The party was going well, and the bonus had been that Harry recognized the initials of R.A.B on the Black Family Tree hanging on the wall of Grimmauld Place as Regulus Arcturus Black, who was Sirius's brother and had been a Death Eater, and died in 1979. In a stroke of luck, Harry got the idea to question Kreacher, the Black Family house elf.
And they ended up with information that while Sirius was in St. Mungo's for treatment regarding his time in Azkaban and missing James Potter, Mundungus Fletcher, another member of the Order had broken into the house and stole things. The locket was one of them. Kreacher, thankfully, obeyed Harry's order as a master of the house and went to find Mundungus for questioning on the locket's whereabouts. While waiting for Kreacher to return, the party resumed.
Might as well not let the time together go to waste as in two days, eight of them were going off the grid until all the horcruxes were found. Harry made it quite clear how dangerous that would be for them and the others they communicated with. Hermione, Draco, and Ron were going because they were Harry's best friends out of all the rest of the friends. Severus was going because Harry was his husband.
Narcissa and Lucius were going to protect Draco, and in the same, needed protection. Sirius was going because he didn't want to let Harry down again, do his godfather duty to protect Harry. Remus was going to go, but Harry ordered him to stay back with his new wife and unborn child. Everyone else was staying behind to protect the school and try to stay off the final battle.
Neville planned to reactivate Dumbledore's Army with Luna and Ginny, most referred to them as the Silver Trio where Harry, Ron, and Hermione were the Golden Trio. Minerva had already given Neville permission, and this was to help defend the school in case of any more attacks. The Order would obviously be on top of trying to help the school and aurors capture Death Eaters. It was going to be hell, but it was going to end. Harry would see to it.
Another reason no one wanted Harry going alone was because of his depression, Albus's death had hit Harry hard, and no one wanted Harry getting too upset all on his own. In just two days, the mission would start. With any luck, it would be with the real Slytherin's Locket once Kreacher returned with Mundungus. Right now, everyone was just trying to relax. This and the wedding were the last times they would all be together.
"Ah, Potter…" Alastor spoke. "Sorry, Potter-Snape doesn't have the same ring to it." He shrugged as Harry rolled his eyes. "Your relatives have been safely moved, like you asked."
"Thanks for that." Harry nodded.
"Relatives moved?" Severus inquired. "What did you do?"
"I had the Dursleys move into one of my houses, for the time being." Harry informed.
"It may seem like a foolish question, mate, but why? You hate them. Why would you move them, and into one of your own places, at that?" Ron wondered.
"I never said I hated them." Harry corrected. "I said I hated living there. I hated the situation I was stuck in for years…I hate what I went through. But I don't hate them." He informed. "Well, I don't hate Aunt Petunia and Dudley. They are still family on my mother's side."
"And I was quite clear some weeks ago when I said I would not lose anyone else because of Voldemort." The teenager stated. "Voldemort would kill them just because they're related to me and they're muggles on top of it." He paused.
"Vernon was my biggest problem anyway. Petunia just hated that I was a reminder of the fact my mother got magic and she didn't. In a house of no magic, I was the one who had it. Just like when she was a child. Dudley, well…"
"He was a bully. He may have shoved me aside or tripped me, but he didn't beat me like Vernon did. Petunia also never laid hands on me, but she wouldn't stand up to her husband either."
"They hate magic and you put them in a magically protected home?" Hermione blinked.
"The one in Godric's Hollow, the old Peverell house." Harry nodded. "Like I said, I don't hate them and even if it's only Petunia and Dudley by blood relation…They're family. I won't leave them to the non-existent mercy of Voldemort. Besides…I feel better about it given the mending bridge between my cousin and my aunt with me."
"Explain?" Severus inquired.
"I went towards the end of June, after I passed my apparition licensing exam." Harry said. Yes, he had done it with Hermione, Ron, Draco, and a couple others. Harry was permitted to take it before turning officially seventeen because of his marked adulthood status.
