The remainder of the school year passed rather uneventfully for Harry and his friends. The only disruption that lacked explanation was when the tail end of DADA classes was taken over by the four House Ghosts on rotation, with the only explanation given that Professor Quirrel had 'left unexpectedly'. Sir Nicholas had mentioned the old rumor of the job being 'jinxed' so that a horrible fate would meet whoever held it, but had gone on to say, "You can't get much worse than being dead once you're a ghost, and it's not like this is the first class taught by a ghost!" Oddly enough, Harry felt the lessons went much smoother with the ghosts than they had with Professor Quirrel, although they were only able to cover theory. Given the ghosts couldn't directly intervene physically or magically, there was a strict 'wands away' directive for those classes.

Still, it was enough to prepare everyone for the theoretical DADA exams, and the practical was proctored by Headmaster Dumbledore himself as the only teacher at the school who didn't have a set of exams of his own to sit. Apparently, once more no one had taken Alchemy, much to Dumbledore's apparent confusion. As a result, exams passed without incident. After exams, the only matter of note was preparing to head home for the summer holiday...something Harry himself was greatly concerned about.

At urging from Penny and his other friends, Harry had approached Professor McGonagall - as his Head of House - when she had a free moment. "Professor," he'd asked uncertainly. "Do...do I have to go back to the Dursleys over the summer?"

McGonagall had looked at him for a time, pausing as though debating what answer she should give. Eventually, however, she answered, "I feel this is a matter you need to discuss with the Headmaster. I'll arrange a meeting for you with him, and I'll make certain he gives you a complete answer on the subject."

While Harry had been confused by that response, he'd thanked her for it...and then waited until he'd been called to the Headmaster's office to discuss the matter. Much to his chagrin, the note he'd received had instructed him to come alone for the talk, as the discussion would cover matters that needed to be handled with a certain level of discretion 'for his safety'. He wasn't entirely certain what that meant, but as he spoke the password he was given to the gargoyle statue as instructed - 'Everlasting Gobstoppers', for some reason - he steeled himself as best he could for the discussion ahead.

While the Headmaster's office would normally be a place of wonder simply for the amount of magical nick-knacks scattered around and making a variety of bits of white noise, Harry kept his focus on the Headmaster waiting for him...and the phoenix sitting on his perch to one side. The phoenix greeted Harry with a welcoming trill ass he entered, flapping over to pull a chair out for him, much to Harry's amazement and Dumbledore's amusement.

"I understand you asked if you had to go back to your relatives' for the summer, Mr. Potter," Dumbledore observed sadly as Harry took his seat.

"Yes sir," Harry confirmed seriously. "I...I'd really rather not go back. I really love it here at Hogwarts, and I'd much rather stay here over the summer. Maybe Hagrid could watch me? Or maybe Penny's folks could let me stay with them-"

Dumbledore lifted a single hand, gently silencing the coming ramble. "As much as I would like to let you stay at Hogwarts over the summer, that has not been allowed for Muggle-raised students since the establishment of the Statute of Secrecy." He managed a rueful smile. "I'm sure you can imagine how hard it would be to cover up youngsters apparently vanishing with no trace, and the distress that would cause those not part of the magical community that cared for them. And were the situation at all otherwise...I would be overjoyed you had become close enough to someone to stay with them over the summer, and allow it if they did. Unfortunately, other aspects of the situation preclude the option."

Harry lowered his gaze in disappointment as he heard that. "...why?" he finally asked. "Why do I have to go back there? I..." He couldn't get the words out. As plainly as he could see the difference between how he was treated at 'home' and how he was treated here or with Penny's folks, he just could not manage to get the words out.

"That is a long, grim story that technically dates all the way back to the time of the war against Voldemort," Dumbledore explained sadly. "Do you wish to hear it all?"

"It's because I'm 'The Boy Who Lived', then?" Harry asked ruefully. He really hated that title, and the fuss everyone made over it. He wondered if anyone else - save Penny - would ever realize that to him, it meant he was 'The Boy Whose Parents Didn't'.

