn't have to go back to those…those Dursleys.

"You're still going to stay with us." she said, happily.

Harry gave her a smile, although it still was not a full-fledged grin. Whether that was because his sorry excuses for family had just effectively disowned him, or because he was still reminiscing on the Cruciatus, Millie didn't know.

"I must still speak with your parents, Ms. Bulstrode," Professor Dumbledore said. "They have not yet agreed, and I will have to enact additional protections since the blood wards I erected are no longer protecting Harry."

Millie shrugged. She was pretty sure her parents would say yes, and in any case, that was less important than the fact that Harry was free from the Dursleys forever.