"I told them that the war had begun, the second one, just like the first where my parents were killed by Voldemort. I told them he was back and he would go after anyone known to me, so they needed to pack up and leave Surrey. I said I would arrange them to go somewhere safe and members from the Order, who were fighting against Voldemort, would be through to collect them for safe transport." Harry said.
"I assumed that much, but what about this…Mending the bridges?" Severus wondered.
"I'll show you." Harry set his wand to his temple, pulling out a strand and waving it around to create a screen. It was similar to what Severus did with his pensive.
/Flashback of June 27th, 1997-Harry's Memories/
Harry passed his apparition exam and received his license. The others wanted to celebrate in Diagon Alley, but Harry said he had things to prepare for and disapparated from the group, promising to see them soon, and warning them to be careful. Harry arrived in Little Whinging's Surrey on Privet Drive, and walked to number four. Taking a deep breath, Harry knocked on the door a few times and it soon opened to reveal Dudley.
"Hi, Dudley," Harry greeted. "Your mum and dad home?"
"Yeah, both. What are you doing here?"
"I need to speak to all of you. Can I come in?" The teenager requested.
Dudley moved aside to let Harry in, then the two walked into the living room. "You! What are you doing back here!" Vernon instantly yelled, rising to his feet.
"Not to ask to live with you, if that's what you're assuming, Uncle Vernon." Harry remarked calmly. "Sit down. I need to talk to all of you, it's important, and a matter of your safety."
"Vernon…" Petunia said quickly as her husband, thankfully, sat down and they gave Harry their attention. "Go ahead, Harry," She urged.
Harry took a breath. "There is a dark wizard named Voldemort in our world and his goal is to take over the world." He paused. "He's made the first move and started war, so I am arranging for you to be moved to a safer location under magical protections until the danger passes."
"No!" Vernon refused.
"Vernon!" Petunia scolded.
"No, Pet. I'll not hear it or have it! We're not leaving. This….Dark Freak is in their world, not ours!" Vernon glared.
"Must you always be so damn stubborn!" Harry narrowed his eyes. "I am trying to protect you, regardless of the way I was treated while living in this house for twelve years! I do not want to see you end up casualties in the battle."
"I will not live in a magic house! I won't! Your dark wizard is your problem, not ours. We've nothing to fear!" Vernon huffed. "Now, you get out of here with your freakiness, boy, or I'll remind you why you wanted to leave so badly!" The man stood to grab Harry's arm and force him from the room.
"Vernon, stop this!" Petunia pleaded.
"Get your hands off me," Harry jerked his arm away, and pulled his wand on the large man. "I am not that helpless little boy that you can beat on anymore. I don't want to have to use this to subdue you, but I will if you give me no choice."
"You're not allowed to do magic outside of school until you're an adult…You'll get in trouble." Vernon scoffed.
"I believe we've been through this once already, Vernon. Three years ago, was it not? When I told you I don't care?" Harry said calmly. "For your information…While I may still be sixteen, I was emancipated as an adult. The trace on my wand is gone, I'm considered an adult in my world."
"I can use magic without worry of being expelled or put in prison for being underage. So I would think very carefully about your next move because this time, I don't have to hold back if you test me." Vernon went pale, and quiet. "Now sit down…"
Vernon sat silently, no longer making eye contact with Harry. "Please tell us, Harry…Why are you arranging for us to be moved? This wizard in your world, he isn't a threat to us, is he?" Petunia asked.
Harry retracted his wand back into his holster up his sleeve. "You have more to fear from him than even us magic folk, Aunt Petunia. Let me take you back to when I ended up on your front step."
"There is a prophecy in my world that speaks of a boy born at the end of July who will have the power to defeat the dark lord. Born to parents who thrice defied the dark lord and the boy would be marked as the dark lord's equal while also having a power the dark lord knows not." He explained.
"This prophecy was foretold a month before I was born, in June 1980. The dark lord is known as Voldemort, and he overheard this prophecy…With some time in between, I was born on the last day of July that year. Voldemort sought me out to kill me so I could never grow up to have the power to kill him." He paused.