"Not entirely," Dumbledore allowed, causing Harry to jerk his head up in surprise. Seeing the interest in the boy's face, he sighed and continued. "During the war, your parents defied Voldemort frequently and with a great deal of fire and vigor. While your father had no one to worry about that wasn't also fighting, your mother had her non-magical family to worry about as targets for retaliation. While her parents were out of the country at the time, Petunia had married and settled down where she currently lives. With your father's help, your mother layered wards upon the residence that would protect those who lived there from any magical attack. Given the sheer skill and power put into those wards...I would hesitate to truly call them 'defensive'...especially as they were all but invisible even to magical detection unless you were attempting to attack the residence or its denizens with magic." He chuckled softly. "Though none who attempted it lived long enough to learn if the wards were visible to them when they attempted it."

Harry's eyes were wide in response. "W-wow..." he managed to get out. "Mom did...all that?"

"If there is one thing that can truly be said about Lily Potter nee Evans," Dumbledore allowed, his tone nostalgic, "it's that she loved fiercely and with all her being. It is why you are 'The Boy Who Lived', after all. Though it took me a great deal of research to confirm it, when she laid down her life protecting you without fighting back, she invoked an ancient magic powered by love itself, and I believe it is that magic that meant you survived that night...and Voldemort's power was broken."

Harry tried to blink away his tears, eventually pulling his glasses off to rub his eyes. "...Mom..."

"That sacrifice is also why I placed you with your relatives," Dumbledore continued once Harry had started to calm down, unsurprised when that led to an intense gaze. "It allowed the wards she placed upon the house to survive her death when most would not have...long enough for me to connect them to the protection she left on you, and add a layer that would keep you completely hidden from the magical world while there so long as you considered it home. So long as you spend at least part of each year there until you reach adulthood by wizarding standards - 17 years of age - you and your relatives are completely hidden from magical discovery. Even someone who knows exactly who you are and where you live will not be able to find the place - or anyone who lives there - save for three very specific exceptions."

"W-what exceptions?" Harry asked in confusion.

"The first would be if you ever felt true loneliness and despair living there, and your magic called out to those close to you for rescue," Dumbledore explained softly. "That would result in your magic acting as a beacon, guiding those your magic had touched and reached out to, letting them find their way to you. The second exception would be those who had been invited finding you through routes they would find familiar. Someone Muggle-raised you invited could find you from the outside so long as the invitation was extended, and those magical could find you through magical means of transport keyed specifically to the location, such as the Floo network." He smiled impishly. "The third exception...is any magic crafted by your own hand keyed specifically to find you, made specifically for another. Said magic will work for that other person...and only them."

Harry blinked for a moment as he tried to parse what was being said...only to duck his head with a smile as he realized Dumbledore was talking about the Couple's Compass he had gifted Penny. At least she would be able to find him while staying at the Dursleys'. Eventually, however, he felt his mood sour. "...if Mom loved them so much...why did they hate her so much?"

Dumbledore sighed softly. "Unfortunately, your Aunt and Uncle wanted as little to do with magic as possible, or so I was lead to understand. As such, Lily never told them about the protections...or how many of Voldemort's followers they reduced to little more than a thump and unexplained wet spot on the outside wall."

Harry frowned at that. "But didn't you tell them when you placed me with them? To explain why I had to stay with them?"

Dumbledore blinked in surprise. "Should I have?"

Harry wasn't sure why the phoenix promptly smacked his forehead with his wing, but somehow he felt like reflecting the sentiment. "Why wouldn't you?"

"They wanted as little to do with magic as possible, and it was my hope that they would give you a normal childhood untroubled by the weight your fame in the wizarding world would bring you," Dumbledore explained thoughtfully. "Why would I intrude on that?"

"Beyond the fact you were already intruding to place me with them?" Harry pointed out flatly. "To explain why I was being placed with them?"

Dumbledore stroked his chin thoughtfully. "...do you think it would have helped?"

Harry let out a frustrated sigh as the phoenix once more brought wing to forehead. Still, at least that was something Harry could do if the Dursleys would let him speak once he got home. He could explain all of that...and maybe make some sort of peace between them, if living together kept them all safe...