Chapter 99. River of Thoughts
Harry and Dudley were sitting in the living room of the Dursleys' house. Okabe and Makise had left in the morning. Harry's birthday was just two days away, and the Dursleys still hadn't packed their things for departure, despite all of their nephew's persuasions.
"Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia," Harry began, "I understand how hard it is for you to leave this house. But, trust me, it's necessary. Once I turn 17, all of Dumbledore's protective charms will disappear. And then the Death Eaters will be able to easily find you."
Uncle Vernon furrowed his thick eyebrows and was about to reply, but Dudley beat him to it.
"Dad, listen, Harry's right. I know you don't like this whole magical world. But right now, it's about our safety. We need to trust Harry."
Harry gratefully nodded to his cousin. He was glad that at least Dudley was on his side.
"I don't want to leave our cozy home either," Aunt Petunia said quietly. "But for our own good, we'll have to make sacrifices."
She looked around the room thoughtfully, pausing at photos of Dudley from his younger years. Tears filled her eyes.
"Uncle Vernon, listen," Harry started. "I know asking you to leave the house is a big sacrifice. But when the protective charms wear off, the Death Eaters will easily find you. It's dangerous for all of us."
Uncle Vernon furrowed his brow.
"How do I know that this isn't just another one of your made-up stories, boy? Maybe you just want to get rid of us?"
"Dad, I've seen it all with my own eyes," Dudley interjected. "That crazy wizard is really after Harry. And us too. We're really in danger."
Uncle Vernon's face stretched in surprise.
"Alright, let's say I believe you. But where do you expect us to go? And who's going to pay for it?"
"Members of the Order of the Phoenix will help get you to a safe haven," Harry explained. "They're a secret organization of wizards fighting against Voldemort. They'll take care of you."
Aunt Petunia sighed heavily, looking at photos of Dudley.
"Let the path be thorny, but we must go for our own good. As a wise woman once said, sometimes you have to sacrifice the familiar for something greater."
Uncle Vernon pensively twirled his mustache. He clapped his hands on his knees and stood up.
"Alright, have it your way. I'll pack the essentials. Just make sure these wizards of yours stay away from me, got it?"
Harry and Dudley exchanged relieved glances. Finally, the Dursleys were listening to reason.
2
Before the gathering, the Dursley living room looked neat and cozy. Neatly folded newspapers and magazines lay on the polished table, next to a vase with artificial roses. Photos of a young Dudley in frames hung on the walls. The furniture was covered with clean napkins, everything sparkled with cleanliness.
When the Dursleys started packing, chaos reigned in the living room. Uncle Vernon pulled clothes out of the wardrobe and stuffed them into a huge suitcase, dropping shirts and trousers on the floor. Aunt Petunia carefully packed porcelain and crystal into boxes, saying "I hope nothing breaks!". Dudley ran around the house looking for things he needed. Harry helped everyone as much as he could, trying to cheer up the distraught Dursleys.
After the packing was done, the living room looked as if a hurricane had swept through it. Things were strewn everywhere, furniture was moved, and all the photographs had fallen off the shelves, leaving pale squares on the walls. Uncle Vernon surveyed the chaos with a heavy sigh.
"Well, it's time to say goodbye to the house," said Aunt Petunia, wiping tears with a lace handkerchief.
Before leaving, Harry decided to peek into the cupboard under the stairs, where he had spent so many years of his childhood. Opening the door, he saw his old drawings on the walls, a thin mattress on the floor, and broken toys in a corner.
Harry picked up a battered teddy bear with one missing paw. Dudley had ripped it off in a fit of anger and threw the toy in the corner. Harry stroked the bear's head gently, remembering the days he had spent alone here.
At that moment, Dudley walked by. Seeing the toy in Harry's hands, he stopped.
"Wow, the old bear! I completely forgot about it. You know, Harry... I'm ashamed of how spoiled I was towards you when we were kids. I hope you'll forgive me someday."
Harry looked surprised at his cousin. He hadn't expected to hear an apology.
"It's okay, Dudley. We've both grown since then."
Later, Harry met Elen in the corridor.