"However, when Voldemort went to kill me, he had to face my parents…And he killed them. My father first, and then my mother, who threw herself between me and Voldemort to protect me."
"Now, because of my mother's sacrifice out of love; I was protected from a curse that kills instantly. That curse rebounded and hit Voldemort, it should have destroyed him and it did not. It only destroyed his body. It's taken years, but as of June 1995, Voldemort returned to a physical body and we've had battles the past two years."
"We've only recently discovered why he has not been able to be killed and I am working on remedying that reason so he can be destroyed once and for all. However, in the meantime…All those close to me are in danger. Your family, more than others because you are not only my family, but also you are muggles."
"And Voldemort despises muggles, muggleborn magic folk like my mum was, and even half-bloods, which I am. Born from a pureblood wizarding father, and muggleborn witch mother. Voldemort wants to destroy muggles and as I said…Despite the past I endured here for twelve years, I cannot stand idly by and allow you to end up dead."
"That's…Very kind of you, Harry…" Petunia said softly.
"I am arranging your move to a safe location before August, so don't waste time and pack up whatever you do not desire to leave behind. This house will be abandoned, Voldemort will have no reason to destroy it. When the danger is over, you can return home."
"For now, you will be moved to one of my properties I inherited from my father's side of the family. It's been upgraded to the latest muggle standards and it will not be a magic household. But it will be protected by very strong magic, and it will keep you hidden from those desiring to harm you." Harry explained.
"We will prepare to leave…" Petunia said. Vernon glared. "Hush, Vernon. If you want to stay behind, you do so…But I will not risk our son's life. Harry doesn't have to do this for us, but he is…" She added.
"Fine." Vernon left the room.
"He'll never accept the world you're part of, Harry." Petunia sighed.
"I knew that a long time ago, Aunt Petunia." Harry stated. "You've nothing to apologize for his opinions. It's not an ideal situation, but it is the safest."
"There is much to apologize for, Harry…" Petunia admitted. "We were awful to you, and you still do this to protect us?"
"I've been told I have my mother's kind and forgiving nature. Regardless of how you've treated me, you are still my family and I am not prepared to lose another one." Harry informed.
"You have her eyes…I'm ashamed I've never noticed before now." Petunia said.
"Been told that before too." Harry gave a small laugh of amusement. "I wish I didn't have to make you leave here, but the chance is too high that you'd be captured, tortured, and killed by Voldemort and his followers if they believe for a moment you know where I am or will be going.""
"You think I don't know what they're capable of?" The woman looked down. "You didn't just lose a mother that night in Godric's Hollow…I lost a sister." She quickly wiped the tears forming in her eyes.
"And me losing my parents is why I don't desire to lose any more family. I don't wish to add losing my aunt and cousin to the list." Harry told her. "The spell you will be under is called a Fidelius Charm.It hides the entire property from sight."
"Voldemort could press his face to your living room window and never know you are there. As long as you stay inside the protective wards, he will never find out because I will be the only one with the information of where you are as the house's owner and the charm's secret keeper."
"That is who is selected to hold the secret of your location. The information cannot be given forcefully. Even if they try to read my mind. You will be entirely safe and have everything you need. All I need you to do is stay inside the protections. Do not step outside of them for anything."
"I understand." Petunia nodded.
"I know we've never gotten on, Harry…But I've always liked having a cousin. Bit like having a brother. I'm sorry for the hard time I've given you over the years…I don't think you're a waste of space either. You're really cool, I wish I was a wizard…Would have been awesome to study magic at that school of yours." Dudley stood, now, offering his hand to Harry. "Be safe, alright? Maybe we can write? Start over?"
"Yeah, that'd be nice. Once things are all taken care of, Big D." Harry shook his hand. "Thanks."
"I've no right to ask your forgiveness, Harry…I should have done more to protect you. I'm so sorry for all you've suffered. Your mother would be so angry and ashamed with me for failing to take care of you. I know that if we'd been killed, she would have taken Dudley into her home with loving arms." Petunia stated. "I cannot undo the past, but I want you to know that I don't believe you're a freak. I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you."
