Harry felt a nervousness as he finished packing up. Through the train ride, he distracted himself with his friends, games, and snacks. He wore his old clothes from the Dursley's as he got ready to reenter the muggle world, or at least the one town where he was trapped. At the platform there was a long line to cross through, a man restricted too many people from going at once, so muggle suspicion wasn't raised. When it was finally time, Ron, Harry, and Hermione crossed through.

He barely hear Ron's invite for the summer, at least the fifth time he'd issued it. As he looked for his Uncle, Aunt, and Cousin, the next comment Ron made stuck in his mind. "Still famous."

Harry had been nodding politely at all the greetings and farewells, but he knew most of them didn't really care. At least they did more than the Dursley's which he shared with Ron. Ron opened his mouth to say something when there was yelling from a little redhead girl, Ron's younger sister Ginny.

She was just as excited to be at the station as she had been on September 1st, Harry thought in amusement. Ron had mentioned his sister a few times, then got quiet fast. Between him and Hermione hadn't taken long to put the hints together that Ron missed Ginny, even if he didn't want to voice it. She was likely his closest companion growing up and being without her could be strange.

Harry knew he would be feeling just as strange without Ron and Hermione at his side. Mrs. Weasley was scolding Ginny for pointing at Harry as they approached. The warm woman was asking questions about their year, and Harry was happy to finally thank her for the gifts earlier in the school year.

There wasn't a chance to say much else. Harry cringed as the grating tone that he hadn't heard since September snapped. "Are you ready yet? Dudders is waiting at home alone."

Aunt Petunia was standing behind him. Mrs. Weasley was trying to talk to her as Ron and Hermione turned to him for final goodbyes.

"It'll be okay. It's for two months and you can visit for part of it. I'll make sure of it," Ron grinned. His eyes were watching Aunt Petunia warily though, and it took him elbowing Hermione for her to stop scowling at the woman conversing with Mrs. Weasley.

"Um…Have a good holiday," she said.

Harry steeled himself for the final step out of the world of magic, trying to ignore the nagging feelings. He grinned back at his two best friends. "Oh, I will. They don't know we're not allowed to use magic at home. I'm going to have a lot of fun with Dudley this summer…"

He followed Aunt Petunia out of the train station. The nagging feeling grew as they turned a corner, away from the parking lot. Something wasn't right. Where was Dudley? There was no way Aunt Petunia would leave him at home alone. She'd have taken the chance to make a day of it for him in London as a treat in recompense for Harry's return. And Uncle Vernon should be here. His Aunt rarely drove.

The way she had talked to him seemed right, but time might have dulled those horrid memories. His Aunt hadn't spoken more than a word or two to him since he got his letter. Only glares. It was Uncle Vernon who'd spoken the harsh words to keep Harry in his place that last August.

When they were about to turn again Harry drew his wand. He could feel it in his gut. He stuck it in Aunt Petunia's back. "How do I know you're Aunt Petunia? Give me a good answer before I do something or go running back to the station. There are plenty of wizards there who will help me, and even some muggles too."

"Lower your wand, Mr. Potter," Aunt Petunia's voice answered in a tone that wasn't at all hers. It was still somehow familiar. "Or do you want to ruin years of work and expose magic to all the muggles around here?"

"Who are you?" Harry demanded again jabbing the person's back with his wand. This person was obviously magic.

"Follow me."

"Why should I?"

"I will not hurt you. You are right to be wary after everything. I assume you want answers, and so then you will follow me." The woman set off at a brisk pace and Harry followed, wand still ready as he went over defensive spells. He wasn't sure what good they would do, now that he knew his DADA teacher had been Voldemort. Still, it kept him focused as he mapped the route to the alley.

In the silence, Harry studied the behavior of the person in front of him. Like him, she was trying to seem natural as they walked, but he could tell she was uncomfortable. She didn't walk like Aunt Petunia either. Her vulture eyes weren't searching, and her nose wasn't raised so haughtily.

She stopped in an alleyway away from any eyes. Harry raised his wand again. "You're magical. Are you with Voldemort? Is he with you like Quirrell?" Unconsciously he raised a hand to touch his scar.

"Never," spat the woman. "As good as it is for your safety you are this suspicious, it makes me upset. No child should have to think about not trusting the adults who should care about them. I suppose my acting didn't help in the least. I couldn't act disgusted enough with you."

Harry's eyebrows furrowed. "That's not an answer. I can't trust you until I know who you are and what you want."

"Very well. I am here to take you back to Hogwarts under the command of Professor Dumbledore. Something about your conversation with him the other day has made him change his policy. Rightfully so, from what I saw when I went to your relative's home. I tried to get your stuff but wasn't able to recover more than a few papers and scraps of clothes." Those beady eyes leveled at him suspiciously as she spoke. Harry got the feeling that she knew as well as he that it was because the trunk, he was pulling contained all that really mattered. "I needed hair for the potion as well. As accomplished as I am at transformation, Polyjuice Potion does a much better job. No matter how foul it is."

"I don't understand," Harry said shaking his head. It couldn't be. Dumbledore had said no one stayed over the summer. And there were only a few people who could know about that conversation, those he'd told, and that Dumbledore did. "Professor?"