"You know, Harry, you've spent almost your entire life within these walls," she said softly. "How do you feel, leaving this house?"
Harry pondered for a moment. Indeed, so many memories were tied to this place... But now it was time to move on.
"I'm ready for a new life," he replied firmly. "There may be challenges ahead, but I'm not afraid of them."
Helen smiled back.
"You are a worthy warrior, Harry. Stay true to your path - victory will be yours."
Elen suddenly struck a dramatic pose and spouted some epic and strange nonsense, leaving Harry bewildered and shocked.
"And there, before me, lay a void, black as tar and dreadful! But I, not of timid ten, stepped forward without hesitation! And what did I behold there, in the depths of the grim abyss? An army of skeletons in armor, menacing me with swords raised high to the heavens! But I only bared my teeth in fury and spoke to them... spoke to them..."
Harry studied her face, trying to understand why she seemed vaguely familiar to him.
"I'm sorry if this question seems strange... but have we perhaps met before somewhere in the magical world? Maybe at St. Mungo's Hospital? Or in Knockturn Alley?"
Suddenly, Harry compared the faces of Ellen and Narcissa Malfoy in his mind, and found similarities between them. Ellen burst out laughing with exaggerated theatricality.
"Oh, boy, what nonsense! I have never even come close to that terrible place. My path led me to completely different regions!"
She raised her hands to the sky as if delivering a monologue on stage.
"To seek the truth, one must venture into the darkest corners! Where a deceitful villain reigns, whose name is forbidden to speak! But I am not afraid of obstacles and will find faithful allies there for the final battle! And then..." Ellen made a dramatic pause. "we will witness the victorious dawn! Hooray!"
And she waved a rose out of nowhere, almost hitting Harry in the face. He stepped back, completely confused by her behavior. Who the hell is she? And why does he constantly feel like he knows the answer, but it always eludes him?
When Ellen suddenly waved the rose, nearly hitting him in the face, Harry instinctively flinched.
"What is wrong with her?!" he thought, looking at the strange woman with undisguised amazement.
Her behavior, gestures, and intonations were so unnaturally theatrical that they almost seemed parodic. As if an actress stood before him, rehearsing a role in some absurd play.
"Or is she pretending? But why? Or..." feverish thoughts spun in Harry's head.
Suddenly, he felt a prick of vague recognition, as if something important was slipping from his memory. Something related to Hogwarts... Or was it not Hogwarts at all?
Harry frowned, trying to catch the elusive thought. But then Ellen spoke again, and the thread of thoughts was cut.
While he feverishly tried to piece together fragments of thoughts, Ellen suddenly turned to him and spoke with a completely calm, devoid of any theatrics voice:
"You know, Harry... fire is a treacherous element. It needs to be not only tamed, but also loved. And then it can become the greatest force, capable of melting any chains and illuminating the path even through pitch-black darkness."
After these cryptic words, Ellen quietly turned on her heels and walked away, leaving behind only a faint scent of roses.
Harry stood there, blinking his eyes and trying to make sense of what all of this was supposed to mean.
3
Good evening! We begin our news broadcast with the main headlines of the day.
It has been two days since Tom Riddle, better known as Lord Voldemort, was appointed as the new Prime Minister of Britain. This appointment has sparked outrage in society. Many believe that the so-called Death Eaters – a criminal organization of mysterious radicals – are the real power behind the government.
Furthermore, the population is extremely concerned about the sudden changes in the appearance and behavior of King Arthur, who had previously concealed his face behind a mask. Some speculate that there is an impostor on the throne and demand an immediate investigation.
The government urges citizens to remain calm and promises to address the situation as quickly as possible. However, protests in the capital have been ongoing since the new Prime Minister was appointed...
Citizens are demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister, as well as an investigation into the legitimacy of the current monarch.
The opposition insists on the creation of a special Crisis Committee to address the situation. However, the government is currently ignoring these demands.
The Duke of York, known for his loyalty to the king, has called on citizens to trust His Majesty's decisions: "I am sure Arthur knows what he is doing. Just give him time to fix everything."
Meanwhile, the Lord Chancellor has expressed concern that the country is being run from the shadows by the Death Eaters led by Tom Riddle.