"That…Means a lot, Aunt Petunia. I forgive you for the past, I'm sure we can work on a better relationship for the future…When all the danger is over." Harry promised.
Petunia stepped forward and pulled Harry into her arms, embracing him tightly before setting a light kiss on his forehead. "I did love my sister, even if I was upset she got magic and I did not. It was no excuse to be hateful towards her, or you after I lost her."
"You are…The last piece of my sister I have. I would hope for a second chance to do the right thing. Be a proper family to you. You are my nephew, and I do love you, Harry. You will always be family, and you will always have a home here."
Harry did hug the woman back, lightly. "I should go for now. There's a lot to see to before the battle…I'll reach out when things are safe again, for now, I'm afraid; I have to go dark to get my mission done." He told her before the hug ended and he stepped back from her. "Remember, be ready for the end of July. I'll see you again eventually." Harry revealed.
Petunia and Dudley nodded, waving as Harry went out to the backyard and vanished from sight with a swoosh and crackle.
/End Flashback Memory/
"Wow." Severus said. "I've never seen Petunia so tame, and remorseful. Good Merlin, Harry…You really are powerful!"
"Oh, shut up!" Harry shoved his husband. "I think a lot of it for Petunia was living in fear. Albus explained to her in the letter left with me on the doorstep as a baby was that they'd be protected with me over the years. As long as they accepted me into their home and saw me as family, this was mainly for my aunt, which the blood magic was activated through her being mum's sister."
"Petunia probably explained to Vernon that they were in danger without me, and that just added to hating magic. Vernon has no excuse for the things he did other than trying to get the freakiness out of me," He rolled his eyes. "And I think Petunia was just scared of Vernon too. Either way…There you go. Mending bridges."
"On that…Your uncle did not travel with his wife and son. In fact, when we arrived…They were arguing and I believe your aunt said she was leaving him because she knew everything he'd done to you and she was disgusted they didn't step up to protect you, and horrified that he even did what he did." Tonks said. "Only your aunt and cousin are in the safe house."
"Good for them," Harry said.
Before anything else happened, Kreacher appeared in the room and threw Mundungus at Harry's feet. "The thief has been found and delivered, as requested, Young Master," Kreacher said.
"Thank you, Kreacher." Harry replied.
"E-Ello there, Mr. Potter." Mundungus began nervously. "Mundungus Fletcher, always been a huge admirer." He winked. "Happy to be of service."
"It's Potter-Snape," Harry corrected first. "Fantastic, I'm glad you want to help. We can start with why you turned this place over when Sirius was away and took this," Harry held up the necklace. The man paused to find a reason. "And don't deny that you did because Kreacher saw you."
The elf folded his arms over one another, standing next to Harry loyally as Sirius fought rolling his eyes and Remus chuckled alongside Narcissa's attempted hidden giggle. "Alright, alright." Mundungus admitted. "I took it."
"We already knew that, Dung. I want to know where it is now." Harry asked.
"Bleeding gave it away I did." The man glanced down. "There I was, minding me own in Diagon Alley and some ministry head approaches me, asks to see me license. Said she was gonna lock me up, but let me go if I gave her the necklace."
"Who was she?" Hermione pushed.
"I dunno. It's been a while…Short, curly hair, average height…Not thin, but not heavy set either-," He paused, seeing a newspaper in the corner. "Ah, there she is, right here." Mundungus grabbed the paper and gave it to Harry, tapping the photo of the woman.
Harry eyed the picture and realized it was someone he would have gone the rest of his life never seeing again. "Who is it, mate?" Ron asked.
"The pink nightmare." Harry told them.
"What? No. No, you must be joking…" Hermione said quickly.
"Do I look like I'm joking, 'Mione?" Harry remarked.
"Sorry, but who is the Pink Nightmare?" Lucius inquired.
"Dolores Umbridge…" Ron, Hermione, and Harry said together.