"Yes. I'm sorry for the deception. As I said, Merlin knows you have enough trust issues as is." Harry scowled but she continued. "You deserve my proof to ensure that trust. After all, I didn't trust you when you tried to warn me about the stone."

Harry lowered his wand as he realized one of his favorite Professors was in front of him. "I still don't understand what's happening."

A bony finger was held up, telling him to wait a moment. Then it started to bubble. The woman moved little as her fingers became slightly fatter. Her face shape changed and instead of looking sallow and puckered, it was with high cheekbones, a stern face, and warm, caring eyes. Her shoulders expanded and she was suddenly slightly shorter. The blond hair drew back into a tight black bun, streaked with gray. Harry did a double-take as Professor McGonagall stood in front of him in Aunt Petunia's mauve outfit.

"One moment. I'm afraid I can't take another moment of this monstrosity." Then with a wave of her wand McGonagall's clothes transformed back into the usual green robes. "There. I'm afraid Professor Dumbledore didn't give me enough information to hand you the answers you deserve. You shall have to wait to talk to him. Now, I will create a Portkey to take us to the school grounds. Understood?"

"A portkey?"

"A method of traveling," McGonagall answered as she pulled out a takeout container.

"Portus." She scowled at the object as she muttered. "There. Now grab on tight to this and your things."

Harry felt a pull behind his navel. He squeezed his eyes shut and when he next opened them, he was staring at the wall of the Quidditch Pitch. McGonagall was gracefully arriving next to him, waving her wand to order his scattered things.

"Now, follow me under your cloak. Yes, I know about it." Her gaze had him shutting up quite promptly as he started to blubber in defensiveness. She finished repacking his trunk, leaving only the cloak out. "Leave the rest of your things, they will be taken up for you."

"Wait, Professor. I need another answer. What about the Dursleys? Were they coming to the station to get me? I thought I couldn't be at Hogwarts during the summer. What happened?"

"I don't know what changed Professor Dumbledore's mind," McGonagall said. She put a hand on Harry's shoulder trying to ignore how tense he got when she did. "I do know that you will never be going back to the Dursleys. I will take you in myself before I allow you to go back to that so-called 'home.' You do not need to worry about that."

Harry stared at her in wonder. He swallowed all the other questions and the bit of hope he had. As they stood in silence, he decided that he would go along with this, because like anything… it was better than the Dursleys. Still, he felt unsure. After another minute, his shoulders slumped a little and he nodded at her, which earned him a thin smile from the teacher. He pulled on his cloak when she pointed to it, and together they walked up the path to the school.

There was no more talking as he followed her through the empty courtyard into the castle. The portraits greeted McGonagall, seemingly alone. She nodded and answered a few questions but was then on her way. Harry followed her quietly, still trying to puzzle out what was happening. He barely noticed anything until they reached the Fat Lady. McGonagall greeted her to the portrait's surprise, her eyes widened. "Professor! Haven't you already completed your inspections of the tower?"

"Yes," McGonagall nodded. "But I believe I forgot my pin inside one of the dorms. Would you mind letting me in?"

"Of course. Just don't be late for the meeting! It's hardly normal for the professor to come and ask everyone himself. I wonder why he didn't do the same with you."

McGonagall rolled her eyes as she responded to one of the biggest gossips in the castle. "The Professor had some work for me outside of the castle. What was this about a meeting?"

"He sent a message saying you'd be here and told me to tell you that he wants to talk to you. He's having some kind of meeting. Peculiar, isn't it?"

"I suppose," McGonagall agreed with a small raise of the eyebrow. "Now, will you allow me in so I may get my brooch and head to this meeting?"

The portrait swung open, letting Harry follow the Professor inside. In the common room, she waited until the portrait close to do anything. Then she turned swiftly back to Harry. "Very well, Mr. Potter. You may take off the cloak. You will be in your dorm as usual."

He followed her then into the dorm he'd left just this morning. Inside, pajamas were laid on the bed. Hedwig was perched on the windowsill by the empty cage. His trunk was by the foot of the bed and his stuff was neatly stored. Somehow in the fifteen minutes, it had taken to get up here, his things were all in their proper place. He stroked Hedwig as he looked around the strangely empty dorm.

Ron and Dean's posters were still here. Yet, the owners were missing. The chatter and arguments between Dean and Seamus, or Neville's nervous whispering to Trevor were strangely absent. There were no dares or laughs and stupid jokes. Not like this morning, when he'd been so upset about leaving, not knowing he would only be away from his home for less than a day.

McGonagall was smiling as well. "I suppose you will be alright up here alone then?"

"Yes, Professor."

"Good," she said softly. "Go bathe. Food will be brought for when you do. Then maybe tomorrow morning Professor Dumbledore will be ready to speak to you. Someone will come to fetch you then. I suppose I should hardly need to tell you not to leave here. Understood?"

Harry nodded. He barely noticed McGonagall leaving as he pet Hedwig's soft downy wings and realized that if she was speaking the truth, there would be going back to the Dursley's or the muggle world. The place he had first felt he belonged might just be his home for real, one he could not be forced to leave.

This thought laid on his mind as he soaked in warm water, then sat by the fire in the dorm in his comfortable pajamas, eating his favorite roast then finishing off the treacle tart by licking his fingers. He looked at his trunk once again and came to a decision.