Riddle himself has stated that he intends to restore order in Britain. And those who dare to challenge him will be dealt with accordingly. Quite a bold statement, isn't it?
As it can be seen, the situation in the country is becoming increasingly tense. Only time will tell how this will all end.
The Dursleys and Harry sat in front of the television watching the news broadcast. Helen, who had been reading a book in the corner, approached closer.
"No, but listen to this audacity!" Uncle Vernon exclaimed upon hearing Voldemort's statement. "I'm sure if this Riddle dares to touch my family..."
"Shh, be quiet," Elen stopped him. "Now is not the time for threats."
She paused for a moment, looking at the screen.
"Prime Minister, you say? Hm... let's see how this plays out. Perhaps he will succeed where others have failed."
Harry raised his eyebrows in surprise. A strange reaction...
"Uhm... are you supporting Voldemort?" Harry asked in disbelief.
"Support someone who has caused so much evil?!" Elen exclaimed. "Not for anything in the world!"
She looked at the screen with disgust as Voldemort's face appeared again.
"This man and his followers are criminals deserving the harshest punishment. They are monsters, killing innocent people for amusement. All these disasters, all this blood... on their hands! I will not allow them to tarnish the honor of Britain!"
"But you were just recently saying that the results of the rule are what matters, not the ruler's personality," Uncle Vernon reminded her.
"Nonsense!" Elen cut him off. "I would never justify a usurper. What matters to me is not the results at any cost, but the honesty and nobility of the ruler. Otherwise, why fight at all?"
Her eyes flashed with righteous anger. Harry and the Dursleys exchanged relieved glances. Now Elen's position was crystal clear. Yet, he couldn't help but think – untangling the web of contradictions in Helen's words and actions would not be easy...
4
The rays of the rising sun barely peeked through the curtains in Harry's bedroom, illuminating the room with a soft golden light. Harry stirred and sleepily ran his hand over his face, chasing away the remnants of sleep. Today promised a lot of excitement - the Dursleys were to leave Privet Drive to seek shelter under the protection of the Order.
Harry got out of bed and walked to the window. Outside, he could see Aunt Petunia's tidy garden, where she lovingly cultivated dahlias and peonies. "I wonder if they will see it again?" Harry thought sadly.
There was commotion coming from the next room - it seems Dudley had woken up. Harry heard the creak of his room door.
"Good morning," Dudley greeted, yawning as he walked in. "I didn't sleep well. I'm worried about the departure."
Harry nodded in response. Koyanskaya stood next to him, but Dudley clearly needed his support today.
The front door slammed downstairs - the members of the Order of the Phoenix had arrived to accompany the Dursleys. It was time to get going.
Harry looked at Dudley and reassuringly squeezed his shoulder. They both faced difficult goodbyes today.
As Harry and Dudley descended to the living room, the members of the Order of the Phoenix, led by Hagrid, were already bustling about. Seeing Ellen, Hagrid frowned and fixed her with his magical eye.
"And who is this?" he grumbled suspiciously. "Who's this lady hanging around?"
"This is Ellen," Harry explained. "I told you about her. She's helping us and..."
Before he could finish, Hagrid stepped right up to Ellen and stared at her intently with his magical eye. She calmly met his scrutinizing gaze.
"Hmm, seems clean," Hagrid grunted. "But you keep an eye on her, lad! And make sure she doesn't snoop around for anything extra here."
He turned to the others:
"Right, then. We're taking the Dursleys and Apparating to the designated place immediately. Be vigilant and ready for surprises! Clear to everyone? Then let's get moving!"
And Hagrid hobbled towards the exit, urging everyone else to action.
Back in his bedroom, Harry aimlessly rummaged through his backpack, then slipped a few owl nuts between the bars of Hedwig's cage. Hedwig ignored the treats, and the nuts clattered to the bottom of the cage.
"We'll be leaving soon, very soon," Harry told his owl. "And then you can fly again."
There was a knock on the door. Harry hesitated for a moment, then left the bedroom and went downstairs - it was rare for him to expect Hestia and Dedalus to deal with the Dursleys without his help.
"Harry Potter!" squeaked an excited voice as soon as he opened the door, and a little man in a lilac top hat gave him a low bow. "A great honor, as always!"
"Thank you, Dedalus," Harry said, briefly and shyly smiling at the dark-haired Hestia. "I am very grateful to you for coming here... They're here, my aunt, uncle, and cousin..."
"Have a good day, Harry Potter's relatives!" exclaimed Dedalus cheerfully as he entered the living room.
The greeting did not seem to please the Dursleys, and Harry was afraid they would change their minds.
"I see you are already packed and ready to go. Excellent! As Harry probably told you, the plan is simple," Dedalus announced, taking out a huge clock from his waistcoat pocket and peering at it. "We will set off before Harry. Since using magic in your home is unsafe - Harry is not of age yet, and such an act could give the Ministry reason to arrest him - we will depart, say, ten miles, and then transgress to a safe place chosen for you. I assume you know how to drive a car?" he politely inquired of Uncle Vernon.
"Do I know how? Of course, damn it, I do!" Uncle Vernon exclaimed.
"Very wise of you, sir, very. Personally, all those buttons and levers confuse me completely," said Dedalus. He clearly thought he was saying something flattering to Vernon Dursley, who, with each word uttered by Dedalus, was losing confidence in the so-called plan.
"He can't even drive properly," he muttered under his breath, his mustache bristling angrily, but fortunately neither Dedalus nor Hestia seemed to hear those words.
"You, Harry," Dedalus continued, "will wait here for your protection. There have been some changes in our preparations..."
"Such as?" Harry immediately asked. "I thought Mad-Eye would come for me and we would transgress together."
"No," Hestia said tersely. "Mad-Eye will explain everything to you."
The Dursleys, who were listening to their conversation but seemed to understand nothing, suddenly jumped when a loud voice exclaimed, "Hurry up!" Harry also looked around, but then realized that the voice belonged to Dedalus's pocket watch.
"You're right, our schedule is very tight," Dedalus said, nodding to the clock and returning it to his waistcoat pocket. "We want your departure from home, Harry, to coincide with your relatives' transgression. This way, the protective charms will break the moment you all head towards safety." He turned to the Dursleys, "So, everything is settled and everyone is ready for the journey?"
No one answered him; Uncle Vernon still stared in horror at the bulging vest pocket of Dedalus.
"Perhaps we should wait in the foyer, Dedalus," Hestia said quietly, clearly thinking it would be tactless to linger in the living room while Harry and the Dursleys said their affectionate goodbyes, possibly shedding copious tears.
"It's alright," Harry said just as quietly, but Uncle Vernon made further explanations unnecessary by loudly declaring, "Alright then, lad, we're saying goodbye."
He extended his right hand to Harry for a handshake. At the last moment, he almost hesitated and simply clenched it into a fist, then waved it up and down before finally opting for a firm manly handshake.
"I have no idea what you did there, kid...," Uncle whispered to Harry. "But now Dudley has become a true man of exceptional will. Your Hogwarts school has changed him, and for the better."
As Uncle Vernon walked away, Harry caught a glimpse of a smile on his face. Or was it just his imagination?
Harry looked at Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and Dudley. Grief, it seemed, hung over them.
"Sooner, Harry," it called to him. "Say goodbye to your family."
They had to leave to where nothing would threaten them. Harry looked at his cousin for a response. He appeared deep in thought, his gaze wandering around the room as if searching for the strength to make a final decision.
"I think I'm needed by my parents right now," he hesitated to reply, then subtly winked at Harry.
And in the next moment, his mighty hand took Harry's hand and squeezed it firmly, as if charging him with courage and determination.
"But we're Dumbledore's Army, right?" he smiled, and Harry smiled back, affirming his agreement.
Soon Dudley, accompanied by Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia, got into the car. Dedalus Diggle and Hestia Jones joined them. The engine roared, and their trail quickly disappeared into the distance. Harry watched their car vanish on the horizon, holding his breath, wondering what lay ahead for them. But Moody wouldn't allow him to drift away into thoughts of his family's fate.